Today in Iran and Iraq

You know the Bush Administration is on the way pout when there is good news on the diplomatic front with Iran. Can Obama really calm these tensions?

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Joe-
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I've been curious about something unthinkable during the Bush administration.
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Could the Iraqi government be a broker in improving Iran/US relations?

My off the cuff guess as to the Obama reaction?
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The only way he can really react: hopeful that the gesture is sincere, and looking forward to diplomatic resolution to the tensions our nations face. With the underlying message that there's still a steel gauntlet underneath any velvet glove.

“We live in a neighborhood in which sometimes dialogue — in a situation where you have brought sanctions and then switch to dialogue — is liable to be interpreted as weakness,” Ms. Livni said in an interview on Israel Radio.

This is a bit of logic which has NEVER made sense to me and never will. Since when is being afraid of someone a sign of strength? Of course it's the people who profit from continued conflict who put forth such arguments but its utterly false in interpersonal relations and is therefore utterly false in international relations.

I think the 'logic' is that why speak with someone when you can strongarm them from afar? If you choose to speak, then you're not really in a position of power, so the opposition can/will take the opportunity to push back.
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In other words, its giving the other guys some wiggle room. Of course that is the very definition of negotiation, so one has to wonder why its disingenuous.
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Still, if bombing the ever-loving cr@p out of the other guy is not the preferred solution, talking with them (with the implied and telegraphed notion that you're not backing down an iota unless the talks go well) is never a bad thing. Its all in the message and delivery--you don't want to go in ham-handed, and you don't want to be too 'soft' either.
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Nuance: along with "bipartisonship" and "meritocracy" it is one of the words totally unknown to the Bush administration. Should be interesting to see what Obama can do.

Joe -

Ahmadinejad doesn't do anything without direction or approval from Khamenei. Anything written in that letter can be assumed to have been cleared (or even written) by the Supreme Leader. I think it's important to note that when talking about a potential opportunity for detente.

Hammerlock -

The problem with Livni's statement is that she is assuming that one lifts sanctions in favor of dialogue when it is more accurate to realize that dialogue can occur at ANY TIME, including while sanctions (or even a war) are still in effect. That is absolutely not a sign of weakness, and if your opponent pushes back, you are under no obligation to move.

I would not put too much weight into the letter of congratulations. It is a custom in Islam to extend a gesture of openness even to - or especially to - ones' enemy or opponent. Certainly, it is not a bad thing and it could lead to much better relations. But by being the first to extend a positive gesture he puts the United States in the position of being the first to extend a negative gesture (something that Bush was never shy about doing).

Sen. Obama's victory certainly seems to hurt Amadinejad's prospects for re-election. I think there is optimism in the Middle East that diplomacy can be productive, therefore, hard-line rhetoric and policy is unnecessary.
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In general, the pending end of the Bush admin. may give regional moderates a boost, the political ascension of Ms. Livni in Israel is evidence of this trend.

Meanwhile, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has extended an olive sprig--not quite a branch--in the form of a letter congratulating Obama on his victory.
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Yeah, that's going to talk the "Obama's a terrorist" people down. (Granted, there's not much that will talk them down short of more preemptive war, but I think silence from Ahmedinejad would go over a lot better with us.)

Eh, Ahmedinejad's just playing his hand. By extending the branch, he looks conciliatory even if he's not actually such--it can only play bad for America if we don't reciprocate (in Iran at least, if not elsewhere on the international stage).
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And if his branch stirs up partisan hackery and division in America without him needing to so much start a centrifuge or threaten israel, so much the better--its a freebie win/win for him.

Hammerlock said it better than I did.
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And Cliff is correct that this will only inflame the conservative cretins but that is the only state of which the are capable. It is important to remember that when the WTC was attacked that Democrats and liberals rallied behind the President - his approval numbers reached near-totality. It was only when it became clear that the enormous incompetence of the Bush administration allowed the attack to happen did Americans begin to question what he was up to. Sadly, if the unthinkable were to happen again, Americans can expect conservatives to use it for their own petty political purposes as they sow division in this nation.

How do you feel about Droopy Drawers now:

WHAT LIEBERMAN FINDS 'UNACCEPTABLE'.... As political theater goes, the exploits of Joe Lieberman really are odd.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has reached out to Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) about the prospect of joining the Republican conference, but Lieberman is still bargaining with Democratic leaders to keep his chairmanship, according to Senate aides in both parties.

"Senator Lieberman's preference is to stay in the caucus, but he's going to keep all his options open," a Lieberman aide said. "McConnell has reached out to him and at this stage his position is he wants to remain in the caucus but losing the chairmanship is unacceptable."

A Republican Senate aide said Friday morning that there was little McConnell could offer in terms of high ranking committee slots, which is why Lieberman is resisting overtures from the Republican side.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), according to multiple reports and sources, has no intention of allowing Lieberman to stay on as chairman of Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. A Lieberman aide told the Politico that "essentially what transpired is that Senator Reid talked about taking away his position perhaps for another position and Sen. Lieberman indicated that was unacceptable."

"Unacceptable"?

Look, Reid is offering Lieberman a very sweet deal. By some counts, much too sweet. Lieberman betrayed the Democratic Party and broke his word to his own Democratic constituents. Reid is nevertheless willing to a) let him stay in the Democratic caucus; b) keep his seniority; and c) give him the chairmanship of something else. That, by any reasonable measure, is ridiculously gracious of Reid. It's certainly more generosity than Lieberman deserves or has earned.

And yet, Lieberman thinks that's "unacceptable."

What possible incentive could Reid and Senate Democrats have to offer Lieberman an even better deal? The message is, or at least should be, surprisingly straightforward: "If you don't like the generous offer, join the minority party." It must drive Lieberman crazy, but the fact remains that Democrats don't really need him. He has no leverage.

Or, put another way, what Lieberman finds "unacceptable" is of no consequence.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_11/015575.php

I would like more detailed information about the ongoing troop presence. Hiding us outside the cities where no one can see us is not an answer. I prefer we leave completely, in an organized manner and do not support an ongoing presence - the 100 year thing. A few training personnel with a detailed, clearly defined mission for a specified period of time, ok. Open-ended, undefined "occupation", absolutely not.

And I don't give a flying f**k what Joe Lieberman finds unacceptable - the committee chair has got to be revoked.

Joe Klein asserts: "[T]he new U.S. President is probably very popular among Iran's America-loving populace."

No, the thoroughly unqualified community organizer is very popular among Iran's America-hating populace (see Ahmadinejad, Mahmoud).

demwoman is right. Joe Lieberman must lose his chairmanship. He should consider himself lucky that he does not face much harsher consequences for his recent actions.
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Can anybody tell me why he is not facing a recall from the voters in Connecticut?

textee--whether you feel he is unqualified or not, he's the president now (or at least, will be in 2 months once he's sworn in).
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And there is a large portion of the Iranian populace that actually does like America and its culture, believe it or not. But wait, you already knew that from your exhaustive studies on the nation and its demographics. My bad. I'm sure you could provide us here in swampland with an in-depth breakdown on the various political groups and philosophies active within the nation.

Slightly OT, I'm concerned about Obama's plan to raise troop levels in Afghanistan. I understand the goal is to increase stability and make it more difficult for radicals to function, but I'm not confident more troops will achieve this. More troops, IMO, will lead to more resistance. Certainly, occupying forces have never fared well in that country.
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Perhaps, the US should concentrate on infrastructure (water, electricity, schools, roads) and support for local police and armed forces. Security may be best handled by the Afghanis.

Re the scurvy pirate wench @ 1:44.
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I agree that we should get OUT of Iraq with no ambiguity. However, I think the unsaid factor is the $3/4 Trillion Embassy in Baghdad- the 124 acre, 21(?) building, blast-wall enforced, neocon wet-dream from which they would police and manipulate the region (a fitting monument to the corruption, corpulence, decadence and waste embodied by the neoconservative movement). What now? I guess it takes a few battalions just to run and protect it.
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Can we sell it on ebay?

Re the scurvy pirate wench @ 1:44.
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I agree that we should get OUT of Iraq with no ambiguity. However, I think the unsaid factor is the 3/4 $Trillion Emba$$y in Baghdad- the 124 acre, 21(?) building, blast-wall enforced, neocon wet-dream from which they would police and manipulate the region (a fitting monument to the corruption, corpulence, decadence and waste embodied by the neoconservative movement). What now? I guess it takes a few battalions just to run and protect it.
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Can we sell it on ebay?

http://www.menokia.com

http://www.menokia.com/vb/