Morally empty appeasement weasel Gerhard Schroeder says that in the faceoff with Iran over their accelerating nuclear program, the West must take the military option off the table.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has warned the US to back away from the possibility of military action against Iran over its nuclear programme.

His comments come a day after President Bush reiterated that force remained an option but only as a last resort.

Iran has resumed what it says is a civilian nuclear research programme but which the West fears could be used to develop nuclear arms. Germany, France and the UK have led efforts to end the crisis peacefully. …

Mr Schroeder directly challenged Mr Bush’s comment that “all options are on the table” over the Iran crisis.

“Let’s take the military option off the table. We have seen it doesn’t work,” Mr Schroeder told Social Democrats at the rally in Hanover, to rapturous applause from the crowd.

Mr Schroeder said it remained important that Iran did not gain atomic weapons, and a strong negotiating position was important.

And the mullahs smiled.