Thursday, May 29, 2008

Iran strike an unattractive last resort: Bolton

From Reuters, 28/5/08 by Nigel Stephenson:

Military action against Iran would be a last resort but the United States and its allies have not done enough to promote the alternative, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said on Wednesday.


John Bolton
...five years of "failed" negotiation with Iran over its nuclear program had left just two options for dealing with the issue -- regime change and use of force. "The use of military force is an extremely unattractive option and only to be used as a last resort," [John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations] said, adding he would favor regime change.

Bolton said the elements for regime change were present in Iran -- the economy was in difficulties, young Iranians could see the possibility of a different life and there were ethnic tensions within the country. But he added that the United Nations and its allies had not done enough to bring about the required change. "I wish that we had had a much more vigorous policy five years ago," he said.

Bolton...said the insistence of Britain, France and Germany on trying to negotiate a solution with Iran and U.S. acquiescence in this policy had failed. "Today Iran is five years closer to having a nuclear weapons capability..." ...

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