Date:13/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/13/stories/2004121303961300.htm

International

U.S. trains its guns on ElBaradei

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, DEC. 12. In an indication of desperation with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Bush administration is examining dozens of transcripts of Mohammad ElBaradei's telephone talks with Iranian officials in a bid to ease him out. The Washington Post quotes three officials as saying the U.S. has not come up with anything to show that he was involved in any "nefarious conduct."

Mr. ElBaradei (62) questioned Washington on its intelligence on Iraq and is now seen as being cautious on Iran. An Egyptian, he is highly respected in the international civil service and is being asked by many countries sitting on the IAEA Board to stay on for a third term beginning next summer.

But Washington has other ideas even it does not have the backing of the Board to vote against him. It is desperately looking for someone `credible' to challenge him, it is said.

The U.S. is pinning its hopes on the Australian Foreign Minister, Alex Downer, two Japanese, two South Korean diplomats and a Brazilian disarmament expert. According to the paper, the Brazilian candidate and the South Korean diplomats' position are said to be weak, given the suspicions of those countries' nuclear work and investigations of the IAEA and Mr. Downer is yet to throw his hat in the ring.

Opinion in the administration is divided whether it is wise to spend political capital in removing Mr. ElBaradei. The outgoing Secretary of State, Colin Powell, wanted to use this capital to get tougher on Iran.

But the former Australian Foreign Minister, Gareth Evans, currently heading the high level U.N. panel on reforms, has a more blunt assessment of the Bush administration.

"If they think they can get anyone who could have better handled the complex and difficult issues surrounding North Korea, Iran and other controversies, they are not understanding the world right now."