The U.S. is being OUT-NEGOTIATED by Iran in the U.N. [View All]

[berni_mccoy]

Iran has lined up one hell of a negotiation stall. What happens on Aug. 31 when Iran doesn't comply with the U.N. demand to stop enriching uranium? Nothing. There is no immediate action along with the U.N. resolution, no sanctions, no military action.

Iran has put forward enough of a concession in their latest communication with the U.N. that there is enough for China and Russia to say "Whoa, Iran is willing to talk, let's not rush to action...". While Bolton has been belligerently badgering the U.N., Iran has been secretly negotiating with China and Russia on what they would need to stall any U.N. sanctioned action. Based on statements coming out of Russia and China, it appears they will resist any efforts to put action above continued negotiation. That means, if BushCo really wants what they've been pursuing, they will have to go without the U.N.

And I believe BushCo will go it alone, even if it risks retaliatory action by the U.N. I can see why many believe Israel's invasion of Lebanon was an experiment orchestrated by the U.S. to see how the U.N. would treat an overaggressive, misdirected response to a much lesser threat. What will the U.N. do when the U.S. starts bombing Iran? Will Russia and China get involved? Much of their oil comes from Iran and they've been all to eager to sell military grade equipment to Iran.

I dread that we will all know what the answer to that question much sooner than we would like.