| 03.03.2009 |
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| Some senior U.S. official really is getting around, talking about what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is telling key Arab leaders about Iran. "It's doubtful that Iran would respond" to engagement, she said, according to that official. It's all been interpreted as a sign that the U.S. is already moving away from President Obama's campaign idea to meet with Iran. So what does that leave? Well, for one, according to the L.A. Times, "it could help persuade U.S. allies to join it in increasing pressure on the Islamic regime," since Clinton said that Iran rebuffing overtures to Iran "would quell complaints that the United States has not exhausted diplomatic routes." Clinton said "that Iran's 'worst nightmare is an international community that is united and an American government willing to engage Iran,' according to the State official." In particular, Russia and European allies getting on board with additional Iran sanctions they've resisted in the past would be a new step. The L.A. Times mentioned a few more steps: efforts to solicit Iran to help stabilize Pakistan and Afghanistan, creating a little U.S.-Iran collaboration, as well as new commitments toward U.S. and international disarmament that would persuade Iran to follow that lead. There does seem to be consensus -- unlike prior to Iraq, when the IAEA and others were skeptical -- that Iran is on the path to a nuclear weapon. Maybe that has created new pressure to move beyond engagement? |
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