Imposing More Sanctions On Iran Will Not Work

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(Photo Credit: White House) Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are insisting that if only Congress could dream up better and more effective sanctions to squeeze Iran and get Russia and China to go along, then the Iranian nuclear problem would go away. This is nonsense.

Guest Post by Riz Khan: For the Greater Good. . .

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(Riz Khan anchors the Riz Khan Show on Al Jazeera English. This “Note” is part of a series of posts that personalities from Al Jazeera have been sharing with readers of The Washington Note.) New York is going into rehab – to use an increasingly popular term.

Foul on Republicans: Unsportsman Like Behavior

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This in from a friend: Theresa Poulson, one of the NJ.com reporters was covering a conservative event here in D.C. today in which Michael Steele, GOP chairman, was the featured speaker. She was the only reporter there. Steele interrupted his speech to announce that Chicago had lost and Rio had won the 2016 Olympics.

What Do Europeans Expect from Obama in Copenhagen?

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I had an excellent discussion with former German Green Party Chairman and new European Parliament Member Reinhard Bütikofer and his European Parliament colleague Claude Turmes this past week on what Europe was expecting from the US and President Obama at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. A short exchange is posted ab

Giving Aaron Schock a Pass on Honduras and DeMint

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Congressman Aaron Schock is a highly reasonable, intelligent, balanced Republican Member of Congress — and though I have only met him twice, I was impressed with how he conducted his conversations and views in DC cocktail policy chatter — particularly at an MSNBC party where Rachel Maddow was tending the bar.

And the Winner is…

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Rio de Janeiro! The International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded Brazil the honor (and burden) of hosting the 2016 Olympics. Despite strong pitches from three heavyweight cities, Madrid, Chicago, and Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro won the bid.

No Obama Effect: Chicago Eliminated

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The International Olympic Committee has just voted that Chicago has been eliminated from consideration as the 2016 host for the Olympic Games. An end to the Obama effect? In about an hour you can watch the announcement live of the 2016 host here. I’m betting on Rio.

First Draft of History Conference

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There is a great meeting going on right now in Washington sponsored by the Atlantic Monthly, the Aspen Institute and the Newseum. The meeting is called “First Draft of History.