Diplomats surprised as nuclear talks with Iran 'constructive and useful'

Leaders from around the world have gathered in Turkey with representatives from Iran, hoping to resolve an ongoing nuclear controversy that is threatening relations in the Middle East. NBC's Ali Arouzi reports.

Updated 3:42 p.m. ET: ISTANBUL -- Iran and world powers discussed Tehran's controversial nuclear program for the first time in over a year on Saturday and, in what Western diplomats called a constructive development given their low expectations, agreed to meet again.

Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief who has headed negotiations for the six international powers, told a news conference they had arranged to meet the Iranian delegation again in Baghdad on May 23.

The West accuses Iran of trying to develop a nuclear weapons capability. Israel – believed to be the only Middle East state with an atomic arsenal – sees Iran's atomic plans as a threat to its existence and has threatened military action.

Amid Iran tensions, neighbor becomes den of spies

Iran has said its program is peaceful and has threatened to retaliate for any attack by closing a major oil shipping route.

The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action to destroy Iran's nuclear sites.

Saeed Jalili, the chief Iranian negotiator, told a news conference there had been differences of opinion but that some important points had been agreed and that the next talks should focus on arranging measures to build mutual confidence. Iran has been hit by new waves of Western economic sanctions this year.

Western participants had said previously that agreeing to meet for a second round of talks would constitute a successful day. It may remove some heat from a crisis in which warnings from Israel of a possible strike against Iranian facilities have stoked fears of a major war in an already unsettled Middle East.

One non-Iranian diplomat called the atmosphere "completely different" from that of previous meetings, as Western delegates watched out for signs that Iran was ready to engage after more than a year of threats in defense of its right to pursue nuclear energy and denials it wants to be able to build an atom bomb.

After a day in which diplomats had spoken of a more engaged tone from Iranian officials compared to the 15 months of angry rhetoric on either side that has filled the hiatus since the last meetings, Ashton called the talks useful and constructive.

"We want now to move to a sustained process of serious dialogue, where we can take urgent, practical steps to build confidence," she said.

The six world powers present were the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – Russia, China, the United States, France, Britain and Germany.

The talks were never expected to yield any major breakthrough but diplomats believed a serious commitment from Iran would be enough to schedule another round of talks for next month and start discussing issues at the heart of the dispute.

During the day's meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who is leading the Russian delegation, told Interfax news agency: "The atmosphere is constructive, the conversation is businesslike. As of the moment, things are going well."

 

MSNBC's Richard Lui speaks with former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Marc Ginsberg about North Korea's suspected plans for a new nuclear test, and the deployment of a second U.S. aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf ahead of nuclear talks with Iran.

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Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world

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Comment author avatarKanninExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

Iran is led by a madman. He is the product of a religion that celebrates suicide bombings. He can not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. If he has them, he will certainly use them. All the civilized nations of the world must take any steps necessary to ensure that it never happens. I hope this is the first real step in creating global consensus against Iranian nuclear ambitions.

A radioactive atmosphere will not respect national borders!

  • 19 votes
#1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:47 AM EDT

"ALL the civilized nations" are busy bombing and occupying other people's land and threatening others.

  • 16 votes
#1.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:19 AM EDT

Nuclear weapons are used as a deterrent to war and not to create war, wars have been created well enough for thousands of years without them. It worked for the US and the USSR and possibly N Korea. Just think, would Bush II invaded and tried to conquer Iraq if he knew they had nuclear weapons? No population wants to be invaded and controlled by another country which is why we and other nations want nuclear weapons.

  • 7 votes
#1.2 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:12 AM EDT

Iranian president is getting attention because he is opposing Israel and opposing our actions in the Middle East. If he did not have these positions no one would care that much about him and Iran. His religion does not tolerate suicide since it is aginst God's will; maybe suicide bombers feel or believe they have no choice regarding their situation without arms. Reminds me when the Russians attacked German lines without guns to slow down the German invasion in WW2 and suicide attacks against German tanks until they can regroup.

Our policy is that Israel can have nuclear weapons and no other country in ME should have one. Iran having one challenges Israel for nuclear dominance in the region which is against our policy. I remember when Iranian students were at MIT studying nuclear engineering in early 70s since we wanted Iran to be the nuclear power and be the police force in ME with the Shah as its leader who supported Israel. Things changed in '79 with the Ayatollan revolution.

Diplomacy has to be given a chance ; at least they are talking.

  • 6 votes
#1.3 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:41 AM EDT

Actually the " first real step in creating global consensus against Iranian nuclear ambitions" has already been taken in the form of severe sanctions which are just beginning to bite. It may take years for Iran's leadership (?) to capitulate but don't forget that the U.S. has not taken off the table the possibility of a first strike to prevent Iran from actually constructing a nuclear weapon.

  • 6 votes
#1.4 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:33 AM EDT

"Iran is sending signals they want a serious and constructive meeting," another diplomat said before the meeting between Iran and the United States, France, Russia, China, Germany and Britain and their main representative, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton

Boy, I sure hope we can placate these guys! Maybe we should send them some of our virgins or something?

  • 5 votes
#1.5 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:30 AM EDT

America needs to stop trying to dictate the rest of the world. We have enough issues in our own country to deal with.

  • 11 votes
#1.6 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:15 AM EDT

I wouldn't lay any bets on Iran being led by a madman. (I'm not going to rule it out; but I wouldn't lay any bets on it.) Iran knows that if it does not develop nuclear capacity, sooner or later, the invaders will come in and take over, just like they did elsewhere. The only rational of action for the Iranian government is to stall the outside forces long enough to develop the capacity themselves.

  • 2 votes
#1.7 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:38 AM EDT

Paul Craig Roberts was a Treasury official during the Reagan administration and a past editor of the Wall Street Journal.

APRIL 13-15, 2012

World’s Apex Bully Leads World Into Lawlessness

by PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS

The US government pretends to live under the rule of law, to respect human rights, and to provide freedom and democracy to citizens. Washington’s pretense and the stark reality are diametrically opposed.

US government officials routinely criticize other governments for being undemocratic and for violating human rights. Yet, no other country except Israel sends bombs, missiles, and drones into sovereign countries to murder civilian populations. The torture prisons of Abu Gahraib, Guantanamo, and CIA secret rendition sites are the contributions of the Bush/Obama regimes to human rights.

Washington violates the human rights of its own citizens. Washington has suspended the civil liberties guaranteed in the US Constitution and declared its intention to detain US citizens indefinitely without due process of law. President Obama has announced that he, at his discretion, can murder US citizens whom he regards as a threat to the US.

Congress did not respond to these extraordinary announcements with impeachment proceedings. There was no uproar from the federal courts, law schools, or bar associations. Glenn Greenwald reports that the Department of Homeland Security harasses journalists who refuse to be presstitutes, and we have seen videos of the brutal police oppression of peaceful OWS protestors. Chris Floyd has described on CounterPunch the torture-perverts who rule the US.

Now Washington is forcing as much of the world as it can to overthrow international treaties and international law. Washington has issued a ukase that its word alone is international law. Any country, except those who receive Washington’s dispensation, that engages in trade with Iran or purchases Iran’s oil will be sanctioned by the US. These countries will be cut off from US markets, and their banking systems will not be able to use banks that process international payments. In other words, Washington’s “sanctions against Iran” apply not to Iran but to countries that defy Washington and meet their energy needs with Iranian oil.

According to the Christian Science Monitor, so far Washington has granted special privileges to Japan and 10 European Union countries to continue purchasing Iranian oil. Requiring countries to shut down their economies in order to comply with Washington’s vendetta against Iran, a vendetta that has been ongoing ever since the Iranians overthrew the Washington-installed puppet, the Shah of Iran, more than three decades ago, was more than Washington could get away with. Washington has permitted Japan to keep importing between 78-85 per cent of its normal oil imports from Iran.

Washington’s dispensations, however, are arbitrary. Dispensations have not been granted to China, India, Turkey, and South Korea. India and China are the largest importers of Iranian oil, and Turkey and South Korea are among the top ten importers. Before looking at possible unintended consequences of Washington’s vendetta against Iran, what is Washington’s case against Iran?

Frankly, Washington has no case. It is the hoax of “weapons of mass destruction” all over again. Iran, unlike Israel, signed the non-proliferation treaty. All countries that sign the treaty have the right to nuclear energy. Washington claims that Iran is violating the treaty by developing a nuclear weapon. There is no evidence whatsoever for Washington’s assertion. Washington’s own 16 intelligence agencies are unanimous that Iran has had no nuclear weapons program since 2003. Moreover, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s weapons inspectors are in Iran and have reported consistently that there is no diversion of nuclear material from the energy program to a weapons program…

http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/04/13/worlds-apex-bully-leads-world-into-lawlessness/

  • 7 votes
#1.8 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 12:22 PM EDT

Apparently Mr. Roberts doesn't know his history.

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi came to the throne when his father was forced to abdicate by the British and Russians in September 1941. (info gathered from Encyclopaedia Britannica)

  • 2 votes
#1.9 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 2:18 PM EDT

The talks between Iran and UN Sec.council 5 +1 (Germany) will reconvene for a second round in Baghdad,Iraq on May 23rd,2012. US Delegate the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman requested Iran's nuclear chief negotiator Saeed Jalili for a bilateral meeting but Jalili kept it diplomatic- Wendy Sherman; Relations between Washington/Tehran do not need to be so bad (for a tete a tete). UK Guardiaan will have much more coming up.

    #1.10 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 2:59 PM EDT

    @Archstanton.. Perfect attention and truth. Thanks for posting.

    • 1 vote
    #1.11 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 3:01 PM EDT

    "Iran has said its program is peaceful and has threatened to retaliate for any attack by closing a major oil shipping route."

    This doen't exactly sound like a peaceful reaction, (or is it just me?)

    • 2 votes
    #1.12 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:11 PM EDT

    Perspective time- Iran either is very close to a nuclear weapon or has one and wants a few more, they are outright promising a war with Israel and the US, and it would sound a whole lot better if they acted like they were working with the UN/international parties while they force Israel to attack them. They want to start up a proxy war with Israel (rockets from Egypt, Lebanan, Gaza, etc.) and provoke the attack against them. Once that happens they can say that they were defending themselves when they let loose on Israel.

    • 1 vote
    #1.13 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:12 PM EDT

    These talks are nothing but a stall on the part of Iran to give them more time to get a working nuclear weapon. They have absolutely no intention of changing anything about their nuclear program and definitely do not plan on stopping uranium enrichment activities. They are out to get nuclear weapons and the only thing that will stop them is force.

    Their claims that their nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes is patently false. The centrifuges the are installed in their Fordo facility are capable of enriching uranium to much higher levels than needed for peaceful purposes. The fuel for nuclear reactors is enriched to about 3%. The fuel for their supposed research reactor would need to be enriched to 20%. There is no peaceful use for uranium enriched beyond that. The Iranians have already enriched far more uranium to 20% than is needed to fuel their research reactor. In fact they have many times what is needed enriched to that level. The only reason to stockpile 20% enriched uranium is that it is what you feed into the Fordo centrifuges in order to complete the enrichment to weapons grade. Once they have the full compliment of the new centrifuges installed in Fordo, they will be able to rapidly take their growing stockpile of 20% enriched uranium and turn it into weapons grade material very quickly. This is clear evidence that they are getting ready to start making nuclear weapons. There is absolutely no other reason for their stockpiling of this intermediate enriched uranium.

    It is time to stop letting them stall with these endless promises of talks that have all started this same way, with the talking head diplomats saying there are positive signs. In the end, none of the talks have ever ended up producing any commitment from Iran to change one thing about their nuclear program. This round of talks is just the latest stall. It is time to stop stalling and issue the Iranians an ultimatum, cease all uranium enrichment and open all facilities to inspection by the IAEA at any time without prior notice required, or face military action to have their program ended for them.

    • 3 votes
    #1.14 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:23 PM EDT

    Hey pal - have you had your meds today? You speak like one of those American 'sheeple' that 'only' read the US Jewish owned and operated corporate in order to formulate your 'deep' convictions. What would yopu know about 'patiently' false statements coming from prople some 10,000 kilometers from where you live in your Tennessee cave learning about sex from your sisters. Go talk to the Jewish rats in israel about their 'illegal' nukes and tell them that if they want a nuclear free zone - the balls in their court, ya hear?

    • 1 vote
    #1.15 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:43 PM EDT

    The purpose of nuclear weapons is to prevent another country from invading yours. They have no other function as they cannot be used offensively, not by Iran, Israel, Russia, or even us. Any country that does so will be annihilated by the others.

    • 2 votes
    #1.16 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:48 PM EDT

    Yo Cowboy! At least JS in SD had the courtesy to politely and respectfully state his views and did not have to resort to insults and bigoted comments to get his point across. Take notes, you might learn something.

    • 4 votes
    #1.17 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:58 PM EDT

    The Iranians are laughing all the way to the bomb at the credulous fools attempting to stop them. It's called temporizing. Iran will hem and haw and shuffel and call for more talk next month until the weapon is complete , just like they've been doing for the past 2 years in a successful effort to accumulate sufficient stores of the necessary isotope. There is no real reason to follow this story. Iran will get the bomb and Iran will use it. No one opposing them has the competence to prevent this outcome.

      #1.18 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:24 PM EDT

      Best advice - keep any expectations beyond barefaced lies really low.

        #1.19 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:42 AM EDT
        Reply

        I notice The State Of Israel's REAL, HONEST TO GOODNESS, ACTUAL nuclear weapons are not on the table.

        • 15 votes
        Reply#3 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:17 AM EDT

        Several Mideast states have been proposing for years and years that the Mideast be declared a WMD-FREE Zone. That means enhanced inspections for all.

        This proposal existed even before we say we were "forced" to illegally invade Iraq over non-existent WMD.

        You know who blocked this path to peace don't you? The same one's that say they are "forced to make war" over WMD. Yep, The State Of Israel and the US have been blocking this proposal at the UN for years and years.

        No WMD, no excuse to make war - warmongering, "civilized", "democratic", conquering, stealing nations certainly couldn't tolerate that.

        • 11 votes
        #3.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:24 AM EDT

        "J.P"

        Picture yourself living in a complex SURROUNDED by All of your neighbors having Pitbulls?

        Unlike Israel, who is only trying to defend their people.......I guess you would be outside grinning, and playing with the Dogs?

        • 7 votes
        #3.2 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:07 AM EDT

        Israel has never stated they have nuclear weapons or the ability to make them or if they have been given them. On the other hand they will not deny any of the aforementioned either.

        • 3 votes
        #3.3 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:29 AM EDT

        According to the World Bank, The population of Israel in 2010 was 7.6 million. Isrrael is surrounded by Syria (20.4M), Lebanon (4.2M), Iraq (30.0M, Jordan (6.0M) and Egypt (81.1M). Each of theses surrounding states has tried at one time or another (or multiple times) to destroy Israel, so far unsuccessfully. And people like J.P. find it inconvenient to acknowlege that Israel has said their nuclear weapons are on the table the moment these states recognize Israel's right to exist.

        • 7 votes
        #3.4 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:36 AM EDT

        How can we have nuke discussions when Iran is not building nukes? ;) This puts the Iranians in a position to admit they are not being forthcoming with their information.

        • 2 votes
        #3.5 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:46 PM EDT

        @JP Well said.

        @denver bill2 Why do you care so much to make war & become involved in a country thousands of miles away that was founded on and continues to be a Zionist agenda? Has Iran done something to you or your family? Do you think somehow they can? Does being a neo-con make sense and that's why you do it? Has the Pharisees convinced you to not believe the written word of your religion should it be Judaism? Are you of the Pharisees and practice their Talmudic faith with a Zionist goal to rebuild the temple and rule the world under their leader Satan? I know that sounds crazy but I did not make this crap up, religious nuts do and please don't think that in a world of 7 billion minds, that they do not exist. I would like to know the reason you bring our sons into this fight. For oil? For blood money? For the gang of 545? For the largest, most powerful American lobby of Orthadox Jews (talmudic) who buy Washington? For the largest media company controling over 3000 outlets owned by Rupert Murdoch (talmudic).. If your answer is you and me, our children, our parents, our fellow Americans that is AMERICA,, then how?

        • 4 votes
        #3.6 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:12 PM EDT

        @care4....

        So many questions. Honest questions , however, deserve honest answers, so here goes:

        1. I have been to war and do not desire to be involved in any more. Nor do I desire for you or yours to be involved in war, if that is your choice. That does not mean I would not become involved in war again if it were forced upon me.

        2. Iran has done nothing to me or my family.

        3. Do I think somehow they can? Yes.

        4. I don't know what a neo-con is, much less consider myself one.

        5. I am not Jewish.

        6. I believe in God, but am not by nature suited for organized religion. My God is not Satan.

        7. I bring nobody's sons into this fight. They bring themselves.

        My comments were statements of fact, and nothing more. Do what you will with those facts.

        • 4 votes
        #3.7 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:39 PM EDT

        JP-There was WMD in Iraq. Read the 2009 Chemical Weapons Convention report.

        • 3 votes
        #3.8 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:10 PM EDT

        ba...look at the yellow cake report...you can put anything on paper...so...

        • 2 votes
        #3.9 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:03 PM EDT

        Your all infidels so my promises to you mean knothing.Ill just keep stalling until my nukes are in the air headed to Israel.

        The above is most likely true,so if Israel does something i would understand why.

        • 1 vote
        #3.10 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:13 AM EDT

        Plain Bob: It was a self reporting by the Iraqi government to the CWC. They declared "two bunkers with filled and unfilled chemical weapons munitions, some precursors, as well as five former chemical weapons production facilities." This what was left over after the initial bombing campaign in 2003 and 6 years of collecting and destroying other chemical weapons

        • 1 vote
        #3.11 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:15 AM EDT

        The Iranians leared to lie and cheat from the Pakkis. These diplomats can run up their expense accounts and have a good time in Istanbul on someone else's dime, but what they will actually accomplish will amount to four-fifths of five-eighths of s.f.a.

        • 1 vote
        #3.12 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:47 AM EDT

        Thank you Denver.. Thanks for your service first and thanks for the reply. . Do you feel it was ok for Israel to be taking homes that have real humans living in them as well? I think if the neighbor of Israel does not support this and recognize Israel as a state, then its really none of our business.. Let them work it out.. Lets stop with the veto's when the original owners of those homes wants to get some recognition as a state themselves and a spot in the U.N... Lets stay out of it so the neighbors can finally make Israel say.. HERE ARE OUR BORDERS for the last and I MEAN last and final time so these country's can get on with their lives.. But I got to add something.. You know that temples very important.. It is the Zionists goal to rebuild and its the goal of many to prevent that.. Heck, a hundred years ago it would have been western Christians making sure it wouldn't be allowed to happen.. So I guess I'm saying that because honestly.. I believe ALL ROADS lead to Jerusalem. And the state of Israel has said she does not want our help.. See the video here where they tell Biden to piss off last year when they were at the base of the temple with bulldozers.. The temple is also THE neo-con agenda..

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyXdKokVOOs

          #3.13 - Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:42 AM EDT
          Reply

          Iran must come to believe that they will not be allowed to have NUKES! Once they realize that everyone will not tollerate this, then? I dont know? Iran can and is stubborn!

          I hope that this will ease the speculator's minds? And bring the price of oil back down? Doubtful!

          • 1 vote
          Reply#4 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:40 AM EDT

          Everyone? No, just the oil/gas predators. How quickly you forget what these predator oil/gas thieves did in Libya a few months ago, a nation who 'also' wasn't bothering anyone.

          • 5 votes
          #4.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:57 AM EDT

          I did enjoy Trumps rant on how we have been doing all this without making a deal of some sort,like for oil.

            #4.2 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:17 AM EDT
            Reply

            It's interesting to note that as a boomer I grew up at a time when our enemies were pointing literally thousands of nuclear missiles at every one of our major cities (and we at their cities). Now, here we are in Korea and Iran worrying that they might have a weapon that might have the range to reach some part of Alaska or Israel at some point in time. Don't misunderstand, I do think it makes sense to curb these folks' appetite for nuclear capacity but aren't we scaring ourselves to death relative to the threat and relative to where we have been? Also, keep in mind only one country in the past 70 years has ever used a nuclear weapon on civilians. Can you guess who that was?

            • 7 votes
            Reply#5 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:08 AM EDT

            And I guess you never thought that 19 Muslims would be here ILLEGALLY and kill almost 3,000 innocent AMERICANS?

            Remember 9/11?

            • 10 votes
            #5.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:13 AM EDT

            Yup, the price for financing Jewish terrorism was (and continues) to be high. Why doesn't America learn - Them Jewish scumbags are bad news. Kicked out of 119 nation over the past 3,000 years should offer people a 'hint' of what these scumbags bring with them - cursed double trouble.

            • 3 votes
            #5.2 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:01 AM EDT

            Patty, what is your point? My point is that the nuclear threat is nowhere near what we have dealt with in the past. In the case of Iran and the Middle East there will be significant change in the next decade. These countries are finally dealing with the after-effects of the Ottoman Empire, British Colonialism and American Imperialism left over from the Cold War. A new generation of socially interconnected young folks, will lead the way. It will take time, it will be messy and yes there will be World Trade Center issues. But in the end, Syria and Iran will democratize and the Middle East will become an economic powerhouse just like others who have followed a similar course (Japan, China, Russia) We don't need to bomb anyone into oblivion and they will not bomb us or Israel. They have nothing to gain....not even satisfaction. The old convenient global politics will slowly go away....probably as soon as boomers begin to pass on in the next decade. We are all "Facebookians" now!

            • 2 votes
            #5.3 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:21 AM EDT

            B707320C - I'm also a boomer, and I think you're assessing history through a rather myopic point of view. This nation, and the world, are faced with the same threats our fathers and grandfathers faced; the threat of maniacal, out-of-control nations that have a mantra of either dominating the world via a 12th century theocratic world state or via the same old total world state view of Mao and Stalin. They don't care how many people they starve, kill, or subjugate, and their strategic tactics with the USA and our allies is working well to achieve their goals. That the players have become more sophisticated in their tactics and that most americans have been dumbed down to the threats by around 57 years of being fat and happy when compared to the rest of the world, it doesn't mean the new generation of "socially interconnected young folks" will fare any better than the pacifists did when faced Hitler, Mao, Stalin, Ho Chi Minh, Pol Pot, Fidel Castro, Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, Franco, Deng Tso Peng, Mohammad Adid, Assad, Gadaffi, Saddam, and lets not leave out Osama Bin Laden and about a hundred others in the last 100 years that have butchered millions that didn't think they would be shot, bombed and gassed. As far as the young folks of today "leading the way", don't make me laugh. Most young folks of today can't function without their IPODS, IPADS, and cell phones, and they have such an imperfect sense of history and scewed education processes that they would have been considered morons 100 years ago. You my friend are living in la la land if you think that the Iranians are just posturing in their constitution about destroying Israel, or that the Chinese War College teaching military and strategic tactics to employ agains the West is just "war games". Countries are won AND lost the same old way, civilizations rise and fall the same old way, and people become winners or losers in the same old way when it comes to the geo-political history of the world - by the barrell of a gun. Apparently 9-11 wan't enough of a a wake-up call for you, and if OBL had HAD a nuke, he would have used it instead of jets. Maybe WW3 in the Middle East or a dirty nuke going off in DC will wake folks up; and DON'T don't insult our intelligence by saying that it won't or can't happen". The threat of nukes being used as terrorist vehicles to export violence is greater now that it has ever been. Hopefully, the boomers that are stilll in charge of much of the world and this new generation of young folks will wake up before it's too late and their grandchildren's official language is Chinese! How many times do you have to see the movie before you get the plot. Israel sure knows the plot! Enough said - now you can go back to your joint and Peter, Paul, and Mary and please take AZCowby with you and let him overdose on kool-aid!

            • 4 votes
            #5.4 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:07 PM EDT
            Reply

            IRAN is laughing their butt off.....How many times will be be "sucked in" by their claim they they want to cooperate? They are just buying time to CONTINUE their nuclear processing!

            Obama wants to be buddies will all of our "Threat Nations and Enemies"......IRAN, CHINA, RUSSIA, NO. KOREA!

            (oops....No a problem, Mr Putin.....the BIG O will help you after Novermber!...screw the USA!)

            We are the least respected, Worldwide, than ever in My lifetime!

            I PRAY that we don't pay for this stupidity!!!

            • 11 votes
            Reply#7 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:55 AM EDT

            Sorry, Patty. We are already paying for it.

            • 6 votes
            #7.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:37 AM EDT
            Comment author avatarTheAZCowBoy, Tombstone, AZ.Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

            WTC II. Where are you when the world needs you? These low life bankrupt US/NATO oil predators have a BIG arse whupping coming. Just like the Taliban is giving it to them in Afghanistan, as the people there defend their country against the Great Satan. GO, Taliban! GO, Iran!, KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOM! "The best is yet to come!" Go Greenbay Packers!

              #7.2 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:48 AM EDT

              Patty-

              Obama's approval rating is roughly equal to what Bill Clinton had at this point in his presidency, according to data maintained by Gallup (and) higher than the 45 percent Ronald Reagan recorded in April 1982.

              Same in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Canada.... I'm having a hard time believing the world respects us less now.....at least the world isn't saying it.

              • 1 vote
              #7.3 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:50 PM EDT

              Yo Cowboy! You're making Tombstone look bad. I thought most of the malcontents in Tombstone moved South to Bisbee. ( no offense to the fine people of Bisbee) You must be one of the ones that stayed behind, or you are a transplant from some other state, or country. You don't like this country, faults and all, feel free to move your "arse" elsewhere. I'll be happy to donate for a one way ticket for you. I'm sure others will here posting would as well. Try Iran. I'm sure they would welcome you with open arms. That is before they throw you in prison as a spy just for being an American. That's assuming you are even American to begin with that is.

              • 4 votes
              #7.4 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:52 PM EDT

              Patty - I would say it is better to be buddies with China, Russia and Iran, than to be enemies. For your information, Jews and neocons in the Bush administration, were heavily involved in 9/11. Those towers did not fall into their own footprints because of airplanes. They were rigged to fall in controlled demolitions.

              This is a video of bldg 7 falling. Bldg 7 was not even hit by an airplane. It is quite evident it fell in a controlled demolition. If one building was rigged, thery all were rigged. They all were owned by Silverstein and all had been recently insured against a terrorist attack for billions. It was a false flag attack, designed to get us into Afghanistan and Iraq.

              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=972ETepp4GI&feature=fvwrel

              We went into Afghanistan to get rid of the Taliban and allow constuction of a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan to Pakistan to India, which would transport Israeli owned gas to India. The Taliban were standing in the way of Israeli profits and had to go, hence 9/11 and the American occupation of Afghanistan.

              • 2 votes
              #7.5 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:58 AM EDT
              Reply

              Seriously? Waste of time, breath and tax dollars talking to Iran. All the "talking" is for is just a stall for time.

              The middle east should be a WMD zone. The majority of them are fanatics and suicide bombers, thus I feel they wouldn't have a problem launching nukes randomly.

              • 3 votes
              Reply#8 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:58 AM EDT

              Hmmm. I've done plenty of business in the Middle East and I find Arabs to be some of the most hospitable people on earth. I also think most of the world likes Americans---they just hate our politics. Maybe we should get rid of politicians on both sides.

              • 6 votes
              #8.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:38 PM EDT
              Reply

              They will probably just quibble about how many water pitchers are on the table at the same time or who fills their glass or how cold the water will be or how many ice cube buckets will be available...

              • 2 votes
              Reply#9 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:26 AM EDT

              the sooner he gets voted out (obama) the better ,safer, united we will be. This thug and his coharts are bad news.

              • 6 votes
              Reply#10 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:29 AM EDT

              the sooner he gets voted out (obama) the better ,safer, united we will be. This thug and his coharts are bad news.

              • 5 votes
              Reply#11 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:30 AM EDT

              whats this spicewiesel stuff ?

                Reply#12 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:31 AM EDT
                Comment author avatarTheAZCowBoy, Tombstone, AZ.Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

                World powers? Can we say, the 'United Snakes' (US/Israel/Nato) of the world have demanded that Iran pull down its pants and also bring the vasoline with 'em? Here we have a country with vast oil/gas resources that thes low life predator thieves covet and the threat of war looms over their head if they do not surrender - and quick!!! Few times in my life have I felt ashamed to be an AmeriKKKan. Iran has not attacked anyone in 200 years. The last time they fought an 8 year war was because the United States and its Jewish hemmorhoid 'sic'd' Saddam on them. Then the low lives gave satellite information of Iraq's troope movements to Iran and lethal gas and Tow/Maverik anrti-tank missiles to Iran (Iran-Contra) and then sat back and laughed as some 1,000.000 conscripts on both sides tore at each other and were killed. Shame on you America! God damn you israe,l and as for the French and English predator oil thieves (Remembering Libya just a few months ago). You are going down for the count MFer's. You have been stealing the world's people's oxygen from the air some 1,000 years now and as we see you, bankrupt and swimming in a wealth of debt we wish you death, beastly race of low life predator thieves.

                • 2 votes
                Reply#13 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:38 AM EDT
                Reply

                Iran CAN NOT be trusted, just like N. Korea. Why is it that most who comment on this site do realize that Iran can't be trusted by our government officials keep going into talks with them, are they blind? Their president is a mad man. I think they are just looking for more time to develop their nuclear program.

                • 7 votes
                Reply#14 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:15 AM EDT

                It is apparent that most of the post's are from people that watch faux new's! Here's a thought. There is 1 independent news source, if your provider has it.LINK T.V. It's channel #375. On direct t.v. another thing you will notice is there are NO COMMERICIALS! They aren't tied to anyone's agenda! We are now in a one world economy whether you want to admit it or not. Has anyone here ever heard of the grand proposal? The Iatola Komiene proposed it to little bush during his first term,basicly it said that iran would comply with everything that dumbya wanted, all he had to do was recognize palistine as a nation and tell israle to leave them alone!It gets better,he made the same proposal to obama,the reaction was the same. If you don't believe me google it and be amazed! Iran is no threat to anyone. They are just like most humanbeing's they just want to be left alone to do whatever they do to make that makes them happy!

                If you are sick of our jobs being sent to 3rd world countries,big corporations,the banks screwing us,being lied to by our government,polution,big oil,just plain out stupitidy, get off your asses and go to the polles and vote every incumbent out of washington,except one,that would be obama,not because i think he has done a good job,but because romeny would be really worse.Romney is a bought and paid for canidate, no soul, he can't make a decision and stick by it,he's for whoever he's speaking to,thats ole mittens,whatever you want to hear!

                • 6 votes
                Reply#15 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:30 AM EDT

                Well, moron, Obama is why America is going to @!$%#. Romney is no angel but loads better than what we have. Ideally, I would have to be President in order for this country to straighten up, but it's not going to happen because I cannot kiss the corrupt asses of DC politicians.

                Bush tried to get Israel to accept the state of Palenstine, but the Palenstinians didn't want to recognize the state of Israel. We will not be subject to terrorist's demands, like you... a coward and American traitor.

                • 5 votes
                #15.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:54 AM EDT

                My view is that Obama is better than the guy before him. At this rate, the guy after Romney should be a saint--and wouldn't that please the religious right!

                Let's be clear, both Republican and Democrat administrations have had remarkably similar positions on Israel and the international arena in general. Unfortunately, blind support of Israel has cost us dearly over the past 50 years. Eventually, Israel will have to make peace and recognize a two-state solution or risk being overrun population-wise by Palestinians and suffer the same fate as the white majority in South Africa. Many of us on this message board may not be around to see this happen but my experience has been the the Middle East can be a very patient place....which is one reason why the Palestinians are in no rush to come to terms now. Their deal will be better down the road.

                  #15.2 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 2:01 PM EDT
                  Reply

                  Oh something else,the president of iran as no real power,the person running the country is Komeine!

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#16 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:36 AM EDT

                  and oh what a meany he is...

                  • 1 vote
                  #16.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:47 PM EDT
                  Reply

                  We should show them the technology and effects of a nuclear bomb by dropping one on them. Keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of madmen who want to destroy the world. For Iran, it's a stall tactic to advance it's nuclear weapon ambitions. Like we did in Iraq, we with the help of other countries need to rid the world of this evil empire.

                  • 4 votes
                  Reply#17 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:45 AM EDT

                  Three things to keep in mind.

                  1. The Enterprise, Carl Vinson, and Eisenhauer American carrier battle groups are in position around Iran. Investigate what a carrier force is here: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id=146

                  2. The Russians are moving troops to Iran's northern border to support Iran if it is attacked or invaded.

                  3. The Russian Navy has been ordered to patrol the Syrian coast in the Mediterrania Sea.

                  So, it's easy to play 'one and one equals two' isn't it?

                  Add to this Israel's fighting capabilities and the fact that if a conflict begins, Israel will use everything it can just to survive, and maybe you can imagine vicious fight that will occur.

                  So, it might be time for everyone to back off and do some meditation for the next thousand years.

                  PS - To all here who council using nuclear weapons. I am a retired nuclear weapons security tech. Trust me when I say, "You NEVER want to experience a nuclear war." Understand this and take it to heart. And that includes governments. Stop now, before it's too late.

                  Oh yeah, have a nice day.

                  • 7 votes
                  Reply#18 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:21 AM EDT

                  It's pretty widely known from MANY reputable sources that Israel has at least 300 active nuclear warheads in addition to a vast array of other types of WMD's. All things considered, it certainly appears that the most volatile, aggressive warmongering government in the Mid-East, that is also dictated by ANOTHER Religious Belief that is Holier than anyone else's, is in fact, another USA tax payer funded Corporate $$$$$ War Machine: ISRAEL. They, and our heretofore full support of them, is what scares me. Not Iran. And, as you may guess, I am fully supportive of Palestine and their call upon the UN to recognize them as a sovereign state. President Obama is doing it right to maintain peaceful talks with Iran and keeping Israel's finger off the trigger. But, I am not wholly supportive of the USA sanctions imposed on Iran and I am not a Hillary fan. (wikipedia: Israel and weapons of mass destruction)

                  • 4 votes
                  #18.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:53 PM EDT

                  Fred -

                  3. The Russian Navy has been ordered to patrol the Syrian coast in the Mediterrania Sea

                  Syria doesn't have a coastline that borders the Mediterranian Sea....it's land locked.. Other than that great points...moron.

                    #18.2 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:57 PM EDT

                    Don look at a map. Syria has a about 120 mile coastline on the Med.

                    • 1 vote
                    #18.3 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:16 PM EDT

                    Don....

                    BUZZZZZZZZZZ that is an incorrect answer. Syria has a Navy, a Port and a very long Med Coast that goes from its boarder with Turkey down to Lebanon.

                    When will the USA demand that israel get rid of its Nuclear Weapons? What a bunch of Hippocratics!!

                      #18.4 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:22 AM EDT
                      Reply

                      Just another Stall, the more they keep us at the table the closer they get! So Why don't we get it!!! Its time to Blow some things up! Clinton, lets her Husband get away with a chick giving him head, and who know what else or who else hasdone worse man, he knew he could get away with it, so the Irainans know how easy she is for not making very good decisions. This cannot go on anylonger. everyone is worried about an attack on the U.S. by Missle now. OH come on! They want it for Isarel you idiots at the table on another vacation!! I bet your meeting last an hour and the rest are for Party Time!!! Get with it Lets Bomb now!! Before its to late. ISREAL GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!

                      • 3 votes
                      Reply#19 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:57 AM EDT

                      If the people in the U.S. want to bury their heads in the sand about iran and nukes they are doing a good job. iran will use the nukes against Israel first and then the U.S., then it will be too late to stop them. They smart mouthed to my ancestor hundreds of years ago, sending the head on an emissary back to the Great Khan, so he went into persia and destroyed it, killing men/women/children/animals and burning it to the ground, this is what needs to be done again, only way to stop these mad men, if not they will destroy the middle east and anyone else they deem to. These talks are just a delaying action, period.

                      • 2 votes
                      Reply#20 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 12:29 PM EDT
                      Comment author avatarTheAZCowBoy, Tombstone, AZ.Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

                      Nuke Israel? What's wrong with that? Is there a country on the globe that would object to these racist baby killers getting 'wiped off the face of the earth?' I doubt it. Ask around if you want to be shocked as to how many despise that 1/2 acre of Zionist hell after all the murder, assassinations, land and water thefts they have and continue to commit 'all over the world.' God sent them the Holocaust in the 1940's and still they would not change their wicked ways.. Obviously, the 40 years wandering in the Sinai did even less to teach them to step aside and quit 'Jewing' the world's Goyim. After what we see happening on Wall Street these past few years and taking a closer at the Jewish banksters of Wells Fargo, BofA, Citibank and J.P. Morgan and a few other Jewish crime syndicates, we can rest assurred that Hollocaust II will be nothing pretty.

                      • 2 votes
                      #20.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:02 PM EDT

                      I would stand by Israel before I would ever stand by you dummy!!!!! Giving the good people of Tombstone a bad name dummy! Move to Iran if you want to spit that garbage Hollocaust II you go Hitler!!!!!!!!!! That red line under the word means you spelled it wrong dummmmmy!!!!!!!!! Not often I want to smack people in the mouth but you qualify dummmmmy!!!!!! Excuse my examples for the ignorant red neck

                      • 1 vote
                      #20.2 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:51 PM EDT
                      Reply

                      I think we've talked enough. If you don't think a bomb is next, then you are what's wrong with this Country.

                      • 1 vote
                      Reply#22 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:01 PM EDT

                      Many many comments about how nukes have prevented war between U.S. and the USSR, and claims that this would also be the case with Iran and North Korea.

                      You all seem to be ignoring the fact that the U.S. has never said that the USSR has no right to exist, and the USSR has never said that the U.S. has no right to exist.

                      Can the same be said about N.Korea (in terms of S.Korea) or Iran (in terms of Israel).

                      You are fools if you think Iran wouldn't use nukes if they had them. Jihad is glorious in their eyes, can the same be said about the U.S. and the USSR?

                      • 5 votes
                      Reply#23 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 2:07 PM EDT

                      Yeah, Kruschev announcing at the UN "we will bury you" as they had 1000 nukes aimed at us meant nothing.

                      • 1 vote
                      #23.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:32 PM EDT

                      Krushchev meant that the USSR would "bury" the USA economically and politically, not literally. We had more nuclear strategic weapons and better capability at the time (1956) for it to be a military threat.

                        #23.2 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:09 PM EDT

                        Excuse this McRob fellow folks. His crystal ball has a virus in it. I think some Iranian blogger has sent him the stynx virus - and this is why he Stynx to high heaven!

                        • 1 vote
                        #23.3 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:06 PM EDT

                        You are a idiot!!!!!!!!!! Amazed check your sources dummy Iran has not attacked any one in 200 years just plain silly dummy!!!!!!!!!

                          #23.4 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:32 PM EDT

                          Cowboy, I've got news for you. I'd rather listen to McRob over your racist rantings any day. The only thing that stinks here is your bigoted attitude! Sounds like the Iranian blogging troll here is you! Grow up and get a life!

                          • 3 votes
                          #23.5 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:05 AM EDT

                          What a Shame, maybe you should learn a little history from wikipedia or any other source you may choose. There were over a half million casualtys in the war between Iraq and Iran in the 1980s. However, my statement was that Iran (and other Islamic countries) have continuously been vocal about the fact that Israel took land belonging to Muslims (I'm not disputing this, when Israel became a country, it took land that belonged to other countries, and they will never forget that) and that Israel doesn't deserve to exist and will be exterminated in a Holy War (Jihad). I was posing the question about who do you think would be more likely to use nuclear weapons, some country that just doesn't like another country and is considering invading it, or some country that feels it has been already been invaded and is just getting back land that originally belonged to Muslims.

                          No need to respond to Cowboy's response, he simply did childish name-calling without even giving a basis for his rant.

                          • 1 vote
                          #23.6 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 3:44 PM EDT
                          Reply

                          We've seen this dog & pony show before! Nothing will happen. Iran is just playing for more time. As soon as they conduct a test, they will feel bullet proof. And then... Iran will start threatening the countries of the world. Even if the "regime" changes, Iran will continue to be a nuclear power.

                          • 2 votes
                          Reply#24 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 3:15 PM EDT

                          Yup, the US is a great teacher in the area of showing respect for other less powerful nations whom it wants to rape from ther oil/gas and other resources. Hey RoadKill, Iran has not attacked anyone in 200 years. Maybe the United Snakes (US/Israel/NATO) could learn from them, huh?

                          • 1 vote
                          #24.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:10 PM EDT

                          Iran occupied islands n Persian Gulf, claimed by UAE in 1971.

                          • 4 votes
                          #24.2 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:25 PM EDT
                          Reply

                          It's a mad mad mad mad world.

                          Always has been, always will be.

                          That's why ET won't visit us.

                          • 1 vote
                          Reply#25 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 3:50 PM EDT

                          IQ <70? OK, you're a negotiator with Iran and N Korea!

                            Reply#26 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:13 PM EDT

                            Sounds like the persian cat got AZCowboy's tongue!

                            • 2 votes
                            #26.1 - Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:27 AM EDT
                            Reply

                            The Iranians are just trying to waste our time and make themselves look good to the ignorant deluded fools who think they are a peacefull country. They have warred with their neighbors, threatened to destroy Isreal, & kill all who do not belong to the Muslim faith.

                            You pathetic losers that claim the US is the agressor are just plain crazy. Look at the truth. When did we start fighting in WW2? After Japan attacked us in Hawaii. When did we start fighting in Korea? After North Korea and China attacked South Korea. When did we start fighting with Iraq? After they attacked Kuwait. When did we start fighting with Al Queda? After several bombings and attacks and the final straw was the Twin Towers.

                            Just go blow your tolerant selves out your noses. These are not peacefull people and they are told it is perfectly acceptable to lie to us infidels (all who are not Muslims).

                            • 2 votes
                            Reply#27 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:38 PM EDT

                            Everyone realizes what Iran is and wants to do but talking to them has no downside. As Reagan said "Trust but verify" Keep talking but continue to tighten the sanctions and see how it all plays out.

                              #27.1 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:53 PM EDT
                              Reply

                              There is a time for talk, and everyone prays that it goes well. But there is also a time for action, and hopefully the POTUS will use good judgement in determining when that time is. If peace talks are to be of any use, the POTUS must be strong in his stance. Apologies cannot be made, as Iran has brought this on themselves.

                              We can all hope, and attempt to stay optimistic in attempts to reach through to Iran, and encourage them to both forfeit the nuke program, as well as stand down from desiring to annihilate Israel. No-one, regardless of race or religion, should have to live in fear from possible extermination at the hands of an evil adversary. Desiring the ability to use nuclear weapons as a persuasion is wrong, but desiring to use them to wipe out civilization is evil. Iran has been very blunt regarding their desires for Israel, as well as the US. Talks are of little value, to someone as determined to do wrong as Iran. But perhaps, cooler heads may prevail, and a peace can be reached.

                              Iran's potential denial of compromise, could result in many civilian casualties, if air strikes are required to effectively thwart the nuclear program. All those with first hand familiarity with Iran, have made it clear that weapons manufacture is their goal, and potential energy are only a secondary facade. If the deep-earth labs must be hit, civilians will obviously be involved, however, we either pay the price of a few civilians, or allow the murder of millions. When reason and military logic are utilized, the decision becomes easier to implement.

                                Reply#28 - Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:20 PM EDT
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