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[Wooster]

Any thoughts?

I think that it's a good opportunity.
They have a US President who's willing to open some dialogue and the chance of electing the reformist Mousavi as President of Iran.

There's also some concessions on the table the USA can offer.
It doesn't get reported much, but there are anti-establishment terrorist organisations working inside Iran itself, bombing Mosques and so on, and it's a poorly kept secret that they are/were probably getting a fair amount of funding from the USA (CIA) itself.
I'd like to assume that this funding pre-dates Obama's Presidency (tbh, that it happened under Bush is hardly a surprise), but Obama can at least say that it will stop (has stopped) and they won't be able to take refuge in the USA for much longer.

[keasy]

Most Iranians don't even know about Obama's willingness to open dialogue as his address to the peoples of Iran was not state approved and hence not broadcast widely.
However something like 30% of Iranian TV sets have satellite and they stood a good chance of seeing it as it was out with the state control then.
The fact many don't know about Obama's willingness coupled with the popularity of Mousavi is good omen IMO. If he is elected then he may just persuade the Ayatollah to liberate state broadcasting and make the peoples aware of Americas new hand of friendship instead of that bampot Ahmadinejad eagerly painting America as the bogey man and crying calls of 'Death to America. Death to Britain'.

I really hope Mousavi gets elected and we see a brighter future for diplomatic relations in the area.
One thing remains though, Israel. Even Mousavi has stated that the USA must stop blindly supporting the Israelis and admit to some Islamic reasons for the feud.
Interestingly enough Iran has the largest Jewish society in the Middle East out with Israel with the Jewish and the Islamic  communities getting along swimmingly and even in a way that is model like.
Mousavi's gripe with Israel is purely on a political front, which although not ideal is far better than simple hatred for the sake of it.

[Wooster]

It's bloody strange that...and it can only political posturing.
That Iran has a huge Jewish population that go about their business without much hindrance, despite the State ranting on about 'evil' Israel (I don't think they still even recognise the place).
It's a strange place.
On the one hand quite liberal and looking to the west, and on the other, the morality police still patrol and Sharia law still has weight.

Imho, if we can get Iran onside (and a lot of the population seem to think that way) then there's a chance that a ot of headway could be made on the problems the middle east has been going through for the past 60 years.
(I'm not touching the really old problems with a bargepole.. )

[Centurion]

On the news it was saying that 75% of the population is under thirty and IMO that's a good thing as young people are more willing to give things ago.
Plus you have to compare the two groups, the green lot looked like respectable collage students while the other lot looked like care in the community......

[Wooster]

"care in the community"

[Thermalsig]

There are only 20,000 to 30,000 thousand Jews in Iran, and they can worship freely and have a representative in their govt. The problem of a sort is they can never change their religion unless it's to Islam. They only reason they are tolerated is because they are recognized as "people of the book". I do hope they get a more democratically swayed govt., but for now, the ultimate power is in Islam. Until you can get rid of the hard line old guard Theocrats, Iran won't change. The people of the country are kept ignorant and poor to keep them in line. From what I read and hear, the most radical of the people tend to also be the poorest and most ignorant(as is true in any religion). I do hope that Obama makes a difference in the East, but if he gets a foot in the gate, it will only be because the Ayatollah's allow it. When it comes to Israel, I think we've backed them enough and it's time they are made to respect the Islam religion and it's people(Palestine). FFS, they had better, they're surrounded by Muslim countries ans if the US were to say FO, you're on you're own, they whole region has the potential to go nuclear. Thank the US for allowing them the nuclear option, although at the time it was done, it may have been understandable. It isn't now.

[Wooster]

I think the UK had a fair part to play in Israels nuclear plans.
IIRC, They couldn't develop the weapon without heavy water, and nobody would sell them any...that is until a clerk in Whitehall sold them a pile of the stuff.
The official story is that he didn't know what it was...yeah, and pigs might fly.

From what I can gather, the Ayatollah's are quite liberal over there (relatively speaking), in most other countries in the region any dissenters are quietly disposed of.
I think they could come round tbh. Most of the educated population can see what fundamentalism is getting everyone else...nothing but grief, and I don't think they want any part of it.

The more moderate Muslim countries we can get, the better, since it marginalises the real nutters.


(p.s. That western backed terrorist organisation is called Jundullah)

[Centurion]

I think it's time to stop dicking about & send in Americas top secret weapon..........





















 

Once there is one of these on every bazaar corner they will be more worried about spots & heart disease than the west......

[keasy]

 

I'll have two Big IchmlsMacs, a six of chicken Mudhajheennuggets and a coke please   

[Hap Hazzard]

 
To both the above posts.

[MEGGY]

I thought all water weighed the same 

[Wooster]

It has deuterium in it afik.

Some say that it also has some health benefits..
http://naturalremedysite.blogspot.com/2008/12/heavy-water-elixir-of-youth.html

[Centurion]

It has deuterium in it afik.

Some say that it also has some health benefits..
http://naturalremedysite.blogspot.com/2008/12/heavy-water-elixir-of-youth.html

For a split second there I thought you were talking about McDonald's........

[keasy]

Maybe they will opt for the alternative to MacDonalds and go for Burger Ayatollah instead ?

[Wooster]

The protest marches are huge from what we can see from the videos that are leaking out.


The government has been trying to shut down any site linked to the organisation of the protest marches.

The response: People are targeting the Government sites and shutting them down..