A Frustrating Week at the U.N. for the White House Team

[Tinoire]

A Frustrating Week at the U.N. for the White House Team

By STEVEN R. WEISMAN
Published: September 17, 2005
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 - After weeks of trying to rally international support to confront Iran over its nuclear program and to reform the United Nations, the Bush administration has had an unusually frustrating week, rebuffed by crucial partners and also by a coalition of poor countries increasingly resentful of American power.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...17diplo184.jpg
Carol T. Powers for The New York Times
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia with President Bush, both using translation devices, at a news conference at the White House Friday.


The result is that the drive to press Tehran over its suspected nuclear weapons program has stalled, as have efforts to introduce sweeping budgetary changes at the United Nations and to scrap the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

(snip)

The Iranian situation has been at an impasse for weeks, as the United States and its European partners have sent envoys to countries around the world to rally support for a vote at the International Atomic Energy Agency's board meeting next week to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council for possible condemnation or sanctions.

But India and Russia have balked, despite personal appeals by President Bush. At the White House on Friday, President Vladimir V. Putin again expressed misgivings about rushing things with Iran.

(snip)

By all accounts, that effort has been successful, and Washington has worked with Britain, France, Germany and the European Union to let the Europeans offer economic and political incentives for Iran to suspend its uranium activities and to discuss a permanent end to its suspected nuclear weapons programs.

(snip)

What the Europeans and Americans failed to count on are the views of other countries, especially in the developing world, who have not rallied to their side.

These countries are swayed by Iran's contention that it has done nothing that violates any international treaties on nuclear energy, except by failing to disclose elements of its program, and that inspections have failed to turn up any proof that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons.

Six weeks ago, a European official said, Europe and the United States felt that these countries would line up with the West on the atomic energy board. Now, they are not so sure.

(snip)

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/17/po...=5070&emc=eta1

Oh and by the way, the DLC's latest tour with the neocons? Bomb Iran... Hillary Clinton introduced Ariel Sharon :puke:

[Code_Name_D]

Nope, this isn’t a bad week at all. In fact, reading this, it looks like things are going according to plan.

Remember the Bush administration has no respect for the UN. He sent Bolton to bring chaos and lock down its forums into endless squabbling. In steps bold President Bush to take decisive action against the clear and present danger of Iran’s impending nuclear weapons programs that the elitists UN is too bureaucratic to address.