Iran
How I Would Check Iran’s Nuclear Ambition
Mitt Romney, Washington Post – March 5, 2012
Beginning Nov. 4, 1979 , dozens of U.S. diplomats were held hostage by Iranian Islamic revolutionaries for 444 days while America’s feckless president, Jimmy Carter, fretted in the White House. Running for the presidency against Carter the next year, Ronald Reagan made it crystal clear that the Iranians would pay a very stiff price for continuing their criminal behavior. On Jan. 20, 1981, in the hour that Reagan was sworn into office, Iran released the hostages. The Iranians well understood that Reagan was serious about turning words into action in a way that Jimmy Carter never was.
Obama Presses Netanyahu to Resist Strikes on Iran
Mark Landler, New York Times – March 5, 2012
With Israel warning of a possible military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, President Obama urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday to give diplomacy and economic sanctions a chance to work before resorting to military action.
World Powers Agree to Resume Nuclear Talks with Iran
Alan Cowell, New York TImes – March 6, 2012
The global powers dealing with Iran’s disputed nuclear program said on Tuesday that they have accepted an offer to resume negotiations that broke off in stalemate more than a year ago, according to a statement from the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton.
IAEA Has “Serious COncerns” As Iran Boosts Nuclear WOrk
Fredrik Dahl, Reuters – March 5, 2012
Iran has tripled its monthly production of higher-grade enriched uranium and the U.N. nuclear watchdog has “serious concerns” about possible military dimensions to Tehran’s atomic activities, the agency’s chief said on Monday.
U.S., Israel Pull Closer on Iran
Jay Solomon and Carole Lee, Wall Street Journal – March 6, 2012
U.S. officials said they believed pressure has eased on Israel to attack Iran, after meetings Monday between American and Israeli leaders and tougher talk from the U.S. that moved it closer to Israel’s approach.
Korean Peninsula
No Policy Shift From New North Korea Leader Despite Nuclear Deal
Benjamin Kang Lim and Brian Rhoads, Reuters – March 6, 2012
North Korea’s willingness to cut a surprise deal with the United States on the future of its nuclear program does not signal any policy shift by the reclusive state’s young new leader, a source with links to both Pyongyang and Beijing said.
North Korea Holds Live-Fire Drills
Huffington Post – March 6, 2012
North Korean troops brandished weapons given to them by new leader Kim Jong Un as they carried out live-fire drills near the disputed sea boundary with South Korea amid more anger from Pyongyang over joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises.
U.S.
McKeon Warns Against Steep Military Cuts
Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Buck McKeon, R-Calif., warned that steep cuts to military funding are ill advised because of the potential for future conflicts that cannot be foreseen.
