BREAKING: Nuclear Deal Reached Between Iran, 6 Powers (Obama: 'New Path Toward a World More Secure')

[Scootaloo]

77. Sanctions actually DON'T work

They didn't work against Iraq. They didn't work against North Korea. They weren't working against Iran. All sanctions do is harm the rank and file populace of the nation, they do no real harm to the leaders or the military - who are usually the ones making the cause FOR the sanctions. Historically all they accomplish is a hardening of their targets' stance - as they were doing in Iran ever since they were first implemented.

Rouhani wanted to make a grand gesture to show that he is a very different guy from his predecessor. That's the genesis of this. Were it not for that desire, we'd probably still be mired up to the axles in this saber-rattling bullshit. And yes, thankfully obama was in office when he made that gesture; I imagine McCain would have taken it as an opportunity to bomb, or Romney would have... You know, I can't even imagine what that putz would do, and i'm thankful I don't have to!

Diplomacy works. And America needs to discard this multi-administration machismo bullshit belief that being the first to pick up a phone makes us "look weak."