U.S. Rules Out Giving Incentives to Iran

[allemand]

Thursday May 19, 2005 7:16 PM
By GEORGE GEDDA
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - A senior State Department official ruled out on Thursday the possibility of providing Iran with fresh economic incentives as a means of curbing its nuclear ambitions.

``There is no reason to believe that extra incentives offered by the United States at this point would make a real difference,'' Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said.

Burns, testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the normal or near normal diplomatic and trade relations that European allies have maintained with Iran over the years have had little impact on Tehran's nuclear policies.

Burns said ``it does not stand to reason'' that a U.S. ``opening of the trade gates'' would encourage Iran to give up its nuclear weapons aspirations.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5017355,00.html

Translation: We don't want negotiations, we want war.
:grr:

[MuseRider]

1. I agree with

your translation. They never have negotiated so why start now?

[Toots]

2. US has big stick but lost it's carrot somewhere.

Anybody seen a carrot lying around? :shrug:

[whistle]

3. Same thing Bush did prior to the invasion of Iraq in March 2003....

...Bush wants to invade Iran and that is what he will order be done.

[Massachusetts]

4. Bushco's incentive

[LeftCoast]

5. Clearly their actions are a run up to war, but I just don't understand it.

They act as if they're going to war with Iran, but where the hell are they going to get the troops? I don't believe they're stupid enough to start a draft, and even if they were it would probably take something like two years to get the newly drafted army up and ready. I just don't get this at all.

[Frederik]

8. They're just going to bomb

them back to the stone age. Teach them a lesson.

[LeftCoast]

10. Well, in fact, I don't think our military currently has enough of a bomb

stockpile to 'bomb them back to the stone age.' Even if they do, how can we handle the consequences of that action? They must understand that Iran will attack if attacked?

[Frederik]

11. One should think so...

But then again, it's the neo-cons we're talking about here. Israel will probably assist though, and they have stockpiles of bunker-busters recently received from the US.

[CatholicEdHead]

12. It's been 2 years since our last big bombing

during the start of the Iraq war. There has not been any sustained bombing since then. I would expect that 2 years is enough to get the stockpile replenished in bombs (dumb and smart), cruise missles and other types.

Of course, with this bunch you cannot rule out nukes.

[leftchick]

6. Why give butter?

The pentagon has so many cool bombs to try out. :(

[jpak]

7. The fuse was lit when the Chimp met with Sharon last month

Come June...

:nuke:

[unhappycamper]

9. US to Iran: We are going to bomb or invade. period.

Fuck You, we need your oil.

[leQ]

13. that didnt last long

israel is all ready to go and june's not very far off.