David Rothkopf Profile picture
Mar 9 4 tweets 1 min read
Before an Iran deal happens, a couple points:
--A deal reconstituting the JCPOA to some degree is in the interest of the US and the world
--Pulling out of the JCPOA was one of the biggest mistakes of the Trump era and measurably made Iran and its nuclear program more dangerous
--The urging of US Mideast allies to pull out of the Iran deal was misguided, not in their interests, and an error they should not repeat
--Russian involvement in the deal is necessary to getting the deal done and we should hold our noses and encourage it to happen
--It should not however, in any way change our current efforts to severely penalize and isolate Russia for their repugnant and indefensible behavior in Ukraine
--Russia should not be allowed to use the deal to achieve any gains re: the sanctions regime against them
--If anything the dangers associated with the Ukraine war should underscore for the world that anything that halts or slows the development of nuclear weapons is in our collective interest as a planet

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More from @djrothkopf

Mar 10
I'm not going to win any points for saying this but the Biden Admin international team has been doing exceptional work from the outset. They have restored international standing, strengthened alliances, rejoined multilateral institutions, elevated US diplomacy.
The list of accomplishments is long: the leadership in this conflict is historic and will be studied & emulated for generations. But they rejoined the Paris Accord, rejoined the World Health Organization, led the global fight against the pandemic, and ended America's longest war.
Yes...the courageous decision to get out of Afghanistan was the right decision and while the exit from that country could certainly have been handled better, the net benefits were great (including giving us the bandwidth and resources to face key challenges of today).
Read 13 tweets
Mar 10
We will constantly have to reevaluate how much we feel we can do for Ukraine as the atrocities against it mount. By all means, let's not start a nuclear war. But, having said that, let's also keep in mind that Russia is already accusing us of having set up WMD labs in Ukraine.
They don't need us to actually do anything to make outrageous claims to "justify" their indefensible acts. And they know we are providing key weapons to Ukraine. They know we are leading crushing sanctions. They know we will soon provide Ukraine with another $14 billion.
The Russians know we have helped train the Ukrainians. The Russians no doubt believe we are providing them with all manner of covert assistance. Further, our military and theirs have operate in close hostile quarters in Syria and we avoided WWIII.
Read 8 tweets
Mar 9
Gotta say, I'm not terribly persuaded by the Russia is losing, its army has been a disaster, Putin has miscalculated, the sanctions are taking a huge toll, and therefore Putin is more dangerous takes. Having a nuclear option as his only option...is a terrible option for him.
Yes, he might deranged. But, in the first instance, not clear the professional Russian military would follow him off of that particular cliff. And secondly, it's a cliff. There's no nuclear use option that in the end turns out well for Putin.
Should we be careful? Of course. But let's realize a moment of growing strength for what it is. And let's not let Russian spin cow us from taking steps that are essential to the defending Ukraine and the international order.
Read 4 tweets
Mar 9
Enough with the bad takes on @VP's role. She is playing a more active role in international diplomacy that the vast majority of her predecessors in the job...and handling tough issues. This is not just attending foreign funerals.
@VP has been involved continuously in a series of very sensitive discussions on relations with neighbors in hemisphere, on IndoPac ties in the moments after the Afghan withdrawal, with France post AUKUS dust up, on Libya, in Munich pre-Ukraine war and now this mid-conflict.
In each case, the readout from foreign leaders and from with the highest levels of the USG has been that she has been exceptionally effective (and if she weren't she wouldn't keep being chosen for such central roles.) She does not shy away from the hard assignments.
Read 4 tweets
Mar 8
Biden makes all the right points in his address calling for a ban on imports of Russian energy (and calling on Congress to approve $12 billion in aid to Ukraine). He explained the rational. He made a clear case why this is important to all of us and to our national interests.
He explained what he would do to mitigate price impacts. He explained how he was coordinating w/ allies. He explained how this fit with other support for Ukraine. He explained that US would help allies with refugee burden. He laid out why some allies could not take this step now.
He made it clear he will not tolerate price gouging from energy companies. He made it clear that the arguments that we need to drill more on federal lands don't make any sense, that plenty of permits exist if that is the desire/intent of oil companies.
Read 8 tweets
Mar 8
As we enter the energy war phase of this crisis, when Americans are asked to pay more...perhaps twice as much to fill up their tanks of gas...it is vitally important that our leaders communicate that this is the relatively small sacrifice we must make to help defeat Russia.
They must drive home the point that Russia has not just attacked Ukraine. Russia is attacking democracy, attacking freedom, attacking the international order that so many Americans have fought and died for. Russia is threatening our allies in Europe and the Atlantic Alliance.
If Russia goes unchecked the consequences will be enormous. NATO countries that Putin has targeted as part of his twisted vision of the empire he wants to build will be next. Not only are they allies, but should he threaten them, we will be obligated to fight to defend them.
Read 20 tweets

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