Today’s video of the day comes from The O’Reilly Factor, where we discussed whether or not George W. Bush should be tried for war crimes.

Obama has pledged to “engage” with Iran in a respectful way, but “engagement” is a malleable concept.

Will Obama Stack His Middle East Team with Neoconservative Ideologues?

By John Tirman

None of President Obama’s foreign policy actions will matter more than how he approaches Iran. Most other big challenges — Russia, China, trade policy, development, human rights — will continue the trajectory of previous American policies, with some variations.

But Iran poses a set of dynamic challenges. In one way or another, it touches upon all the turmoil of the region, it is at the center of oil and gas production and pricing, its leadership connects with political Islam the world over, and it has strengthening ties to Russia, India, China and Japan.

Obama has pledged, as recently as last Jan. 11, to “engage” with Iran in a respectful way, which is certainly a change, at least in tone. But “engagement” is a malleable concept.  At this early stage of the Obama era, it’s important to understand who might shape that engagement, who has responsibility for Iran in the State Department and how those people perceive the future contours of the U.S.-Iran relationship.

And on that score, if the Washington rumor mill is correct, we are in for another dose of “get tough” diplomacy.  As Hillary Rodham Clinton said in her confirmation hearings to be Secretary of State, they intend to approach Iran’s nuclear-development program “through diplomacy, through the use of sanctions, through creating better coalitions with countries that we believe also have a big stake in preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear weapon power, to try to prevent this from occurring.”

The core of that list and her statement that “all options are on the table” — code for a military attack on Iran — is coercion. It won’t work, if by “work” we mean to make Iran bend to our will. It hasn’t worked for three decades. And such a continuation of coercive policies could create even more dissonance in the relationship than at any time in the 30 years since the Islamic revolution.

For the rest of the story, click here.

More Peanut Butter Products Recalled

As more cases of peanut-butter-related salmonella pop up, more products are being recalled, including cookies, snack bars, and ice cream. What you think?

Loretta Rinehart,
Materials Manager
“Finally, the day has come when I will no longer be ridiculed for eating a jelly and fish-paste sandwich.”

Brian Hale,
Armored Car Messenger
“So, am I sick because of the salmonella or because I just ate 5 pounds of Reese’s Pieces?”

Gregory Carpenter,
Systems Analyst
“I hope they get this figured out soon so I can return to providing my child with lunch.”

Today’s photo of the day shows Rod Blagojevich, who skipped his impeachment trial and headed to The View. Say what you want, this cat has cojones bigger than baby shoes!!!!