Israel Matzav

Obama still hopes to 'negotiate' with Iran over its nuclear program

The Washington Post reports that Democratic President Barack Hussein Obama is reacting 'cautiously' to events in Iran because he still hopes to negotiate with the current regime over its nuclear program.

U.S. officials say Obama is intent on calibrating his comments to the mood of the hour. They say he is seeking to avoid having the demonstrators accused of being American stooges and is trying to preserve the possibility of negotiating directly with the Iranian government over its nuclear program, links to terrorism, Afghanistan and other issues.

...

Despite increasingly intense Republican criticism, and the passage of resolutions in the House and Senate on Friday that were tougher than the president's words, U.S. officials say they will stick to their current course. They say there is not much the United States can do to influence the situation -- except make it worse for the opposition -- but they have begun planning for the administration's response if the crackdown turns very violent. [IF???? CiJ]

"We have to watch every day to see what is happening, even while we anticipate several different possibilities and what to do in those circumstances," one official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Within the administration, officials say, Obama's cautious stance has the support of key senior officials, with disagreements centered mostly on quibbles over a word choice.

Well, at least Ahmadinejad's supporters in the US are pleased.

And the National Iranian American Council, which supports engagement with Iran, last night praised Obama for not taking sides but called on him "to speak vociferously against the bloodshed taking place before our eyes."

The article goes on to make it sound like 'human rights' organizations (including Human Rights Watch, which recently went to Saudi Arabia to raise funds) believe that Obama is 'striking the right balance.'

Forgive me, but all I can do is look at the difference between the way Obama has come down hard on Israel and how he's kowtowing to the Mullahs. Simply appalling.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:46 PM