Was Hillary Clinton right on Iran?

It was a pivotal moment in the presidential campaign, when Hillary Clinton branded Barack Obama as "naive" for suggesting he would meet with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea in his first year as president without any preconditions

"I thought that was irresponsible and frankly naive," Clinton said after their July 2007 debate in South Carolina, adding that Obama gave an answer "I think he is regretting today."

During his inaugural address, Obama maintained his outreach to Tehran, where President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has denied both the Holocaust and Israel's right to exist. In one of the most discussed passages of his speech, Obama said,

To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

Today, Obama spoke for a growing cadre of powerful nations -- France, Britain, Germany and for the first time perhaps even Russia -- in condemning Iran. Amid intelligence that Iran has kept a second nuclear facility, capable of producing 3,000 centrifuges, hidden from weapons inspectors for years, Obama warned that unless Iran acts immediately, punishment will be swift. "Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow," he said.

France's Nicolas Sarkozy added muscle to Obama's statement, warning that "everything must be put on the table," and that if by December Iran has not reformed, sanctions will be imposed.

And Britain's Gordon Brown added spine, saying that Iran's "level of deception" in keeping the plant secret for years, along with the scale of its nuclear ambitions, means that "the international community must draw a line in the sand."

Somewhere Clinton is sighing.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: President Ahmadinejad tours Iran's first uranium enrichment plant in Natanz. Credit: AFP/Getty

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Comments

[Best2U]

Of course she was right. After reading the book "Barrack and Michelle," its not surprising to see that this guy thinks for some odd reason that he is a god send. His notion of sitting down and talking with these world leaders listed, like just by being in his presence and listening to his voice is all that is needed for these folks to "do the right thing"! Wow! Obama is so full of himself!

[thetruth]

Here we go again with the Jewish propaganda machine.

[rocko]

Way to go Obama! If they don't respond by December then you should send them a sternly worded personal letter explaining your disappointment and re-apologize to them for all the wrongs done by the U.S.. If they do it ONE MORE TIME then you will really get mad and cut off their access to I-Tunes. I mean what more CAN he do?

[No surpise]

How does this reconcile with the fact that the President and our Intelligence services have know about this "secret facility" for years?

In fact the only reason it is coming to light now is because the Iranians found out that we knew.

How does this jibe with the whole "Obama is naive" angle?

[Assistant Village Idiot]

Was, uh, Hillary Clinton the only person making that recommendation then? Why is she singled out for special prescience here?

[buzz]

"France's Nicolas Sarkozy added muscle" hehe
"And Britain's Gordon Brown added spine" hehehe

Watch out Iran, or we will condemn you again.

Good thing Bush didnt attack Iran for no good reason.....other than killing our troops. Used to be that would be considered an act of war. Now nothing is.

[rocko]

Hilary wasn't correct as President Obama isn't concerned about Iran gaining nuclear arms. It is all show. When Iran continues to develop nuclear weaponry the President will send them a stern letter of warning, most likely drafted at the U.N. and watered down by the russians. THEN he will get really mean and threaten a boycott...most likely of some small unwanted item that russia will smuggle to them anyway. Say goodby to Israel!

[Don]

"Somewhere Clinton is sighing." As are Bush 41, and Bill Clinton, and Bush 43, along with Cheney and McCain. The one guy who probably isn't sighing is the former President who actually had Americans held hostage in Iran, Jimmy Carter.

[Mark Buehner]

Punishment huh. Sure.

[Scott Pierce]

Putin had to help in the facilitation and subterfuge of the plant. Odd how Obama seems to give a pass to those that Hugo Chavez finds solace and camaraderie with.

[cubanbob]

Not only does this article again demonstrate what a fool Obama is but just how opportunistic and foolish Hillary is. Did she actually think Obama was simply going to outsource foreign policy to her? Naive indeed. She should have stayed in the senate and be thought a fool rather than become secretary of state and remove all doubt.

[LTC John]

Obama warned that unless Iran acts immediately, punishment will be swift. "Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow," he said.

Really? When does he mention any "punishment"? What is the threatened swift "punishment"?

[bob]

A more accurate headline would be "Obama - Wrong on Iran". Hillary Clinton was simply on the same side as everyone else with a world view grounded in reality.

[Justin]

You missed the point just like Hilary did. The point is that by acting civilized, not like bully or a spoiled child, the rest of the world is more willing to stand with the United States.

[Gaucho420]

We had 8 years of Bush acting tough and it brought squat. Bottom line is, unless the US or another country has the stomach to start a war with Irabn...they will get their nukes.

The same way N. Korea did, the same way Pakistand did and it'll be the same for Iran.

So all those railling against Obama better make sure they're willing to strap on a gun and fight in the desert, because just saying his weak, while at the same time no willing to policitally back a war as a voter, just speaks of the typicall lack of will voters have.

Unless they're duped by Bush, of cours, which was basically the entire country.

I blame the un-educated and weak minded American voters as much as the politicians. If you're willing to go to war, tell your representative...if you're not, this is all hogwash as they will get that nuke, no doubt about it.

So pick your spot on the topic, but if its Obama's too weak, then I certainly hope you support war as there's no other option.

[diana]

Of course she was right. Of course this is the time to have that conversation, when he is president. where was all this conversation at when he was running and very few people were asking the same thing? Oh yeah we were all on that hope bandwagon.

[Cottage Industry]

We had 8 years of Bush keeping us safe from another attack and keeping Iran at bay.

Now that the Social-Engineer-in-Chief is in charge, ALL of the bad boy nations are threatening with impunity. This last week at the UN is clear evidence of that. They have nothing to fear but a gutless reprimand. Obama WILL be responsible when Israel bombs Iran and initiates an international conflagration.

[Lance Mannion]

"Somewhere Clinton is sighing."

Somewhere? Like over in Foggy Bottom? Oh, wait she's not in her office at the State Department today. She's in NYC, delivering the messages of the guy she works for now as his Secretary of State. Sighing? No. She's speaking out on his and our behalf. She's helping to craft the policy and the message. You've written about her as if she's off "somewhere" sulking about having lost the nomination. She and the President aren't rivals anymore. They're a team.

[Joanne]

In the end, we still have to talk to Iran. Neither the US nor NATO is prepared to do anything else at this time. Israel is not in a position to bomb Iran without the US permission. Bush didn't give it and neither will Obama. The President of Israel opposes it. I hope the Mullahs appoint a special nuclear ambassador to discuss the issue. Fortunately, President Obama decided early on, that if he got the nomination and won the election, he wanted Hilary Clinton as his Secretary of State. He knows his strengths, and she is one of them.

[Joanne]

rocko, Scott Pierce: It looks like Russia is coming aboard with President Obama. So is China. Seems like the decision to watch the second nuclear site until they were sure, was the right move. Iran found out that they were found out, and confessed. That let the air out of Russia and China's tires. Russia's Plan A was to provide power generating nuclear plants to Iran, and reprocessing the rods in Russia. Nothing left to make weapons out of.
Hugo Chavez has been helping the FARC in Columbia. Columbia has accepted help from the US in the from of troops to train their troops in modern anti-terrorist warfare. That is why Chavez is buying arms from Russia with money Russia is lending them. Iran has lost of oil, but can't make enough gasoline from it. They depend on Chavez to do that. If sanctions are put on Iran, Russia will have to put pressure on Chavez to not provide gas to Iran. After all, Russia has the arms, and who else will sell them to Chavez? China who will also be in on the sanctions?
Look at the Whole Picture.

[biggato]

The French added muscle? This is pathetic. Worst foreign policy since Carter.

[Yes We Are]

Who is Hillary Clinton?

[steve rodriguez]

During his presidential campaign Obama called Iran a little country that was no threat! Evidently Israel's Nentenayu would great disagree!!!!!!!

[Arlene Bowman]

George Bush was RIGHT!

[mike]

Was Hillary Clinton right on Iran?

are you kidding me! the world knew about iran for the longest time, but they were to wishy washy to do anything about except for the US . hillary had no major insight or revelation on this . she was only aware of the nuclear facility when she heard it on CNN. this is what pussyfoot UN , weak prz clinton, obama , US congress will get you . an irrational madman who may control nuclear power in the middle east. good going dummcrats !

[Amy]

according to the 2007 US Senate voting records, Obama did not think Iran was enough threat to show up to vote on Kyl-Lieberman bill, Biden voted No. at least he took a stand . Hillary knew the left would call her Bush-lite and this would hurt her in the primaries BUT she did what she thought was best for our country . Like the healthcare debate and Afghan troop issue, Obama is scared to take a stand and decide and take charge
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00349

[erik self]

...to thetruth --who wrote here we go again the jewish propaganda machine....shut up you anti-semitic hater! you are wrong the machines that are spinning are not propaganda but centrifuges do you deny the iaea findings do you not believe what international agencies are saying? you will when you are incinerated by a iranian nuclear bomb - your so naive and hateful....

[Jamal]

So exactly what about NPT and the IAEA regulations has Iran violated? LA Times and other news sources are tremendously irresponsible for not investigating this, essentially the most important, aspect of this situation. The reason why they aren't is very clear. Their motivation is to continue to paint Iran as the great boggy man because lowering that facade will erode the irrational sympathy towards Israel that is pervading American society.