By Dan Calabrese ——Bio and Archives--October 18, 2013
American Politics, News | CFP Comments | Reader Friendly | Subscribe | Email Us
Such a plan, under which the United States could free up Iran's frozen overseas assets in installments, would avoid the political and diplomatic risks of repealing the sanctions, which had been agreed to by a diverse coalition of countries, the official said. It would also givePresident Obamathe flexibility to respond to Iranian offers that emerge from the negotiations without unraveling the global sanctions regime the administration has spent years cobbling together. The official likened the plan, which is still being debated inside the White House and the State Department, to opening and closing a financial spigot. While the two days of talks in Geneva this week did not produce a breakthrough, Iranian officials were more candid and substantive than in previous diplomatic encounters, officials said, particularly in direct negotiations between Iranian diplomats and the senior American representative, Wendy R. Sherman.See how this works? Because of the politics, the White House needs to pretend it isn't messing with the sanctions. But it's sort of like the way Obama views enforcement of America's laws. Technically he's supposed to enforce all of them, but if there's one he doesn't like . . . so why should it be any different with sanctions on Iran? Today I want to let you get your cash? I open the spigot. We haven't messed with the sanctions, you right-wing crazies! We're just most flexible and creative about how we administer them. Smart power. There is a guy who is warning about the dangers of trusting the Iranians, and he knows a thing or two about this from experience. It's not a guy Obama usually listens to, though:
Former U.S. President George W. Bush made a surprise appearance at the 50th anniversary tribute gala of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on Tuesday in New York, saying Iran cannot be trusted when it says its nuclear program has peaceful intentions. One attendee of the event, speaking anonymously because Bush's comments were off the record, said Bush quoted from his May 2008 speech to the Israeli Knesset. In that speech—one that on Tuesday he called a highlight of his presidency—Bush said America stands with Israel "in firmly opposing Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions." "Permitting the world's leading sponsor of terror to possess the world's deadliest weapon would be an unforgivable betrayal of future generations," Bush told the Knesset in 2008. "For the sake of peace, the world must not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon."Unfortunately, Obama has already used up all his mistrust on Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and other Americans who don't want to give him the fullness of his domestic agenda, so he doesn't have any left for Iran. Might as well negotiate with the mullahs! There are some people you want to do business with, and some you don't. Your choices say a lot about you. A new edition of Dan's book "Powers and Principalities" is now available in hard copy and e-book editions. Follow all of Dan's work, including his series of Christian spiritual warfare novels, by liking his page on Facebook.
Support Canada Free Press
View Comments
Dan Calabrese’s column is distributed by HermanCain.com, which can be found at HermanCain
Follow all of Dan’s work, including his series of Christian spiritual warfare novels, by liking his page on Facebook.