Iran

[ahinton]

What a shame you can't accept a straightforward situation as just that but have to infer a sniping motive. If you have had a connection with FCO then my comment was only wrong in being out of date, surely and to call it a lie is excessive & I hope that you will retract & apologise.

Indeed - and I hope so, too.

[Simon]

Will anyone condone this act of aggression? The UN? Unlikely.

Whilst not condoning a military strike, it's a truism that the destruction of any weapons that are in the hands of Bashir - one of the most ruthless, devious and murderous dictators currently extant - can only be of benefit to the world in general and his neighbours in particular. It's a shame he wasn't standing next to them when they went up.

[David-G]

Israel's trial run: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012...rstrike-israel

Will anyone condone this act of aggression? The UN? Unlikely.

If Israel was responsible, it was an act of self-defence.

Whilst not condoning a military strike, it's a truism that the destruction of any weapons that are in the hands of Bashir - one of the most ruthless, devious and murderous dictators currently extant - can only be of benefit to the world in general and his neighbours in particular. It's a shame he wasn't standing next to them when they went up.

I am inclined to agree.

[Thropplenoggin]

Yes, that's the spirit! Extra-judicial assassinations all round and to hell with international law.

[MrGongGong]

Yes, that's the spirit! Extra-judicial assassinations all round and to hell with international law.

So you must be in favour of the baddies then :whistle:

as a certain cyclist used to say

"nothing to hide, nothing to fear"

[amateur51]

With just over 50% of the vote so far (72% turn-out) Hassan Rouhani has been elected President of Iran today

Crowds gathered in Tehran to hail Mr Rouhani, who said he had achieved a "victory of moderation over extremism".

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei congratulated Mr Rouhani on his victory.

"I urge everyone to help the president-elect and his colleagues in the government, as he is the president of the whole nation," he said.

Mr Rouhani, who has pledged greater engagement with Western powers, said: "This victory is a victory for wisdom, moderation and maturity... over extremism."

But he also urged the world to "acknowledge the rights" of Iran.

He said: "The nations who tout democracy and open dialogue should speak to the Iranian people with respect and recognise the rights of the Islamic republic."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22916174

[Serial_Apologist]

With just over 50% of the vote so far (72% turn-out) Hassan Rouhani has been elected President of Iraq today

Crowds gathered in Tehran to hail Mr Rouhani, who said he had achieved a "victory of moderation over extremism".

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei congratulated Mr Rouhani on his victory.

"I urge everyone to help the president-elect and his colleagues in the government, as he is the president of the whole nation," he said.

Mr Rouhani, who has pledged greater engagement with Western powers, said: "This victory is a victory for wisdom, moderation and maturity... over extremism."

But he also urged the world to "acknowledge the rights" of Iran.

He said: "The nations who tout democracy and open dialogue should speak to the Iranian people with respect and recognise the rights of the Islamic republic."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22916174

Remembering that Khameini and his pals are still in overall control, the jury will be out until we know how much manoeuvring room they allow Rouhani within the framework of the Islamic republic, and whether America plays it with subtlety, given Iran's support for Assad.

[amateur51]

After the surprise result (it was decided on the first round and the winner caught the world off-guard) Jonathan Steele provides a perceptive analysis of why Rouhani won and what it means about the mood of Iran's citizens and its hierarchy, and what it means for the West.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/16/iran-changed-course-us-must-do-same

[ahinton]

With just over 50% of the vote so far (72% turn-out) Hassan Rouhani has been elected President of Iraq today

Blimey! That'll cause a stir or three and take some people's minds off what's going on in Syria!...

[Beef Oven]

With just over 50% of the vote so far (72% turn-out) Hassan Rouhani has been elected President of Iraq today

And what did Jalal Talabani have to say about it?

[Richard Barrett]

All I know is that all my Iranian friends are relieved to the point of being overjoyed. On the other hand I suspect that the USA's sixty-year-old policy of interfering with anything that might look like Iranian democracy isn't going to change.

[Frances_iom]

... On the other hand I suspect that the USA's sixty-year-old policy of interfering with anything that might look like Iranian democracy isn't going to change.

If only the US would start to interfere with Saudi Arabia - they are the paymasters behind much of the fundamental interpretation of Islam as well as the home of Islamic misogyny - all funded by oil money.
I note that Sunni Islam seems quite happy to kill/maim any woman who seeks education (and the latest one even followed up by killing those taken to hospital) - something is truly sick in the Islamic world

[ahinton]

Tell us, do:erm:

I think that he's referring as I was in #294, actually - i.e. to the end of the first line in your pot that is #291 in this thread; I also cannot help but notice a striking similarity in appearance between him and Donald Rumsfeld, which ought perhaps to be more worrying than anything else here.

OK - back to the serious topic. How Rouhani and Khamenei will be able to reconcile what seem likely to be their far from insignificant differences of emphasis is surely an important matter for conjecture, not least on the part of the Iranian populace - for it is far from obvious, I think.

[amateur51]

I think that he's referring as I was in #294, actually - i.e. to the end of the first line in your pot that is #291 in this thread; I also cannot help but notice a striking similarity in appearance between him and Donald Rumsfeld, which ought perhaps to be more worrying than anything else here.

OK - back to the serious topic. How Rouhani and Khamenei will be able to reconcile what seem likely to be their far from insignificant differences of emphasis is surely an important matter for conjecture, not least on the part of the Iranian populace - for it is far from obvious, I think.

Thanks ahinton :ok:

[amateur51]

Hassan Rouhani has been officially sworn in as Iran's new president, promising moderation and transparency but also urging those who want the "right response" from his country to "use the language of respect" instead of sanctions.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/04/hassan-rouhani-sworn-in-president-iran

A thoughtful editorial Enter A Pragmatist

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/04/iran-enter-pragmatist-editorial

An apparent olive branch from Obama

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/04/obama-administration-iran

We have to be patient and see what emerges.