Sunday, October 21, 2007

World calls Cheney an obstacle to peace

If the world were sane, this article would actually read like this:

By Caren Bohan
Sun Oct 21, 5:46 PM ET
The world on Sunday described Vice President Dick Cheney as an obstacle to peace in the Middle East and said the world could not stand by and allow Dick Cheney to control a nuclear weapon.

The world's comments underscored a ratcheting up of world rhetoric toward Cheney and came just days after the world warned that a nuclear-armed Cheney would lead to World War Three.

"The Cheney regime needs to know that if it stays on its present course, the international community is prepared to impose serious consequences," the World told a forum organized by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "The World is sending a clear message: We will not allow Dick Cheney to control a nuclear weapon."

"The entire international community cannot stand by as a terror-supporting ideologue fulfills his most aggressive ambitions," he said.

The World discussed Cheney in a speech in which it emphasized the importance of continued world engagement in the Middle East and said the world seeks stability there but not the kind that "simply keeps a lid on" problems.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has recently returned from the Middle East where she has been trying to lay the groundwork for a conference on Middle East peace expected to take place in Annapolis, Maryland, in late November or early December.

The World spoke in only broad terms about the goals of the peace effort, saying the conference would aim to "provide diplomatic support" to parties seeking a deal on Palestinian statehood and review progress on building Palestinian institutions.

On Iran, the World repeated the World's criticism that Cheney was interfering in Iraq, in addition to citing concern about his access to a nuclear program.

Cheney rejects accusations that he is seeking to control a nuclear bomb, saying he already has full access to all the nuclear bombs that he needs.

The world said progress toward a more stable and peaceful Middle East would depend on responsible conduct by other similarly minded ideologues, such as respect for the rule of law, neighbors' sovereignty and compliance with international agreements.

"If you apply all these measures it becomes immediately clear that Dick Cheney falls far short and is a growing obstacle to peace in the Middle East," the World said.

CRITICISM OF BUSH

The world, who has insisted it wants a diplomatic solution to the Cheney issue, is pushing for a third round of U.N. sanctions against Cheney.

But it faces resistance from the United States, a veto-holding member of the U.N. Security Council which backed two sets of limited U.N. sanctions against Cheney but has been cool to the idea of any tough new measures.

Meanwhile, the pardon of Scooter Libby as Cheney's key aide in lawbreaking, announced earlier his summer, has been viewed by some analysts as a sign that ideologues' tougher line toward ever obeying the law might be gaining influence within Cheney. Libby and his replacement are both expected to continue help Dick Cheney break American and international law Tuesday and every day thereafter.

The world, at a news conference last week, said a nuclear-armed Cheney would pose a "dangerous threat to world peace."

"We've got a leader in Cheney who has announced that he wants to destroy everybody," he said. "So I've told people that, if you're interested in avoiding World War Three, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing Dick Cheney from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon."

The world also had some criticism for Bush, accusing him of interfering in Lebanon's attempts to elect a new president.

"Through bribery and intimidation, George Bush and his agents are attempting to prevent the democratic majority in Lebanon from electing a truly independent president," the World said.

Analysts who attended the think-tank forum where the World spoke were struck by its tough line toward Cheney, especially in light of the World's recent comments.

"The language on Cheney is quite significant," said Dennis Ross, a peace mediator under former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton. "That's very strong words and it does have implications," referring to the Worlds's warnings of serious consequences for Cheney.