FoxNews.com, January 21, 2011

 “I am tired of turning the other cheek when Iran is concerned.”
— Former Obama National Security Adviser James Jones at a panel discussion in Washington forecasting frustration with today’s latest round of talks with the rogue nation.
Talks begin today in Istanbul between representatives of Iran and the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council – China , France, Russia, Britain and America – plus Germany.
And what is remarkable is that even diplomats who love talk for talk’s sake are saying that it is a wasted exercise. Iran is still making nuclear bombs and still refusing to open itself to full inspections. And at the last round of talks in December, nothing happened except a lot of frustration and an agreement to meet again.
The challenge is that Russia and China do a lot of business with Iran and probably don’t mind too much the idea of having the country providing a counterweight to U.S. influence in the Middle East . Yes they fund terrorism and menace the region, but they do cause trouble for America. That’s counts for a lot in Moscow and Beijing.
But once the talking cure can be ruled out, that brings the Obama administration to the point of decision on Iran.
The president has already backed off his first offer of engagement and sought tougher sanctions against Iran. But like a big, mean dog that’s behind a too-short fence, Iran has all of its neighbors worried. And unless America is seen leading the way for the West, either the Israelis will take action, potentially starting a massive war, or an Arab nation will acquire nuclear weapons of its own in defense. Neither outcome will help the U.S.