US (Robert Gibbs) "Warns" Iran

(Indianapolis Star)




Today, White House Spokesman (and professional comedian) Robert Gibbs warned Iran to take seriously a year-end deadline over its nuclear program, and added that the "international community" (whoever that is) is prepared to take the "next steps" if Iran does not accept a U.N. deal. In other words, Gibbs has drawn "a line in the sand."

I wonder what those "next steps" are (more statements of disapproval and some meaningless sanctions).

Gibbs even went so far as to call it a "very real deadline," after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday waved off the ultimatum, set by President Obama and "international allies", for Iran to agree to trade enriched uranium for nuclear fuel.

"We don't care" about (no stinking) deadlines, Ahmadinejad a crowd in Shiraz.

"We are not afraid of sanctions against us and we are not intimidated", said Ahmadinejad.


"I think that the international community is united in this," Gibbs said Tuesday. "Mr. Ahmadinejad may not recognize, for whatever reason, the deadline that looms, but that is a very real deadline for the international community."

Is that the same "international community" we saw last week in Copenhagen? But wait! There's more from Gibbs.


"This administration, working through the (International Atomic Energy Agency) and its allies, have taken steps to bring the international community along. And if Iran fails to live up to those obligations by the end of the year, we'll take our next steps."

"Oooooooh!"

Of course, we all know how this "line in the sand" is going to turn out, don't we?

(Tip of the hat to the great Don Martin)