Criticism of UN Iran draft mounts

Exactly as predicted Bush's UN jaunt is already threatening to come completely off the rails with Russia and China already raising objections to the wording of the draft resolution concerning Iran's enrichment of uranium.

Russia have objected that more emphasis has not been put on measures for building trust between the UN and the Iranians and China have voiced suspicions that the US is simply preparing for military action at a later date.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin went further saying that Moscow opposes the push for the resolution to be adopted under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter, which could, after further decisions, allow for sanctions or even military action.

China also objects to the use of Chapter Seven, and is concerned by the phrasing of the draft which says that the "proliferation risk" posed by Iran is a threat to international peace and security.

Russia and China have also complained about a section of the draft text which calls on countries to stop selling technology to Iran that could help its nuclear programme. This, they say, is sanctions by another name.

As both Russia and China have a veto over all Security Council resolutions, agreement on the resolution now seems unlikely.

As I've long argued, I don't think Bush has a plan B prepared for when he hits the inevitable UN wall that he is careering towards.

It is the absence of a plan B that may lead Bush to act rashly.

There is, of course, another way:

ElBaradei’s overriding concern is that the Iranian leaders “want confrontation, just like the neo-cons on the other side”—in Washington. “At the end of the day, it will work only if the United States agrees to talk to the Iranians.”

The US are engaged in an act of supposed diplomacy whilst refusing to talk to the other side. This is insanity. It also highlights suspicions that this "diplomacy" is merely an act to be used later to justify regime change.

And if, as reported, Bush is seriously thinking about using military force against Iran, he will open the gates of Hell for himself. Iran would immediately launch attacks on southern Iraq which it would overpower relatively easily.

A retired four-star general told me that, despite the eight thousand British troops in the region, “the Iranians could take Basra with ten mullahs and one sound truck.”

Everyone is telling Bush that he doesn't have a military option regarding Iran, the question is whether this messianic little man will listen.

Click title for BBC report.

Tags: UN, US, Bush, Condi, Bolton, Russia, Iran, nuclear, development, sanctions, arms,