Iranian mother who spared her son's killer: 'Vengeance has left my heart' | World | The Guardian
Samereh Alinejad tells the Guardian she had no intention of sparing her son's killer, Balal, until the moment she asked for the noose to be removed from his neck

I'll see your ante and raise you...

Obama repels new Iran sanctions push, for now

 RichardPrins wrote: 
Interesting article. Iran's politics are very complicated and don't fit into the West's pigeon-hole categories of "left" and "right".

From Shah to Supreme Leader: What the Iranian Revolution Revealed | Foreign Affairs #books

 gypsyman wrote:Not at all.  It is possible, if in fact it is the case here, to come to a common conclusion from very different perspectives.  That's what Iran and the US are trying to do. Everyone watching (who cares) has an opinion on the progress so far—and they should be heard. It's all grist for the mill. 

 ScottN wrote:I agree.

Methinks I detect sarcasm. Maybe?

 

 gypsyman wrote:I agree.

 ScottN wrote: 
I know that Iran actually loses very little, and gains 3 percent on its currency value in one day, plus more infusions. Honestly, big picture, big picture.....

 gypsyman wrote:Have you read the agreement?  It's not perfect, but for two countries who have not spoken in decades, it is a major step.  Both sides made concessions.  It requires verification and is only six months duration.  Iran will not become a nuclear power, or progress towards becoming one, during this agreement's term.  Of course it is controversial.  No agreement could escape that.

John Kerry is the new Neville Chamberlain. History repeating itself.

The Middle East warmly welcomes Iran Deal, sees it as Step toward Denuclearizing Israel | Informed Comment

 oldviolin wrote: 
Or in history, seeing how various predecessors (Colonial Old World Orders) did something similar under the guise of bringing civilization to the natives.

Take up the White Man's burden, The savage wars of peace—
  Fill full the mouth of Famine And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest The end for others sought,
  Watch sloth and heathen Folly Bring all your hopes to nought.

 oldviolin wrote: 
party pooper.

 RichardPrins wrote: 
That almost sounds counter intuitive for want of a peaceful world. Seemingly the enthusiastic proponents of the New World Order aren't interested in common sense approaches to human well being.

 oldviolin wrote: 
Seems to me that is better left to those sovereign nations, unless one has a certain fondness for unintended consequences/excitement/gambling...

 RichardPrins wrote:  Yes, the Shah was a real success story for our intelligence community.  Smth for the NSA on which to build a lasting legacy.

 RichardPrins wrote: 
so much for nation building...

 ScottN wrote:
Or toppling their elected government and installing a puppet (which curiously almost always seems to be omitted from any discussion)...

 oldviolin wrote: 
So true.  Most of the history of the ME, as I have come to understand it, was significantly aberrated by the post WWI re-drawing of state (vs national) boundaries  by the west after WWI. The History of the region is among the oldest, and bloodiest,  recorded.