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Biden: U.S. will to talk to Iran, will act if necessary
By News Agencies
Tags: Israel news, Germany 

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday said that the U.S. is willing to talk with Iran, but will act to isolate and pressure Tehran if Iran continues its current course and does not abandon its nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism.

In a sweeping speech to international leaders and security experts at the Munich Security Conference, Biden said the "U.S. will strive to act preventively to avoid having to choose between the risks of war and the dangers of inaction."

However, the American vice president held out the option that the United States could take pre-emptive action against Iran if necessary to stop crisis before they start.
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"We are willing to talk to Iran, and to offer a very clear choice: continue down your current course and there will be pressure and isolation; abandon your illicit nuclear program and support for terrorism and there will be meaningful incentives," he said.

"I come to Europe on behalf of a new administration determined to set a new tone in Washington, and in America's relations around the world," Biden outlined the changes in the U.S.'s foreign policy.

"We will engage. We will listen. We will consult. America needs the world, just as I believe the world needs America."

Delivering the Obama administration's first major foreign policy speech, Biden effectively repudiated former President George W. Bush's "with us or against us" foreign policy. Biden's speech also tried to turn the page on the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and Bush's skepticism over climate change that alienated many Europeans.

But, Biden made clear the United States was still prepared to use military force to protect its national security.

"There is no conflict between our security and our ideals. They are mutually reinforcing. The force of arms won our independence, and throughout our history, the force of arms has protected our freedom. That will not change," he said.

While promising that Washington would consult and listen more to its allies, he said it would also ask for more from them, for example by taking in inmates from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo, Cuba, which President Barack Obama has said will be closed within a year.

"America will do more, but America will ask for more from our partners," he said. "The threats we face have no respect for borders. No single country, no matter how powerful, can best meet them alone."

Biden went on to say that the United States would work to achieve a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians.

"It is past time for a secure and just two-state solution. We will work to achieve it, and to defeat the extremists who would perpetuate the conflict," he told the conference.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel preceded Biden at the Munich conference podium, saying that Germany is hoping for a diplomatic solution to the conflict over Iran's nuclear program, but is ready for tougher sanctions if no progress is made.

"We want a diplomatic solution," Merkel said, referring to U.S. President Barack Obama's offer to hold talks with Tehran on the nuclear issue.

"I think the new U.S. administration will make its approach toward Iran clear to us in coming months. We are ready to walk this path together. But we are also ready for tougher sanctions if there is no progress," Merkel said.

International efforts to bring Iran into line with United Nations rules on nuclear non-proliferation are a "litmus test" for the global community, she said.

"It is a must to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons," she said, alluding to international concerns that Tehran's civilian program could be used to develop such arms. The Islamic Republic asserts its intentions are purely peaceful.

And while she called on the European Union, of which Germany is the biggest member, to play a more active role in the global debate on nuclear and conventional disarmament, she stressed that the new U.S. administration would be key to any deal.

Related articles:
  • Iran FM: We`ll cooperate with U.S. if Obama changes policies
  • U.S. urges Iran to become 'productive' member of world
  • Obama's atomic umbrella: U.S. nuclear strike if Iran nukes Israel
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      1.   Biden Reinforced the Zero Credibility of Obama 15:49  |  WasGoodNotToKnow 07/02/09
      2.   bush-cheney-rumsfeld era ended forever 16:47  |  robert 07/02/09
      3.   defeat the extremists 16:55  |  robert 07/02/09
      4.   If there`s one thing I`m pretty sure of... 17:27  |  Zed 07/02/09
      5.   force of arms secures freedom 17:35  |  jim the mechanic 07/02/09
      6.   Going in the right direction 18:34  |  Morris Valentine 07/02/09
      7.   Idiot Biden 18:47  |  Frank in Israel 07/02/09
      8.   No more "Freebies` "Bibi" 20:02  |  Pro-American 07/02/09
      9.   how will Biden defeat the extremists that are so widely supported 20:06  |  Avi 07/02/09
      10.   #3, EXCELLENT TITLE BUT YOU ARE A LITTLE BIT INCOHERENT ROBERT... 20:32  |  MOSHEH 07/02/09
      11.   An Absence Of Trust 21:15  |  Cool B 07/02/09
      12.   To # 7 22:24  |  Tom Clark 07/02/09
      13.   Netanyahu will defeat the extremists 22:32  |  Realist 07/02/09
      14.   Realist # 11 00:18  |  Westwell 08/02/09
      15.   To # 8 00:31  |  robert 08/02/09
      16.   The Iran issue was provoked entirely by the Settler Enterprise 00:51  |  Ivar 08/02/09
      17.   Mr.Biden comes to Europe. 00:56  |  Stephen. 08/02/09
      18.   B & B talk too much instead of using discretion 01:11  |  na 08/02/09
      19.   The Iran issue was provoked entirely by the Settler Enterprise 01:57  |  Ivar 08/02/09
      20.   DO AS WE SAY, NOT AS WE DO 02:01  |  VIPER 08/02/09
      21.   Biden the loose canon 02:03  |  Brod 08/02/09
      22.   ANOTHER "DICK CHENEY" IN THE WHITE HOUSE 04:58  |  indrajaya 08/02/09
      23.   Talking to Iran? 05:26  |  MichaelF 08/02/09
      24.   biden,bit his tongue on pre-emptive action because obama and his 06:34  |  glenna 09/02/09
      25.   Israel might lose vs Iran 23:38  |  Ben 12/02/09
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