[Marxism] Cheney puts Iran "at top" of enemies' list, threatens Israeli attack

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is the article I intended to save.  The one I pasted was one I was
saving, not sending. Haste makes waste.
Fred




Posted on Fri, Jan. 21, 2005



Cheney says U.S. to confront Iran
Israel might act first to destroy Mideast nation's nuclear program, vice
president says
By PAUL RICHTER
Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON - In bluntly threatening terms on inauguration day, Vice
President Dick Cheney removed any doubt Thursday that in its second term
the Bush administration intends to confront the theocracy in Iran
directly.

Cheney, who often has delivered the Bush team's toughest warnings
internationally, said Iran is "right at the top" of the administration's
list of world trouble spots, and expressed concern that Israel "might
well decide to act first" to destroy Iran's nuclear program.

The Israelis would let the rest of the world "worry about cleaning up
the diplomatic mess afterward," he added in an MSNBC interview.

The tough talk on this day was part of the administration's attempt to
halt what Iran contends is a peaceful, civilian nuclear energy program
but what Washington believes is a clandestine program to develop nuclear
weapons.

Facing weak diplomatic and military options, the Bush administration has
issued increasingly stern warnings in hopes threats of sanctions and
international isolation would convince Iran to shun nuclear weapons.

Both President Bush and other top administration officials have spoken
in menacing terms about Iran in recent days.

But Cheney's words marked the first time a senior official has amplified
the threat by suggesting the United States could be unable to prevent a
military attack by its close allies in Jerusalem, said analysts and
diplomats.

The startling reference to an Israeli attack was "the kind of strong
language that will get their attention in Tehran," said one allied
diplomat in Washington, who asked to remain unidentified.

"There's a rhetorical escalation here: They've ratcheted up the threat
level by bringing Israel in," said Henri J. Barkey, a former State
Department official during the Clinton administration. "They're using
the fact of the inauguration, and the uncertainty people have about
where they're going in the next term, to say, 'Look, we're not going to
let up on Iran.'"

Despite Iranian denials, Cheney said the United States believes Tehran
has a "fairly robust, new nuclear program." Germany, France and Britain
are trying to negotiate with Iran on the issue, an approach U.S.
officials say they support but refuse to join as they express doubts
over its prospects.

Cheney said the American emphasis is on diplomacy and supporting the
European efforts. But he added, "At some point, if the Iranians don't
live up to their commitments, the next step will be to take it to the
United Nations Security Council and seek the imposition of international
sanctions."

U.S. officials cited Iraq's failure to live up to U.N. resolutions on
its weapons programs as a reason for launching the war against that
nation that has been going on for nearly two years. Despite the
administration's insistence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction,
no such weapons have been found.

Reports have swirled over recent weeks that U.S. officials have
contemplated ways of taking military action against Iran, but Cheney
raised the stakes by suggesting Israel might step in and act first.
Cheney addressed the issue when asked whether the United States could
ask Israel to take the lead in military action against Iran.

"One of the concerns that people have is that Israel might do it without
being asked," Cheney said. "If, in fact, the Israelis became convinced
the Iranians had significant nuclear capability - given the fact that
Iran has a stated policy that their objective is the destruction of
Israel - the Israelis might well decide to act first."

Israeli analysts have said they believe Iran could develop a bomb in two
to three years; U.S. intelligence has predicted it could take slightly
longer. Israeli officials have said they might turn to military strikes
as a last resort and as a way to set the Iranian program back by 10 to
15 years.

This week, a report in New Yorker magazine said U.S. commandos had been
operating inside Iran to find potential targets for attack. The Pentagon
said the report was "riddled with errors," but it did not directly deny
that commandos had entered Iran.

In response, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Iran's influential former
president, said the country "will not be intimidated by foreign enemies'
threats and sanctions."

Israel has expressed anxiety over Iran's stance.

"Iran poses a clear threat to international peace and security," said an
Israeli diplomat, who asked to remain unidentified.

"Iran is a leading sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East, while
actively developing weapons of mass destruction and nuclear programs.
The world should unite and pressure Iran from these destructive
activities."






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