Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Clinton: U.S. still open to talks with Iran

Detroit Free Press: Clinton says U.S. still open to talks with Iran
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said today the Obama administration remains open to negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program, despite intransigence from Tehran.

Speaking to reporters at the State Department, Clinton said it is clear that administration efforts to engage Iran in talks to restrain its nuclear program in 2009 fell short.

Fell short? Doesn't the term "miserable failure" sound like a more accurate description?
Clinton said the administration is consulting with other nations about new sanctions, but she stressed that this does not mean the administration is abandoning its effort to start a dialogue with Iran.

There is no hard-and-fast deadline for Iran to respond, she said.

"We've avoided using the term 'deadline' ourselves," she said. "That's not a term we have used because we want to keep the door to dialogue open. But we've also made it clear we can't continue to wait and we cannot continue to stand by when the Iranians themselves talk about increasing their production of highly enriched uranium" and taking other steps toward possible production of nuclear weapons.
Could it be because a "deadline" would imply you have to do something when the deadline expires? This administration seems quite detached from effective dealing in foreign affairs. Obama seems to dither around on foreign policy and while trying to "extend a hand", keeps meeting a clenched fist, gets socked in the nose and then puts out the same hand again and expects a different result.

Has the "World's Policeman" now gone British: Stop or we'll talk again?

2 comments:

Scott said...

"Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!" -Achma-whatshisname

Aaron said...

Yep, Iran keeps playing for time and the State Department keeps playing right along. European-style ineffective diplomacy.

At lest they manged to indicate they were "appalled" by the actions of the Iranian government in cracking down on their people. Next comes disturbed, then mildly annoyed, and finally they may even write a letter of diplomatic protest.