But those are not subprime mortgages.

It seems to me that the central question is how do you strike at the core of al-Qaeda in a way that does significant damage?

Sealing the border in that region is an enormously tough challenge.

I firmly believe, however, that use economic pressure is far superior to the other alternatives which we might have to consider in the future if we do not act now.

The clock needs to stop ticking.

Current engagement efforts must not be an open-ended process. We cannot weather endless rounds of fruitless negotiations while the Iranian regime surreptitiously advances its nuclear ambitions.

If, in fact, we come to December and those four items have not been achieved, is that satisfactory?

the Iranians can either negotiate in good faith or they can face increasing international isolation and pressure.

Their first day of talks seemed to produce a potentially positive first step that Iran's agreement supposedly to ship most of its low enriched uranium out of the country.

We are near the end of 2009 and the clock is ticking.

public disclosure without consequence means nothing.

My patience is quickly dissipating, so I look forward to seeing what we are going to do in that respect.