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Shultz Opposes Containment, Backs Diplomacy With Iran

Venerable US statesman and former secretary of state George Shultz has modest goals for Egypt and Syria, but urges a combination of bilateral diplomacy and more robust action short of war to deal with Iran.
Former state representatives of the U.S. and Germany address a news conference in Berlin, February 3, 2010. Pictured are L-R: Former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz, Germany's former President Richard von Weizsaecker, Germany's former Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Germany's former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt.     REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz     (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS)

Former US secretary of state George Shultz ruled out containment as an option for dealing with a  nuclear Iran and suggested that the Obama administration should take a more muscular approach to what he called “aggressive” Iranian behavior in the Persian Gulf.

In a bravura appearance, the 92-year-old Shultz — whose government service includes two other Cabinet positions and advisory roles dating to the Eisenhower administration — told the Council on Foreign Relations Tuesday night that the risk of proliferation if Iran develops nuclear weapons is simply too great.

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