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 »

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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.