13 Days of Captivity Ends Nicely

Diplomacy and “old timey” politics work. President Ahmadinejad in an act of “kindness” released the 15 captives, unharmed, un-beheaded, un-molested back into the arms of the British people. He asked on behalf of his captives that they NOT be punished for their statements made during their captivity. He also was critical of the fact that a mother (Turney) was sent to the Gulf in service of the Queen. He asked in Farsi, “…Why don’t they respect family values in the west?” He is also stated as returning the captives as a gift in celebration of Muhammad’s birthday (March 30) and the passing and resurrection of Christ (Easter April 8th). Read entire Yahoo article HERE

Now with all respect to the President of Iran I can truly say someone has to be the bigger man. Ahmadinejad had the right to put his captives on trial; he had the right to execute them one by one to the uproar of the entire world. But he did not exercise his right. He used his Presidential powers and with the flair of a master politician swayed the entire British nation to his side. He did not have to impress America all he had to do was impress America’s allies and create a doubt (however small) about our mission in the Middle East and who the Iranians are as a people.

The funny side to this entire crisis that there are Iranian bloggers who say this move is typical of Iranian politics. As well as American bloggers who wanted to open a nice frosty can of whoop ass on the Iranian people for actions against British people. I made it clear in my previous blog entry there is no room for a conventional war across the Iranian border. Our military is stretched so thin that diplomacy is the only option for any other crisis that may occur. Even British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he has no ill will towards Iran. President Ahmadinejad’s move to release his captives was a transparent one however I say “old timey” back slapping, glad handing and back room politics is a hellava lot better than servicemen with missing legs and grave markers.


~VALE~

Coming Full Circle

Diplomacy isn’t dead. It is hidden under the folds of sheer aggression and testosterone. Learning to listen is just as important as understanding WHAT is being said. Looking at the Iranian Hostage Crisis (version 2.0) it is obvious that the Iranians want something in return for the British Marines. This is a trying and sensitive time for both sides. But it is at this meeting table I am pleased there are Brits and Iranians. Because I am sure my beloved America would have not negotiated (at least not publicly). We would have simply let our soldiers be slaughtered then requested more funds for the war effort. And honestly there is no way in a purple-colored hell we could fight Iran.

This scenario has played out before in the Carter and Regan years. Sadly I am old enough to remember our own hostage crisis (version 1.0). The captives were paraded around blindfolded as anti-American chants filled the air. President Carter always looked stressed as he answered question after question daily pertaining to the hostages. Looking back, it was almost if his sole term practically consisted of dealing with Iranian hostage takers. I remember in elementary school I had to write a report on this event and wondered why people had to be so mean (Ah, to be naïve again).

Well gentle reader you know the rest of our hostage story: the hostages were released on the first night of Presidents Regan’s watch, Iran-Contra, Oliver North, yada, yada, yada. Well at least we did have a proverbial “Ace” in the hole. At the same time Iranian students and followers of the new Islamic regime had hostages there was a war going on. It was during this war our friend and ally was provided with the best technology America could create, just so we didn’t have to get our hands dirty, a sort of payback if you will. If you couldn’t figure it our friend was Saddam Hussein and our ally was Iraq. Now that we are out of the loop we have to sit back and watch to see what happens next.


~Vale~

Oh Babylon

I know what you are saying gentle reader, my title is too eccentric, too biblical, but somehow I think this title works. President Bush has authorized our military to kill---yes kill Iranians plotting against Iraq, and now he has taken the dictatorial stance that he makes the decisions on U.S. troop levels. What in the sweet land of liberty is this really about? Let’s review, we went to Iraq to intercede and destroy all weapons of mass destruction. We made it to Iraq but haven’t found one WMD, 3031 U.S. troops have been killed during this operation, the Republicans got their butts stomped because of their faux pas and the U.S has become the laughing stock of the entire world. I don’t like it one bit.

The question is how do you really tell an Iranian bomb-maker as opposed to a Sunni mill worker or a Shiite baker? That would be like trying to tell the difference between someone who resides in Shelby County, Alabama versus someone who lives in Shelby County, Iowa. Of course the accents would be different, and I know we Alabamians would pick up on it in a heart beat. But let’s say the person who was doing the deciphering was from New Deli, India. This is truly what we are facing with this proposal to kill Iranian experts.

On a diplomatic approach to the problem that is Iraq we should understand Iran has a vested interest. Like our vested interest in the U.S/ Mexico border. These two have been neighbors for a long time with strong cultural ties. If we have not learned anything since “Operation Iraqi Freedom” began, we should have learned this; we are not loved in Iraq. IED’s go off daily and these dastardly things are remote operated, so that means Iraqi citizens drive pass them with impunity. Those citizens don’t have to worry about the roadside bombs, because there’re friends and neighbors of the bomb planters. Abu Ghraib styled prisons have ruined our reputation and it’s a solidifying battle cry for all those who want to kill our troops, now add the benefit of haphazardly identifying Iranian “experts” and then the Hezbollah gets directly involved, instead of just showing how to build bombs. Bush in my opinion is pushing the envelope. He has to know that the U.S is “militarily impotent” as one of my other favorite bloggers put it.

The United States used to have the reputation as peace brokers, food aid suppliers, the first to help in disasters, the country you least wanted to piss off next to Russia, the most developed and civilized of nations, the most honorable of nations and a nuclear superpower…with passive aggressive tendencies. But somewhere between September 11^th and the day we invaded Iraq, something went awry. Sensibilities were lost to paranoia, paranoia led to secret prisons, warrant-less wire-taps, no fly list, gas prices through the roof, terror alerts for gas odors, three ounces of liquids as a carry on, and a President who believes that 21,500 troops will put down the violence in a place known through out history for the evilest of cities named Babylon. I will be glad when 2008 gets here.

~Vale~