Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Stalling for Time

The Iranians must just love negotiating with the UN over Iran's drive for nuclear weapons.

Iran and the IAEA have come to an agreement. Oh, not over halting their nuclear drive! Don't be silly. No, the two have agreed to a timetable for Iran to answer some questions:

Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog have reached an agreement on a timetable to respond to questions over Tehran's controversial nuclear activities, both sides said Tuesday.

Iranian and IAEA officials did not elaborate on the time frame. But the agreement was expected to provide for easier inspection of Iran's nuclear facilities by the IAEA as well as urge Tehran to provide detailed answers on remaining questions over its nuclear activities.


I bet they didn't elaborate on the time frame! If the agreement is merely an Iranian agreement to allow the IAEA to "urge" Iran to answer questions, just what is this accomplishing?

Well, other than buying time for Iran to go nuclear.

UPDATE: We are not amused--nor fooled:

A senior U.S. envoy dismissed increased Iranian willingness to answer questions about its nuclear program as a smoke screen on Wednesday and said it would not prevent the U.N. Security Council from imposing additional sanctions on Tehran.


Russia and China won't be able to count of France to provide a fig leaf of multilateralism separate from their despotisms.