Iran's Supreme Leader Dismisses Obama's Appeal

Source: Voice of America

Iran's Supreme Leader Dismisses Obama's Appeal

By VOA News
21 March 2009

Iran's supreme leader is dismissing calls from U.S. President Barack Obama for a "new beginning" in relations between the two countries. Speaking in the holy city of Mashhad Saturday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that, despite Mr. Obama's words, he sees no change in U.S. policy toward Iran. Earlier, a senior Iranian official welcomed the U.S. president's appeal while also warning words alone were not enough to improve relations.

In a videotaped message to the Iranian people marking the New Year holiday of Nowruz, Mr. Obama said Friday he is committed to diplomacy to address "serious differences" between the U.S. and Iran.

U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood said the message is one of several gestures planned by the administration to advance better relations with Iran. He said the U.S. was looking for a reciprocal gesture from Iran.

- snip -

Leaders of the European Union, Germany and France all welcomed Mr. Obama's overture to Iran. Mr. Obama's remarks are in contrast to those of his predecessor, George W. Bush, who tried to isolate Iran and described it as part of an "Axis of Evil." Iranian President Ahmadinejad has said Iran is ready for talks with the U.S. in an atmosphere of "mutual respect."

Read more: http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-21-voa6.cfm

just look at when President Khatami was in power.He tried to reform the country but nothing happened because the mullahs stopped him.

I believe the poster is responding to that.

...and the last snip wasn't in that piece. Though VOA and AP were almost word for word..:shrug:

:toast:

While the anti-Iran crowd might think means the surf's up, Obama's 'olive branch' was more like a lifeless twig and came to coincide with the lesser-reported renewal of existing penalties ... based solely on mistrust, hardly upon goodill or any of the weakness which authentic cross-cultural goodwill seems to represent to those whose opinions seem to matter most.

Imagine if such things were visited upon us, for heaven's sake.

Re: Iran Daily 3/18/09 - Obama Policy
Disappointing

http://www.iran-daily.com/1387/3363/html/national.htm#s369600

"Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the Obama administration’s stances on Iran have been “disappointing“.
Addressing a rare news conference on Tuesday he said “Some approaches by the new American administration have been a disappointment. However time will tell and their true intentions will become clearer,“ Larijani told in a news conference in Tehran.

"The senior lawmaker was referring to Obama’s stances and moves against the Islamic Republic that are a far cry from his campaign pledges to bring “change“ to US foreign policy.

"On Thursday, the first Afro-American US leader renewed sanctions against Iran for another year and like his controversial predecessor claimed that Tehran is still a threat to US national security, Presstv reported."


The threat is building, yes. Outcomes have proven less positive than our side predicted of late. Obama did promise a new approach, but hasn't really got the clout to offer one in his factually limitted capacity; so, one war at a time, please, and don't penalize harmless civilian populations any more than you might find absolutely imperative ... please.

Forward-looking warmongers who care not what they've done to Iraq should not be taking the lead in US' Middle East policy STILL, but more-or-less are. That IS the problem!

Arab world that America is changing course. Obama's address backed Iran's conservative leadership into a corner. Elections are coming up. Obama is giving hope to the moderates that tensions will ease if Iran moves in that direction. It can only strengthen their position in their struggles against the conservatives.

Forgot to add: It was a threat from us that pushed Iran to the right and into the arms of Amadinejad.

They consider themselves to be Persian (mostly). It is like calling Germans English. They don't like it.

more then the majority Persian population. At least that what another article mentioned.

In north Iran, there is a town with my surname.

I misread your post. Sorry.

Frankly, I think the best course is to deal with it coming out the starting gate. If we get it out of the way now. So it won't haunt us in future endeavors. It would be insincere and unrealistic to think we can reform a friendship without confronting the "differences" that destroyed the friendship in the first place. That would not work out between two people. It most definitely will not work out between two nations. It may provide for a rocky start. But clearing up our past would be a long term investment in future realtions. Good and lasting changes don't come easy. So it doesn't happen over night.

the mullahs have spoken and at some point--the mullahs will have to be held accountable for the wrongs they are doing.

"...the righteous rise
with burning eyes
of hatred and ill will

..madmen feed on fear and lies
to bleed and burn and kill..."



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gHKNwpny9o

reached a large section of the population. Especially the young.

Don't ask me for proof, I don't have it. I just believe that young people who are looking for a better life, a peaceful safe and secure life, would rather hear the offer of reconciliation and negotiation than the bitter ramblings of a bunch of whackjob fundies who are stuck back in the Dark Ages looking for their road to power and control.

This is was a move by Obama that surprised the hell out of me. I didn't think he'd ever be so open and blatant in his overtures to that other Axis of Evil member, Iran. I think it was BRILLIANT! It shows that he is willing to be a true broker for peace in the Middle East, unlike Chimpy who thought he would be getting the Nobel for his ineptitude and blind support of the Zionists in Israel.

that's worked for them in the past, but they have to be a little worried how this will play out down the road with their own people.

Iran's Khamenei rebuffs Obama overture
Iran's supreme leader says Tehran seeks U.S. policy shifts, not merely 'changes in words.' The U.S., he says, could begin by lifting economic sanctions and retracting 'hostile propaganda.'
By Borzou Daragahi and Ramin Mostaghim
March 21, 2009 - http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-obama-iran22-2009mar22,0,1437314.story


Reporting from Tehran and Beirut -- Iran's most powerful figure today dismissed President Obama's extraordinary Persian New Year gesture, insisting that the U.S. administration's actions must match its rhetoric before Iran would alter its foreign policy stances.

Supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who is Iran's highest spiritual, military and political authority, told supporters in his hometown of Mashhad today that "changes in words" won't be enough to convince Iran that the Obama administration is sincere in its outlook.

"We do not have any record of the new U.S. president," he said in a live television broadcast. "We are observing, watching and judging. If you change, we will also change our behavior. If you do not change, we will be the same nation as 30 years ago."

..................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVwUWJGG9k0&feature=related

Obama called on Iran to renounce terrorism ( 2:00 )
mullahs response;

"take your change and go to hell"

Check it out. Here's a video clip from a Dubai station yesterday. It's the very first story and quite positive:

http://www.linktv.org/mosaic

It is up to them to 'unclench their fist' and grab the pen.

Anything less and Barack will have to turn the other cheeks.

and moon them.
;) lol

jmo

on edit,


I like your choice of non MSM news links
http://www.linktv.org/mosaic

but some people fear news that isn't their familiar brand of

this article isn't passing the smell test for me. Not till I get confirmation.

That would be concrete. And it should apologize for supporting the shah, but I know that's not gonna happen.

for killing a million Iraqis from 1991-2009.

Or is it two million...hell, who can keep count.

in 1953 and sticking the Iranian people with that butcher the Shah.

trying to resolve that in a peaceful manner.

Look to Obama to reach out to them and then if they don't reach back it looks bad on the Iranian gov't.

US should apologize for overthrowing their gov't and installing the Shah. It wouldn't cost us anything and it would be huge to the moderate Iranians.