James E. O’Brien of the BBC, interviews Wendy R. Sherman, a listed member of CFR. She is currently the Senior Counselor at the Albright Stonebridge Group that was founded by Madeleine Albright, a listed member of CFR.
They console each other over their grave concerns about President-elect Trump after Hillary Clinton’s unexpected loss.
Published on Nov 23, 2016 BBC Newsnight
Wendy suggests Trump should ‘apologize’ for his failure of political correct language during the campaign and needs to reassure the country that rights would be upheld and that he would support the disappointed Hillary supporters. Many are “fearful” of his campaign promises and need comforting, including herself.
She worries that the Climate change agreement “the whole world has signed up to” will not be honored. Continuing she laments that he was unlikely to push for the redistribution of the nation’s wealth.
Sherman has now read “The Art of the Deal” and points out that one less building created is not the same as possibly going to war for a failed agreement. She emphasizes that negotiations can involve the “entire international community” and the world needs a US leader who understands their complexity. Wendy Sherman served as lead negotiator on the Obama administration’s 2015 Iran deal in her role as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. [1] [2]
Trump voiced during the campaign some concerns about the Iran nuclear deal and wanted to re-open it to strengthen the terms. Trump used words to describe the deal as “stupid,” a “lopsided disgrace” and the “worst deal ever negotiated”. [3]
Did Sherman’s negotiations merely ‘kick the can down the road’ on a future catastrophic war with Iran? Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, in an interview on MSNBC asked why Ambassador Sherman thought the negotiated agreement would stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons in the future. [4]
I understand why you would say that this deal makes it difficult for Iran to get a nuclear weapon for the next 10 or 15 years, but I don’t understand your use of the word ‘never’. Because, as you know better than anyone, the limits on centrifuges and enriched uranium expire after 10 and 15 years. So how can you or anyone say this agreement makes sure Iran will never get nuclear weapons?
Based on some Trump actions since the elections, O’Brien and Sherman reached a slightly hopeful final conclusion to the short interview. Perhaps for “today” the Hillary loss was not quite as scary and dire as they imagined, but both were still rather dubious and skeptical about an impending President Trump.
Equally for “today” the possibility of a nuclear threat from Iran seems less scary, but perhaps we should remain dubious and skeptical on this matter as well.
Reference:
[1] Sherman speaks on Iran nuclear agreement February 2016 ‘Duke Chronicle’ of Duke University
[2] Wendy Sherman speaks about Iran talks July 21, 2016 WGBH news
[3] Trump and Iran deal on ABC November 11, 2016 ABC news
[4] Video of interview on MSNBC January 2016 – Richard Haass and Wendy Sherman (Youtube copy of original news clip from MSNBC)
Council on Foreign Relations public membership list (CFR)
Note: Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton are both listed members of CFR. Hillary R. Clinton does not currently show up on the 2016 list, though she has spoken at the group several times and states that she takes their advice and input and shares their philosophy. [5]
[5] Hillary Clinton: Foreign Policy Address at the Council on Foreign Relations 2009
There is a James C. O’Brien listed as a member of CFR. He is Vice Chair at the Albright Stonebridge Group.