Sen. Kerry Urges Caution on Iran
ASP Board member Senator John Kerry penned an op-ed in today’s New York Times about the Obama administration’s response to the Iranian elections, in which he urges caution on stronger rhetoric against the Iranian regime at the present time.
Here is an excerpt from the piece:
“Words are important. President Obama has made that clear in devising a new approach to Iran and the wider Muslim world…Returning to harsh criticism now would only erase this progress, empower hard-liners in Iran who want to see negotiations fail and undercut those who have risen up in support of a better relationship.”
From a different perspective, the following article from Monday’s Washington Post on Monday suggests that the President may be too subdued:
From the article:
“The cautious response illustrates the balance that the Obama administration is seeking between condemning what increasingly appears to be a fraudulent election and the likelihood that it will be dealing with Ahmadinejad after the dust settles.
The measured tone and approach stand in contrast to some of the Bush administration’s reactions to democratic challenges abroad… But the Obama administration’s subdued response also reflects the peculiar nature of Iran’s democracy, and what — if any — difference the winner of this presidential election signifies to U.S. policy interests in the region.”
