Don't Let the Mullahs Run Out the Clock

Slate by Christopher Hitchens | Feb. 17, 2009 (Opinion)

The idea of direct and transparent negotiations with the Iranians is not wrong in principle, but it depends on which Iranians are the actual or potential partners. The president can address the Iranian people directly if he chooses, from the podium of the United Nations (as I urged Bush to do). He can tell them that just as the United States can and will help them to build civilian nuclear reactors, so it will not stand still and watch all Iran's ... Full Story »

Posted by Derek Hawkins

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Subjects: World, U.S., Politics, Religion
Topics: Iran, Foreign Policy, Obama Administration, Islam, Iran Nuclear Program
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Posted by: Posted by Derek Hawkins - Feb 17, 2009 - 12:22 PM PST
Reviewed by: Derek Hawkins (review), James Canning (review), Kevin Reilly (review), Jillian York (review)
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Edited by: Derek Hawkins - Feb 17, 2009 - 12:22 PM PST
Related Comments: Obama Administration (3)

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Derek Hawkins
4.0
 by Derek Hawkins - Feb. 17, 2009

There are bound to be those who'll rate this down simply because it's a foreign policy piece by Chris Hitchens, formerly a hawkish supporter of the Iraq War. His previous positions aside, this contains well reasoned calls for being strict but diplomatic with the Iranian government. He takes Barack Obama to task on this, what he clearly believes is one of the most pressing foreign policy challenges his administration will face.

Derek posted this story.
See Full Review » (11 answers)
Kevin Reilly
3.2
 by Kevin Reilly - Feb. 18, 2009

The angry, know-it-all tone of the piece will turn many off.

See Full Review » (6 answers)
Jillian York
4.2
 by Jillian York - Feb. 18, 2009
See Full Review » (5 answers)
James Canning
2.8
 by James Canning - Feb. 17, 2009

Christopher Hitchens claims, with no support whatever, that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. He also argues that Iran would use the bomb to intimidate its Gulf neighbors. In fact, the Gulf Arabs support Iran's domestic nuclear power program.

Mohammed ElBaradei of the IAEA thinks Iran in fact does not have a covert nuclear weapons program. ElBaradei thinks Israel is a larger problem than Iran, in dealing with nucear weapons proliferation. Obama should make clear the US accepts Iran's domestic nuclear power program and has no hidden agenda of wishing to overthrow the government of Iran.

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