Meanwhile the the Chinese have now started regular rail service to Iran,and are financing the electrification of Iran's railroads. The Chinese are investing while we are blustering. We need to deal with Iran as it is. "Every country is going to have to participate" in the sanctions. Not how the world is working.
7
Pompous Pompeo might reflect on his comments regarding repression in Iran, since it BEGAN with the US and British governments orchestrating the coup that brought the Shah Pavlavi to absolute power in the early 1950s. His secret police, the Savak, was murderous and clearly one of the reasons the Iranian revolutions occurred in 1979. And the US stood by the Shah until the end.
As for nukes, Israel built it's first nuclear weapon in the mid-80s and now possess more than 400 weapons making it the 3rd largest arsenal in the world.
Israel is the only Middle East country possessing nuclear weapons and refuses signing ANY international nuclear agreement, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Iran is NOT an existential threat to Israel, that's a lie. Israel, on the other hand, has threatened to use nuclear weapons in a first strike. The real nuclear threat in the Middle East is clear.
7
Mr. Pompeo is good for a laugh, but not much else. Mr.Manatee in a suit uses the language of threats and bluster recycled from our regrettable invasion of Iraq, as if that calamity never occured. Like Bush 43 before him, he has me convinced that now is the time to emigrate to Canada. I'm still proud of my four years in the USMC, but if Trump and his blithering band of Neocon crazies invade Iran, I'll fight for Iran. Strange days.
5
In a May 21st piece in the Times by Andrew Ross Sorkin on Trump's "Artless Negotiation" he quoted the late Bruce Wasserstein's look at negotiating: “The tendency of inexperienced negotiators, often due to their insecurity, is to be too belligerent and inflexible. A little psychology is required on the part of the negotiator. It is therefore important to be reasonable, although not obsequious, and, ideally, to give the other side enough so that its advocates feel that they have made a positive contribution and do not feel resentful.” It certainly seems to apply in the context of Iran and our European allies.
Meantime, cue up the next number: The Marx Brothers' "This Country's Going To War" Or should it be Phil Ochs' "I Ain't Marching Anymore"?
4
The US are the new Nazi Germany: US officials lies on a daily basis, our "free press" parrot their Goebbelsian lies without rebutting them with actual facts, US warmongering make them the "biggest threat to peace in the world" (WIN/Gallup international), and while US officials blabber about Iran alleged "malign behavior" Iran has been actually fighting US allies (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, NATO's Turkey) bankrolled and supplied terrorists (from al Qaeda in Syria/al Nusra front/HTS to ISIS/Daesh/ISIL, etc) from Iraq to Syria legally and at the request of their respective governments.
Like Nazi Germany the US will have to be pacified in a not so remote future, and I can't wait to see the rest of the world stepping up to deter the global warmongering bully.
4
Pompeo and Trump don't have a plan to deal with Iran. Pompeo's speech is basically a wish list of demands, some of which they have already jettisoned with their rejection of the JCPOA.
And how do they propose to get their wish list? Through "application of unprecedented financial pressure" on the Iranian regime. The problem, of course, is that the P5 group of co-signators (Europe plus Russia and China) are still in the deal, and therefore the US cannot enforce any effective economic sanctions. Europe is already looking at ways to circumvent US imposed sanctions against their companies that do busines in Iran.
This is not effective statesmanship; it is dangerous bluster and willful ignorance. The real outcome of this announcement: The US is more isolated and less trusted than ever, and Iran is now able, at a time of its choosing, to turn up the nuclear pressure, because the nuclear accord is on life support.
That is not a strategy for success. It is a strategy for disaster.
6
Trump has put the US in a bind not only with N. Korea but with Iran and the other signatories to the JCPOA . Pompeo's announced sanctions on Iran is going to backfire-- big time. China has said that it will not withdraw from the JCPOA. Apparently they will continue to trade with Iran and not abide by US sanctions. The US threatens to sanction any country which continues trading with Iran. So, are we to conclude that Chinese companies doing business in Iran will be sanctioned? Also, I wonder if the US will object to the new railroad line from China to Iran?
Trump has just announced that China will purchase " massive amounts" US farm products. I suppose China can be removed from the sanctions list and continue trade with Iran. Dotard indeed.
BTW - Russia has also announced that they will not honor the secondary sanctions. It will be interesting to see if the EU want to appease Trump and become vassals subject to his whims or whether they designed plans to circumvent the proposed secondary sanctions.
4
Gotta start layin’ the groundwork early for that all-new, up-and-coming, Trumptacular war. It’s gonna be the best war, the most beautiful, amazing war you’ll ever see. Jared’s gonna handle it - he’s General Jared now. We’ll have all the best people, the most incredible people. You guys are gonna have so many of ‘em you’ll get sooo tired of wars! The ratings are gonna be explosive. Trump Tower and Golf Course Tehran 2030 here we come!
7
for all those who disagree with Pompeo, isn't it correct all what he said?
No.
8
Its not and for the things Iran is doing, we seem to have no problems with others doing those exact same activities. We even encourage and support them. We are holding Iran to a different standard than any other nation.
5
Pompeous asks, “What has the Iranian revolution given to the Iranian people?”
Perhaps escape from an American-installed, brutal puppet dictator.
President Obama was wise enough to understand that if we want others to work with and for us, then we need to do more than threaten, lie and scream.
15
The secret of modern propaganda/brainwashing is to simplify and repeat!
Like it or not, the bulk of the organizations supported by Iran are those that have significant popular support and can even win in elections. That's why they have been able to survive and even thrive. This is a fact. The real terror comes from Israel and its newly found buddy KSA. Ask the people of Gaza and Yemen Mr. Secretary!
11
Hmmm...this is beginning to sound like a drumbeat to another war. Only this one would not be the "cakewalk" Iraq was supposed to be. Vlad will give Iran his newer war toys and many lives will be needlessly lost again. And who'd benefit from it all? The Pentagon plutocrats, Israel, the Saudi caliphate --and, eventually, China, which delights in seeing this once-great country bleed itself to death.
9
Don't we all want our kids and grand kids dying in another war in the middle east?
6
Let's propose a real deal in the Middle East. Remove all nuclear weapons. Yeah...right....not gonna' happen.
5
My gut feeling is that Trump, Bolton, and Pompeo (along with Bannon) want a war and are doing what they can to either trigger one or goad the other side into starting one or pressured into a mistake that causes one. This feeling grows every day. I hope I am proven wrong.
13
Connect the dots.
As the nuke deal rots.
Sheldon Adelson is calling the shots.
9
I only saw a few video clips of Pompeo's speech, but had to ask myself, when was the last time a U.S. Secretary of State gave such a shocking, diatribe in public against another country? I guess he's now some kind of shadow defense secretary, "itching" for an armed conflict. Very courageous of the shadow secretary to deliver his speech to The Heritage Foundation. Should I be prepared soon to hear the argument that if any conflict erupts between Iran and the Trump-Netanyahu axis, that by capturing Iranian oilfields, the war will pay for itself?
17
"“The hard grip of repression is all that millions of Iranians have ever known.”" - how will our economic sanctions change this?
4
It won't. The sanctions will only make the Iranian people stand WITH their government even more. Its all our meddling in Iran has ever done, since the 1950s.
3
Trump's Nobel Peace Award policy: Do what I want you to do or I'll kill you.
16
C'mon everyone...admit it. Who is the happiest man in the world right now? He has America doing his bidding.
7
It's so hard to root for one's own country when one's own country is the bully who's doing the work of another country that's also a bully.
18
The Iraq war got George W. Bush re-elected, even though it was an costly war that did not target those who did 9/11, displaced people who then created ISIS, and removed a strong opponent of Iran, leading to our current mess. What's to stop Trump from using an Iran war to get re-elected? We're already going bankrupt; what harm could another 10,000 US soldier deaths, another 400,000 civilian deaths, and another $10 trillion in US debt do, anyway?
10
He is the most bellicose Secretary of State ever.
He is biased, opinionated, and inflexible.
It doesn't augur well to have a Dick Cheney clone running diplomacy. This is what the Republican Base wanted. More risks of war? Just another terrible consequence of this malignant Presidency and tainted election.
15
Another preposterous position with all the subtlety of an AK-47 -- and guaranteed only to do damage. Iran will simply thumb its nose at Pompeo and the U.S., knowing there's absolutely no way the U.S. will take any military action against it.
6
As a former Iran analyst and Farsi speaker, I can assure you that Pompeo, Bolton and Trump will join an long list of Republican psuedo-intellectuals who believe they can solve our problems with Iran with this kind of ridiculous rhetoric.
I am no apologist for Tehran and view many of their activities and stated goals as being diametrically opposed to our national security and values. That said, it's an impossibility to suggest that you can put the toothpaste (nuclear, ballistic, terror, etc.) back in the tube. And our failure to subdue Iraq and Afghanistan should be a red flag in terms of our nation's real ability to force a change in the Iranian government.
21
Did the U.S. offer "peace a stability" for Iraq?
7
Other countries found a way to work out a deal on nuclear arms
with Iran President Trump pulled out of that. Well it must have been a successful move as now President Trump can dictate to Iran what they must do or he will punish them. This new form of democracy is going to a roaring success and new model for the world.
10
Overthrow of the current Iranian government is motivated by defense contractors, Israeli businessmen to buy Iranian assets for $1 in the name of privatization as it happened in Russia after the collapse of Soviet Union. It is about pillaging a great nation. I hope and wish Europe stands up to and defeats this fascist administration.
14
Sadly, you may be correct.
3
There is no doubt that the USA, Israel etc want to pillage everything that Iran not only cultural but also economically has achieved over many centuries.
In that regards America is still at a just born baby.
That doesn’t mean that all everything that has happened in Iran is great, just like it isn’t in the USA.
But this Trump government is on an evil path to achieve world domination based solely on being white and best, christian no matter how hypocritical American Christians are and pure greed.
There is no historic wisdom in the US, just an erratic criminal demand that power should belong here to a supposedly white christian nation.
11
Taken on the whole nothing Pompeo stated has been made easier than remaining in the deal. First we would not have start fresh with the nuclear aspects of Plan B. Allies now opposed were eager to expand or build on the current agreement with Iran. China and Russia will exploit the withdrawal to curry favor in the Middle East and produce fissures in the US-European alliance. Punishing other countries with sanctions based on the US unilateral actions has a sharp edge to it. There is no rational basis or argument for withdrawing from the agreement.
Finally, dictating surrender to Iran might rev up the base, but Persian pride buoyed by their compliance with an agreement where the US backed out will survive. Trump's sanctions against Iran will artificially inflate the price of oil ...$100 dollar a barrel coming the all theatres. China, India along with smaller non-oil producing countries will suffer being tied to whipping post. Credit to Allman Brothers for the lyric.
11
Those who fail to remember are doomed to repeat.Have we forgotten Iraq? The Iran Deal was to keep Nukes from being built in Iran. We threw away the deal and now want Iran to promise to be Angels in the region. We want Iran to pull its troops from Syria while we leave ours there? Can the drumbeat for military action against Iran be on the horizon?
19
"Wag the dog"
4
Pompeo is following the Trump format of making dire threats that there is little hope of delivering on. Whether it's "Fire and fury" over here or "We will crush you" over there...all these guys do is set themselves up to make us all look stupid. Diplomacy is about playing your cards close to the vest -- Trump, Bolton, Pompeo are waving their cards around in the air.
12
Iran take heed. Do as Trump says and de nuke. Your failure to do so will result in war, a war where you ultimately will be crushed like ants.
4
I hope you are joking. If not, I assume you have no family who might be called up to go to Iran. In any case angry men who call for war are a disgrace to humanity. The USA war mongers are not wanted in Europe, or anywhere in the civilised world. That includes Iran by the way.
26
Good for you.
1
There is nothing more dangerous than a humiliated person ( and in this case people ).
8
If the US hadn't overthrown the democratically elected government of Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953 (Trump has no idea who Mosaddegh was, of course, but Pompeio should, given his background), Iran would be a secular democracy today. It is an Islamic dictatorship because people like Pompeio had a say in what this country does to the world. Americans must learn to live with the consequences of their actions.
28
As Micheal Moore once asked, who are we invading next?
Well I think we can narrow that down now.
1) Iran
2) North Korea
3)Some 3rd world country in Africa (where we already troops)
And rest assured, there will be none of our European Allies standing with America with trump as the War President in Chief
12
First it was Saddam and Iraq..... not it's Iran and its current -democratically elected- regime. We need to rid our government of the Bolton/Pompeo neocon fascists (along with their wooden puppet... Trump of course) before their voracious war machine consumes us all. Seriously.
25
Unfortunately, name-calling and bluster don't accomplish anything.
2
Iran's government is "democratically elected" in the same way the governments of Turkey, Hungary, Russia and Venezuela are "democratically elected". There is a lot more to democracy than just an election!
What about Trump?
He is democratically elected? I don't think so!
His views and conduct do not reflect American values and the opinions of the majority of Americans!
13
Mr Trump's treatment of his allies is coming home to roost with his attempts to enforce sanctions on Iran. Unquestionably, he will be able to bully his allies into acquiescence. But acquiescence does not mean cooperation - and there are few things less effective than a sanctions regime where most of the participants are not particularly concerned with whether or not the sanctions are breached. Being an unreliable ally can work both ways.
11
And when it comes to putting "boots on the ground", as inevitably it will for this bluster and bombast to work, will Pompeo be in the front ranks? No, I thought not.
19
How about Jared, Don Jr, Eric and Ivanka?
13
Can some Trump supporter please explain why you voted for continued non stop wars in the middle east? I mean the only moldy chickenhawk Trump hasn't pulled out of the cess pit is Cheney. Yet. Please explain to the rest of us why you wanted this and where you think it's going. Just curious.
24
They believe Trump is so powerful, such a stupendous "deal maker" that all nations will fall before Him, without the US having to fire a shot. And, perhaps, too many of his supporters believe that all nations should bow to the US, and if it takes a war to make other nations see the error of their ways, so be it.
12
Does anyone genuinely believe that another threadbare old suit from Trump's closet of elite wonder boys will accomplish anything even remotely beneficial to our citizenry and our country's future in a shrinking world? It is a sure bet that this fellow will provide years of pain to those outside this country and those inside this country with sons and daughter in military service who will undoubtedly be sent to wage a useless conflict.
I get queasy reminding myself that this country has a fake president with bone spurs but no spine. One has to wonder why a man like Pompeo did not exercise more thought before signing up with Captain Trump's Pequod presidency. A fellow with his background doesn't understand that his legacy is doomed to be bad choices, poor judgement, and a paltry level of Diplomatic experience. That is unless one thinks the Tea Party world view coupled with CIA and US Army experience constitutes a useful mindset for the job. I imagine Trump and Mike want to talk tough a carry a big stick. Shamefully, Teddy Roosevelt rough riding around the nuclear landscape is not a good model of militarism over diplomacy in the 21st century.
17
Trump's team remind me of a description made by Paul Keating, a former Australian PM.
Trump's team is like a shiver looking for a spine to run up.
2
Let's add cultural impotence to historical. economic, political ( & a few other impotencies too delicate to mention ) to Tump & his minions. I'm an American Sociologist . who has been leading cultural tours to Iran , for 10 years. escorting Americans..every one of whom has said that Iran is nothing like what they expected..in a positive way.
Having seen the "tremendous" progress Iran has made,I take particular umbrage at so much negativity, though I understand, it’s almost impossible to see the reality of the country & the society behind the media muddle . Iran has better free education, medical care, environmental controls, ( A woman is head of that Ministry), more low/mid income housing projects than we have in New York. Women significantly playing roles in government & social services. Yikes, even more women taxi drivers (many part of Iran's Uber like system). Too bad Trump hasn't built any hotels..(too late now)France, Denmark, Italy ,Turkey (to name just a few )building hotels throughout the country. Yes, a few companies may buckle, but more will remain...so there goes the sanction pressure. More importantly, Iran has a hard liner vs. moderate political structure, not unlike our own Liberals vs. Cons, except that the majority of the people are pro-West engagement. All Pomp's "Piles On" will accomplish is help the hard-liners. Left alone, the young, , the educated society and even the Mullahs, would be our best path to toward a stable Middle East..
23
The people who control the American media are of two groups...those who don't want Americans to see Iran in a good light, and those who are afraid to show Iran in a good light.
7
Bruce...Astute observation! Thank you. One exception....Google John Oliver on Iran. Hilarious.
Nice to see Mike has his swagger back! What a chum!
2
I am fervently against the theocratic regime in Iran but still find these requests completely delusional. There is no excuse for Iranian nefarious activities in the region but what we don't get is that most Iranian meddling is the result of misguided decisions (i.e. invasion of Iraq by the U.S., Lebanon by Israel, Yemen by KSA, etc) and/or survival/self defense instinct resulting from foreign interventions/wars (1953 CIA coup, Invasion by Iraq, etc). Bullying a country of 80 million souls with a rich cultural and historic heritage will not yield any result. Any military action will probably unite people behind the regime. At this point, the best course of action would be to negotiate a "grand bargain" which should include all regional players and encompass pressing topics ranging from nuclear non proliferation to regional security (including Iran's), terrorism and ISIS, etc.
18
To bring this rogue state USA to its senses and achieve regime change, the world must employ maximal economic pressure and take the pain. Volkswagen and Toyota, move your car factories out of there.
7
Here in Europe, we are not buying this rhetoric. Old white men are no longer needed.
5
As long as the majority of the people belong to one religious group there will never ever be regime change and who are you to demand it. They vote they choose. Bullying is so easy from your armchair.
2
What? The Aussie is suggesting regime change in the US, not Iran. He is suggesting that the world band together against the US until we collapse. This is where trump pushes the world, into the hands of sure footed Russia and China. All the world needs is one thing to prevail, a new dominant currency. Whether the Euro, the Renminbi, or bitcoin, that’s all it will take to bring the US to its knees. Trump has set the world against the light of the world. A spectacular and sickening reality.
1
I hope the E3, Russia, and China defy Pompeo and Trump.
12
Nukes are over-exaggerated! remember that conventional weapons are still deadly, not to mention chemical and biological weapons. Neocons want a war, to please Netanyahu, and MBS, who installed the current puppet president in the Whitehouse, because the black president did not answer to them.
9
The Iranians well remember the US involvement in replacing an elected government with a corrupt Shah.
That was for oil,this is for Israel.
27
The twists and turns of history let us know how fragile our alliances are in this modern day world. Normally Iranians are not the natural enemies of Israelis aka Jews. Cyrus the Great King of Persia freed the jews out of Babylonian captivity approximately 576 BC. And where did he send the jews to back then, Madagascar? No! He sent them back to their homeland which of course is modern day Israel. If anything Iran is responsible for validating Israel’s claim to the land they now live on. Crazy world, right? Well then, who has been the natural enemy of the jews over recent centuries if there has been any? That’s right, it has been, in terms of unfairness: Those awful Christians. Yeah, that’s hard to hear considering we’re such good pals today, but there you have it. Do you think Israelis trust the Christian states of this world completely, even today? You can be sure not. I don’t blame them one bit. Century after century of mistrust between Christians and Jews has a tendency to make one look in all directions for possible subversion. Don’t believe me? In 1967 our friends in Israel attacked the USS Liberty off the shore of Israel with unmarked Israeli planes. The US commander of the ship ordered the large US Flag to be hissed so the planes would be able to see they were firing on friends, which they did see but were ordered by the Israeli government to keep firing. Keep killing. The US government did not come to the aide of their fellow sailors. Sorry King Cyrus. So sorry.
7
Just imagine Kim Jong Un reading this article. This is what comes after making a deal with the United States: arrogance, bullying, and a complete absence of any diplomacy (which used to be the purpose of having a State Department). I don't know why any foreign power would have any trust in our government, and that includes allies as well as adversaries.
18
"...In exchange, it gave Iran’s clerical government an economic lifeline"
No, not at all. The "clerical government" is just fine with or without the sanctions. No sanctions has ever hurt the government of a country. Sanctions kill ordinary people. Sanctions soffocates millions of ordinary civilians and it's the most immoral, criminal tool that the rich countries think they can freely use to weaken another country. Countries who impose sanctions should be taken to ICC.
17
Pompeo and Trump are pounding their chests and grunting for their evangelical and Israeli hardline voters/donors in a (currently) one-sided cage fight that makes Boris Johnson sound like a consummate diplomat by comparison.
Open question: if Trump and Pompeo are now against theocracies, does that mean they'll stop the spread of the Trump administration's Shariah Christianity around our country and restore the division between church and state?
That would make America.a little bit great again.
17
This speech to this group is a special instance of the blind arrogance that dominates the thinking of too many conservative leaders in the Republican Party. And what does Mr. Pompeo think America--and its not-so-silent partner, Israel--get if the Iranians do, in fact opt for a weapons-included nuclear program, and, if in fact, he and his boss decide for some kind of military action? As somebody said in the NYT not so long ago, the Strait of Hormuz is all of two miles wide at its narrowest point. It will require very little naval sweat to cut off its enormous sea-borne traffic in oil, threatening the whole world economy. No hard blowing is going to change that fact. If Mr. Pompeo is as brilliant as his friends say, won't one of them bring him up-to-date so he can think his way about of the dangerous impasse he and Mr. Trump are creating.
10
Unlike Trump, Pompeo, Bolton, et al who have forgotten the murder, jailing, torture, and 25 years of suppression of thousands of innocent Iranians during and after the 1953 CIA/MI6 coup which overthrew the democratically elected nationalist government of Prime Minister, Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, Iranians including those who hate the present government will never forget the total control of Iran by the US and the 25 years of murder, jailing, and torture by the US trained SAVAK. Also, unlike Pompeo, Bolton, Giuliani, Gingrich, et al, who have close ties with the terrorist group, MEK/MKO/NCRI, and are planning to install them in Iran, an overwhelming majority of the Iranians despise the terrorist organization and will not let the terrorists control Iran even with the US backing.
Finally, if the US foolishly attacks Iran, Iranians will fight back and will not let the US dictate terms to them once again nor will they let the US companies operate in Iran.
15
Sounds like popping corks and toasting glasses in the boardrooms of our arms manufacturers.
Also this is why for any country that's not at the top of the pile, globalism is a bad deal. You can get strung up at any time for any reason.
6
The arms manufacturers make their money by selling to Saudi Arabia. They have done that for decades blessed by both Rs and Ds.
2
This posting is not in defense of Iran; I'll leave that up to the Iranian government and the Iranian people. I'd like to focus on Mr. Pompeo's statement that Iran "did not have the right to [nuclear enrichment programs]." Not having the right? I find that very rich coming from a nation that has a history of "not having rights but doing whatever it wants anyway". It didn't have the right to take the land of the Native Americans and to virtually exterminate them, yet it did. It didn't have the right to enslave my forefathers, yet it did. It didn't have the right to overthrow the (Iranian) government of Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953, yet it did. It didn't have the right to impose a blockade on Cuba, one which still stands all these decades later, yet it did. It did not have the right to invade Vietnam, yet it did. It did not have the right to either overthrow or prop up regimes in South America in the 1970s, yet it did. The list goes on and on. About the only time the US had the right to do anything was in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. And still, what did that bring us? The longest war in American history! So Mr. Pompeo, please spare us your pronouncements about who has rights and who doesn't.
26
Fabulous and totally correct comment. It shoild be in THE PICKS.
2
Mr Pompeo's words are those of a deranged man and will lead to the World closing ranks against the US in all its endeavors. And the sooner the better for all of us.
11
In exchange for Iran giving up its nuclear program, whatever that is, how about Israel giving up its nuclear weapons too? They do have about 200 atomic weapons.
25
And are we going to give up ours? Dream on my friend. We are always right and everyone else is always wrong and inferior. Sad.
3
Well, my very good friends in Iran say that Iran may consider US Propositions, because they are always in good faith (that is Iran, not washington DC), but only if Pompeo agrees to lose 100 pounds, and stops being so zealous and Pompeous...I mean, why make any deal with someone who looks he is going to die from a heart attack by his next public appearance...Mike, you look sick...do something...stop the donuts...they create brain atrophy! Go test for Type 2 Diabetes, get an MRI of your brain so your can witness for yourself all the White Hyperintensities!
11
Has Pompeo or Bolton suggested that all Iranians must disrobe and be naked forever?
5
Houston, we have a problem.
10
I don’t recognize my own country anymore.
In a lifetime that has spanned the aftermath of WWII until the present day, I never ever thought I would see the USA descend into dictatorship and fascism, with the consent of a traitorous Congress and a vigourous propaganda agency.
But here we are with a Liar in Chief at the helm as our nation veers off course onto the rocks of history. Great work folks.
28
First we has a big oil boss with no political experience as America's top diplomat. Now we have a spy chief with no political experience as America's top diplomat.
And both were appointed the POTUS, a former real estate salesman with no political experience.
What a bloody mess.
19
I believe that the Israeli government will decide to bomb Iran, starting world war 3. That will remove the necessity for the United States to do that and there is nothing more that the Israeli government would like to do. Will they use tactical nuclear weapons or more conventional heavy weapons?
12
I hope Israel doesn't but it does have the power to do so now that seemingly they either didn't have or preferred US to do it for them when Obama was in office. They seem to forget ICBM's can cause just as much damage as a nuclear bomb can, depending on its size. The results are not forever. I hope N has enough sense to keep his bombs in the desert so Iran does likewise. Also, even though Israel destroyed a lot of military materiel it doesn't know for sure how much it hit or missed. It just says it knows. Like Trump!! Even though US has promised to help defend Israel, Mattis may try to stop Trump from getting involved--esp. if Israel initiates it. We don't need a war and we don't need the use of the nuclear bomb--whatever size.
5
Nice bait and switch Mr Pompeo, I guess you acted rational to get confirmed. Is your allegiance to the constitution?
14
With this speech Mike Pompeo has established that his approach as Secretary of State will be that of a hard-liner doing the bidding of President Donald Trump, and his key allies in Israel and Saudi Arabia. Initially, there were indications that Pompeo might be something other than a political hack parading as a diplomat. His meteoric rise the top foreign policy job bears some scrutiny. Pompeo served one slim, silent year as director of the CIA, a job that he may have been qualified for, but which does not qualify him for State. When Pompeo emerged as a candidate for a top role in the Trump administration it became apparent that he was more of an opportunist than someone with qualified expertise in intelligence or foreign policy. Comparing Pompeo's credentials with the last several secretaries of State: Kerry, Clinton, Rice, Powell, Albright, it becomes clear that he is a pale shadow of his predecessors. Within the context of the Trump administration, he only looks better because the rest are so incompetent and unethical. It will be interesting to see if Pompeo can maintain his integrity in the quagmire of mendacity and mediocrity surrounding Trump. That will be his true test as an aspiring diplomat
15
Iran has existed for thousands of years. They survived a dozen big empires. They will go silent and wait for Mr. Trump to leave office and then try to talk with the next President.
It is becoming obvious the US is in a dark age. This too will pass.
23
Never expected I'd see the day when Iran's leadership seems reasonable by comparison to United States.
32
I am with Iran too.
13
The idiocy is breathtaking.
20
The EU need to dump the U.S. and cozy up to China to protect itself from the U.S. and Russia.
25
John McCain simplified it for us all when he said "Bomb, bomb bomb Iran....."
1
pretty sure the
at was Reagan
McCain did not "simplify" anything. He just made it simplistic.
1
Senile McCain -from that appalling quote to Palin for VP- dropping dead will be a favor to the world.
What gives the United States the right to tell another sovereign nation what it is and is not entitled to?
This rhetoric is so tired and the US no longer has the clout to play world leader; our own democracy is presently wrapped in hypocrisy.
We look like a joke. And rightfully so. Through international eyes, the US government looks stupid. There is no leadership; but plenty of threats and bullying; lies, deceptions and broken promises. The world laughs at Trump. Travel abroad and you will see and hear it. And if the world is laughing at Trump, they are also laughing at the rest of us for somehow electing this dolt.
The US needs to take care of its own house before it has any sort of legitimacy to dictate demands to a foreign power.
And the joke will be on the US when the EU, Russia and China along with Iran remain committed to the nuclear deal and work together to render American sanctions worthless.
Our government has let us and the rest of the world down. The US has been hijacked by greed and corruption. It is our duty as citizens to correct this situation in November.
Our nation is strained, but remains unbroken. We can fix this.
18
Iran keeps doing that, and you keep applauding its murderers. Look up "fatwa" and "Rushdie" and learn something.
2
If oppressive government was a problem for Trump he would distance himself from China and the Philippines and so many others. He only selectively cares about the lives any country's citizens. Sanctions prevent Iran and Cuba from repairing their airplanes, hospital equipment etc.
My dear sir, you made an unfortunate error when you assumed I am unfamiliar with your suggested reading list.
It is undoubtedly true that the Iranian regime is responsible for many untimely deaths; ok we can call these murders.
But I ask you, is Iran alone in such guilt?
Did not Israeli soldiers shoot to death some 60 Palestinian protesters just last week?
And did not the United States herself murder (I'm using your word here) thousands of Iraqi civilians during that war? And also thousands of Afghanis?
I appreciate your point, though I do take small issue with your implication that I am uneducated, which is quite far from being accurate.
I am a veteran and consider myself a patriot, but I am not blind to the misdeeds of my own country and our allies. A patriot holds his government accountable and questions it at every turn.
And lastly, very few regimes--if any--have clean hands, especially in the Middle East.
Another baseless threat from this bulling administration. Nowadays White House is acting as puppet of Israel and the young princess of KSA.
Let's count the facts. Who gives the right to American corrupt capitalism to invade more than 10 Muslim nations in the middle east. Kill millions of civilians, destroy their economy and leave a lifelong pre-planned/CIA designed civil war and instability behind and leave the devastated nations with no responsibility, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.
Why America can invade Muslim nations 1000 of mills away form it's border, just to protect the Zionist regime. But Iran who shares, the religion, culture and neighborhood can't support its regional allies.
To conclude, its neither about the genuine democracy nor the human rights. It's to protect the weakening corrupt capitalism Empire which's badly loosing to Russian and China.
16
Gosh, this doesn't resemble the lies, mendacity, and obfuscations used by Shrub and Co. to (falsely) justify an illegal and murderous war at all(veteran talking, btw). The Angry Cheeto desperately needs a war to distract the public and rally the chumps. It's worth checking into which defense contractors his sleazy gang of criminals are tied to. This is the King of Kickbacks we're talking about, after all.
12
Sounds like flinging Iran into the arms of Russia or China. Pretty stupid.
Another battle that may be won by the US - but winners never learn and losers never forget. In the long run this will come back to haunt us.
6
With "patriots" like Mike Pompeo and Tom Cotton we don't need any enemies. And the joke's on us folks.
15
The ugly American speaketh, telling Iran they have no right to pursue nuclear technology with threats of force if they don't cave in to his demands .
Ok big Mike, grab an M16 and we'll follow you into the desert to democratize another Middle East rogue state as per the neocon playbook. Bring those other armchair tough guys with you sitting in the White House watching Fox News.
10
My thoughts and prayers are with our brave men and women who would be asked to fight by this belligerent Administration on behalf of Israel and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia and Israel who apparently helped the trump campaign to win the election.
Iran is not Iraq or Libya, nor it is 1953. This regime change would be rough, we should also remember Syria, where we tried regime change and still blame Assad for what our Ambassador Ford got going in 2011.
Without the help of some of the brains from Mossad et al- trump and company could not have won this election. Collusion galore was taking place and the intelligence agencies knew some of it. Mueller is trying to tie all the lose ends.
Why are we trying to spend our blood, swat, and treasure to fight Israel's and Saudi battles. We have given them enough let them use it and we will replenish their stores again.
War is an insane business, Bolton, Trump, Pompeo and Republicans love it Time to send them packing in 2018.
Vote your conscious please.
20
The US under trump: the stereotypical rogue nation.
12
Pompeo could have kept the Nuclear deal as is and then focused on Iran's involvement in Yemen, Syria and Lebanon. He could have convinced our European and Middle East allies to impose new sanctions on Iran for its meddling in Yemen, Syria and Lebanon.
Sanctions have more power when the world agrees with them.
8
You are right, Trumps "strategy" is the way he makes most key decisions by "gut" and "unencumbered by the thought process."
6
Yeah, nobody has the right to meddle in other countries affairs, not even in their own neighborhood considering their own national security, because only America, the expert in meddling is allowed to do that coming from the other side of the planet too. That makes sense! Remember Yemeni's are dying by Made in America bombs with American help, not Iranian meddling.
6
Iran is legally in Syria and Iraq at the request of their respective governments, and they have been over there for the last 4+ years in order to fight US allies (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, etc) bankrolled and supplied terrorists, from al Qaeda to ISIS. They are doing the world a favor.
1
The United States first violates the multilateral Iranian nuclear arms prevention deal, despite the country’s compliance. We then ratchet up the rhetoric to start a war.
The United States is officially an outlaw regime seeking a pretext to invade a sovereign nation and conquer it for no good reason.
20
This is scary. Trump is trying to get us into another war. Our best hope is to make it through somehow to the next election so we can vote these warmongers out of office.
9
Don't rely on the next election. I am worried we are watching the real America here.
3
Just wait until the Iranians mine the Strait of Hormuz. Putin will really enjoy those oil prices...but you won't.
9
Every Trump appointee seems skilled at describing the problems "over there", while studiously ignoring the serious issues (health care, infrastructure, climate change, election meddling by foreign nations, corruption at the highest levels) in our own nation. The hypocrisy is staggering, and the proud ignorance of history is stunning. This will not end well, especially if Mr. Trump and his team of warmongers manage to entangle us in another middle east war that will make the last ones look like kindergarten play.
7
Regime change has proven to be a great catalyst for nothing good.
The Shah -- Lybia -- Iraq - Egypt - in all of these the change was NOT for the better.
Pompei and Bolton are ready to send start another war.
Hello to $ 5.00 a gallon gas !!
7
$5 gallon of gas is still a bargain. I’m in England now. Gasoline cost £1.25 per liter or about $2. One US gallon is 3.7 liters, so a US gallon of gasoline in England costs about $7.50 !!
1
This is a strategy devised between Kushner, Bolton and Netanayu. The latter two want WAR. Kushner is all about money. It is a terrible move towards war and total unrest in the Middle East. I doubt the majority of Israelis agree with it.
9
It’s time for Europe to stand up to the bullies and make clear that any sanctions targeting European companies will be punished an eye for an eye with action against US corporation. Let’s see how Apple does if they are banned from using any banking services in Europe.
11
Mr. Pompeo, please give me an hour notice to say goodbye to my all my EU friends on Facebook before you shut it down. Since my Dutch friends dislike my German friends and my Spanish and Italians friends dislike my British friends I’m sure they will have no problems culturing new Iranian ones to replace me! Or maybe they will? Nevertheless, I will sincerely miss them all.
1
So, more and more, every "negotiator" in the Trump troops scream about the word "NEVER, ever ... and only what WE, the US of A say s is appropriate."
When was the last time that worked? Anyone else ever read about what the punishments that we and Europe imposed on Germany after "The War to End All" wars did?
Etc., etc., etc. ....
2
Its laughable that Pompeo expects Iran to come back to the table after having broken an agreement hardly a week ago. Is he playing with dolls still ? The loss of trust in US word will take decades to fix.
Pompeo seems to be living in a dream world like his boss. When three decades of co-ordinated sanctions haven't been able to weaken Iranian resolve what makes him think it will work when Europe, China and Russia are this time supporting it. In fact it has support of pretty much the rest of the world.
Instead of following a failed policy of destabilizing Iran US was better off reaching out to develop trust and dialog. Who knows this way it could even have facilitated as a conduit between Iran and Arabs, acted as a Shia/Sunni peacemaker or even initiated dialog between Iran and Israel.
However the current administration seems to be obsessed with the idea of being a bull in china shop and to project a Hegemonistic and a Bully image. In just one year it has managed to ruin major achievements in Climate Change, health care and foreign policy. All because of personal hatred with the previous president (probably due to racial bias). Add to that the negative progress in Israeli Palestinian peace talks.
If only Russians had not made fools of so many of US.
11
How did that regime change thing work out in Iraq, Libya and Syria?
Mike, Bolton and their pall Erik Prince of Blackwater miss the days when US transport planes were unloading pallets of US taxpayer cash that disappeared in the resulting chaos and death of regime change in Iraq.
After what these neocons did in the ME and to the US taxpayer and soldier they should have been relegated to the dustbin of history. The fact that they are key members of the Presidents cabinet and we are still subcontracting Blackwater is a national disgrace.
61
Wonderful. Boys want Baghdad, Real Men (TM) want Tehran all over again. The argument seems to be that while stupid failed and created a ma$$ive fustercluck, (stupid)^2 is sure to work. Right.
5
Overly simplistic analysis.
The US has the power to change Iranian behavior.
We should use it.
1
Oh yeah, the US using its power to change other nations' behavior has worked out great in Iraq and such.
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results." (A. Einstein)
1
Excuse me, but didn’t Iraq just have an election?
It seems to me that what Mr. Pompeo is saying is that Iran should not be able to enjoy the fruits of normalized economic relations with the rest of the world while it simultaneously advocates the destruction of Israel, supports Hezbollah terrorism in the region and globally, and is positioned -- as a result of the JCPOA -- to reconstitute its nuclear program at its time of choosing once the accords lapse in 8 years.
Mr. Trump has every right to erase this dismal and excessively concessionary policy, which ultimately kicks the nuclear can down the road without resolving the issue once and for all.
And do not dismiss the reaction of Iranian voters. They are a thoughtful, educated people and understand that the clerics in charge of the government in Tehran are playing a double game.
My bet is if given the choice of supporting Hezbollah and chanting "death to Israel" or enjoying the benefits of living in a functional economy, they will choose the latter.
I suspect that the mullahs have a lot to be worried about.
4
"Hezbollah terrorism in the region " [sic]
Absolutely grotesque! the Hezbollah is part of both the Lebanese parliament and government, and it has been fighting actual "terrorism" -from al Qaeda to ISIS- bankrolled by US allies (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey) side by side with the national armies of both Syria and Lebanon. Obviously that fact isn't exactly part of the propagandist narrative -made of Goebbelsian lies and misrepresentations of the reality- from our Western so-called "free press".
1
Apparently the fools currently things are as ignorant of
history as they are indifferent to it. They seem to think
that the country Iran is more than willing to capitulate
to this country's latest effort to tell it how it should be
run and who should govern it. This from the country that
overthrew one popular leader in early 50s (for the sake of
big oil), then imposed
an unpopular one and kept him in power for 25+ years.
The fact that the theocrats are unpopular has now convinced
the historical and cultural illiterates running things that they can exploit such unpopularity by organizing and imposing a direct threat from their historical nemesis that is supposed to be as easy to accomplish as was a slam dunk on the other side of the straits of Hormuz.
Question 1: Why would the popular discontent not going to lead to a crackdown with more repression plus nuclear program restarting?
Question 2: What happens when Russia/China rush to fill
in the gaps created by withdrawn European trade? What happens when that, combined with sufficient leakage of trade
from surreptitious sanction violating, manages to keep things afloat?
Question 3: When the Iranian suffering quotient then doesn't go up fast enough for the likes of bolton-pompeo, and the country then declares itself free to resume nuclear research etc., what exactly are your options? Do you really think
the gulf countries are going to help you out militarily when
Russia sternly warns about adventurism?
2
Pulling out of Iran deal has already been a gift to Russia. They get lot more money for their oil. If with some high wire tensions in that region the price of oil can be taken to three digits, it will be a big bonanza for Putin.
9
Unfortunately the current administration is completely ignorant when it comes to our flawed history with Iran. Going back to the Operation Ajax and our CIA overthrowing the democratically elected prime minister Iran, our devotion to the Shah who used his secret police Savak to brutalize many Iranians, to the irrational behavior that the US has exhibited since the '79 Iranian revolution, we seem completely incapable of understanding how the Iranians look at the US. From their perspective we are imperialist that try to exploit Iran. Our withdrawal from the nuclear deal only hardened that perception. So, what are the alternatives? Invade Iran, install a puppet government that we like? I don't see how anything that Pompeo proposed will solve any of the problems. Based on history, threats will get us nowhere with Iranians, constructive engagement might have gotten us somewhere. We need more nuance and less bullying when it comes to moving Iran.
7
Iran is not Grenada.
9
Simplistic much?
The Pompeo speech? Yes. It's much too similar in that regard to the tune Trump have been singing for a couple of years regarding China except for the 180 he did in last two weeks - when he suddenly became interested in saving Chinese jobs. Let's not ignore Iran's history of long wars, their oil wealth and equally important, that they have the same friends as Trump - Putin & now Xi. Both will be happy to oblige Iran.
This is simply prelude to war. Bush had Iraq and Trump now has his Iran. Watch for fishy Israeli and American intelligence showing a weapons of mass destruction program followed by the requisite speech at the United Nations by Nikki Haley predicting mushroom clouds and other forms of doom, followed by an invasion. Netanyahu has already received Putin's assurances he will not interfere in exchange for the American lifting of sanctions. America's foreign policy is now being run entirely by Israel and, we now know, a sketchy Israeli firm comprised of former Israeli intelligence officials was paid $2 million to assist Trump in winning the election. But Iran is no Iraq and this next war might very possibly end with one of the greatest military miscalculations in history.
14
Let the Israelis and Saudis fight their own war with Iran.
16
Israel and Saudi are US proxies.
It is OUR war with Iran.
They want Iran basically defenseless. So if we or Israel attack, Iran will not be able to respond. They would strike at Israel and could do some real lasting damage. Netanyahu gave him the script last week.. Might as well have delivered it himself. If I was Iran I would built up my arsenal, and quick.
6
We should be prepared for Regime overthrow of the religious government now in power through the auspices of the US military and clandestine services.
A reminder to the US "super patriots" who support this thinking. The Iranian people would not support us in this endeavor for fear of getting another Shah to replace the mullahs. Keep the sanctions until the country starts bleeding from their ears and hope for change as a result.
1
What a lovely thought...sanction the entire country until its citizens bleed from their ears "and hope for change." Reminiscent of the western powers trying to starve the Polish so they would rise up and throw out the Nazis. Disgusting.
7
Where have we heard this rhetoric before? It was always the neocons' desire to use Iraq as a way to wage war against Iran. And, predictably, the WH wasn't even clever about it. Just all of the sudden pulls out of an agreement the US signed, blames Iran, and threatens their leaders.
It's all falling into place--Saudi and other Middle Eastern officials offering help with the 2016 elections, now we have a look at the promises Trump must have made. First there was the spat with Qatar, the support for the Saudi-led coalition waging war in famine-stricken Yemen, then the US embassy in Israel is relocated to Jerusalem. Bolton and Pompeo, both in a service branch, neither seeing combat action, now Trump's hawks. Trump's main contributions, stepping back a bit, seem to be more violence and division at home and threats of violence abroad. Tough talk for a guy who couldn't remember which foot the bone spur was on that got him his multiple deferments.
And the midterms approaching. Want to guess on the timeline here, and the sort of fear mongering and intel cherry-picking the White House is cooking up? What would the 'coalition of the willing' look like this time? Philippines? Israel? Turkey? Not Europe, not even the UK this time. Let's see if the press falls into line, re-ups for embed boot camps, because as an institution the players fear ratings consequences for being labeled 'unpatriotic.'
The neocon is back. And as before, you can't spell it without 'con' in there.
17
What a disgraceful performance of bluster, bluff and blow and no reality. Nothing has been proposed that would improve the agreement we had a week ago. There is no Plan B. Trump performance is dreadful. Worse ever by any president, living or dead. No exceptions.
19
I hope we all realize that if we go to war, as we have in Iraq for no good reason, we kill tens of thousands of poor conscripts that have no choice but being the target of superior military technology. Does anybody believe that the parents, wife and siblings of those conscripts will ever forgive us?
Here we talk about minimizing collateral damage (if that), while killing innocent humans who have been forced to be soldiers.
All in the name of what, exactly?
8
Iran has several indisputable achievements to its credit:
1. It sacked a foreign embassy, seized the entire diplomatic staff, and held them prisoner for over a year - the U.S. embassy;
2. It created a terrorist organization, Hizballah, that then took over a country, Lebanon, and then aided Assad in Syria;
3. It directly aided Assad in Syria, where 600,000 Syrians have been murdered and millions have fled Syria; and,
4. It has a national policy of destroying another state, Israel.
Not to mention its secret nuclear weapons program that is largely underground and off limits to international inspection. Yet, when Iran's misbehavior is listed and we tell Iran that it has to stop, the criticism is not directed at Iran, it is directed to the US. We got played with the JCPOA. We squandered our leverage. Now that there is an effort to correct the mistakes and bring to an end Iran's malignant behavior, we should be objective rather than hysterical, and look at the merits of the situation. Yes, Trump is offensive, obnoxious, ignorant, deceptive, and a constant horror show. But, so is Iran. Let's get one dangerous nation at least off of its declaration to destroy another country. 38 years of trouble from Iran, 68 years of trouble from N. Korea. We've spent trillions on those two and the problems continue. Lets get at it and call a spade a spade instead of kicking the can down the road. Pompeo's address is a good start.
8
You left out that they defeated and mopped up ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
6
OK, so it's a bad situation.
What do we do to solve the same issues in Nicaragua or the Sudan or ... Russia's ally, Syria?
What's the plan? Make them all watch Sesame Street and act like it's "Andy of Mayberry"?
That IS pretty much he desire [and depth of knowledge] of the 63 million who voted for Trump.
6
The Iranians Iraq-Syria-Lebanon alignment is geo-political. It is historically responsive to what the US and England did to foment the democratically elected Mossadegh who had the nerve to incite nationalization of the Iranian oil industry. After the CIA helped overthrow and install the puppet Shah, the Iranian revolution ensued with non-secular clerics running the show.
We now have a perfect set up, as all parties to the Iranian Nuclear Accord agree,(except the US,)that the Iranians were promptly following the terms of the agreement. This will allow the Russians and Chinese simply to fill the void, (chump change really) neutralize US sanctions, and gain favor in the region.
The Europeans are very in favor of supporting their fledgling investments in Iran, come what may with US Sanctions.
So Trump can try to play whack-a-mole with the Iranians, but the bottom line is, again, they have a lot of support, from the rest of the world.
As far as promising "a response" to their nuclear machinations, guaranteed mr. Pompeo, Kim Jong Un is listening to your every mutter, your every tweet.
Now Mr. Trump, you've got the whole world thinking ...Ok mr blusterer,
Bring It!!
6
The list of demands is long. While it's going to be hard, the US does indeed have the power to push them through, even against Europe (and Russia and China). However, the price will be high. International treaties are based on mutual trust. This trust is the currency of diplomacy, and the Trump administration is gambling it all away.
Frankly, I'd like Iran to step meddling in other countries, but so I'd like Saudi Arabia, and Russia, and frankly the United States to stop. If Iran has to stop their support of the Houthi rebels, why not demand Saudi Arabia to stop their support of the oppressive government there? If Iran can't meddle in Syria, why allow everyone else to do it? And the hypocrisy: these demands put forward by a nation that invaded two countries in the Middle East in the last decade alone, the latter without UN mandate.
We Western nations should not put oil in the fire that this regional conflict has become, we should strive to keep peace instead. We should also not forget our values of freedom and democracy. The hypocrisy of supporting a feudal monarchy against an arguably flawed, yet still somehow working democracy is going to cost us the last remainders of credibility.
9
Pompeo cites totally valid criticism and problems with Iran. But if he thinks they are going to agree to his 12 terms, he is not at all realistic. This is putting us on a path towards yet another war in the middle east.
6
Holding rogue Iran and appeasing Europe's economic feet to the fire by reimposition of the sanctions is the idea. Perhaps the latest terror attacks in France, while perhpas not triggered directly by Iran but by the loose appeasing atmosphere, might convince a few people that human needs in Iran and in the region and the world might just be important.
1
Every terrorist has been a Wahhabi - the ideology of the Saudis and the Emaratis- 9-11 hijackers were all Wahhabis 16 of 19 were Saudis and you/Trump/Pence/Israel/blame Iran?
We have no idea what to do in that part of the world. US presence in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria all failures.
25
"We have no idea what to do in that part of the world."
Team Trump is doing exactly what Bibi and the Saudis have told them to do.
12
Poor Iran’s economy is only the size of Maryland. Maybe the EU’s plan to pump the oil and then dump her is far more realistic? That could backfire on them rather badly however. I’m just trying to image the size of the EU’s carbon footprint if they embrace Iran’s oil with the only market for their gas driven BMWs and Mercedes is to China and Russia. The Chinese are already suffocated on fossil fuel fumes. Doesn’t look likely they will go that route.
1
And Libya. Which is an example that Trump uses to say "I'LL do it better".
1
Your readers’ comments seem pro Iran anti USA. Maybe only Trump can achieve such a preposterous reaction. Yet, overlooked is the defiant march across the Middle East. The murderous actions and threats by Iran, the fanatical ideas lurking behind them. The hatred of Trump has blinded your readers. Shame for not knowing the threat of Iran, not in theory but in the present. Yes, Iran must be stopped!
6
Mel,
My criticism of Pompeo's speech is it's hypocrisy. It is OK for Kim to kill and starve his people, and Trump now refers to him as a "honorable" person and is desperate to cut a "deal" with Kim.
Yes, Iran is up to no good, as are others in the Middle East. Will bellicose threats change their behavior? No. Is Trump really willing to invade Iran? It is a complex dilemma, for sure, but unless Trump is really willing to invade Iran, such bellicose threats only weaken the U.S., they do not strengthen us.
12
Iran is no more my enemy than is Pakistan or Canada.
They are Israel's enemy, but that country can take care of itself. Trump ran on a platform of America first, but he seems devoted to getting the US involved in the centuries long Sunni-Shia Civil War.
No more land wars in the Middle East. Iran has a right to defend itself, considering its neighbor, Israel, has, by many accounts, pointed hundreds of nuclear weapons of mass destruction straight at them.
We are spending ourselves into bankruptcy. We need to leave the Middle East. If Pompeo or others want to fight there, they can enlist in local militia.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
24
Odd, I don't recall the PM of Canada crying "Death of America". Maybe i missed it.
Will the USA negotiate with Iran if Iran said the USA has to drop its support for Israel? That the USA withdraw all forces from the Middle East. That the US stop all missile development. The Iranian look at these demands as the US telling them to neuter themselves. The lessons of Iraq and Libya are not lost on the Iranians.
17
Since the CIA-coup in 1953 against the democratically elected president of Iran, Mossadegh, the policy of the US towards Iran has been in shambles. At the same time the US has constantly been the staunch ally of Saudi Arabia whose Wahabism has not only been feeding Isis but was behind the attack on the World Trade Center. Trumps recent deal with Saudi Arabia for military equipment in the order of 700 billion dollars and his decision to kill the international nuclear treaty with Iran top this absurd strategy.
19
I'm a little confused is Mike Pompeo now speaking as Secretary of State, or is he still speaking as the CIA Director by using Trump like provocative language, not very statesmen like, more antagonistic.
16
So, Trump promises to protect Kim to ensure he stays in power, yet he threatens Iran with regime change because, inter alia, how it treats its people?
Kim treats his people better? I think not!! But, Trump will protect Kim anyway--really?
10
Pompeo and circumstance.
This silly overture inviting the Iranians to rise up against the clerics ranks right up there on the foreign policy hit parade with Rummy and Cheney expecting the grateful Iraqis to shower invading US troops with rose petals. The powerful delusions born of ignorant and uncritical self-righteousness.
The message of benevolent American imperialism has become a tough sell even in its most clever and sophisticated forms. This heavy-handed performance can only backfire -- uniting Iranians behind their national enterprise. Imperfect though it may be, the Islamic Revolution will be seen as preferable to a return to de facto colonial status. Even if we no longer remember the Shah, the Iranians surely do.
85
Cheney just made up the rose petals. Haliburton was the biggest contractor, and had a no-bid contract. Just prior, Cheney, the former Haliburton CEO, refused to divest his Haliburton stock. His motives were not rosy but green.
4
If China is not part of the Iranian boycott, it will fail.
Instead, the result will be to deny business and jobs to the U.S. and our allies and give them to China.
China is practicing the true "Art of the Deal." The Chinese Government gave a $500 million loan to a Trump hotel and golf project in Indonesian and now the President cannot seem to do enough to help China, including giving them the Iranian market.
18
Iran already has a "Made in China"tag hangiing from its trains, railways, housing complexes and most items in their bazaars and Malls.
At this point in time Trump and Pompeo have isolated the US against its allies, even NATO, and have given Putin and Xi exactly the advantage that they desired.
When the draft is reinstated for military defense purposes, let Trump's and Pompeo's children be the first to fight in action.
20
So Trump whines about the $7T that he claims we spent on the war in Iraq, but he seems primed to spend similar amounts on a war with Iran. Why are we willing to further demolish our economy and kill more of our young people, when a well thought out diplomatic approach may as easily work. If other presidents did it, they are fools; if his administration does it, it becomes a wise choice.
Trump has become the author of more potential war in the Middle East and shunning our European allies just for the thrill of the cheering hand picked crowds of his rallies. It is truly unfortunate that the popularity of the Apprentice waned. Trump wouldn't have needed to become President.
34
There's a scene from the Treasure of the Sierra Madre that explains the ignorant, aggressive actions of resident Trump and all of his chicken hawks:
Fred C Dobbs/Bogey is on his way down from the mountain with all the gold, and when their party is met on the trail by natives, Howard/Walter Huston negotiates with them. All seems OK until Dobbs tries to take care of things by pulling his gun. The natives draw their weapons in return, and Huston tells Dobbs that they can't shoot their way out--it would be the deaths of them all.
Where is Howard when we need him? Instead, we are being ''led" by men who are blinded by gold and dust.
7
I have decided to boycott all US goods and urge others to do so, until the USA stops its current development of nuclear weapons, stops arming the Saudis and their wahabi bretheren, stops its support of the Egyptian dictatorship, gets its troops out of Afganistan and stops pouring arms into Israel.
What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Lets not forget how Iran ended up with a theocracy running the place....
A CIA/MI5 coup followed by years of support for the dictatorial and corrupt Shah led to the rise of the Ayatollahs.
Would I like the Iranian people to have more freedom? Of course but I also want those same freedoms for the people of Palestine and Egypt
The Persians have not bothered Europe for 2,500 years and as far as I can tell are not likely to do so again
The rest of the world should not be told what to do by the American Military Industrial complex, led by Pompeo and his two draft dodging chicken hawk sidekicks, Trump and Bolton
39
Me too!
5
So, Iran faces a choice: Kowtow to a fragile regime that has multiply demonstrated its disrespect for prior international accords,
-or-
Work with the other signatories and wait thirty months until the circus leaves town?
And why would they believe that, even if they kowtowed, it would be enough - that DiJiTs would respect his own contracts any more than those of others, or his own past dealings?
Credibility matters, and the US has repeatedly demonstrated that it doesn't have any.
17
Never trust a public figure making foreign policy statements and mispronounces the name of the foreign country.
Iran is pronounced e-ron not i-ran.
14
Yes Mike, but it can also be large US corporations that repress as well as dictatorial foreign governments.
The US is becoming much more repressive under Trump and other Republican administrations:
-forbidding Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers holds us all for ransom for unaffordable drug prices.
-withdrawing net neutrality will hold us ransom to ISP's.
-gerrymandering, foreign government interference, abusing supreme court appointments, all leave our government more responsive to the ultrarich and less responsive to the average voter.
And it goes on and on. Mostly from the right, just where you are.
You want to clean house, start with your own room, Mike.
11
If Pompeo's threats turn to any reality, the "terrorism" wrought on this country will be everlasting.
Already, the Middle East is heating up after the withdrawal from the most positive agreement reached in the Middle East, perhaps the only agreement reached in decades.
9
It's all about Regime Change. The Trump Regime. Pompeo WILL be the next Vice President, when Trump resigns, to spend more time with his Money. I mean, Family. Count on it. And HE makes Cheney look like a peaceful hippie. Seriously.
7
The beat of the war drums has begun. Sending a message of obscene profit to be had on the taxpayers dime.
10
Mr. Tusk of the European Parliament, said, "with friends like this,...", referring to the current US administration.
Mr. Tusk: with friends like Iran,...
Surprising what Boris Johnson said, as we thought he had been on a learning curve, much like Churchill's Conservative Party associates in 1939-40.
Iran has been developing more advanced centrifuges, and there is evidence they have continued to enrich uranium. Iran, sitting on massive gas and oil fields, and in a major earthquake region, has contracted with Russia to build "civilian nuclear installations".
All the parties to the original deal were lying big-time, inc the then US players and the IAEA, and still are.
Iran got $150 billion to continue terrorizing the Iranians, the region and the world.
Hurray for Mr. Pompeo and his boss.
2
Wake up.
4
The Americans (more precisely, the gang in the White House) still imagine that they rule the world. While there is some resemblance between the Emperor and the President (moral, not to mention physical), the U.S. needs to realize that it has neither the mandate nor the means to govern the world. Other countries, even the EU, are preparing counter-sanctions to punish the American violation of their sovereignty and the rights of their citizens.
Blustering fools who threaten and bully, while waving the American flag, need to be hauled before the ICC should they dare to perpetrate war crimes. Americans, including the new CIA director, have escaped accountability.
That golden age is about to end.
7
Mr.Pompeo, How about first putting forth a list of demands for Russia? Oh no, I forgot, its a good thing for us to get along with Russia although they so blatantly interfered in our elections.
10
The Europeans are sticking with the deal, so the US is irrelevant. They'll be eating Iranian caviar and pistachios while walking on beautiful carpets in Paris and Berlin.
11
Don't forget about those Persian cats. They make wonderful household pets
2
“He also demanded that Iran admit to the military purposes of its now-moribund nuclear weapons program, end its support of Hezbollah, Hamas and Yemen’s Houthis, and withdraw all of its forces from Syria.”
I love this, I love every word of it, Iran is one of those countries that talked big when Obama was President, I notice they haven’t had much to say lately. Trumps poll numbers are going up, and they are going to keep going up. America is not a pushover anymore.
3
Not a pushover anymore, Thomaspaine17? Did you see how China played us on the tariffs issue? You are as gullible as the Trump U students who had to sue to force Mr. ("I Never Settle"). What are you gonna say if and when Iran reconstitutes its nuclear weapons program
8
America and its spineless Trump are the laughing stock of the world, except that he's so moronic and out of touch, he'll be like the guy that lights his cigaret next to the fuel car on the train. But in this case, it would be the world going up in smoke.
8
We have seen this movie before. . .
And just like many sequels that come out of Hollywood, how a massive humanitarian disaster and prolonged quagmire warrant a sequel beggars belief. I mean, aside from the massive amounts of money involved for the producers.
While our domestic tragicomedy has played out more or less as expected, it looks like it took 18 months to assemble to warmongering regime many of us feared on November 8, 2016.
6
This is bullying, illegal and strangling of a great nation. This administration is rogue. This position of the current administration is unfair and illogical. Corrupt inside-out. In the near future we will find out how Pompeo will have a contract with the Saudis worth billions of dołlars.
11
I'm sure there are Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iran somewhere. Let's invade them and destabilize them while we're at it. Not to mention give the moribund ISIS a new lease on life. Do we never learn?
6
Time for a European summit to identify options to stick it to the United States should it seek to impose sanctions on Europeans for living up to the Iran deal. Having done his best to insist the only acceptable foreign policy for the US is one where this country imposes hegemony on countries who once saw us as trusted allies it is time for them to tell President Trump to take a hike. Perhaps the European signatories, Russia, and China should all sign defense treaties with Iran giving them basing rights there. Would the United States attack Iran under those circumstances? And I have suggested before the Iranians should prepare chemical and biological weapons capable of grievous damage but outside current agreements.
But above all Iran should insist that Israel give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for a permanent agreement not to pursue its own development. Fair is fair. in the absence of such an agreement Israeli whining about Iran is a fraud. Iran has a legitimate right of self-defense and has demonstrated remarkable restraint in the face of repeated Israeli attacks on Iranians in Syria. Now I fully understand Israel does not like having Iranian forces nearby nor Iran supplying Hezbollah. Of course not. But as long as Israel insists on using the US as a threat against Iran the latter has every right, indeed every obligation, to pursue agreements and armaments to respond to threats of aggression. As long as Israel and the ULS behave like thugs they should be shunned.
9
Mr. Pompeo has no credibility; just a bully pulpit and his role as Israel and the Saudi's proxy. Even if he were to sign his children up for war--he's proving rapidly he's not ready for the world stage.
8
In my opinion, our president should follow the advice of Theodore Roosevelt.
First: speak softly
Second: carry a big stick
We seem to be forgetting the first and overly relying on the second.
4
Carrying a big stick is very challenging for tiny hands. Speaking softly is virtually impossible if nature has gifted you with a large mouth and little impulse control.
In unilaterally abandoning the Iranian deal rather than work to improve it, Trump threw out the baby with the bathwater. And the harm is more with our European allies and the credibility of America's word wherever.
5
Trump's policy seems to be yell loudly, and carry a limp noodle. Example: when a Chinese firm did business with North Korea and Iran in violation of sanctions, Trump made big threats, then rescinded them. He triggered a trade war with China, then "put it on hold."
One wonders whether Iran could avoid a confrontation by simply routing more cash to the Trump organization than the Saudis...
11
What would Cheney do?
1
GW Cheney & Co. LLC would lie, in order to go to war, knowing it was all a lie, but that they and their friends in the industry would profit handsomely.
4
The USA first invaded Iran in 1946 And today many people somehow think our hostility towards Iran is new... Everything was fine, I am told, before Trump.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
10
Does this pompous sorry pompeo know that it is the Saudi's who have flattened Yemen and created the worst Cholera outbreak in a century, much like Assad did in Syria or Netanyahu/Sharon keep doing in Gaza?
I assume he does and ignores it just so he can continue to protest against the successful deal our first black President negotiated with Iran.
And yes, possibly because Emperor Netanyahu says so.
19
point of order--Ariel Sharon died a long time ago.
The Neo-Con's are Baa-acck!
22
More like Neo-Nazis this time around.
With Dubya's Invasion of Iraq there was already in the air a whiff of fascism. Now it has metastasized with Trump and his cabal. Fox News is Goebbels news.
13
Iran was sticking to the terms as negotiated. Trump and others wanted more than those terms though so threw the whole agreement aside. There will never be another agreement. We have now sided with the Sunni's in their ancient battle for Islam, even though it was the Sunni faction that gave us Al Quaeda, ISIS, 9/11, etc. We are putting even tougher sanctions on Iran - for not violating the terms but for some other things they were doing but ... to what end? What's the goal? What will this accomplish? Nuclear annihilation of the Middle East? Maybe the world?
37
under the agreement, in 10 years, iran, the country whose politicians, general public and schoolchildren all chant "death to america" could have full nuclear capabilities. that's the problem.
Iran is not different because it’s Shia, it is different because it is Persian, not Arab, and neither a bunch of Arab affine states nor Israel, nor people trying to secure stability in the region.
That’s why Obama’s administration brokered a deal, no destructive nukes, no trade problems.
Trump seems to think hr can, in addition to micromanaging the government, fight off possible indictment (I don’t know what Mueller’s got - if I did, it’d be SHRDLU Tower), but I don’t think Giuliani can predict when any phase of the investigation will end; each time the public thinks he’s turned over all the rocks and exposed what lives beneath, he finds another, this time a maggot-riddled carcass connecting Trump Incs. To the gulf states, and potential quid pro quo between corporate finance and government money,
Any president’s numbers seem to take a bump upward when he throws missiles and bombs around, or threatens to.
So, while insanely misreading an FBI document demanded by Congress, under what power I still don’t understand, Trump plays hid usual domestic game of pin the invented tale on Obama (my reading: someone already in the Trump campaign didn’t like something s/he saw and reported it to the FBI rather than be forced into position of taking blame (a confidential informant).
Then looks for a war - now that backwards diplomacy has reopened Korea, while still leaving Iran vulnerable to having all its nuclear power facilities flattened.
2
Now you can see into the future? I just don't get it. So, Trump promises to protect Kim to ensure he stays in power, yet he threatens Iran with regime change because, inter alia, how it treats its people?
Kim treats his people better? I think not!! But, Trump will protect Kim anyway--really?
SecState Michael Pompeo was splendid in delivering Bibi’s foreign policy address.
And when (not if) America attacks Iran when it (legally) re-opens its nuclear warhead capabilities, Bibi will smirk from the sidelines as America’s sons and daughters go to their deaths in the Middle East.
Israel wants to swim in the waters but waits for someone else to dip their toes in the water. Bibi has Donald Trump locked up—and Secretary Pompeo as well.
49
Shades of the bone-headed, criminal decision to invade Iraq.
Makes one root for Iran, the actual victor of Dubya's mission accomplished.
A strong Iran is needed to keep in check the fascist rogue state that Israel has become under Netanyahu, and the dark Saudi kingdom.
In any event, if US tries to bully Iran the rest of the world will stand up against such an idiocy.
19
Bravo, Mr. Pompeo. Iran will need to help Syria’s Assad gas a whole lot more babies in their cribs with EU and Chinese money and not ours. I’m glad we can’t load another plane full of money for these terrorists!
3
And the military industrial complex is licking its lips.
35
Neither the USA, nor the Israelis have the guts to start another war and one especially with Iranians.
The US and its cronies (allies) have gone and killed off millions in places, e.g. Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria etc., where the people being bombed were not going to reply with anything. With Iran, the Iranians have been shoring up defenses for a long time - they haven't forgotten that war with Iraq. Also, their ally, Hezbollah, is the second strongest army in that region with 200,000 personnel on demand and they move about in that region as if they were one of the US special forces!!! So, a direct attack on Iran would certainly unleash a big attack on Israel by Hezbollah and others where one can easily expect huge problems for Israel without DIRECT US intervention to "save" Israel.
So, Mr Pompeo if the US sees it fit, then attack Iran and let's get it over with!!! :)
1
Pompeo and Trump’s policy is almost entirely driven by Israeli and not US needs. America first? Ha.
Terrorism in Europe, the Middle East and North America has been driven by the ISIS theology of Saudi Arabia (Wahhabism), but the US is ready to go to war against Iran. I hope it is Trump, Adelson and Bolton who do the actual fighting and not the disadvantaged youth of America who “volunteer” as cannon fodder in ceaseless overseas crusades that have made the USA hated ever more.
The Israelis can have all the nuclear weapons they desire, completely unregulated, but Iran must not dare to have even one, on penalty of annihilation. If this isn’t white supremacy, what is?
28
“The hard grip of repression is all that millions of Iranians have ever known.”
Meanwhile, the inmates of Gaza, the largest concentration camp in the world, are being slowly starved to death, and Pompeo cheers on their impending deaths.
"Let us not today fling accusation at the murderers. What cause have we to complain about their fierce hatred to us? For eight years now, they sit in their refugee camps in Gaza, and before their eyes we turn into our homestead the land and villages in which they and their forefathers have lived."
Moshe Dayan, 1956.
23
Did Netanyahu write his speech too? Must be hard to be owned by israel
26
"He also demanded that Iran admit to the military purposes of its now-moribund nuclear weapons program, end its support of Hezbollah, Hamas and Yemen’s Houthis, and withdraw all of its forces from Syria.
“You know, the list is pretty long,” Mr. Pompeo conceded."
Gee whiz Mike!
You might as well have added the pony that you ask Santa for before every Christmas to your wish list too.
15
This is the stupid international strategy the GOP has pursued for decades unsuccessfully: Make life miserable for people until they rise up and overthrow their own government!
It never worked. Never. Not in India, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and now most definitely not in Iran.
But the neocons never die. They ginned up the phony specter of Iran having an active nuclear weapons program in the wake of the Iraq invasion to once more try and fool the American public into supporting their "regime change" agenda. John Bolton was number one cheerleader for that fiasco of a strategy.
Now we have Pompeo trying the same stupid trick.
Iran is signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as the United States and nearly 200 other nations are, excluding (of course) Israel, Pakistan, India and North Korea. Under the NPT Iran can NEVER MANUFACTURE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. NEVER! The idea that if the JCPOA expires Iran will jump to making a bomb is a total lie.
Moreover, 19 other non-nuclear-weapons nations enrich uranium and no one is calling on them to dismantle those facilities, or to totally shut down their conventional defense activities. Only Iran is targeted this way.
Iran is a nation as large as the Western US with 80 million fiercely patriotic citizens. It will not launch a first strike, but it will defend itself. Pompeo (along with Netanyahu and MBS) is trying to goad Iran into war.
He should not wish for this. It will be a disaster.
131
It could work if they get Ollie North to bribe them with weapons headed for the Saudis
5
"This is the stupid international strategy the GOP has pursued for decades unsuccessfully: Make life miserable for people until they rise up and overthrow their own government!"
The way things are going, the GOP might finally find success with this strategy...domestically.
7
Do you know how many Trump supporters babbled that Trump would be the opposite of the neocons?? That he was different. Turns out he's what they demonized on steroids. Hope they encourage their kids to join the armed forces.
11
Netanyahu appears to have written this speech, edited by the Saudi Crown Prince.
170
Nonsense. Iran is far too big of a challenge for Israel. Iran is most certainly a US problem. Iranian hegemony and support for terror simply cannot remain unchecked while the clerical regime is allowed to reap the benefits of economic interaction with the rest of the world.
Bravo Mr. Pompeo.
2
So, Trump promises to protect Kim to ensure he stays in power, yet he threatens Iran with regime change because, inter alia, how it treats its people?
Kim treats his people better? I think not!! But, Trump will protect Kim anyway--really?
Don't forget Putin. He's in Bibi's ear and playing all sides for maximum mayhem.
1
President Trump doesn't have the guts to impose sanctions on our allies.
So, they'll hold to their deal with Iran, and our "sanctions" will lose all effectiveness as the EU, Russia, and China will continue to business with Iran as long as it adheres to the agreement.
We're rapidly going from the big dog on the world stage to a pesky mosquito.
President Trump has put a "For Sale" sign on America but what if no one's buying?
18
Not my president. Iranian people, many of whom are my friends, please forgive our present government. They are fools and charlatans. I am ashamed for my country.
21
So who's going to pay for this next war, an unbelievable third front that these amateurs are attempting to open in the Middle East. The last two wars are two decades in with no end in sight.
11
This is what the drumbeat of war sounds like. Before long the refrain will be "we have no choice." Maybe just around election time.
20
Sec. Pompeo's text refers to "allies," but when he refers to the countries with which the U.S. formerly had an agreement but which the U.S. has now abandoned and is going to sanction, he actually means "former allies."
11
These wars are about protecting US and allies oil interests. In 1974 Nixon made a deal the Saudis that all oil deals would be made in US dollars ( petrodollars), and in exchange the US military would protect them.
In 1953 the US overthrew democratically elected Premiere Mosaddeq who was going to nationalize their oil, at the behest of BP oil. When Saddam Hussein threatened not to use the US dollar for oil trades, this was a reason for war. Likewise Libya, Syria and Iran were planning to not use the US dollar in oil trades and were dealt with. Venezuela has switched to a crypto currency for oil transactions and has nationalized it’s oil the US is trying to overthrow it’s government . And now Iran has stopped using the petrodollar and so they are now under attack.
13
Right on, Steve.
Until recently, there was no ready substitute for the US dollar as a medium for global economic transactions. Even so, as you detail, the US moved aggressively against any attempts to replace the dollar, perhaps the greatest source of American power.
Crypto currencies, however, may change all that by disintermediating all central banks and financial IT systems like SWIFT.
Before the Federal Reserve and like institutions, payments were often mediated through bank notes issued—yes—by banks themselves, Business transactions could very easily be handled through crypto currencies. If that does happen, good bye US dollar—as well as demand for US Treasury issuances.
5
This article misses perhaps the most startling aspect of Pompeo's speech. In exchange for concessions, Pompeo is promising not only a lifting of sanctions, but reinstatement of full diplomatic relations and substantial economic cooperation.
3
Be ready America
Week before Mueller releases report with indictments of Trumps and Kushners(& May be Mithch and Ryan),
Trump will start a war in Iran come this fall before the election.
6
Meanwhile steel and aluminum tariffs are going to be placed on the EU June the 1st. It seems that the America First policy is at cross purposes to the Iran policy. Which ever way the EU turns it seems some trade war is going to happen!
1
It's critical for all progressive, liberal and truth leaning Americans to support our allies in their continuing relationship and support of the Iran agreement as written, and not our government run by this administration. Our allies should do exactly what the administration is doing back, sanction American companies. Pompeo is a criminal like his boss and made certain in his presentation today that anything he proposes is simply a non-starter from the word go. The administration runs the risk of a trade war, sanction war, that will hurt American companies terribly, and the American public will take out their anger on this administration, not our allies. They are standing strong, as the should, for an agreement that was justly determined and agreed to and should be maintained at all costs.
6
Pompeo and Trump et al should keep in mind that over the years the U.S. has caused Iran far more trouble than Iran ever cost the U.S.
And imagine a Mideast country having the nerve to exercise hegemony in its sphere rather than a nation 10,000 miles away.
8
Every word about about suffering of Iranians from this barbaric regime is true. This is the first time an adminstration separate Iranian people from the dictatorship running the country .
Of course libs will continue defend Obama’s policy on securing the helping the regime with billions of $.
1
Let's see, we tried this (huffing and puffing) before and it didn't work.
So, we're going to try it again and assume it will be different this time.
Can you someone remind me what the definition of insanity is? Oh wait, I found it:
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Insanity
5
In the Middle East, no one forgets a slight.
1
The Secretary is smart enough to know that the Iranians will disregard his threats against their going ahead with uranium enrichment. This piece of theater is more likely a shout to the Trump base who doesn't know any better and still responds predicably to angry words and chest thumping, particularly against nations out of favor with Israel. It's never a bad time to remind them of a perilous election in 5 months. When he starts to grasp the difference between diplomacy and threat making and becomes serious about relationships with adversaries, he will lower the temperature and read the intelligence; that will give countries with whom we have problems something to listen to.
22
You are giving Pompeo far too much credit.
5
You assume trump and cohorts have the intellect to understand history and diplomacy. They don’t.
5
So it’s about regime change after all.
Economic sanctions, when they are more than symbolic, but are designed to devastate a country, are acts of war. So are declarations of regime change, no matter how indirectly expressed.
Students of US history, if they don’t know already, should look up the events leading up to Pearl Harbor, when the US sanctioned Japan using embargoes of oil and scrap metal. Japan essentially viewed the act as an existential threat.
Sooner or later, the world will get tired of US economic sanctions. As 2008/2009 demonstrated, the US economy is not immune to perturbations, and neither is the US dollar.
15
Expect China, Iran and other bullied nations to hand Trump's three-legged race of an administration its lunch. Phony-tough posturing, lying, cheating and welching on deals and debts worked for Trump in real estate - sort of (where are those tax returns?) - but it will not work globally. Trump is the Captain Queeg of our ship of state, and a mutiny is in order.
71
Hear hear!
4
Wow more threats from this White House, again do as we say not as we do. Its just so interesting that we were in a deal with a few other countries regarding Iran's nuclear program, signed sealed etc; but we choose to withdraw and now we make new rules/threats. Why would any other country want to make a deal or agreement with the US when can just tear it up and walk away. The Iran deal might not have been the greatest, but for the most part it seemed to be working. No wonder trump or Kushner can't borrow money from USA banks, and have to go to foreign countries. This so wrong and dangerous, which is why we have laws that prohibit such actions to avoid having government employees showing or giving special treatment to those countries.
45
Another one eager to send our boys to die to profit his buddies and start World War III: https://www.google.com/search?q=is+pompeo+a+chickenhawk
"War Hawks and Chickenhawks: Nesting dolls of militarism" https://warisboring.com/war-hawks-and-chickenhawks/
Quote: The “old” team, Rex Tillerson and Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, were flawed choices from the start, but Pompeo and Bolton seem like an instant formula for a war — or two or three of them.
And keep in mind that we’re already actively fighting at least seven wars across the Greater Middle East and Africa.
Count on this, at least. It’s going to be one Hell of a ride for America’s already overstretched military men and women — and one hell of a cash bonanza for an already flush military-industrial complex.
103
We can't get them out of office soon enough.
27
"Flawed"? You mean "lousy", "infested". Let's give "flawed" a rest; we only know it because it was pounded out at Hillary Clinton for years (by guess who).
2
Right out of the gate and lying already. The Trump administration has become a greater threat than Iran has ever been.
129
Its about time someone lays in one the line with Iran, tell it to them like its is! For too long Iran got away with murder under the previous administration. I support Pompeo. Thank you.
3
The interesting thing is, Iran, as far as we all know, as a State, hasn't murdered any Americans. So how are they getting away with murder?
And don't give me that "they support terrorists" nonsense. The U.S. has backed and continues to back a lot of shady governments and despots around the world.
12
Southern Boy:
"For too long Iran got away with murder under the previous administration."
How so? Did Iran invade and occupy Iraq and Afghanistan?
12
Good! Dictatorships are outlaw regimes and should be treated with the utmost contempt they deserve. Obama's attempt to make peace with slave pens like Iran was a slap in the face to liberal democracies, like Israel, and their people who have suffered attacks due to Iran's support of international terrorism.
4
But, yet, it's okay to make a deal with N Korea? N Korea treats its people is way worse than Iran. Not to say that Iran is great, just not even close to as bad.
9
Countries founded on ethnic cleansing accomplished by mass terror are the real outlaw regimes. Countries that continue to practice ethnic cleansing are the real outlaw regimes. Countries that institutionalize religious bigotry and racism are the real outlaw regimes.
Shalom!
3
No one likes Iran but Israel is NO liberal democracy.
13
"Pompeo, Trump, Shoot Selves in Foot, Blame Iran"
36
Let's play devil's advocate.
What if Trump, Bolton and Pompeo force Europe to abide by our sanctions, thereby impoverishing Iran?
After some time of bluster and short-term thrusts from Iran, what would happen?
Why WOULDN'T the mullahs cave?
1
Why would China and Russia go along with Trump, Bolton & Co. when they can make fortunes selling Iran whatever is wants and Trump is powerless to stop them? Why WOULDN'T China and Russia tell Trump to shove it?
11
Q: "Why WOULDN'T the mullahs cave?"
A: Because they didn't cave last time.
8
Pompous Pompeo spewing out demands to another sovereign country like we have some power over their destiny. We don't, only the Iranian people can make that change. All the sanctions by the U.S. won't change the dynamic, we should have stuck it out with the "Agreement".
Oh, and what about China and Russia, aren't we now leaving an avenue for them to better access the leadership and economy of Iran?
We seem to be getting dumber by the day!
82
This is a new kind of isolationism. Making sure we go to war isolated from all our allies or even isolated from the entire world that shares planet earth with us. This administration is doing all it can to concede the high moral ground, that generations of Americans had created and had defended.
The US under Trump, is in the fast lane to becoming a pariah state.
107
Just one more reason to be thankful that Mr. Trump is in the White House. Finally someone running the State Dept that has some backbone!
1
I wish I could believe that this comment is meant ironically...
7
Yes, and let us send more young people fighting WW III until the US has no young men left sent to fight a non-winable war. Trump might as well prepare the people in the US for a nuclear war and devastation.
8
Iraq, Afghanistan really working well for you? Or do you even know what I am talking about.
Trump is currently cosying up to Kim, the worst dictator of our times, and now wants to bully Iran, for doing the exact same thing he wants Kim to do.
For those still supporting your reality TV star, let me assure you that no one outside of the USA is buying it.
5
War with Iran? We can't finish our wars in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
64
That's the point. Niger also didn't go well. Aside from the oil riches, when the n-th war drags on we need a distraction -- a new invasion.
1
This was an impossibly colonial-imperial speech by Mike Pompeo, a speech that I find chillingly immoral. Iran abided by the terms of the treaty that the United States chose to too aside. To threaten Iran with economic devastation for agreeing to and abiding with the treaty negotiated by President Obama and other nations is beyond conscience and of course a danger to any prospect of peace in the region.
Awful, awful speech.
205
Correcting:
This was an impossibly colonial-imperial speech by Mike Pompeo, a speech that I find chillingly immoral. Iran abided by the terms of the treaty that the United States chose to toss aside. To threaten Iran with economic devastation for agreeing to and abiding with the treaty negotiated by President Obama and other nations is beyond conscience and of course a fearful danger to any prospect of peace in the region.
Awful, awful speech.
14
It sure seems like Pompeo may be laying the groundwork for military action against Iran. Congress should be the ones determining if we go to war be it Iran, North Korea or somewhere else. George W. Bush was given special authority to use military force due to the 911 attacks. It would certainly be a gross abuse of power by the executive branch if we go to war to distract from critical investigations involving this administration.
10
Congressional action?
that's the oxymoron of the day!
Hurry up November.
41
Can't come soon enough!
4
Or hurry up Mueller investigation! And those by various states attorneys general into corruption charges.
2
Don't we need to figure out what the Trump Bunch and the Saudis were doing with their secret meetings and their ideas about Iran before we send Pompeo in to do anything? He doesnt seem like the sharpest knife in the drawer.
49
The hard-line tactics against Iran will push it toward Russia and China as "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Donald Trump destabilizes the Western Alliance and his nationalistic, jingoistic policies put America on its own.
The only real reason is that Trump abhors any policies developed by Barrack Obama and his administration. He wants to undo the previous eight years of peace and prosperity.
European allies await elections in the fall to restore balance and a check on Trump and whether he remains in office until 2020. Vladimir Putin believes that its plans to break up the Western Alliance have succeeded beyond its wildest expectations.
Trump is not bright enough to realize that colluding with the Russians doesn't require an overt act, but merely the chaos created in world as America diminishes as a super power and economic power.
26
What's next for Iran, annexation by the United States? Because Mike Pompeo is refusing to recognize that Iran is a sovereign nation.
160
Trump, Kushner, Pompeo, Bolton, Giuliani, et al want to invest in Iran and the only way to do it is to overthrow the present government and install a puppet regime like those in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, etc., whose leaders will bend over backwards to comply with their wishes. Fortunately or unfortunately, Iranians know what it is to be under the rule of the puppet controlled by the foreign power because they paid heavily under the US puppet regime from August 1953 until February 1979.
9
I really hope I'm wrong, but as I've thought since the election: we are going to fight WW III all by ourselves...
95
And it would be of our own making... I don't think the Russians picked Trump because they love this country.
8
“He insisted that Iran end all nuclear enrichment programs and close its heavy water reactor, saying it did not have the right to such a program.”
But the United States does. Ummm ...
144
Iran has rights to practice nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, and is actually promised technical assistance from the U.S. and other wignatiories in the RATIFIED
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In contraxt to Agreements, which are subject to presidential lunacy, Ratified Treaties as defined in the U.S. Constitution as "Supreme Law". Mr. Pompeo chooses to be an outlaw, and make America one as well.
6
More bully pulpit dreck from this administration, none of it calculated to achieve a "win" for our country, only an enraged support group for Trump. And there are reports that China and Russia intend to ignore the US threat of sanctions (and Trump has already caved on the "trade war" with China) if they do business with Iran, and are reaching out to the EU to assure their support if it ignores these sanctions as well. The US seems likely to end up with nothing more than isolation from our former allies and losing any trade war as we are excluded from global agreements. Where are the facts in this article, NYTimes?
46
It's becoming clear that Trump and his administration's
strategy is to ride roughshod over countries, and apply pressure to them without any sense of diplomacy or tact. Iran is no Granada or Iraq, and she will press back in kind to any bullying by Trump!
56
Trump is weaponizing U.S. aid -- just like Bush Jr. before -- and that's polarizing both ally and enemy. On top of all the lies, who and what can be trusted? Certainly not the U.S.
9
Majortrout: Granada is the name of a beautiful city in Spain. I think you must mean Grenada.
2