Month: February 2011

from LobeLog: News and Views Relevant to U.S.-Iran relations for February 24th, 2011:

National Review Online: Clifford D. May, president of the hawkish Foundation for Defense of Democracies, lashes out at the UN for considering Palestinian requests for a condemnation of Israeli settlement construction. “[W]hy should Palestinians negotiate if they can get the U.N. to force Israel to make concessions in exchange for nothing?” asks May. The UN, says May, is wasting its time when it should be confronting Iran. “Iran’s rulers are executing dissidents daily, developing nuclear weapons, and sending warships through Suez.” He argues that the settlements are really a non-issue, writing, “Hamas, Hezbollah, and the theocratic rulers of Iran have been candid: Creation of a Palestinian state is, at best, a secondary goal. Their primary objective is the defeat and destruction of the world’s only Jewish state.”

The Heritage Foundation: The Heritage Foundation’s vice president of foreign and defense policy studies, Kim Holmes, blogs that “Obama’s ‘engagement’ strategy toward the ‘Islamic world’ is irrelevant to the Middle East” and that protesters’ demands for “freedom and better standards of living” cause the Obama administration to “launch denunciations with dizzying speed when it is a pro-American dictator like Egypt’s Mubarak, but to delay for days in saying a word when it’s an anti-American thug like Libya’s Qadhafi and Iran’s Ahmadinejad.” He concludes, “If we find Ahmadinejad’s behavior unacceptable, we need to consider options more forceful than talking with ‘multilateral institutions.’”

A British judge ordered Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to be extradited to the People’s Republic of Sweden,  the socialist paradise where hook ups are a crime: read the judgement here.

from LobeLog: News and Views Relevant to U.S.-Iran relations for February 23rd, 2011:

The Wall Street Journal: The Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Emanuele Ottolenghi opines, “Arabs’ revolutionary awakening belies Western conventional wisdom in the Middle East,” and repeats a linkage-denying argument that “ordinary Arabs who rose against their regimes didn’t do so because they wanted to free Palestine, but because they wanted to free themselves.” Ottolenghi rejects the linkage argument, a view promoted by the Obama administration, which posits that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a crucial step in addressing regional problems in the Middle East. He concludes, “The conventional wisdom that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is the mother of all problems in the region has now been exposed as nothing but a myth. Will Western leaders finally learn?”

The Waterloo Record: Senior Council on Foreign Relations Fellow Ray Takeyh writes, “it is all too obvious that the only option the United States has in altering the Islamic Republic’s behaviour is to support the ‘green movement.’” Takeyh acknowledges that the “military option” has “now become implausible” and discards the potential of negotiations, observing, “Tehran’s callous leadership, indifferent to the financial penalties of its nuclear truculence, was hardly prone to make cost-benefit assessments and constructively participate in negotiations.” He concludes that the Green Movement should “be beneficiaries of advice and assistance” from the U.S. “Whether motivated by idealism or a desire to advance practical security concerns, the West must recognize that the only thing standing between the mullahs and the bomb is the green movement,” he writes.

Editorial note: Moammar Qadaffi’s Norma Desmond moment has finally arrived. Here is my transcription of his address to the Libyan nation:

” I greet you, the ‘angry youth.’  The agents and cowards try to distort, to cover up the truth, to give a wrong picture of the world, some Arab media are betraying you. And they depict a bad picture of you: they don’t want a revolution, they want people of turbans and long beards, they say you want colonialism, here in the Green Square. Libya is leading Africa, all African nations consider us the Mecca of revolution, they want to insult you. Moamar Qadaffy is the leader of a revolution, he has nothing to lose, revolution means the sacrifice until the end of life. This is my country, the country of my grandfathers, we deserve Libya: we will save it from those rats and agents. Who are these agents who are being paid, damn them?

“They don’t have originality, all the tribes came here to Green Square chanting the same slogans [of support for Qadaffi], we challenged America with its mighty power, and we achieved victory. Here they put their heads down … This was our victory. The media wants to give you a bad picture of our country. The Roman Empire fell apart on Libyan soil. I am a revolutionary, I am a Bedouin, Libya will remain at the top and will lead Africa and South America, we will save the reovlution from these rats and cats. My grandfather fell as a mattyr in 1911, I will not leave the country, and I will die as a martyr, the remains of my father are here, my grandfather, my uncle are in the cemetary, I will not leave their righteous remains. I am speaking to you from the house that was bombed by the imperialists.

“This [bombing] was an admission from the biggest power, you can poison me, you can bomb me: you people with big beards when this was happening, when 170 planes were bombing — where were you? You were bowing to your master, America. We fought back against the tyyranny of America, we were resiliant.

“You rats were given pills, to raid barracks and they also burned their crimninal records, but I don’t blame these youths, they 16 or 17, they are emulating what they saw in Tunisia. [Foreign agents] are giving money and hallucinogenic tablets to young people. the people who were killed are members of the police, but those who did it are outside the country, and they are encouraging your children to slaughter each other.

“When we freed Benghazi during the reovlution — 20,000 people under the Italian regime — where were you when we freed your grandparents? When there were Americans occupying our country, where were you? If the rebels don’t leave we will fight. We paid a price of Libya, we will not leave. We left the regime to the Libyan people. We have no authority: it is the people. It is the Libyan people who are concerned alone…. When America raided us we fought the French and Sadat, and we fought Haile Selassie. Even Bourguiba. All agents of the colonial masters were fought, and we left the country for you. Oil money we left for you. I call on the Libyan people to organize new municipaliities. Who are you? These are not the people of Benghazi….

[He’s screaming]

“The people’s committees don’t need the govt. They can run themselves….

“I am sure after this call the people will call for new committees. everyone will have their own municipalities in Benghazi. Young people were given armed vehicles to go to Benghazi. 90 percent of the oil belongs to the people. Go out in the streets, get rid of the rats, if we have to use the force we will use it, according to the law and the constitution, tomorrow or even tonite we will resign, I wouldl throw my resignation in your face if I was the President. I have the people behind me. You are a solid rock that was bitten by the American aggression. Take your children from the streets: they have taken your children away from you. Your chioldren are dying for what reason? For what purpose? -For nothing. To burn Libya. Your children died, but their children are in America and Europe. These are gangs, like rats. They were given these tablets, and they are just imitating the people in Egypt.

“The hope lies with the people. Barricades should be lifted. Get out of your homes: chase them! Do you want Benghazi io be destroyed, cut off from water? These rats will blow up the oil fields. I built Benghazi block by block and they want to destroy it and they are using your children. Even civilian planes were stopped in Benghazi, for fear of these rats. Derna has become a rebel city: cleanse Derna! Beware! The Americans will come to rule you. Like Afghanistan like Iraq. Is that whatyo u want? Go out in the streets! Arrest them! Prosecute them! They want a bunch of emirates: that’s what they want.[ They want to] bring in the Americans and drop bombs on the country. All free officers have been sent to  the tribal areas, to cleanse these areas, and [rebels] will be prosecuted.

“They don’t want me, they don’t want Libya. This is a criminal act. Anybody who lifts an arm shall be punished by death. Those who spy for other countries will be executed. Anybody who undermines the state will be killed. Those who commit crimes against the army will be executed. Anybody who is with bin Laden will be killed. {Incomprehensible babbling] We will not forgive. Anyone who undermines the constitution, by force or otherwise, will be killed. Anybody who uses bombs will be arrested and executed. Please please remain quiet so you can hear. This is a very dangerous: I haven’t even started to give orders using bullets. Any use of force agains the State will be pounished by death. Anyone who murders will be executed….

[More crazy threats: rant rant rant]

“Do you want to be like Somalia? This means civil war if you do not apprehend them. Civil war. Anybody who is caught undermining  the country will be executed…  We are not leaving the building. They brought tanks, and on live TV, Yeltsin, they attacked the Duma building, and the West did not raise a voice. The Duma did not have any arms. They brought the tanks and those who were in front were crushed. The unity of China is more important than those people in Tiananamen Square. The unity of the Russian Federation was more impoprtant than those ein the building. They tear-gassed them and sent in armored vheicles. Those who went to Fallujah, the Americans, they flattened the city from the air, fightigt terrorism, we are looking for Zarqawi, [they daid], and they bombarded the city from the air. Nobody can be critical of what they did. But that was destroyed, civilians died. Wedding parties were bombed in Baghdad, how many died so we can finish al-Qaeda? Nobodoy condemned the Israelis, when they invaded Gaza. Do you know what’s happening in Somalia, or Iraq, certain groups are dong the same here. Dio you want to be like Fallujah? It’s the same gangs, the same group.

“From tonight, the youth — not those rats who have taken the tablets — the youth must secure the cities. We are under attack. Until the security personnel establish security once again, the people of the tribes of must protect the nation. Not agents of bin Laden or the Americans. Your children, not those youths who take drugs, they must be rehabilitiated. All people men, and women, go out in the streets, take over the streets, defend the revoluition, I am the head of the people’s revolution…. Get out of your houses as of now, organize the committees and join them, tomorrow the youth should be in all the Libyan cities and wear green armbands to show they are defending the ahcievements of the revoluition, which cost 71 billion dollars. And those who know about the Koran, the youth, who want to defend community values, we must hold our heads high.

“People are living in hell. Start from tongiht, apprehend them from this moment. We will form a new administration starting tomorrow. 

[He promises vague constitutional reforms: blah blah blah}

“I don’t have money, I don’t have a palace, I want everything for the people, the oil reserves belong to the people, we have dignity. People,  you outnumber the rats by ten to one. Bring back security. You have many officers who can help you: you can decide on the divisision of wealth, It is yours, do with it what you want, every one take his share.

“Our brothers who betrayed us, instead of relaying the truth, they are being spread by dirty [television] stations, and our media will respond. Airports, seaports, are not working, radios are not working, There are terrorists here, one who is shooting at schools (?), this is only very few [who]are terrorizaing Benghazi, a minority.

[Weird pause, one of several]

“Peaceful demonstrations about Gaza, Iraq, we have to resolve our differences peacefully. I myself led a peaceful demonsttration in the old days, but I did not seek destruction. Libyan people don’t need to demonstrate: they can go to the peoples committees. We will not allow separatism of Benghazi.

“The rebellion in the Russian parliament was dealth with by attacks. The Davidian s at Waco were dealt with by armed vehicles. Fallujhad was dealth with by bombing from the air. Because there was an armed uprising. Waco was dealt with by force. When students took to Tiannanemn square tanks were sent to deal with them. it’s not a joke. We cannot allow part of the country to be taken away. Peaceful demonstrations are different. Talking to foreign couintries and conspiring with foreign agents is a totally different issue.

“We brothers know each other. Those who stepped ont he Uinion jack flag calling them traitors we will rehabilitate the youth, they will become teachers. 

[He quotes a rhyme….bad translation]

“This young peoples’ revolution is not our revolution. these media have been abusing the events, just like in America, or Germany. We know each other by name, we know that area the sons of Aesir and other tribes, the …. [Breaks off at this point]

“You were with me yesterday, we know each other, from one tribe or the other, honestly, we know each other, who in the world would know each other better than us? The hero of the Musharaq battle, how can we ignore all this history? It is impossible. The mother of all tribes, are you from [unintelligible] or [incomprehensible], we know eafch other.

[Weird pause]

“Everything I’ve said just now, look at the television, they say I’ve ordered arrests, I haven’t said that. But Libya is in danger. The security of towns and cities–  the people must come out to protect it: all the local govts are supporting us.

[Weird pause]

“What’s required is giving up all the weapons which terrorize people, Benghazi is dying, no water no electricity, save yourself in Benghazi, you must run the city until the police come back.  Shame on you, are you gangsters? It’s impossible. Surrender your weapons to the authorities. Drugged young people with machine guns. Arrest the troublemakers and turn them over to the security people. Drugs are harmful: they are bad for the heart. Don’t destroy your contry for no reason. What’s come over you? We were living in safety, security, prosperity, and happiness: what happened? Why are you burning your countgry down?

[Weird and very long pause]

“Now i want to tell you finally. It is impossible to allow the country to fall apart or to fall into the hands of crazy people. [Editorial note: Pot, kettle, black] I’ve just been informed that the poetry I cited wasn’t heard through a technical fault: I will repeat it.

[He does so: it’s still incomprehensible]

“The young people do not know anything. All those people who are revolting, young people are destroying the country, they are following the fundamentalists and the foreign agents. If they don’t follow Qadaffi, it is impossible that they follow them.”

[Al Jazeera breaks off the translation, complains that he’s still talking, and tries to summarize.]

Commentary: Clearly, Qadaffi is off his rocker, but we’ve always known that. His speech — a mixture of pathetic pleas and bloodcurdling threats — merely confirms the diagnosis. Yet it’s interesting to note that it wasn’t all babbling. Notice how he mentions several times the alleged threat posed by “men with beards” — Glenn Beck, Pamela Geller, and Andrew McCarthy over at National Review will be glad to hear that the Libyan dictator is taking them seriously, even if no one else is.

Listening to Qadaffi rant on about how drugs (“tablets”) and rampaging disrespectful youth are destroying the country — “Why are you burning down your country?”, he asked — the Libyan despot seemed to be channeling the spirit of Spiro Agnew, who implied antiwar protesters were hopped up on drugs , and of Richard Nixon, who famously tried to rally the “silent majority” to quash the youth rebellion.

from LobeLog: News and Views Relevant to U.S.-Iran relations for February 22nd, 2011:

The Wall Street Journal: The Journal’s editorial board writes that the Obama administration needs a “new freedom agenda,” and should take notes from George W. Bush’s second inaugural address. They accuse Obama of “[O]ffer[ing] no support for Iranian demonstrators after [the June 2009] fraudulent elections” and calls on him to “meet publicly with dissidents from places like Libya, Syria and Iran, as Mr. Bush did in Prague in 2007, to lend a Presidential seal of approval to their struggle.” (See Jim Lobe’s blog post on the 2007 Prague conference.) The administration could be more supportive of the Green movement by authorizing the CIA to “provide Iranian workers with a strike fund—hard cash smuggled into the country to allow Iran’s workers to sustain a strike—thereby replicating the conditions that brought down the Shah.” The editorial endorses the administration publicly backing the Green movement’s leaders and suggests, “The Administration could also assemble prominent exiled leaders of the Green movement to sign a declaration of principles against the regime.”

Commentary: American Enterprise Institute scholar Michael Rubin opines on Iranian claims over Bahrain and warns that Iranian authorities have “repeatedly spoken of Bahrain in the same manner in which Saddam Hussein once spoke about Kuwait,” and, “When Iranian officials talk about their desire to transform the Persian Gulf into a Persian lake, they envision sending Bahrain’s Sunni ruling elite packing and returning Iranian dominance to Bahrain in order to rid the region of American influence.” Rubin says that Iran will never gain the upper-hand in Bahrain because “Whenever the Iranians have supported Shiite insurrection and riots, Saudi troops have quietly crossed the causeway to help Bahrain authorities put down the uprising.” He concludes that the U.S. should back constitutional reforms in Bahrain but preserve the monarchy.

The New York Times: Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren, asks, “will Egypt be a partner in peace?” and warns, “We have seen what democracy without tolerance and openness can yield — in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.” Oren reminds readers of the Iranian threat, writing, “President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran hailed the Egyptian revolution as a step toward creating a Middle East ‘without America and the Zionist regime,’ and celebrated by dispatching warships to the Suez Canal. Meanwhile, Iran continues to spin out enriched uranium — ‘producing it steadily, constantly,’ according to Yukiya Amano, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency — to achieve nuclear military capacities.”

National Post: Former George W. Bush administration speech writer David Frum opines, “The obvious thing to worry about in Bahrain is that the current unrest could invite meddling by fellow Shiites across the Gulf in Iran. (And in fact Iran has meddled in Bahrain since the days of the shah.)” He observes, “Always and ever: Iran is the big play in the Middle East. A democratic Iran may not be an entirely congenial presence,” and advocates for democratic reforms in both Iran and Bahrain. “But a more democratic Iran would be a less dangerous place for everyone, including its own people, than today’s theocratic, terrorism-supporting Iran. Every regional decision has to be measured against the test: Is this moving us closer to — or further from — a positive change in the Iranian political system?”

These protests are taking on a pattern: first, the people rebel. Then, the regime lashes back with violence. Then, the world reacts in horror and an enraged populace goes all out to rid themselves of the dictator. Finally, the Despot goes on state television and makes a very embarrassing and somewhat crazy speech. That pattern seems to be holding true in Libya, where Daffy Qadaffi is scheduled to go on television in a few minutes. Stay tuned….

UPDATE: Well, it was supposed to be in a few minutes, according to Al Jazeera, but, as in the case of Mubarak, it looks like Qadaffi isn’t quite ready for his close-up, at least not yet. So stay tuned, but don’t hold your breath…

UPDATE 2: Looks like it was a false report. The Qadaffy One did indeed appear on state television for a very brief interview, saying he’s not in Venezeula, as rumored, and that he needed “some rest.”

UPDATE 3: Oh wait …. This report says the Libyan dictator is going to speak to his people in a “nation-wide address,” so it looks like his Norma Desmond moment is coming …

See here….