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The purpose of an unclenched fist is to give you the finger....

... or, at least, that seems to be the tenor of American democracy in the first days of Hillary Clinton running the State Department.

You may recall President Obama saying at the Inauguration that we would extend the hand of friendship to nations like Iran if they unclenched their fist.

Only when we unclench our fist, it's to flip Iran the bird.

Yesterday, after claiming they were acting irresponsibly for launching their first indigenous satellite with 50-year-old technology, Hillary is flouncing around Europe telling Iran to play nicer or there will be consequences:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier today, and said that while “President Obama has signaled his intention to support tough and direct diplomacy with Iran,” the US intends to punish the Iranian government if it continues to decline cooperation with the assorted demands made by the United Nations Security Council and the IAEA.

“If Tehran does not comply with United Nations Security Council and IAEA mandates, there must be consequences,” Clinton insisted. Iran has been cooperating with the IAEA to the extent that the Non-Proliferation Treaty requires, but has balked at the Additional Protocol to their Safeguards Agreement. The United Nations Security Council complaints with respect to Iran have largely stemmed from this as well, though Iran has indicated they would consider resuming voluntary cooperation with the Additional Protocol if the situations is referred back to the IAEA instead of the Security Council.


Remember back during the campaign when everybody was saying that Barack Obama was dangerous because he'd be soft on Iran? Well, aside from Dick Cheney, the few people actually watching American foreign policy these days have decided not to worry, because they know now where the new administration is headed...

... pretty much where the old one was going.

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