CUSTOMER BEWARE – AT 8:23 A.M. ET:  There is big news, well sorta, about Iran this morning.  This is being called a possible breakthrough in taming Iran's nuclear program.  Why don't I think so?  Well, look at some of the parties involved in the "negotiation," that's why.  From The New York Times:

CAIRO — Iran announced an agreement on Monday to ship some of its nuclear fuel to Turkey in a deal that could offer a short-term solution to its ongoing nuclear standoff with the West, or prove to be a tactic aimed at derailing efforts to bring new sanctions against Tehran.

The deal, negotiated by Turkey and Brazil, calls for Iran to ship 2,640 pounds of low enriched uranium to Turkey, where it would be stored. In exchange, after one year, Iran would have the right to receive about 265 pounds of material enriched to 20 percent from Russia and France.

Negotiated by Turkey and Brazil?  Really?  That's like John Dillinger making a deal negotiated by Bonnie and Clyde.  Turkey is an ally of Iran, and is slipping into Islamism under its current, radical government.  Brazil is run by a wannabe Marxist who suddenly sees himself as an international figure.  He should stick to bikini-watching on the beaches of Rio. 

The terms mirror a deal with the West last October that had fallen apart when Iran backtracked, but it is

far from clear that the Obama administration will agree to it now — in part because Iran has continued to enrich uranium, adding to its stockpiles.

In October, the 1,200 kilograms that Iran was supposed to ship out of the country represented about two-thirds of its stockpile of nuclear fuel, and enough that the country would not enough fuel on hand to make a weapon. But now, the same amount of fuel accounts for a smaller proportion of its declared stockpile.

And Iran continues to enrich.  Do not believe the hype.  Check the Better Business Bureau.  The West had no role in brokering this deal, and those who did are on our permanent no-buy list.   I suspect that, unless the Obamans go completely nuts, this will fizzle.

What say you, Hillary?

May 17, 2010