News Nuggets 181

A black jaguar from the Lima Zoo in Peru from Reuters

UP-FRONT ADMINISTRATION OVERVIEW NUGGET!

The Anxiety of Influence (Marc Ambinder) from the Atlantic

A VERY perceptive piece the takes on directly (and I think fairly accurately) the 'cautious Obama' meme that is out there -- particularly on domestic policy.

"These criticisms of Obama miss at least one fundamental aspect of his personality, one that was evident in his presidential campaign: Obama has an abiding faith in the institutions of government."

VIDEO NUGGET!

The Huffington Post has an AMAZING video with a moving poem.  It is at the 5:30 PM ET time stamp at Nico Pitney's live-blogging.

"Tomorrow is a day of destiny". Two Iranian-Americans send over the transcript. "Had tears in my eye while doing it," one wrote.

Kissinger: Obama is Handling the Situation in Iran Well from CNN via ThinkProgress [with video]

"Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) criticized President Obama’s approach to the turmoil in Iran, saying that he shouldn’t be concerned about being seen as “meddling” in Iran’s affairs. But on Fox News last night, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, noting that he was a McCain supporter, said that he thinks “the president has handled this well”:"

Andrew Sullivan has a good response to David Brooks' editorial from yesterday.

Thoughts on Khamenei's Speech (Andrew Sullivan) from the Atlantic

"I fear deeply what is about to happen. But I also sense that the Gandhi-strategy of the majority is a winning one. "

Iran Leadership 'More Divided Than Ever,' Analyst Says (Anthony Cordesman) from the Los Angeles

"Everyone in Iran, the Middle East, and the world now has reason to question the legitimacy of every element of Iran's leadership and the Iranian revolution. The Iranian leadership now has to realize that it is more divided than was ever apparent before and that Iran's people and the world know it."

How Iran's Clerics Can Undermine Ahmadinejad from RealClearWorld

"In 1979, the clergy were behind the Islamic revolution which overthrew the Shah.  In 2009, the silence of some of the clergy in Qom against the current crisis is deafening to the supporters of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad."

Another variation on the same theme:

Why Iran's Supreme Leader Could Be the Protest's Ultimate Victim from the Daily Telegraph [of London]

"For the past two decades, the 69-year-old has been the ultimate source of power in Iran. ... But when he delivers today's sermon at Friday prayers in Tehran, which is normally broadcast nationwide, he will be fighting as much to save his own position as that of his beleaguered president."

Engage Iran, Not Ahmadinejad (Editorial) from the Washington Post

Up to a point, I like the way this analyst is thinking.

"President Obama appears to face a poisoned set of choices: Either shun the regime, harden his position and be led down the path of conflict, or go ahead with his stated goal of dialogue with the Ahmadinejad government and provide implicit recognition to a violent usurper.  There is, however, a third option -- one that recognizes America's unique place in Iran's future and can advance our national security interests in a manner consistent with our values. Call it option "Ignore Ahmadinejad.""

Worrying About Iran as the New Hungary (Thomas Ricks) from Foreign Policy Magazine

Ricks, who some of you may know from his excellent books, Fiasco, and The Gamble, is one of the most knowledgeable reporters on events in Iran and Iraq.

"I think people should think twice before shooting off their mouths about "unqualified support," like Rep. Mike Pence (R., Ind.) did this morning on Fox "News ... I just hope that Iranian protestors know not to take this clown seriously."

Thank God Obama Favors the 'Old' Mideast (Editorial) from the Daily Star [of Lebanon in English]

"Ignoring the lessons of history, and dismissing warnings about the hurdles facing a campaign to implant Western-style democracy at gunpoint, the Bush administration inadvertently helped to give birth to a "new" Middle East in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine, that was in some ways, less peaceful, less tolerant, and less democratic than the "old" one. And these efforts all had the effect of strengthening Iran.  The recent good news has been that President Barack Obama seemed to favor the more realistic US approach towards the Middle East that assumed the need for American diplomatic engagement with the existing regimes in the region."

US Pursues a New Way to Rebuild Afghanistan from the Washington Post

The opening story in this article SO represents the Bush effort in Afghanistan.  Obama seems to have taken some interesting lessons from the experience.

""It was a total waste of resources," said Frauke de Weijer, a development specialist who worked with USAID contractors building the farm. "It was a diversion of reconstruction money from other more effective and beneficial projects."  The barren farm embodies some of the challenges confronting President Obama as he tries to fulfill a campaign promise to turn around the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.

Members of his national security team have concluded that the country requires not just more money and personnel for reconstruction but also a fundamental overhaul of the U.S. approach to development."

Obama's Latest Miniseries (Howard Kurtz) from the Washington Post

"The screaming Drudge headline makes it sound like a major network had become a wholly owned subsidiary of the White House: "ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA.  The reality: Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer will be interviewing the president about health care next week.  You know of any journalists who would turn down that opportunity?"

Obama's Brother to Release Book from the Daily Nation [of Kenya in English]

"A memoir by George Obama, US President Barack Obama’s half-brother who lives in Huruma, Nairobi, is set to be published.  The book, tentatively titled Homeland, which gives the life story of George, will be published by Simon & Schuster in January 2010."

FATHERS DAY NUGGET!!

Tough Love from the Father-in-Chief from The Root

"Barack Obama, whose father abandoned him when he was barely two, has come out swinging on male "responsibility" this Father's Day."