Re: [Marxism] Obama issues video greeting to Iran on desire for talks, and sends letter

[Eli Stephens <elishastephens@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The insightful J. Bustelo recounts for us a tale of how he KNEW that when Obama 
gave his insulting, condescending, laughable speech on Iran 
(http://lefti.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html#3615615107240601848), it 
really meant that there were secret talks going on.

I guess Ayatollah Khamenei hasn't heard:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090321/pl_nm/us_iran_usa_khamenei

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on 
Saturday U.S. President Barack Obama's offer of better ties was just a 
"slogan," but pledged Tehran would respond to any real policy shift by 
Washington.

Speaking a day after Obama's videotaped overture, Iran's most powerful figure 
criticized U.S. actions toward Iran since its 1979 Islamic revolution and said 
he did not see any change in practice from the new U.S. administration so far.

But Khamenei, who has final say on all matters of state, added: "You change, 
our behavior will change."

Indicating areas where Iran wants a different U.S. approach, he said the United 
States was "hated in the world" and should stop interfering in other countries' 
internal affairs.

He also spoke of "oppressive sanctions" imposed on the Islamic Republic, 
Iranian assets frozen in the United States and Washington's backing of Israel, 
which Tehran does not recognize.

"They give the slogan of change but in practice no change is seen ... We 
haven't seen any change," Khamenei told a big crowd at Shi'ite Muslim Iran's 
most prominent religious shrine in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic ties for three decades and 
are now embroiled in a dispute over Tehran's nuclear work, which the West 
suspects is aimed at making bombs. Iran denies the charge.

In a major shift from the policies of his predecessor George W. Bush, who 
branded Iran part of an "axis of evil" and spearheaded a drive to isolate it, 
Obama has talked of extending a hand of peace to Tehran if it "unclenches its 
fist."

On Friday, the U.S. president offered a "new beginning" of diplomatic 
engagement between the two old foes.

Khamenei said a change of U.S. words was not enough and that Obama had 
"insulted" Iran and its government immediately after taking office, without 
elaborating.

U.S. "CRIMES"

While reaching out to Iran, Obama's administration has also warned of tougher 
sanctions if it continues to defy U.N. demands to halt sensitive nuclear work.

"You give the slogan of negotiation and pressure again ... Our nation cannot be 
talked to like this," Khamenei said.

During his televised speech, the crowd chanted: "Death to America. Death to 
America."

In his warmest offer yet of a fresh start in relations, Obama said in his video 
message released to mark the Iranian New Year: "The United States wants the 
Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of 
nations."

Obama said "that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather 
through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian 
people and civilization."

Noting Obama's New Year greeting, Khamenei said: "In the same congratulatory 
message they accuse the Iranian nation of supporting terrorism, pursuing 
nuclear arms and such things ... what has changed?"

Analysts have said that Iran is setting tough conditions for dialogue to buy 
time for its ponderous, opaque decision-making process. Adding to uncertainty, 
Iran holds a presidential election in June that could strengthen moderate 
voices backing detente over more hardline opponents.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has demanded Washington apologize for decades of 
"crimes" against Iran. Tehran also says it cannot let down its guard as long as 
U.S. troops are posted on its borders in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Khamenei accused the United States of links with "terrorist movements" 
operating in border areas near Pakistan and also criticized it for backing 
former Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

"Iran has many grievances and it expects that the United States would finally 
come to recognize this," said Professor Mohammad Marandi of North American 
studies at Tehran University.

"Change does not come about by saying Happy New Year." 



Eli Stephens
 Left I on the News
 http://lefti.blogspot.com


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