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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran: Nuclear 'carrot and stick' approach doomed |
| 2006-10-22 |
| Iran has said that the West's "carrot and stick" method for getting it to halt sensitive atomic work is doomed to failure. Iran's case has been returned to the UN Security Council because the Islamic Republic failed to heed a UN demand to suspend uranium enrichment, a process the West believes Tehran is using to develop nuclear weapons, despite Iran's denials. The United States and European states back UN sanctions, although European officials say this will be an incremental process which Iran can curtail by halting enrichment. At the same time, the five permanent members of the Security Council - the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China - plus Germany have offered Iran trade and other incentives if it suspends enrichment as a precondition for atomic talks. "Our negotiating partners have always emphasised the need for talks, but they are moving in two different directions," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said. "Iran's position is that you cannot use the policy of 'carrot and stick' at the same time because it is an incompetent policy and it will result in failure." Mr Hosseini said imposing sanctions would have an impact beyond the region. "But if they choose sanctions, we will make appropriate decisions in proportion with that," he said. Iran's chief nuclear negotiator has said its response could involve halting UN checks of atomic sites. Mr Hosseini said a suspension of uranium enrichment "has no place in Iran's nuclear policies". "But we have said also that, if the conditions are fair, this issue could be discussed during negotiations like other issues," he added. Iran has said it would discuss suspension during talks, rather than as a precondition. But officials have also said such discussions would examine why Iran saw such a step as illogical. France, Britain and Germany are drafting a Security Council resolution on sanctions and have been discussing it with the United States, which wants tougher measures. Russia and China, which can veto a resolution, are wary of imposing penalties. "We are witnessing a positive position by the Russians compared to some other Western countries," Mr Hosseini said. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |
| #7 USNR: As far as I know, the Senate never Ratified SALT II, though RR said that he would abide by the terms anyway. Though we could try a carrot-and-stick with Russian (vice Iran) to see we won't do it if they stop selling all the stuff they do to Iran, Syria, et al. Or, we could maybe refurbish them and sell them to the Kurds or Afghanis at $1 each. Well, maybe not, as they might point them elsewhere. |
| Posted by: Jackal 2006-10-22 21:49 |
| #6 OP: As much as I like your idea about pulling the BUFFS from D-M; the hue and cry over treaty violations would be audible all the way from the Kremlin. I think it was Jimmah's SALTII that parked them there for destruction; and the destruction was to be visible from space. Some of the pix I have seen show big cranes w/ blades on the cables and they just drop them on the wings or fuselages; anywhere that renders the aircraft incapable of ever flying again. Damn shame however, and we are limited in our ability to part them out for those still flying. |
| Posted by: USN,Ret 2006-10-22 19:56 |
| #5 Buffs at 45,000, supported by F/A-18s and EA-6Bs. Arm the Buffs with anything, even concrete - it'll do the trick if delivered properly. Most Buff pilots know how to deliver properly. Got a pic from another Rantburger showing the boneyard at Davis-Monthan. Saw at least 40 B-52Ds there. Refurbish them, use them as dumb bomb carriers. NOTHING terrified the NVA more than the Buffs. I'm sure the muzzies aren't even half the fighters the NVA was. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2006-10-22 14:01 |
| #4 W-88s |
| Posted by: SR-71 2006-10-22 13:12 |
| #3 More cowbell... |
| Posted by: Master of Obvious 2006-10-22 10:44 |
| #2 We could give them a good beating with a big enough carrot. |
| Posted by: Flea 2006-10-22 10:05 |
| #1 Time to drop the carrot and pick up a bigger stick, then. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-10-22 09:37 |