IRAN TALKS FALTER – AT 9:04 A.M. ET:  We're getting snippets of information after the latest round of nuclear talks with Iran.  They all point in the same direction – these talks are faltering.  There was some false optimism a week ago, but it is all gone.  From The New York Times:

LONDON — The latest round of nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers ended on Friday in Vienna, with Iranian and American officials saying that progress was slow and difficult, with serious gaps between the two sides on basic issues like the size of any nuclear enrichment capability Iran would be permitted to retain.

A senior American official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatic negotiations, said that Iran needed to be more realistic in the talks. Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told Iranian news media that “there was no tangible progress in this round of the talks” and that differences were too large to begin drafting an accord. But he said that the talks would continue next month.

The American official agreed with Mr. Araghchi that “significant gaps” remained after three days of talks. “Iran still has to make some hard choices,” the official said. “We are concerned that progress is not being made and that time is short.”

A senior European diplomat said that “we had expected a little more flexibility on their side.” Iranian officials, for their part, told the IRNA news agency that “the West has to abandon its excessive demands,” and that “we had expected the Western side to become more realistic, but this doesn’t appear to be the case yet.”

COMMENT:  Look, the main country here is, as always, the United States.  Obama and Kerry have so badly botched these talks that it's difficult to see a way out.  And yet, if the talks break down, what alternatives exist?  Obama says all options are on the table, presumably including a military strike, but no one takes him seriously. 

This is what weakness looks like.  We're seeing the results rather quickly.

May 19,  2014