Barack Obama's letter to Ahmadinejad
The Guardian UK is reporting that President Obama has already drafted a letter that he intends on sending to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in order to open up a much-needed dialogue and change the obviously failed approach of the Bush administration.
Officials of Barack Obama's administration have drafted a letter to Iran from the president aimed at unfreezing US-Iranian relations and opening the way for face-to-face talks, the Guardian has learned.
The US state department has been working on drafts of the letter since Obama was elected on 4 November last year. It is in reply to a lengthy letter of congratulations sent by the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on 6 November.
Diplomats said Obama's letter would be a symbolic gesture to mark a change in tone from the hostile one adopted by the Bush administration, which portrayed Iran as part of an "axis of evil".
It would be intended to allay the suspicions of Iran's leaders and pave the way for Obama to engage them directly, a break with past policy.
State department denies the claims
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-01-29-voa...
All options including military on the table
http://uk.reuters.com/article/usPoliticsNews/...
Was : Should they really be leaking this?
My second one was: And I thought I was a bad procrastinater. Almost 3 months to reply to a letter?
And it required a FAR BIGGER MAN than petty GW McChimp to do it.
I'd be willing to bet that *90%* of Iran's beef with us has been our belittling scolding arrogant saber rattling arrogance towards them - I think you just might be surprised at what can be accomplished approaching them in a "man to man", non-arrogant manner.
Granted, they have extremists in their country, and their government may not be in total control of them - but they can control their government's policy towards us.
If we approach them and ask them nicely not to do something, while subtly reminding them of what we would have to do if something terrible happened because of them, you might be surprised at how much they may cooperate.
I really think there are ways of escalating situations or defusing situations. You can see this in a drunken bar disagreement or road rage situations! We tried the former with Shrub, we might as well try the latter with our current gentleman of a president!
Am I just naive?
No, you are not naive, because under Khatami, a process was offered that would address all of the concerns of the United States. This offer was rejected out of hand and in its place we employed a systematic program of misinformation, economic sanctions and threats of military attacks directed at Iran.
Again, cancelling our subscription to JINSA would benefit the interests of the United States.
Someone should tell Clinton and Gates to stop threatening Iran with massive violence. That is not the most suitable environment to repair relations. Someone please cancel their JINSA subscriptions and all of us would be better off.
Barack Obama's letter to Ahmadinejad
This is like the 6th time I have seen that same headline for this article which directly refutes the frikkin headline!
was Drafted by Dennis Ross, Khamenei already knows he's an AIPAC lobbyist
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/28/b...
ross helped to draft obama's speech to aipac
he does not now nor ever has he been affiliated with aipac
unless you consider all organizations tied to aipac
Iran knows
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Ross
get back to me
right now, i can go on that page and edit to say that ross files down his horns every night
it's good enough for me, don't really care what you think
try and use wikipedia as a source in any paper
automatic f my friend
there was just enough information in my two links that told me that Obama is making Ross the special envoy to Iran and he is doing nothing but pouring gas on a fire.
If you can't handle that, oh well
Sarah Palin and John McCan't are not going to like this. Not one little bit.
He didn't put any little hearts in red ink over the i and j in Ahmadinejad's name did he?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
want obama to fail
maybe you guys would prefer that obama travel to iran and genuflect the the ayatollah
this letter has the right up in arms
i feel for our new prez
he has to repair 8 years of mismanagement
you guys dont even want to allow him an hour
Did Obama tell Ahmadinejad the kindanasty secretly has the hots for him?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
My Presidential memory goes back to the election of Jimmy Carter, whom we saw get VERY involved in the Middle East peace process, befriending Sadat of Egypt and brokering a peace accord between them and Israel that holds to this day, earning Carter the Nobel Peace Prize.
Enter Reagan and his McCarthyite hatred of anyone or anything that ever shook hands with a Russian, followed by Bush-I who toted the same line.
Clinton tried to re-engage, but waited until his last year, not leaving enough time to hammer out anything long lasting.
To hear Obama reaching out, not once but twice, to the ME in his first week, is nothing short of stunning. He's not waiting until the last minute, this is someone that KNOWS that "security" can't be "imposed" at the barrel of a gun.
For the first time in my lifetime, I see REAL hope for groundwork to be laid on a true ME peace. I'm flabergasted.
* There are two types of Republicans: millionaires and suckers.
"Mugsy's Rap Sheet": Recording history for those who seek to rewrite it.
but at least he will try
which is more than can be said about bush
I have waited so long for this. I actually have hope for the future with Obama running the show. Miracles really do happen!
It is with in our reach. Peace on Earth in our lifetime!
Its truly breath of fresh air to see Pres. Obama instituting his grassroots philosophy to help institute true change on all facets of issues and policies.
Gibbs said the story is not true.
I thought Barry was dead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um2Lxambevc
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Oops my bad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZmJ7BLmSR4&fe...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I enjoyed those :)
Is there something Bush hasn't failed in his entire life???
It would have been instructive for C & L to have linked to this article in which Obama has the audacity to tell countries like Iran "to unclench their fists." This has to be one of the most hypocritical statements that one can recall in recent memory since Martin Luther King's prescient statement made during his his Beyond Vietnam speech in 1967 is still extremely relevant when he noted that "the biggest purveyor of violence today [is] my own government."
Unfortunately, Obama's remark should come as no surprise as he told Candy Crowley of CNN last summer that he saw absolutely no reason why the United States should ever apologize for what America's foreign policy has wrought throughout the world.
Ahmedinejad was most certainly correct when he advised Obama that he should order all American forces out of those foreign countries where they are stationed. Otherwise, Obama simply points out the accuracy of MLK's truthful observation regarding American power and imperialism.
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Obama_retains_al...
and Iraq was TOTALLY FUCKED UP.
But THERE IS radical Islam in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Don't we owe it 911 victims families and the Afghani people to try to rid them of Taliban and the like?
I'm OK with our military being over there killing this scum when there are assholes that would spray acid in little girls faces because they are going to school to get an education.
Tim
Actually, we do not "owe 9/11 victims families and the Afghani people to try to rid them of Taliban and the like." Here is a news flash. Now steel yourself but neither Afghanistan nor the Taliban had absolutely anything to do with the terrorists attacks committed on American soil on Sept. 11, 2001. The United States presence in Afghanistan, as in Iraq, is like pouring more petrol on the fire as it is the continued presence of the American military in Afghanistan that is causing the Taliban to be so successful and so popular among the people of Afghanistan.
While you may be "OK with our military being over there" it is extremely doubtful if the Afghan people are OK with 500 lb. American bombs being dropped on innocent Afghan civilians.
Bring the troops home-NOW.
Well said!
but Obama's remark to Ms Crowley was made last summer during the election when he needed votes from the pro-war side. I didn't like what he said at the time either but at least he's making peaceful overtures to Iran now.
A person has to start somewhere and I give him credit for that. A little hope is better than none at all.
Just so you know, I always enjoy your posts. We hold similar views on many things, especially the folly of the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Calgarylady
Thank you for the kind words. But if you clicked on the link that I provided at 18:36 you will find Obama's overtures to Iran to be anything but peaceful. As I mentioned in my comments, Obama warned Iran in the article to "unclench its fist." Since Iran has never threatened anyone in these United States and since Iran has never stated that it wishes to build nuclear weapons but rather wishes, like so many other countries, to build a nuclear energy program, it would appear that Obama, like Bush, is engaging in unnecessary saber-rattling. The irony is that Obama and the United States would complain if Iran were to go build a nuclear weapon while the U.S. has approximately 6,500 to 10,000 nuclear weapons of its own, the most of anyone on the planet. Why is there so much concern from Obama about Iran even possessing a [i.e. one] nuclear weapon while he says absolutely nothing concerning the fact that Israel has approximately 200 to 300 nuclear weapons of its own?
You mention that "a little hope is better than none at all." Obama has already, in his brief tenure, ordered missiles into Pakistan, which resulted in the deaths of innocent Pakistanis. Last week 16 Afghans were butchered by a U.S. air strike. I seriously doubt if the Afghans and the Pakistanis believe that they should place much "hope" in the murderous words and actions of Barack Obama.
and I agree with you on each of them.
I am just as disillusioned as you are, but Obama is the best and only hope we have to get us out of this madness. I am naturally pessimistic but this is a step in the right direction, at least.
I guess we shall see soon enough how it works out. Peace to you.
its the same old crap rice spouted over and over again , its now obamas , iran its my way or the highway , power is waged from the gun barrel! its time to stop doing israels job for them!
I hope he does somehow calm relations with iran we dont need them arming themselves with nukes anymore than we need Isreal arming themselves but thats done happened
My advice to prez Obama get them onboard on solar and wind tech...they have vast expanses of desert just rite for clean cheap renewable energy tell them we will help them along with other countrys to exploit this natural resorce to be an example to the rest of the middle east ...tell them that he knows that all the saber rattleing has them on the defensive and he doesnt blame them for that but this is a new day and we need a new way we can work togeather to fix what has been broken between us the time is now for a fresh start atleast thats my thoughts
So Obama DOES pal around with terrorists?? My apologies to Sarah Palin (snark)
Kidding aside, this is hopeful news. If we can get the majority of peacful muslims to ban together and fight against the jhadists (sp)that would be the best possible solution. Apparently invading and occupying their countries isn't working out so well. Go President Obama!
I don't think the letter is to Ahmadinejad. I heard it was to the Supreme Leader or whatever they call him. That's a big difference and it's about time. The Iranian leadership have been making overtures to the US for years, even before Bush took office, and we've repeatedly ignored them and why? Because a bunch of students took 42 Americans hostage 30 years ago? I'm not trying to downplay the importance of that event. Overthrowing and embassy is a BIG deal but it was 30 years ago and as I recall every one of those people returned home safely.
I hope so. It is not Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who is running the country or dictating policies. It's Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI that our President needs to have dialogues with, he is the chief of state. Ahmadinejad is to Khamenei as Bush was to Cheny...the front-man.
Government + the Federal Reserve = organized crime
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