US invites Iran to 4 July events

[struggle4progress]

Source: BBC News

By Kim Ghattas
Washington

For the first time since 1980, the US has authorised its embassies around the world to invite Iranian diplomats to Independence Day receptions.

The move is part of a new policy of engagement with Iran under President Barack Obama's administration ...

The decision to invite Iranian diplomats to an American reception is a symbolic gesture but it puts an end to almost 30 years of a US policy discouraging even informal contacts with Iranian officials.

It is not yet known whether Iranians from Tehran's interest section in Washington will be invited to the 4 July reception at the State Department ...

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8080239.stm

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Coming up next: noisy Republican moaning and shrieking and wailing and tooth-gnashing and ...

[Wizard777]

1. There's more common ground. We've both overthrown Monarchs in a revolution.

Happy Fourth to our brother revolutionarys.

[struggle4progress]

2. I don't feel much sympathy for the reactionary theocrats who run Iran, but we do owe

the Iranian people an apology for propping up the Shah all those years, and a different approach is overdue

[No Elephants]

3. Agree, but my visceral reaction is not as enlightened. Trying to let my head govern my gut.

[Wizard777]

4. If a theocracy is what the majority is comfortable with. Then the principles of democracy say,

Let it be. Right now we are in the process of dis-empowering our Theocracy in the religious right. Well actually they are dis-empowering themselves. But either way way we're headed back to a secular democracy. maybe one day Iran will follow us there too. But it's their country that they have to live in. Our principles of democracy says, it's their way in their time. We wouldn't want to revert to the ways of the religious right who seem to think it's more important for others to live up to their principles. They give themselves special exemptions from living by their principles to ensure everyone does. I think it's more important for us to live by our principles.

[struggle4progress]

5. I don't think the US should intervene in Iran as we did 1954-1979. But if we re-establish

any moral credibility, human rights issues in Iran deserve attention. It's absolutely intolerable to hang people for homosexuality, for example, whatever the majority of Iranians think.

[Diclotican]

8. struggle4progress

struggle4progress

It is not that long ago, in most western country, just to be labeled Homosexual was the same as been fired from your job, and to loose everything you might have worked for... Or if you goes longer back in time, the penalties when it came to homosexuality was indeed death... It took a long time before most western country managed to get over the label Homosexuality... Even that today, most country have in better or worse degree axcepted the idea of homosexuality...

It is wrong to hang peopole just for been homosexual, that is true, but if "we" give Iran time to reform, they would also reform the penal system. But I am afraid it wil take time, maybe more time that some want to give Iran..

And to the point of things, last time US invanded a country (Iraq) the result was a far harsher Penal system in the liberated Country.. So this time maybe it is more important to use other means than cannons to liberate a country?

And yes, human rights issues is important, and I am sure at some level that mr Obama would try his best to influce the iranians counterparts.. Even if Obama could not use everything he has, becouse of the work load he have, he might at least tell the iranians what he want to talk about..

I thing it is great just to get to a line in the sand,when you can invite reprentatives from IRAN, to celebrate your 4 of July.. That was not happending before... Maybe your current President are an special man after all;):.

Diclotican

[The Stranger]

9. Didn't the U.S. Navy shoot down an Iranian civilian airliner and kill 290 civilians one time?

Oh yeah, it did. And Bush, Sr. refused to apologize for it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Air_Flight_655

[Mike Daniels]

7. And neither revolution was universally supported by the populace

One main difference is that after our revolution the victors didn't attempt to purge or oppress those who didn't side with the revolutionaries.

[Soylent Brice]

6. almost forgot what diplomacy looked like.

K&R