No Place for Hope in Intl Policy

credit: AFP/File

Naive, at best

White House Press Conference, Feb. 9, 2009:

"What I've also said is that we should take an approach with Iran that employs all of the resources at the United States' disposal, and that includes diplomacy.

And so my national security team is currently reviewing our existing Iran policy, looking at areas where we can have constructive dialogue, where we can directly engage with them. And my expectation is in the coming months we will be looking for openings that can be created where we can start sitting across the table, face to face, diplomatic overtures that will allow us to move our policy in a new direction." - President Barak Husein Obama

Then, we read this AP article today: " Clinton holds out hope for useful talks with Iran." One may conclude the new Administration is naive, at best.

Leaders of democracies often believe unwisely they alone can tame a determined foe. "Peace in our time" has proven illusive by mere words alone.

Iranian Foreign Policy

Iran has engaged the United States since the hostage crisis of 1979 with multiple terrorist attacks from Beirut marine barracks to Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia and the attempted destabilization of Iraq with Qods Force operations.

Is there any indication from Tehran that it is reviewing its policy toward the United States? Is there any hope Iran wants to change its policy?

President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton may want to review the State Department's Country Reports on Terrorism 2007, Chapter 1:

"Iran remained the most significant state sponsor of terrorism. A critically important element of Iranian national security strategy is its ability to conduct terrorist operations abroad."

Going Forward

President Obama pledged in his first primetime news conference to sit down across the table "face to face" with state sponsors of terrorism against US citizens and interests abroad.

We hope he reconsiders.

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