Hydrablog

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/opinion/30thu2.html
August 30, 2007
Editorial
No Time for Threats
[editorial] [nyt lecturing president Sarkozy] [following Sarkozy’s speech in which he slammed Iran’s recalcitrance] [*******]
French President Nicolas Sarkozy made the wrong gesture at the wrong time by brandishing the possible use of force against Iran’s nuclear weapons program in his first major foreign policy address. The United States and its allies need to be stepping up their efforts to resolve the serious dangers posed by Iran through comprehensive negotiations and increased international economic pressure, not by talking about military action.
Mr. Sarkozy, who has previously said that France would not join Washington in military action against Iran, did not exactly endorse an attack [***] on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Monday’s speech. He asserted that a nuclear-armed Iran would be “unacceptable” and reaffirmed support for the ongoing diplomatic initiative by the United States, France and other world powers. [****]That initiative involves the imposition of U.N.-mandated sanctions against Iran while offering significant political and economic benefits if Iran stops enriching uranium. It is a deal Tehran so far has refused. [I don’t understand why leaders keep announcing Iran’s potential WMD unacceptable] [there’s very little anyone can do to stop it should Iran push for broke, a la DPRK] [thus, talk looks weak] [*****]
What’s scary is that his comments may reflect his understanding of where American policy is headed. Far closer to Washington than his predecessor, Mr. Sarkozy just spent time with President Bush on vacation in Maine. His remarks, reflecting his blunt, no-nuance style, will be read as a warning to Tehran and to countries reluctant to increase the penalties for Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The message: If the diplomatic initiative fails, Iran will have nuclear weapons or there will be military action to prevent it. [****]Mr. Bush added to the bullying yesterday by suggesting the nuclear threat from Iran was a justification for keeping American troops in Iraq.
Unvarnished comments like Sarkozy’s are likely to backfire in Iran, stoking nationalist sentiment to the advantage of hard-line leaders, like President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who stand up to the West and resist compromise. [****]They may also be read by Bush administration hawks as a sign of growing European acceptance of the military option. France has shown impressive diplomatic resolve and should be cashing that in for further diplomatic pressure on Iran. Mr. Sarkozy should not give Mr. Bush any excuse to lessen the diplomatic push.
The chance of persuading Tehran to forsake nuclear weapons at this point may be slim. But the international community has at least one more opportunity to intensify sanctions. Over the past few years, the United States, Britain, France and Germany have made remarkable strides in forging an international consensus opposed to Iran’s nuclear weapons program. But for that to translate into effective sanctions, the U.N. Security Council must remained united.
Tehran made a deal this month with U.N. inspectors to resolve questions over its nuclear program that is just another pretense of addressing international concerns. China and Russia, the main obstructionists on the Security Council, will try to use that deal as another excuse to resist tougher sanctions. The United States and its allies must creatively push for the maximum sanctions possible. This is the time for robust diplomacy, not threats.
Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company