Frum reveals his neocon roots when saying that efforts to negotiate the JCPOA with Iran were wrong. With the full support of the UN, EU, G-7, Russia & China in holding a strong sanctions regime to force the Iranians to the table, the final deal was extraordinarily favorable to the U.S. and Western world. Imagine a world 8 years on from the successful implementation of the JCPOA where Iran is benefitting from growing trade relations with Europe, and perhaps even with US companies, and with all the cultural and economic exchanges that the deal promised. The deal doesn’t look good today because a foolish and impulsive US president tore up the deal to satisfy some personal anti-Iranian bigotry and need to seem tough to the world. It was a terrible and fateful decision which resulted in zero net benefit to the US or its partners, strengthened the hardliners in Iran, and showed the world the US could not be trusted. Now Frum talks of advances in Iranian missile technology as evidenced by launches from Yemeni surrogates and the possibility of nuclear warheads on them as if it was inevitable. This is where Frum, who’s brilliant on so many issues, loses me and many others.
A propos the rebuilding of Ukraine. David is correct to say there will be many business opportunities for the world in the reconstruction of Ukraine.However international organisations will be most reluctant to invest or locate there if the country doesn’t have cast iron security guarantees. For me this means NATO membership. Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons on the understanding it would be protected.If it had nuclear weapons Putin would not have invaded. That ship has sailed but we owe to Ukraine to see that never happens again and if Russia ever wants a rematch then they will be dealing directly with the combined might of NATO.If those guarantees are established Ukraine will rise again and prosper and Europe and the world will be a much safer place. Kind regards from Scotland.
Interesting idea. I wouldn't disagree necessarily, but I think there are other ways that a NATO-like security arrangement could be at least temporarily patched together without formal NATO membership for Ukraine. For example, if the US were to take a Taiwan-esque approach to Ukraine, that would certainly do it, but this is not the only way.
Frum reveals his neocon roots when saying that efforts to negotiate the JCPOA with Iran were wrong. With the full support of the UN, EU, G-7, Russia & China in holding a strong sanctions regime to force the Iranians to the table, the final deal was extraordinarily favorable to the U.S. and Western world. Imagine a world 8 years on from the successful implementation of the JCPOA where Iran is benefitting from growing trade relations with Europe, and perhaps even with US companies, and with all the cultural and economic exchanges that the deal promised. The deal doesn’t look good today because a foolish and impulsive US president tore up the deal to satisfy some personal anti-Iranian bigotry and need to seem tough to the world. It was a terrible and fateful decision which resulted in zero net benefit to the US or its partners, strengthened the hardliners in Iran, and showed the world the US could not be trusted. Now Frum talks of advances in Iranian missile technology as evidenced by launches from Yemeni surrogates and the possibility of nuclear warheads on them as if it was inevitable. This is where Frum, who’s brilliant on so many issues, loses me and many others.
A propos the rebuilding of Ukraine. David is correct to say there will be many business opportunities for the world in the reconstruction of Ukraine.However international organisations will be most reluctant to invest or locate there if the country doesn’t have cast iron security guarantees. For me this means NATO membership. Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons on the understanding it would be protected.If it had nuclear weapons Putin would not have invaded. That ship has sailed but we owe to Ukraine to see that never happens again and if Russia ever wants a rematch then they will be dealing directly with the combined might of NATO.If those guarantees are established Ukraine will rise again and prosper and Europe and the world will be a much safer place. Kind regards from Scotland.
Interesting idea. I wouldn't disagree necessarily, but I think there are other ways that a NATO-like security arrangement could be at least temporarily patched together without formal NATO membership for Ukraine. For example, if the US were to take a Taiwan-esque approach to Ukraine, that would certainly do it, but this is not the only way.
I love to listen to every interview of David Frum. I am an American. ❤
Same but I'm Canadian. @@barbarahorch7426
US doesn't want to go to war with Russia over east european countries. It's Russian sphere of influence.