We are in trouble with the IRAN spin - Look what my LIBERAL newspaper

[debbierlus]

Editorial had to say about the latest Bush spin: Berkshire Eagle, Western Massachusetts, often accussed of having a liberal bias (yeah, right) - this new editor should work for the NYT! Forgive my little comments throughout the editorial in ().

Putting ball in Iran's court
Editorial


Monday, June 05
Iran has long complained because the White House has refused to negotiate with it on issues of uranium enrichment, but in Tehran's governing circles that may secretly have been the last thing Iranian leaders wanted to happen. By offering to join diplomatic talks between the European Union and Iran, the Bush administration has thrown the ball into Iran's court, forcing the country to either move beyond its knee-jerk recalcitrance or reveal to the world that it is the true obstacle to a solution to the delicate nuclear issue.(Yeah, offer them a option they KNOW BEFOREHAND they will not take, and then be able to say 'We TRIED to resolve this diplomatically'!)

This surprising and welcome move on the part of the White House last week has been far too long in coming. The traditional approach of laying down conditions to be met by nations the administration is at odds with leads only to dangerous stagnation, and is based on a pre-Iraq War assumption that American might will intimidate countries into submission. (Excuse me? They are basically saying do what we want or ELSE? How is that different from their pre-war Iraq strategy?!!!) With that card no longer available, the White House may be forced into a strategy it has long deplored — negotiations from a position of strength thanks to support from our traditional allies. We hope this means the end of unrealistic military threats that only ratchet up tensions throughout the Middle East.(!!!!!!! - WTF????)

As a condition for the talks, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Iraq must agree to suspend its enrichment and reprocessing activities, with the implication that if it does so, the talks could then lead to Western help in building a civilian nuclear power industry in Iraq. Tehran has claimed that its nuclear program is designed only to address its energy needs, and it will build a nuclear arsenal only if threatened. Should it turn down these conditions, its stand will be exposed as nothing more than emptying posturing, as will its insistence on pursuing talks with Washington.(Set em up to watch em fall, we will be in before the end of the summer).

The initial reaction of the government-controlled Iranian press was to challenge the sincerity of the offer.(How dare they? The Bush adminstration, insincere?!!!!). This suggests that Iran's leadership is scrambling for time as it ponders what to do now that one of its main demands has actually been met. It has some incentives to at least sit down for talks with the EU and the United States, as it holds out the prospect of an eventual lifting of U.S. sanctions against companies that do business in Iran. U.N. sanctions if Iran considers to pursue its nuclear program could do considerable damage to a country that has oil wealth but lacks the technology to fully exploit it.

Iran may posture for some time, and even if it agrees to talks, it will undoubtedly undermine them with unreasonable demands. The pressure is on Tehran, however, which is not the position it wants to find itself in.

UNFRIGGINBELIEVABLE

The media has learned NOTHING. Not one damn thing. It is the Iraq spin all over again. If this is what we are getting in the BLUEST county in the BLUEST state in the country, I can only imagine the rest of the nation's take on Iran.

Hook, line, and sinker. No comprehension that the Bush adminstration's actions are ONLY based on the end result of getting what they want. And, in this case, they WANT a military intervention in Iran.

ZERO CONTEXT.

PATHETIC.

[rodeodance]

1. note that the press/media provided Condi with unfetted space last few

days with no critical questions!

[debbierlus]

2. Lemmings.

LEMMINGS.