| Iran provided its long-promised "multi-faceted" | | | | nuclear arsenal. |
| response to the proposal by Western nations that | | | | Western leaders, given to blindfolded optimism, |
| the mullahdom stop enriching uranium. A day or | | | | remained hopeful until the concrete clarity was |
| so before it presented its written response, the | | | | thumped onto their diplomatic tray, with German |
| obstreperous nation conducted war games during | | | | Chancellor Merkel again being able to comment |
| which ten highly photographed missiles were fired | | | | right up to the day of the response, without |
| in a generally westerly direction. | | | | laughing out loud, "I still hope that it will be positive, |
| Of course, the West had hoped for a more | | | | although some signals have been very confused; |
| obliging answer, particularly since the proposal | | | | for instance, I'm not sure what war games and |
| contains an attractive package of bribes, | | | | missile firings have to do with indications of |
| diplomatically referred to as incentives, which | | | | compliance." |
| reportedly includes a selection of books that | | | | When Iran's chief nuclear negotiator finally did |
| apparently are no longer readily available in the | | | | deliver Iran's written prevarication, the diplomats |
| fundamentalist Islamic backwater, such as the | | | | were disappointed to learn that, while it was |
| Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. | | | | 25-pages long, it did not even suggest the |
| Western diplomats felt that the feel-good tale of | | | | possibility of a moratorium on enrichment, that is, |
| crotchety meanness converted to enlightened | | | | except the hope that the nation's coffers would |
| benevolence might act as a moderating force, | | | | soon be enriched by the lavish incentives. The |
| particularly among the gray-bearded senior | | | | document included, in fact, only one very lightly |
| members of the turbaned tyranny, who do | | | | detectable reference to a willingness even to |
| remind the partial observer of Ebenezer Scrooge | | | | discuss all aspects of the nation's nuclear program. |
| before his sudden and celebrated reformation. | | | | German Chancellor Angela Merkel continued, "We |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel commented, | | | | are still examining" the Iranian response, "but from |
| "We are still examining" the Iranian response, "but | | | | everything that I hear we cannot be satisfied." |
| from everything that I hear we cannot be | | | | While diplomats in the capitals of the six powers |
| satisfied. | | | | behind the proposal spoke of disappointment and |
| Certain other hints were provided ahead of Iran's | | | | even anger due to what they maintain is the lack |
| official "Bah! Humbug!" response. UN inspectors | | | | of response to the main demand, none of the six |
| were turned away from the Iranian nuclear facility | | | | nations has come right out and said the Iranian |
| at Natanz. In response to the affront, the | | | | counteroffer is not adequate. In fact, Russia, |
| inspectors dared to maintain that their exclusion | | | | China and France voiced their opposition to |
| could seriously hamper international efforts to | | | | sanctions in the hope of continuing their excellent |
| ensure that the determinedly confrontational | | | | trading relations with Iran. |
| regime is not trying to concoct nuclear weapons. | | | | We do hear, however, that some senior Bush |
| The country's Supreme Clerical Curmudgeon also | | | | administration officials and Republican lawmakers |
| foreshadowed what the response might be when | | | | are now voicing their displeasure that American |
| he stated, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has made | | | | spy agencies have not yet sounded more |
| its own decision and in the nuclear case - God | | | | ominous warnings about the threats they maintain |
| willing, (who is, as we all know, the Father of all | | | | that Iran presents to the US. There was, |
| Islamic nuclear weapons), with patience and | | | | however, no mention in Uncle Sam's lumbering |
| power, will continue its path.... Arrogant powers | | | | approach, as the idealistic US stumbles its usual |
| and the U.S. are putting their utmost pressure on | | | | way toward self-punishing leadership in the |
| Iran while knowing Iran is not pursuing nuclear | | | | contention, that this is one pickle the Europeans |
| weapons but only the most peaceful uses of the | | | | have every incentive to take the lead on, since |
| atomic bomb." | | | | they are, geographically speaking, much more |
| He went on to accuse the West of wanting to | | | | proximate to the turbaned terrorist state. |
| obstruct scientific progress in the Islamic world | | | | In order to bring more clarity to its response, Iran |
| and asked other Islamic countries to stand | | | | may be compelled to fire off a few more pointed |
| together against the West's ill-founded concerns | | | | missives. |
| about just how peacefully Iran might brandish a | | | | |