Like me, you probably heard MSM reporting yesterday that UK Prime Minister Tony Blair had finally cut his Lilliputian cord of allegiance to US President George W. Bush by declaring that he, unlike Bush, is prepared to partner with Iran to negotiate not only the future of its nuclear program, but also the fate of Iraq. And, based on what I heard, if I were any less informed, I would have thought that this was a truly seminal split in their beleaguered alliance.
Therefore, let me hasten to disabuse you of any impression that what was reported yesterday was even remotely newsworthy. Because here, in fact, is how Blair reiterated his long-standing (and unchanged) policy towards Iran in a speech on Monday, which launched this latest round of MSM tabloid fodder:
If they [Iran] help the Middle East peace process, not hinder it; they stop supporting terrorism in Lebanon or Iraq and they abide by, not flout, their international obligations. In that case, a new partnership is possible. Or, alternatively, they face the consequence of not doing so: isolation.
And, to demonstrate that this constitutes common cause with, not a split from, Bush’s policy towards Iran, here’s how Secretary of State Condoleezza reiterated it on his behalf just weeks ago:
The Iranian Government’s choices are clear. The negative choice is for the regime to maintain its current course, pursuing nuclear weapons in defiance of the international community and its international obligations. If the regime does so, it will incur only great costs. We and our European partners agree that path will lead to international isolation and progressively stronger political and economic sanctions.
The positive and constructive choice is for the Iranian regime to alter its present course and cooperate in resolving the nuclear issue, beginning by immediately resuming suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, as well as full cooperation with the IAEA and returning to implementation of the Additional Protocol which would provide greater access for the IAEA. This path would lead to the real benefit and longer-term security of the Iranian people, the region, and the world as a whole.
Now I ask you, where’s the split?
We need America. That is a fact. Britain’s partnership with the United States [is] crucial to the country’s future strength.
[PM Blair reaffirming the US-UK “special relationship on Monday]
Meanwhile, as I’ve proffered in “Related Articles” listed below, Iran is entirely impervious to any diplomatic effort to cajole or induce it to abandon its nuclear program. And, I maintain that Israel will ultimately be compelled to take military action against Iran: not to enforce Bush’s edict (ie. that “Iran shall not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons!”), but to prevent Iran from wiping it off the map – as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has declared is his final solution for Israel….
NOTE: As it happened, on Monday Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave the clearest indication yet that Israel is preparing for a day of reckoning with Iran when he declared that:
“Iran must start to fear Israel if it fails to halt nuclear plan.”
Although, given the way Israel’s once-feared military was humiliated by a rag-tag band of Hezbollah fighters in Southern Lebanon recently, it may be that the only thing Iran has to fear is fear itself.
Moreover, with Iran announcing just yesterday that its nuclear program is near complete, the time for Israel (and, indeed, the US) to put up or shut up might come much sooner than later….
ENDNOTE: MSM reported that the cause for this alleged split between Bush and Blair stemmed also from Blair’s suggestion that, if Iran and Syria agreed to stop fomenting terrorist activities in Iraq, the US should engage them in dialogue to help stabilize it.
However, James Baker, the man Bush appointed to head his Iraq Study Group, which he tasked with a Faustian search for “a strategy to win”, is on record stating that dialogue with Iran and Syria is precisely what he considers (and will presumably recommend to Bush as) the most prudent diplomatic course the US can take towards solving the mess Iraq has become.
Related Articles:
Time to put up or shut up about Iran’s nuclear program!
Act of war” in the Middle East is a self-fulfilling (or fulfilling of ) prophecy…
Israel vs. Hezbollah: hardly good fighting evil…
Nuclear weapons showdown: Today is a day of reckoning for the West, not Iran…
President Bush & PM Blair, Iran’s nuclear program
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