Guess who
Who do you think this beauty is? (a) Vivien Leigh in a costume drama (b) a model from the 50s (c) ? No, it’s not Vivien Leigh in a costume drama: Nor a model from the 50s: It’s Princess Fawzia … Continue reading →
Category Archives: Iran
Obama and Iran: the theater of talk
At CNN, David Rothkopf says he’s skeptical of Iran’s intentions: There are 34 years of reasons to be skeptical about any negotiations that may emerge from Friday’s historic phone call between President Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. There are … Continue reading →
Samantha Power’s obtuseness about Iran is no surprise
Our highly-credentialed UN Ambassador Samantha Power either believed, or pretended to believe, that Iran and/or Russia would be cowed by the international community’s revelations about and reaction to Syria, and would be convinced to turn on Assad as a result: … Continue reading →
Has Egypt come full circle?
Will Mubarak actually be released now? Maybe, just maybe, could people be entertaining the thought that Mubarak’s repressiveness was a reaction to the situation in Egypt at the time he came to power? And that said situation has not changed … Continue reading →
Egypt vs. Iran: revolutions and coups
I often agree with editorials in the Wall Street Journal. But this one seems to hit a flat note, to wit [emphasis mine]: The result [of Morsi’s overreach in Egypt] was political polarization, with the opposition and military uniting against … Continue reading →
Iran and that “reform” candidate
I hate to be so pessimistic, but… Prediction: “reform candidate” Hasan Rowhani, who won big in Iran, will not actually be able to pull off any reforms of import. Here’s Barry Rubin on the subject: Did the Tehran regime put … Continue reading →
Why was there no Benghazi rescue attempt?
I’ve been thinking that the very simplest explanation is that unless the administration was assured of success they weren’t going to try, because the last thing they wanted was a failed mission. And just when I was thinking of writing … Continue reading →
Who wrote this, and when?
First, a quote: The pattern is familiar enough: an established autocracy with a record of friendship with the U.S. is attacked by insurgents…Violence spreads and American officials wonder aloud about the viability of a regime that “lacks the support of … Continue reading →
Melanie Phillips…
…has never been one to mince words. And she sure doesn’t do so here: The greatest satisfaction today over the re-election of Obama is not being felt in the Democratic Party. It is not being felt among the media, who … Continue reading →
Carter/Obama, Tehran/Benghazi, 1980/2012
A comment by “RickZ” about the failed Iran hostage rescue attempt in the waning days of the Carter administration prompted this reply from me, referring to a post I wrote several years ago on the anniversary of Operation Eagle Claw … Continue reading →
Ahmadinejad at the UN
Despite the title, I’m not going to spend much time on Ahmadinejad’s speech. It’s the usual stuff. I am happy to report, however, that the Obama administration is giving the right signals on this particular occasion, at least. The US … Continue reading →
Ahmedinejad…
…the statesman, getting ready to address the UN General Assembly: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday disregarded a U.N. warning to avoid incendiary rhetoric and declared ahead of the annual General Assembly session that Israel has no roots in the … Continue reading →