[Marxism] Obama now cites internal conflicts as obstacle to talks with Iran

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

www.nytimes.com

June 27, 2009
Violence May Hinder Talks With Iran, Obama Says 
By JEFF ZELENY
WASHINGTON - President Obama, whose campaign for the White House included a
pledge to open talks with Iran, said Friday that the prospects for such a
dialogue had been dampened by the brutal crackdown in the wake of the
nation's disputed presidential election.

At a White House news conference with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel,
Mr. Obama intensified his reproach of Iran's government and called for an
end to deadly attacks against its people. He also engaged in an unusual
exchange with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, brushing aside a suggestion
that he apologize for criticizing Iran.

"I would suggest that Mr. Ahmadinejad think carefully about the obligations
he owes to his own people," Mr. Obama said. "And he might want to consider
looking at the families of those who've been beaten or shot or detained."

With Ms. Merkel at his side, Mr. Obama delivered some of his most pointed
remarks against Iran since the violent protests began two weeks ago. Ms.
Merkel said Germany and other nations shared his view, saying, "Iran cannot
count on the world turning a blind eye."

Since the two leaders last met, in Dresden on June 5, demonstrations over
Iran's disputed elections have escalated into violent clashes, heightening
concerns about instability in Iran and how to deal with its nuclear program.

"There is no doubt that any direct dialogue or diplomacy with Iran is going
to be affected by the events of the last several weeks," Mr. Obama said. "We
don't yet know how any potential dialogue will have been affected until we
see what has happened inside of Iran."

But he added, "the clock is ticking," with Iran pursuing its nuclear program
"at a fairly rapid clip."

For the first time, Mr. Obama also directly criticized Iran's leaders and
outlined distinctions between Mr. Ahmadinejad and his chief rival, Mir
Hussein Moussavi. He said last week that few differences separated them on
security issues, particularly the nuclear program. 

He stressed Friday that the Iranian people should choose their leaders, but
said Mr. Moussavi had "captured the imagination or the spirit" of people
pushing for freedom in Iran. 

Mr. Obama and Ms. Merkel also discussed Iraq, Afghanistan, climate change
and the global recession in a series of private meetings and a lunch at the
White House. The visit comes in advance of meetings next month in Italy of
the Group of 8 industrialized nations.

Foreign ministers of the group, who were already meeting in Trieste, Italy,
issued a statement on Friday condemning the violence and urging Iran to
resolve its crisis "through democratic dialogue and peaceful means,"
according to Agence France-Presse. 

The statement called on the Iranian government to "guarantee that the will
of the Iranian people is reflected in the electoral process," but refrained
from questioning Mr. Ahmadinejad's victory, the agency reported.

On Iraq, where a deadline is approaching for American combat troops to leave
all cities by Tuesday, Mr. Obama said an uptick in violence would not push
back the withdrawal. Despite high-profile bombings this week, he said,
security in Iraq has "continued to dramatically improve."

But it was the violence in Iran that dominated the two leaders' discussions
on Friday. Ms. Merkel went a bit further than Mr. Obama in calling for a
remedy to the disputed election, saying that votes should be recounted. 

"We will not forget this," Ms. Merkel said, expressing horror at images
coming from Iran.

In Tehran on Thursday, government television quoted Mr. Ahmadinejad as
telling Mr. Obama to "show your repentance" for criticizing Iran's response
to the protests. He also said Mr. Obama was following "the same path that
Bush did." 

Mr. Obama did not acquiesce, saying, "I don't take Mr. Ahmadinejad's
statements seriously about apologies, particularly given the fact that the
United States has gone out of its way not to interfere with the election
process in Iran."

Of more urgent concern, Mr. Obama and Ms. Merkel said, is Iran's nuclear
program. Talks among the United States, Europe, China and Russia, they said,
must continue despite Iran's disputed election.

The session at the White House on Friday was the third time Mr. Obama and
Ms. Merkel have met this year. Both leaders seemed intent on wiping away
suggestions of a tense relationship between their countries.






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