Sunday, November 24, 2013

Isn't this a great description of not just this agreement with Iran but government activities in general


4. The Tyranny of Process
No matter how imperfect, negotiators and U.S. officials get very attached to their negotiations and agreements. Those who labored to produce this interim agreement will become very invested in their handiwork and move to vigorously defend it. I’ve seen this movie and succumbed to these same sentiments several times over the years. The process –with all its historic resonance—will acquire a legitimacy and authority that will steel the administration against arguments that point out its deficiencies. Part of this flows from the conviction of those inside who know how hard it is to get anything done in negotiations; and part from the logic that you need to compare the accord not to the perfect but to the alternative: Iran’s continued effort to acquire a breakout capacity. That the four other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany blessed the agreement will give it further legitimacy and authority. All of this will give the United States a major stake in keeping the process going, even beyond the six-month deadline for reaching a comprehensive agreement. And even if Iran fudges some aspects of the deal, there will be great pressure and temptation to try to work things out even at the risk of not strictly enforcing the agreement.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2013/11/lets-not-celebrate-this-iran-dealyet-100292_Page2.html#ixzz2laOsdlLd

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