Democrats Silent as Kerry Pleads for Time on Iran Talks

[Purveyor]

By David Lerman and Michael C. Bender - Nov 14, 2013

Senate Democratic leaders are withholding comment on an Obama administration request to delay new sanctions against Iran, as some Republicans say they’re determined to increase economic pressure aimed at curbing the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other top Democrats declined to answer questions about their plans yesterday after a closed-door meeting where Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry argued that approving additional sanctions now would jeopardize talks toward an agreement with Iran to limit its nuclear development.

“No comment,” Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson said, when asked how the briefing went. The South Dakota Democrat said he hadn’t decided whether to move forward with a new sanctions bill and had no deadline in mind.

Before the meeting, Kerry told reporters that any congressional movement toward new sanctions could unnerve U.S. allies and destroy chances of reaching an agreement with Iran.

“The risk is that if Congress were to unilaterally move to raise sanctions, it could break faith with those negotiations and actually stop them and break them apart,” Kerry said. “What we’re asking everybody to do is calm down, look hard at what can be achieved or what the realities are.”

more...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-14/democrats-silent-as-kerry-pleads-for-time-on-iran-talks.html

[TwilightGardener]

1. Undermining any chance for a solution--because they don't want a solution.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. One word--or, rather, one acronym and three symbols--

AIPAC $$$

[leftynyc]

3. Another word - France

Until the mullahs are not in control of Iran, it's simply not to be trusted.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. I could say the same about the leaders of a lot of ME countries. Not all of them Islamic

if you get my drift.

[leftynyc]

5. Seeing as how only 1 is

not majority Muslim (used to be Lebanon was majority Christian but I don't think that's the case any longer), you're as subtle as a jackhammer.