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Hillary Clinton calls for UN sanctions against Iran
 PRINCETON, New Jersey - US Sen. Hillary Clinton called for United Nations sanctions against Iran as it resumes its nuclear program and faulted the Bush administration for âdownplayingâ the threat. In an address Wednesday evening at Princeton University, a Democrat representing New York state, said it was a mistake for the United States to have Britain, France and Germany head up nuclear talks with Iran over the past 2 1/2 years. Last week, Iran resumed nuclear research in a move Teheran claims is for energy, not weapons. âI believe that we lost critical time in dealing with Iran because the White House chose to downplay the threats and chose to outsource the negotiations,â Clinton said.
While Clinton was critical of the administration, she never mentioned the president by name and did not engage in the same sort of sharp rhetorical attack against him or other Republicans as she did earlier this week. In her wide-ranging speech before some 800 Princeton students, staff and alumni gathered to inaugurate the new S. Daniel Abraham Visiting Professor in Middle East Policy Studies Chair in Middle East Studies at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Clinton addressed several hotspots in the Middle East. She spoke about the United Statesâ close ties with Israel and called on Palestinian leaders to help forge a new peace process - and to provide better service to the Palestinian people. She applauded nations such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia for making recent gains in womenâs rights. And Clinton called for the United States to reduce the number of American troops in Iraq, leaving a smaller strike force. âThis will help us stabilize their government and will send a message to Iran that they do not have a free hand despite their personal and religious connections,â she said. Clinton said that the United States has an important role in stabilizing the Middle East, in part because America offers a brand of optimism that can make a difference.  âHistory has weighed heavily on the Middle East. What we have tried to do over the last 30 years, starting with President Carter, moving through other presidents, including my husband, and now this president, is to send a uniquely American message: `It can get better. Just get over it.ââ
Posted by: Steve 2006-01-19 |
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