Diplomacy in the Hopenchange Era

[Naked Gents Rut]

Off to a good start!

Obama Gives Brown a Chilly Reception at White House

Brown faces humiliation after Obama 'snub'

Obama's blockbuster gift for Brown to reaffirm the 'special relationship': 25 DVDs

Obama To World: Drop Dead!

If this adroit handling of the ever-difficult British is any indication, Tehran should be giving up its nuclear weapons program by the end of the month.

[Darius871]

In a similar vein, I was especially amused how his grand quid pro quo to Russia (pulling anti-missile defense in exchange for ending Iran's nuclear program) was nonchalantly shrugged off by Medvedev. If that "big stick" wouldn't work, what will?

[Naked Gents Rut]

Medvedev isn't stupid. He knows that Obama doesn't support missile defense and will most likely scuttle the sites in Eastern Europe no matter what Russia does.

[DanS]

I wonder why Obama snubbed Brown.

[rah]

He's doing well with IRAN Also. From today's paper

Iran says Obama is like Bush
By Thomas Erdbrink | The Washington Post
March 5, 2009
TEHRAN — Iranian leaders said Wednesday that President Barack Obama follows the "crooked ways" of his predecessor, repeated earlier warnings that Iranian missiles could reach Israel and reiterated that the Holocaust was "a lie."

Iran's president and other officials have at times appeared to welcome Obama's proposal for greater dialogue, but the remarks Wednesday suggested Iranian positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other issues would pose obstacles. In his first public comments on the new U.S. administration, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is Iran's supreme leader and who has the final say over foreign policy, said Obama had adopted former President George W. Bush's support for Israel, which Khamenei called a "cancerous tumor."

"Even the new American president, who came to office with the slogan of bringing change in the policies of the Bush administration, avows unconditional commitment to Israel's security," Khamenei told representatives of several pro-Palestinian groups at a Tehran conference.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, also speaking at the conference, repeated his assertion that the Holocaust is a "big lie."



"The Holocaust story — people without a country, country without a people — and portraying Zionists as wronged and oppressed are among the great lies of our age and the prelude to crimes and occupation," Ahmadinejad said.

The commander in chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Ali Jafari, speaking to reporters at the conference, said "the nuclear facilities in different parts of the land under the occupation of the Zionist regime are in the reach of Iran's missile defenses," according to the ISNA news agency. Iran has long said its missiles are capable of reaching Israel, but Jafari's mention of possible targets was unusual.

[Darius871]

Medvedev isn't stupid. He knows that Obama doesn't support missile defense and will most likely scuttle the sites in Eastern Europe no matter what Russia does.

That was my first impression too, but there's no way Obama would be stupid enough to reinforce that conclusion...



...or would he?

[Naked Gents Rut]

Hillary already admitted that diplomacy won't work with Iran. She's a smart gal. Maybe she can be President someday?

[Ben Kenobi]

You'll have to ask those Democrats who didn't see her as fit to be their nominee.

Terrible diplomacy. Perhaps this will open the door for better UK-Canada relations.

[DinoDoc]

Obama's blockbuster gift for Brown to reaffirm the 'special relationship': 25 DVDs

I'll bet money they aren't region free either.

[Naked Gents Rut]

It would be hilarious if Obama gave Brown NTSC DVDs.

edit: Apparently most PAL DVD players can also handle NTSC, so the PM should be ok.

[DanS]

That gift sounds a little gauche, but what do I know.

[Zkribbler]

Hillary already admitted that diplomacy won't work with Iran. She's a smart gal. Maybe she can be President someday?

From your lips, to Gods' ears. 8 years of Obama, followed by 8 years of Hillary, followed by 8 years of Chelsea.

[Naked Gents Rut]

I was hoping for two months of Obama followed by 7 years of Hillary. All we need is a little help from Tony Rezko...

[Imran Siddiqui]

Have to get rid of Biden, Pelosi, and Reid too though.

[Naked Gents Rut]

Biden's no problem; do you seriously think he'd be allowed to lead the country? I don't see how you get rid of Pelosi, though. Sigh...