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Critics say vice president's blaming Bush for problems with Iran show White House is in full campaign mode
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We took office remind.
There was virtually no international pressure.
On Iran.
We he wore the problem.
We work diplomatically isolated in the world in the region.
In Europe.
The international pressure on Iran was stuck in neutral I'm proud of our record.
I believe that no presence Harry -- who's done more for Israel's physical security and Barack Obama.
That is -- vice president Joseph Biden and he is blaming the bush administration and the lack of international pressure on Iran -- given his boss President Obama the credit for protecting Israel.
The vice president today speaking to a group of 16100 rabbis in Atlanta so why do you say what he did one thing is clear.
Not everyone agrees what the vice president said in our next guest certainly does not -- -- -- advisor governor Mitt Romney is also a senior fellow at the Brookings institute.
He joins us Christine not joining us tonight as represent governor Romney but in your own -- check -- -- Yes this.
-- -- What do think what the vice president said.
Well I it it's ludicrous and he actually knows and it's ludicrous he was Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman of the last years of the Bush Administration.
The Bush Administration managed to get three UN Security Council resolutions and 200620072008.
-- European support with the Russians and the Chinese.
And all that the Obama administration did in 2010 was build on it and then tighten those which was a good thing.
But it's ludicrous to suggest that the United States were able to do anything for the Obama administration got there.
And only worth the noting aside from nada -- Unfortunately Obama administration's sanctions have been just as effective as the bush administration's sanctions -- which is to -- not effective at all.
What what are parents -- I'm not the word.
Surprises right but.
He -- Vice President Biden pledged to -- 16100 rabbis and let's face it the Jewish photos of very important vote come come November to both parties.
But he pledged it -- that the Obama administration will prevent Iran -- Indian nuclear weapon by whatever means necessary.
As I understand that the Israelis I don't know for sure but they certainly make it look like time is of the essence.
Because it seemed to be gearing up early release -- sees me Saber rattling from time to time.
And Vice President Biden went on to say is at my bet is that Ahmadinejad.
Will be gone in two years and where we get -- two years how do we know how does Israel know that it has two years.
And why are -- why I'm back is there any evidence or proof this is -- very dangerous situation for that region.
Well obviously there's no evidence of that I mean people are always hoping but you know in fact when the Obama administration had an opportunity.
To support people who were trying to overthrow this regime we're trying to get greater openness and Iran back in the summer of 2009.
That's on the of our administration was so -- have been reaching out to the Ayatollah -- to the Iranian leadership that they ignored and basically did nothing.
For the Green revolution and so they had an opportunity to make progress on I don't know what.
Vice President Biden thinks he knows about what's gonna happen two years from now but we know what did happen in 2000 moment.
Well I think many people suspect that looking back what happened in June of 2009 that the failure they've bad president but president -- was very slow to say anything about that.
About the Green revolution is very slow to say anything -- -- pretty rookie because a lot he waited the less that the people on the street thought that the United States.
You know I had their back against Ahmadinejad -- I thought that but now if we have a situation where we have just sort of you know the vice president.
Essentially on the eve of an election.
Apparently for 16100 rabbis and say don't worry he'll be gone in two years and you know that's my -- You know I'd.
At -- convincing that should be.
Well.
I don't think anybody should be convinced by any of this were clearly in -- campaign mode and and the administration I think feels too.
Vulnerabilities on the foreign policy front one is -- -- -- what's going to happen and and the progress is not good I mean let's face it when they came in just a fifth and technical details.
Iran was running 4000 centrifuges for years later they're running 9000 centrifuges so they're vulnerable on that issue.
And obviously they feel vulnerable on the issue of Israel as well which accounts for.
Vice president's other sort of bizarre statement.
He's -- we -- the problem -- United States and we have a problem going back and Iran since at least 1979.
During the Carter administration -- that what happened in our embassy when his thousands but.
What it lacked any thought on we -- the problem what was it.
It would get any sort of idea what he was trying to say.
Well I think what he was trying to say although it though the words weren't very well chosen -- -- makes it sound like America was a problem on Iran and I think that I don't think of the vice president thinks that -- what he was trying to say was that somehow the Bush Administration.
Was so isolated internationally.
That that there were unable to accomplish anything with a -- there were unable to get any diplomatic support.
Against Iran.
And again that's just not true as as I'm sure vice president knows -- bush -- did about as well as this administration has done.
In getting international sporting getting UN Security Council resolutions.
As particularly ironic if you look at American approval ratings right now in the Muslim world.
I don't think many people in the country know this they're actually lower today than they were under the Bush Administration so the notion that.
The United States was completely isolated under bush and is now completely embraced by everyone I'm afraid is belied by the fact.
Whether physics should just why we actually -- took on the record to Cairo for the president's speech to the Muslim world about two and a half years ago.
In which there was a you know sort of I guess there was much hope by many but them for what you tell me that I've been working off.
Well the pew poll saw the recent pew polls show that America's approval rating in Egypt right now is about 20%.
Which is lower than it was in the bush years it's 10% in Turkey.
Which is lower than it was the time of the Iraq War which most Turks oppose so whatever else is going on you know it's not clear to me that the administration has really gained.
In terms of you know in what Obama set out in his -- in that speech which was to could have you know improve relations and Muslim world.
Thank you.
Thank you.
