Obama's Iran Policy Offers Rewards and Meetings, Not Tough Action
WASHINGTON, July 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by the Republican National Committee:
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Yesterday, Obama Said The United States Should Offer Iran "Carrots And Sticks" To Encourage A Change In Its Behavior:
Obama: "[T]he United States has to gather up others in the region as well as internationally to apply pressure on Iran, but it's very difficult for us to do so when we haven't shown a willingness to engage in the sort of direct negotiations with Iran that would give them carrots and sticks for a change in behavior." (ABC's "Good Morning America," 7/9/08)
Obama Said That A Generous Incentives Package That Has Already Been Offered To Iran Was Only "A Step In The Right Direction":
Obama Called An Incentives Package Offered To Iran "A Step In The Right Direction." NBC's Matt Lauer: "Do you like that package? Should it be taken off of the table? Might it be seen now as a reward for bad behavior?" Obama: "It's a step in the right direction. But the United States has to be actively engaged in that process." (NBC's "The Today Show," 7/9/08)
The Package Offered To Iran Included Several Substantial Incentives. "The new package promises Iran light-water nuclear reactors for civilian use, and guarantees of fuel. It encourages the establishment of direct contact between Iran and each of the six powers, resumption of trade and cooperation with Iran on regional security. It also pledges help with research and development, including in the nuclear energy field, as well as help modernizing Iran's telecommunications, agriculture and education sectors." (Bay Fang, "Iran Softens Rhetoric On Incentives," Chicago Tribune, 6/2/08)
Obama Opposed Legislation Encouraging Tougher Sanctions On Iran:
"Obama Opposed The Kyl-Lieberman Amendment, Which Says We Should Use Our Military Presence In Iraq To Counter The Threat From Iran." (Obama For America Website, http://www.barackobama.com, Accessed 7/9/08)
"The Senate First Approved A Resolution, Sponsored By Sens. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) And Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.), Urging The State Department To Label Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps A Terrorist Organization, With Associated Economic Sanctions Under The 'Sense Of The Senate' Legislation." (Ashley Roque, "Senate Backs Resolutions To Label Iranian Force A Terrorist Organization And To Back Partition Of Iraq," CongressNow, 9/26/07)
-- "The Senate Resolution, Which Is Not Binding, Also Calls On The Administration To Impose Economic Sanctions On Iran." (David M. Herszenhorn, "Senate Urges Bush To Declare Iran Guard A Terrorist Group," The
Obama Previously Said He Would Meet With Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad His First Year In Office, Without Preconditions:
At A July 2007 Debate, Obama Announced He Would Personally Meet With Leaders Of Iran, North Korea, Syria And Other Hostile Nations "Without Precondition." Question: "[W]ould you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that divides our countries?" ... Obama: "I would. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration - is ridiculous." (CNN/You Tube Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)
-- At A September 2007 Press Conference, Obama Confirmed That He Would Meet Specifically With Ahmadinejad. Question: "Senator, you've said before that you'd meet with President Ahmadinejad ..." Obama: "Uh huh." Question: "Would you still meet with him today?" Obama: "Yeah, nothing's changed with respect to my belief that strong countries and strong presidents talk to their enemies and talk to their adversaries. I find many of President Ahmadinejad's statements odious and I've said that repeatedly. And I think that we have to recognize that there are a lot of rogue nations in the world that don't have American interests at heart. But what I also believe is that, as John F. Kennedy said, we should never negotiate out of fear but we should never fear to negotiate. And by us listening to the views even of those who we violently disagree with - that sends a signal to the world that we are going to turn the page on the failed diplomacy that the Bush Administration has practiced for so long." (Sen. Barack Obama, Press Conference, New York, NY, 9/24/07)
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