Good start on some sort of olive branch

nickbass79 · #1 01-06-2012, 10:34 AM

US Navy rescued Iranian hostages held by pirates. Strategic olive branch extended.

U.S. Navy rescues Iranian hostages held by pirates - Yahoo! News

Relic · #2 01-06-2012, 10:44 AM

I saw that earlier. I'm hoping that that starts some sort of dialogue or something but as long as Ama-jihadi or whatever his name is stays in office, I don't think much will even be said of it on the Iranian side.

nickbass79 · #3 01-06-2012, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relic

I saw that earlier. I'm hoping that that starts some sort of dialogue or something but as long as Ama-jihadi or whatever his name is stays in office, I don't think much will even be said of it on the Iranian side.

I agree with you completely. I do hope that the people we rescued and the citizens of Iran will see this and question the foreign relations stances their government has taken for so long.

Relic · #4 01-06-2012, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickbass79

I agree with you completely. I do hope that the people we rescued and the citizens of Iran will see this and question the foreign relations stances their government has taken for so long.

Iran perplexes me. By all accounts, from Iranians here that I know, to stuff I hear from other folks and stuff that I read online, Iranians generally like Americans. I'm absolutely sure that if they got that idiot out of office and opted for a democratic gov't, they would actually be a good friend of ours rather than enemy.
Many many people there are already questioning their government but unfortunately that same questioning can lead to them being behind bars so I suspect that nothing short of another crisis there would cause folks to stand up again... sad. Iran's an awesome country.

nickbass79 · #5 01-06-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relic

Iran perplexes me. By all accounts, from Iranians here that I know, to stuff I hear from other folks and stuff that I read online, Iranians generally like Americans. I'm absolutely sure that if they got that idiot out of office and opted for a democratic gov't, they would actually be a good friend of ours rather than enemy.
Many many people there are already questioning their government but unfortunately that same questioning can lead to them being behind bars so I suspect that nothing short of another crisis there would cause folks to stand up again... sad. Iran's an awesome country.

Well put.

bassguppy · #6 01-06-2012, 12:22 PM

It doesn't help that there are some not only on the Iranian side but also the USA/Israel side that inflame the rhetoric for their own personal/policy/fundraising/political agendas. Do I trust the Iranian political machine, nope. But I also find the other side is not without fault.

sandmangeck · #7 01-06-2012, 12:32 PM

Relic · #8 01-06-2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassguppy

It doesn't help that there are some not only on the Iranian side but also the USA/Israel side that inflame the rhetoric for their own personal/policy/fundraising/political agendas. Do I trust the Iranian political machine, nope. But I also find the other side is not without fault.

When it comes to international relations and dealings, there are no "good guys" and "bad guys", no "right" or "wrong", there are just perspectives and truths as seen by the various players, and very often there are truths behind the rhetoric on both sides. That's what makes it effective rhetoric, no? That said, every now and then you get the one situation where a country would really and truly be better off without the current leadership and Iran is one of them. I could start throwing out political reasons why but that's verbotten here.

Demon_Hunter · #9 01-06-2012, 01:11 PM

a bit off topic...but, can people in Iran get on the internet or are they censored?

Any Iranians on TB?

DigMe · #10 01-06-2012, 01:11 PM

My buddy and teaching partner is persian and grew up in Iran. He w

john grey · #11 01-06-2012, 01:23 PM

It's difficult to determine what a country censors without being there and knowing what to look for. The USA and the EU censor WikiLeaks but since it was not censored, many people know an effort was made to stop it.
Al Jazerra is not on MOST cable carriers (I think it's on one in NY) but that is a profit/demand issue; not many people have asked to have Al Jazerra / English on a cable provider.
The UK censors somethings, as does Germany. The most open internet feeds are in Finland and many areas of the Netherlands.

P. Aaron · #12 01-06-2012, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relic

....but as long as Ama-jihadi or whatever his name is stays in office, I don't think much will even be said of it on the Iranian side.

I think it's: Imadinnerjacket.

1958Bassman · #13 01-06-2012, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickbass79

I agree with you completely. I do hope that the people we rescued and the citizens of Iran will see this and question the foreign relations stances their government has taken for so long.

I have read that many Irani people aren't in favor of the hardline stance taken by the leaders. The problem is that we would need to put people on the ground in the country in order to get rid of them. too bad the Arab Spring didn't start in Iran.

nickbass79 · #14 01-06-2012, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1958Bassman

I have read that many Irani people aren't in favor of the hardline stance taken by the leaders. The problem is that we would need to put people on the ground in the country in order to get rid of them. too bad the Arab Spring didn't start in Iran.

I agree. Only a matter of time though. Rebellion is contagious.

P. Aaron · #15 01-06-2012, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickbass79

I agree. Only a matter of time though. Rebellion is contagious.

The rebellion & overthrow seem to be the easy part. If Libya and Egypt are any indication. It's the government(?) they may get after that is the $64k question.

nickbass79 · #16 01-06-2012, 02:10 PM

Yep. We did alright...I guess

Relic · #17 01-06-2012, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1958Bassman

I have read that many Irani people aren't in favor of the hardline stance taken by the leaders. The problem is that we would need to put people on the ground in the country in order to get rid of them. too bad the Arab Spring didn't start in Iran.

It did kinda sorta then was put down pretty fast. No one remembers "Neda" already ?

Neda, young girl brutally killed in Iran, becoming symbol of rebellion - New York Daily News

I don't think it would it would require boots on the ground though. You could pretty much destroy Iran in it's current state within a year by dropping the price of oil way down. They're hanging on by a thread financially and economically. If you cut the thread, a whole lot of stuff is going to go down there. Problem is that a whole lot of innocent folks would have to pay the price which is not cool...

onosson · #18 01-06-2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1958Bassman

too bad the Arab Spring didn't start in Iran.

Then it would have been the Persian Spring - they aren't Arabs. "Iran" means "land of the Aryans".

Bass_Thumper · #19 01-06-2012, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onosson

Then it would have been the Persian Spring - they aren't Arabs. "Iran" means "land of the Aryans".

+1 and good luck trying to get the price of oil lowered. To much money to be made.

john grey · #20 01-06-2012, 03:44 PM

According to "The Economist", Iran is the number one oil supplier on the planet. Greater than Saudi Arabia, Iraq (in it's prime) Qatar, UAE,: number one! If internal combustion engines were to start running on hydrogen or be replaced entirely, the potential for a world-wide altering of wealth could happen in a very short time.