Brazil rebuffs US, says it will go own way on Iran

Jan 2010
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By MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writer Matthew Lee, Associated Press Writer ? 45 mins ago

BRASILIA, Brazil ? Brazil rebuffed a U.S. appeal for new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, vowing during a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton not to "bow down" to gathering international pressure.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pre-empted Clinton even before she could make the case for new United Nations Security Council penalties. Silva is an outspoken opponent of sanctions, and his country currently sits on the Security Council, which will be asked to approve its toughest-ever penalties on Iran later this year.

"It is not prudent to push Iran against a wall," Silva told reporters hours before meeting with Clinton. "The prudent thing is to establish negotiations."

Iran has accelerated its disputed nuclear program in the face of previous U.N. penalties, but the United States and other supporters say a renewed demonstration of world resolve?.

"I want for Iran the same thing I want for Brazil: to use the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," he said. "If Iran agrees with that, Iran will have the support of Brazil."

The U.S. officials said that despite clear differences at the moment, the Brazilians assured Clinton their current position was not "etched in stone."?
One problem of course is that America totally lacks credibility. Nobody sensible seriously thinks Iran is a danger to anybody from the perspective of waging a nuclear offensive. Iran wants nukes for the same reason as everybody else - deterrence. Once it is nuclear armed it will be safe, and anybody who has studied historic Western behavior in the Gulf can hardly say there is nothing to fear. Iran was invaded by Iraq within living memory and America provided Saddam Hussein with WMD (nerve gas) in that conflict. One of America's favorite pieces of rhetoric is that he who wants peace must prepare for war. America just doesn't want anybody else prepared.
 
Mar 2009
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One problem of course is that America totally lacks credibility.
Says who? Are you living inside the United States, or outside of it? Where I am in the Middle East, America has a lot of credibility. It is an ENORMOUS superpower. We get to see its news every day. We probably discuss American domestic politics more than we discuss the politics of the country we are visitors in.
 
Apr 2009
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Disunited Queendom
Says who?

He means in that Iran is not seriously a danger. No doubt he has in reserve the statistic that Iran/Persia (same thing) hasn't declared war for 200 years. Considering how sensible the Iranian foreign policy has been since the Islamic Revolution, nuclear weapons owned by Iran wouldn't make much difference. Ahmadinejhad claims they are developing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. I don't know if that's true. IAEA seems to agree so far. But it doesn't really matter. Not that I support any state owning nuclear weapons. Especially not Russia, the UK and the US.
 
Jul 2009
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Port St. Lucie
He means in that Iran is not seriously a danger. No doubt he has in reserve the statistic that Iran/Persia (same thing) hasn't declared war for 200 years. Considering how sensible the Iranian foreign policy has been since the Islamic Revolution, nuclear weapons owned by Iran wouldn't make much difference. Ahmadinejhad claims they are developing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. I don't know if that's true. IAEA seems to agree so far. But it doesn't really matter. Not that I support any state owning nuclear weapons. Especially not Russia, the UK and the US.

Russia even has a 1st strike policy. :eek:
 
Feb 2010
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Iranian nuclear weapons would not destabilise the region any more than it was by the phoney invasion of Iraq. If I was Iran I would want nukes too. They are the ultimate deterrent. Of course, one could argue that nukes used by Iran would lead to large areas of Iranian desert being turned to glass, but the Americans are not stupid enough to wage war against a capable enemy.

It's easier to pick on the smaller, weaker guys.
 
Jan 2010
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Where I am in the Middle East, America has a lot of credibility. It is an ENORMOUS superpower. We get to see its news every day. We probably discuss American domestic politics more than we discuss the politics of the country we are visitors in.

Visitors? Hence you are Americans clanging the American bell? America is recognized as having power, not credibility. There is a difference. Adolph Hitler and Uncle Joe Stalin had power.
 
Mar 2009
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Visitors? Hence you are Americans clanging the American bell? America is recognized as having power, not credibility. There is a difference. Adolph Hitler and Uncle Joe Stalin had power.
In the Middle East doing business with other countries is on the top of the list of objectives. And top of the list of the people they wish to do business with is the United States, including bringing specialists out of the United States to the Middle East to train their people. You are wrong in this instance. The United States has enormous credibility and is the yard stick around the Middle East for standards in medical technology, engineering, construction, media, you name it!
 
Jul 2009
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The US is a horrendous model for media!

Content but we're quite good with providing it and I think that's the point being made. Al Jazera (sp?) has the same set up as CNN, Fox, ect.
 
Mar 2009
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The US is a horrendous model for media!
I'm talking about technology. And using specialists in technology for the equipment that are used. The content is of course unique to the Middle East. The style of interviewing though, i.e. equivalent of David Letterman and other such programmes is being applied all over the world. All the text books in use are from the United States. Conferences and training courses that are attended are in the United States.
 
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Apr 2009
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Disunited Queendom
Come off it Dirk. I said "equivalent", meaning someone sitting behind a desk and interviewing a celebrity. That style of interviewing.

Are we also talking about biased interviewers interrogating terrorised interviewees (when they're of different persuasions), asking loaded questions and not allowing for an answer?
 
Mar 2009
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Are we also talking about biased interviewers interrogating terrorised interviewees (when they're of different persuasions), asking loaded questions and not allowing for an answer?
Perhaps, it probably would depend on the interview and the eye of the beholder. :rolleyes:
 
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