Can Diplomacy Alone Block Iran's Nuclear Goals?

April 21, 2009 RSS Feed Print

Some say that diplomacy is enough, that 'bullying' Iran will fail to stop its nuclear aims and will hurt the U.S. globally. Others say talks won't work unless backed by a credible threat of force–and its use, if necessary. Can diplomacy without such a threat keep nuclear weapons out of Iran?
Edited by Steve St. Angelo

Yes

President Obama is right to open the door to direct engagement with Iran. Negotiations–

John Kerry

By John Kerry
Senator from Massachusetts and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

backed by escalating sanctions to show we mean business if talks fail–are the only way short of war that we can persuade Iran to rein in its nuclear ambitions and begin building a more stable and secure Middle East.

Not talking to Iran failed miserably. With the Bush administration wrapped in a cloak of empty rhetoric and refusal to engage...

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No

Every American seeks a negotiated solution to the dangerous problem of Iran's nuclear weapons

Elliott Abrams

By Elliott Abrams
Senior fellow, Council on Foreign Relations; deputy national security adviser to George W. Bush

program. Iran is the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism, the main backer of Hezbollah, Hamas, and other such groups. What's more, the Iranian regime repeatedly threatens to eliminate the State of Israel. Never before has a country sought nuclear weapons, supported terrorism, and simultaneously stated repeatedly that a nearby nation must be destroyed.

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Can diplomacy alone block Iran's nuclear goals?

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lol, I trust them like I trust a rattlesnake or pit viper to be a good pet.

Harsh of SC 11:21AM April 22, 2009

I think we should immediately send Mr. Kerry and eleven of his fellow democratic Senators to Iran and ask them to stay there until they persuade Iran to rein in its nuclear ambitions.

Something tells me Mr. Kerry is all talk...

Tom in San Diego of CA 3:27AM April 22, 2009

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