Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has been approached to become the next head of the United Nation's nuclear watchdog, according to the the Washington Post. The newspaper says the Bush administration wants the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed El Baradei, to step down. The article says the US asked Mr Downer several months ago if he would consider the job but he apparently refused to challenge Dr El Baradei. The Post reports that the US has bugged Dr El Baradei's phone calls with Iranian officials in its bid to push him out of the job.
Hardliners within the Bush administration think Dr El Baradei is too soft on Iran but Democrat Senator Joe Biden is concerned. "It's a very slippery, dangerous slope as we're trying to re-establish ourselves as a player in the international community," he said. "I'd be very careful if I were them." "I agree with the administration, [Dr El Baradei] is going a little too slow with Iran but this is really a dangerous and slippery slope." |