No Good Options Left with Iran

Transcript:

Candidate Obama promised he would use diplomacy to stop iran’s nuclear weapons program.

As President, he has thrice extended the hand of friendship to Iran – in his inaugural address, in his address to the Iranian people, and in his Cairo speech last June. Each offer was met with derision. Even his refusal to criticize President Ahmadinejad for stealing reelection gained us nothing – the Iranian leader has just pronounced the nuclear debate is over. Iran is becoming a nuclear power. End of discussion.

So, what are Obama’s options now? He’s given Iran until the end of September to reverse course on its nuclear program. What if the deadline passes and Iran doesn’t come around? What’s next?

Obama could opt to cling to the hope that Iran will somehow have a change of heart. it’s more likely, though, that they will secretly play out the clock. until they’ve perfected a nuclear weapons, and then announce bingo.

A nuclear Iran would be dangerous enough, but it will initiate something far more dangerous – a nuclear arms race throughout the middle east, as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and even turkey push for nuclear weapons of their own.

Obama could move to ratchet up sanctions, including a gasoline embargo and even a blockade of Iran. While Iran exports oil, it doesn’t refine it at home, so still has to import nearly half of its gasoline. An embargo would devastate Iran’s economy and perhaps trigger social unrest from within. But it be difficult to enforce, especially if Russia and China continue to resist.

Finally, Obama could bomb Iran’s nuclear sites, or acquiesce while Israel does it. This might delay Iran’s program a few years, but it will set off a firestorm throughout the Middle East.

There is no longer a good option when it comes to dealing with Iran. And, as President Obama is now discovering, there’s a big gap between talking about a policy and actually pulling it off.