Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by toyg 3996 days ago
> The Iranians can't be trusted.

National stereotypes, pillars of pragmatic diplomacy ever since 2000 BC and the clear mark of logical thinkers the world over.

> If Obama cares about Iran, he would have supported their Green Revolution

How do you know he didn't? Because he didn't send in bombers to "support demonstrations"?

> Yet, strangely, Obama supported the Egyptian coup

... when the alternative would have been much more Iran-friendly; yeah, how strange, right? Honestly, how do you make these random mental associations?

> He sort of waddles along weakening the U.S. position whenever possible.

A comprehensive Iran-US 'peace deal' (or even a strategic partnership going forward) would immensely strengthen US standing around the world, dramatically reducing tensions in the Middle East and providing a balance to the uncritical reliance on Saudi Arabia and Turkey that so much pain has brought since the '90s (from Al Qaeda to IS). So uhm, there is that.

But yeah, I agree that it weakens fearmongers' positions, both in US, Israel and Iran.

2 comments

>> The Iranians can't be trusted.

>National stereotypes, pillars of pragmatic diplomacy ever since 2000 BC and the clear mark of logical thinkers the world over.

The OP clearly means the theocratic regime, not the Iranian people themselves.

Large parts of that theocratic regime are elected.
... after controlling who can run for office.

If you let me select both the Republican and Democratic candidates, I'll happily let the people vote however they want.

That's exactly how large donors think in the US.
> > If Obama cares about Iran, he would have supported their Green Revolution

> How do you know he didn't? Because he didn't send in bombers to "support demonstrations"?

Come on, it's quite clear that Obama was very low-key during the Green Revolution protests, much lower-key than he needed to be.

In a country where US = "bad", public US support would have been hindrance, not help. We don't know what was going on behind the scenes. Note also that the de-facto sponsor was Rafsanjani, somebody a bit too skillful to "marry unconditionally".

Obama is not a saint (he relies on the same corporate interests and even the same personnel a Clinton would), but it's hard to fault him for his moves regarding Iran.