[THS] Obama Letter to Lula Exposes White House Forked Tongue On Iran
The Harder Stuff in news and commentary
ths at psalience.org
Sat May 29 12:21:42 CEST 2010
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25566.htm
Obama's Letter to Lula Exposes White House Forked Tongue On Iran
By Steve Hynd
May 28, 2010 "NewsHoggers" --May 27, 2010 -- Via Robert Naiman, it appears that
President Lula of Brazil has decided to shine some light on the Obama
administration's machinations on Iran. He has finally released the full text of Obama's
20th April letter to Brazil about the proposed TTR fuel swap deal and the entire thing
appears today in Brazilian Foreign Policy.
The letter reads, in part:
[OCR uncorrected]
I agree with you that the TRR is an opportunity to pave the way for a broader dialogue in dealing with the more fundamental concerns of the international community regarding Iran's overall nuclear program, From the beginning, I have viewed Iran's request as a clear and tangible opportunity to begin to build mutual trust and confidence, and thereby create time and space for a constructive diplomatic process. That is why the United States so strongly supported Ihe proposal put forth by former International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General ElBaradei
The IAEA's proposal was crafted to be fair and balanced, and for both sides to gain trust and confidence. For us, Iran's agreement to transfer 1,200 kg of Iran's low enriched uranium (LEU) out of the country would build confidence and reduce regional tensions by substantially reducing Iran's LEU stockpile. I want to underscore that this element is of fundamental importance for the United States. For Iran, it would receive the nuclear fuel requested to ensure continued operation of the TRR to produce needed medical isotopes and, by using its own material, Iran would begin to demonstrate peaceful nuclear intent. Notwithstanding Iran's continuing defiance of five United Nations Security Council resolutions mandating that it cease its enrichment of uranium, we were prepared to support and facilitate action on a proposal that would provide Iran nuclear fuel using uranium enriched by Iran -- a demonstration of our willingness to be creative in pursuing a way to build mutual confide
nce.
[available as image http://www.politicaexterna.com/archives/11023 ]
The letter also specifically mentions the compromise of using Turkey as the location
for Iran's fuel to be held "in escrow".
I would urges Brazil to impress upon Iran the opportunity presented by this offer
to "escrow" its uranium in Turkey while the nuclear fuel is being produced.
This letter's authenticity is not disputed by the White House. It exposes the Obama
administration's forked-tongue response to the Brazil and Turkey brokered swap. The
White House is now in full spin mode, but the spin has already been undercut by the
release of the letter's full text. Of late, Hilary Clinton has been the main vehicle for the
White House's double-talk, which is now entirely aimed at closing down opportunities
to find a negotiated settlement to the Iran nuclear issue no matter what the new
National Security Strategy might say. But Obama must also bear the burden of
blame, his is the desk where the buck stops.
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