Is Obama's Iran policy doomed to failure? Despite the president's promise to pursue "honest" negotiations with the Islamic Republic, is he actually following the advice of a senior advisor who instead believes that showing a willingness to negotiate is simply a tactic to build support for a war against Iran?
Serious concerns about Obama's approach are already being voiced by prominent pro-engagement Iran experts who are generally sympathetic to Obama's foreign policy ideas. In a NY Times Op-Ed, Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett put forth a disturbing thesis: "President Obama's Iran policy, in all likelihood, has already failed." Meanwhile, Gary Sick writes on his new blog site, "The Leverett article is a timely cautionary note, which reminds us that we need to watch the new administration with a careful and critical eye." While Sick pleads for greater patience in assessing Obama's Iran performance, the Leveretts and Sick share deep concern over the appointment of veteran diplomat Dennis Ross as a figure shaping Obama's Iran approach.
Flynt Leverett and his wife Hillary, who say they voted for Obama, are former National Security Council staffers who dealt with Iranian affairs and have maintained direct communications with Iranian officials since leaving government service. While applauding Obama's symbolic outreach to Iran since taking office, they argue that he is now "backing away from the bold steps required to achieve strategic Nixon-to-China-type rapprochement with Tehran."
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