US and Israel divided on Iran
When Defense Secretary Gates was here earlier in the week, an effort was made to downplay differences between the US and Israel over how to deal with Iran. True, there was that moment at the press conference when Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Israel was leaving 'all options' on the table, clearly implying that one option was a military one, but Gates pandered to Israel, saying that 'engagement' with Iran would not be open-ended and that Iran would not be allowed to 'run out the clock.' The Wall Street Journal's Yochi Dreazen reports that the differences between the US and Israel on how to deal with Iran are still significant. Israeli officials made clear they were unhappy with the administration's outreach to Tehran and that they wanted tougher measures. In his appearance with Mr. Gates, Mr. Barak said any negotiations with Iran should be "short in time and well-defined in objectives."The problem here goes far beyond the Obumbler's religious insistence on 'engagement' with Iran. The bigger problem is that there is no 'Plan B.' If 'engagement' fails (as everyone outside of Washington seems to believe it will), the Obama administration has NO plans for stopping Iran and no serious plans for even coping with a nuclear Iran. One of the officials traveling with Gates admitted that the US is not even considering a military option, and the Obumbler has done nothing to marshal support for sanctions at the United Nations.
If the talks don't show quick signs of progress, the Israeli defense minister said Israel would push the U.N. to impose binding "Chapter 7" sanctions on Iran, a step the world body has so far refused to take.
Mr. Gates indicated the Obama administration would support stronger measures against Iran if progress isn't made. "If the engagement process is not sufficient the U.S. is prepared to press for significant additional sanctions," he said.
Mr. Gates declined to say whether the administration had begun crafting specific sanctions or canvassing American allies at the U.N. to drum up support for such measures.
On Thursday, the Russians and the Iranians announced that they are conducting joint naval exercises in the Caspian Sea. And you think someone is going to get the Russians to vote for (or at least not veto) sanctions against Iran?
What could go wrong?
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:59 PM
2 Comments:
Maybe part of the problem is understanding exactly where the countries of the Middle East are really located on the map. This shot from Fox News ought to explain the problem: http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/128932777904203670.jpg
When the Russians are unimpressed with American resolve on Iran, that says more than all the press releases coming out of Washington, which are full of hot air.
What could go wrong indeed
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