Sunday, February 08, 2009

AP, Munich, 08 February 2009 (excerpts) – Vice President Joe Biden warned Saturday that the U.S. stands ready to take pre-emptive action against Iran if it does not abandon nuclear ambitions and its support for terrorism.

But in his first major policy speech as President Barack Obama’s No. 2, Biden also declared the U.S. open for talks with Iran and Russia to repair relations. And he reached out to the world with a promise that the Obama administration will work with allies to solve global problems.

“We will draw upon all the elements of our power – military and diplomatic, intelligence and law enforcement, economic and cultural – to stop crises from occurring before they are in front of us,” he told the gathering in his 25-minute address.

On Iran, Biden said the U.S. will strive to act preventively and avoid having to choose between the risks of war and the dangers of inaction. And he said if Tehran gives up its nuclear program and stops backing terrorists, there will be meaningful incentives.

He said the U.S. continues “to develop missile defenses to counter a growing Iranian capability, provided the technology is proven and it is cost-effective.”
While President Barack Obama has said the U.S. is ready for direct talks with Iran, Biden’s comments made it clear the U.S. is not willing to completely discard the stick, despite early warnings from Tehran.