Iran's Two-Faced Diplomacy

Kristen Gillespie Examines President Ahmadinejad's Recent Effort To Make Nice With The Neighbors

(CBS)  This new analysis was written for CBSNews.com by Amman, Jordan-based reporter Kristen Gillespie.

---

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's official visit to regional rival Saudi Arabia over the weekend was part of a wave of Iranian diplomacy in the Arab world aimed at diffusing a growing strain between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. It's too early to tell whether the Iranian president's visit will have any tangible effect.

Iran is a non-Arab, Shiite Muslim country, but it has the full attention these days of Sunni Arab leaders throughout the Middle East.

Ahmadinejad and his ministers have visit Sudan, Lebanon and Syria recently to spread a message of Muslim unity. But, ironically, it is Iran's continued support for Hezbollah, the Shiite militia in Lebanon, and armed Shiite groups in Iraq, leading Sunni leaders in the region to question Tehran's real goals in the region.

Iran may be talking peace, but those groups are currently destabilizing Lebanon politically, and Iraq violently.

The consensus seems to be that curbing Iran's influence in Iraq would be a good way to start bridging the Sunni — Shiite divide, before it gets any wider.

"So long as Shiites in Iraq are seen to be taking revenge on Sunnis, and Iran is viewed as supporting that, it's doubtful that the meetings in Saudi Arabia will assuage that fear," a Western diplomat in the region tells CBS News. But Saudi Arabia did what the Bush administration hasn't been willing to do: sit down with Iran and attempt to open a dialogue with an increasingly-isolated country trying to go nuclear.

Increased fighting between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq has made Jordan's King Abdullah and the rest of the government here anxious about the possibility of violence spilling across the border. With up to 700,000 Iraqi refugees living in a country with a population near five million, just a few Iraqis bent on violence could destabilize Jordan.

Sunni Arabs' worries over Iran can be divided into the concerns of the rulers, and the concerns of the people. Dictators worry about regional instability fueled by Iranian cash, and they know there are plenty of Shiites on the ground willing to act out the impulses of Tehran's ruling clerics.

Meanwhile, majority Sunni Arab populations in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and beyond, fear a mass-Shiite uprising; the sect attempting to conquer the whole region — with Iranian backing.

Many Jordanians say it was the spectacle made of Saddam Hussein's hanging that really broke open the centuries-old wound between Sunnis and Shiites. Shiites present at the execution mocked Saddam as the rope hung around his neck. To Sunni Arabs watching the shaky cell phone video around the world, Saddam represented the Sunni people, and their dismal fate at the hands of Shiites.

In a society where the official television news looks more like an old Stalinist propaganda reel, and even supposedly-independent journalists have some relationship with the formidable intelligence apparatus, rumors in Jordan carry significant weight.

After Saddam's execution, the rumors started flying; that Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the United States, and, of all countries, Israel, had formed a secret alliance to undermine Sunni Arabs.

Rumors that if it weren't for the American presence, the Iranians would cross through Iraq and slaughter Sunnis in Jordan; that one million Iranians had moved into Iraq since the war began and assumed Iraqi identities, which they would ultimately use to create a Shiite theocracy.

Iran's contradictory behavior of doling out cash and training to militias, while delivering a diplomatic message of peace, has done little to counter the rumors of a conspiracy.

After his meeting with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, Ahmedinejad declared: "We tried to devise some measures to prevent the enemies from harming the Muslim world and to foil their plot." Iran and Saudi Arabia, Ahmedinejad said, would stand together against "evil plots."

It is the power of conspiracy theories in this part of the world that makes Ahmedinajad's comments resonate with his base, and while they may sound bizarre to Western ears, it all makes perfect sense to the average person on the street here, believe him or not.

Iran's diplomatic offensive highlights the well-documented reality, that Tehran is not supporting peace in Arab countries. Externalizing the enemy and promoting diplomacy may be one way to avoid addressing that contradiction. Evil plots aside, Ahmedinejad alone can explain just what his intentions are to a skeptical Arab world. And he's trying, but who's buying it?

[diplomacy3]

Iran would try to avert any possible isolation particularly in the Muslim world. The frequent rapproachement of A.Nejad with Saudi Arabia is perhaps to form a kind alliance that it has with Syria to offset US influence in the region.

There is a likelihood that Iran may not participate in the forthcoming Baghdad meeting.

[forthepeaple]

you know sometimes i wish i had some wmds so i could get a few hundred million dollars from around the world. we give and give and they laugh and laugh all the way to the bank... it's a shame that even when our government keeps saying we don't talk or put up with someone keeping us hostage.. our government is one big fat liers

[notblue]

The Iranian president will do whatever it takes to continue to develope a nuke, he is liar and not to be trusted. We have not been able to trust the Iranians since the revolution in 1979.

[tbweb]

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is dumb like a fox! President Ahmadinejad knows the U.S. has 2 Aircraft Carrier Battle Groups armed to the teeth waitng for orders to attack on a moments notice. The USS STENNIS can take Iran all by itself! Iran is powerful and can do a lot of damage but the U.S. can do even more damage and Iran knows it.

[lars008-2009]

What Thomas Jefferson learned from the Muslim book of jihad

Thomas Jefferson knew about fascist nazi islam..... he killed plenty of them....

In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2007/691/
http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2002_winter_spring/terrorism.htm
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=+Thomas Jefferson barbary
http://http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson islam
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson muslim

[prak78821]

By engaging in uranium enrichment-related activities to produce nuclear fuel, Iran is acting within the confines of Non-proleferation Treaty(NPT).

It is indeed a stroke of genius for the Bush gang to repeatedly link the perfectly legal process of uranium enrichment to Iran trying to be the next atom-bomb-wielding Islamic jihadist state.

So much so, that even the popular news media now takes this for granted.

For a non-biased and accurate analysis of the whole Iran nuclear issue, the following should be a required reading for all:
http://www.spinwatch.org/content/view/242/8/

[tbweb]

-- prak78821

Iran must be looked at as a whole, not in parts! Iran's posture and recent negative activity on the world stage as a bad actor does not qualify Iran to be trusted with enriching uranium!

[canyoutellme-2009]

uhm, can anyone offer proof that Iran has plans to build a nuclear weapon? The mere suggestion that they're trying to build a nuke is ridiculous. THey know that it is THEY who will be wiped off the face of the map if they ever tried to launch one anywhere. They KNOW this. There is no logical reason for anyone to believe they're attempting to build a nuke. This is all just propoganda from the Furer Bush-and-the-gang. Funny how everyone believes everything he says even though, he's been wrong on just about everything (99% wrong, once in a blue moon, he gets something right). What's really hilarious is everything the "liberals" said would happen HAS happened and yet the neoCONs still try and tear 'em new ones. Boy do they look foolish.

[d33pthroat1]

That URL from prak is:
http://www.spinwatch.org/content/view/242/8/

tbweb, "trust" is subjective concept.

Sure, the Iranians need a class in Public Relations but the UN and the rest of the world cannot be and should not be pressured by the USA to take drastic actions in absence of hard proof.

[tbweb]

-- canyoutellme

This is the same thing that was said about North Korea until they exploded a nuke in the worlds face! How different is Iran from N Korea in the trust department?!!

[diplomacy3]

Time has changed and so has the post WWII diplomacy. We need to understand that use of power is no longer an effective way to change the course of a nation. I think everyone knows the consequences of such a scenario. It may be very easy to exhibit the "show of force" but we must avoid a conflict and confine it to our increased presence in the region.

[tbweb]

-- d33pthroat1

Is the N Korea model enough proof? People like you trusted N Korea too until they started testing nukes!

[karlimhof]

By engaging in uranium enrichment-related activities to produce nuclear fuel, Iran is acting within the confines of Non-proleferation Treaty(NPT).

Posted by prak78821


good to hear someone mention the NPT which this administration has done its best to destroy - claiming exclusive rights (space based nukes) totally prohibited by world community. John Bolton has done a good job showing that the USA doesn't give a *** about our international committments.

[tbweb]

-- diplomacy3

I agree with you but Iran has said it nuke train has no breaks or reverse gear! Diplomacy is dead before it starts! How do you apply diplomacy when the other side has no brakes or reverse gear?

[karlimhof]

This is the same thing that was said about North Korea until they exploded a nuke in the worlds face! How different is Iran from N Korea in the trust department?!!
Posted by tbweb


an undergound firecracker - stop neoconning.

[diplomacy3]

Did anyone cry when India and Pakistan tested their nuclear devices? I would not be surprised if Iran follow suit.

[tbweb]

-- karlimhof

NPT and similar agreements are not an end-all-be-all. The parties involved have to be able to be trusted to honor them! Do you know how many agreements both Iran and N Korea have violated? NPT is a joke to Iran and N Korea, Iran has publicly stated it doesn't care about U.N. sanctions, agreements or even the U.N. itself!

[canyoutellme-2009]

-- tbweb

"This is the same thing that was said about North Korea until they exploded a nuke in the worlds face! How different is Iran from N Korea in the trust department?!! "

North Korea is not Iran and Iran is not North Korea. They're 2 totally different nations with different groups of people and different circumstances. To apply both situations as equal is ridiculous. I want PROOF that they have ANY intentions that they're developing a nuclear weapon; just one shred of proof and not a "he said, she said" kind of thing. I want CONCRETE proof. North Korea said they were going to develop a weapon and they DID. They did exactly as they said they would. BTW, why didn't the US go in and bomb the bejeezus out of North Korea then?? You want to know why?? because there's no strategic reason to. No Oil, no other things to make us go over there.

In the mean time, the US breaks all the rules and renders the UN obsolete, puts nuke's in space, etc..etc.. the list goes on and on and yet, many Americans say Iran is evil? Geez... it's called BRAIN WASHING. Good thing a lot of us "liberals" are immune to such things and can use independent thought and judgement.

Have a nice day.

[prak78821]

tbweb,

North Korea has never claimed they are NOT a non-nuclear weapon state. In fact, they claim they have everything to scare away the US. They are not a member of the NPT and barely a member of the UN. They cannot be treated on the same footing as Iran which is a democracy, has a top 20 GDP and is an active member of the UN.

The Iran issue is turning into Irag all over again. The only difference is that instead of the fictitious WMDs-to-be of which there was no proof, Bush is claiming fictitious nuclear-bombs- to-be of which there is no proof.

[karlimhof]

Nobody seems to want to accept the fact that every nation has the right to develop nuclear energy.

Then we heard from our trusted ally Israel (Pollard/etc.) that Iran is endangering the world and calls on the US.

Then the PM of Iran says he wants to throw the Zionist regime ( not the state of israel) into the sea (not wipe from the face of the earth because this idiom doesn't exist in Farsi).

Then we have the whole middle east asking why does israel have nukes? why doesn't she go back to her borders of 1967?

And on and on....

[karlimhof]

The parties involved have to be able to be trusted to honor them! tbweb

NPT talks have been stalled for the last 6 years because of US (John Bolton and his neocon friends)
negligence - the world world is wondering why?

China's destruction in space of an orbiting satellite was a statement to the US - don't think we'll sit by and watch you militarize space without doing something.

This Admin. is madly ignoring our long-term (yes, it takes time) security interests.

[diplomacy3]

tbweb

Did anyone cry when India and Pakistan tested their nuclear devices? I would not be surprised if Iran follow suit.
Secondly, intel.reports confirm that Iran is 8 or 10 years away from making a bomb. As of now, everything is based on assumption/suspicion. Would it be hard to stop once Iran succeeds to build a a.bomb?

[tbweb]

-- prak78821

Agreed, but Iran has only itself to blame for publicly announcing it wants to wipe Israel off the map! Just based on that aggressive statement alone, Iran needs to be protected from its own anger and not be tempted to carry out its threat with uranium near by! Threats are a crime in the U.S. and people go to jail for threats, threats imply intent and don't forget, we are talking about aggressive Iran!

[bluestardad]

Dont fight wars for Saudi or Israel!

Saudi Arabia is supporting the Sunni insurgents and al Qaeda in Iraq while they are slant drilling stealing Iraqi Oil! The Bush administration is funding al Qaeda in Lebanon! Everyone knows that the Saudi Royal Family is a family friend of Bushs and that puts him at odds with American national interest! Israeli Neocons are pushing the Bush administration to attack Iran. Afghanistan is falling apart because this administration has pulled assets from that theater of war. Israeli lobbying groups are selling access to American elected officials as you can see in their lobbying group advertisement below. Israeli Neocons are openly pushing our Elected officials to fight their wars in Proxy!

Follow the money do not take my word for it see how many in Congress are influenced by AIPAC money and how they are voting on Iraq!

http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm

Bush Funds Al Qaeda here is the stream read it yourself!

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh

Just copy up to the Hersh on the news stream this web site is adding a n on the end of the paste!



Congress America disdains your actions!
Write your Representatives and Senators! http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Here is the House Speakers email address: [e-mail]

[diplomacy3]

karlimhof

We must understand that the world is LARGER than the UNITED STATES. We cannot stop any sovereign country from doing what it thinks is best or better serves its interest. Do you think we should do something to stop China and Russia or India and Pakistan? NOT POSSIBLE. It looks like we are safeguarding our fading dominance.

[tbweb]

-- karlimhof

underground firecracker? stop neoconning?

I stick to the facts, facts that are publicly known and verifiable. I package those facts and present them in a way that paints the correct picture for topic being discussed. In that context I am a firecracker, but I'm above ground, not underground, and I apologize for those of you who can't handle the facts and for those facts blowing up in your face! Nothing neocon about known facts! Neoconning is pushing the neocon philosphy and agenda, I'm talking facts and action that should be taken based on those facts. Facts are neither true or false, facts are just facts!

[lars008-2009]

iran plans to build nuke weapons, that is why they have been doing it in secret, a violation of the NPT.......... they cannot be trusted.....

What Thomas Jefferson learned from the Muslim book of jihad

Thomas Jefferson knew about fascist nazi islam..... he killed plenty of them....

In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2007/691/
http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2002_winter_spring/terrorism.htm
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=+Thomas Jefferson barbary
http://http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson islam
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson muslim

[zootallures2]

But Iran never breaks the laws of physics like the 9/11 Commission. 110 stories in less than 10 seconds twice, then another 47 floors in 6 seconds. Even real pancakes fall over, not straight down. All in all... all nations and their leaders are totally insane!

[randalds]

Love him or hate him Ahmedinejad is dancing circles around Bush when it comes to diplomacy and leadership. It sad but true that in pure skills he's infinitely above that jackas*s in the Oval Office. Then again so is my pet dog.

[formrusmcsgt]

Love him or hate him Ahmedinejad is dancing circles around Bush when it comes to diplomacy and leadership. It sad but true that in pure skills he's infinitely above that jackas*s in the Oval Office. Then again so is my pet dog.
Posted by RandalDS at 03:39 PM : Mar 05, 2007

This was true prior to this round of diplomacy. Iran is laughing up it's sleeve at Bush's and the neocon's naiveti in taking out Hussein the gatekeeper and handing SE Iraq over to Iran.

[lars008-2009]

rightttttttttttttttttttttttttt haji

sad-dam and ka-dafi are dancing a different tune now...... so will ah-mad-ejagoff......

What Thomas Jefferson learned from the Muslim book of jihad

Thomas Jefferson knew about fascist nazi islam..... he killed plenty of them....

In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2007/691/
http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2002_winter_spring/terrorism.htm
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=+Thomas Jefferson barbary
http://http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson islam
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson muslim

[randalds]

This was true prior to this round of diplomacy. Iran is laughing up it's sleeve at Bush's and the neocon's naiveti in taking out Hussein the gatekeeper and handing SE Iraq over to Iran.

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 03:57 PM : Mar 05, 2007

True word. Ever since this clown came to power in 2000 the bin Laden's and Iran's of the world have been playing this fool like a well tuned violin. His actions couldn't have been more to their favor then if he were their puppet instead of Di*ckhead Cheney's and the Saudi Arabians. Make's you wonder who this as*shole really works for since it's obviously not for America.

[toolmangler-2009]

zoo-2, You must be one of those that deny the Holocaust, U.S. Landing on the moon, Russian, Japanese, German, Iraqi and U.S.A. P.O.W. abuses along with 9/11/01. Since you must be blind and have never seen anything except what you read with your fingers. (apologies the the really visually impaired) I can only tell you that no laws (of physics) have been broken. Ask the Firemen and Police that were there. I have asked you before to be quiet until you 'know' what you are talking about, please listen this time...

[tbweb]

--RandalDS & --formrusmcsgt

The joke may still end up being on Iran, all that U.S. firepower is sitting near its cities not ours!

[randalds]

--RandalDS & --formrusmcsgt

The joke may still end up being on Iran, all that U.S. firepower is sitting near its cities not ours!

Posted by tbweb at 04:23 PM : Mar 05, 2007

Most of that firepower is burnt out, tired and badly in need of repair. We're stretched so thin that it would be the height of insanity to go for a land war against Iran (which is why Bush might do it...he really is that nuts). The Iranian army is not going to roll over and play dead like the Iraqi's did. They fight long and hard and the death toll will be in the hundreds of thousands, on both sides. Of course there's the nuclear option and Bush is just crazy enough to slaughter millions of innocent civilians to do it too.

[formrusmcsgt]

--RandalDS & --formrusmcsgt

The joke may still end up being on Iran, all that U.S. firepower is sitting near its cities not ours!

Posted by tbweb at 04:23 PM : Mar 05, 2007

Considering that all the US can do at this point is launch air and sea strikes, I do nto think that Bush - as crazed as he is- would risk so much for so little gain.

The Iranians know that Bush has us bogged down in Afghanistan and Iraq with his boondoggles and we can not put sufficient forces on the ground in Iran to accomplish anything.

[bluestardad]

Dont fight wars for Saudi or Israel!

Saudi Arabia is supporting the Sunni insurgents and al Qaeda in Iraq while they are slant drilling stealing Iraqi Oil! The Bush administration is funding al Qaeda in Lebanon! Everyone knows that the Saudi Royal Family is a family friend of Bushs and that puts him at odds with American national interest! Israeli Neocons are pushing the Bush administration to attack Iran. Afghanistan is falling apart because this administration has pulled assets from that theater of war. Israeli lobbying groups are selling access to American elected officials as you can see in their lobbying group advertisement below. Israeli Neocons are openly pushing our Elected officials to fight their wars in Proxy!

Follow the money do not take my word for it see how many in Congress are influenced by AIPAC money and how they are voting on Iraq!

http://www.aipac.org/forms/join
_aipacClubs.htm

Bush Funds Al Qaeda here is the stream read it yourself!

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh

Just copy up to the Hersh on the news stream this web site is adding a n on the end of the paste!



Congress America disdains your actions!
Write your Representatives and Senators! http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Here is the House Speakers email address: [e-mail]

[toolmangler-2009]

We can do nothing to Iran without making them glow in the dark. Diplomacy is the only way. Iran knows this and is using it to their advantage. Having absolute power is not enough when confronted by something you want to preserve, not destroy. The radical Islamists don't want to preserve the West they want to destroy it. Otherwise their "Phoney-Baloney" power structure (religion) will fail by example. Any religious or political organization that can only maintain control by subjugating and/or scape-goating a portion of its constituency will fail when the truth is known.

[formrusmcsgt]

We can do nothing to Iran without making them glow in the dark. Diplomacy is the only way. Iran knows this and is using it to their advantage.
Posted by ToolMangler at 04:48 PM : Mar 05, 2007

Maybe because Bush is trying to bluff with his cards face up on the table?

[randalds]

We can do nothing to Iran without making them glow in the dark. Diplomacy is the only way. Iran knows this and is using it to their advantage.
Posted by ToolMangler at 04:48 PM : Mar 05, 2007

Maybe because Bush is trying to bluff with his cards face up on the table?

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 05:04 PM : Mar 05, 2007

Typical of a man of his...ahem..."intelligence"...isn't it? Is there anything this person can't screw up? his only talent so far seems to be for ****king up absolutely everything he touches or is associated with. Yes diplomacy is the only answer for Iran, but let's do everything we can to delay it until we can get a thinking human being into the White House and not this mental midget.

[lars008-2009]

what did the fascist nazi islamic muslim tell jefferson??? there will be a test later......

What Thomas Jefferson learned from the Muslim book of jihad

Thomas Jefferson knew about fascist nazi islam..... he killed plenty of them....

In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2007/691/
http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2002_winter_spring/terrorism.htm
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=+Thomas Jefferson barbary
http://http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson islam
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q= Thomas Jefferson muslim

[fascistusa]

The ONLY reason we even hear about ran is because AIPAC and the Neocons want to Invade.

That's it. This is STATE PROPAGANDA.

CBS NEWS is a complete joke.

rawstory.com
whatreallyhappened.com


PLENTY of REAL news sites out there.

[diplomacy3]

At this stage of heightening tensions between Iran and the US, it seems almost impossible to to bring Iran to a negotiating table. Both have gone too far to see each other across the table, given the incidents of kidnapping of diplomats and blaming for killing of US soldiers in Iraq. They think Baghdad meeting would be a carrot and stick game - a trap they probably would avoid to fall into.

[diplomacy3]

Do you think it is possible to wipe a country off the world map? That's just punching the air. He is like Hugo Chavez. Hop first, look back later!

[tbweb]

----formrusmcsgt

The U.S. has a lot of firepower sitting next to IRANIAN CITIES!! Maybe it is just a show of force, maybe it is just a bluff, no one really wants war, but if a mistake is made the mistake will still occur on IRANIAN CITIES, not U.S. cities, that's the point! IRAN can't be comfortable with that prospect! I'm sure IRAN will retaliate if the U.S. strikes, if there's any IRAN left!

[diplomacy3]

tbweb

What a dream from a living room!

[tbweb]

--diplomacy3

And a nice dream too, I don't see 2 Iranian Carrier Battle Groups circling likes sharks out my window!

[diplomacy3]

tbweb

What a dream from a living room!
PEACE BE ON THIS EARTH!

[diplomacy3]

Let us pray for PEACE and not be merely spectators. Maybe it's not on the minds of policy makers what an ordinary reader is thinking of.

[tbweb]

--diplomacy3

I hope for peace always! Yes, peace on earth! Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's big mouth, posturing, policies and bad behavior put those 2 American Carrier Battle Groups near Iranian Cities and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's mouth and positive actions can make them go away! Nobody wants war!