"..I am solidly in the US court on every key strategic decision.."

Via-Friday-Lunch-Club

In a later cable in October, the US mission in Vienna goes as far as describing Amano as "DG of all states, but in agreement with us".

"... Amano reminded [the] ambassador on several occasions that he was solidly in the U.S. court on every key strategic decision, from high-level personnel appointments to the handling of Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program. More candidly, Amano noted the importance of maintaining a certain "constructive ambiguity" about his plans, at least until he took over for DG ElBaradei in December...." 

... The other pressing question for the US mission during the transition was the fate of the deputy director generals, particularly Olli Heinonen, the head of the safeguards division - a widely-respected Finn who ran the inspections of Iran, Syria, North Korea and other nuclear rogue suspects, and who was consequently the second most (or perhaps the most) important person in the IAEA's Vienna headquarters, from Washington's point of view. He was due to retire in Summer 2010, causing some anxiety in the US delegation...

Posted by G, Z, or B at 12:14 PM

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian