Sect. of State Clinton Agrees to Delay Sanctions Against Iran: Smart Diplomacy in Action

In news that should surprise no one, Hillary Clinton has agreed that neither Russia nor the US should currently impose sanctions against Iran.

From an article in Ria Novosti; "U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said after talks with Russia's foreign minister on Tuesday that neither country is seeking to impose sanctions against Iran under the current circumstances.

"Clinton said sanctions over Iran’s controversial uranium enrichment program would be premature, and that Russia was being 'extremely cooperative in the work we have done together' on the issue.

"Lavrov said Russia is 'in principle very reserved on sanctions, as they rarely produce results.'

"He said sanctions should only be used when all diplomatic means have been exhausted, and that 'in the situation with Iran, this is far from the case.'

"Lavrov also said the U.S. and Russia had identical positions on the issue.

"'We are not asking anything of each other on Iran, because it would be ridiculous to make requests on an issue where our positions coincide,' he said.

"However, Clinton said that sanctions over North Korea's nuclear program would remain in place.

"'We have absolutely no intention of relaxing or offering to relax North Korean sanctions at this point whatsoever,' she said.

"Clinton will later meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Before her arrival in Russia as part of a European tour, Clinton had visited Switzerland, the U.K., and Ireland."

So, one is left to wonder exactly what does warrant ineffective sanctions against Iran? Perhaps a nuclear strike against Tel Aviv, or providing a safe haven for Hamas and Fatah with a nuclear threat?

Smart diplomacy apparently means push government run health care, increase domestic spending, and save those ineffective sanctions for when we really need them.

I wonder if the US media will pick this story up... Any bets?