General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIt probably is the Arab Spring that has the Iranians wanting to make nice.
They look around and see people everywhere in the ME wanting freedom and democracy. If they don't adapt they will get overthrown at some point. Or there will be a war in Iran. Good that Obama and the West stay on the side of the democracy movements no matter how scary it seems. It has given Obama another foreign affaires win. But I hope all those demonstrators, independence fighters, all those young kids who are desperate for opportunity in the Middle East get credit for the new climate in Iran too. Cause they did it.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)60 Minutes tried to tell the story of SAVAK, the Shah, BP and the CIA...
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/09/27/when-a-us-president-tried-to-muzzle-60-minutes-about-iran/
applegrove
(118,022 posts)The powers that be in Iran for the last 33 years are misogynistic, homophobic, anti democracy tyrants.
JI7
(89,182 posts)want improved relations regardless. but the real power is with khamenei and i think he is only allowing Rouhani to do this because he is realizing how people are being hurt economically and it could end up hurting him.
applegrove
(118,022 posts)protesting for the last 3 years all over the middle east need some credit. They should be proud of what they've done.
JI7
(89,182 posts)to give ahmadenijad the win ? it was not successful in Iran as it was in many of the arab countries later on .
but i'm guessing they see what is happening and it will eventually succeed if they don't change.
applegrove
(118,022 posts)have to let Rouhani think this comes from him and his supreme leader.
JI7
(89,182 posts)and if not for the Clerics he would probably go even further than he has.
applegrove
(118,022 posts)a democrat. The Iranian people voted for him because he was a moderate. But still, he lives in a society where women have to wear hijabs. Oppression would melt anybody's mind over time. And he's been involved in politics for a long time. Doubt Rouhani is the best Rouhani there could be. But he's a start.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)applegrove
(118,022 posts)he wants. Of course I'm sure the Iranian Green Movement and the Arab Spring played a part. Iran has to either join the mass movement across the middle east or stay still. And there is nothing to gain from the position Iran is in now. Way to go Obama WH for all your middle east work. It seems to be paying off in multiple ways. My only question tonight is do the Iranians see his tweets?
Here are Rouhani's tweets:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/09/27/1241960/-Twitter-CEO-Blown-Away-by-Iran-President-s-Account-as-Rouhani-Re-Tweets-State-Department#