When All Else Fails, Get Angry!

On her recent tour of Asia, American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned the Iranian Ayatollahs and the North Korean leaders against their arrogant choices to ignore the firm hand of the United States. She promised “severe actions” if the silence of the Islamic Republic continues after repeated offers of dialogue.

In a severe tone, Clinton made it clear that “there shall not be any more delays” if Iran continues to pursue a nuclear program.

The Secretary of State, significantly thinner after six months of touring through many “red alert” regions, was firm in her discussion of Iran, North Korea and security in Southeast Asia. As a spokesperson for the Obama administration, her firm resolve lent credibility to a president notorious for being far more flexible and far more diplomatic than his predecessor. Clinton’s words demonstrated that when they are confronted with inflexibility and veiled threats, Obama and his officials will not hesitate to step up to the plate.

Throughout her Asian tour, Clinton raised her voice against the silence of the Ayatollahs and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, reiterating her call for dialogue and diplomatic gestures in order to put a stop to any nuclear armament program.

“We will still hold the door open, but we also have made it clear that we’ll take actions, as I’ve said time and time again, crippling actions, working to upgrade the defense of our partners in the region”, warned Clinton during a press conference given yesterday in Bangkok and replayed later on American television.

The First Lady of American diplomacy firmly stated that her Asian trip is part of Washington’s policy of attention to detail as well as a refusal to allow the United States, Western European countries, and the United Nations to become lax in their vigilance against Iran and other nuclear threats.

Hillary Clinton’s anxieties also extend to “the constant challenges [of a] Pyongyang regime that [won’t] cease its nuclear tests.” The only option for North Korea is total denuclearization-this platform is irreversible. China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea, all members of the Asian Security Committee, agree. According to Clinton, “the United States worries about the transfer of nuclear technology from Pyongyang to Myanmar (formerly Burma), a great threat to our allies in the region.”

The Secretary of State also touched on the topic of Iran. “…If the United States extends a defense umbrella over the region, if we do even more to support the military capacity of those in the Gulf, it’s unlikely that Iran will become any stronger…because they won’t be able to intimidate and dominate, as they apparently believe they can, once they have a nuclear weapon.”

There is doubt as to the Ayatollahs’ true intentions- current Iranian attitudes toward negotiations cast suspicion on the idea that any nuclear program would only be used for domestic purposes. The United States and other Western countries believe the refusal to negotiate could be a delay tactic in order to gain time for an Iranian armament program.

Hillary Clinton, on her long journey through Asia, remained firm on the position that Obama expressed at the July 10th meeting of the G-20 in L’Aquila Italy. There, the U.S. president pointed out that Western leaders will have to revise their policies toward Iran when they meet again in September if the Islamic Republic continues to ignore Western diplomatic outreach.

The Secretary of State confirmed yesterday that Obama’s plans include “more severe steps” and would not rule out “crippling actions” should Iran continue to ignore the call of Western leaders.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Israel, Dan Meridor, immediately went to battle over Clinton’s words. He was pessimistic about negotiations with Iran and stated that accepting any Iranian nuclear program was, undisputedly, an “error.” “We should prevent [Iranian nuclear proliferation]”, he declared, no matter the cost.

During her stopover in Thailand yesterday, Hillary Clinton signed a non-aggression treaty with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a move many analysts say is part of a strategy to strengthen ties with the region. The treaty commits its signatories to peacefully resolve their conflicts. Fifteen nations have signed the treaty, including China, Japan, and in 2008, North Korea.