I’ve argued strongly for engagement with Iran as a game-changer. America renewed relations with the Soviet Union at the time of the Great Terror and China at the time of the Cultural Revolution. Operation Jackboot has not, as yet at least, involved mass killings.But the Iran of today is not the Iran of three weeks ago; it is in volatile flux from without and within. Its Robespierres are running amok. Obama must do nothing to suggest business as usual. Let Ahmadinejad, he of the bipolar mood swings, fret and sweat. Let him writhe in the turbid puddle of his self-proclaimed “justice” and “ethics.”
>>>Person | About | Day |
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نسرین ستوده: زندانی روز | Dec 04 | |
Saeed Malekpour: Prisoner of the day | Lawyer says death sentence suspended | Dec 03 |
Majid Tavakoli: Prisoner of the day | Iterview with mother | Dec 02 |
احسان نراقی: جامعه شناس و نویسنده ۱۳۰۵-۱۳۹۱ | Dec 02 | |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Prisoner of the day | 46 days on hunger strike | Dec 01 |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Graffiti | In Barcelona | Nov 30 |
گوهر عشقی: مادر ستار بهشتی | Nov 30 | |
Abdollah Momeni: Prisoner of the day | Activist denied leave and family visits for 1.5 years | Nov 30 |
محمد کلالی: یکی از حمله کنندگان به سفارت ایران در برلین | Nov 29 | |
Habibollah Golparipour: Prisoner of the day | Kurdish Activist on Death Row | Nov 28 |
Another good one from Roger
by Mazdak (not verified) on Sat Jul 04, 2009 03:11 PM PDTI've become a fan of Cohen's because of his passionate ("objectivity" be damned) and close-to-Iranians reportage over this election. He’s got the pulse of Tehran’s streets under his skin. And being an American Jew, he has a good understanding of the dilemmas of a society like Iran. Two points: first, it's been very clear that Khamenei has already signalled detente with the US. Even Mousavi mentioned this in the debates. It's quite possible that behind the scene they have conveyed to the US that regardless of what will happen Iran position will be determined by Khamenei. This explains Obama's very cautious approach to the election. Two: notice the spat with the West is being carried with the US proxy, the UK, and not the Americans directly. The ruling thugs cannot traumatize the relationship with the US and expect a rapprochement. Roger is correct on that one (who gets to pull a China, the Left or the Right) but not on his recommendation to Obama. Like it or not, foreign policy is not decided on what is good for another people. Kennedy's Berlin speech was no different. It happened during the hot days of Cold War's ideological wars. The Berliners were simply lucky to be the beneficiary at that time.