Obama and Now-Ruz
President Barack Obama gave an unprecedented adress to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and to its people on the occasion of the Persian New Year, "Now-Ruz," which is celebrated on the vernal equinox. Obama caught the spirit of renewal that marks the special day's commemoration, when he spoke of a changed world situation.
The Iranian newspaper Hamshahri specifically mentioned more than once that Obama addressed both the government and the people.
Farideh Farhi, writing at "Informed Comment: Global Affairs," explains the significance of the phrase:
'unlike his predecessor, he did not attempt to drive a wedge between the people and government of Iran. He spoke explicitly to both the “people and leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” acknowledging their common history and culture. No more we love the people of Iran but hate their government taunt repeatedly brandished by the Bush Administration.'
posted by Juan Cole @ 3/21/2009 12:43:00 AM
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Can you comment on the following A.P. story.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090321/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_obama
George W Bush used the same line repeatedly against Iraq: "We love the Iraqi People but hate Saddam Hussein and his Baathist government." Bush's actions, however - continuing the complete economic blockade until March 2003, invading the country in an unprovoked war of aggression, and smashing Iraq to a degree that may be irreparable - proved that in fact he cared nothing about and actually hated the Iraqi people. Every time Bush used that line, he was lying.
Axis of evil strikes back
Those who track the Iranian site presstv.com, know that Iranians tack situation in the US, Israel and other countries very attentively.
It does not matter any more how good or bad MEMRI is, what matters is that now Iranians present their position in plain English without Israeli "translations".
Readers of presstv.com know for sure what Bush's "Axis of Evil" means in practical terms, what Likud and Beitenu think about Iran, what Obama administration thinks about Likud and Beitenu, what is Clinton's position on Iran and Russia, etc, etc.
So, it quite natural that now Ayatollah Khamenei is not enthusiastic about Obama's Nowruz address. Why this should be the case?
What I find interesting is the US media's reaction to the Obama's speech and the Iranian response.
Few days ago Obama renewed Sanctions against Iran, then on the occasion of Iranian New Year he sends out a message with a friendly, conciliatory note. While conciliatory the speech also makes demands on Iranians. There seems to be a public good cop-bad cop act which I suppose is fine.
The Iranian response also leaves the door open while it asks for clarification from Washington on how US policies toward Iran has changed. Again a valid response.
The US media, however, analysis the exchange as: "But Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's response was more than just a dismissive slap at the outreach. "
Somehow Iranian's are all about ideology, but Obama renewing sanctions, calling for end to nuclear weapons (where there has never been any evidence of) and alike are not ideological.
The US media mind set seems to be we own the truth, and anything to the contrary is simply dismissive and ideological.
I find it interesting that Iranian media seems to be more open and analytical than US media.
Its too bad that Obama had to include the customary drop dead conditions Iran has to meet for it to join the "community of nations": forsake terrorism, as we choose to define it; and abandon the pursuit of arms, aka nukes, as we choose to define pursuit.
Its not really peculiar that Iran's leaders might be less than enthusiastic about taking advice like that from the most heavily armed and most militarily violent nation in the world. The score card is not pleasant. Iran: no aggression for 200 years. US: poster boy for war - Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, and all those other locations where the "special forces" are trying their luck(aka outside the rule of law).
A truly bold stroke for Obama would be to declare that military operations against Iran are off the table. Its not the same as emphasizing diplomacy. Bush said he was emphasizing diplomacy up until the Iraq invasion.
On the other hand Obama might just be cutting Clinton's legs off. Left on her own I doubt that she could muster the level of empathy Obama wants to portray. In foreign affairs she's a lot like Condi, and who needs more of that.
Obama, unlike Bush and Peres, did not try the childish game of praisning the Iranian people but telling them that their leaders are their enemy while the US and Israeli leaders are their friends!
Obama addressed the Iranian nation and leaders in equal terms. Being tough is not really a pronlem. Bush and freaks like him divide the world into friends one should always be nice to and enemies we must be nasty to. For grown ups, national interest; mutual respect; and rational judgement are the basis of decisions on a case-by-case. A bit of bluffing and good-cop bad-cop in the process are fine too.
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