The Large Pistachio Nuts of Iranian Foreign Policy

The UK Guardian keeps trying to convince us to leave Iran alone. In this op-ed, which gets bogged down pretty quick, the point laboriously arrived at is that international pressure (Great Satan) will rescue Ahmadinejad from his public’s annoyance with his failure to come through domestically:

Ironically, it is this very international crisis that may serve to save Ahmadinejad’s presidency, a reality that the president undoubtedly understood all too well. As domestic difficulties mount, the emerging international crisis could at best serve as a rallying point, or at worst persuade Iran’s elite that a change of guard would convey weakness to the outside world.

This conclusion ignores reports that one of the big reasons Ahmadinejad is in trouble at home is that his buffoonish, bellicose posturing is scaring everyone and sanctions are worsening an already lousy economy.  Now, those facts may have been mentioned somewhere in the article. It was so badly written I was forced to skip over the more obtuse parts.  But we’re not done yet:

There can be little doubt that US hawks will interpret recent events as proof that pressure works, and that any more pressure will encourage the hawks further. Yet the reality is that while Ahmadinejad has been his own worst enemy, the US hawks are his best friends.

Doubt no more! Iranians’ proxies in Iraq are running for cover and the Iranians themselves, as their agents being rounded up and threatened with death, have turned on a charm campaign to convince everybody what great, aboveboard guys they are. Here’s the New York Times: 

BAGHDAD, Jan. 28 — Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad outlined an ambitious plan on Sunday to greatly expand its economic and military ties with Iraq — including an Iranian national bank branch in the heart of the capital — just as the Bush administration has been warning the Iranians to stop meddling in Iraqi affairs.

I like the next graph.  It’s hard to tell whether the slam at the U.S. is something the Iranian said, or if the NYT is just being helpful, perhaps encouraged by Iran’s generosity: 

… The ambassador, Hassan Kazemi Qumi, said Iran was prepared to offer Iraq government forces training, equipment and advisers for what he called “the security fight.” In the economic area, Mr. Qumi said, Iran was ready to assume major responsibility for Iraq reconstruction, an area of failure on the part of the United States since American-led forces overthrew Saddam Hussein nearly four years ago.

As the following graph explains, the Iranians know their business.

“We have experience of reconstruction after war,” Mr. Qumi said, referring to the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. “We are ready to transfer this experience in terms of reconstruction to the Iraqis.”

There is no qualification added as we saw in the preceding graph … you know, something like “Iran, however, is a third-world economic basketcase that can barely maintain the infrastructure necessary to pump free money out of the ground” …  so I have to assume that means NYT agrees the Iranians will do a better job:

When you read the New York Times, you learn many important things. Among them, today, I learned that Mr. Qumi has “large pistachio nuts.”  No kidding!

WaPo: Some of our Gulf allies are concerned about the size of the Pistachio Nuts of Iranian Foreign Policy.

Topics: Uncategorized

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 11:43 pm on Monday, January 29, 2007

19 Responses to “The Large Pistachio Nuts of Iranian Foreign Policy”

  1. DRJ Says:

    Meanwhile, back on the home front:

    “Police are on the lookout for a man described as being of Middle Eastern descent who tried to gain access to a firearms plant in Murfreesboro. Rutherford County sheriff’s deputies were called to the Barrett Firearms Manufacturing plant Thurday. A plant employee reported on Wednesday that a Middle Eastern-looking man had tried get inside the building

    Barrett Firearms makes 50-caliber rifles for the military, which has used them in combat since the 1991 Gulf war. The powerful gun is also sold to the general public. Critics have warned that the rifle could be used by terrorists to bring down commercial airliners or penetrate rail cars and storage plants holding hazardous materials.

    The plant worker said the man had asked questions about the plant and began demanding access when the employee did not respond. The man was asked to leave after he became upset when the employee began to examine his pickup truck. The sheriff’s office was working with officials at Barrett Firearms and the US Department of Homeland Security to pursue any leads.”

    WBIR, Knoxville TN (http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=41691)

  2. alphie Says:

    As opposed to the economic powerhouse America has turned Iraq into?

    50% unemployment
    70% inflation
    One of only seven countries whose economies shrank last year

    Yeehaw!

    We’ll fix it up real good!

  3. Bill's Bites Says:

    The Large Pistachio Nuts of Iranian Foreign Policy

    The Large Pistachio Nuts of Iranian Foreign Policy Jules Crittenden The UK Guardian keeps trying to convince us to leave Iran alone. In this op-ed, which gets bogged down pretty quick, the point laboriously arrived at is that international pressure

  4. The Moderate Voice » Blog Archive » ‘Look! That’s My Boy’ Says:

    [...] Jules Crittenden isn’t too happy with Ali’s op-ed either and writes: This conclusion ignores reports that one of the big reasons Ahmadinejad is in trouble at home is that his buffoonish, bellicose posturing is scaring everyone and sanctions are worsening an already lousy economy. [...]

  5. carl Says:

    alphie,
    Enough with the disinformation, I can not find anything about Iraq’s economy shrinking since 2003. I may be wrong, could i get a reference? Thing are bad enough in real life without making things up.

  6. alphie Says:

    Here’s the cia:

    http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2006/geos/iz.html

    look at gdp growth…

  7. FbL Says:

    Newsweek recently covered this. “Shrinking” is not the correct verb:

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16241340/site/newsweek/

  8. The Thunder Run Says:

    Web Reconnaissance for 01/30/2007

    A short recon of whats out there that might draw your attention.

  9. Lars Says:

    Alphie,
    50% unemployment
    70% inflation
    as per cia link you referenced.
    The link showed 25% unemployment and 40% inlation, estimated in 1985.
    Their economy has improved much since then, according to another leftist organ Newsweek.

    Gad, can’t you leftist loonies not lie about anything??

  10. alphie Says:

    Here’s the 70% inflation rate report, lars, right from Iraq’s finance minister:

    http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070129-071823-7910r

  11. RebeccaH Says:

    The Guardian and the New York Times: holding hands while they tiptoe through the tulips.

    Yes, yes, alphie, you’re anti-American and anti-Iraq, and you love the insurgents. We get it.

  12. Don Surber » Blog Archive » 9 quick hits Says:

    [...] 5. A few years ago, a letter to the editor called our illustrious attorney general a cashew. Since the letter was signed, we let it through. Jules Crittenden cuts on the pistachios of Iran’s government. Worth a reading. [...]

  13. alphie Says:

    Reb,

    You got me all wrong.

    Just pointing out that even in the unlikely event we can pacify Iraq enough to pull out…whatever government we leave behind will soon collapse because the neocons have looted Iraq.

    Quite a scam, steal everything in sight, then blame Iraq’s poor economy on the “terrorists.”

  14. RebeccaH Says:

    I repeat: anti-American, anti-Iraq, love the insurgents. And a wailing Cassandra besides.

  15. saltydog Says:

    I love this ability to spin anything that comes down the pike into something against Bush. I’m no fan of Bush, either, but I have to wonder what the hell they’re going to do when he leaves office.

    Their fear is palpable, their cowardice, blatant. Where will it lead when they no longer have Bush to blame, I wonder.

  16. alphie Says:

    Don’t you guys see the beauty here?

    Pull off the biggest scam in history with the help of an army of willing idiots ready to bark “why do you hate America?” ever single time someone points out the crime.

    Pure genious…

    And they don’t even cut you fools in on it.

  17. Cliff Clavin Says:

    “Pull off the biggest scam in history with the help of an army of willing idiots ready to bark “why do you hate America?” ever single time someone points out the crime.”

    “Pure genious”(sic)

    Well the U.N. was slick, I’ll admit that. THEY (the U.N., gotta’ ’splain everything to you) were actually THE *Weapons of Mass Destruction*, (see below) in Iraq…”willing idiot”…new nomenclature? Use to be “useful idiots” all you up and coming commies were. HEY, maybe you aren’t you “useful”?

    Pure “genious”…Nahhh, just *common god damn greasy thieves and willing participants and collaborators in the death of hundreds of thousands of people, just as long as they got their cut*. They still are, “willing idiot”.

    Is Kofi in Ghana, yet?

  18. alphie Says:

    Oil for food, Cliff?

    The Australian government made more off that scam than everyone else combined.

    A fact the right “forgets” because…two(2) Aussies gave their lives in support of Operation Iraqi “Freedom”

  19. saltydog Says:

    Take note of the method used by the simpletonian: First and foremost, mouth only assertions; and B., never name names, there are no individuals–except Bush, of course. It’s “the neocons” and “the Australians”. He leaves out “The Annans” and “the Husseins”, and he doesn’t even mention, using his own method, “the French,” or “the Germans”, or “the Africans”, “the Russians.” Collectives are all they can handle in the Simple world.

    Oh, yeah, and no proof required at all.

Leave a Reply

Trackback URL

You must be logged in to post a comment.

zoloft long distance running G Postmessage Propecia Smiley Post accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Lipitor Congestion lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Prozac And Men difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Clomid Steroids symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Canine Prednisone Side Effects prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Subaction Showcomments Propecia Optional Watch accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Order Propecia Online lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Penis Growth Pills difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Zoloft Paxil Differences symptoms of zoloft working!

cipro and std treatment,

Female Version Of Viagra prednisone stopped taking side effects;
cough and wheezing with lipitor;
U 3312 Viagra Cialis accutane timeline clomid dosage lutenizing hormone short G Postmessage Cialis Subject Online lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Accutane Before After difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Subaction Showcomments Cialis Archive Watch symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Alternatives To Zoloft prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Adding Prozac To Drinking Water accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Prozac And Percocet lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Propecia Baldness difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Prednisone And Mania symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Prednisone 10 Mg prednisone stopped taking side effects;
difference between lexapro and celexa
Subaction Showcomments Cialis Smile Newest accutane timeline clomid dosage lutenizing hormone short Side Effectts Of Cipro lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Zoloft And Lorazepam difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Diuretic Lasix symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Prostatitis And Zithromax

prednisone stopped taking side effects;

cough and wheezing with lipitor; Medication And Prednisone accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Levitra Vs Viagra lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Generic Lexapro difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Query Lowest Cialis Price Online symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Buying Nolvadex prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa G Postmessage Propecia Subject Remember accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Get Off Prozac lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Cialis Vision difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Prednisone 20mg symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Prozac Dose Side Effect prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Is Ultracet Addictive accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Nexium Canada lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Nexium Side Effects difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Cheapest Cialis symptoms of zoloft working!

cipro and std treatment,

Prozac Weight Gain prednisone stopped taking side effects; cough and wheezing with lipitor; Cheap Cialis accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Clomid Side Effects lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Treatment Of Ocd With Zoloft difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Levitra Side Effects symptoms of zoloft working! cipro and std treatment, What Is Prednisone Used For prednisone stopped taking side effects;
difference between lexapro and celexa
Accutane And Results accutane timeline clomid dosage lutenizing hormone short Mexican Rx Cialis Low Price lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; G Postmessage Propecia Smiley Reply difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Purepac Prednisone symptoms of zoloft working!

cipro and std treatment,

Cialis Effect On Women prednisone stopped taking side effects; cough and wheezing with lipitor;
Prednisone Causes Cancer
accutane timeline clomid dosage lutenizing hormone short Accutane Buy Canada Pharmacy lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Herbal Meds Compatible With Clomid difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Prozac Suicide Class Action Lawsuit symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Prednisone Without Prescription prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Cipro For Uti accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Zoloft Dosage lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Cipro Rem Sleep difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Lexapro Weight Gain symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Bad Side Effects Of Prednisone prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Esophageal Achalasia Swallowing Difficulties Nexium accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Prednisone Poison Oak lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Cialis Story difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Nexium Cost symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Cheap Generic Cialis prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Canine Prednisone accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Resting Heart Rate Lipitor lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Manufactor Of Prozac difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Prednisone Titration symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Prozac And Weight Gain prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Nexium Rebate accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Zithromax Cost lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Prednisone For Dogs difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Cipro Dose Cat symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Symptoms Of Zoloft prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Alcohol And Zoloft accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Subaction Showcomments Cialis Thanks Newest lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Drug Interaction Prozac Sulfamethoxazol Trimethoprim difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Simcor Vs Lipitor symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Akathisia Zoloft prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Prednisone Homeopathic Replacement accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Zoloft Negative Side Effects lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Prednisone Homopathic Replacement difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Lasix Online symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Cialis Overnight prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Tadalafil Cialis From India accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Subaction Showcomments Cialis Thanks Watch lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Zoloft Generic difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Accutane Long Term Side Effects symptoms of zoloft working! get a prescription for propecia Zoloft Thin Blood prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Multiple Sclerosis Lipitor Bad Reaction accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Clomid Pdr lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Zoloft Akathisias difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Cipro Warnings symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Secret Side Effects Of Zoloft prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Prednisone And Blood Pressure accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! New Drug Cialis lipitor drug cost
prednisone stopped taking side effects;
Subaction Showcomments Propecia Archive Newest difference between lexapro and celexa prednisone menstrual cycle! Side Effects Of Cialis symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Info Levitra prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Buy Lasix Without Prescription accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Cialis For Order lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Buspar Zoloft difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Prednisone Information symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost

Buy Clomid

prednisone stopped taking side effects; cough and wheezing with lipitor; Lipitor Instructions Side Effects accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Cialis Injury Lawyer Ohio lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Zoloft Side Effects difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Weaning Off Prednisone symptoms of zoloft working!

cipro and std treatment,

Prozac Side Affects prednisone stopped taking side effects; cough and wheezing with lipitor; Cialis Faq accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Zoloft With Wellbutrin lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Lexapro Withdrawal
difference between lexapro and celexa
clomid with triplets Cialis 20mg symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Atavan And Prozac prednisone stopped taking side effects; difference between lexapro and celexa Prozac Long Term Use accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Prednisone Tremors lipitor drug cost prednisone stopped taking side effects; Accutane Attorneys California
difference between lexapro and celexa
clomid with triplets Levitra Medicine symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Lipitor And Muscle Pain prednisone stopped taking side effects;
difference between lexapro and celexa
How Does Cialis Work accutane timeline clomid dosage lutenizing hormone short Stopping Zoloft lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Side Effects Lexapro difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Prednisone Dogs Shrink Tumor symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost India Viagra Cialis Vicodin prednisone stopped taking side effects;
difference between lexapro and celexa
Buy Cialis In The Uk accutane timeline clomid dosage lutenizing hormone short Cialis Lawyer Ohio lipitor drug cost lipitor is there a generic; Average Dose For Zoloft difference between lexapro and celexa accutane timeline Zoloft Overdose symptoms of zoloft working! lipitor drug cost Snorting Lexapro

prednisone stopped taking side effects;

cough and wheezing with lipitor; Buy Clomid Online accutane timeline symptoms of zoloft working! Atlanta Accutane Law Suits lipitor drug cost