Neat
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un-Touch'd krew
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From: My own level of hell
Neat
Obama says Iran's energy concerns legitimate
By NANCY ZUCKERBROD
The Associated Press
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 9:24 AM
LONDON -- President Barack Obama suggested that Iran may have some right to nuclear energy _ provided it proves by the end of the year that its aspirations are peaceful.
In a BBC interview broadcast Tuesday, he also restated plans to pursue direct diplomacy with Tehran to encourage it set aside any ambitions for nuclear weapons it might harbor.
Iran has insisted its nuclear program is aimed at generating electricity. But the U.S. and other Western governments accuse Tehran of seeking atomic weapons.
"What I do believe is that Iran has legitimate energy concerns, legitimate aspirations," Obama said, adding that the international community also "has a very real interest" in preventing a nuclear arms race.
The president has indicated a willingness to seek deeper international sanctions against Tehran if it does not respond positively to U.S. attempts to open negotiations on its nuclear program. Obama has said Tehran has until the end of the year to show it wants to engage with Washington.
"Although I don't want to put artificial time tables on that process, we do want to make sure that, by the end of this year, we've actually seen a serious process move forward. And I think that we can measure whether or not the Iranians are serious," Obama said.
Obama's interview offered a preview of a speech he is to deliver in Egypt this week, saying he hoped the address would warm relations between Americans and Muslims abroad.
"What we want to do is open a dialogue," Obama told the BBC. "You know, there are misapprehensions about the West, on the part of the Muslim world. And, obviously, there are some big misapprehensions about the Muslim world when it comes to those of us in the West."
Obama leaves in the evening on a trip to Egypt and Saudi Arabia aimed at reaching out to the world's 1.5 billion Muslims. He is due to make his speech in Cairo on Thursday.
Obama sounded an optimistic note about making progress toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, although he offered no new ideas for how he might try to secure a freeze on new building of Israeli settlements. The United States has called for a freeze, but Israeli leaders have rejected that.
Asked what he would say during his visit about human rights abuses, including the detention of political prisoners in Egypt, Obama indicated no stern lecture would be forthcoming.
He said he hoped to deliver the message that democratic values are principles that "they can embrace and affirm."
Obama added that there is a danger "when the United States, or any country, thinks that we can simply impose these values on another country with a different history and a different culture."
© 2009 The Associated Press
By NANCY ZUCKERBROD
The Associated Press
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 9:24 AM
LONDON -- President Barack Obama suggested that Iran may have some right to nuclear energy _ provided it proves by the end of the year that its aspirations are peaceful.
In a BBC interview broadcast Tuesday, he also restated plans to pursue direct diplomacy with Tehran to encourage it set aside any ambitions for nuclear weapons it might harbor.
Iran has insisted its nuclear program is aimed at generating electricity. But the U.S. and other Western governments accuse Tehran of seeking atomic weapons.
"What I do believe is that Iran has legitimate energy concerns, legitimate aspirations," Obama said, adding that the international community also "has a very real interest" in preventing a nuclear arms race.
The president has indicated a willingness to seek deeper international sanctions against Tehran if it does not respond positively to U.S. attempts to open negotiations on its nuclear program. Obama has said Tehran has until the end of the year to show it wants to engage with Washington.
"Although I don't want to put artificial time tables on that process, we do want to make sure that, by the end of this year, we've actually seen a serious process move forward. And I think that we can measure whether or not the Iranians are serious," Obama said.
Obama's interview offered a preview of a speech he is to deliver in Egypt this week, saying he hoped the address would warm relations between Americans and Muslims abroad.
"What we want to do is open a dialogue," Obama told the BBC. "You know, there are misapprehensions about the West, on the part of the Muslim world. And, obviously, there are some big misapprehensions about the Muslim world when it comes to those of us in the West."
Obama leaves in the evening on a trip to Egypt and Saudi Arabia aimed at reaching out to the world's 1.5 billion Muslims. He is due to make his speech in Cairo on Thursday.
Obama sounded an optimistic note about making progress toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, although he offered no new ideas for how he might try to secure a freeze on new building of Israeli settlements. The United States has called for a freeze, but Israeli leaders have rejected that.
Asked what he would say during his visit about human rights abuses, including the detention of political prisoners in Egypt, Obama indicated no stern lecture would be forthcoming.
He said he hoped to deliver the message that democratic values are principles that "they can embrace and affirm."
Obama added that there is a danger "when the United States, or any country, thinks that we can simply impose these values on another country with a different history and a different culture."
© 2009 The Associated Press
that is all I am going to say
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åhhhhh
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,992
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From: Toronto, Canada
i agree 100% with obama's last line in his speech, its a dangerous game to play. For both sides.
They should call up on Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise to Arbitrate between the two sides. He can uphold the prime directive of no-interference and thus reach a peacefull accord between the two nations.
They should call up on Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise to Arbitrate between the two sides. He can uphold the prime directive of no-interference and thus reach a peacefull accord between the two nations.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 30,331
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From: Montréal, Canada
it's like you have a membership to the "I hate Obama so i'll bitch about everything he does or say" club.
I personnaly believe that limiting developing countries to nuclear energy is just a way for the western countries to keep the developing countries inferior. It's like the western countries are deciding who can or cannot grow.
I think this is what Obama is trying to say here... also i believe Obama is right. This will push other countries to be more open to negociations and inspections.
I personnaly believe that limiting developing countries to nuclear energy is just a way for the western countries to keep the developing countries inferior. It's like the western countries are deciding who can or cannot grow.
I think this is what Obama is trying to say here... also i believe Obama is right. This will push other countries to be more open to negociations and inspections.
snitches get stitches
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 49,696
Likes: 1
From: Portland, OR
it's like you have a membership to the "I hate Obama so i'll bitch about everything he does or say" club.
I personnaly believe that limiting developing countries to nuclear energy is just a way for the western countries to keep the developing countries inferior. It's like the western countries are deciding who can or cannot grow.
I think this is what Obama is trying to say here... also i believe Obama is right. This will push other countries to be more open to negociations and inspections.
I personnaly believe that limiting developing countries to nuclear energy is just a way for the western countries to keep the developing countries inferior. It's like the western countries are deciding who can or cannot grow.
I think this is what Obama is trying to say here... also i believe Obama is right. This will push other countries to be more open to negociations and inspections.
Administrator ☂
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 56,734
Likes: 3
From: NY
All I'm going to say is there are other things to nitpick daily about.
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Apathy Kills
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 60,714
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From: The Left Lane
This is one of the few issues where I'm very militant.
Iran and NK have no right to pursue a nuclear infrastructure that is geared toward producing weapons-grade nuclear material. Period.
If Iran wants to build a nuclear power grid, a heavy water reactor will run on unenriched U235 cheaply without issue.
The French have an excellent record of managing their nuclear reactors and nearly all run on U235.
The only reason NK and Iran have thousands of centrifuges running is to produce U238 for use in a nuclear weapon.
Considering that Ahmedinejad has openly declared his nation's intent to wipe Israel off the map, the world cannot allow Iran to produce weapons grade uranium.
I'm not saying we need to invade and occupy; it's the last thing we should do. But we should take whatever steps are needed to make the pursuit of weapons-grade material prohibitively expensive -- up to and including air strikes on their centrifuges and reactors-in-construction.
Iran and NK have no right to pursue a nuclear infrastructure that is geared toward producing weapons-grade nuclear material. Period.
If Iran wants to build a nuclear power grid, a heavy water reactor will run on unenriched U235 cheaply without issue.
The French have an excellent record of managing their nuclear reactors and nearly all run on U235.
The only reason NK and Iran have thousands of centrifuges running is to produce U238 for use in a nuclear weapon.
Considering that Ahmedinejad has openly declared his nation's intent to wipe Israel off the map, the world cannot allow Iran to produce weapons grade uranium.
I'm not saying we need to invade and occupy; it's the last thing we should do. But we should take whatever steps are needed to make the pursuit of weapons-grade material prohibitively expensive -- up to and including air strikes on their centrifuges and reactors-in-construction.
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scrotal surge
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 15,460
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From: Cali
Sounds like they're going to sell, "Show us your UMD's and we'll leave you alone", bit. o:
But good point about Israel, Dave. I didn't think about that. Some martyr gets their finger on that button, and they're going to blow Israel to shit, and not mind when Israel counters with the ones they don't have. :hsugh:
o:
But good point about Israel, Dave. I didn't think about that. Some martyr gets their finger on that button, and they're going to blow Israel to shit, and not mind when Israel counters with the ones they don't have. :hsugh:
o:
