Report: Obama advisors have been meeting with Iran, Syria since before the election
posted at 2:50 pm on February 2, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Ed asked this morning if any “preparations” have been made for that meeting of the minds Obama’s planning with Chavez. Given this bombshell, a better question might be just how long The One’s been “preparing.”
[E]ven before winning the November 4 election, Obama unofficially used what experts call “track two” discussions to approach America’s two foes in the region.
Nuclear non-proliferation experts had several “very, very high-level” contacts in the last few months with Iranian leaders, said Jeffrey Boutwell, executive director for the US branch of the Pugwash group, an international organization of scientists which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995.
Former defense secretary William Perry, who served in Obama’s election campaign, participated in some of these meetings focused on “a wide range of issues that separate Iran from the West: not only their nuclear program but the Middle East peace process, Persian Gulf issues,” Boutwell told AFP.
The Pugwash official declined to name the other participants, except to say they had considerable clout.
Omri Ceren’s righteously outraged that Obama would undermine Bush by meddling in foreign policy, particularly during a campaign when he stood to benefit personally from the results. Fair enough; watch the short clip below from early January to see just how egregious The One’s hypocrisy here is. I’m not so sure, though, that talking to either country had the effect of undermining anything. In the case of Iranian nukes, they’ve been jerking the west around for years to buy time. How do you “undermine” that? It’s a transparent farce, neatly illustrated by the fact that even the guy in charge of keeping the bomb out of their hands can’t get his story straight about how long it’ll take them to build one. As for Syria, Omri notes that Assad’s willingness to chat with Israel sure did seem to Change after he met with emissaries from Hope, the implication being that Obama’s advisors might have promised him better concessions if he held out until The One was in office. Would Assad really need to be formally told that a Democrat would go softer on him than John McCain would, though? Every enemy regime had an incentive last year to hold out on Bush in hopes of a better deal from Obama. As stupid as Assad is, he’s not so stupid that he couldn’t figure that out.
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high treason?
carbon_footprint on February 2, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Obama pandering to his International Base. Yawn.
portlandon on February 2, 2009 at 2:53 PM
I REALLY want to see a list of all of Obamas sub $200 campaign doners.
If some of that money, as I suspect, was coming from the Middle East… it would be somthing even the MSM could not ignore.
Romeo13 on February 2, 2009 at 2:54 PM
In other words in clear violation of US law.
That’s what I like about Democrats, laws don’t really mean anything when it comes to what they want.
johnsteele on February 2, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Why bother adding a question mark?
Osama Obama is as dangerous to the nation as any Iranian nuke. Maybe more so.
MrScribbler on February 2, 2009 at 2:56 PM
sesame street diplomacy
gatorboy on February 2, 2009 at 2:56 PM
thanks for the giggles
gatorboy on February 2, 2009 at 2:56 PM
This is outrageous. Not even two weeks before the election, then-President-elect Obama cited a “One President” policy as his ironclad excuse for not answering ANY questions about where he was standing on the Gaza conflict.
Did we expect anything else? No. Does it make it feel any better to say, “We told you so.” Not at all.
bryanmyrick on February 2, 2009 at 2:57 PM
no one cares…but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t bring it up.
tomas on February 2, 2009 at 2:58 PM
“There is only one President at a time”- Barack Hussein Obama.
lavell12 on February 2, 2009 at 2:58 PM
A perfect description! Absolutely perfect!
Josiah on February 2, 2009 at 2:59 PM
“one president at a time”
what a ****en liar
Greenhelmet on February 2, 2009 at 2:59 PM
This is SO scary…
We have a DICK-tator Messiah that is above the law, has the MSM in his pocket or another orifice and has Millions of cultists in America…
Mark Garnett on February 2, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Everyone move along now…nothing to see here. These things are just “distractions” from the real issues the American people are dealing with.
CapitalistPig on February 2, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Clarified.
the_nile on February 2, 2009 at 3:02 PM
…particularly egregious behavior in light of the continual message from Obama that “we have only one president at a time.” He is a liar and has behaved unethically.
The putrid ’say one thing and do another’ stench is overwhelming.
LEBA on February 2, 2009 at 3:02 PM
He’s not just a liar. He also broke the law.
Carl in Jerusalem on February 2, 2009 at 3:04 PM
I’m not concerned that he did it… Reagan did the same thing to Carter.
What I’m more concerned about is that he’s done it and they are NOT responding to him.
Skywise on February 2, 2009 at 3:04 PM
How much money came from the Middle East? How much of the Crap Sandwich is going back there?
BobK on February 2, 2009 at 3:05 PM
It would appear that not only does Obama think that FDR did not go far enough with the economy, but that he also thinks that Chamberlain didn’t go far enough with foreign policy.
He seems to believe that they both thought too small.
MB4 on February 2, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Ha! You have probably re-read your post and realized it was what we would all want…but won’t get.
Just like the MSM reporting that Obama has now “hired” 17 lobbyists, breaking his promise of no lobbyists…something even the MSM wouldn’t ignore.
You are making the same mistake Obama is making…you think the other side is rationale, and has some semblance of honesty.
right2bright on February 2, 2009 at 3:06 PM
If anything, it just shines a spotlight, via contrast, on his refusal to say or do anything regarding the Gaza attacks.
Ferris on February 2, 2009 at 3:06 PM
But is it legitimate grounds for impeachment?
LimeyGeek on February 2, 2009 at 3:06 PM
I pointed this out months ago, and nobody believed me. BTW, his underlings have been and are negotiating with Hamas, in case anyone cares.
Vashta.Nerada on February 2, 2009 at 3:06 PM
why is the ‘middle east’ peace process an Iranian issue?
Phoenician on February 2, 2009 at 3:07 PM
The US did nothing about Kery talking with the North Vietnamese in Paris nor Teddy Kennedy’s contacts with the Soviets asking them to help him get the nomination. Why start now?
Wethal on February 2, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Logan Act:
amerpundit on February 2, 2009 at 3:07 PM
No lawyer, I, but isn’t that illegal?
If illegal, is it not impeachable?
Quicker to high crimes and misdemeanors than Nixon!
turfmann on February 2, 2009 at 3:08 PM
On a related note gun sales and registration in GA is soaring to record heights.
Just A Grunt on February 2, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Having a traitor as President is such fun.
I wonder how long before the idiot messiah starts having flag burning parties at the White House? It is Constitutionally protected “speech”, after all. For leftists to burn an American flag in the White House would just be their idea of showing their love for the Constitution.
I think he’ll probably hold off on this for a little while, right around the same time that he starts inviting Ayers and Wright to sleep-overs.
progressoverpeace on February 2, 2009 at 3:09 PM
I believe that is what “track two” is referring to, not direct negotiations, but “discussions”.
right2bright on February 2, 2009 at 3:09 PM
You aren’t going to see a list, as even one dime coming from non-US sources is illegal, and plenty are already confident based on currency conversion tables that a substantial chunk of the money was foreign.
Vashta.Nerada on February 2, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Treason doth never prosper, for if it prosper, none dare call it treason.
Tav on February 2, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Thoroughly disgusting and illegal. But it’s in the fine, Democratic Party tradition of not paying attention to laws, like Daschle, Rangel, Geitner, Spitzer, Blago, etc.
rbj on February 2, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Check out the “tell” on the dude behind President Barry. Just as PBO is saying that we can’t have two voices and delicate negotiations are taking place, the guy puts his hand up to hide his mouth. This is a non-verbal gesture of covering the mouth, as in, “I know he’s lying through his teeth, but I mustn’t say anything about it.”
Mallard T. Drake on February 2, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Even more evidence to bolster Obama-Reagan comparisons!
Tom_Shipley on February 2, 2009 at 3:12 PM
And don’t forget this from last fall: Did Obama violate the Logan Act?
carbon_footprint on February 2, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Track one is official gov. to gov discussion, track two is informal, no-official discussion which is not in violation of the Logan Act.
right2bright on February 2, 2009 at 3:13 PM
If the spineless Republicans ever grow a pair, the magic negro needs to be impeached and then frog-marched to his execution for treason. Why, why, why can’t someone enforce the Logan Act??????
Andy in Agoura Hills on February 2, 2009 at 3:14 PM
I am not surprised, everything about this adminstration so far has been sneaky and underhanded from the word go. The only question I have is…what’s next?
milwife88 on February 2, 2009 at 3:16 PM
No. That’s just semantics. If the Bush administration was negoiating with Iran and this guy pulled the rug out, its treason.
Andy in Agoura Hills on February 2, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Sounds to me like he confessed to violating the Logan Act. But then again, he’s bragged about violating drug laws, committed voter fraud, and hired tax felons for cabinet positions.
Don’t you know The One is above the law?
stonemeister on February 2, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Just wondering how much money bho got for his election with these little ‘talks’ with Iran and Syria that no one has a clue? What did they promise for support from bho?
L
letget on February 2, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Yeah, keep dreaming on that one. A Republican majority couldn’t convict a sitting Democrat of obvious perjury. There’s no way in hell that a near-filibuster-proof Democratic majority is going to allow the take-down of The One for a potential violation of the Logan Act.
amerpundit on February 2, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Ah, nothing like the scent of desperation hanging in the air. That must have been rather painful.
PercyB on February 2, 2009 at 3:19 PM
You may call it semantics, but that is the law…this is international law.
Are you sure that Bush did not know he was having informal meetings?
right2bright on February 2, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Sounds pretty treason-esh from the lightworkers crew…
The most Ethical!, Honest!, Open!, Unifying!, Transparent!, Bi=Partisan!, Post-Racial! administration evah!
RocketmanBob on February 2, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Actualy, I’ve been listening to the Whitehouse Press briefs on Fox most days.
The questions are starting to get tougher… and I have a feeling they will soon start to dig.
Many in the Press made a career out of being Anti Bush the last few years… the only writing style they know is to attack… but now Bush is gone.
Thus the Rush attacks… looking for a new thing/person to be against.
It will take a bit more time, but eventualy the Press will start to attack Obama/Reid/Pelosi because there is nothing else to write about… and they HAVE to come up with stories in order to make a living…
Add in the “if it bleeds it leads” mantra… and I think the Press will soon be in a Shark Feeding Frenzy over all of Obama’s lies and distorations….
In fact, I give it 3 to 4 weeks before some enterprising Reporter gets ahold of his College Records, and maybe even his origional birth Cert, and Publishes.
Add in the clear inability to hold the Anti Bush political coalition together… as shown by Obama wanting Bipartisanship on the “Stimulus”, while Pelosi won’t even meet with Repubs…
I think we are in for the largest political downfall ever within the next few months…
Its just a question of how much damage Bambi can do before someone jerks on his leash.
Romeo13 on February 2, 2009 at 3:20 PM
This is not news:
“State Dept. Talks With Iran, N. Korea Look Like Obama Policy:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=5417864&page=1
getalife on February 2, 2009 at 3:22 PM
10 points for making my drink come out my nose! I haven’t done that for more than 40 years. (I’m so glad it was water and not diet-coke.)
ericdijon on February 2, 2009 at 3:22 PM
I thought that was Tim Geithner. Looks like him…..
UltimateBob on February 2, 2009 at 3:23 PM
The media paints this man as having superior intellectual curiosity. Oh please! He is a pissed-off radical that is trying to reinvent America in the manner to which he was taught by his radical teachers, preachers and fools. How long is it going to take before the general consensus is that this man is wrong for leadership and wrong for America.
sherry on February 2, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Between the spring revelation about Obama’s adviser Robert Malley & this it’s no wonder Israel acted when it did.
batterup on February 2, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Meh, I don`t think there is much that would surprise me anymore from this fledgling (yet UBER corrupt) admin….Nothing`s gonna come of it, so very sad and irritating.
NY Conservative on February 2, 2009 at 3:25 PM
President*
faraway on February 2, 2009 at 3:27 PM
So international law trumps American law? Imagine my surprise.
Andy in Agoura Hills on February 2, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Intefering in issues such as this, should have some repurcussions.
It’s also very suspect, isn’t it? He seemed pretty danged sure that he was going to be the next President. Did he know something we didn’t?
capejasmine on February 2, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Sadly, the only people who were too stupid to figure that out were 62 million American voters.
AZCoyote on February 2, 2009 at 3:31 PM
We are so screwed.
bloggless on February 2, 2009 at 3:35 PM
What an idiot.
There’s an additional 10% for Netanyahu and Likud.
Good going, Zero.
TexasJew on February 2, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Imagine my surprise that you don’t understand.
American diplomatic law dovetails with international law…this is what is defined by both the U.S. diplomatic law and international law…look it up.
Sorry to disappoint you, but Obama did not break the law…give him time, and he will, but not with this.
right2bright on February 2, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Nope. Not unless the US submits itself to international law. A sovereign country isn’t subject to international law without its consent.
Carl in Jerusalem on February 2, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Jesse Jackson
tomas on February 2, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Not only do we have a new president and a new party in charge; we have new type of thinking running the country–a new philosophy. It’s one in which the rule of law doesn’t matter, where the truth doesn’t matter–one where the “truth” is a living, evolving “truth.” It’s one in which a man can says one thing and one point in time and say the total opposite thing at another point in time and that man will assert that both statements are true even though none of the pertinent circumstances have changed.
This is the philosophy subscribed to by totalitarians throughout history.
It isn’t suprising how things are turning out. All the signs were there before the election. All the signs were there decades ago, millenia ago.
Keep watch. There will be more outrages.
baldilocks on February 2, 2009 at 3:40 PM
this is not news… they covered this up and ran the spin machine at 10,000 RPM just prior to the election.
now it seems to be true… can we get a recall?
Jim T on February 2, 2009 at 3:40 PM
lets see, and I am just guessing of course, you tell the Iranians that this Obama administration will accept nuclear Iran (not sure the west ever accepted that) as long as they sign a nice long paper renouncing terrorism, violence and its desire for the destruction of Israel – kinda like Arafat did. And then they sign another piece of paper renouncing proliferation, kinda like Soviets did with SALT1/2, and then everything will be all right.
runner on February 2, 2009 at 3:42 PM
It is pretty bad when you start longing for the days of Bill Clinton, but this administration, I fear, is going to be far worse than even I imagined.
bopbottle on February 2, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Arrogant fool. The sad thing is his arrogance and sneaky underhandedness and his crooked cabinet are what’s going to be America’s downfall if he isn’t careful. There are really good reasons why George Bush didn’t have dialogs with these men. Duh. How many times did North Korea lie to us just for one example.
scalleywag on February 2, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Oh, yeah… this is destined to work out well…
/sarc
ErinF on February 2, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Any experts here? Is the Logan Act applicable or not. Sure looks like it but we are well into the era of “law schmaw”.
Mason on February 2, 2009 at 3:47 PM
The only thing that will drive the MSM is being embarrassed, as they are now, for not reporting what is happening…but that just means they will report just enough to look like they are “reporting”.
The other thing that may drive it, is a “Watergate” type thing. That we won’t know until it actually breaks and happens, and it won’t be in 2-3 weeks, if at all. Those things take years to play out. And I wouldn’t be so sure that Obama would not be informed of any real investigative work.
Don’t be so desperate, if his college record shows “something” it will be just “youthful indiscretion”, and forget about the BC, it’s a truther cause, it is embarrassing to even suggest it.
They will have plenty to write about, because the Republicans won’t cave in to him and Pelosi, they know there is a power struggle, and they will feed it.
I think it will be his inexperience, his dependency on choosing others to do his heavy lifting, he will make a series of inexperienced, naive moves, that will expose us…God pray the “exposure” isn’t a 9/11 incident.
But no doubt, I feel a major problem with him in the next 18 months.
right2bright on February 2, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Good analysis, a bit frightening, but I think very accurate.
Our hope is that the old adage comes into play…”Give a man enough rope and he will hang himself”.
right2bright on February 2, 2009 at 3:52 PM
So I guess we do have two presidents, right Barfy?
Ryan Gandy on February 2, 2009 at 3:54 PM
In more than 200 years, there’s never been a single prosecution under the Logan Act. Not one. And for good reason. The Act is vague (and therefore, perhaps unconstitutional) and frequently violated.
And if you think a Democratic Congress is to going to impeach(!) Obama over this, please clean your crack pipe before using it again.
paul006 on February 2, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Don’t be so openly soft on Hussein. Carl’s answer was the correct one:
Andy in Agoura Hills on February 2, 2009 at 3:55 PM
So… exactly how were all of the “preconditions” Obama so loudly and repeatedly promised us met while he was still campaigning?
logis on February 2, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Are we there yet?
I’ve had quite enough of this idiot.
Rae on February 2, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Jimmy Carter’s second term? I wish Obama would make up his mind – who he is emulating Clinton, Carter or Bush.
Dr Evil on February 2, 2009 at 4:00 PM
I told you
obamas has been preparing to surrender
since before the election..
Sheesh i wonder who else obamas been in bed with
Red china?
jcila on February 2, 2009 at 4:01 PM
He met with officials in Iraq to discuss withdrawal. This is nothing in comparison. The One is Teflon. No one cares what he does. Short of actively murdering someone, he’ll be fine.
Esthier on February 2, 2009 at 4:03 PM
If doing your intern in the Oval Office & lying about it under oath isn’t enough, then I doubt ANYTHING a dem does will be.
They are above such things, you know.
Badger40 on February 2, 2009 at 4:11 PM
Guys, guys, I’m 99% sure Bush will have his back on this and say Obama did it with his approval and that he was kept in the loop the whole time.
The “proof” was already there before the election anyway (Remember Maliki saying he had already discussed the troop pullout issue with Obama?)
Now if he did something that interfered with American policy, oh yeah throw the book at him.
But so far he’s accomplished NOTHING. Which you couldn’t say about Reagan…
Skywise on February 2, 2009 at 4:11 PM
We might find out more about that than we care to know.
Clinton II?
Badger40 on February 2, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Talking to Iran and Syria is nothing. It’s a non-issue.
Especially when taken in the context of the World Tribune report that Obama was working with Arab intermediaries to offer Al Qaeda a “truce” in exchange for a U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan well before November. That’s on top of the whole Gitmo shutdown promise.
It’s such a fustercluck that even King Abdullah is worried that Obama’s effort would legitimize the terrorist organization among those on the Arab street in his part of the world that we’d witness an overthrow the Saudi kingdom sooner rather than later. Basically it’d be just like Iran in the 1970s but with 100 times the amount of cash, oil, and 21st Century infrastructure/communication/weapons at Al Qaeda’s disposal.
Then again, having Al Qaeda in charge of the largest oilfields in the world does help make the case to
drill in Americaraise taxes and subsidize a mandatory nationalized solar-powered mass transit system.ScottMcC on February 2, 2009 at 4:17 PM
I remember when Michelle Obama was asked during the spring of 2008 about John McCain, and she said, “Oh, we got him.” That struck me as trash talk during the time.
Then during the bailout talks, Obama’s office was getting minute by minute updates from Paulson’s office. He has had powerful shadow figures propping him up throughout his life — since his high school years, possibly, but definitely at Columbia University.
I think the financial crisis was manipulated by the oil-jihadi lobby, and Obama has always been deeply in their pocket. I don’t know what he believes or if he has a cause at all. He’s just a product of a lifetime of handling, and he scares the bejeezits out of me.
chunderroad on February 2, 2009 at 4:26 PM
I think you are dismissing the simple economics of the way the Press works.
No story? No money, and good news does not drive circulation, only crappy news.
Face it, the only place where we have adequate press coverage is in Washington. The AP has outsourced in other countries to the point that it can’t be trusted AND since all news agencies can use AP stuff, the only way to get a “scoop” is to dig it out yourself…
The only investigative infrastructure the American Press has in place is in Washington… so… those Washington Bureus will be forced to generate stories… or they go under.
Good news does not sell… and Bush is gone… so I predict within weeks simple economics will drive the Washington Press Corp to turn on Obama.
Romeo13 on February 2, 2009 at 4:30 PM
And look where the negotiation has got us. Ahmedinejad says the US must undergo fundamental change, must withdraw all its armies all over the world, and let him get nuclear fuel for “peaceful purposes”. Obama’s already been totally punked, but only us on the right have noticed.
JimC on February 2, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Republicans in Congress should demand a full investigation, just for the fun of it.
Falz on February 2, 2009 at 4:41 PM
They were not negotiations… They were training seminars.
RalphyBoy on February 2, 2009 at 4:42 PM
He is sending the US badminton team to Iran to compete.
Could be some Plame agents so don’t go and out them you crazy kids.
getalife on February 2, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Racist.
LibTired on February 2, 2009 at 4:51 PM
I said, look it up…don’t hang on to an idea that has been exposed as wrong, youlose credibility…these are diplomatic terms that are internationally and domestically used, and yes we use them, they have meaning.
I am no fan of Obama’s, but pick and choose your fights, otherwise you begin to look foolish and no one will listen.
right2bright on February 2, 2009 at 4:53 PM
This was really a great country once.
Jdripper on February 2, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Wow, this tool is trying to outdo Bill Clinton in the treason department…I hope to God that he hasn’t given the Iranians the same information Clinton gave the ChiComs.
We.Are.So.Fucked.
Pulchritudinous Patriot on February 2, 2009 at 4:55 PM
No, I am dismissing your theory…you say a couple of weeks, I say 18 months after something has really happened.
The press is too “in bed” for the honeymoon to be over, besides they have been dealing with declining profits for years…they will gin up enough from the Pelosi, Obama, Republican triangle to make news…but turn there back on Obama? They had a hard time doing that with Clinton, don’t you think they are more loyal to Obama?
The “simple” economics is that the business sections, and the sports sections are what really bring in the money to the papers…without them the papers would be totally bankrupt in weeks…someone has the stats I’, sure, but I read late last year it was something like 70% of the revenue comes from those two sections.
But even with that, last year was a record year of decline for newspaper ads, more then 12%, some 15%…online ads have increased by 17%, but they only make up about 10% of the total revenue stream.
The newspapers ads are falling, and that may or may not be due to poor reporting, or it may be more to do with a change in lifestyle and where we get our information…and that is the “simple economics” of newspapers.
right2bright on February 2, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Hahah the nut jobs over at the Huffington Post are getting all upset b/c it looks like Petraeus is trying to circumvent the surrender plans of Obama.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/02/generals-seek-to-reverse_n_163070.html
lavell12 on February 2, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Treason, and last I checked the punishment for such was….well you can probably guess.
Viper1 on February 2, 2009 at 5:17 PM
IS this a violation of the Logan Act?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_Act
RightWinged on February 2, 2009 at 5:19 PM
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