What the hell?

Obama takes tough stance on Iran at G-8 summit President Barack Obama arrived here Wednesday to see if he can leverage some of his global popularity to convince other world leaders attending the G-8 summit to take a tough stand against Iran's nuclear program, and to side with U.S. prescriptions to help dig the international economy out of its downturn. "It's very important for the world community to speak to countries like Iran and North Korea and encourage them to take a path that does not result in a nuclear arms race in places like the Middle East," Obama said after a meeting in Rome with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. "There are other means by which countries can ensure their sovereignty and gain respect around the world."

Back in this reality, Obama took the opposite of a tough stance by reversing a whispered European consensus on imposing new sanctions. He did that because it's liberal dogma that new sanctions will undermine engagement - which, given Ahmadinejad's repeated calls for debate, also lacks something in the way of toughness.

The One also went out of his way to slap down any suggestion that the US would endorse Israeli self-defense in the context of Iranian nuclearization. Even more toughness!

Almost difficult to believe that the American public has a poor sense for Central Asian geopolitical dynamics.

References:
* Obama takes tough stance on Iran at G-8 summit [Politico]
* Great News: Obama And House Dems Blocking National, International Sanctions On Iran [MR]
* Iran's Ahmadinejad renews call for live debate with Obama [Xinhua]
* Obama: No green light for Israel to attack Iran [CNN]

Previously:
* Israeli Military Intel: Iran "Halfway" Toward Nuclear Weapon (Plus: Syria, Hezbollah, And Hamas All The Way Toward Every Other Kind Of Weapon)
* George Galloway: Iranian Vote Count Is Totally Legit
* Israeli Military Intel: Iran "Halfway" Toward Nuclear Weapon (Plus: Syria, Hezbollah, And Hamas All The Way Toward Every Other Kind Of Weapon)