EXCLUSIVE - Rafsanjani urges U.S. to begin thaw in ties

[norml]

EXCLUSIVE - Rafsanjani urges U.S. to begin thaw in ties
Thu May 19, 2005 10:07 PM ET

By Paul Holmes and Barry Moody

TEHRAN (Reuters) - The man thought most likely to be Iran's next president said on Thursday he wanted to repair relations with the United States, but Washington had to take the first steps to end 25 years of enmity.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, in his first interview since declaring his bid for an unprecedented third term as president, also said he would never abandon the country's nuclear programme, comparing such a step to ceding Iranian land.

"It is like giving away part of our territory," Rafsanjani told Reuters. "This is our nation's legitimate right ... especially when it is in accordance with international laws and regulations."

Rafsanjani, 70, served two terms as president from 1989 to 1997 and announced last week he would run in a June 17 election. Opinion polls put him well ahead of other candidates.




snip




http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=8541567&type=worldNews

[evlbstrd]

1. Good. Be reasonable with Commander Cuckoo-bananas.

Watch your fucking back.

[norml]

2. U.S. Hopes for Changed Policies by Iran, Better Relations with It

U.S. Hopes for Changed Policies by Iran, Better Relations with It
State's Burns says Iran moving against tide of global events



The United States hopes for better relations with Iran, but the onus is on the government in Tehran to change its policies on human rights, weapons of mass destruction and attempts to destabilize the region, says Nicholas Burns, under secretary of state for political affairs.

"In each of these three areas, Iran has a demonstrated track record of moving backwards against the tide of world events," Burns said in prepared testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee May 19.

Burns stressed that the U.S. concerns are with the Iranian government, not the Iranian people, and the United States is proud of its Iranian immigrant community.

"...nly a generation ago, 200,000 Iranians were studying in the U.S. The United States is proud to be home to a large community of extremely talented Iranian immigrants who preserve a cultural and personal bridge to Iran where diplomatic contact long ago broke off," Burns said.




snip




http://usinfo.state.gov/usinfo/Archive/2005/May/19-702508.html

[RoyGBiv]

3. Six Years Ago

Six years ago, I was sitting in a cafe, having a sandwich, passing time people watching, and a magazine caught my eye. On the front was an image of the nation of Iran, split in two by a line, and on each side were pictures intended to provide a graphical depiction of the country's "two minds," one deeply religous, the other seeking a place in the new century.

While eating a muffin, I read the article associated with the picture. It was incredibly insightful, written by an author who had spent years in Iran as an American citizen working with local (yes, local) organizations working towards creating a more open, secular society. It's notable that while he and those with whom he worked met great resistance, they were never encarcertated or subjected to what they chose to call harassment. (At least, the article never painted it that way.)

The author's main point was that Iran, unlike many Middle Eastern nations, had a populace that wanted to engage in this process that we in the West call "Westernization." He compared it to Japan in the aftermath of WWII and to some extent to the decades prior. The people were deeply committed to maintaining their independent identity and made clear that they did not want to be "taken over" by Western interests (financial, social, religous, etc.) but that they definitely did seek investment, cultural sharing -- above all, accomodation and friendship. The children of the Iranian Revolution, in other words, wanted to make peace with America because the leaders that had emerged during that time had not made good on its promises and had, in other ways, proven itself to be just another version of the kind of dictatorial, exploitive power they had overthrown when they deposed the Shah.

They openly sought assistance from the United States, and with cautious steps, the Clinton administration was giving it to them.

Then came George Bush, and everything changed.

[evlbstrd]

4. I don't have the stats right at hand,

but the population of Iran is heavily weighted toward youth, and they are sick and fucking tired of the mullah regime.

edit for spelling dammit.

I should just put that in my sig line.

[RoyGBiv]

5. LOL!

Edited for spelling ... Me too. :-)

[evlbstrd]

6. Did you know that "dammit" passes spell check?

[RoyGBiv]

7. That's irritating ...

Dammit :-)

I've often said that if I suddenly found myself wealthy, the first thing I'd do is hire an editor. I can't rely on spell-check to catch it all.

[evlbstrd]

8. That's a great idea.

Especially in real-time, face to face communication.
Wow.
Can you imagine a press briefing from the White House like that?