HR Clinton Still Hawkish On Iran

By Cernig

Spencer Ackerman* has the details of Clinton's comments on Iran at her confirmation hearing today. She repeated the line that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons, just as Obama has done. The 2007 NIE saying exactly the opposite seems to have passed from  the villagers' memory without a whimper, so "all options" are still on the table. And she very definitely didn't, even given multiple opportunities, say that the Obama administration will despatch and envoy to Iran in its first year. Although since the frontrunner for that job is rumored to be neocon-enabler Dennis Ross, I'm not sure whether to be thankful about that.

Hugely disappointing, as was Kerry's agreement talk of "big sticks". No wonder the Iranians call her "Madame AIPAC". With Obama seemingly giving more than just lip service to the anti-Iran pro-AIPAC lobby, the next Israeli leader won't even have to worry about calling up the American president to give his SecState her marching orders.

* Fourth cite today. What can I say - the guy rocks.

Comments

[Peter G.]

Greetings Cernig
You're certainly posting up a storm today. Have you and Fester got a competition going? I know from your biography that you hail from Scotland but I'm not sure how long you been resident in the States. The reason I wonder about that is that you seem to be largely free from the Iranian psychosis that still grips the US. The humiliating hostage crisis that was one of the primary causes of the perceived failure of the Carter administration still resonates. I don't think it is possible for any American politician to advance to high office while saying anything positive about Iran or Iranians. It has become a cultural meme. I'm often reminded of a scene from a Cheech and Chong's Next Movie where the character played by Paul Reubens, a hotel clerk, can't get the police to respond until he says the magic words: "I think they're Iranians". That gets the sirens blaring. It still does.

[Peter G.]

Oddly enough the scene I was thinking of was available on YouTube,enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-qLZRyQdW8

[Steve Hynd]

Heh, thanks for that vid Peter:-)

You're right - I find people keeping a three decade grudge and allwing it to influence the nation's entire foreign policy a bit dumb - like a certain kind of Little Englander who still can't forgive the Germans for the Blitz.

Regards, C