Obama suggests international community buy off Iran

How else can you put it? When I first read the Reuters story, I thought that his position on Iran going nuclear sounded a lot like our current administration’s position on Iran going nuclear.

During his visit to Israel, Obama spoke with a group of reporters and let them know – in no uncertain terms – that Iran becoming a nuclear power would be a “grave threat.” This international policy answer seems to come from the buy-them-off-at-any-price chapter.

He continues his world rock tour. From the Reuters story…

Obama told reporters during a visit to Israel that if elected, he would take “no options off the table” in dealing with the Iran issue and said tougher sanctions could be imposed.

“A nuclear Iran would pose a grave threat and the world must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Obama told reporters after visiting the Israeli town of Sderot, which lies close to the border with the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.

He said the international community should immediately offer “big sticks and big carrots” to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program. The West suspects Iran wants to build atom bombs but the Islamic Republic says its aims are peaceful.

“Iranians need to understand that whether it’s the Bush administration or the Obama administration, this is a paramount concern to the United States,” he said in Sderot, which has been hit by cross-border rockets fired by Gaza-based militants.

I’m sitting here wondering what he means by “big sticks and big carrots.” Of course, if he’s speaking literally my guess is that route would fail. I’m not sure what Iran would do with dead trees and overly-large orange veggies.

Obama’s talking cold, hard cash. Payments to Iraq – bribes if you will – to keep them from continuing their nuclear program.

Didn’t we try this with North Korea? Hey Obama – you can’t negotiate with these idiots, it won’t work.