Israel's pink lines on Iran
Haaretz reports that Israeli officials plan to present Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with 1. Any dialogue must be both preceded by and accompanied by harsher sanctions against Iran, both within the framework of the UN Security Council and outside it. Otherwise, the talks are liable to be perceived by both Iran and the international community as acceptance of Iran's nuclear program.This is ridiculous. If these 'red lines' are adopted, it is likely that by the time the talks take place, Iran will have a nuclear weapon. When do they think more sanctions are going to be implemented, why do they think the Russians will cooperate and what good do they think they are going to do? We got some indication of that yesterday, when Clinton told the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates that she does not believe that sanctions and diplomacy will prevent Iran from going nuclear (Hat Tip: Hot Air).
2. Before the dialogue begins, the U.S. should formulate an action plan with Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain regarding what to do if the talks fail. Specifically, there must be an agreement that the talks' failure will prompt extremely harsh international sanctions on Iran.
3. A time limit must be set for the talks, to prevent Iran from merely buying time to complete its nuclear development. The talks should also be defined as a "one-time opportunity" for Tehran.
4. Timing is critical, and the U.S. should consider whether it makes sense to begin the talks before Iran's presidential election in June.
The Obama administration has already concluded that a diplomatic overture to Iran, one of the central promises of the president's election campaign, is unlikely to persuade Tehran to give up its nuclear ambitions.And how much time does she think we have for that to happen?
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates in a private meeting Monday that it is "very doubtful" a U.S. approach will persuade Iran to relent, said a senior State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity under customary diplomatic rules.
But Clinton, in Egypt for a conference to raise money for the war-scarred Gaza Strip, said an Iranian rebuff could strengthen America's diplomatic position.
She told Foreign Minister Sheik Abdullah ibn Zayed al Nuhayyan that the move would quell complaints that the United States has not exhausted diplomatic routes. At the same time, it could help persuade U.S. allies to join it in increasing pressure on the Islamic regime.
What's astounding about her stay in Israel, by the way, is that she spent all day today meeting with Peres, Livni (including a joint press conference), Olmert and Barak, and will only spend a short period with Netanyahu this evening. Is this a farewell tour or a first meeting between two new governments? Is she going to visit Ariel Sharon in the hospital too? Or is the Obama administration going to pretend for the next four years that Livni is Prime Minister?
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:18 PM
3 Comments:
Or is the Obama administration going to pretend for the next four years that Livni is Prime Minister?
Yes. Her husband did it with Netanyahu the first time around, why would it be any different.'
Livni will be running the shadow government like Peres did during Shamir' run and like Barak did during Bibi's first run.
This is why Bibi so desperately wants Livni in the government (although Livni will do anything for her own personal power and being in the government would not stop her).
She has realized that it is more profitable to her to be on the left and she will milk the world's desire to destroy her country for her own personal gain.
Carl, you once argued that Livni is not corrupt. It appears that she has been seduced by the adoration of the Israel hating world and has been corrupted.
Caroline Glick observed that although Kadima's policy has been a disaster for Israel, its reaped political dividends for the party. Kadima hasn't paid the political price for harming Israel. Just the opposite.
J. Lichty - yes, it's more profitable for her to be on the left. But I still believe she will stay on the left- out of the government, or her career is over. She does not have the staying power or national stature of Bibi and Barak - not to mention Rabin/Peres/Sharon. If she enters the government, she will be history.
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