Citizen G'kar: Musings on Earth

December 23, 2005

Bush Stirring Up A War Fever Against Iran; Japan Warns of Threatening China

This time it would appear that Bush is looking to build a coalition against Iran around the issue of acquiring nuclear fuel enrichment capability. Bush has blown his credibility for me. I do worry about an Iran with nuclear weapons. They seem to be just the sort to use them.
EU and Iran agree to further round of nuclear talks 
AFP via Yahoo! Asia News - Dec 21 1:00 PM
VIENNA (AFP) - Iran and the EU agreed to meet again in January to try to set terms for resuming formal nuclear negotiations but acknowledged after a day of talks that their differences were wide.Save to My Web

EU and Iran agree to further round of nuclear talks 
TODAYonline - Dec 21 11:33 AM
Javad Vaidi(L), head of the Iranian delegation, arrives at the French embassy in Vienna, Austria. Iran and the EU agreed to meet again in January to try to set terms for resuming formal nuclear negotiations but acknowledged after a day of talks that their differences were wide.Save to My Web

Hopes slim as Iran & EU resume nuclear talks 
IranMania.com - Dec 22 2:21 AM
LONDON, December 22 (IranMania) - Iran and the European Union met to resume a nuclear dialogue broken off in August, with Tehran insisting on its right to make fuel that the West fears could be used to manufacture atom bombs.Save to My Web

Syria has signed a pact for the storage of Ians nuclear weapons and missiles Janes Defense Weekly 
DEBKAfile - Dec 21 3:45 AM
The Damascus-Tehran strategic accord is meant to protect both countries from international pressure over their banned weapons programs.Save to My Web

EU-Iran open key nuclear meeting 
IranMania.com - Dec 22 2:05 AM
LONDON, December 22 (IranMania) - Iran and the European Union opened a key meeting in Vienna, with diplomats warning hopes are slim for getting Tehran to abandon making the nuclear fuel the West says could be used to manufacture atomic bombs, AFP reported.Save to My Web

US backs European diplomacy on Iran 
AFP via Yahoo! News - Dec 21 10:39 AM
The White House said that it backed joint diplomatic efforts by Britain, France and Germany to satisfy concerns that Iran's nuclear program may hide a quest for atomic weapons.Save to My Web

Iranian Exiles: Iran Has Underground Nuclear Facilities 
Voice of America - Dec 20 6:31 PM
An Iranian exile group says Iran has built an extensive underground tunnel network to hide a secret nuclear weapons program. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) says 14 tunnels house nuclear equipment, research workshops, and command centers across Iran.Save to My Web

Iran must not have nuclear weapons: US, Germany 
Expatica - Dec 20 9:37 AM
WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush said Monday that the U.S. remains committed to diplomacy to keep Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, but stressed that "we cannot allow" the Iranians to develop uranium enrichment capacity.

Meanwhile, the US appears to be helping and supporting India build a nuclear capability while it builds a stockpile of weapon's grade plutonium clearly intended to deepen it's arsenal. The Canadians are worried:
India reports progress on nuclear issues with US 
Khaleej Times - Dec 22 11:15 PM
WASHINGTON - India reported on Friday considerable progress on implementing a civilian nuclear cooperation deal with the United States.

Canada asks India to open up nuclear reactor 
SiliconIndia - Dec 20 2:39 AM
WASHINGTON: Canada has asked India to open the nuclear reactor, which the former supplied, to allow nuclear inspectors access to the reactor. Canada says India is producing a significant amount of its weapons-grade plutonium at the reactor located north of Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Japan is sounding the alarm on China and China is for the first time is going out of it's way trying to indicate they are putting away their sabres.
N.Korea says to build light-water nuclear reactors 
Reuters - Dec 19 7:05 PM
The comment from the North's official KCNA news agency comes amid a snag in six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programs. It could further complicate an already difficult diplomatic process, diplomatic analysts said.

Japan says Chinas turning into a considerable threat 
The Manila Times - Dec 22 6:27 AM
TOKYO: Japan's foreign minister said Thursday that China was becoming a considerable threat because of its rising military spending and nuclear weapons, sparking a fresh row between the neighbors.

China Vows Peaceful Use Of Its Power
Friday, December 23, 2005; Page A14
The Chinese government, responding to doubts in the United States and neighboring Asian countries, made what it called a "solemn promise" Thursday that its growing power will never become a threat to other nations.

It would appear that the US, Japan and India are worried about a Syrian--Iranian--Chinese--North Korean alliance. That would truly create an ominous threat to world peace. Both Iran and China don't worry about casualties in wars in that they use human wave assaults that cause huge numbers of casualties. A strategic alliance with India appears the only hope to counter balence such an alliance.
The other hope is globalization. The more trade between protagonists, the less likely anyone will choose confrontation at the risk of their economic health. However, China has always thought long-term in it's strategic planning. Simple numbers predicts gradually increasing internal demand for goods to support future growth. A short term economic crisis could be contained internally by a external conflict that employs millions. China seems to carry the long-range trump card. I remain suspicious of China's intent, both short-term and long-term. They've been increasing military spending in double digits every year for the past 17 years. I'm sure the US arsenal looked particularly threatening until the Iraqi war. Now even Japan sees the US as a paper tiger.
Hat tip to Global Geopolitics.

1 comment:

jamal said...

Bush is afraid of china and will not attack. I think he is working to a strategy to gather support that will put pressure on china to cease supporting nations such as iran.