WHERE ARE THE SANCTIONS ON IRAN?

Almost a month ago, I commented on President Obama's delinquency in imposing sanctions on Iran for its refusal to negotiate an end to its nuclear program. The deadline was supposed to be January 1, 2010. There still have been no sanctions imposed. While the U.S. has done nothing, Iran has:
1. Said that it has no intention of allowing Russia or France to receive its nuclear material, and return it to them in a form that can be used for medical or other non-military purposes.
2. Has launched a missile in as part of its emerging "space program" that can be tipped with a nuclear payload.
3. Has assured the world that it has begun to enrich uranium to beyond 20%, a level that is obviously consistent with a nuclear weapons program.

Meanwhile, President Obama announces that it remains his policy to pursue a dual-track policy toward Iran, which includes seeking international sanctions while being open to negotiations. Hillary Clinton has, of course said that the purpose of sanctions would be to force Iran into negotiations. Very simply, this means that there is only a single track being pursued, and that is negotiation.

Where will the sanctions, if any (if ever), come from? Not the U.N. Security Council. China will veto it. From NATO? Only France, the U.K., and Germany would be interested, and without Russia signing on to a serious set of sanctions (which is unlikely), any sanctions President Obama achieves may be puny.
Of course, the government of Israel is watching closely. They have said that their expectation is that any sanctions imposed would be "crippling" to Iran.
We continue to watch and wait .

SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN

As noted previously, President Obama had given Iran only until the end of the year to make major concessions on their nuclear program, or they would face a new round of "tougher, smarter" sanctions than ever before. What's with that? Isn't Iran's time up?
Oh, wait. President Obama was really hoping that China would be on board with the sanctions program. And they're not. Security Council resolutions are out of the question So, now what? Will the president assemble a "coalition of the willing" to impose sanctions outside of the U.N.? Or will he do that cowboy thing and go it alone?
Probably not. Really, as Hillary said, the only purpose for further sanctions in the Obama foreign policy was to force Iran back to the negotiation table anyway. That's great. Everyone loves a good, tough negotiation. Especially when you have no leverage.
Lots of people have formed the opinion that the Obama administration has reconciled itself to Iran actually possessing nuclear weapons. They think that they can deter the actual use of the weapons just like the Soviets were deterred. Or in the way that North Korea has been deterred.
Hope has its place, but there is no hope that Iran will abandon its nuclear weapons program. My hope is that President Obama snaps out of it.

WATCHING IRAN

In his remarks today, President Obama "strongly condemned" the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the violence it is committing against its citizens who are in revolt against their leaders. He expressed his "deep admiration" for those who are involved in the revolution. He warns that the world will continue to "bear witness" to the events in Iran. So what?
We are continuing to bear witness to their quest for nuclear weapons, to their supplying money and weapons to the Taliban, and their support for Hamas and Hezbollah. Does the president think that Iran's government is embarrassed by the spectacle of their repression, or their sponsorship of worldwide jihad?

WORTH THE WAIT?

President Obama will wait until the end of the year for Iran to agree to allow its nuclear fuel to be re-processed in Russia, or otherwise comply with UN mandates regarding its nuclear program. John Mayer is waitin' for the world to change. Folks waited for Godot. Ferlinghetti waited for a rebirth of wonder. Adlai Stevenson waited for hell to freeze over. Jimmie Rodgers waited on a train. We all waited for George Jones to show.
And, you just wait and see, Iran will not comply with any mandates. Until both the U.S. and Israel completely disarm, that is. Of course, they're willing to wait for that to happen.
How long is Israel willing to wait before they bomb the Persians back to the 5th century BCE? My guess: four months.