| It's my guess, based on a very small statistical sample, mind you, that most people think we already have a missile shield. |
In an interview with ABC's 'Good Morning America', presumptive Democratic nominee Obama said Iran's reported missile tests justify the need to conduct direct diplomacy with the country and impose tougher economic sanctions, combined with strong incentives to change Tehran's behavior. | What tougher 'economic sanctions'? We already have stuffed their banks, we ban direct trade with them (more or less), and we lean on our allies not to trade with Iran. The Euros, particularly the Germans, won't go further because they need the trade. So 'tougher economic sanctions' is already doomed. And 'direct diplomacy' should be a non-starter. When you sit and talk with a thug without pre-conditions, you're 90% of the way to losing. |
| Code Pink was protesting Gary Ackerman today, than whom there aren't many more liberal, because he's supporting sanctions against Iran. But then, we already knew which side they were on. |
Obama said he would listen to his national security team to decide whether 'this indicates any new capabilities on Iran's part.'
In response to another report released Tuesday that said U.S. exports to Iran rose more than tenfold under President George W. Bush despite hostility between the two countries, Obama criticized the Republican government for using bellicose language against Tehran while at the same time increasing exports to the country. 'It's that kind of mixed signal that has led to the kind of situation that we're in right now,' he said. Meanwhile, presumptive Republican presidential nominee McCain said in a prepared statement that the Iranian missile tests were proof of the need to build a missile defense system in Europe. 'Working with our European and regional allies is the best way to meet the threat posed by Iran, not unilateral concessions that undermine multilateral diplomacy,' he said.
The Vietnam veteran has criticized Obama's stated policy of engaging Iran through direct talks as