Andrea Mitchell
from NBC's Andrea Mitchell
Russian Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin today expressed skepticism about sanctioning Iran over its nuclear program. Putin made his comments in Beijing, in what will be widely viewed as a diplomatic rebuke to the U.S. and Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton. Clinton just wrapped up a two day trip to Russia and is now flying back to DC.
"There is no need to frighten the Iranians," Putin told reporters in Beijing after a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organizatin, the AP writes. "And if now, before making any steps [towards holding talks] we start announcing some sanctions, then we won't be creating favorable conditions for them to end positively. This is why it is premature to talk about this now," he said.
Clinton had her own difficulties over Iran on the trip, as Russia's hardline Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov restated his opposition to sanctions yesterday. Later yesterday, she met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who did not publically disagree with his Foreign Minister.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
GENEVA -- A senior U.S. official tells NBC News that the significance of the proposal to farm out Iran's enrichment is that if it is done it would remove most of their stockpiles of enriched uranium.
Although they could always produce more that takes time and the official says it could extend by at least a year the time frame before they could produce a bomb.
Officials in Geneva are trying to avoid overplaying the proposal because, one said, "We don't want to spook the Iranians. But if they end up doing this, it would be a very big deal."
If they now refuse, it raises serious questions about whether they their nuclear program is really peaceful as they claim.
More on the talks from NBC's Michelle Perry, also in Geneva:
A U.S. official said the talks in Geneva today represent the beginning in a process to move on practical steps that will address the international communitiy's request that Iran be transparent on the Qom site and in allowing IAEA inspections.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
GENEVA, Switzerland -- The talks between the P5+1 and Iran have ended and, per a senior U.S. official, all parties have agreed to a second round of talks by the end of the month.
The U.S. and Iran had their first meetings, direct talks -- in 30 years -- during a lunch break in the group session.
Deputy U.S. Spokesman Robert Wood confirmed that "On the margins of the meeting this morning Undersecretary of State William Burns met with the Iranian representative Saeed Jalili."
Prior to the direct talks during the lunch break, the opening plenary session was a restatement of previous positions by both sides, according to sources inside the meeting.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
According to representatives of the Russian government, Russia's President Medvedev praised President Obama effusively during a question-and-answer session with students at the University of Pittsburgh.
Asked about Iran and sanctions, Medvedev reportedly said, according to a transcript provided by the Russians:
"I have this feeling as though I'm still in the meeting with Barack Obama. Yesterday he asked me this very same question. We spent about a half hour talking about that yesterday! I tried to answer that yesterday and I'll try to answer that today in this beautiful hall.
First of all, we are all responsible for global affairs. Since we share this responsibility, no state should refuse it. In this sense, Russia is a responsible country. All of us are involved in promoting nuclear energy and the right to the peaceful use of it. Iran as a state has a right to its own peaceful nuclear program. This is our clear position. That is what I said to Barack Obama yesterday.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
Senior White House and Justice Department officials briefing reporters on a conference call just now insisted that the White House would not be involved in tactical decisions about the interrogation of detainees under new procedures approved by the president. Officials said the National Security Council interagency role would be "policy guidance" -- only.
The new unit will be headquartered at the FBI and overseen by the NSC's counter terror chief, John Brennan, who used to run the counter terror center at the CIA.
The briefers said they would also create a unit to do scientific studies of "best practices" of interrogation to find out what works.
They pledged that the U.S. would no longer "render" suspects to countries that torture prisoners and that renditions would be overseen by the State Department.
The CIA would still have a role, but a much smaller one under the new system, and the CIA would no longer be involved in running detention camps.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
In an interview on MSNBC, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said that his talks today with two visiting North Korean diplomats suggested that the temperature has cooled down in the relationship -- after a period of increasing hostility.
Richardson said North Korea is now prepared to have a dialogue with the United States again, but that Pyongyang is still resisting participating in the regional six-party talks that the U.S. has demanded. He said the visiting diplomats spoke positively of the meeting with Bill Clinton and seem to want to engage. The governor stressed that they requested the meeting, and that he is not negotiating in any way for the Obama administration.
"Maybe there is a little thaw signaled here," Richardson said, adding that the State Department approved the visit. (The diplomats are attached to the North Korean UN mission in New York and need permission to travel outside the radius of NYC.)
Asked what he may have learned about the health of Kim Jong Il, Richardson said "he did look pretty healthy to me" (in pictures from the Clinton trip).
On North Korea's bargaining posture, Richardson said, "The North Koreans clearly feel they are owed something, that they released the two Americans that they want something in return."
Asked about the North Korean demand for one on one talks with the U.S., Richardson said, "I agree it's going to be hard to keep South Korea, China, Japan out of the conversation with North Korea." But Richardson suggested that maybe there is a framework within six-party talks for one-on-one talks, as has happened before.
From NBC's Andrea Mitchell and Mark Murray
In Monrovia, Liberia today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked by a New York Times correspondent about her well-publicized reaction to a question she thought she was getting on husband Bill Clinton's views on a policy matter.
But she gave a NON-answer.
Question from the NYT reporter: "Can you reflect on what you have accomplished, and how you measure that. And then the second part of my question is connected, and maybe I'm asking it at my own peril, but I'd like to bring you back to the comments you made in Congo, 'My husband is not the secretary of state, I am,' that has gotten more attention than anything else you've said here. What was going through your mind when you said it, and do you regret it?"
Here was Clinton's full answer: "Well, first of all, let me say that this has been an absolutely wonderful trip. I'm grateful to all of the countries that received me and my delegation. This was a very important trip that both President Obama and I wanted to make early in the administration -- to send a very clear message that the Obama administration is committed to developing an even stronger and closer relationship with not just the governments but also the people of Africa. We are near the end of this trip and it is only appropriate to be here in Liberia, where our relationship goes back so many years. And at every stop we have emphasized the importance of fulfilling what President Obama said in his historic speech in Ghana, the future of Africa is up to the Africans, just like the future of Liberia is up to the Liberians. But all of us know that given the conflicts and the challenges that have often prevented the African people from realizing their full potential, the U.S. stands ready to be a partner and a friend in helping to overcome the obstacles and create the environment for the kind of development that President Sirleaf is working on so hard here.
She continued: "So I've had a great time on this trip. I opened this newspaper, and I think it looks like she's having a great time and from my perspective the most important part of this trip are the relationships that we have built, the commitments that we have discussed, the problems that we have honestly explored. We have not shied away from raising the difficult problems that exist and stand in the way of the people of Africa realizing their potential. Uh, and I think that will stand the test of time, and I'm very proud of the trip that we have made together."
Meanwhile, when the New York reporters asked Bill Clinton about his wife's reaction from earlier this week, he replied, "I haven't seen it," the New York Post reports. (Hat tip: JMart.)
From NBC's Michelle Perry and Mark Murray
On MSNBC this afternoon, New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg (R) told NBC's Andrea Mitchell that he had no regrets about turning down the opportunity to be President Obama's Commerce secretary.
Video: Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., discusses some of the factors which may prevent a health care bill from being passed before Congress breaks for their August recess.
"I wouldn't have been any good on health-care defense, and wouldn't have been good on [the] budget. I made the right decision; I just should have made it sooner."
Mitchell interjected, "You weren't going to be great cheerleader?"
Gregg replied, "That's true."
Video:
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., discusses the major push Democratic leaders are launching to win over health care critics within their own party.
Also, Mitchell interviewed Oregon Sen.
Ron Wyden (D), who said he'd be willing to work through the August recess to hammer out a health-care bill. Mitchell asked Wyden what his wife thought about that.
He said she wasn't exactly thrilled.
From NBC's Andrea Mitchell and Libby Leist
The State Department has released excerpts of Secretary of State Clinton's foreign policy speech later today.
On the foreign-policy challenges and President Obama:
-- "...the international agenda today is unforgiving: two wars, conflict in the Middle East, ongoing threats of violent extremism and nuclear proliferation, global recession, climate change, hunger and disease, and a widening gap between rich and poor. All of these challenges affect America's security and prosperity. And all threaten global stability and progress."
-- "For President Obama and me, the question is not whether our nation can lead, but how it will lead in this new global context."
-- "...we have the right strategy, the right priorities, the right policies. We have the right President. And we have the American people, diverse, committed, involved and open to the future."
On the foreign-policy priorities:
-- "reverse the spread of nuclear weapons, prevent their use, and build a world free of their threat;"
-- "isolate and defeat terrorists and counter violent extremists while reaching out to Muslims around the world;"
-- "encourage and facilitate the efforts of all parties to pursue a comprehensive peace in the Middle East;"
-- "pursue global economic recovery and growth - by strengthening our own economy, advancing a robust development agenda, expanding trade that is free and fair, and boosting investment that creates decent jobs;"
-- "combat climate change, increase energy security, and lay the foundation for a prosperous clean-energy future;"
-- "support and encourage democratic governments that protect the rights of and deliver results for their people;"
-- "and stand up for human rights everywhere."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Andrea Mitchell
A spokesman for CIA Director Leon Panetta says Panetta's comments to The New Yorker were made to make it absolutely clear that he "profoundly" disagrees with former Vice President Dick Cheney's contention (made on the day of Panetta's interview with journalist Jane Mayer) that President Obama's policies have made the U.S. less safe.
Panetta's spokesman says that was what motivated Panetta's response.
Video: CIA Director Leon Panetta claims former Vice President Dick Cheney’s criticism of the Obama administration’s approach terrorism almost suggests he wishes the U.S. would be attacked again to make his point. Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., discusses.
He says Panetta was not saying that Cheney is hoping for another attack on the homeland, pointing to the words he used: "When you read it, it's ALMOST (emphasis added) as if he's wishing this country would be attacked again, in order to make his point. I think that's dangerous politics."
In other words, Panetta was conditional -- not directly accusing Cheney, is his spokesman's point.
*** UPDATE *** More context on Panetta: As is clear from the article itself, Panetta spoke to Jane Mayer of The New Yorker after returning from Obama's speech on detention policy and interrogation -- and being briefed on Cheney's speech earlier that day. So the comments were off the cuff -- his raw reaction to Cheney's criticism.
