118 nations declare support for Iran’s nuclear program
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon | AP Photo
Mark Around the World — September 12, 2012
On August 31, 118 nations rebuked a cornerstone of American foreign policy by declaring their support for Iran’s nuclear program at the annual Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) conference. The concluding communiqué also criticized American-led efforts to isolate and punish Iran with economic sanctions. These positions were accepted unanimously by the nations present.
The conference can’t be dismissed as a fringe movement. Of the participants, 29 delegations were led by heads of state. The NAM includes nuclear powers such as India and South Africa. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also attended and gave one of the keynote speeches.
Nor was the conference a rubber-stamping exercise by like-minded participants. Many issues were vigorously debated and left unresolved. For example, a number of countries, led by Egypt’s President Morsi, strongly criticized Iran for its support of the Syrian government. Another example was the UN Secretary General’s criticism of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s 2005 “World Without Zionism” speech in which he declared that Israel must be wiped off the map. The Secretary General also criticized the Iranian president for his opinion that the Holocaust statistic of 6 million Jewish deaths is an exaggeration.
Some of the arguments used by NAM members to defend the Iran nuclear program are worth noting. These include:
1. Under international law and treaty commitments, Iran has a right to a peaceful nuclear program (i.e. research, energy, medical etc.). To date, there’s no evidence that Iran’s program goes beyond these areas. U.S. objections are based on a policy of preemption and assumption.
2. NAM’s core belief that international law and enforcement should be applied equally to members of the United Nations community. They argue that the United States’ policy toward Iran’s nuclear program is hypocritical when compared to the U.S. policy toward Israel’s nuclear program. NAM members point out that Iran signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Israel has not. Iran has permitted many inspections of its nuclear facilities by international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency. Israel has never. Iran does not have nuclear weapons. Israel holds a large arsenal.
On the surface, it appears that the U.S. enjoys broad global support for its aggressive policy toward Iran. However, the NAM communiqué is another sign of just how shallow this support is.
Before taking next steps, the U.S. should carefully weigh its national interests and options regarding this issue because the stakes are high.
September 12, 2012 - 6:00 AM
I remember this guy named ADOLF that was appeased….
By the US, he means the Obama administration.
Tough to argue with #2. Obama needs to continue to stand strong and not let Netanyahu’s belligerence push us into yet another pointless endless expensive middle east war.
This country is sick of war, and I doubt Rmoney has the chops to stand up to Bibi. I hope the campaign makes this differentiation clear.
118 sounds like a lot, but how many are opposed?
Elect Romney and it’s back to neocon chest thumping, which will accomplish nothing but bring woe on the U.S.
So what…The UN and 118 countries..BFD! Sounds like the “Arab Spring” is working wonders for the US.
Did not Democrat President Barrack Hussein Obama tells us he would heal the world in Cairo…and did we not LIBERATE Lybia AND now they KILL our Ambassador…(way to go Barry)
Shades of Tehran in 1979…444 days under Democrat President Jimmy.
Speaking of the UN…have they accomplished anything…the Blue helmet guys run at first site of a fight. Waste of US money and time but a bunch of third world dictators coming to NYC to live the high life on ‘THEIR” citizens back…(have they paid any of their parking tickets in New York)another joke!
American Ambassador ‘Suffocated To Death’…
**WARNING** **GRAPHIC PHOTO** REBELS PARADE CORPSE…
Romney Calls Obama Response: ‘Disgraceful’…
Muslims Attack US Embassies…is THIS another OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATION.
Mobs with guns and rocket-propelled grenades…
FLASHBACK: Hillary Clinton boast on Gaddafi: ‘We came, we saw, he died’…
$8.99 GAS in NY/NJ….Thanks Democrat Barrack Hussein Obama
That is the question, isn’t it – is Iran’s nuclear plans peaceful or for war? The US has stated that Iran can have a domestic peaceful nuclear pragram; but it cannot have nuclear weapons. Pretty clear statement. Since Iran remains secretive about its facilities and continues to threaten the whole middle east, they give little indication that they merely want a peaceful nuclear energy.
The US is correct in attempting to force Iran to behave and correct in using sactions to do so. They are also correct in holding Israel at bay to give the sanctions to work. Bibi tries to ignore the cost in human life, future policy, and the potential explosiveness throughout the region of an attack on Iran.
If you don’t like high gas prices today, let Bibi loose and you will see gas prices explode and the World plunged into another recession.
8. steve, you should be ashamed. Our Ambassador and associates have been killed and you post such.
Let’s see, steve, the rioting was over a stupid, bigoted film made by an ISRAELI-American. not something Obama did or didn’t do. Libyan officials are appalled and have apologized. And then you’ve got the idiot Romney accusing Obama excusing the perps when in fact the Cairo embassy — not Obama — released the statement BEFORE the violence. Could Romney be any more of a traitor to our nation? Oh, and BTW, the embassy statement was very similar to this from the Shrub man:
“In 2006, the Bush administration similarly criticized cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammed that sparked protests throughout Europe. “Anti-Muslim images are as unacceptable as anti-Semitic images,” which are routinely published in the Arab press, “as anti-Christian images, or any other religious belief,” said Bush administration State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.”
You call this shades of Carter; I’d say it’s more like shades of Beirut under Reagan. Oops, forgot that one didn’t you?
Go ahead and tell us how you would have avoided this.
Yawn.
steve, don’t suppose you have a source for…anything. I’d love to see one for those gas prices.
Dan,
Please see the IAEA’s report today regarding the determination that Iran may be moving toward the development of a nuclear weapon capability. Any major news source of your choosing will have the info since it is a published UN IAEA doc. I do not get the point of posting Mr. Jurkevich’s story unless you are just wanting to stir a bit of discussion? Where do you stand on his assessment?
David. You tell us – how many countries are on the record as supporting the US policy on this issue.
Mark, you give a backhanded nod to Ahmadinejad’s vow to wipe Israel off the map but that statement didn’t take place in a vacuum. Ahmadinejad has repeatedly compared Israel to a germ, a cancer, a (rejected) organ transplant, an insult to humanity and a wellspring of evil. He seems to go out of his way to insult Israel at every opportunity (is that what passes in Iran as politicking?) and repeatedly has called for its annihilation.
You state that, to date, there’s no evidence Iran’s nuke program goes beyond peaceful purposes, but that flies in the face of the Nov. 2011 IAEA report that found “credible evidence” Iran had been conducting research aimed at producing a nuclear weapon, and it ignores the fact that in response, Iran threatened to reduce its cooperation with IAEA.
When you couple that stuff with Iran supplying Hezbollah with thousands of (non-nuke) missiles that are aimed at Israel, it’s hard to imagine how Israel should NOT be concerned.
#8 “American Ambassador ‘Suffocated To Death’…
**WARNING** **GRAPHIC PHOTO** REBELS PARADE CORPSE…”
BTW, steve, it appears that Drudge put this crap up on his front page, but when you click on it it goes to a NY Post article that says nothing about being suffocated or dragged through through streets. In fact, the cutline on a photo of an unconscious Stevens says the people holding him are trying to help him.
IOW, Drudge is FOS. Do you ever bother to read what you link to?
Dan, your post at 11:05am hits the nail on the head.
Dan, speaking of Hezbollah, did you know they have locations in Mexico?
#8 Golly, ned, steve, according to this website http://www.newyorkgasprices.com/, the highest gas price in NYC (Which is always going to be higher) is about $4.99 but you can get it as low as $3.91. Now where was that $8.99 gas? And after you fill up there would like to but a bridge across the Hudson?
There is a Lukoil station in Fair Lawn NJ that has raised its price to $9.99 to protest what it perceives are gouging on the part of its supplier. Other than that, prices in NJ remain about where ours are.
Markj, I’m not sure why we should be worrying about who’s supporting us in our position on Iran. If it’s the right position for us…then it’s the right position. Do we need a lot of glad-handing from the Marshall Islands or New Zealand? Of those 118 nations that don’t support us, how many of them realistically are going to be the ones expected to manage the fallout when Iran finishes developing their nukes? None. I realize you’ve been out of the country for a while, but when disaster strikes somewhere no one’s looking to Poland to fix it. They look to us.
The UN is nice in that it gives each nation a vote, but the US gets veto power for a reason.
If the UN has “193 Member States” and 118 of them say anything, it should matter and be under consideration. This is WWIII territory and we would be fools not to tread lightly and weigh every gesture and incident in proper perspective. Not the least of which is our somewhat exhausted military and ongoing war front.
Diplomacy (with a strong back) is not appeasement and if more people were smart enough to know that, the world would not look as it does today IMO. It is not our job to “control” Iran. Their destiny is theirs.
sandi, here’s a question: if the iranians DO develop a deployable nuke, then deploy it through whatever means to hit an area apart from their territory and resulting in loss of life, would you then support President Romney’s unleashing of force sufficient to finally remove any additional nukes being launched by iran?
“sandi, here’s a question: if the iranians DO develop a deployable nuke, then deploy it through whatever means to hit an area apart from their territory and resulting in loss of life, would you then support President Romney’s unleashing of force sufficient to finally remove any additional nukes being launched by iran?”
What a silly question. First, Romney isn’t president; second, a President George McGovern would bomb Iran if it ever used a nuke against another country.
Pistol Pete must have gotten his name for “jumping the gun”. Do you seriously believe that those are the only choices we have? Iran is very much aware that mutually assured destruction is a done deal if any such effort is undertaken. No matter who is President. As much as some like to think it, the nation is not full of zealots wanting to be martyrs. I do not think there are many nations that want to see WWIII in the region, much less be Iran’s target. Your faith in our intelligence community, diplomacy and problem solving is uplifting. Maybe you need Bush to come back and explain “sovereign” to you? Looking like a bully to 118 nations has to matter, but laying down and ignoring the problem is not going to happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdimK1onR4o
What Frank posits is completely different from the situation at hand. We’re talking about preemptive strikes against facilities that may or may not exist. Frank’s talking about a response to aggression that’s already happened.
Yes, if Iran decides to nuke Israel, we’d respond. It just won’t be Rmoney pulling the trigger.
Markj, I asked a question and you asked me to answer it. If I had a clue, I would not have asked.
hey dano the stock-picker man, well, if obama gets re-elected, what would obama do?
Also, please tell us what those protesters in Cairo were chanting as they stormed the wall of our embassy…it seemingly sounds like, “obama, obama, there’s still a billion osamas…”, or something close to that. hmmm, me-thinks obama thumped his skinny chest and made too much noise about killing osama, eh? I mean, nowhere has there been any allegation, even from you libs, that those storming our embassy were angry with Bush… What’s your take?
Before Iran actually gets a nuclear weapon I would expect a bombing by Obama big enough to see the smoke from Roanoke. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon long enough to ever deploy.
None of us should worry too much more about Iran developing nuclear weapons to be used on Israel or anyone else IMO. The Israelis have demonstrated before their willingness and capabilties to prevent that from happening, and I will be surprised if we do not see a first strike from Israel before the end of the year. I’m sure The Israeli intelligence community is keeping a watchful eye on just how close the Iranians are to developing nukes, and they are going to allow Iran only so close to that goal before they blow Iran’s nuclear program into the stone age. And I’d be willing to bet that they don’t call the White House or the UN to ask permission to do so.
20.”There is a Lukoil station in Fair Lawn NJ that has raised its price to $9.99 to protest what it perceives are gouging on the part of its supplier. Other than that, prices in NJ remain about where ours are.”-Comment by Kristen
50 different gas stations in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania are all raising their prices upwards of $8 a gallon as part of the protest. Just sayin…
DNC…OBAMA GOT OSAMA…BHO got UBL…all we heard plus saving GM…(another lie) plus RUSSIAN warships in backdrop honoring the US Military.
On 9/11 Obama got Osama…(in libyia they were chanting Obama we have millions of Osama..
Feel not guilt at all. It was a coordinated attack and planned for revenge because OBAMA got Osama…(spiking the football…huh)
The only who has blood on their hands is BHO.. Arab Spring…Winter of Discontent.
“Words just Words” quote from Barry…Obama.
Guess putting “God” back in your platform did not help either!
Shades of Tehran 1979…444 days under Democrat President Jummy Carter.
Not worried at all about the election. AN ACT of War on the USA and Barry is going to Nevada. Will not meet Netnahayu (sp) but can see David Letterman..
Yesterday was just I guess an “oversea contingency operation”.
The gig is UP! Don’t doubt me!
Check out Luko Oil prices in NYC/NJ.
matt, they’re protesting their suppliers. Not Obama. And as business people they’re free to do as they wish.
Huntersdad, so let them. And let them shut up about it already.
#20 & 30 So what we have is poor steve mistaking a temporary protest stunt as the real price of gasoline.
Dan, #15 – You are baiting me! There is no reasonable way to interpret my essay as “giving a backhanded to Ahmadinejad’s vow to wipe Israel off the map”. Nor did I have such intention.
Regarding IAEA, it is once again under enormous pressure from the United States. More than once you expressed outrage to me at how the Bush Administration pressured Al Baradei when he headed up the IAEA and it was conducting inspections of Iraq for WMD. Besides, the IAEA claims that the Bomb-Bomb-Iran crowd cite (by the way, when did you join that crowd?) are a few straws pulled out of a very big haystack of IAEA reports. The reality is that pretty much all the underlying data to support these opinions is related to activity which is potentially dual-purpose. I.E. The activity can be related to pursuing peaceful purposes, including research, or for making nuclear bombs. This goes back to the claim that our policy is built on assumption and preemption.
Finally, you throw Hezbollah into the conversation, and conclude it is hard to imagine how Israel should not be concerned. I certainly have no argument with you on that point. Now that you raise the issue, do please look at it from the other side. It is hard to imagine that the rest of the Middle East community of nations is not concerned by Israel’s activities which include, as the essay mentions, development of a large nuclear arsenal and never permitting IAEA inspections. And, do please tell us at whom those weapons are aimed at. Other reasons the community has for concern include the ongoing occupation of Palestinian land and people, in violation of the international community, including USA (e.g. Resolution 242). The list should also mention the occupation of Lebanese land, which most M.E. scholars agree Hezbollah activities brought to an end, which in turn earned it the massive local popular support and respect it has enjoyed ever since.
However, let’s get back to the point. The US should carefully weigh IT’S NATIONAL INTERESTS and options. It often does not, which leads to more trouble, not less.
Sandi, I wish everyone would read and think about your comments #21 and #24. They are so important. Especially #24. Somewhere along the line, the Western mass media managed to convince itself, the masses and the politicians that Iran is a primitive land within nothing more than religous fanatics running around.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The Persian culture and society has existed without interuption for about 3,000 years. Throughout, it has greatly contributed to arts, culture, and philosophy, and has had a strong government and military. They were rivals to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Roman, outlasting them and continuing into today.
This is not a suicidal culture and nor is its government.
We should all take pause and contemplate how the west has treated Iran ever since the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (later Britsh Petroleum) discovered oil there. There are a lot of reasons for Iran to be “a bit prickly” and wanting to build up a credible defense.
Mark,
You mentioned “wiped off the map” in the context of another politician criticizing the comment. And you failed to mention the many and varied subsequent provocations by the Iranian president. That’s wht I meant by backhanded.
I don’t recall bashing Bush for pressuring IAEA, though I may have. The reasons to bash him are almost limitless.
32. “matt, they’re protesting their suppliers. Not Obama. And as business people they’re free to do as they wish.”–Comment by Kristen
Kristen, I didn’t get into the “why” of the gas prices. I was just merely pointing out your misleading statement about “a” gas station (meaning just one). Obviously, that is wrong, since there are at least 50 different gas stations in 3 different states participating.
hey matt, chat with steve about it.
Dan #36. The list of things that “I failed to mention” in my essay is obviously infinite. It seems that you are giving an example of this infinite set that lacks relevance to the essay’s focus. The subject of my essay is the position that was taken unanimously by the 118 countries participating at the annual NAM conference. Whatever “the many and varied subsequent provocations by the Iranian president” that you have in mind may be – they are not relevant to the subject of the essay.
Not that it matters, but I will not post on this thread again. Dan, at 1030 am I asked if you had looked into the IAEA’s report on Iran’s potential development of nuclear weapons (the story is much more in-depth than this brief question that I am posing to you) but I got no response from you. Is ‘spin’ the only thing that you actually have time for? Throw out a topic and let the wolves snap at one another? The only thing that I see on this thread is the same lame back and forth tennis match between the LW’ers and the RW’ers. Nothing of substance, no dialogue, just you taking sides with the Left. No time for it. I have just spent my last 3 minutes posting this (what a waste).
I will not be back.
Regards,
Devino@5:33
As George Jefferson used to say “Don’t let the doorknob hit you where the good Lord split you.” You’re right, it doesn’t matter.
Let’s see, steve, the rioting was over a stupid, bigoted film made by an ISRAELI-American. not something Obama did or didn’t do. Libyan officials are appalled and have apologized.
GDAD…no it wasn’t over a freaking film…none have seen it and just an excuse. That is only a talking point.
This ABSURD attack was preplanned and 9/11.
#20 & 30 So what we have is poor steve mistaking a temporary protest stunt as the real price of gasoline.
Comment by gdad — September 12, 2012 @ 3:23 pm
No I am not…BUT…bho wants higher gas prices..WHY.. Paying $4.00 a gallon. I drive a Lexus V8…cheaper to pay the gas prices…(WHY)…could get a CHEVY VOLT…42k…MINUS BHO stimulus but still cost GM $49K…WHY?
Hey Kristen,
Don’t make false statements and you won’t get called out on them.
Sandi..etc!
Why…a snafu, a technical malfunction, misspoke or
My Contention
A message Democrat Barrack Hussein Obama gave to RUSSIAN PM Medevev at the SUMMIT in Mexico…
Dems Apologize for Displaying Russian Warships Behind Vets at Convention: ‘Vendor Error’
Politics
Bovine Scatology and no one can deny the MESSAGE to the Russians and the agenda of BHO!
#40: “I will not be back.” Comment by Devino
So it turns out someone did pay attention to Rmoney’s plan for self-deportations!
Good advice you should take matt #44!
steve, I do not read your tortured posts and tortuous prose so save the questions for someone who is into that sort of communication.
Devino, I am sure we will miss your contribution. It is common courtesy to offer a link to whatever it is you are asking someone to analyze and discuss. Dan is a busy man, as are most of us. Doing the work for you is not going to be high on anyone’s list.
8. steve, you should be ashamed. Our Ambassador and associates have been killed and you post such.
Comment by Richard J Beason, CPA — September 12, 2012 @ 10:16 am
Let’s see, steve, the rioting was over a stupid, bigoted film made by an ISRAELI-American. not something Obama did or didn’t do. Libyan officials are appalled and have apologized. And then you’ve got the idiot Romney accusing Obama excusing the perps when in fac
Sandi this is not about”tortured prose” and confess not to be the best writer..I will go with the facts.
Rioting OVER a FREAKIN US made movie…These people never saw this movie or even heard about that…
Beason I have refused to call or anyone on this blog any NAMES..
The ONLY people getting called names are me…Suzie.. (I do not know her and have never met her..YET you give this YOUNG LADY snide comments..a war on WOMEN).
I will only stick with the facts, THE TRUTH and anytime and anyone who wants to debate ME in an open forum I am ALL IN.
I will MEET ANYONE, any place, anytime. The ball is in your court.
Guess I am calling out the Roanoke Times.
My only request is Suzie be on this panel…Y’all bring anyone else..your panel. I do not need any prep..(don’t think Suzie does either)
Let’s get the party started……any takers..
This is a Roanoke Times (A CORPORATION with no people)!
I went through 1979 and Tehran 444 day of HOSTAGES…worked in WTC2 in 1996…and I LOST FRIENDS ON 9/11..
This is personal and BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA…A FASCIST..
I was brought up by the “GREATEST GENERATION” and I will be damn if I will not go down fighting.
This is a Roanoke Times blog…think it is time for the blog to go mainstream..public!
Anytime, any place…(full disclosure I do not know Suzie)
9/11: AMERICANS KILLED IN LIBYA…
ATTACK ‘COORDINATED’…
CIA SAW NO THREATS…
FOR FIVE HOURS, NO ONE KNEW WHERE AMBASSADOR WAS…
BODY NOT RECOVERED FOR 12 HOURS…
OBAMA WENT TO SLEEP NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS HAPPENING THERE…
**WARNING** **GRAPHIC PHOTO**…
Romney campaign links attacks to failed Middle East policies…
White House gave ‘mixed signals’…
Marines Headed to Libya to Reinforce Security…
My sources Drudge and others versus the Roanoke Times….HUH?
#43 Yes, steve, you did fall for a stunt. And thought it was real.
#48 steve, nobody wants to “debate” you because you’re a loon. And your sweetheart, suzie, won’t be on your panel because she can’t let anybody see who he/she/it really is.
#49 As usual with Drudge, steve, the stories linked to don;t say what Drudge’s “headlines” say. Do you even bother to read the actual material? Of course not.
Let’s see, steve, the rioting was over a stupid, bigoted film made by an ISRAELI-American. not something Obama did or didn’t do. Libyan officials are appalled and have apologized.
GDAD…no it wasn’t over a freaking film…none have seen it and just an excuse. That is only a talking point.
This ABSURD attack was preplanned and 9/11.
Comment by steve — September 12, 2012 @ 6:19 pm
BINGO, Steve. Gdad buys everything the leftwing media tells him.
DOUBLE BINGO! Suzie, steve, Pistol Pete, Henry, Leon Sharon N and matt buy everything the rightwing media tells them! They even keep clinging when their “truth” is exposed as a lie. Sad that you are even allowed to vote. You have no discernment whatsoever. You do not even grasp that you make Romney look worse, not better. Thanks for that at least!
48. Steve – I happen to care deeply about Suzie and remind her to take her meds when she goes batdip crazy.
As for you, your commentary is somewhat beyond reality. I do not attempt to debate the absurd.
#53 Guess what, toots, at 10 a.m. yesterday my post was based on the best info available at the time. 19 hours later it’s pretty easy for you to post something different, isn’t it, especially when the “leftwing media” is reporting that the Libya attack might have been preplanned by a small group? I’ll bet that 24 hours from now I can post something even more accurate and up to date. Wanna bet? Of course not.
You, OTOH, don’t bother to correct bad information even when it’s proven 100 percent incorrect. You dutifully believe every talking point sent out by the RNC and Rash. You also think up your own loony conspiracies and link to bad information in an effort to “prove” them.
BTW, you forgot to mention that steveo believes every headline on Drudge, even when the headline doesn’t match what the linked article says. Pretty pathetic. When are you guys hiring the poor unemployed soul?
“This is a Roanoke Times blog…think it is time for the blog to go mainstream..public”
Don’t look now, Steve, but this is a public blog. How the hell do you think you ended up on it?
“huh” pretty much sums up my reactions to your posts too.
“This is a Roanoke Times blog…think it is time for the blog to go mainstream..public” Comment by Steve (Nelson)
Now I finally know who those absurd tv ads are designed for that declare “This is a PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT”. And by the way, Steve, this is a public announcement!!!
Hum!
http://tinyurl.com/8pnmxw7
**
EU puts new sanctions on Iran for nuclear program
By Don Melvin on October 15, 2012
LUXEMBOURG (AP) — The European Union, concerned by what it called Iran’s refusal to come clean on its nuclear program, imposed a new range of sanctions Monday intended to hit the country’s treasury and increase pressure on its Islamic regime.
A leading European satellite provider, meanwhile, took 19 Iranian television and radio broadcasters off the air Monday — a cutoff due to earlier sanctions. The move prompted accusations of censorship and threats to sue from Iranian state television.
Foreign ministers from the 27 EU member countries, meeting in Luxembourg, said Iran was “acting in flagrant violation of its international obligations” and was still refusing to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency to address international concerns.
SNIP
Hague said such pressure would continue to mount “over the coming months unless negotiations succeed. We remain open of course to success of negotiations.”
**