The Iran stall

NY Post Editorial:

For all the accommodating rhetoric about a "new formula" for "serious talks" with a "positive attitude," the bottom line of Iran's response to the United Nations Security Council was same old, same old: no suspension of its uranium-enrichment program.

But suspending enrichment, which Tehran began last April, was the key demand of the most recent U.N. resolution - though it failed to spell out any consequences of defiance.

The White House and other Western governments were slow to respond yesterday to what they called a lengthy and complex communication. But President Bush has said that he wants the world body to take a forceful approach to continued Iranian defiance.

Still, that could prove more difficult now, especially given Iran's enhanced prestige in the Muslim world following Israel's failed bid to cripple Tehran's Lebanese cat's-paw, Hezbollah.

Besides, it's not as if the United Nations was rushing to impose strict economic sanctions against Iran - which has long thumbed its nose at international demands to curb its nuclear program.

Indeed, analysts say, Iran believes any first wave of sanctions would be relatively minor and painless - steps like travel bans or the freezing of some foreign assets.

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There is more. This is just more evidence that the UN is just not a good vehicle for dealing with serious problems. It is a vehicle for making noise and acting like you are dealing with problems while you put forward thel day when decisions can no longer per postponed. In the meantime, Iran is playing the "negotiation" stall card for all it is worth and it is likely to have its allies in theUN who want to do nothing doing just that.

As this article points out, Iran has perfected the art of foot dragging while keeping its Jihad bomb hopes alive. The BBC report on the reaction of the Russians and Chinese indicates taht Iran strategy is working. While Iran says its proposal is for "serious" talks its actions suggest otherwise.