John Kerry Banned from Iran

It looks like that Senator John Kerry will not be going to Iran after all. John Kerry, the liberal Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had announced his desire to go to Tehran. The Iranian government has denied a visa to Senator Kerry.

Senator Kerry's office has denied that there were "immediate" plans for Kerry to travel to Iran. It looks like, thanks to the Iranian government's hostility, that Iran has no plans to receive him.

Iran's attitude toward the proposed visit by Senator John Kerry is a little curious. In times past, Iran welcomed diplomatic free lancers, especially if they could be used to embarrass the United States. Ramsey Clark, the uber left wing former Attorney General, flew to Tehran during the middle of the Iranian hostage crisis and participated in something called a "Crimes of America" show trial.

It is likely that the Iranians have concluded that John Kerry was not, contrary to appearances, free lancing, but was serving as a clandestine emissary from the Obama Administration. The Iranians have concluded, quite rightly, that Obama is weak and that there is no point in talking to him or any emissary representing him.

If President Obama is paying attention, and there is reason to wonder if he is, then he would have to conclude that the time for quiet diplomacy concerning Iran has passed, if it really ever was there to begin with. The time has come for sterner measures.

But which measures, one might ask. Obama is likely to try economic sanctions against Iran, though those tend to act slowly unless vigorously enforced, which is unlikely. Economic sanctions alone would likely act too slowly to affect Iran's drive for a nuclear arsenal.

Stepping up clandestine and open support of the Iranian protestors would be a good idea. It is entirely possible that the protests would reach critical mass, overthrowing the Iranian theocracy, and establishing a new, more friendly government.

Other options include an embargo of refined gasoline, which Iran, though an oil exporting country, must import and air strikes against Iranian nuclear and other military sites.

Every option to apply pressure to Iran has risks. But doing nothing, even in the form of diplomatic entreaties, contains even greater risks. To be thought of as weak by people meaning to do one harm is an ultimate danger. President Obama likes to boast about using the "Chicago way" in political combat. It is time that he apply the same methods in dealing with America's real enemies.

Sources:John Kerry to Go to Tehran?, Mark R. Whittington, Associated Content, December 26th, 2009
Iran denies entry to Sen. Kerry, Bridget Johnson, The Hill, January 3rd, 2009