While nobody’s watching Iran…
they just keep getting closer to having nuclear weapons. Actually, it just seems like nobody is watching, because no body of world leaders has been able to do anything about it, for all the talking and hand-wringing that’s been going on. But it really can’t be evaded much longer, and the WSJ foresees this becoming a big issue for the presidential candidates.
Note to 2008 presidential contenders: It isn’t just Iraq any longer. Iran is about to move in as a significant headache for all presidential wannabes.
Iran will reach this status next week
(which is now this week)
when the International Atomic Energy Agency issues a report on the country’s nuclear capabilities. That report is expected to declare that a recent inspection showed Iran making faster progress than previously thought toward enriching uranium on a large scale.
I saw a small news item about that the other day and wondered 1) why it wasn’t a larger news item, and 2) how many people noticed it and felt any concern. But then, this article focuses on the politics of dealing with Iran.
The balance most Republicans will try to strike was summarized by former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore at the Republican debate in South Carolina a few days ago. He said the U.S. should work with other countries to impose “serious mandatory sanctions” against Iran, but then raised the prospect of a military attack: “I think the American people have to at some point come to a real serious conclusion about the tough decision that has to be made when we may have to in fact strike.”
The balance is trickier for Democrats because they are playing to a party base that has become increasingly antiwar because of the conflict in Iraq. Moreover, the top candidates are operating in a field where fringe candidates are disparaging any suggestion that military action against Iran is an option. Thus, the formula that might work for Republicans such as Mr. Gilmore — a call for economic sanctions that leaves open the prospect of military action — is tougher to pull off for a Democrat.
We need to come up to speed, and stay up, with news concerning Iran. Including little items like this.