President Dmitry A. Medvedev of Russia with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the presidential residence in Barvikha, outside Moscow, on Tuesday. Pool photograph by Natalia KolesnikovaMoscow’s “No” Paints Obama And Clinton Into A Corner On Iran -- Jonathan Tobin, Commentary Magazine
What was the bottom line of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov? America’s punting on a request for sanctions on Iran, as the Washington Post reported (and Jennifer discussed)? Or was it instead a case of “Russia Resists U.S. on Iran Sanctions,” as the Associated Press reported? Of course, both amount to the same thing. Clinton’s statement that it wasn’t yet time for sanctions on Iran to pressure it to stop its nuclear program is merely an admission that the administration’s plan to gain international support for restraining Iran is dead in the water.
Read more ....
Commentaries, Opinions And Editorials
Why Russia Isn't Afraid of an Iran Bomb -- Boris Morozov, Jerusalem Post
Pakistan's Partial War on Terror -- Christine Fair, Wall Street Journal
Afghanistan: Get Nasty or Go Home -- Michael Scheuer, Foreign Policy
US must find courage for a knifefight in Afghanistan -- Sean McLain, The National
Why a real counter-insurgency strategy is not possible in Afghanistan--and why politics may be the answer -- A.J. Rossmiller, TNR
Obama's Nuclear Agenda -- Joseph Nye, RealClearWorld
Germany's New Government Faces Reality Check -- Der Spiegel
Israelis may stay home to avoid arrest in Europe -- Eli Lake, Washington Times
U.N. shifts strategy for nuclear arms control -- Michael Gordin, Los Angeles Times