NYT: Bush and China Endorse Russia's Nuclear Plan for Iran

[DeepModem Mom]

Bush and China Endorse Russia's Nuclear Plan for Iran
By DAVID E. SANGER and ELAINE SCIOLINO
Published: January 27, 2006


WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 — President Bush and the Chinese government both declared their full support on Thursday for a Russian proposal to allow Iran to operate civilian nuclear facilities as long as Russia and international nuclear inspectors are in full control of the fuel.

Mr. Bush's explicit public endorsement puts all of the major powers on record supporting the proposal, even as most acknowledge that it is a significant concession to Iran and runs the risk that the country will drag out the negotiations while continuing to produce nuclear material. Yet officials say they believe it is the best face-saving strategy to pursue a negotiated settlement with Iran.

European and American officials familiar with the details of the offer that Russia made to Iran say that Iran would continue to be allowed to operate its nuclear plant at Isfahan, which converts raw uranium into a form that is ready to be enriched. That is a step that both Europe and the United States said last year that they could not allow — and that was explicitly barred under the agreement between Iran and Europe in late 2004, because Iran could divert the uranium to secret enrichment facilities. Iran began operating the Isfahan plant again in August.

Mr. Bush did not discuss the details of the Russian offer. But American, European and Russian officials, who like others discussing the issue spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to be seen as interfering in the negotiations, said the offer would allow Iran to continue operations at the plant that turns yellowcake, a concentrated form of uranium ore, into uranium hexafluoride, a toxic material that centrifuges spin into fuel for reactors or bombs.

Critics of that concession say that it could send a signal to Iran that it no longer has to comply with all provisions of its November 2004 agreement with Europe....


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/27/politics/27iran.html

[Deja Q]

1. Bush is like that Jerry Lee Lewis song... about the bathtub...

"Flippin' and'a floppin"

Coward? Liar? Won't instate a draft even though his popularity numbers are not likely to go back up ever again! Europe isn't our friend anymore? Iran not really a danger at all, despite Russia's happily helping Iran all these years? Not ready to totally crash the economy just yet? Why?

But I agree; our impotence regarding Iran will only make Iran more impudent in the future.

[enid602]

2. Halliburton

Maybe Halliburton sees some potential for further illegal sales (including nuclear components) to Iran; it maintained a secret office in Teheran from 1995 to 2003. Link: http://www.independent-media.tv/item.cfm?fmedia_id=11538&fcategory_desc=Under%20Reported

[PFunk]

3. Looks like Bush is trying to find away out of the hole he's dug....

...seeing that bombing/invading Iran is no gainer (or worse). And the russians have given him the rope to climb out of it.

Bush should be kissing the russian's leaders ass bigtime now.

[enid602]

5. Bush

Let's hope you're right. I've long felt that an invasion/bombing of Iran would be the last straw. At the very least, however Bush's policy would seem confusing, as just last week Condi was out sounding the war drums, and trying to get international support. Cheney went to the ME, probably to drum up support as well. Could Bush have turned face so quickly?

[EuroObserver]

7. ...Didn't get the international support n/t

[stepnw1f]

4. What's Wrong Freepers? Bush Scared????? (nt)

[ugarte]

6. So where does this leave tough-talking Condi?

I thought "the time for talk is over."