March 16, 2006
The Associated Press
CBS News


SYDNEY, Australia -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday urged Iran to resume negotiations over its nuclear program, while also calling the country a central banker for terrorism.

Rice was speaking after meeting her Australian counterpart Alexander Downer for talks that covered topics including Iraq, Iran's nuclear ambitions, Indonesia's development and the recent nuclear deal between Washington and India.

Later Thursday, riot police clashed with dozens of Iraq war protesters outside a Sydney music school where Rice was due to give a speech. Police on horseback pushed back a crowd of around 60 protesters in the city center, and led away at least two protesters.

Rice called Iran the "central banker of terrorism," though she didn't elaborate on that, and said it was time for the country to "heed the international community's call" to resume negotiations on its nuclear program.

Rice said she was "quite certain the (U.N.) Security Council will find an appropriate vehicle for expressing again ... the desire of the international community ... that Iran return to negotiations."

Earlier this week, China and Russia objected to a tough U.N. Security Council statement backed by the United States, Britain and France calling for a report in two weeks on Iran's compliance with demands that it suspend uranium enrichment.

The five veto-wielding council members are united against Iran developing nuclear weapons, but they disagree on how to get Tehran to comply with demands by the U.N. nuclear watchdog to stop all enrichment and reprocessing and answer questions about its controversial nuclear program.

"If you negotiate you have to put something on the table," commented Dr. Hans Blix, former UN Chief Weapons Inspector in an Exclusive CBS News Interview. "I think that's what's missing. We hear demands upon the Iranians, but we hear very little about what's being offered to them."

Uranium enrichment can be used either in the generation of electricity or to make nuclear weapons. Iran insists its program is to produce nuclear energy but the International Atomic Energy Agency has raised concerns that Tehran might be seeking nuclear arms.

At the same wide-ranging joint press conference with Downer, Rice also said she expects Iraq to have a secure and stable government within a couple of years, and called on China to be transparent about its military buildup.

"I think there is a very good chance that the Iraqi people, with the support of their coalition partners, will have built the foundation for a stable and secure Iraq over the next couple of years," she said, just days away from the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

"The difficulty for the Iraqis is that they do it in the face of violence of those who do not want the political process to go forward," she added.

Anti-war activists in Sydney branded Rice a "war criminal" for her role in the Iraq invasion and said they would demonstrate later Thursday outside a music school where Rice was due to give a speech.

"By helping coordinate the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, Condoleezza Rice is officially responsible for the deaths of between 25,000 and 150,000 people in Iraq and growing civil unrest in that country," said Anna Samson, spokeswoman for a group called the Stop the War Coalition. "War criminals are not welcome in Australia."

Later in her three-day visit to Australia, Rice was due to hold talks with Downer and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso that are expected to focus on China's fast-growing economic and military might.

"We believe that the growth of the Chinese economy, if it is done in a rules-based way, ... is a very positive development," she said.

But she added: "We have said we have concerns about the Chinese military build up."

"We have told the Chinese that they have to be transparent about what the military build up means," she said.
link to original article

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I believe Condi Rice is the best US Sec of State ever!
I am glad she is there to voice the concerns of the Iranian people on issues such as human rights and nuclear issues as well.

Go Rice Go!

Rice is one sharp little woman. She's been great since she got into office.

I have a couple of friends that are Agents within the State Department. They told me when she came into office. She told everyone that it's her way or the highway.

A lot of the Clinton era folks simply couldn't understand how a Republican works international politics. So they all quit. I think that was one of the best things that has happened so far in the US State Department.

The three major threats to the United States of America is Islamic/Arabic Terrorism, People's Republic of China, and the current rise of socialist governments gaining ground in South America.

All three support each other. Communist China support's many of these governments in South America by doing business and supplying them with arms. And terrorist get in to this by simply ridng the tail coats. They will use the "Anti-American" idea to gain support from the peoples of these nations. And they currently use the southern US boarder as a gateway into the USA.

Originally Posted by 5.56X45mm

Rice is one sharp little woman. She's been great since she got into office.

I have a couple of friends that are Agents within the State Department. They told me when she came into office. She told everyone that it's her way or the highway.

A lot of the Clinton era folks simply couldn't understand how a Republican works international politics. So they all quit. I think that was one of the best things that has happened so far in the US State Department.

The three major threats to the United States of America is Islamic/Arabic Terrorism, People's Republic of China, and the current rise of socialist governments gaining ground in South America.

All three support each other. Communist China support's many of these governments in South America by doing business and supplying them with arms. And terrorist get in to this by simply ridng the tail coats. They will use the "Anti-American" idea to gain support from the peoples of these nations. And they currently use the southern US boarder as a gateway into the USA.

what kind of crap is that?
China is a valuable trading partner (already a top buyer of U.S goods and top destination for U.S investment) and strategic partner of U.S (on issues like North Korea and Iran).

on other parts, China has been hugely moderate (taking no sides or being very low key during many international conflicts)

also, when and where do China openly support a socialist regime in South America (mind if you provide some sources for you outburst)

by the way,
thanks to Condi (when she was the national security adviser), Bush got the crappy intelligence on Iraq and presented a bad case in a what should be a great opportunity to open up Iraq...

Originally Posted by 5.56X45mm

Rice is one sharp little woman. She's been great since she got into office.

I have a couple of friends that are Agents within the State Department. They told me when she came into office. She told everyone that it's her way or the highway.

A lot of the Clinton era folks simply couldn't understand how a Republican works international politics. So they all quit. I think that was one of the best things that has happened so far in the US State Department.

The three major threats to the United States of America is Islamic/Arabic Terrorism, People's Republic of China, and the current rise of socialist governments gaining ground in South America.

All three support each other. Communist China support's many of these governments in South America by doing business and supplying them with arms. And terrorist get in to this by simply ridng the tail coats. They will use the "Anti-American" idea to gain support from the peoples of these nations. And they currently use the southern US boarder as a gateway into the USA.

Chinese government is evil! Many Chinese people are also brainwashed. I have been there couple of times and things I say is according to what I saw there first hand.

I have a friend from Myanmar at my work place where they have a dictatorship ruling with the iron fist.

He always tells me that these dictators are in place because of the Chinese government support.

by the way, if some people want you to provide them with links I can help you with that as well

China Increases Foreign Military Training
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/3722641.html

The Rise of China
http://www.aei.org/publications/filter.all,pubID.24061/pub_detail.asp

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-03/01/content_4245339.htm

Originally Posted by phoenix80

Chinese government is evil! Many Chinese people are also brainwashed. I have been there couple of times and things I say is according to what I saw there first hand.

I have a friend from Myanmar at my work place where they have a dictatorship ruling with the iron fist.

He always tells me that these dictators are in place because of the Chinese government support.

by the way, if some people want you to provide them with links I can help you with that as well

now that is a logical and reasonable post, good one.

however, I believe we have some honest differences here

first,
China's relationship with Myanmar is more of an economic overlord type, like U.S with Canada.
As China buys a lot of natural resources from Myanmar (you cannot blame the Chinese on this I think, the people need cars and appliances), so the Myanmar economy just floats there, but is there any official tie, like China says "good job Myanmar for closing its nation"....never
it is like saying U.S backs up Middle-east dictatorship by buying oil from them...does not make sense right?
also, on this so-called training thing

second, the so-called training things, don't Americans sell weapons to middle-east dictatorships, to corrupt Philipinal government, to dictatorship Pakistan? it is nothing personal (or political), it is strictly business, that is the new China today, it is all about money making

third, you can never really use just one word to describe a complicated and highly sophiciticated orgnization--government. WOrds like "good" 'evil""Nice" are not enough to describe government. U.S government is good because it is democratic. U.S government is evil because some members are corrupt. U.S government is great because it spreads democracy or U.S government is evil because it kicked out native Americans on their native lands..doesn't make any sense right?

Chinese government has done a lot of good things too, like pulling the most populated nation in the world into rapid economic growth and political change (biggest transformation in almost 2000 years in my opinon)

evil or not, also, I guess it is not for us to judge, history will make that determination.

oh by the way, the topic is about Iran right?

politically speaking, i think the world should get rid of iran as soon as possible as Iran is not only a "banker of terrorism" but probably the root of Isamic extremism.

personally speaking however, this whole Iran conflict has driven the oil price way too high, it is really starting to hurt your and my wallets....

I hope leaders can use their wisdom to find the best and most "economical" way to resolve this issue.

I start to see an pattern here. When is the invasion? I think Hans Blix pointed to an important part of the puzzle. And it would be nice to have some solid evidence before you invade....again.

lol....if Bush really wants to kick Iran's butt, he'd better present an awesome case to the American people and the world this time. (by awesome, I mean "without a reasonble doubt!!!!")

China and Russia disagreeing with the other UN members on how to best accomplish a task? Say it isn't so!!

Originally Posted by Marinerhodes

China and Russia disagreeing with the other UN members on how to best accomplish a task? Say it isn't so!!

They will get on board eventually.

The regime of Iran is the most dangerous one in the region and that regime is also capable of threatening the Russians and Chinese interests too, if that is necessary.

China & Russia shouldn't play like what they did during the Iraq war when they stood with Saddam.

This time it is different

they both agree to forward it UN security council,however, they don't agree sanction right away.
China wants to see the report coming up in April first before taking any serious actions