Wendy Sherman on PBS NewsHour: Iran's Arak Reactor Not for Peaceful Purposes

Yesterday, in an interview on PBS NewsHour (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/july-dec13/sherman_12-04.html), Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, one of the architects of Obama's "agreement to agree" with Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei (see: http://jgcaesarea.blogspot.co.il/2013/12/thomas-friedman-bibi-and-barack-sequel.html), who previously negotiated America's farcical agreement to restrict North Korea's nuclear weapons program, acknowledged that Iran's Arak Reactor is not for peaceful purposes:

GWEN IFILL: Is it fair to say that, as difficult as it was getting to this first step, as you call it, that it will be 10 times as difficult getting to the next one?

WENDY SHERMAN: I think getting to a comprehensive agreement will be very, very difficult.

GWEN IFILL: Does that include dismantling, full dismantling?

WENDY SHERMAN: This includes a lot of dismantling of their infrastructure, because, quite frankly, we're not quite sure what you need a 40-megawatt heavy water reactor, which is what Arak is, for any civilian peaceful purpose.

And yet, as part of his secret negotiations with Khamenei in Oman, Obama conceded that Iran, as part of an initial agreement, could continue to build the Arak reactor, capable of producing enough plutonium for two atomic bombs each year, without any restrictions whatsoever. Only owing to French objections, when Obama's secret agreement was brought for approval to the P5+1 in Geneva, was it deemed necessary to address the Arak reactor.

Nevertheless, pursuant to the Geneva "agreement to agree," Iran can:

• continue to enrich uranium (see: http://www.voanews.com/content/rouhani-iran-will-never-stop-enrichment/1798585.html);
• continue to build its reactor in Arak (see: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/27/us-iran-nuclear-arak-idUSBRE9AQ0U120131127), intended to produce enough plutonium for two atomic bombs each year;
• continue to build components for the Arak reactor off-site (see: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-says-work-to-continue-at-arak-nuclear-reactor-site/).

Just as bad, Obama abandoned American hostages held by Iran (see: http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/12/03/obamas-iran-deal-left-pastor-behind/).

Meanwhile Britain's Foreign Service has sent a diplomat, Ajay Sharma, to Tehran for the first time since late 2011 (see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ajay-sharma-makes-first-visit-to-iran-as-non-resident-charge-daffaires). After his visit, Sharma joyously declared:

"I had a good first visit back to Tehran today and want to thank the Iranian authorities, particularly my counterpart Mr Habibollahzadeh, for facilitating the trip. I held detailed and constructive discussions with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about taking forward our bilateral relationship on a step by step and reciprocal basis. I also visited our Embassy compounds to assess the damage caused in 2011.

. . . .

I intend to visit Iran regularly to continue the step by step process of improving relations between our two countries."

Not on the agenda of Britain's non-resident charge d’affaires during his trip to Iran was a visit to Evin Prison, where Iran continues to torture Baha'is, Kurds, Sunnis, Christians, homosexuals and political dissidents.

Britain is also brokering discussions between Hezbollah and Obama (see: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Report-London-is-mediating-indirect-secret-talks-between-US-and-Hezbollah-333245). Of course, Obama doesn't care about the 1983 Beirut Barracks Bombing by Hezbollah, which killed 241 American servicemen, or the 1994 bombing by Hezbollah of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 and wounding hundreds. Needless to say, both attacks were undertaken at the behest of Tehran.

You see, Obama and friends are determined to dismantle the sanctions program against Iran, and it's all fast becoming lovey-dovey, notwithstanding the executions and assorted other horrors, e.g., stoning to death of women accused of adultery and rape of prisoners, perpetrated by the Khamenei regime.

Do you remember how Obama claimed in March 2012 (see: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/chips-down-israel-back-says-obama-while-reiterating-184525416.html):

"There should not be a shred of doubt by now: When the chips are down, I have Israel's back."

Well, Obama certainly has Israel's back, and he is busy putting a knife into it.