Going Green -- Support Iranian democracy

[Anonymous]

you realize that the picnics were not specifically designed events only for Iranian diplomats, but rather events held at the embassies for all diplomats in a particular country, right? This was not an Iranian hotdog party, if that's the impression you were under.

BTW, no Iranian diplomats have accepted the invitation.

[jsteele]

Also, the events in question are not in Iran. We don't have diplomatic relations with Iran. Hence, no embassy there.

[Anonymous]

The Pres has now canceled the inane hot dog diplo-fest. Good. Does that make him like me now--open to your barrage of critique and snide comments about the superiority of Persian cuisine? (I'm sure you think I don't know the relationship between Persia and Iran and will inform me of that next...) Let's see which of my ideas he picks up on next

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:The Pres has now canceled the inane hot dog diplo-fest. Good. Does that make him like me now--open to your barrage of critique and snide comments about the superiority of Persian cuisine? (I'm sure you think I don't know the relationship between Persia and Iran and will inform me of that next...) Let's see which of my ideas he picks up on next

Obama -- and elected Democrats generally -- have an unfortunate tendency to fold like wet paper bags in the face of Republican criticism. Perhaps there is some wisdom in picking your battles, and there is not much to be gained by defending invitations which were not going to be accepted anyway. But, now that you have won this battle, what do you think will be achieved? What impact do you think this will have in Iran?

[Anonymous]

Oh please. He made this decision because it was the right thing to do.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Oh please. He made this decision because it was the right thing to do.

The invitations were extended weeks ago. Why did canceling only become the "right thing to do" today?

And, you forgot to list all the achievements that would result from this decision.

[Anonymous]

Having gone forward with the barbecue would be the equivalent of inviting the Burmese junta to our celebration of freedom to 'exchange pleasantries'. What we have achieved for the US is we haven't abased the few ideals we Americans seem to agree on (the traditional celebration of basic freedoms). Vis Iran, we sent the message that we are not proceeding business as usual and consider current representation to be questionable due to compromising of recent democratic process. This both supports the democratic process en toto because we are waiting to see evidence that it, in fact, is viable--and encourages any of the 'fracturing' mullahs etc. that we have not made up our minds to proceed blindly with current power structure--but are tracking events in real-time while condemning those who participate in brutality and the suppression of democratic protest. Is it that deep of an analysis that I really need to spell it out? This was the morally, politically and strategically right thing to do. I am vindicated of course by the State Dept. switching gears. Let's see what else they do.

[Anonymous]

Alrighty then. America: 1 Hotdogs: 0 The Wienermobile has hightailed it out of town. Can we return to discussing real issues now?

[Anonymous]

America and hotdogs: 1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:America and hotdogs: 1

Let them eat hamburgers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:America and hotdogs: 1

Let them eat hamburgers!

LOL!
(But hold the pork barbecue....)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:America and hotdogs: 1

Let them eat hamburgers!

And Freedom Fries!

[Anonymous]

To get serious again, I suggest a look at Roger Cohen in the NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/opinion/06iht-edcohen.html