The only possible consideration that could mitigate the negative effects and consequences one sees trailing in the wake of Obama's foreign policy inclinations and disturbingly on display in the Iran negotiations dance - that being Obama clearly seeing American power as something that needs to be reduced and consequent to that the role that it has held since WWII as the 'necessary force' guarding democratic principles emasculated to a significant degree - the only possible consideration that could mitigate these foreboding realities relative to the Iran crisis is if the theocracy is indeed interested in forging an alliance of sorts with the US and is willing to step back from its nuclear ambitions in order to achieve that. Some people have made this point, saying if such isn't the goal with these negotiations, it should be - the idea being, as we forged diplomatic ties with our 'enemy' communist China in order to contain the USSR, so we should forge diplomatic relations with our 'enemy' Shia Iran in order to contain the real threat to America, Sunni extremism. I don't buy that - there were powerful reasons for China to want relations with the US so Nixon's gestures made sense - what does Iran gain from an 'alliance' with us if they already believe that they can unwind the sanctions without giving up their nuclear ambitions and that Obama will not intercede militarily? Aside from that, with China and Russia on their side, why would they need US security guarantees against the Sunni, especially with Egypt having deep sixed the Muslim Brotherhood and Assad looking like he'll survive in Syria? And then, how does an Islamic theocracy defend its abuse of individual rights and freedoms without the evils of a 'Great Satan' to use as a justification for that autocratic abuse? And finally, how exactly would embracing the Shia dynamic in the region shield the US from Sunni extremism? Is the thinking here that whatever 'pact' is agreed to with Iran would necessarily include Hezbollah, which would mean they would have to make peace with Israel and then Sunni forces, feeling isolated, would necessarily then need to fall in line? To me that's a little like throwing a bunch of puzzle pieces on a table and having them all fall perfectly into place. Defies credibility.
