U.S. Softens North Korea Sanctions Proposal After Objections From China and Russia - New York Times

Despite the strong headline, things seem to be moving forward on sanctions against North Korea. However, the Chinese and Russian hesitance to putting Section VII sanctions in a UN resolution on Korean (i.e., implying military threat to enforce the sanctions) is undoubtably a bad omen for our ability to achieve anything meaningful on Iran -- which, after all, has oil as additional leverage.

Broader Question on China: Where are Nixon and Kissinger when you need them? This North Korea article leads to a thought vis a vis our ability to influence the international community on Iran, and international politics in general: If there is a way for us to get to a "grand bargain" in our relationship with the Chinese, with whose economy we are hopelessly entwined, now is the time to achieve this and attempt to isolate Russia and force it to be a more responsible player (as both China's greatest consumer and overwhelming debtor, we have a lot of leverage and common interest in international stability). The challenge, of course is that China has its own interests and Russia is experienced from the Cold War days of playing this three way relationship -- most importantly, today Russia has the added leverage of oil resources, with which to smooth their relationship with the Chinese.

Back to Iran: Today, the Chinese and Russian approach towards nuclear proliferation by states that we consider destabilizing to the international order gives us no solace. Unless this can somehow change, my fears are basically reinforced that we are going to be faced with the stark choice on Iran of: 1. acceptance of a nuclear Iran, or 2. military actions without the "broad support of the UN" (If we are lucky maybe we can get an embargo approved by NATO, but that probably won't do the job and will just inflame the situation unless we are willing to follow through with direct air strikes, the assurance of success of which is uncertain). Otherwise we have to hope for a miracle, which usually isn't a good policy option. Miracles can include the death of Supreme Leader of Iran Kameini and the succession of a more responsible, careful regime, something of a "people's revolution" in Iran, a miraculous decision by the Iranians that you get more with honey than with vinegar, or some kind of grand diplomatic bargain to assure Iranian stability in exchange for a cessation of nukes development (so far beyond the reach of the midgets running our foreign policy establishment).

U.S. Softens North Korea Sanctions Proposal After Objections From China and Russia - New York Times