No sooner I put up the post that Allahpundit twittered:
Gibbs: hot dog diplomacy ended. All 4th of July invites to Iranians rescinded.
Weenies? We don’t need no steenkin’ weenies!
As Jules put it,
I’m trying to keep the criticism on a constructive level, but I’m rapidly losing confidence in this administration’s ability to manage even something as simple as a Fourth of July picnic without turning it into an international embarrassment.
Earlier:
Yesterday, the weenie diplomacy was still on. Today, they’re thinking it over:
Officials: President Obama reconsidering July 4 invitations to Iran
The Obama administration is seriously considering not extending invitations to Iranian diplomats for July 4 celebrations overseas, senior administration officials tell CNN.
The officials said intense discussions on the issue were taking place, but the final decision had not been made.
Looks like they’ll have waffles with those weenies:
One senior administration official said Wednesday the reconsideration of the July 4th invitations is consistent with Obama’s comments Tuesday, in which he said he was “shocked and appalled” at the violence against demonstrators.
“The president said yesterday how this plays out will affect what we do,” the official said.
Obama said Tuesday, “If Iran chooses a path that abides by international norms and principles, then we are interested in healing some of the wounds of 30 years in terms of U.S.-Iranian relations.”
But he sidestepped questions on whether the offer to attend the celebrations still stand.
“That’s a choice the Iranians are going to have to make,” he said.
Officials said if such a decision is made invitations that have gone out will not be rescinded, although it was unclear whether any Iranians had accepted an invitation.
Or perhaps the drinks are on the rocks?
“I wouldn’t say engagement is off the table, but it is certainly on ice,” a senior administration official told CNN this week.
But what if they give a weenie roast and nobody comes?
US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Wednesday he does not believe that one single Iranian diplomat has accepted invitations to July 4 events at US embassies worldwide.
(h/t Jammie)
Could it possibly be that the Ayatollahs don’t find appeasement appetizing?
The Lid was blogging on this, too.
