from new york sun: Chancellor Merkel said Germany will not back a military strike on Iran, underlining the difficulty that America faces in keeping international support for its effort to contain Iranian nuclear ambitions.
Iran, which last week defied a U.N. demand that it halt uranium enrichment, said yesterday that it is ready to retaliate against any attack. Negotiators from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany will meet in Berlin today to discuss whether to impose sanctions.
"The military option isn't an option," Mrs. Merkel told Parliament yesterday, adding to comments she made September 2. "We won't close the door to negotiations."
Germany is the first country involved in negotiations with Iran to rule out the use of force and Mrs. Merkel's pledge divides her from President Bush, who has repeatedly refused to do so.
