BOLDNESS – BUT NOT TOO BOLD
Quickly – But No Big Rush

VILLEPIN CALLS FOR QUICK RESOLUTION OF IRAN NUCLEAR DISPUTE

ROME September 1, 2006 (DPA) - French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin on Friday sharply criticized Iran's uncompromising stance in the row over its nuclear programme and called for unity among the international community in finding a speedy solution to the crisis.

'Tehran's answer is completely unsatisfactory and even if you should always leave open the door to dialogue, the international community cannot remain inactive,' Villepin said after meeting with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in Rome.

Negotiations are transacted between parties none of whom has a clear advantage. A party with a clear advantage doesn't need to negotiate, it simply waits out its advantage.

Iran's clear advantage is that it has decided for itself, in what it sees as its own interests, to proceed with uranium enrichment and the world be damned. The UN huddle can't decide amongst themselves how to proceed, has conflicting interests, and is thus doubly disadvantaged. That the EU3 or Five+1 -- or whatever third-bench team is warming up in the wings -- can't grasp this obvious dynamic of failure, well, it only portends more failure.

When Iran goes nuclear -- more so then when India, then when Pakistan went nuclear -- the conversation changes. There is no more pretty please. The talk becomes what Iran is expressly forbidden to consider at hazard of immediate retribution. But at that point the West is the weak horse and Iran the strong horse. Like all gamblers on a winning streak, one throw of the dice is as lucky as the next. The stakes become irrelevant. It is the thrill of the dice throw. The gambler on a streak is compelled to throw.

Who cannot believe Iran -- given its transparent duplicity and determination -- won't try to bust the bank?

PFFT (What is this?): The talking weak horse 5 | Iran on a roll 5 | Rayonnement français 0