KISSINGER ON IRAN – QUOTE OF THE DAY – AT 11:05 A.M. ET:   It was largely overlooked by the mainstream media, which was far more interested in an attack on Kissinger by Code Pink, but the former secretary of state gave incisive Congressional testimony last week on Iran.  Clearly he, like a growing number of other experienced experts, is very worried.  From The Wall Street Journal: 

Here’s how he (Kissinger) described the talks in his prepared remarks:

“Nuclear talks with Iran began as an international effort, buttressed by six U.N. resolutions, to deny Iran the capability to develop a military nuclear option. They are now an essentially bilateral negotiation over the scope of that capability through an agreement that sets a hypothetical limit of one year on an assumed breakout. The impact of this approach will be to move from preventing proliferation to managing it.” (The italics are Mr. Kissinger’s.)

Mull that one over. Mr. Kissinger always speaks with care not to undermine a U.S. Administration, and the same is true here. But he is clearly worried about how far the U.S. has moved from its original negotiating position that Iran cannot enrich uranium or maintain thousands of centrifuges. And he is concerned that these concessions will lead the world to perceive that such a deal would put Iran on the cusp of being a nuclear power.

Administration leaks to the media have made clear that Secretary of State John Kerry ’s current negotiating position is that Iran should have a breakout period of no less than a year. But as Mr. Kissinger told the Senators in response to questions, that means verification and inspections become crucial. “In the space of one year, that will create huge inspection problems, but I’ll reserve my comment on that until I see the agreement,” Mr. Kissinger said.

COMMENT:  In the end, it's all about Obama, a monumental egotist, and his legacy.  He wants an agreement with Iran.  He wants Iran to become the key player in the region, and something of an ally of America.  It is an illusion, but the man has either lived his whole life pushing illusions, or he is fully aware of what he's doing, and doesn't care that it's an illusion.   Replacing American power with Muslim power does seem to be one of his objectives.  And he has the results to prove it.

February 10, 2015