Iran Doesn't Want Dole Visit for Now, U.S. Says

[ahimsa]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=4066538

Fri January 2, 2004 02:20 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran does not want a U.S. humanitarian mission led by Sen. Elizabeth Dole to visit the country at the moment after last week's earthquake in Bam, the State Department said on Friday.

(snip)

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi was quoted by Iran's state television as saying, "Offering relief to survivors of the earthquake must continue without turning into a political issue because it's a humanitarian issue."

[demnan]

1. Yeah

that's a good idea. That big haired bitty won't help anything by going over there, anymore than she did when she headed up the Red Cross.

[PinkTiger]

4. Elizabeth Dole

Is actually a pretty nice person. I don't agree with her politics, but she is not a "big-haired bitty."
I've met her, and dealt with her, and she is a very unassuming person, very down-to-Earth, and not at all stuck on herself.
She could be a Democrat!

[JPace]

15. "She could be a Democrat!"

she was raised as a democrat but changed over
as an adult.

[Ernesto]

18. That's all well & fine

But how stupid can chimpco be to to attempt to send a woman envoy to a strictly male dominated country? What F$$king hypocrisy (witness pickles), not to mention the huge insult of suggesting that the Iranian politicos would ever defer to an American WOMAN... Clearly, the US had an unprecedented opportunity to make substantial diplomatic inroads. Total buffoonery of the highest order!... Paleeeeze, every time there seems to be a chance for progress, these assholes manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

[pinto]

2. B*ush, Ace Diplomat...what an embarassment....n/t

[MattNC]

3. glad to know

she has enough time to go visit Iran while ignoring this state's crippling job losses.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

7. My thoughts exactly.

Actually, my initial reaction to learning that Bush was thinking of sending Dole to Iran, was "can she stay there permanently?"

[Maine-i-acs]

5. Knowing the Admin's penchant for photo-ops -

The Iranians probably want to shake Liddy down looking for plastic turkeys first.

Better yet - invoke a "no media" clause and see if the admin still wants to send anyone ...

Relief to the victims is a no-brainer, and it's good to get that across. We should be feeding the North Koreans while we are at it; it's a lot easier to win hearts and minds when you're feeding people too.

[Just Me]

6. Heh, go figure,...yeah, this is such a surprise (NOT)

:eyes:

[Lisa]

8. No wonder -- is she threatening to bring her Viagra-crazed hubby?

I guess the Iranians know a photo-op when they see it.

[leesa]

9. This is so sad.

We are so hated and untrusted that we cannot offer relief after this devastation.

[pinto]

11. We have sent relief. Dole's nothing to offer on the ground other than

another "stateside" photo-op.

Distribution and coordination of relief efforts are best managed by the locals. We have sent hard goods and technical support. They'll be coordinated with the Iranian authorities. There is absolutely no added benefit Ms. Dole would provide Iran in the response to the quake. If there is, someone should make that case from the Administration.

Think about it. Does Japan, probably the most experienced country in terms of responding to an earthquake, send a special envoy? No. They send the teams that can do the job....

Again, I find this embarrassing.

[newyorican]

10. Dole translates to...

the male organ in Arabic, no?

[adityanm]

12. What could she have done?

She will need special attention as a VIP which Baum cannot afford at this time.

[Gin]

13. exactly...what in the hell are they thinking? it's life and death every

day there...she's just another politician/*puppet.

Maybe if she volunteered to work there for a month I would think more kindly of the idea.

[MisterP]

19. in Farsi, without the vowels (like it's usually printed in headlines)

[goforit]

14. LOL!!!!.......The WH underestimates the Iranians.

I don't think they want to do business with Republicans.

[alcuno]

16. We don't want her either. BTW, was the "Bush" family member

going to be Laura? Who else could they send? Not Poppy or Babs. Not Jeb. Not Neil. The twins? Liddy and Laura sent off to a member of the axis of evil to make America more secure. Laura did say she wanted to go to Afghanistan; it's right next door to Iran.

[brook]

17. I thought maybe...

it'd be * himself. He may figure he's about to be deposed and wants to try out that dictator thing somewhere else. Of course, he could send Marvin or the sister - just as a *place-holder*, ya understand?

Guess we'll have to wait to see which of the wimmenfolk go burka shopping.