Obama spoke this morning, now everyone is going crazy over a possible Obama/Rouhani encounter, and the warnings from Israel have begun. Time Magazine: A Handshake that Could Shake the World. NBC WorldNews: Hand-wringing precedes possible Obama-Rouhani handshake. The Forward: Israel Hopes Barack Obama Avoids Handshake With Iran Leader Hassan Rouhani. While the New York Times calls it “the diplomatic big tease of the year” and relies on the lobby stalwart Dennis Ross to warn against an opening to Iran with worn-out dumbed down, “rope a dope” messaging.
“It will certainly play to the Rouhani charm offensive, making the new Iranian leadership appear more moderate without any overt change in behavior,” said Dennis B. Ross…
Mr. Ross drew a distinction between a handshake and photo opportunity, and a working meeting. But he said, “We will still need to manage expectations and Israeli fears that we will end up in a rope-a-dope dialogue while the Iranian nuclear program creates facts on the ground.”
As if Obama is the dope.
Original Post:
Obama has done it. He has seized the opportunity and given an opening to Iran in a bold speech at the United Nations. John Kerry will meet on Thursday with the Iranian foreign minister and everyone on the cables is saying that “signals” are that a handshake will happen today between President Hassan Rouhani and President Barack Obama at the U.N.
Spectacular. Obama all but apologized for the American overthrow of Mossadegh in 1953, and said not a word about Hezbollah or terrorism or All options are on the table, while saying that Iranian-American suspicions will not be overcome “overnight.” Translation: the relationship will change overnight.
Wolf Blitzer and Andrea Mitchell both say a meeting of the presidents is inevitable today. While Jim Acosta, CNN’s senior White House correspondent, says that Obama has surprised him by overcoming his temperamental resistance to any bold move.
Can enough be said about Obama’s speech at the U.N. this morning? Leave out the claptrap about Israel and the Jewish state, he also mentioned the occupation as destructive of Israeli democracy, and Palestinian aspirations to freedom at last.
But the earthquake is Iran. Israelis and the lobby are in complete turmoil. Obama has extended his hand to Iran in a moment worthy of Nixon and China. We are at last altering our role in the Middle East. And the special relationship is about to become a lot less special.
© 2013 Mondoweiss
“It will certainly play to the Rouhani charm offensive, making the new Iranian leadership appear more moderate without any overt change in behavior,” said Dennis B. Ross…
Mr. Ross drew a distinction between a handshake and photo opportunity, and a working meeting. But he said, “We will still need to manage expectations and Israeli fears that we will end up in a rope-a-dope dialogue while the Iranian nuclear program creates facts on the ground.”
As if Obama is the dope.
Original Post:
Obama has done it. He has seized the opportunity and given an opening to Iran in a bold speech at the United Nations. John Kerry will meet on Thursday with the Iranian foreign minister and everyone on the cables is saying that “signals” are that a handshake will happen today between President Hassan Rouhani and President Barack Obama at the U.N.
Spectacular. Obama all but apologized for the American overthrow of Mossadegh in 1953, and said not a word about Hezbollah or terrorism or All options are on the table, while saying that Iranian-American suspicions will not be overcome “overnight.” Translation: the relationship will change overnight.
Wolf Blitzer and Andrea Mitchell both say a meeting of the presidents is inevitable today. While Jim Acosta, CNN’s senior White House correspondent, says that Obama has surprised him by overcoming his temperamental resistance to any bold move.
Can enough be said about Obama’s speech at the U.N. this morning? Leave out the claptrap about Israel and the Jewish state, he also mentioned the occupation as destructive of Israeli democracy, and Palestinian aspirations to freedom at last.
But the earthquake is Iran. Israelis and the lobby are in complete turmoil. Obama has extended his hand to Iran in a moment worthy of Nixon and China. We are at last altering our role in the Middle East. And the special relationship is about to become a lot less special.
© 2013 Mondoweiss
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