Ultimatums Against Mullahs

What a surprise. The only people who are willing to stand up to the mullahs are Americans.

WASHINGTON — A senior State Department official ruled out on Thursday the possibility of providing Iran with fresh economic incentives as a means of curbing its nuclear ambitions.

"There is no reason to believe that extra incentives offered by the United States at this point would make a real difference," Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said.

Burns, testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the normal or near normal diplomatic and trade relations that European allies have maintained with Iran over the years have had little impact on Tehran's nuclear policies.

Burns said "it does not stand to reason" that a U.S. "opening of the trade gates" would encourage Iran to give up its nuclear weapons aspirations.

Exhibit A? North Korea. Exhibit B? You guessed it: Frank Stallone.