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Iran Nuclear Watch: United Nations Security Council Stalled But Diplomats Express Urgency
China’s ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya speaks to the press about the nuclear weapons situation in Iran, at the UN headquarters in New York on 17 March. A deadlocked UN Security Council put off a scheduled meeting to allow more time to narrow differences on a Franco-British statement on the Iranian nuclear crisis, diplomats said.
New York Times: Security Council Is Stalled Over Iran’s Nuclear Program
After nearly two weeks of haggling, a deadlocked Security Council put off full consideration of Iran’s nuclear program on Tuesday, amid indications that Iran was close to taking a major step in its efforts to enrich uranium.
Britain and France had promoted a statement calling on Iran to abandon its uranium activities, which the West believes is part of a nuclear weapons program. With American support, Britain and France want a two-week deadline with threats of possible punishment, but have met resistance from China and Russia.
The Europeans said Tuesday that they would consult on possible revisions that could draw the unanimous support needed for the statement from all 15 Security Council members. The postponement followed a four-hour meeting on Monday of senior Foreign Ministry officials of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
YAWN…..why are the Europeans holding out hope for the U.N. Security Council? Russia and China will NEVER approve any sort of sanction. This entire referral is a lesson in futility.
But, now it turns out that Iran has been stalling for a PURPOSE.
The impasse generated frustration among European and American negotiators, who said within the last week that the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna had briefed officials on Iran’s uranium activities at its Natanz complex.
Diplomats from different countries, who declined to be identified because they were discussing sensitive classified information, said Iran appeared on the verge of assembling 164 centrifuges, the number needed to form a “cascade” mechanism that could enrich uranium for nuclear energy or, eventually, bombs.
In effect, they said the 164 centrifuges would significantly increase Iran’s ability to make weapons, in defiance of demands by the United States, Britain, France, Germany and the United States that it cease its uranium activities immediately.
“What this means is that time is not on our side,” a European diplomat said. “It means that while we are negotiating, Iran is not wasting its time.”
The Quotes:
France’s ambassador, Jean-Marc de la Sablière, said: “It seems to me we will need some time, a few days, I suppose. But we don’t have much time. I guess that we will have to come to the end of discussion very soon. But I cannot tell you exactly when.”
R. Nicholas Burns, under secretary of state for political affairs, turned aside such speculation, saying in a telephone interview from Washington that he had heard strong sentiment for a statement at the Monday meeting, at which he represented the United States.
“We believe that the members of the Security Council all have an interest in issuing this presidential statement, because the most important step we can now take is to send a common, united, clear message to Iran — that is, suspend your nuclear program and return to negotiations,” he said. “It may take some time to achieve the final wording, but we believe that goal is attainable.”
The Point of No Return is fast approaching. but, don’t count on anything substantiative from the United Nations Security Council.
If the intelligence regarding the Natanz uranium centrifuges is correct, the Winds of War may be blowing in hurricane force very soon.
Stay tuned…..
Previous:
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – The West Should Apologize to Iran
Iran Nuclear Watch: Big 6 Meeting Yields Nothing
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Wants IAEA Supervision and Inspections
Condoleezza Rice Watch: Iran is the “Central Bank of Terrorismâ€
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – “Iran’s Nuclear Fuel Program IRREVERSIBLEâ€
Iran Nuclear Watch: United Nations Security Council Divided Over Response to Iran Nuclear FLAP
Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia – “Iran Still Considering Uranium Enrichment DEALâ€
Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Rebukes Iran Over Withdrawl from Uranium Enrichment Negotiations
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Builds a Secret Underground Command Center
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Threatens “OIL†Weapon
Iran Nuclear Watch: Israel – “America Needs to Get Its Act Together.â€
The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, Russia, China, SergeiLavrov, UnitedNations, UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil, ZhouWenzhong, NicholasBurns, EuropeanUnion, MahmoudAhmadinejad, ManouchehrMottaki, JacquesChirac, Chirac, France, Iran, Nuclearweapons, nuclear, AbdulQadeerKhan, AliLarijani, CondoleezzaRice, JohnBolton, RezaVaidi, GholamHosseinMohseniEjehei, SergeiKiriyenko
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The Right-Wing Blogosphere is DEAD?
There Is No Right-Wing Blogosphere Anymore
Wishful thinking from the Left…..
Technorati Tags: Blogosphere, Right-Wing, Conservative
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Governor and California Republican Party Raise $2.5 Million and PROTESTS
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger talks about the importance of education to some 900 high school choir members, staff and families at the 17th annual High School Choir Festival at Disney Hall in Los Angeles on Monday, March 20, 2006. Schwarzenegger was to host a major fundraising dinner later in the evening.
ASSociated Press: Schwarzenegger, GOP raise $2.5 million at SoCal fundraiser
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state GOP collected an estimated $2.5 million at a fundraiser headlined by Sen. John McCain that helped replenish coffers drained by a failed ballot measure campaign last year.
Top donors kicked in as much as $100,000 to attend Monday night’s dinner and reception at the Beverly Hilton while about 200 protesters from teacher, firefighter and other unions protested outside.
Some of the donors are listed here on ElectionTrack and here on the invitation.
Members of the California Nurses Association push what looks like a gurney with a giant soap bar down a hallway as they try to see California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at a fundraiser attendeded by U.S. Sen. John McCain, in Beverly Hills, Calif., Monday, March 20, 2006. The nurses are wearing protective gear and want to hand the symbolic soap bar to Schwarzenegger to clean up corporate corruption.
Security guards and police turned away about two dozen members of the California Nurses Association who tried to march into the reception shouting, “Shame on Arnold.”
“This fundraiser is the prime example of what is wrong with our system,” said Jill Furillo, Southern California director of the nurses association. “They write their $100,000 checks because they hope to get a favor in return.”
The scene was reminiscent of 2005, when union activists angered by the governor’s agenda hounded his public appearances and ran millions of dollars of TV ads. Their campaign contributed to the November defeat of Schwarzenegger-supported ballot measures to slow state spending and curb public union power in Sacramento.
Flap supposes the acquiescence of Governor Schwarzenegger to the nurse staffing ratios sought by the California Nurses Association immediately after the November 2005 California Special Election has had little deterrent effect on labor protests. But, then, we knew that didn’t we?
Apparently, those nurses have not forgotten how Schwarzenegger stated he would “kick their butt.”
It looks to Flap it is the reverse on whose ass is getting kicked.
A man in a mask of U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., joins a protest outside a gala fundraiser for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, at which McCain was to be a featured speaker, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., Monday, March 20, 2006. One organizer explained the visual metaphor as meaning the governor should ‘come clean’ about his special-interest financial support. Scores of union members protested, calling for his ouster in November.
McCain, R-Ariz, headlined the governor’s reelection fundraiser, hosted by donors from the entertainment and business elite that included “The Terminator” director James Cameron, Interscope Records chief Jimmy Iovine, Yahoo Inc. Chairman Terry Semel and Univision Communications Inc. Chairman A. Jerrold
McCain has urged Schwarzenegger to push for campaign finance reforms in California in 2006. But the governor has spent much of his time talking about building highways, levees and schools, not restraining the flow of campaign dollars.
McCain spokesman Craig Goldman said that to his knowledge, the senator and governor did not discuss campaign finance reform at the fundraiser.
It is trolling for dollars season to fund the June and November campaigns. The Democrats have filed a complaint against McCain for soliciting money above the federal limits, but it will go nowhere.
Democrat candidates for Governor are trolling for the same dollars and believe, Flap, they will turn NO donor away.
The Democrats running against him in the June primary – state Controller Steve Westly and Treasurer Phil Angelides – were also busy fundraising, sometimes appealing to the same corporate and entertainment industry donors pursued by the governor.
Schwarzenegger has collected at least $5.2 million for his reelection, according to state reports, while Angelides has raised about $2 million. Westly has collected $3.4 million but that includes $2.5 million of his own money.
Here are some more photos from the union protests:
A man wearing an Arnold Schwarzenegger mask is wheeled in a bathtub with a bubble-making machine during a protest outside a gala fundraiser for the California governor.
Members of the California Nurses Association, some wearing hazardous infection protection gear, blow soap bubbles as they walk outside after being escorted out by hotel security at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., Monday, March 20, 2006. The nurses wanted to hand over a large soap bar to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger who at the hotel holding a fundraiser with Sen. John McCain.
Stay tuned…. The campaign for California Governor is just beginning……..
Previous:
Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Alliance for a Better California – “We’re BACK!â€
Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: The New Majority
Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Public Works Bonds are DEAD and so is Schwarzenegger’s Re-election?
Technorati Tags: ArnoldSchwarzenegger, California, CaliforniaElection2006, CRP, CaliforniaRepublicanParty
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Iran Nuclear Watch: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – The West Should Apologize to Iran
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad greets the crowd as he begins a speech in Gorgan, March 14, 2006. Iran will stand by its right to obtain nuclear technology and anyone spreading propaganda against its atomic program will come to regret it, Ahmadinejad said on Monday.
ASSociated Press:Iranian President Wants West to Apologize
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday said the West should apologize to
Iran for accusing it of trying to develop a nuclear weapons program and said his country would continue to resist international pressure to halt its nuclear energy program.The Quotes:
“Today they tell our nation that nuclear energy is a bad thing and it is not necessary for our people to have it. But the nation of Iran has stood (for its right),” he said in a televised speech to mark the Iranian New Year, which begins Tuesday.
“Those who head war and crimes accused the Iranian nation of war seeking. They insulted our nation. I do advise them to apologize.”
“Today we announce with pride that the peaceful knowledge and technology are at our disposal in order to be used for different purposes, including electricity generation, and we have not borrowed it from anybody that can take it away from us.”
Ahmadinejad reiterated that Iran should be compensated for a two and a half year suspension of its nuclear activities. Under heavy pressure from the West, Iran suspended its enrichment of uranium and related activities in 2003 and began negotiating with Germany, Britain and France to reach an agreed framework for its nuclear development. It resumed nuclear research earlier this year when talks failed.
Right.
Iran should be compensated for seeking Weapons of Mass Destruction to shunt over to their terrorist friends and to blackmail surrounding states, such as Jordan and Israel?
President Ahmadinejad, a lackey for the Iranian Mullahs who actually run Iran needs to stand down Iranian uranium enrichment and permit full IAEA inspections of his “peaceful” nuclear program.
No LESS is acceptable.
Previous:
Iran Nuclear Watch: Big 6 Meeting Yields Nothing
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Wants IAEA Supervision and Inspections
Condoleezza Rice Watch: Iran is the “Central Bank of Terrorismâ€
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – “Iran’s Nuclear Fuel Program IRREVERSIBLEâ€
Iran Nuclear Watch: United Nations Security Council Divided Over Response to Iran Nuclear FLAP
Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia – “Iran Still Considering Uranium Enrichment DEALâ€
Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Rebukes Iran Over Withdrawl from Uranium Enrichment Negotiations
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Builds a Secret Underground Command Center
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Threatens “OIL†Weapon
Iran Nuclear Watch: Israel – “America Needs to Get Its Act Together.â€
The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, Russia, China, SergeiLavrov, UnitedNations, UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil, ZhouWenzhong, NicholasBurns, EuropeanUnion, MahmoudAhmadinejad, ManouchehrMottaki, JacquesChirac, Chirac, France, Iran, Nuclearweapons, nuclear, AbdulQadeerKhan, AliLarijani, CondoleezzaRice, JohnBolton, RezaVaidi, GholamHosseinMohseniEjehei, SergeiKiriyenko
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Day By Day by Chris Muir