Lest it go unnoticed (and, gonna guess here, unreported on right-wing "news" sources), benefits are accruing since the Iran nuclear agreement. Intuitive for all but the fully Foxified, opening talks and trade inevitably leads toward modernization (cf China and, already, Cuba. Putin is trying, but will fail to put the capitalism genie back in the bottle in Russia). Moderation in Iran can only be a good thing. Better, even, than bombing them to oblivion, contra every R candidate.
... Final election results released by Iran's Interior Ministry show that moderates have won a majority in parliament.
The results broadcast Monday by state TV show that reformists, who favor expanded social freedoms and engagement with the West, won at least 85 seats, while moderate conservatives won 73 seats. Together, they have a majority in the 290-seat assembly.
Hard-liners, who had adamantly opposed last summer's landmark nuclear deal with world powers, won just 68 seats...And, yet again, one must ask the confounding question: what will it take for the gullible of our right wing to open their eyes, shed their knee-jerk and well-taught hatred of all things Obama and consider, at the very least, whether those who saw the agreement as tantamount to aiding the terrorists (Reagan tried it, after all, so maybe we shouldn't blame them for thinking it) could be wrong.
[Image source]
In spite of the power shift to moderates with the election, a very good thing, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards just defied U.S. sanctions on ballistic missile tests. Maybe it's time to re-tighten the thumbscrews a few turns. Seemed to work well so far.
ReplyDelete< insert Iran hardliners and Republicans comparison here>
Yes. I'm not naive, and I'm not suggesting it's all sugar and roses. Just that, assuming the trend continues, getting "moderate" people elected might, eventually, turn down the heat.
ReplyDeleteI didn't mean to infer that you meant that. I am also hopeful that the election results are evidence that Iran will gradually change for the better.
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans will undoubtedly scream, shout, and jump up and down that the Iranian defiance over our missile sanctions is yet another example of Obama's leadership failure - it's all his fault, of course.