Briefing Skipper: START, Montazer, Valenzuela, David Goldman, Futenma

In which we scour the transcript of the State Department’s daily presser so you don’t have to. Here are the highlights of today’s briefing by Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley:

• Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller has returned from Geneva without a deal on a follow on to the START nuclear reductions treaty with Russia. "Our goal remains to conclude a solid treaty for the president’s signature as soon as possible, and we expect that the teams will resume their negotiations in Geneva in mid-January," Crowley said. The old treat expired Dec. 5.
• Regarding the verification measures that lapsed when the START treaty expired, Crowley said, "We are abiding by the spirit of that agreement as we continue these negotiations." I wonder if the Russians are abiding as well? Crowley: "We have confidence in the good faith on the Russian side." Ok…
• Undersecretary of State Bill Burns held a telephone conference call with the members of the P5+1 countries regarding strategy toward Iran, but nothing new to report, according to Crowley. Still debating how to move to away from engagement and toward pressure. "We would expect, you know, coming into the new year, that we’ll be prepared to take steps on both tracks," Crowley said, "As we’ve said many times, the offer of engagement is still there."
• "Of course there’s concern about a crackdown," following the street protests surrounding the funeral of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazer. "There is something happening inside Iranian society. It’s hard to predict how it will unfold," Crowley said.
• The U.S. is staying out of the issue of Houthu rebels in Yemen, who are apparently killing dozens of Saudis these days and may be funded by Iran. "We have no direct role in what’s happening along the border," said Crowley, "As to what is driving this, it’s hard for us to know."
• The State Department has been in touch with Argentina to "clarify" comments by Assistant Secretary of State Arturo Valenzuela, who ignited a firestorm on his recent visit there by saying that Argentina lacked "legal security."
• Crowley also stood by comments by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, when she said that Latin American countries getting close to Iran was a "really bad idea." "We believe that, you know, countries should choose their friends wisely," he said matter of factly.
• State Department is waiting on the Brazilian Supreme Court to rule on the case of David Goldman, the American who is trying to reunite with his abducted 9 year old son. The decision could come today.
• The administration is relatively happy with the choices Afghan president Hamid Karzai made for his new cabinet, but not totally happy. "This is a government that we think broadly we can do business with," Crowley said, "That said… our judgment is not universal regarding every single minister that he’s announced."
• The Japanese ambassador dropped by the State Department to meet with Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell and also he saw Clinton. His message? We need more time to figure out what to do about plans to relocate the Futenma air base in Okinawa. The U.S. still thinks the existing plan is best, but is willing to give the new Japanese government more time to come to that conclusion. "We understand that transitions can be difficult," said Crowley, "We’ve just gone through one of our own."
• The number of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has dropped below 200 (woo hoo?), Crowley said, down from 242 at the beginning of the Obama administration. "We continue our efforts to close Guantanamo," Crowley said.