More Sanctions Against Iran?

Today, the Senate Banking Committee approved a new Iran sanctions bill, aiming to discourage companies from doing business with Tehran. The committee reached a 19-2 vote with, believe it or not, two Republican Senators, Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyo) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb), breaking ranks and voting against the sanctions, claiming, “This bill does not in fact sanction Iran; it directly sanctions allies, friends and others,” said Hagel.

Hagel makes a great point, but I'm also concerned with the timing of the passing of the bill, especially as Undersecretary of State William J. Burns heads to Geneva this weekend to meet with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and top Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, according to the State Department.

The meeting is a departure from the Bush Administration's long standing policy that it would not have "preliminary" talks with Iran until it stops its uranium enrichment program. This is a huge step in what could be a chance to improve relations between our countries. It has never been a policy of the U.S. to "not" meet with our enemies until the Bush Administration came into existence, and I'm afraid that it has been these types of hardline policies that have weakened our country abroad. And, this sanctions bill does nothing to help.