Rumsfeld Intimidates Iran

Zaman.com:

Two days ahead of the U.N. deadline for Iran to halt its nuclear program, the U.S. administration indirectly threatened to use a “military option” against Tehran as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad directed fierce criticisms against the U.S. and Britain.

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, referring to Iran, indicated the U.S. army was capable of waging another war somewhere else, even though it is currently operating in Iraq and Afghanistan.

When asked if the U.S. was not capable of fighting a war in another region since its soldiers were presently engaged in clashes in Iraq and Afghanistan, Rumsfeld responded, “We are capable of dealing with other problems, were they to occur.”

“It would be unfortunate if other countries thought that because we have 136,000 troops in Iraq today, that we're not capable of defending our country or doing anything that we might need to do,” said Rumsfeld, referring to Iran. READ MORE

It is notable that Rumsfeld’s statement came two days before the expiration of the U.N.-set deadline for Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program or face sanctions.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Ahmadinejad said Iran was ready to negotiate any issue, including the temporary suspension of its uranium enrichment, if European countries agreed to negotiate on acceptable terms. He said it was Iran’s right to benefit from nuclear energy.

The Iranian president called for an end to the war in Iraq and said Britain and the U.S. infringed on the rights of other countries by using their veto power in the U.N. Security Council for their own interests.

“How long can the U.S. and Britain consider themselves masters and superior, and the world nations as slaves and inferior? Hasn't the time come to build international relations based on democracy, justice and rights of nations?” Ahmadinejad asked, as he urged the U.S. administration to withdraw from Iraq.

Stressing the fact thousands of Iraqis had been killed since the U.S. occupied Iraq, Ahmadinejad said: “You brought Saddam to power and toppled him later. Well, what are you doing in Iraq now? You have to secure Iraq for the people, but you fail to do so. Iraq has its own parliament and government. They do not need you any longer. So leave Iraq. The Washington administration has to work for the security of the Iraqi people, instead of killing them for oil.”