Iran FM Spurns Western ‘Gold Trade’ Offer
Insists Any Deal Needs to Recognize Iran's Sovereignty
by Jason Ditz, February 18, 2013
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has spurned a Western offer under which Iran would be “allowed” to participate in limited international commerce using gold if they closed the Fordo uranium enrichment facility.
The deal would largely leave international sanctions intact, and would allow Iran to go back to “grey market” international commerce based on gold in return for dismantling a large portion of its civilian nuclear program.
Mehmanparast said the offer was only a minor change from past P5+1 demands to unilaterally close Fordo, and that it rested on the assumption Iran didn’t have a right to a civilian nuclear program, something it does under its IAEA agreement.
He said any deals would need to have the international community recognizing some basic rights for Iran, as well as its sovereignty. Needless to say, this suggests that a deal is unlikely at the next summit.
and........
Despite UN Warnings, US and EU Talk Up Arms to Syrian Rebels
EU Conference on 'Ending the War' Centers on Escalation
by Jason Ditz, February 18, 2013
European Union Foreign Ministers are discussing “ending the war” in Syria, by which they mean dramatically escalating an already out of control situation.
With Britain in the lead, several of the FMs are pushing a proposal to “end the war” by throwing massive amounts of additional weaponry at the Syrian rebels, who have control of much of the northern half of the country, assuming that will allow them to conquer the rest.
This move is being pushed in spite of a panel of UN investigators delivering a report today warning massive human rights violations on both sides of the war and urging people to stop arming the two combatant factions as the war continues to worsen.
But just because arming Syria’s Islamist rebels is a shockingly bad idea doesn’t mean the EU isn’t going to eventually cave in to British demands, and likewise the US seems to be giving strong consideration to “revisiting” their previous position, which is to smuggling other peoples’ arms to the rebels but not provide any of their own. That revisiting, needless to say, is going to be about getting the US deeper involved, not less involved.
and....
US Eyes Growing Military Role in Mali
Escalation of American Involvement Likely After Election
by Jason Ditz, February 18, 2013
The US role in the French invasion of Mali has been limited so far, but with elections planned soon by the Western-backed junta, that could soon change, according to Sen. Chris Coons (D – DE).
“After there is a full restoration of democracy, I would think it is likely that we will renew our direct support for the Malian military,” Sen. Coons said. Before one takes that with a grain of salt, one must remember that the US considers Yemen’s democracy fully functioning after an election with a single US-selected candidate.
All US involvement in the war so far has been limited to aiding French and foreign African troops, with a post-coup rule against aiding the junta directly forcing them just to aid everyone else that is aiding the junta.
That could quickly change, with the US sending “trainers” and “advisers” as part of a direct aid package for the Malian military. This would almost certainly set the stage for more escalations in the future, as Mali’s war transitions from invasion of rebel-held towns into an open-ended insurgency.
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