[I want to share w you my thoughts on this video, but first I want to hear from you guys. See the video here.] From the White House Blog: President Obama released a special video message for all those celebrating Nowruz. Translated “New Day,” Nowruz marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of the New Year for millions in Iran and other communities around the world. This year, the President wanted to send a special message to the people and government of Iran on Nowruz, acknowledging the strain in our relations over the last few decades. “But at this holiday we are reminded of the common humanity that binds us together,” he says.
After committing his administration to a future of honest and respectful diplomacy, he continues on to address Iran’s leaders directly: “You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right — but it comes with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization. And the measure of that greatness is not the capacity to destroy, it is your demonstrated ability to build and create.”
Iran is welcoming the appeal by U.S. President Barack Obama for better relations between the two countries, but says words alone are not enough.
An aide to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the United States must back up its words with the appropriate actions.
He says the U.S. must try to repair the damage done by its past mistakes. He also says America needs to make fundamental changes in its approach to relations with Tehran.
Obama putting watermelons under Iran’s arms?
The Iranians have a saying for when people pay you empty compliments in order to get you to do something they want — “putting watermelons under your arms”.
So Obama praised Iranian civilization etc. etc. Very nice. Clinton did that too. So what? How can you one one hand proclaim that a country has a great civilization, and yet on the other hand demand that the same country give up her sovereign rights to have the full nuclear fuel cycle? Is that what great civilizations do, give up their rights in the face of threats and sanctions?
Israeli President Shimon Peres issued a rare Nowruz greeting of his own to Iranians, praising what he called “the noble Iranian people” in a message on Israel’s Farsi-language radio station, which broadcasts in Iran.
http://www.verizon.net/newsroom/portals/newsroom.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=newsroom_portal_page__article&_article=1642120&_count=1
Arash the Occupation Soldier (aka “The Joker” – bc we love to laugh at you), let me remind you that you are not allowed to blog here, even under fake names, until you apologize for using threatening language and promise not to do it again. Then, and only then, will your outrageous comments be allowed, even if I don’t agree w them (like other people here). Otherwise, your comments will be continue to be deleted.
I don’t know if it will change anything between the two countries but stil we have to applaud the fact that Obama seems to be reaching out to the Iranians with this message compared to the terrible rhetoric used by the Bush administration. A change for a fact!
One should also be carefful not to become too optimistic though because it is important to read between the lines for instance when Obama says “You too have a choice” – that could be seen as he is trying to give Iran a warning if it doesn’t comply with the demands set by the US. I think Obama has set the stage for some tough negotiation/talking processes where the US will put tough demands for the Iranian administration. It’s as if the US has put the military agenda on a hold for now in order to engage in some dialogue – but for how long?
It’s also interesting to compare his speech with that of Peres, which has alot of sharper rhetoric – Obama’s is definately the most diplomatic one
There is nothing America or Israel can do about Iran, the latter has long crossed the threshold of military containment.
If Israel and America take the war option, Iran will bring the West to its knees with oil blockade.
Iran cannot defend itself in the air, but navel warfare is Tehran’s trump card.
Iran posses sophisticated mines, high speed torpedoes, navel missiles and zealous revolutionary guards who are fully trained in asymmetrical warfare and can fight for decades.
I believe the lessons of Afghan and Iraq wars have managed to go through the dual wall of western ignorance and arrogance.
American from USA
The Israelis are taking my tax money to build new homes on stolen land and an apartheid wall on Palestinian land. We should build homes for Katrina survivors instead. STOP TAKING MY TAX MONEY, you thieves.
Poop unto the nations:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=159923
These are lovely people.
He lied they cheered they died from Canada
To replace oil will take another ten to twenty years and that is
enough time for Iran. I disagree with the post that Iran can not defend itself in the sky. Yes it can, the warplanes are little bit less inferior than those of the axis of evils in invading other countries, but in defending they are fine. Iran has developed defensive drones to make the life of Israel a HELL, these drones will be navigated through Iranian sat lights. For a one thousand dollar Iranian drone, Israel will spend a missile of million dollars but Iranian drones will keep flying in a mass in her sky with pride and valour. If Oh ba ma keeps funding the THIEVES, his magic will fade fast.
UK to Israel: War crimes law unchangeable now
In 2005, Doron Almog managed to avoid arrest in Britain by remaining on board a plane at Heathrow airport
The British government says it cannot change for now a law that allows for the arrest of Israel’s visiting authorities over war crimes.
In an unofficial message to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Britain said that due to Israel’s public image in the country following its massive strike against the Gaza Strip, London believes it will be unable to pass an amendment to the legislation before next year’s elections, Haaretz reported.
The Israeli offensive, namely Operation Cast Lead, triggered a wave of outrage worldwide as it left more than 1,434 Palestinians, including 960 civilians, killed and thousands more injured.
Suspected use of forbidden ammunitions, such as white phosphorus and depleted uranium, testimonies by Israeli officers on racist and religious motifs among their comrades, and UN reports of wanton killings of civilians raised protests to Israeli war crimes and ‘even crimes against humanity’ during the 23-day-long onslaught.
Under British law, UK citizens can press war crime charges against foreigners, who could be arrested upon entry into Britain once an indictment has been issued.
In 2005, Maj. Gen. Doron Almog flew to London but decided not to leave the plane when he was informed British police were waiting to arrest him.
An arrest warrant had been issued against him for his role in the controversial demolition of Palestinian homes in Rafah.
Almog remained on the aircraft and returned to Israel but his case has caused senior Israeli army officers in both active and reserve service, including former chiefs of staff and cabinet ministers (Ehud Barak and Shaul Mofaz), to avoid traveling to Britain ever since.
Britain’s government, first under former premier Tony Blair and recently under his successor Gordon Brown, had promised to pass changes in the legislation so that private citizens would first have to obtain the approval of the chief prosecutor to be able to press war crimes charges.
While Israeli diplomats are seeking support for such an amendment from Conservative lawmakers, Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor on Saturday urged London to find a way to fulfill its promise.
But the British Foreign Office described the measure as “a complex legal issue”.