Virgil
11-20-2008, 11:14 AM
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_11016762
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Adviser: Obama ready for Iran
He says at a Denver luncheon that the president-elect is set to use strong sticks and strong carrots.
By Howard Pankratz
The Denver Post
Updated: 11/18/2008 10:46:33 PM MST
Iran's high unemployment, high inflation, dropping oil prices and other internal problems should enable the United States to engage the Iranian government in meaningful negotiations if the U.S. applies a policy of "strong sticks and strong carrots," President-elect Barack Obama's Middle East adviser said in Denver on Tuesday.
Dennis Ross was director of planning in the State Department under President George H.W. Bush and special Middle East coordinator for President Clinton.
He was in Denver as keynote speaker during an awards luncheon for the Anti-Defamation League. The "distinguished community service award" was given to David and Laura Merage for the work of their foundation, which is designed to promote self-sufficiency through education and development in the United States and Israel.
In his speech, Ross said that inflation in Iran is 29.4 percent and unemployment ranges from 30 to 40 percent. He said Iran has been hit hard by the dramatic drop in oil prices — from which the Iranian government obtains 85 percent of its revenues.
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Adviser: Obama ready for Iran
He says at a Denver luncheon that the president-elect is set to use strong sticks and strong carrots.
By Howard Pankratz
The Denver Post
Updated: 11/18/2008 10:46:33 PM MST
Iran's high unemployment, high inflation, dropping oil prices and other internal problems should enable the United States to engage the Iranian government in meaningful negotiations if the U.S. applies a policy of "strong sticks and strong carrots," President-elect Barack Obama's Middle East adviser said in Denver on Tuesday.
Dennis Ross was director of planning in the State Department under President George H.W. Bush and special Middle East coordinator for President Clinton.
He was in Denver as keynote speaker during an awards luncheon for the Anti-Defamation League. The "distinguished community service award" was given to David and Laura Merage for the work of their foundation, which is designed to promote self-sufficiency through education and development in the United States and Israel.
In his speech, Ross said that inflation in Iran is 29.4 percent and unemployment ranges from 30 to 40 percent. He said Iran has been hit hard by the dramatic drop in oil prices — from which the Iranian government obtains 85 percent of its revenues.
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