M.J. Rosenberg, neocons & Iran http://blogs.jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/mj-rosenberg-neocons-iran/ The Israel Policy Forum’s M.J. Rosenberg says hawks have been smearing Iran. JTA’s Ami Eden says Rosenberg is smearing neocons. en-us aeden@jta.org Copyright 2009 2009-06-24T;12:31:00-05:00 Comment by Alan Jay Weisbard alan.weisbard@gmail.com There was a time that neo-conservatives thought of themselves as smarter than everyone else. That fantasy is increasingly difficult to entertain; at this point, mostly they like to hear themselves talk, although few others are paying much serious attention. America has a troubled (to put it very mildly) history in Iran, and many American interventions have proved counterproductive, at least in the long run. Virtually every thoughtful commentator, including many now or previously living in Iran, have cautioned against overdoing it, rhetorically or otherwise, and providing those in power (however illicitly) with the ability to blame America for the popular revolt now underway in Iran. Obama, it seems to me, has been exceptionally adroit in calibrating his public statements, which provide inspiration to those asseting democratic freedoms, to developing (and worsening) events, without turning what is, after all, an inspiring Iranian story into something “about us”. We are on the fringe of this story--there is relatively little America can to to further punish the increasingly desperate Iranian leadership, and it is relatively easy to slip over the edge into behavior that is counterproductive to the ultimate cause of greater democratic freedom (and, one hopes, a less aggressive international posture) for the mass of the Iranian people. Time will tell whether there is, or should be, any occasion for negotiation (e.g., over nuclear enrichment activities) with the very unpleasant people who currently hold power in Iran. But negotiation is not a “gift” to those folks; it is an effort to find a way to avoid military actions that could have pretty disastrous consequences for the region and the world. --The Wise Bard There was a time that neo-conservatives thought of themselves as smarter than everyone else. That fantasy is increasingly difficult to entertain; at this point, mostly they like to hear themselves talk, although few others are paying much serious attention.

America has a troubled (to put it very mildly) history in Iran, and many American interventions have proved counterproductive, at least in the long run. Virtually every thoughtful commentator, including many now or previously living in Iran, have cautioned against overdoing it, rhetorically or otherwise, and providing those in power (however illicitly) with the ability to blame America for the popular revolt now underway in Iran. Obama, it seems to me, has been exceptionally adroit in calibrating his public statements, which provide inspiration to those asseting democratic freedoms, to developing (and worsening) events, without turning what is, after all, an inspiring Iranian story into something “about us”. We are on the fringe of this story--there is relatively little America can to to further punish the increasingly desperate Iranian leadership, and it is relatively easy to slip over the edge into behavior that is counterproductive to the ultimate cause of greater democratic freedom (and, one hopes, a less aggressive international posture) for the mass of the Iranian people.

Time will tell whether there is, or should be, any occasion for negotiation (e.g., over nuclear enrichment activities) with the very unpleasant people who currently hold power in Iran. But negotiation is not a “gift” to those folks; it is an effort to find a way to avoid military actions that could have pretty disastrous consequences for the region and the world.

--The Wise Bard

]]> 2009-11-20T;15:25:00-05:00 Comment by James Raider james.j.raider@gmail.com THE POWER OF NEDA A young Iranian student has arrested the world’s attention in her dying moments.  Neda has energized a revolution. http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2009/06/neda-agha-soltan-innocent-symbol-of.html The emotional connection has moved Western leaders to respond, and Obama has been kicked off his mark. THE POWER OF NEDA

A young Iranian student has arrested the world’s attention in her dying moments.  Neda has energized a revolution.

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2009/06/neda-agha-soltan-innocent-symbol-of.html

The emotional connection has moved Western leaders to respond, and Obama has been kicked off his mark.

]]> 2009-11-20T;15:25:00-05:00 Comment by Norman Cone conenorm@gmail.com The main problem, as I see it, is the fact, that we are taking the kind of M.J. Rosenberg too seriously. He is a leading member of the IPF, an organization which constist of an office, some fundraisers and a couple of leftist, peacenik commentators, calling themselves “analysts”. Who really cares about what M.J.Rosenberg thinks or writes ? Mr.Soros, I presume. The main problem, as I see it, is the fact, that we are taking the kind of M.J. Rosenberg too seriously. He is a leading member of the IPF, an organization which constist of an office, some fundraisers and a couple of leftist, peacenik commentators, calling themselves “analysts”. Who really cares about what
M.J.Rosenberg thinks or writes ? Mr.Soros, I presume.

]]> 2009-11-20T;15:25:00-05:00 Comment by david schimel nhrds@earthlink.net Now that Obama has (finally) come out forcefully to condemn Iranian leaders brutal repression of its people, is Rosenberg going to criticize Obama for abandoning his ‘cautiousness’? Don’t bet on it. Obama-love is blind. Now that Obama has (finally) come out forcefully to condemn Iranian leaders brutal repression of its people, is Rosenberg going to criticize Obama for abandoning his ‘cautiousness’? Don’t bet on it. Obama-love is blind.

]]> 2009-11-20T;15:25:00-05:00 Comment by Michael Pitkowsky mpitkowsky@gmail.com Speaking of Roger Cohen, the other day he was channeling Bibi Netanyahu. Bibi from his interview with Jeffrey Goldberg: “You don’t want a messianic apocalyptic cult controlling atomic bombs. When the wide-eyed believer gets hold of the reins of power and the weapons of mass death, then the entire world should start worrying, and that is what is happening in Iran.” Roger Cohen in a recent column: “The third is that a faction loyal to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, fiercely nationalistic and mystically religious, has made a power grab so bold that fissures in the establishment have become canyons.” Speaking of Roger Cohen, the other day he was channeling Bibi Netanyahu.

Bibi from his interview with Jeffrey Goldberg:

“You don’t want a messianic apocalyptic cult controlling atomic bombs. When the wide-eyed believer gets hold of the reins of power and the weapons of mass death, then the entire world should start worrying, and that is what is happening in Iran.”

Roger Cohen in a recent column:

“The third is that a faction loyal to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, fiercely nationalistic and mystically religious, has made a power grab so bold that fissures in the establishment have become canyons.”

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