After conveying his infamous open microphone message to Putin that the US would be more "flexible" regarding missile defense following his reelection, Obama asked Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan to inform Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei that the US is prepared to tolerate an Iranian civilian nuclear program, provided that Iran "will never pursue nuclear weapons."
This new information is provided by David Ignatius in a Washington Post opinion piece entitled "Obama’s signal to Iran" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obamas-signal-to-iran/2012/04/05/gIQApVLDyS_story.html). Without disclosing his sources, Ignatius writes:
"The statement highlighted by Obama as a potential starting point was made on state television in February. Khamenei said: 'The Iranian nation has never pursued and will never pursue nuclear weapons. . . . Iran is not after nuclear weapons because the Islamic Republic, logically, religiously and theoretically, considers the possession of nuclear weapons a grave sin and believes the proliferation of such weapons is senseless, destructive and dangerous.'"
Obama believes Khamenei (and also in the Tooth Fairy), or is he grasping at straws to avoid a confrontation prior to November?
Meanwhile, Iran's delaying game continues. As reported by Iran's Mehr News Agency (http://www.mehrnews.com/en/newsdetail.aspx?NewsID=1569528):
"Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said Iran has proposed Baghdad as the venue of talks and the 5+1 group should announce its decision in this regard.
'In regard to Iraq’s transparent stance on the Iranian nuclear issue I believe that the negotiations should be held in Iraq instead of Turkey,' Boroujerdi told the Mehr News Agency.
Iran and the major powers are scheduled to meet for nuclear talks on April 13.
Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday that Iraq and China are possible venues for the next round of talks."
Apparently Obama still doesn't understand the manner in which the game is played in the Middle East. "Talk quietly and carry a big stick"? In this instance, Obama would have been wiser to handle Khamenei in accordance with a different maxim: "Stop with the nonsense, or I'm going to ram this big stick up your posterior."
I am tempted not to buy it and think that he pretends to be naive. On the other hand ... Personally, I view him as illiterate who doesn't know history. So ... whatever the story, it's ugly.
ReplyDeleteIlliterate? He reads from a teleprompter remarkably well . . .
ReplyDeleteOK, but who writing the text? Samantha Power? The Mentor (Jeremiah Wright)? The Master - Khamenei? Who? Who? Who?
DeleteHag Sameach, Jeffrey.
ReplyDeleteThanks, and also to you. May you have a joyous Seder.
DeleteI would also like to express Good Friday greetings to those from around the globe who read this blog.
Jeffrey
Jeff, I applaud your continued coverage of this subject in your blogs.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between Western democracy and Shia totalitarian theocracy is that Al Khamenei does not feel any need to mollify his constituents. He feels accountable to the unforgiving god of Islam. The personal political factor does not play in Iran. If the opposition proves too strong and stands to win the election then you simply physically attack them and imprison their leaders. By contrast, in the West, the incumbent, desperate to be reelected, regards everything from the angle of his own personal career. This egotism leads Obama to pursue non-sensical culs de sac, play dialogue with an Iran keen to avoid further sanctions and anything that comes between them and their goal of nuclear power. In the process Obama simply confirms the Iranian mindset: American politics are weaker than Iranian politics. Try every trick in the book and a tired USA and a hopeful incumbent will bend like a poplar in the breeze. Allah is on their side, they think. The chameleon infidel preacher will serve our purpose. Meanwhile US citizens have to witness the humiliating circus played out, justified by spurious reasons. It is sad and it is dangerous.