It is a popular parlour game in Washington's corridors of power and European chancelleries to deride Mohamed ElBaradei as a quixotic bureaucrat determined to subvert the western strategy of restraining Iran's nuclear programme. The latest International Atomic Energy Agency report suggesting progress has been made by Iran is quietly disparaged by the Bush administration as another clean pass for the rash theocracy. The point that Mr ElBaradei's critics miss is that he is judiciously achieving the goals that they seemingly desire - the disarmament of the Islamic Republic.
The IAEA process, particularly the adoption last year of a "work plan" to investigate suspect activities, has been criticised by many Americans. The latest report shows, however, that process is working. The investigation and inspections - even the limited ones the IAEA is currently able to conduct - have, in effect, shut down direct weapons work and resolved many of the outstanding historical questions.
