NONSENSE – AT 7:39 P.M. ET:  Oh, I just love nothing journalism like this.  There is an old song, "Put on a Happy Face," and it fits these stories:

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama's drive for tougher sanctions on Iran picked up momentum on Monday in talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao that also focused on their countries' fractious economic relationship.

Obama's drive did not pick up momentum, or anything else.  This is eyewash, and nothing more.

Their 90-minute encounter came at the start of a two-day nuclear security summit of nearly 50 countries aimed at finding ways to prevent terrorists from getting their hands on weapons-grade nuclear material.

Ukraine provided the first example by agreeing to give up its highly enriched uranium.

No news there.  But get this:

Iran's nuclear program, which the West fears is a cover to build an atomic bomb, is not on the agenda of the summit, but the presence of so many world leaders in one place gave Obama an opportunity to again make his case for fresh sanctions to be imposed on Tehran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.

Not on the agenda?  "Right, Mrs. Lincoln, your husband is fully protected.  Oh, here comes Mr. Booth."

Why wouldn't the most important nuclear issue in the world be on the agenda?  This is the biggest gathering of heads of state called by the U.S. since 1945, and Iran isn't on the agenda.  Imagine.

U.S. and Chinese officials who briefed reporters after the talks described a positive, constructive atmosphere on Iran. China, which has close economic ties with Iran, has been reluctant to sign on to tougher sanctions.

So where is the momentum?  Oh, I know.  Other news outlets say that China has agreed to begin discussions on a U.N. sanctions resolution.  Isn't that lovely?  Won't you sleep better tonight?

Now, note that China hasn't agreed to sanctions, only to talk.  Actually, they agreed on that last week.  What a breakthrough.  It's like Japan agreeing to discuss a nonaggression pact with the United States on December 6, 1941.

Show me UN sanctions with teeth.  I'll give you 100 years to try.

April 12, 2010