On Iran, the U.S. Needs Handshakes and an Iron Fist
The U.S. is still waiting for the emboldened mullahs to unclench their fists
Of course, diplomacy and persuasion, sticks and carrots, should be tried to enforce Security Council resolutions—but in earnest. Only very strong actions have any chance. A limit to Iran's gasoline imports, for instance, would hit a nerve. Nothing less, in short, than the kind of sanctions imposed on Iraq in 1991, with catchall provisions on commerce and diplomatic relations. But the Russians and the Chinese have already recognized Ahmadinejad's re-election, so the prospects are not bright.
Similarly, North Korea now finds it possible to stand up to the United States. After years of talks and American concessions, Pyongyang has announced it will pursue whatever nuclear program Kim Jong Il wants. The United States rallied the U.N. to pass sanctions against it, but those were no tougher than the ones issued in 2006, which failed, even as North Koreans roam the planet, mainly the Middle East, to offer their wares to the highest bidders and are the biggest suppliers of nuclear and missile technology to Iran. Hollow declarations and soft sanctions will simply not prevent rogue regimes like Iran and North Korea from pursuing what they believe to be their interests or their ideology.
The danger is that Obama's foreign policy direction puts him on the path to becoming Jimmy Carter 2.0. Carter took office with similar illusions about the Soviet Union, promising to cure our "inordinate fear of communism." He asked America to put aside its concern with traditional issues of war and peace in favor of the "new global issues of justice, equity, and human rights." He asserted that we had betrayed our principles in the course of the Cold War. The Soviet answer to that brave, new world was the invasion of Afghanistan in December of 1979, a single event that Carter described as teaching him more about the Soviet Union than any other event since he'd been president. This from the same president who refused to supply tear gas to the shah of Iran to help him control the crowds that ultimately overthrew him. We do not need Carter's naiveté back in the White House.
While America must not neglect, as Obama suggests, soft power, it must not forget that there are hard and cynical leaders in places like Tehran. As one Egyptian leader put it to me in a play on Obama's approach, "You need to deal with them with a clenched fist and not with a handshake."
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Reader Comments
The truth about IRAN
As long as Ayotollahs rule Iran, the world is not safe. A deep insight into the truth of this extremely dangerous country is the book,YHE PERSIAN PUZZLE" by
Kenneth M. Pollack. It relates the TRUTH about the SHAH, the Ayotollahs, Britain and Russia and Carter.
The U.S. has to realize that"make nice" with Iran and North Korea is the best way to be nuked by these anti-democratic countries. There will be no mercy in their bag of tricks.
The Naivete of Obama and the US Administration
The United States Government is acting in a delusional fashion, if they believe that long-standing disputes can be settled with sweet-talk, a wave and a smile. The US is being chastened, like a beat-up dog, by the governments who care only to expand their evil intentions rather than care for their own people!
Iran's brutal repression and murder of several hundred protestors has met with little reaction of significance by the US and European leaders. They whisper in hush-hush tones, afraid to "offend" the big bully.
Anyone who believes that Ahmajinenazi will back down on his threats towards Israel and the rest of the free world, ought take a dose of "wake-up" medicine! Soon enough, we will be begging the Iranians (and North Koreans) to hold their nukes at, perhaps, a few dozen, or maybe a few hundred! The villains of the world are not humbled by President Obama's smile or speeches before staged audiences. They are humbled by a hand that sends them the message that we will not cower in their presence. Must history repeat itself as we idly stand by and watch the rise of cruel 21st Century dictators? Mr. Obama, please set a deadline, and then flex our muscle! September 1st, 2009. Isn't that enough time for the Mullahs and ruthless leaders to come to their senses?
The longer you wait, Mr. President, the fewer options will be left. Once Iran has acquired nuclear weapons, no smiling, waving or making nice will be effective. Please act courageously and strongly NOW, before it's too late!
We don't need a "handshake"
And Obama has not given one to Iran. What he has done is invite other Muslims around the world to see Iran as ruled by nutballs.
And he is succeeding just fine, so far.
Iranian leaders are "calling" themselves evil---much more clearly than we can.
Meanwhile, Obama is trying to do the handshake thing with the OTHER billion-plus Muslims.
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