"... I'm concerned about Iran getting nukes when Bush leaves office..."

[Human Torch]

August 18, 2006

Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns
Good afternoon. I am pleased we were able to reschedule this important discussion on the Middle East. As Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, I oversee the State Department's bureaus for Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, the Near East, South and Central Asia, the Western Hemisphere, International Organizations and International Narcotics and Law Enforcement. I look forward to answering your questions.



wayne, from champlin minnesota writes:
I am very concerned about Iran getting nuclear weapons especially when President Bush leaves office. They have the money and desire to get them. What must be done to stop this from happening? Sincerly Wayne McGinnis

:spray:

Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns
The U.S. government, along with the rest of the international community, is working hard to make sure this does not happen. Secretary Rice said on May 31 that the vital interests of the United States and our friends and allies in the region are at risk because of Iran’s continued defiance of the international community, and that the United States will act accordingly to protect those common interests. Our allies in Europe, the Middle East and Asia are very much with us in seeking to isolate and pressure Iran to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions. Over the past 18 months, President Bush and Secretary Rice have worked to create a united response of the world's major powers to blunt Iran's designs. I have traveled to Europe over a dozen times as the primary liaison with the EU-3 and Russia and China on this issue.

As a result of our efforts, we have achieved an unprecedented unity among the major powers of the world on how to address the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons ambitions. We have agreed on a set of far-reaching proposals as a basis to find a negotiating solution with Iran. On July 31, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1696, which sent a very strong signal to Iran that it has a choice to make: cooperation or further isolation. If Iran does not suspend uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities by August 31, it will face further action in the Council, including sanctions. We strongly urge Iran to accept the generous offer made by the Governments of the permanent members of the Security Council and Germany.

[EST]

1. From the same idiots who brought you the ineffective,

unconscionable "war on drugs" and still maneuver with impunity.
There is no way that these mismanaging fools can be trusted to complete anything and get it right.

They are the true enemies of freedom and the source of most of the terrorism in the world.

[leveymg]

2. Simple solution, the Bush family won't leave the White House - ever.

We don't need no stinkin' elections.

[BOSSHOG]

3. I am concerned that my brain will start working

when bush leaves office. What can you do about it now?

If it weren't for "president" bush, wayne, Iran would have no need for Nukes.

Ask the White House - Is dick cheney as handsome in real life as he is on TV?

[Human Torch]

6. Oh, man, that's TOO funny.

"Ask the White House - Is dick cheney as handsome in real life as he is on TV?"

:rofl:

:toast:

[BOSSHOG]

12. Hi Human Torch

Is Moffett Field still operational? I was TAD there several years ago. The big old balloon hangars were awesome; got to the top of one, awesome view. I had a great few days in that part of the country, but my god, the cost of living!! There's just a little difference in real estate prices from South Mississippi to San Jose. Just a little!@#$^&*

[Human Torch]

13. Not sure about Moffett Field...I haven't paid much attention to it...

...but yes, the hangars were something else. When I lived in Redwood City I was coming home from work one night on 101. The sun was just beginning to set and I hit that little hill that overlooks Moffett Field and saw the hangars to my right. It was one of those views that begged for a camera.

Cost of living here has shot W-A-Y past obscene. A lot of the rats who jumped the good ship Dot.com got into house flipping and drove the median price for a home in this valley to the $600-700K range. That's single family homes in "regular" neighborhoods. CONDOS...not houses, CONDOS with no garage and connecting walls...regularly sell for half a million and more. Often they are converted apartments with new marble counters and a splash of paint. I have a friend who's a realtor and he sold one in Palo Alto for $750K (although much of the price came from the fact that it was located in Palo Alto, an "old money" town).

And despite it all, with the high prices and ridiculous overcrowding and high-paying jobs bled out to India and China and elsewhere, the S.F. Bay Area is still the S.F. Bay Area. There are many "negatives" to living here, but the "positives" remain unchanged.

:toast:

[Poppyseedman]

4. I believe Iran already has nukes.

If they didn't, we already would be in Tehran building a "democracy"

[leesa]

17. No, we wouldn't. Iran has a military. We don't attack places with

functioning militaries. Iran is huge with a huge population.

[Poppyseedman]

18. Iraq didn't have functioning military ?

I'm sure that would be some serious news to the Iraq military when we fought them twice.

[timontheleft]

5. "especially when President Bush leaves office"

Oh, right. Dubya has SO much influence over Iran and other world leaders (exception: lapdog Tony Blair).

I can't wait for him to leave office so we can (hopefully) start returning to some sort of effectiveness in such matters.

I have to wonder if this "Wayne McGinnis" actually exists, or is this just another propaganda tool?

[Human Torch]

8. There's a SLIM chance that "Wayne" might exist...

...if he's a Rush / Hannity / etc. junkie. Otherwise, I'm thinking that question came straight from the White House. With Dick Cheney repeating his "If the Democrats win, we'll get hit again" crap, this is the talking point du jour. The idea is being planted that we're safe as long as Junior has his loving wings of protection wrapped around us.

And I can see the logic in that, you know? I remember on September 11th, how he leaped into the role as leader and took immediate control when faced with a national catastrophe. You don't want to let go of THAT kind of "protection."



:patriot:

http://bushclock.lose.com/

885 days, 2 hours, 14 minutes left of Junior's "protection," folks...

:evilgrin:

[MoonRiver]

7. Everything was mol fine in this country until bush stole the White House.

:mad: nuff said

[tanyev]

9. They must have used mold # GOP3017X for Ambassador Burns.

He looks just like Ken Mehlman. It's one of their most popular models.

[Lerkfish]

10. yes, the cylons like to mass manufacture.

[Stargazer99]

11. What in the hell makes you think that Republicans are the

only ones that can protect this country? There are plenty of Democrats that are actually on the front lines of this "war". Your present "protectors" (Bush/Cheney) have never seen a day on the front lines and have their special asses protected by others. Eh gads, put two and two together!
In case you didn't know, there are fewer conservative Republican that are politically connected see the front lines. Get a clue!

[POAS]

14. I'm afraid of Bush Having nukes now

[KansDem]

15. We can stop that from happening if we didn't expose intel operations

...designed to stop that from happening (Plame/Brewster Jennings)

Really, was this person a plant or are Americans really that stupid?

[leesa]

16. Gee, Wayne, were you concerned when your boy Bush outed Brewster-

Jennings, the CIA front company involved in tracking WMDs in the area? Because your boy Bush is HELPING Iran in this endevour even WHILE he's in office. And your boy Cheney sold WMD parts to Iran while working with Halliburton.

Wayne will never buy a clue.