Here’s a clue Mr. President, when you set a deadline make sure it’s a real deadline:
A State Department spokesman on Friday signaled that the president’s mandate that Iran has two weeks to permit inspections of its recently unveiled uranium refinement plant was not “written in stone.”
“I don’t think that there’s a hard-and-fast deadline,” State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said during Friday’s press briefing, after a reporter asked what the consequences of Iran’s inaction might be.
“I think that we’ve made it quite clear this was a matter of some urgency; that we expected [Iran] to take urgent and concrete steps to open up this facility, and not only just open it up but also make sure that we were able to — or that the IAEA would be able to — talk to some of the engineers there and see documents and plans,” Kelly added.
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Kelly on Friday seemed to downplay any diplomatic expectations. He stressed during his briefing that the Obama administration would not commit to a response or punishment, much less a deadline, until it could coordinate with the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA).
“I don’t know that it’s written in stone, necessarily,” Kelly repeated about the deadline. “But I think we’ll find out more details when — after [IAEA head Mohamed] ElBaradei’s trip.”
Stephen Green isn’t surprised:
Remember the August recess “deadline” for dismantling what little good remains of our health care system? Remember the fierce moral urgency for closing Gitmo? Remember… OK, let me put this another way.
Obama can’t rally his own party to pass the domestic legislation he made the centerpiece of his campaign. So it’s no wonder that Obama can’t keep his generals from leaking private memos, as he publicly dithers over Afghanistan. It’s no wonder the Russians won’t even pretend to stay bought. And it’s no surprise that he’s already backing off yet another so-called ultimatum.
No, it’s not. The difference, of course, is that it’s one thing for a President to be wishy-washy on domestic issues, it’s quite another for him to vacillate when it comes to potentially explosive, quite literally explosive, international issues.
If the Iranians, or the Russians, or the Chinese, or the North Koreans, sense weakness, they’ll exploit it. You can count on it.
Iran should not arouse concern. Georgia is the most dangerous flashpoint in Russia’s tense relations with the West. The Bible says: “At the appointed time [the king of the north = Russia] will return back [will regain the influence, which it lost after the break-up of the Soviet Union] and come into the south [many indicate that this might be Georgia], but it will not be as the former [1921] or as the latter [2008]. For the dwellers of coastlands of Kittim [the West] will come against him, and he will be humbled, and will return.” (Daniel 11:29,30a) Then Iran will be humbled also. “But ships will come from the direction of Kittim, troubling Asshur [Russia] and troubling Eber [inhabiting on the other side the Euphrates].” (Numbers 24:24a, BBE)
At that time, peace will be taken from the earth and the “great sword” – nuclear sword – will be used. (Revelation 6:4) However, it will be neither the great tribulation nor “the end of the world” (Armageddon). As Jesus foretold, that will be “the beginning of birth pains”. (Mathew 24:7,8)
If the Heavens planned a full return of Russia (and much suggests this) the present economic crisis will deepen. Then also the European Union and NATO will not stands.
In the same way the earlier prophecy had fulfilled: “And (he) [the king of the north = Russia] will go back (to) his land with great wealth [1945]; and his heart (will be) against the holy covenant [state atheism]; and will act effectively; and turned back to his own land [the break-up of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact, the return of Russian troops to country].” (Daniel 11:28)