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Obama 'Kowtowing' to Iran: Kristol

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 21, 2009 1:45 PM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama’s recent address to Iran isn’t just weak, and it doesn’t just backpedal—it’s flat out “kowtowing,” William Kristol writes in the Weekly Standard. Unlike President Bush, Obama shows minimal respect for the Iranian people. Instead, he focuses on extending an olive branch to their repressive leaders. “He believes that we should speak nicely to our enemies, and carry no stick.”

By his repeated use of the country’s proper name, the Islamic Republic of Iran—a “regime that is anything but republican"—Obama is “implicitly forswearing any plan—any hope—of regime change to free the Iranian people,” writes Kristol. Obama’s failure to mention the international call for Iran to stop its nuclear program has already emboldened the country. After this, “who in the world will have respect for President Obama?”

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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (AP Photo)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. (AP photo)

President Barack Obama. (AP Photo)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 7 comments

sache

Mar 23, 2009 1:42 AM CDT

Obama is right . We cannot ignore Iran. They are not going away. To establish a stable safer world , engaging in dialog with governments you don't particularity like is an option that should be explored. War is not always the answer. Diplomacy can go a long way. Give it a chance.

AnnieChrist

Mar 22, 2009 5:38 AM CDT

This is the right wing mind set in matters diplomatic. It goes as far back as Nixon and his overtures to China. At that time, any democrat who proposed dialog with China was branded soft on communism and not to be trusted in the area of national defense, they were 'selling out.' But of course when Nixon established relarions, it was smart diplomacy. The same meme was repeated about any democrat who even suggested a thawing in relations with the soviets, 'democrats can't be trusted in matters of defense, they're appeasers.' Again though, raygun reaches detente, and he's a foreign policy genius, according to the right wing. And of course, bush in his final year in office, reaches out to Iran and pox news gushes about his moderation. This crap from kristol is just more cut and paste diatribe about 'appeasement' when it is initiated by democrats, but 'common-sense diplomacy' when accomplished by a republican. I used to think these people (the right wing 'pundits') were hypocrites, but I am beginning to realize that they are not. They have simply realized that their readership and listeners are bat sh!t crazy and/or stupid.

AnnieChrist

Mar 22, 2009 5:13 AM CDT

"You Axelrod Kidz sure stay busy on a beautiful Saturday afternoon! " As oppossed to biscuits, who of course p[osted this last Thursday evening.

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Politics • World

Iran • nuclear program • mullahs • President Obama • William Kristol • address • regime change

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