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AF

I have seen Cheney on the news a couple of times making the same old noises, but i take your point that he is out of power. Fox appears to still give him air time. The Republicans seem to be in disarray and making all kinds of negative and aggressive noise, but that could be out of desperation.

Far as I know, Shirin is against economic sanctions but not political ones. she would like to see IRI officials shunned by other countries for their poor human rights records.

I too have read her book. in terms of 'norms', i know what you mean. those of us in between the 2 worlds are constantly faced with the same questions. i don't even understand why anyone would believe in god! but most people apparently do. i suspect many just play the part to appease others...

your point about iran's intransigence and its consequences is interesting. i guess somebody has to challenge the established order in whatever circumstance. but in the end, the same rules should apply to all parties, no?

Peace

NP

wow.  My whole comment has disappeared.  I know it was long but wow. 

In a nutshell (because I do want to hear more from you on this)... Cheney is gone, thank god.  Don't have to worry about him.  About Shirin, I thought she opposed sanctions against Iran.  I read Iran Awakening and thought it was very fair minded.  She is critical of the US but without animosity.  What is difficult for me at times reading an Iranian author is to accept these abnormal conditions as the "norm" for Iranian men and women. 

yes, many other countries practice the same or worse abuses against its people.  I think (and I emphasize that this is MY opinion only) that the difference is that those countries don't practice verbal warfare against the US like AN and the IR does.  Am I calling this a justification?  No, I am not.  But clearly, AN and the IR has not offered any concilitory gestures towards the US.  Thus, a far more negative reaction from the american public.

Western support should continue in whatever non-aggressive form it possibly can.  Many Americans have not forgotten the support from the Iranian people after 9/11.  We can do no less.

anonymous1.  Let's not make this into an argument.  Let's discuss rationally if we can.  I don't think making this an Israel issue is relevant or helpful.  Which of Obama's policies do you think has destroyed any opportunites to improve relations?  It's hard not to be slightly sarcastic and ask exactly what opportunities you're talking about to begin with. 

You act as if the sanctions are the cause of the economic meltdown in Iran.  Clearly any economic analyist would set you straight on that one.  The majority of the economic failure of Iran lies WITHIN Iran.  Blaming everything on Jews (which is what you're really saying when you say things like israel-first neocons) is simply a smoke screen and classic rhetoric designed to avoid responsibility.

The US' alliance with Israel is simply none of Iran's business.  The US is not led by Israel, period.  She is our ally in the middle east.  I've said it before... the US has absolutely no intention of denouncing that single alliance in the ME because Iran doesn't like it.  I don't know why that isn't obvious to everyone. 

However, I will state for the record that I myself would like a less intense relationship with Israel.  I no more want to be attached to her apron string than I do Iran.  I would prefer less financial support to her because I think she can take care of herself, not because I denounce alliance with her.  Hell, I don't want to financially support my 23 year old son either.  He's old enough to pay his own way. 

It will be interesting to see what happens within the next few weeks now that the election appears to be fait accompli.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE.  POWER TO THE PEOPLE, RIGHT ON. 

Obama has been neoconnized

Rahm Israel Emanuel, Hillary Clinton, Axelrod and of course the AIPAC-driven Congress gave Obama some good dose of neocon therapy. The new Obama-shlobama has now basically destroyed any opportunities it may have had to improve relations.

Unlike what all of those israel-first neocons say, the best way to approach this issue is to eliminate economic sanctions on Iran and improve relations between the two countries. What creates changes within a country is economic DEVELOPMENT. What creates anger within a country, anger against the govt AND anger against the outside forces is economic suppression. Open up relations, spit in israel's face for once (as they jip us for all our tax dollars), and watch changes develop internally in Iran.

AF

You know it is the Cheney gang that is pushing for strong action against Iran. I think at the most, the West should do no more than impose political sanctions against iran's leaders. this is the line that Shirin Ebadi has supported for some time, and i can see why now (i couldn't before).  

to put things into perspective: the Chinese, Burmese, Saudis, Egyptians, Yemenis, Sudanese, Syrians, etc do not treat their own citizens any better when it comes to political rights and democracy. so much attention given to iran makes one suspicious of western motives. 

honestly, i oscillate between a hard and a soft position, depending on the emotions of the day! one thing is for sure though: western citizens' action is certainly welcome, like in writing letters, showing solidarity in demonstrations, petitions, blogosphere etc.

government action is a different category, and the Obama administration needs to tread a fine line given the US record. he's done well so far, and this is why i say the article cited here does not smell right.

the job of taking a moral stance on state matters should fall on the shoulders of the UN. a multilateral approach carries some weight, though the current UN secretary general is a total loser! can't see him doing anything useful.

but you know what, the IRI's worst enemy at the moment is itself. i think it's heading for self-destruct. i just submitted an article on this, and it will hopefully appear soon under 'op-eds'. 

Niloufar

How so?  I think I've read you elsewhere as saying Iran (and Iranians) don't want foreign intervention.  Is there a line and when do you think it should be crossed.  You know.. it's so hard to sit and do nothing.  I'd love it if there was a magical solution. But we know there isn't.  Do you believe it should be totally "hands off"?  Thanks!

Barbra.  How so the hypocrisy?  We ARE dealing with a different government and political mindset now.  Obama versus Bush and his criminal cronies.  Do you might not also consider that we are trying to NOT be hypocrites... say for example... we screwed up big time before in Iraq... let's not make the same mistake twice. 

2cents.  I go back and say the same thing.  You say he is listening to AIPAC and ignoring the Iranian's plight.  I say he is diplomatically trying to negotiate his way through this.  He has not ignored anything.  And if the majority of Iranians IN Iran and abroad agree that there should be NO foreign intervention, then wouldn't you agree that blaming it on AIPAC is unfair?  :-)

didn't like this article

doesn't smell right!

Peace

Dear Anonymous Fish

I totally agree with you. Obama did what he had to do.

The title of the article is quite misleading. The author does not specify exactly how Obama failed while dealing with the crisis in Iran. It is rather about the continuing blatant US hipocricy.  

Barbra

I appreciate that you want to offer varied accounts.  And perhaps this is your personal opinion as well.  And I don't know if you personally titled your piece.  But most Americans and I think, most Iranians, do not want foreign intervention.  If that is the case (and if you disagree, please explain how)  then Obama's policies have not failed at all.  He has done pretty much what all critics have said... denounced the treatment of the protestors.  There really isn't much more he can do without being aggressive.  And I firmly believe that the Iranian people do not want that.  And I know with much certainty that the American public doesn't want any aggression towards Iran.  I think we learned a lesson with Iraq.  So are those same critics of Iraq going to come out and define Iran as being different?  I see that as complete hypocrisy and double standards.  We support each and every one of those brave Iranians 100%.  But they have not asked for our help.  And to define our policy as a failure because a journalist thinks we should do more... is completely irresponsible.

I'd like to hear YOUR personal views.  :-)

POWER TO THE PEOPLE.  POWER TO THE PEOPLE, RIGHT ON.

His advisors ...

are very much influenced by NIAC people and they tell 'em "not to meddle" into Iranian affairs and to ignore the plight of Iranian inside in order to remain on good terms with mullahs to be able to start the nuclear negotiations with them which I bet will not LEAD TO ANYWHERE but to complete failure!

Ahmadi and Mullahs will give Obama just the run-around (to give them more time to build their bomb they desperately need) as they did with EU!