Archive
Straight-Talk
The New Moderate Hardliner
June 17, 2013
If I hear words like "moderate" or "reformist" associated with the name Hassan Rouhani one more time, I will literally and figuratively bust a gut!
Today’s newspapers are replete with articles, analyses, editorials and commentary on Iran’s new president-elect, cleric Hassan Rouhani.
You can read about his background – including that he was lead nuclear negotiator for Iran (2003-2005) – in any newspaper or hear about it on TV/radio, ad nauseum – but remember: All the candidates in the Iranian election were pre-approved by Ayatollah Khamenei and his regime, while those whom they deemed unacceptable, were disqualified ahead of time.
So how will the so-called “moderate’, “reformer”, “pragmatic”, “diplomatic,” “centrist” cleric Rouhani govern? Well, there’s a reason Ayatollah Khaminei approved his candidacy and it wasn’t because of his sunny disposition.
So wake up, folks. The emperor has no clothes! The West has a habit of romanticizing events (and people) that are dangerous and ugly by nature. Remember the blooming “Arab Spring”?
[Oh, and a special shout-out to NSR’s new Twitter follower, i.e., Dr. Hassan Rouhani, President-elect of Islamic Republic of Iran. Please feel free to peruse our site, President-elect Rouhani.] Posted by R.S.
Does Anyone Know?
June 5, 2013
Rabid Israel-hater, Samantha Power, was nominated by President Obama today for position of U.S. ambassador to the UN.
Foreign Policy magazine just posted a piece entitled "Neocons Praise Samantha Power Pick" (see below).
Does anyone know who the "neocons" are in this piece? We're perplexed.
FP article here.
Notable Quotables
"The damage to the reputation of the United States is indescribable. We are now seen, and will be seen for many years, as an unreliable partner in any multinational agreement or operation. Trust in the United States is irreparably damaged."
~ From Open Letter penned three days ago, by nearly 90 retired US generals and admirals to Sec of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Mark Milley, calling on them to resign from their positions over their handling of US withdrawal from Afghanistan (more here).
And Then Some
Another Arab Myth
June 9, 2021
America's Realignment
June 1, 2021
Zarif’s Rivalry & Kerry’s Betrayal
April 25, 2021
