Obama should engage in multilateral talks with Iran

The National Iranian American Council held a discussion on “Can Obama Untangle the Iranian Challenge?” in which they discussed the past history of U.S.-Iranian relations and how the incoming administration could improve those relations. Three members of Congress, Chairman John Tierney (D-Mass.), Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Senator Thomas Carper (D-Del.), made appearances and gave speeches in support of the National Iranian American Council’s initiative.

Ambassador James Dobbins, former Assistant Secretary of State, spoke about how the Iranian government repeatedly tried to open up negotiations with the U.S. during the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but were given the cold shoulder by the Bush administration. Dobbins pointed out that the United States engages in discussions with other adversaries, but that they have made no effort to do so with Iran.

Iran doesn’t like the the “sticks and carrots” approach the U.S. practices, said Dr. Farideh Farhi of the University of Hawaii. The United States needs to accept that Iran’s foreign policy system is complex and that Iran’s political system is full of conflicts and competition between various factions, she said. Farhi continued, saying that the U.S. needs to stop thinking of Iran as if it is a unified body that can be controlled by a head.

Iran is “on a must-do list” for Obama, said Joseph Cirincione, President of Ploughshares Fund. Though Cirincione wanted to open up discussions, he emphasized that Obama should not rush into negotiations with Iran. Instead, he should wait to see the results 2009 elections in Iran. Cirincione also said the U.S. should engage in Iran multilaterally, pointing out the need for other countries in the Middle East to show respect for Iran. Holding multilateral talks was also necessary in the peace process for Israel and Palestine. “Not involving Iran guarantees failure” in the Israel-Palestine conflict, said Cirincione.

Privileges and vendettas in the courtroom

"The gavel allows you to push issues" according to Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Senator Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) and he added that he missed being the one holding the gavel.

At The Heritage Foundation discussion on "Attorney-Client Privilege: Repairing the Damage," Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Senator Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) focused on the Department of Justice's policies regarding the right to counsel and the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Sixth Amendment sets forth rights related to criminal prosecutions in federal courts.


When asked if courts would ever allow cameras into the courtrooms, Specter said that courts today decide all "cutting edge authority." Specter noted that the print media has accessibility and a shift to electronic media was inevitable. Specter said that, as always, there was the question of security, but it was something that simply needed to be dealt with. Specter said he understood the public's desire for transparency and accessibility in institutions such as the Supreme Court.

Specter also discussed the case of Kent Wakefield from Virginia. According to Specter, Wakefield had written him a letter detailing his six year ordeal with the courts. Quoting Wakefield, Specter said that his employer at America Online (AOL) demanded to waive his attorney-client privilege. In addition, Specter said that Wakefield's assets were frozen. Specter said this was an example of a "vendetta being carried out."


Specter explained the importance of full disclosure between attorneys and their clients. Specter said that if the client did not feel comfortable telling his attorney everything, the attorney would not be able to sufficiently represent his client and the client would not get the full value of his attorney. Specter also emphasized that attorney-client privileges ensure fair trials and the government wins when justice is done.