Obama’s video message to Iran
What Obama gains by speaking directly to Iran's leaders, and its people
Americans have been wondering how President Obama would capitalize on the opportunity to ease tensions with Iran, said Matthew Yglesias in Think Progress. Now we know. Obama's video address to the people and government of Iran on the occasion of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, sent the right message by inviting Tehran to improve its standing in the world with respectful engagement, rather than "terror and arms." (watch the video)
"Expect the mullahs to smile," said Rick Moran in American Thinker. Iran's leaders aren't "dumb enough" to reject Obama's overture outright. They'll use this as a chance to "go into a tirade about how evil America has been to Iran," but they'll be polite enough. This will "satisfy our rookie president," but it won't be real progress.
"There will be no shortage of people attacking this as a Chamberlain-like capitulation to the Evil Persian Hitlers," said Glenn Greenwald in Salon, "and there will be an equally vocal group mocking it as an empty gesture from America's bloodthirsty and war-craving emperor." It's true this will mean nothing unless it's followed up by action, but "after 30 years of nothing but threats and hateful rhetoric between the two countries," it's nice to hear such "a palpably different message."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published