Assessing US strategy in Iran, Syria

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Now -- making some new threats against Israel one of their -- military commanders -- to quote.

Why Israel from the face of the earth if Israel attacks its nuclear program in the meantime -- -- Revolutionary guard getting -- to test new missiles they claim they claim.

Could hit American bases in the Middle East.

And all this happening as a new embargo on -- Ryan oil finally kicks and Richard Green now as a former spokesman for the last four US ambassadors in the US.

We said -- And some new words that we see would have to say exactly when -- attacked military commanders threatening to quote wipe Israel from the face of the earth we heard that remark -- didn't -- before.

Break back in 2005 he said that with these new rounds of sanctions will anything change.

Well I think the one thing that's very clear is that Iran doesn't think things are changing they clearly are feel -- More brazen I mean they're they're threatening more they're saying that they can hit US military bases.

I think we've got to take these threats very seriously I think the second point is that their new.

Brazen.

Attitude.

It continues and it really means that the sanctions aren't working you know the book Obama administration tried sanctions at the UN the Bush Administration tried sanctions that the UN.

The sanctions haven't work these new rounds that the Europeans now are putting in as of yesterday.

I think we're gonna find the same thing and they're just not going to work.

And that we have the Obama administration trying to undercut those sanctions because we find out that they've given twenty countries waivers.

So that they can continue buying -- oil island were really serious about the sanctions we would just say no waivers.

And just for our for our viewers -- those waivers -- temporary you have to stated the United States listen we're gonna reduce the amount of oil we're buying from Iran but we're not gonna reduce it completely -- mentioned something really important -- said.

That during the Bush Administration you found at these sanctions did not work in the effort to try to learn from the past.

What can we do differently this time around to make them work or is it just not the way to go at all.

We had five resolutions against Iran three with sanctions during the Bush Administration this Obama team has tried.

One resolution with sanctions so in their four years.

They haven't kept the pressure fronts I think first the answer is keep the pressure on.

Two you've got to be serious about these sanctions you can't give waivers you can't put them into place and then tell twenty of the top.

Countries that are buying in Iran in oil that they can continue to buy a -- and oil if they just lower.

Their purchases I think that's wrong you -- it you either got to do it.

Or -- you you've got to find another mechanism.

All right so that's a rod were watching this change in the Middle East Austin with Syria Syria and Iran are connected because -- allies there.

From -- -- his support -- -- regime we saw this this photograph.

Richard of this this little boy.

And you can just see the expression giants face for -- show that to our viewers he's.

He's walking in a protests in a town in Syria he has the rebels flags.

Painted across his face in his expression really.

You can't be described we have to think about our interests in the region not just today and tomorrow but 1020 years from now in this little boy is an adult.

How do we even go about approaching the situation is Syria and now fifteen months and.

The very good question and as you point out it's been going on for more than a year.

And I think that the United States can do a lot more and and that doesn't mean military boots on the ground and no one is.

Immediately saying that we have to go in with the US military but there are a lot that you can do you can.

You can really support a group that is one of the opposition groups.

You know there's agreement that there's not one that is the top group well that's an opportunity for the United States.

To figure out which group would be best for us which food group would be best for our democracy long term.

But we're not playing that game or allowing others to play you know Hillary Clinton our secretary of state was just in Geneva this past weekend.

And the -- and some.

Out maneuvered her.

Instead of having a UN resolution or -- in international.

Condemnation on -- -- asking him to step aside.

We decided not to name aside and allow him to maybe be a part of a future team from the Russians outmaneuvered.

The secretary of state and I think this keeps happening.

And one of the ways that we can help the people of Syria is to be firm and consistent and right now we are neither.

It is interesting to see this teams both in in in European and both place to Syria.

And -- -- Richard it's nice -- expertise today we look for -- to have you back as always thank you thank.

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Assessing US strategy in Iran, Syria

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