| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| US in no mood for regime change in Iran |
| 2009-05-07 |
| [Iran Press TV Latest] Political heavyweights in Washington say they no longer seek a "regime change" in Iran, urging the country to begin engagement with the US in earnest. Two days after former US House speaker, Newt Gingrich, openly advocated regime change in Iran in an address to the 2009 AIPAC policy conference, Senator John Kerry, a Democrat, said that Washington is not in a 'regime change mode'. "Our efforts must be reciprocated by the other side: Just as we abandon calls for regime change in Tehran and recognize a legitimate Iranian role in the region, Iran's leaders must moderate their behavior and that of their proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas," said Kerry, who currently chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Kerry said his panel would release a report this week on Iran's nuclear issue, which would underline the need for diplomacy backed by the threat of tougher sanctions. Former top US negotiator, Nicholas Burns, backed Kerry's remarks, saying that decades-long attempts to isolate Iran and topple the Tehran government had "not worked". "I think it would be helpful if the American administration was to say overtly and clearly that [regime change] is not our policy," said Burns, who served as the number three official in the US State Department under the Bush administration. He, however, warned that Iran should expect harsher sanctions, if it goes on with its uranium enrichment activities. Israel and its Western allies accuse Tehran of developing nuclear weapons -- a charge rejected by Iran. Burns rejected the notion of a military attack on Iran, saying that Washington has learned the hard way that war has "unintended consequences". "We learned in Iraq that sometimes when you start a war you don't know where it's going to end, and that's certainly the case with Iran," he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #11 Clearly, what is needed are more Smore's! Kumbaya. |
| Posted by: Unaith Gonque1927 2009-05-07 21:26 |
| #10 It's very difficult to know what fits into President Obama's evolving world-view, Paul2. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-05-07 20:29 |
| #9 As Pakistan army is the main problem/obstacle in South Asian peace likewise the Iran Mullahs/Govt are the main problem/obstacle in Middle East peace!!! Surely Bambi know this? |
| Posted by: Paul2 2009-05-07 13:53 |
| #8 saying that Washington has learned the hard way that war has "unintended consequences". At least to the Democrats there is the "unintended consequences" -- like winning. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-05-07 13:23 |
| #7 Jawwny and Nick Burns "political heavyweights"? Who told them that, Sy Hersh? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-05-07 13:20 |
| #6 Burns rejected the notion of a military attack on Iran, saying that Washington has learned the hard way that war has "unintended consequences". Instapundit now advises Israel to go rogue, as under President Obama the U.S. is more generous to enemies than allies. Others now suggest Israel inform of decisions being acted upon, rather than ask permission. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-05-07 12:37 |
| #5 Our government has gone French. Next thing will be a white flag over the capitol... |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2009-05-07 12:33 |
| #4 "We're going to stop fighting you, so you have to stop fighting us! Ow! Quit hitting us! Ow! Ow! Can't you see I'm not fighting...Ow! Cut it out! Ow! Hey, no fair! Ow! Stop doing that...Ow! Hey, we're offering to stop...Ow! C'mon, pretty please? Ow! Ow! Ow!," etc., ad nauseum. Luser, Rinse and Repeat. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2009-05-07 09:22 |
| #3 Burns is showing his true colors. I wonder if Manhattan DA Morgenthau's testimony to Congress yesterday will get their attention. He has uncovered a "stripping" scheme for Iranian banks to hide transactions using British and US banks and told them they have seriously underestimated Iran's "deadly serious" threat to the US. Also indicted a Chinese businessman for supplying dual use tech for their nuclear program. He has jurisdiction because as long as the dollar remains the standard currency, all transactions pass through NY. Probably why they all want to move to a global currency, btw. |
| Posted by: Lumpy Elmoluck5091 2009-05-07 09:14 |
| #2 Too busy with regime change in USA itself? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-05-07 03:41 |
| #1 I wonder who would be supplying Iranian militants with things like EFPs if the US went in for round 2. |
| Posted by: gorb 2009-05-07 03:13 |