In a brief follow-up to April 4.1, John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., also seems to think that Iran won a political victory. This Article by Mr. Bolton was originally published on the Financial Times website, but that requires registration.
He goes so far as to say that the weak response by the U.K. makes the acquisition of nukes by Iran more likely and will contribute to greater violence in Iraq.
Showing posts with label Amadinejad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amadinejad. Show all posts
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
April 4.1 - A Gift
President Ahmedinejad, today, announced that he will release the 15 British soldiers Iran abducted from Iraqi waters. He said he will pardon them.
This seems like good news, but it is very mixed. Certainly the goal of getting the soldiers back is being met. If that were the sole goal, however, Britain would have capitulated to admission of being in Iranian waters long ago.
The problem with this resolution is that the claim of British forces being in Iranian waters remain and acceptance of the pardons implies guilt. Even if no other concessions were extracted for the sailors' release, this is a net PR win for Iran.
This seems like good news, but it is very mixed. Certainly the goal of getting the soldiers back is being met. If that were the sole goal, however, Britain would have capitulated to admission of being in Iranian waters long ago.
The problem with this resolution is that the claim of British forces being in Iranian waters remain and acceptance of the pardons implies guilt. Even if no other concessions were extracted for the sailors' release, this is a net PR win for Iran.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
February 23 - Iran and Moral Equivalence and Gutenberg
552 Years ago, today, Gutenberg began printing the bible. This was the beginning of a process of technical innovation that led to the point where any moron can spew opinion and invective for large audiences to read :-) (Well, audiences, anyway. All three of you or so.)
Iran recently said that they would stop their uranium enrichment if the western nations did likewise. What could be wrong with that proposal? Moral equivalence suggests that all nations should have equal rights, right? How could anyone in this country that continues to produce enriched uranium rationally deny that right from anyone else. How about the simple case of us versus them. Ahmadinejad has led his people with nationalistic fervor in chants of "Death to America". How hard is this decision?
As long as nations still practice nationalism we can not drop our guard for however peaceful and egalitarian we may wish to be, they indicate that they do not feel the same way. I just can not imagine handing a gun to someone who has said that they intend me imminent harm.
Iran recently said that they would stop their uranium enrichment if the western nations did likewise. What could be wrong with that proposal? Moral equivalence suggests that all nations should have equal rights, right? How could anyone in this country that continues to produce enriched uranium rationally deny that right from anyone else. How about the simple case of us versus them. Ahmadinejad has led his people with nationalistic fervor in chants of "Death to America". How hard is this decision?
As long as nations still practice nationalism we can not drop our guard for however peaceful and egalitarian we may wish to be, they indicate that they do not feel the same way. I just can not imagine handing a gun to someone who has said that they intend me imminent harm.
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