Does Europe Matter in the Debate on Iran?

Almost a year ago, Condoleeza Rice announced the new strategy to press Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activities. Since then Iran has continued its path, leading some in the Administration to call for military action. Reinhold Bütikofer, President of the German Green Party, agrees with Rice's direction and calls for a more proactive, triple prong approach: continuous diplomatic efforts, U.N. sanctions, and a unified "coalition of the willing." Bütikofer contends that military action would not prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb, rather it would nuke the strategic coherence of the West.

Reinhard Bütikofer has been Chairman of Alliance 90/The Greens since December 2002. Previously, he served as the party's National Executive Director. In addition to his political work in the party, Bütikofer plays an important and engaged role in public life. Among other things, he sits on the advisory council of the Heinrich Böll Foundation and on the board of trustees of the Aspen Institute.

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News & Politics

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• Europe
• Iran
• ForeignPolicy

[TavishHill]

Rice's offer was absurd and anyone who thought it would fly with Iran is uninformed. The offer was to begin negotiations with Iran IF they agree to give up the one thing they can't afford to give up. In other words "give us what we want, and then we'll talk". It was never a serious or honest offer. The Bush administration clearly is not at all interested in anything but Iranian regime change. No amount of diplomatic outreach from Iran can change the administration's mind.