When I first saw the headline on Drudge this evening – Dear Ahmadinejad: Obama Drafts Letter to Iran (linking to a Financial Times article) – my first thought was this was a great premise for political satire, if there was such a thing beyond the pap we get on SNL, etc., which there isn’t. Well, once in a while, South Park. In fact, setting the South Park kids to drafting imaginary letters to A-Jad does make laugh, even if the whole enterprise would be pointless – and perhaps because of that.
Nevertheless, reading the actual article I found that the Drudge headline was misleading (I know – you’re shocked) and things had, thankfully and at last, gotten a tiny bit more subtle. These letters – which are being drafted by our ‘sophisticated’ State Department, evidently for Obama’s perusal – “would be addressed to the Iranian people and sent directly to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, or released as an open letter.”
What, no A-jad? Is the President of Iran going to be dissed by Obama after the Iranian wrote one of his long and rambling letters, in this case of congratulation, to our new president? (Yes, oh refugees from Kos-land. I know Ahmadinejad is just a figure head.) Well, it looks that way.
But whatever transpires, my guess is this will be an exercise in extreme futility (not to be confused with extreme sports, which have some point). In the fact, the whole enterprise will be comic all on its own. Here are some of the possible results: 1.The mullahs will ignore the letter entirely (or nearly). 2. The mullahs will be angered by something in the letter and negotiations with be broken off or never start. 3. The mullahs will launch into tedious discussions with us that will go nowhere (meanwhile continuing with their nuclear weapons program.)
Which of the above – or other possibilities – would you predict? But before you do, remember one thing that our State Department seems always conveniently to overlook: The mullahs are crazy.
UPDATE: Interesting related article by Amir Taheri.
At least South Park will have new material with Obama since it mocks everyone and everything.
OK Roger, here’s my prediction.
The Islamic Republic welcomes the letter from the US Government. While certain flaws appear in the letter, the Islamic Republic welcomes further dialogue with the US Government with the view of improving relations.
Rev. Wright is appointed as Special Envoy to Iran. A-jad is invited to Washington for talks at Camp David with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni. Israel gives up Golan Heights. Photo op in White House Rose Garden.
US removes ban on exporting nuclear technology and material to Iran.
Obama wins Noble Peace Prize.
Syria enters Golan and begins firing rockets into Israel.
Jimmy Carter appointed Special Envoy to Syria. Rocket firing continues but talks are scheduled in Davos in late 2010.
Iran test fires small nuclear device.
Obama is Time Magazine’s Man of the year.
Rev. Wright authors a New York Times best seller about his diplomacy with Iran. The book is made into a movie, with Danny Glover playing Rev. Wright. George Clooney plays A-jad.
Iran nukes Tel Aviv. Livni and Olmert fly to France with most of the Israeli treasury.
The UN appoints Matt Damon as Special Ambassador for Palestine relief.
Surviving Israelis immigrate to the USA, become citizens and register as Democrats.
Minor scandal erupts in 2012 when Michael Savage reveals that Obama’s re-election campaign received an illegal contribution from Livni and Olmert via a Paris bank. Savage mysteriously dies three days later in a boating accident.
Obama and Rev. Wright share the Noble Peace Prize. New York Times rejoices over Obama’s unprecedented second award.
Obama’s appears on the cover of Time Magazine. He writes another book about himself.
Republicans run Alan Keyes for president. Obama wins in a landslide.
Obama appears on cover of Time Magazine.
Obama still is under the impression that A-Jad has no power whatsoever. (When, oh when will Barry finally get out of campaign mode?)By not addressing Ahmadinejad, who still holds high office, the letter will only be seen as an insult. It would be like A-Jad addressing Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, but leaving out Obama.
When I think of the State Department, I think of the quip that in order to be that stupid, you have to be educated to that level of stupidity. But, then, there’s a lot of that going around, in as much as there are a lot of edjamakted peoples now a days.
“…remember one thing that our State Department seems always conveniently to overlook: The mullahs are crazy.”
The Mullahs are crazy? Roger Simon is obviously a racist scumbag. He seems unaware that they are victims of Western oppression. We should be groveling at their feet and beg for their forgiveness. President Obama, needless to add, has every intention of doing so. Yup, I’m sure that this will improve matters. It worked for Jimmy Carter, didn’t it?
“…remember one thing that our State Department seems always conveniently to overlook: The mullahs are crazy.”
But once the Big O has reasoned with them, they will see the error of their ways. That’s how eloquent he is.
Can I choose, D. – all of the above? Seriously, does anyone really think that an open letter to the ‘Iranian people,’ will ever be seen by them? Does the State Dept. really believe that? Hillary usually strikes me as more intelligent than that, so I hope this is just the usual lower-level silliness.
Jules Crittenden has the best take on this.
Funny.
However, there really is nothing funny about the Iranian mullahs. Maybe Obama thinks his powers of persuasion are so overwhelming that no mullah can resist him. But I have my doubts.
Remember, Iran is a small country and poses no threat..at least that’s what the ‘One’ said during the campaign (depending on his audience, that is.)
Obama is willfully blind to Iran’s history (much like his willful blindness to Chicago corruption and ethically-challenged appointees), and thinks that if we all link arms and sing ‘We Are the World’, that’ll keep the mullahs from sending a nuke to Tel Aviv or New York.
Glad to see you link Amir Taheri. There is a lot of negative press directed toward him. After reading him for several years, my guess is that this is a result of the fact that he writes substantive articles about issues that matter. He has a lot at stake and I hope he continues to provide a critical assessment of the excellent adventures of our audacious President.
Well : “Earlier Wednesday, Ahmadinejad called for “profound changes” in US foreign policy – including an end to support for Israel and an apology to the Islamic republic for past misdeeds.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233050203297&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
In breaking news, the Bush Administration has announced, once again, that in the question of military action against Iran, “the White House says the United States must use ‘all elements’ of national power in dealing with Iran.”
No, wait. Bush isn’t President any more, right? I’m losing track.
I vote for angry mullahs refusing to deal with Obama as long as America is a Zionist puppet. All the while, still working on nukes.
#13 Edski
My guess is that you did.
First, I disagree that the Mullahs are crazy. We must treat them as intelligent and resourceful mortal enemies of America.
Second, the Mullahs will go for, after some breast beating, talks with Obama. The talks will be all farce: the Mullahs are wily Persians and know a slick egomaniac when they see one. They will play Obama like a fiddle. MSM will fall all over themselves in the praise for the Blessed One and his diplomatic feats with the Iranians. One morning we will awake to the Iranian bomb. Even then the MSM and Obama will be in denial and we will read every conceivable excuse for Obama’s naivete. Obama will do nothing (aside from the posturing) and it will be THAT FACT that will set into motion plans that will end in a major attack on America.
Just today at the Peace Forum in Daros, Switzerland the President of Turkey walked out after he said that he was being denied more time to refute Pres.
Peres, who was the last to present Israeli facts. He considered the audience as not being just in clapping for Peres, but they had clapped for him when he spoke at the beginning and they clapped for his assoc. from Turkey before Peres. Both of these men stated that They are looking forward to Pres. Obama
taking a different relationship with Israel and if so will be more willing to consider changes between them and Israel, however, his anger and walking off stage when he continued to talk after asking for one minute and refusing to stop when asked, betrayed his real regard for peaceful resolutions of any
kind.
My money’s on number three. It’s not in their interest to discredit Obama right off the bat. That could provoke a harder line from the appeaser-in-chief. It’s much better for them to allow the illusion of progress to develop for some period of time. At some point they will pull the Persian rug out from under Obama – but not until they have squeezed everything they can from him.
Anyone remeber NORKville?
This is deja vu all over again. The mullahs will talk up a blue streak alternately pissing and moaning and then being concilliatory all the while the nuke plans move forward unabated. Then one morning, boom, and the MSM will claim it is all Israel’s fault for sabotaging the One.