re: I've been following the shell game.
The EU is playing all the diplomatic cards in its deck. At this point, I think the game is solitaire, but as someone who believes that violence is a last, and desperate, resort, I'm glad they're taking the time. It will save people the trouble of having to make the case later that Iran has been given numerous opportunities to cooperate with international bodies.
So, the EU is impotent, and accomplishing nothing, but at least they're doing it the right way.
Saddam jerked the U.N. around for years. How many years of futile negotiation and sanctions will it take this time to make the point that tyrants consider negotiations as a way to stall for time?