Comments on: Has Russia just destroyed Obama’s chances of adopting sanctions to stop Iran’s nuclear programme?

By: Adam B.

Adam B. — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:16:51 +0000

It was obvious months ago that the only way the Iranian nuclear bomb would be stopped is through military action. Iran was never acting in good faith in negotiations, and sanctions would never detract them from their chosen path. The question is – who will have the guts to do it?

By: Neil

Neil — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:01:33 +0000

Robin I agree with 95% of the article. Obama will be viewed as weak, by his willingness to appease, and it will all go horribly wrong. However was not the pulling out of the missile defence was as much a technical decision (ie a decision of military futility) as much as a gesture to the Russians?

Robin Shepherd says: As I understand it missile defence is technically more reliable than some have argued, although I am no expert on the matter. I think that whatever the truth about the technical issues the whole affair had taken on a life of its own. For the Czechs and Poles it had become a symbol of US commitment to their security. For the Russians it had become a test case of Western resiliance. The Russians will certainly see this as a sign of western weakness and the move will embolden them to be more aggressive. That’s my view at least….

By: Daph

Daph — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:41:39 +0000

It does not matter now how well sanctions would have worked . What matters is that the US looks so pathetic and can not deliver anything to the Arab oil producing countries that asked for it.
Iran is free to intimidate all the middle east. We already see how Turkey Syria and who knows who else looking to improve relations with the stronger bully in the neighborhood.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:04:44 +0000

“I’m not entirely wierd or mad!”

On the contrary, you are one of the sanest and most articulate posters I’ve come across at blogs in the UK. I always make an especial effort to carefully read what you have to say. It’s the very rare post of yours that doesn’t shed an illuminating light on the subject at hand.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:57:37 +0000

“Has Russia just destroyed Obama’s chances of adopting sanctions to stop Iran’s nuclear programme?”

I hope so.

By: Darryl Dempsey

Darryl Dempsey — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:56:50 +0000

No, Israeli Nurse. You’re not wierd or mad. As Barry Rubin described it so well: currently the lunatics are running the asylum. Kudos also to Robin Shepherd and others who so succinctly point this out and help maintain our sanity.

Regards,
Darryl Dempsey.

By: Israelinurse

Israelinurse — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:46:11 +0000

To be honest, I’m not convinced that sanctions against Iran would have any effect other than making the lives of the Iranian people even more intolerable. As we can all see, the Iranian regime does not care a jot what its citizens think and has no respect for them whatsoever. Would such a regime really cave into pressure from below if its people were cold and hungry? I rather think that it would be business as usual.
BTW, Robin, I have just finished reading your book and as an Israeli, would like to thank you for taking the time and making the effort to write it. When I first came to the UK almost 3 years ago after a 30 year absence, I could not for the life of me understand what was going on here; everything seemed to be topsy-turvey. After about six months I stumbled across Nick Cohen’s ‘What’s Left?’ and began to understand a little better what I had missed over 3 decades. Your book gave me an additional angle of understanding of the malaise affecting this country and even had the rather pleasant effect of convincing me that I’m not entirely wierd or mad!