The Washington Independent - Latest Comments in A Grand Bargain

Re: A Grand Bargain

BiBiJon — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:59:03 -0000

The Leveretts wrote:

"While it may not be easy for some Americans to acknowledge, most of [Iranian] interests are perfectly legitimate -- to be free from the threat of attack or interference in Iran's internal affairs and to have the political order of the Islamic Republic accepted by the world's most militarily powerful state as Iran's legitimate government."

On Iran's part, accepting the legitimacy of U.S. interests in the region, is the relatively easy process of a country with 68 times less GDP and 110 Times less military budget, recognizing the might of a superpower so long as it is assured its concerns are taken into account.

For a reality check on Iran, please see
http://www.bibijon.org/iranimage/

Re: A Grand Bargain

Hamid Nazari — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:41:57 -0000

I am an Iranian born American living in the US and a former journalist. It is interesting to me that now that the economic sanctions and pressure on Iran are actually working (for the first time since 1979 there are now open discussions in Iran about talks and relations with the US) there is talk in the US about giving in to some or all of Iran's "legitimate" interests or demands. The Leverett's and others seem to forget that when Iran asks for normalization of relations with the West or the US, this is merely a strategy to create an atmosphere in which they can continue their goals with less pressure. I have worked for the Iranian government and have no doubt that the anti-US posture is the fundamental legitimizing element of the Iranian regime. If they end that stand and posture, then domestically they will be seen as not being revolutionary or independant any longer. They also honestly do believe that Iranian and American interests in the Middle East contradict, and therefore there can be no detente between the two countries. IRAN WANTS THE US OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST. I think this point is missed. The Soviets accepted the status quo in Europe, although not in the Third World, but the Iranian regime does not recognise US interests in the Middle East, at all. Knowing the Iranian psyche and political culture, it is sometimes surprizing to me how naive some American scholars or even policy makers are about international politics. Thank you.

Re: A Grand Bargain

concerned — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:47:53 -0000

Rosemiller is a fraud. Doesnt know anything about the issue at all. A joke among real professionals

Re: A Grand Bargain

omid — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:51:30 -0000

The only solution for Iran is regime change by the people of Iran and their organized resistance.