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| Iran nuclear deal could put Obama in bind | ||
| 2010-05-18 | ||
| WASHINGTON - Iran's surprise agreement on a nuclear fuel swap deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey could stall U.S. President Barack Obama's push for new U.N. sanctions if Tehran's move creates divisions among world powers. The White House response mixed skepticism and caution, saying it would be a “positive step' it Iran fulfilled its latest pledge but that its insistence on continuing to enrich uranium at home would still violate earlier U.N. resolutions. The deal could put Obama in a bind, limiting his room to maneuver on a new sanctions package that had been gaining international momentum, especially with pivotal countries like Russia and China. Although Washington has reason to distrust Tehran's intentions and believe it is trying to buy time and split the major powers, Obama could not afford to reject the deal out of hand if it met some of the international community's demands. As part of Obama's balancing act, the White House acknowledged the efforts by Turkey and Brazil but put the onus on Tehran to dispel “serious concerns' about its nuclear program or else “face consequences, including sanctions.' It was unclear, however, whether that meant the Obama administration was ready to ease pressure for swift U.N. action on a fourth round of sanctions. For now, Obama will have a hard time making further headway with China and Russia, both veto-holding U.N. Security Council members.
Chances are, even after careful study, the Obama administration will not see Iran's concessions as enough to completely abandon the U.S.-led sanctions push. Tehran has made clear that despite the fuel swap deal it intends to continue enriching uranium at home despite international demands that it suspend such activities. If that is the case, Obama will face the tough task of trying to rebuild support for sanctions while other countries are less eager to go along. White House officials believe Obama has gained credibility on the issue by having first sought to engage Iran diplomatically. Obama critics say, however, the president's outreach strategy only showed his administration was soft on the nuclear standoff with Tehran.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #4 The guy's already in a bind of his own imposition. |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-05-18 10:02 |
| #3 The deal could put Obama in a bind. Washington has reason to distrust TehranÂ’s intentions. [Iran] is trying to buy time and split the major powers. Obama could not afford to reject the deal out of hand if it met some of the international communityÂ’s demands. Reason to distrust Iran? No kidding! Hope that is not a newly found revelation. Buying time. Split the powers? Ditto and ditto the newly found revelation. The One had better count his fingers when dealing with these haggling master rug merchants. They have been at it a long, long time. Lay a can of Saul Alinsky "community organizer" whup a$$ on em chief. Oh, that's for the folks at home? You say it ain't working so well at home either? There's always apologies and bowing although that hasn't gained too much either? There is the ole rope a dope "wag the dog" approach--deflect attention to some inane issue such as the "War on Global Warming" or "Cap and Steal." |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-05-18 08:40 |
| #2 IIUC ARTIC = THE US HAS ALREADY FAILED OR IS FAILING. Its only an Issue = Degree of how Nuclearized will Iran get before it is finally attacked by the US-ISRAEL??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-05-18 02:39 |
| #1 OTOH TOPIX > OBAMA OUT OF OPTIONS ON IRAN? POTUS BAMMER + Admin slowly moving from STOPPING IRAN'S NUCPROGS to MINIMIZING OR DELAYING IRAN'S NUCDEV AT NEXT HIGHER LEVEL, i.e. DEV OR PROCUREMENT OF [POST-URANIUM] HYDROGEN, PLUTONIUM, ETC. ADVANC NUCBOMBS??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-05-18 02:36 |