IRAN AND EUROPE - AT 9:58 A.M. ET:  One of the most fascinating things about the Iran insurrection is that European countries, including Britain, were sronger in their support for it, at first, than was the United States.  Americans should be embarrassed over our president's sluggish performance at a time when Washington's support for the demonstrators may have made a difference.

But is that changing?  Britain is today protesting the arrest of Iranian employees of its Tehran embassy:

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Sunday demanded the release of eight Iranian British Embassy employees detained by Iranian authorities in Teheran, warning Iran that "continued harassment will be met by a strong and united EU response."

Miliband flatly rejected Iranian claims that the embassy employees were involved in anti-government protests in the country.

Well, that's fine, although the "strong and united EU response" part seems a bit vague.  And other voices, the standard European voices of appeasement, are now being heard in the EU:

Contrastingly, the EU remained eager to restart talks with Iran on the country's nuclear program despite its crackdown on protesters following the presidential elections, the bloc's foreign policy chief said Sunday.

Javier Solana said the EU did not want to interfere in Iran's internal affairs, but would continue its criticism of the conduct of the security forces and the arrests of demonstrators.

Still, the EU also wants to leave the door open for the resumption of the dialogue with Teheran on its nuclear program, he said.

COMMENT:  Resumption of dialogue?  This dialogue has gone on for six years, and has gotten no where.  Precisely what is it that the professional diplomats want to "resume"?  Sitting at a table?  Having lunch with Iranians? 

Even the Obama administration, where weakness has been a sacred goal, is beginning to get the message from Tehran and is backing off from quick engagement with the regime.  But count on some Europeans to try to get back to business as usual.

Push will come to shove in the fall.  Mr. Obama told us that there must be progress in regard to the Iranian nuclear program by December.  What will happen if there isn't, or were those just words?  And by then the 2010 political campaign will have begun.  Which way will the American people go? 

Crunch time ahead.

June 28, 2009