AND NEXT DOOR TO IRAQ... – AT 9:58 A.M. ET:  There are crucial talks underway to "save" the nuclear negotiations with Iran.  Under the current schedule, we're supposed to have a "permanent" agreement with Iran by next month, but that now seems impossible.  There are serious problems, apparently.  And, of course, Obama would love to see the talks stalled until after our midterms, when he can grant more concessions to Iran and close a deal, even a rotten one.   France has been pretty stalwart on Iran's nuclear program, as reported by Reuters:   

(Reuters) - Iran must drop its demands to have thousands of centrifuges used to enrich uranium if it wants a lasting deal with major powers over its disputed nuclear programme, France's foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Highlighting a big gap in negotiating positions, Laurent Fabius told French radio that Iran should only have a few hundred centrifuges, machines that spin at supersonic speed to increase the concentration of the fissile isotope.

Iran - which says its nuclear programme is peaceful and rejects accusations it has been seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability - now has around 19,000 centrifuges installed, of which roughly 10,000 are operating, according to the U.N. nuclear agency. It says it needs to expand its capacity to fuel planned nuclear power plants.

Paris has long held out for strict terms in the negotiations, in which it and Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States are contemplating an easing of strict economic sanctions if Iran can dispel their concerns. U.S. and Iranian officials are holding talks in Geneva on Monday and Tuesday this week to discuss ways of breaking a deadlock which has raised the likelihood that a self-imposed July 20 deadline will lapse without an accord.

Failure of the broader negotiating process could raise the possibility of further sanctions and increase the danger of military action by Israel against Iranian nuclear installations.

COMMENT:  Clearly, the French statement was designed to give some spine to the Americans.  As expected under Obama and Kerry, we've gotten wobbly.  And why should Iran be particularly concerned about an American response, given our foreign policy, including the disgraceful prisoner swap of last week.

I genuinely worry that, after November, Obama will give away the store.

June 11, 2014