The Europeans seem to think that their affinity for solving international issues through "dialogue" and "soft power" earns them the respect of Middle Eastern governments that are turned off by the constant "bullying" of the U.S. government
The E.U. is so wedded to this approach that I doubt if even this article will finally provoke them to grow a spine vis-a-vis their fruitless negotions with Iran.
An official Iranian journal has reprinted a speech by Iran's former chief nuclear negotiator in which he brags about the ease with which he duped European negotiators, stringing them along without punishment while Iran secretly accelerated its nuclear program.
From the article: He boasted that while talks were taking place in Teheran, Iran was able to complete the installation of equipment for conversion of yellowcake - a key stage in the nuclear fuel process - at its Isfahan plant but at the same time convince European diplomats that nothing was afoot.
"From the outset, the Americans kept telling the Europeans, 'The Iranians are lying and deceiving you and they have not told you everything.' The Europeans used to respond, 'We trust them'," he said.
Imagine how strong the European impetus to appeasement must be that even World War II was not enough to disabuse them of this inexplicable tendency.
