In a closed trial, Iran convicted Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi of spying and sentenced her to 8 years in prison. What’s the U.S. government’s friendly, multilateral reaction?

The White House said President Barack Obama was “deeply disappointed” by the conviction…

“Deeply disappointed” is a familiar term; does President Obama have to pay the U.N. royalties for using it? Usually they save that one for when a Jewish kindergarten is bombed or a mosque is used as a weapons cache or a few billion aid dollars are embezzled.

President Bush got a continuous stream of criticism for the forward and un-nuanced way he said things. Sometimes, though, words and phrases from the official Democrats’ Guide to a Presidency that Doesn’t Get Ruined By Other Countries Not Liking Us Enough simply don’t cut it.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the United States was working with Swiss diplomats in Iran to get details about the court’s decision and to ensure Saberi’s well-being. She said in a statement the United States will “vigorously raise our concerns” with the Iranian government.

Let’s hope Mrs. Clinton’s skills at being a cold hard… communicator come in handy in this case.