Iran is 'out of step' with region: US State Department

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Iran is "out of step" with a trend toward freedom and liberty in its region, the US State Department said, after hardliner Mahmood Ahmadinejad won a presidential election condemned by Washington as "flawed".

"With the conclusion of the election in Iran, we have seen nothing that dissuades us from our view that Iran is out of step with the rest of the region and the currents of freedom and liberty that have been so apparent in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon," State Department spokeswoman Joanne Moore said late Friday.

"These elections were flawed from their inception by the decision of an unelected few to deny the applications of over a thousand candidates, including all 93 women," she said.

"We will judge the regime by its actions. In light of the way these elections were conducted, however, we remain skeptical that the Iranian regime is interested in addressing either the legitimate desires of its own people, or the concerns of the broader international community," Moore said.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050625/wl_mideast_afp/iranvoteusreax_050625134616

edited to add;
US supports those pressing for Iranian freedom
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050625/ts_afp/iranvoteusreax_050625143306

Are we trying to incite a civil war? What will the press call this revolution if it occurs? :eyes:

[MercutioATC]

1. Buckle up - we're already using the word "regime"...

...here we go...

[maddezmom]

5. president-elect vows to favour domestic firms in oil sector

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050625/wl_mideast_afp/iranvoteenergyoilahmadinejad_050625132353

[maddezmom]

7. Bechtel, Halliburton and 10 oil/gas majors might be out of work in Iran

US sanctions: Iran says it’s all gas
~snip~
A petroleum ministry official accompanying the Indian delegation to Tehran told FE, “We have been told by the Iranians that there are as many as 10 leading oil and gas majors, other than OVL, working in Iran's petroleum sector. Among them are Total, Sinopec, OMV-Austria, CNPC, BHP, Shell, Repsol, Petronas and Gazprom.”

As under the US sanctions Act, companies from the US are permitted to take sub-contracts in Iran, the Dubai arm of Halliburton is executing a sub-contract valued at $100 million in a project in Iran. Moreover, US equipment major Bechtel is also in dialogue with the Iranians on how it could participate in an LNG project.

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=93647

[CatholicEdHead]

15. The last time Iran nationalized their oil production

we, the British, and others put the Shah in.

[Oversea Visitor]

2. Look at you own

Human right and Geneva Convention voilation before you go poking your nose elsewhere.

[thebigidea]

3. yeah, they don't have power shortages and 8 bombings a day

why, their pipelines aren't even on fire every other day! When will they catch up to the rest of the region?

With a little more work, they could be providing just as much heroin as Afghanistan to the rest of a needy world!

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

9. That's what I was thinking

Hey! We haven't invaded Iran yet?! What's up with that?

Geez, are they out of step, or what?!

[K-W]

4. We ended Iranian democracy 50 years ago.

And the only way they will get it back is if we leave them alone.

[bunkerbuster1]

6. "...and we LOVE it!"

The deathcult White House and Congressional leadership are hung over from the champagne last night. This means MORE WARREN TERRA! woo hoo!

Seriously, of course the results of the Iranian election suck ass, and I am horrified for those millions of citizens who will be held under the thumb of a nasty theocracy against their wishes, but let's not kid ourselves.

This means big bucks for our military-industrial dictatorship.

They're lovin' it.

[Wright Patman]

10. "I am horrified for those millions

of citizens who will be held under the thumb of a nasty theocracy against their wishes ..."

Thanks for your sympathy. I really appreciate it. Our theocracy here does suck big-time.

I think we should leave Iran to the Iranians. It's on the other side of the damned planet and all these invasions of Eurasia by our Oceania forces are doing nothing but bleed and bankrupt us.

You would think a nation which spends half of the entire amount spent in the world each year on its military would be able to conquer entire regions of the world with ease, but it's just not happening.

I was not for any of this. I am just pointing out the utter incompetence of our civilian and military leadership all the way down to the platoon level made up of "good ol' country boys" more than willing to commit abuses on the Iraqis or any other "they" or "them" pointed out to them.

[bunkerbuster1]

28. As the resident of a blood-red county in a blood red state

a religious skeptic surrounded by Christofascist zombies here in Shitsville, SUVburbia, I'm sorry, I can't equate the unpleasantries I face to those of secular Iranian citizens, trying to live in the 21st century, being ruled by vile fundie pigs. It ain't even close.

That said, I fully agree with you that we should leave Iran to the Iranians, and like you, I don't trust der Chimperor to do that at all.

[Octafish]

8. Soon. Soon.

Iran'll get in step with the PNAC program.

[Patty Diana]

11. rice claiming Iran's power is in the hands of an unelected few

sounds like the situation in the US.

[pointless]

41. actually

The unelected few in Iran were actually not involved in any kind of election. At the very top in Iran, the man everyone answers to including the president is the cleric Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He appoints three people underneath him who are also above the president. These people hold the real power in Iran. They can force any law or veto any law without question.

[LynnTheDem]

12. Britain views CHINA more favorably than America.

11 of 14 countries view CHINA more favorably than America.

Canada views China on par with America.

WHO is "out of step" with the entire planet???

[Oversea Visitor]

43. He already

bankrupt US wealth and reputation
Now he is working on the future generation
Soon it be 14/14
NO SHIT

[maddezmom]

13. EU says ready to work with new Iranian government but sets terms

BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Union is ready to work with "any Iranian government" that is willing to progress on the questions of human rights, nuclear energy and other matters of concern, a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said after the country's election.

"We take note of the results of the Iranian presidential election", which brought hardline Tehran mayor Mahmood Ahmadinejad into office by a 60 percent majority to succeed reformist Mohammad Khatami, the spokesman said Saturday.

He stressed that Brussels regretted the fact that "many candidates were not able to stand," having been excluded by a powerful watchdog body for alleged lack of Islamic credentials, adding that "only freedom of expression and assembly guarantee an electoral process that is really free and fair."

The spokesman underlined "the importance that the European Union attaches to political and economic reforms in Iran, as well as progress in matters that concern it: human rights, non proliferation, the fight against terrorism and the Middle East situation."

~snip~
more:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050625/wl_afp/iranvoteeureax_050625144729

[NeoConsSuck]

14. Note to State Department:

Look at the international polls. You've lost all credibility. You've also lost it with many Americans.

Just who is left to preach to?? A pack of NeoCons?

[stray cat]

16. Iran voted - doesn't Bush support results of elections?

Don't elections make us safe from terrorism?

[kittenpants]

30. Exactly!

Democratic elections are what all nations should strive for... unless the administration disagrees with whoever is elected. What a joke.

[aquart]

17. Somebody tell our idiots we don't have the military for more war?

[bribri16]

27. Somebody tell our idiots that we don't make the rules for the world!

What if another nation began telling us that our elections were flawed because the SCOTUS interfered? What about our rules that require so many signatures to get on ballots? What about our exclusion of third party candidates from major political debates? WTF? The US really is nuts!

[Oversea Visitor]

44. Bring em on

Maybe he get booted out faster

[leesa]

18. What are they babbling about now? They had blue thumbs, didn't they?

Isn't THAT what's important after the phony elections in Iraq?

[IndianaGreen]

19. They should have said: "Iran is 'out of GOOSE step' with region

Since Bush is GAWD's Anointed One, anyone that does anything that displeases His Holiness will incur holy wrath. Even in a flawed election process as Iran's, the election of Ahmadinejad was far more democratic than the sham that passes for elections in America.

Seriously, what is Bush really offering Iran as an alternative? The same death and destruction that befell Iraq, that's what! Bush could care less about the plight of women in Iran, anymore than he has shown by his deeds about the plight of women in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in the US. All Bush cares about are the rich Iranian oil fields.

I would like to know where are the troops that Bush intends to use to Christianize Iran.

[rocktivity]

20. Bush Is 'Out Of Step' With Planet Earth: Rocknation

:headbang:
rocknation

[MrPrax]

21. As odious as the results are...

and much can be said about the 'failure', corruption and hypocrisy of the Iranian revolution...But to suggest Iran IS out of step in the region is a bit much.

The region is awash with unelected dictatorships who regularly kow-tow to Islamic clerics, treat human rights as a joke and provide no protections to 'minorities'.

Many of these regimes are our allies--we are simply annoyed that this particular regime insists on independence

[Eloriel]

22. Super. Another good reason to bomb the hell outta them

And aren't we just the right folks to do that? We've got bombs just waiting for the opportunity. We for whom might makes right; we who get to determine and shape the rest of the whole friggin' world.

"We" make me sick.

[IndianaGreen]

23. BBC: Iran votes against the status quo

Instead Iranians have chosen an alternative, younger man who talks in the revolutionary slogans of redistributing the country's oil wealth, re-nationalising the assets.

I think we should rely on the foreign press, once again, to get a feel for what really happened in Iran rather than rely on the lies that come out of the US State Department and the White House.

Haven't we learned anything yet?

Iran votes against the status quo
By Frances Harrison
BBC News, Tehran

Iranians have voted not so much on his ideological position - some of them have overlooked that in a way.

It was his appeal to the poor that seems to be the secret to Mr Ahmadinejad's success. Despite Iran's huge oil wealth, the country has an unemployment problem and a big gap between rich and poor.

People see a lot of consumerism, very conspicuous spending in Tehran among the elite, but they do not themselves see the results of the country's oil boom.

The vote seems to have been one against the status quo - a sign of deep economic frustration.

Mr Rafsanjani is seen as an establishment figure, a senior cleric who has always been at the top of the revolutionary elite. Instead Iranians have chosen an alternative, younger man who talks in the revolutionary slogans of redistributing the country's oil wealth, re-nationalising the assets.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4621551.stm

[SOS]

33. Exactly

Ahmadinejad ran on a populist platform calling for raising workers wages, rooting out corruption, controlling prices on staples, job creation, retirement pensions, expanded health coverage, low interest loans and better distribution of oil wealth.
He did well among the poor and middle class.
The US media and State Dept. are not credible sources of information in regard to this election.

[Roland99]

24. "Game on!"

[mbperrin]

25. Lessee, they had 8 candidates to choose from, check;

in the US, we had, uh, well, two candidates to choose from (if you think it was much of a choice), but at least both of our candidates were women, no wait, just one, no actually, none, and never has any major party in the US in 200+ years run a woman for Prez, so, yeah, we're MUCH more qualified on how democracy works (especially after that whole Jim Crow thing was sorta done, and we also let Native Americans begin voting in 1924, and well actually, white women were denied the right until 1920).

On the other hand, our staunch ally, Saudi Arabia, has a real equal opportunity program - NOBODY gets to vote!

Keep digging, boys!

[Deja Q]

26. They'd better hurry... 5 days before Scott Ritter is denounced.

[confludemocrat]

29. Hardliner threatens your country; whoya gonna choose? Own hardliner?

Of course. Good job Bush, you fucking asshole.

[habitual]

31. A Much More True Statement:

IRAQ is 'out of step' with region.

[onager]

32. A blast from the past on this subject...

When someone makes a move, of which we don't approve,
Who is it that always intervenes?
U.N. and O.A.S., they have their place I guess,
But first--send the Marines!

We'll send them all we've got, John Wayne and Randolph Scott,
Remember those exciting fighting scenes!
To the shores of Tripoli, and maybe Mississip-oli,
Whadda we do? We send the Marines!

For might makes right, until they see the light,
They've got to be protected, all their rights respected,
Till somebody else we like can get elected!

Members of the Corps all hate the thought of war,
They'd rather kill them off by peaceful means.
"Stop calling it aggression! We HATE that expression!
We only want the world to know, that we support the status quo,
They LOVE us everywhere we go!"
So when in doubt--send the Marines!

(Tom Lehrer, 1965)

[TomClash]

34. More OIl, More WAR, More MONEY!

[barb162]

35. Iran out of step? nuke 'em!

[lumpy]

36. The US is out of step

with the world. Some of us in this world believe in peaceful means by example not war. Currents of freedom and liberty in Iraq, Afghanistan?

[daleo]

37. Iran is out of step with the region = they haven't been invaded yet.

Joanne Moore sounds like a Condi clone.

[scavok]

38. Yep, we're right on schedule for the invasion

Scott Ritter had it right when he said June of this year.

[Oversea Visitor]

45. Go Ahead

[Zhade]

39. Well, Nazis DO like their lockstepping...

NT!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

40. Breaking news: US "out of step" with world community

eom

[Gloria]

42. BBC report on Iran with Reagan-era official just freaked me out!

notice the similarity of message re: "out of step" with region....



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3947616


BBC report on Iran with Reagan-era official just freaked me out!


Edited on Sat Jun-25-05 03:58 PM by Gloria

I tuned in at around 3 pm on shortwave and heard a report on the Iranian election. They interviewed this guy and when I heard he had been a Reagan official I looked him up....(below)

This is what he said: This election flies in the face of "democracy" which is "sweeping" the region. The turnout was really only 15% and the winner got 60% of that. He expects diplomacy via the EU3 to continue and the US will continue to join in, but it will fail. The US will prepare for air strikes, but won't go ahead with them. The race is on to prevent the Iranian nukes to proceed successfully before regime change. The only way to effect regime change is to take the MEK off the terrorist list and help them overthrow the Iranian regime.

There you have it. My biggest fear is that our illustrious Dems go along with this, including loud-mouth Biden....


http://explore.georgetown.edu/faculty/index.cfm?Action=...
Raymond Tanter
Title(s) Primary title: Visiting Professor
Other titles: Visiting Researcher
Phone
Work: 202-687-8217
Fax: [phone]
Email
Work: [e-mail]
Alternate: [e-mail]
Location 511 ICC
Office hours W, Noon-1:00 pm
Bio Raymond Tanter served on the senior staff of the National Security Council and as personal representative of the Secretary of Defense to arms control talks in Europe in the Reagan-Bush administration. He teaches Terrorism and Proliferation as well as an introductory course on International Relations in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown. Tanter is also Visiting Researcher in the Government Department, conducting academic research on "bounded rationality" in foreign policy decisionmaking. His research compares rational choice and prospect theory as complementary explanations of U.S. decisions regarding Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. He is Adjunct Scholar at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, carrying out policy research on Iran and Iraq. He wrote Classifying Evil: Bush Administration Rhetoric and Policy toward Rogue Regimes and Rogue Regimes: Terrorism and Proliferation, which includes chapters on Iran, Iraq, and freelance terrorists who operate in a borderless world of failed states like Afghanistan. He also coauthored Balancing in the Balkans, as well as Rational Decisionmaking: Israel's Choices.
Web site http://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/rt54/Public /
Education
� Ph D (1964) Indiana University, Political Science

Note: Website is not available to general public



The report before this interview also had comments by others, one of whom thought it was terribe, the other who said it would be difficult to turn back a lot of the reforms and that it probably would be "business as usual" for the most part, but noting the economic situation as the key to why the winner was the mayor.

There was also commentary on how he wants to get rid of the "mafia" that controls the oil wealth (Rafstanjani family) and make production more a domestic focus in terms of the firms doing it rather than multinationals (the ones not banned because of the US sanctions). Comment was that they need to upgrade technology so it won't set them back in terms of production but they won't go "forward."

[Corgigal]

46. How would they know?

Understand a culture is not a republican like thing to do. Only we liberals would understand if that is true or not.