President Obama probably figures what the heck, stump speeches worked on enough suckers to get elected the most inexperienced candidate in the history of America, so why not try the same tactics on the Iranians.
I don’t think they’re going to work.
For nearly three decades relations between our nations have been strained. But at this holiday we are reminded of the common humanity that binds us together. Indeed, you will be celebrating your New Year in much the same way that we Americans mark our holidays — by gathering with friends and family, exchanging gifts and stories, and looking to the future with a renewed sense of hope.
Within these celebrations lies the promise of a new day, the promise of opportunity for our children, security for our families, progress for our communities, and peace between nations. Those are shared hopes, those are common dreams.
So in this season of new beginnings I would like to speak clearly to Iran’s leaders. We have serious differences that have grown over time. My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community. This process will not be advanced by threats. We seek instead engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect.
Let’s see, those “strained” relations were caused by the Iranians doing what no other nation has ever done in recent times: Breaking the trust of the embassy concept and taking hostage Americans for 444 days, releasing them only when Ronald Reagan came into office. There is also the Iranian-backed Hezbollah bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, which murdered 241 Americans. (There were also the hijackings, bombings, and murders of other Americans, but let’s not get too far off track.)
The “serious differences” would be the existence of Israel and the Iranian pursuit of nuclear weapons. We’re for Israel and against the Iranian bomb, and Iran has, well, opposite stances. How these will be resolved is beyond my ability to comprehend.
And that honest engagement “grounded in mutual respect”? Well, clearly, they don’t respect “The Great Satan” and haven’t for decades. Honest engagement? You mean, like not lying to international inspectors about the scope of your nuclear program? Or not sending Iranian soldiers to Iraq to train terrorists in building IEDS? Like not supplying the other side in Iraq and Afghanistan with weapons to kill our soldiers?
Yeah, there’s no way this outreach can go wrong. At least, not for the Iranians.
The problem facing the former junior senator from Illinois in his relations with Iran is that his oratory, as magnificent as it is, is in English, and I doubt if Ahmadinejad and Khameini speak any English. So they must rely on the translations of the text, and I suspect that his speeches, like French philosophy, do not translate well.
Think the smartiest most intulligant swooniest Prez ever knows that YouTube is banned in Iran?
Who is exactly is going to view this video?
I suspect that like all of leftist dribble it was really meant for the salons of Europe and Berkeley so that Barry can go to the parties and be told how wonderful he is.
“grounded in mutual respect”
Iranian respect = “Die infidel!”
The Obamateurs (to use Mark Steyn’s word) are beginning to make the Carter Administration look competent in retrospect.
Obama is going to make the Islamofascists think the US is a walkover or a doormat, and they’ll try something really horrible. Obama will panic and start throwing nukes around, since he won’t have any other idea what to do.
I’ve had a bad feeling about what is coming ever since I figured Obama would win, and it grow worse every time that ignorant twit opens his mouth about international or defense affairs. I can only hope that Bismarck was right, and that there really is a Special Providence that looks out for fools, drunks, children, and the United States of America. If only we would not make His job so hard.