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It's almost like AhmaGilligan is a respected world leader. I know it was alluded to in the article, but this summer's revolt/crackdown can't be ignored.

"Despite the rants about "mad mullahs" and neoconservative calls for regime change, the Iranians have been careful about their foreign policy in recent years. As the 2007 National Intelligence Estimate found, they respond to international pressure. They are an obnoxious regime, but only a second-level danger to the U.S. The Obama Administration should continue its attempts to engage the Iranians while preparing to contain and deter them if they actually try to build a bomb."

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I am so glad that Joe Klein believes Ahmadenijad, and he also believes that Iran is only a "second-level danger (threat) to the US". Wow, we can all sleep well at night knowing this great journalist has conferred his astounding wisdom upon the Obama Administration.
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But, there remains a few other un-asked questions.
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Let us say for example that Iran DID or DOES have the nuclear capacity to build a bomb. Why on earth would they be shooting off missiles on an almost daily basis? Are these missiles purely and simply of a "conventional type" Joe Klein? Are they simply deterrents to any potential Israeli offensive on their KNOWN nuclear research facilities?
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But, even if we use Joe Klein's recommendation to simply put our heads in the sand, and believe that Ahmadenijad, the spokesperson for Iran, does not have any controls over any potential nuclear weapons of mass destruction, then again we can sleep well at night knowing that a threat from Iran is only "second-level". What is second-level exactly Joe Klein?
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We have no fear of suitcase nuclear bombs being brought to this country by any Islamic Terrorists to blow up one of our great cities. Nope, in a Joe Klein world, Obama's abilities at rhetorical appeasement will win the day. Obama with his silver tongue will speak to the Iranians, and everything will be simply ducky.
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This is the problem with the left. They believe that people like Ahmadenijad can be controlled with words and simple diplomacy. They have no fear that should Israel attack and bomb any nuclear facilities in Iran, like they have done on two previous occasions in Syria and Iraq, that there will be no "fallout" from those actions. We can sleep soundly in our respective beds. Obama has everything under control. Or so Joe Klein believes.
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Secretary Gates has said we have from 1 - 3 years yet before Iran has the ability to mount a nuclear warhead on one of their missiles. Not produce uranium in sufficient quatities, but actually MOUNT a nuclear warhead and shoot it off in the direction of the Israelis or the US.
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Netayahu, PM Israel says it is a matter of a few months.
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I guess with the “wait and see” agenda that Joe proposes and Obama is following, we shall see. Hopefully there will be a world for our children and grand-children to enjoy, if not, we only have Obama and Joe Klein to thank for their recommendations.

But for those of us who sat with Ahmadinejad, the real headline was his apparent cluelessness...It is well known that Ahmadinejad doesn't have operational control over the nuclear program or Iranian foreign policy — that resides with Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ali Khamenei...

Anyone notice a Bush/Cheney parallel here?

Rusty is a proponent of the Republican 2D philosophy, which they offer as a solution to every problem, drop bombs, and drop taxes.

Has Swampland got a living will? 'Cuz the trolls are putting it deep into "Do Not Resuscitate" territory.

It's not a terrible column, Mr. Klein.
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But you should take some tips from Glenn Greenwald.
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http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/10/carl_levin_was_for_a_counterin_1.asp
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ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Suspect election in Iran? Solution;
have results verified by old pal Jimmy Carter... ;^)
-- found a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth

Mr. Klein,
Very insightful article, you truly captured the mini-Napoleon off-guard and provided us with, at least, some perspective as to his inner thoughts. One thing I want to add to your observations is that Ahmadinejad's reaction to the question also displayed a genuine distrust of US intentions by the Iranians. With Obama's latest speeches, it seems as though he is satisfied that he has already answered Iran's eight-month+ old call for him to show behavior change through actions rather than words. Why? Because, now Obama's boomeranged that request back to the Iranians: show actual behavior change, not just more hollow rhetoric. Should we forget that Obama sent hot-dog offerings on the Fourth of July or youtube love messages, but also implemented further sanctions and continually railed Iran on its nuclear program (echoing Tel Aviv and AIPAC, no doubt) without any substantial evidence at the same time, we are reminded now as we see the Iranians still don't trust ultimate American objectives in the region.
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Also, how convenient that Obama announces a potential future nuclear site they, no doubt, had known about for months directly before the Geneva talks. And not only that, but in a propaganda like way, ignoring that Iran has no obligation to disclose that site by the NPT, which Iran voluntarily signed but Israel and the US rejected, until it is within six months of being ready to receive nuclear materials. Is this the behavior of a country that wants to negotiate fairly? Ignore Israel's 300+ payload of nuclear arms and continually rattle at one country about its nuclear program without any evidence?

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To RustyReturns,
You are a loyal reader of the New York Post and John Bolton op-eds no doubt, because I question sincerely your grasp of the actual facts. For instance, you mention the threat of "nuclear suitcase bombs". Are you even aware that this was a HYPOTHETICAL scenario dreamed up by the Clinton Administration and that they don't actually exist? For the sake of argument, we'll pretend they do. Who would be more likely to produce them, a country that JUST discovered 70 year old technology or one that has mastered it for about that long? Nukes are several tons and require payloads and the ability to deliver them. Terrorists won't be using nukes anytime soon. Quit dreaming and fight to secure US and Russian nuclear stocks if you are worried. Besides this, you compare Israel's Osirak strike to the current situation. You probably don't even know that Mossad knew when the reactor's Iraqi security guards would go to lunch (and like the incompetents they were, they would turn off their radar systems as well) and the Israelis flew in during that time unhindered. Further, it is still questioned whether any evidence existed that Syria's bombing was even a nuclear facility. The IAEA strongly rejects this contention. We'll just judge Israeli might by their recent conflicts. One in which they were fought to a stalemate by a rag-tag bunch of militamen and another in which they pathetically massacred every human before them of Palestinian origin and attempted to put a notch in their belt that way.
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Nevermind, we should just believe you, John Bolton, Dick Cheney, Bush, and the others you share common beliefs with. A good and respectable crowd I'd say....