Iran and EU (update)
Desperately trying to regain some popularity, Mr. Schroeder has issued (yet again) an irresponsible statement, knowingly playing in the hands of the mullahs:
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has warned the US to back away from the possibility of military action against Iran over its nuclear programme.
One never takes ANY options off the table when negotiating with totalitarian regimes.
"This is why I can with certainty exclude any participation by the German government [in a military action] under my direction," Mr. Schroeder tells the paper.
He should not worry; he will not be given the chance: he is a little man and he is finished. Sadly we have seen this movie already:
In the 2002 poll, he came from behind to snatch victory after anti-Iraq war feeling - and an outbreak of serious flooding in Germany - helped him attract last-minute support.
No wonder the dream of a European union is looking more and more like a nightmare.
2 comments:
I quite agree with Mr. Schroder. We have indeed seen in Iraq that the military option has failed.
Physical force should only ever be used as a last resort, when all diplomacy fails, and only if the use of force would be justified as well. At German Admin University I learned that the mildest possible means have to be used to achieve the appropriate effect.
Especially when dealing with totalitarian regimes the threat of military action provokes little good but anger. And as long as there is no proof or uranium enrichment for military purposes, any force applied by the international community would be illegal. Iran as a state has sovereign rights, including the right to technological advantages.
Personally, I would only agree to military strikes if double standards were removed, and if Israel was the first country to face the sanctions.
Mr Schroder is a good politician, and having him reelected would not be the worst option.
Dear Reginella,
Thanks for your comment!
You say:
Physical force should only ever be used as a last resort, when all diplomacy fails, and only if the use of force would be justified as well.
I agree. The question here is not to use force or not; is to keep all options open. The only way the mullahs will refrain from their plans is if they feel the price to pay is to great; and that must not be force, it could be sanctions or international condemnation, or both. Besides, the way Schroeder went about it was clearly in bad faith and for electoral purposes, without any regard for the negotiations going on. You must have noticed that war is usually caused by pacifists (Munich '38, France 2002, etc.).
As for Mr Schroeder, let's let the Germans decide how good he is.
PS Israel is a democracy (that is why arabs want to destroy it) and has every right to defend itself.
PS1 The military option in Iraq has not failed by any standards; why do you say that? Did you expect an overnight little Switzerland? The fact that Iran and Syria are doing their utmost to hinder the democratic process there should be proof enough of its success.
Thanks again and all the best,
Marlow
Post a Comment