Obama's Innocence Abroad

Headline: Obama says Iran's energy concerns legitimate

LONDON -- President Barack Obama suggested that Iran may have some right to nuclear energy _ provided it proves by the end of the year that its aspirations are peaceful.

In a BBC interview broadcast Tuesday, he also restated plans to pursue direct diplomacy with Tehran to encourage it set aside any ambitions for nuclear weapons it might harbor.

Iran is sitting on an ocean of oil and natural gas. But it needs nuclear power?

The Iranian president can surely thank Obama for this public relations victory ten days before national elections. This is the same man, by the way, who regularly calls for Israel to be wiped off the map.

Of course, for that matter, so does Ahmadinejad's "moderate" opponent in the election.

But by all means, Mr. Obama, let's give them until the end of the year to pursue those peaceful nukes.