Posted on 01/20/2006 10:15:20 PM PST by Flavius
Repeatedly referring to a need for "new vision and leadership" in U.S. policy toward the Middle East, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) called Wednesday for United Nations sanctions against Iran and further global advances in women's rights, and urged optimism for a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
"We cannot and should not — must not — permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons," Clinton said in a speech before a capacity crowd in Richardson Auditorium. (See full text.) "In order to prevent that from occurring, we must have more support vigorously and publicly expressed by China and Russia, and we must move as quickly as feasible for sanctions in the United Nations."
Though never mentioning President Bush by name, Clinton strongly criticized the current administration's policy toward Iran. "I believe that we lost critical time in dealing with Iran because the White House chose to downplay the threats and to outsource the negotiations," Clinton said.
The United States, which severed formal diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980, has relied on the United Kingdom, France and Germany to negotiate on its behalf in the standoff over Iran's nuclear program. Tensions were ratcheted up last week when Iran announced that it would resume uranium enrichment research, saying it has a right to operate a civilian nuclear program.
The United States and European partners have joined in condemning Iran's latest action. "The Iranians want to make this about their rights. It's not about their rights," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday in a speech at Georgetown University. "It's about the ability of the international system to trust them with the capabilities and technologies that could lead to a nuclear weapon."
Like Bush, a tough-talking Clinton left open the possibility of military action against Iran if it attempts to acquire nuclear weapons. "We cannot take any option off the table in sending a clear message to the current leadership of Iran that they will not be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons," Clinton said.
Clinton also criticized recent remarks by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that questioned Israel's right to exist and described the Holocaust as a "myth." Ahmadinejad "is moving to create his own nuclear reality in line with his despicable rewriting of history," she said.
Clinton spoke as part of the Wilson School's 75th anniversary celebration and the formal announcement of the new S. Daniel Abraham Chair in Middle East Policy Studies. Daniel Abraham, who endowed the faculty position, and Daniel Kurtzer, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel and Egypt and the first holder of the chair, were both present for Clinton's address. (See related story on Kurtzer's appointment.)
Kurtzer, who described himself as one of the original supporters of sanctions against Iran, praised Clinton's ideas in an interview Thursday evening, calling the sanctions "overdue."
"Whether it's full sanctions or partial sanctions or escalating sanctions, that's for the experts to find out," he said. "The Iranians are flouting the international community."
Wilson School dean Anne-Marie Slaughter '80, however, expressed doubts about sanctions' effectiveness. "I agree that we cannot allow a nuclear Iran, but it is a real question as to whether sanctions are not more likely to consolidate support for the government ... than to pressure the government into stopping its behavior," she said in an email Thursday.
Clinton, believed to be a front-runner for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, peppered her speech with references to the idealism of President Woodrow Wilson 1879 and the founders of the University's Wilson School. The United States today, Clinton said, needs "the ability to hold fast to our core principles and to rise with new solutions to the challenges of our time."
"We need the founders' understanding that a stronger America comes from strengthened bonds with other nations and we need something else the Wilson School has always had: a commitment to competence and common sense over ideology and partisanship," Clinton said.
Filth is the only word I can think of at this hour.
So Lucretia Borgia is positioning herself as the hawk in the liberal camp. Wonderful. But what does she propose that is supposed to stop the Iranians? Sanctions and "support vigorously and publicly expressed"? The Iranians will laugh at all that and speed up their nuclear work. She is like Barney Fife trying to act tough, you know she is overcompensating like crazy.
honestly, i did not read the article one does not have to
she will get 51% or 49% no matter what anyone says or does, thats just the way its going to be
and whos running against her...
"...commitment to competence and common sense over ideology and partisanship,"
Classic liberal rhetoric. Classic.
The same democratic party that blasts Bush for "rushing to war" in Iraq, now blasts him for supposedly dragging his feet on Iran.
They have as few ideas as they have principles. All they stand for is "Bush is wrong".
I want Giuliani b/c: 1) I like him, 2) the War on Terror will be fought "boot on neck" style and 3) he will avenge the 2000 NY Senate race against Chillary where he had to drop out b/c of cancer.
When Bush leads, he's a "dangerous cowboy", and acting irresponsibly and unilaterally.
When he lets the Euroweenies lead, he's "outsourcing the negotiations".
Behold! "The Bride of Satan"! An excorcist will be needed..
snip --- Clinton ---- "I believe that we lost critical time in dealing with Iran because the White House chose to downplay the threats and to outsource the negotiations,"
Is this one of those Kerry moments!!
I want Giuliani
Me too.....
I think he is the strongest Republican out there and can beat Hillary. I don't go along with him on every issue but I don't believe I have to be in complete agreement on all issues.
He is a strong leader and the country needs that.
Heck, I'd vote for anyone to keep the democrats out of office!!
Oh, yeah, Hillary, that's the way to get it done.
Two tall towers too late for that bull-cr@p.
Why don't you and your Russian, Chinese and U.N. friends go hang out in Tehran for a while?
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