Final Word from Monday, August 18, 2008
An indignant Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that "Russia will pay a price" for Georgia. Some analysts had expected the U.S. to get past Georgia quickly so that it could enlist Russia's help for other pressing issues, but this now seems unlikely, esp. after the way Washington hastened through the missile-defense deal with Poland last week. The U.S. particularly needs Russia's help for approving tougher U.N. sanctions against Iran. Without these sanctions, the chance of a preemptive strike by the U.S. or Israel rises. Seymour Hersh of the New Yorker reported that a meeting was held earlier this year in Dick Cheney's office on the subject of how to create a casus belli between Tehran and Washington. If the Czech Parliament approves the U.S. radar, Moscow will have another big reason to say No to sanctions against Tehran. The U.S. (or Israel) can then say that Russia's irresponsible behavior at the U.N. left it with no choice but to take preemptive action.[Czech Republic United States of America Nations Richard vice president Teheran]
Glossary of difficult words
to sanction - to impose a sanction or penalty on; also, to give official permission for an action; (this headline can be read to mean "Imposing sanctions on Iran" OR "Sanctioning action against Iran");
indignant - feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment;
to get past something - to recover from a difficult situation;
to hasten (through) - to cause something to happen sooner than it otherwise would;
casus belli - an act or situation provoking or justifying war.