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Another Must Read From Cohen


Looks like Cohen is on a single-minded missions these days, a real chance at normalization between Iran and the USA.

From the column:

Here’s one normalization scenario:

Iran ceases military support for Hamas and Hezbollah; adopts a “Malaysian” approach to Israel (nonrecognition and noninterference); agrees to work for stability in Iraq and Afghanistan; accepts intrusive International Atomic Energy Agency verification of a limited nuclear program for peaceful ends only; promises to fight Qaeda terrorism; commits to improving its human rights record.

The United States commits itself to the Islamic Republic’s security and endorses its pivotal regional role; accepts Iran’s right to operate a limited enrichment facility with several hundred centrifuges for research purposes; agrees to Iran’s acquiring a new nuclear power reactor from the French; promises to back Iran’s entry into the World Trade Organization; returns seized Iranian assets; lifts all sanctions; and notes past Iranian statements that it will endorse a two-state solution acceptable to the Palestinians.

I think that's a plausible final outcome. But it will take time, as El Baradei notes in Cohen's column. Two years at a minimum. But he's right. It's a game changer. And I am more hopeful now than at any time in the last 8 years. We have no better natural ally in the region than Iran, based on many more interests in common than opposed. That's what makes normalization a real possibility now.


Sean Paul Kelley April 13, 2009 - 5:03am
Sean Paul Kelley's diary | printer friendly version | digg
( categories: Iran | USA: Foreign Relations )

One concern is leaving

One concern is leaving Lebanese Hezbollah vulnerable to Israeli invasion. Other than that I'm reasonably comfortable with it.

Jeff Wegerson April 13, 2009 - 11:01am
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Media manipulation

It's interesting for me to see how Cohen's column is influencing my opinions on Iran. More than anything it dismays me how simple the media tactics are that are used to shape people's opinions, control their views on reality, and affect their buying habits. I just heard an episode of The Joan Kenley Show that ties into this and examines the methods used by mainstream media to shape our view of reality - called The Media: What’s True, What’s Not - made me very conscious of how even alternative media sources have their bias and interest.

Carlotta April 13, 2009 - 3:31pm
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Well hi there, Carlotta.

Welcome to The Agonist. It is Carlotta, isn't it? Not mallory:

It sure is funny to hear the right talking about teabagging, but it's also interesting in a way - I was just listening to an episode of The Joan Kenley Show (progressive Bay Area podcast) called The Media: What’s True, What’s Not that addressed how the right-wing corporate media will use catch phrases (like "socialism") and single-line branding to manipulate the information we hear. After getting in touch with all the ways that's worked for them, it's kinda nice to see this entry about a way it clearly is working against them!

or ysps:

It’s nice to see some watchdogging for reporting. It sure is funny to hear the right talking about teabagging, but it’s also interesting in a way - I was just listening to an episode of The Joan Kenley Show (progressive Bay Area podcast) called The Media: What’s True, What’s Not that addressed how the right-wing corporate media will use catch phrases (like “socialism”) and single-line branding to manipulate the information we hear. I have to say that in the case of “teabagging” it’s definitely working against them. ;)

or darlene:

It sure is funny to hear the right talking about teabagging, but it's also interesting in a way - I was just listening to an episode of The Joan Kenley Show (progressive Bay Area podcast) called The Media: What’s True, What’s Not that addressed how the right-wing corporate media will use catch phrases (like "socialism") and single-line branding to manipulate the information we hear. After getting in touch with all the ways that's worked for them, it's kinda nice to see this entry about a way it clearly is working against them!

or even Tinky Winky:

I was just listening to an episode of The Joan Kenley Show (progressive Bay Area podcast) called The Media: What’s True, What’s Not (http://www.joankenley.com/20090411.html) that was a conversation with Norman Solomon and Peter B. Collins about the Madison Avenue dramatics used to sell wars. It goes along well with this entry.

Thanks for playing, but some of us are even more skeptical when people feed us happy dittohead hooha. Might also want to avoid the pattern of posting twin closely related posts within two minutes of each other... That the stated topic line is media manipulation is just another little frisson of irony for me.

“The absence of any US-Iran bilateral channel...may have the perverse effect of reinforcing Iranian interest in progressing in the nuclear realm so that the US will be forced to take it seriously and engage it directly." ~ Richard Haass

JustPlainDave April 13, 2009 - 4:01pm
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Cost Differential

Who compensates the Iranians for the difference in their nuclear reactor fuel cost between that enriched uranium produced internally and that procured outside Iran? I've yet to see a proposal which places that topic on the table for discussion. Almost everything being discussed is geopolitical blather rather than any hard and fast, dollars and cents negotiating.

VizierVic April 14, 2009 - 1:25am
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