NEOAVATARA

You got to love the definition of ‘liberal smart power’.

Obama’s entire foreign diplomacy is dependent on the concept that smart, intelligent dialogue with our enemies will get them to realize the ill of their ways, and change decade long course in the direction of war.  Additionally, the key was to use the international community to pressure these rogue states to come to the table.

Wow, has it worked.

Days after the IAEA rebuked and censured Iran over its program (a pretty lame punishment if you ask me) and demanded it halt the construction of a newly revealed enrichment facility, the Islamic state fired back.  Iran’s government announced plans on Sunday to build 10 new uranium enrichment plants and said work would start within two months, state media reported.  This came days after religious clerics announced that Iran would not be beholden to the international community for enriched nuclear fuel, and would supply its own if need be.

And to top it off, the Iranian parliament passed a law on Sunday earmarking $20 million to support militant groups opposing the West and investigate alleged U.S. and British plots against the Islamic Republic.

So far, Obama’s smart power has increased Iran’s move toward nuclearization, and increased their support of militants.  Pretty smart.

Obama’s self-declared deadline of the end of the year is fast approaching on making progress on Iran.  Of course, Obama doesn’t really subscribe to deadlines on himself (see:  Gitmo, Health care reform, etc.).  He only things deadlines are important when a Republican is in the White House.

Obama’s deadline may have actually made things worse.  Israel at least felt that the United States was moving in the right direction under Bush, although they were unhappy about the lack of progress.  If Obama ignores his self-imposed deadline, his already meager support in the Jewish state (which at last check hovered around 4%; yes, you read that right, FOUR PERCENT), that support may drop more.  The Israeli leadership already believes that Obama is spineless when it comes to foreign affairs.  If they are even more convinced about his lack of conviction, it may push them to hurry a military strike against Iran…the worst of all scenarios.

Ironically, with the health care debate and Afghan troop decision looming, Obama’s failure on Iran may be the most historically significant decision/failure of his early Presidency.  The next few weeks are critical for the future of the Middle East.