News Nuggets 183

A very distinct image of our excellent Secretary of State

MUST-SEE VIDEO NUGGET!

The Moment They Ran (Andrew Sullivan) from the Atlantic

The video clip posted HERE shows an AMAZING scene from Tehran on Saturday giving you a real sense of how tenuous the police's hold was on the streets.

Mousavi Will Destroy Ahmadinejad's Iran Regime if He Can (Martin Fletcher) from the Times [of London]

Fletcher has more optimism about this than I do.  To me, it is far more likely that Mousavi and his movement will be crushed OR he will cut a deal with the Supreme Leader -- but, who knows?

"Outraged by what has happened, and doubtless encouraged by his redoubtable wife, Mr Mousavi’s resolve has hardened. He has come to realise that the regime is far more tyrannical than he realised. If he can destroy it, he will."

Unrest in Iran Sharply Deepens Rift Among Clerics from the New York Times

"A bitter rift among Iran's ruling clerics deepened Sunday over the disputed presidential election that has convulsed Tehran in the worst violence in 30 years, with the government trying to link the defiant loser to terrorists and detaining relatives of his powerful backer, a founder of the Islamic republic."

Battle for the Islamic Republic (Robert Fisk) from the Independent [of London]

"The very existence of the Islamic regime may now be questioned openly in a nation ever more divided between reformists and those who insist on maintaining the integrity of the 1979 revolution."

Obama is Right to Stay Out of Iran (Editorial) from the [Manchester] Guardian -- Note* I've called this the Guardian [of London] until now because it IS published in London -- but historically it is the Manchester Guardian.  Thus the change beginning here.

"Obama's caution is the appropriate policy course for the US. What is essential in this situation is for Washington not to interfere, or even be perceived as interfering, in Iran's political process. There are six important reasons why."

Whose Side Are You On? You Have to Ask? (Peggy Noonan) from the Wall Street Journal

A good verbal fusillade against the hyperventilating critics of Obama's caution in dealing with Iran now.

"To insist the American president, in the first days of the rebellion, insert the American government into the drama was shortsighted and mischievous. ...  This was Aggressive Political Solipsism at work: Always exploit events to show you love freedom more than the other guy, always make someone else's delicate drama your excuse for a thumping curtain speech."

Democrats Vow Nonintervention, Urge Obama to Keep 'Fingerprints' Off Iran from Agence France-Presse via RawStory

"Democrats on Sunday defended President Barack Obama’s hands-off approach to the crisis in Iran, urging him to keep US “fingerprints” off the unfolding events despite pressure from Republicans for bolder US action."

The Next Explosion in Iran (Robert Dreyfuss) from the Nation

"The Chatham House analysis, while wonky and full of detailed charts, provides the clearest evidence yet that Ahmadinejad and Co. rigged the vote."

Further evidence that the election in Iran was rigged AND that it was done REALLY BADLY.

Leave Iran to the Iranians (Leslie Gelb) from the Daily Beast

"As experts clash on how to deal with Iran’s turmoil, Leslie H. Gelb says Obama is right to keep his distance—this is what Iranians want, and they have smart, sophisticated reasons for it."

Obama's Ally on Iran Policy: Pat Buchanan from the Nation

"When President Obama shied away from joining other world leaders who have aggressively criticized Iran's disputed election and condemned post-election violence, he got high marks from Buchanan."

The Public's Cautious Approval of Obama's Agenda (Charlie Cook) from the National Journal

"With his election, this youthful new president -- who, without any irony, is the author of a book called The Audacity of Hope -- has since embarked on an incredibly audacious regime of change that is unlike anything since Franklin Roosevelt's presidency.  Now, about 150 days into his term, the public has responded with what might be described as cautious approval."

Confidential Memo Reveals US Plan to Provoke an Invasion of Iraq from the [Manchester] Guardian

After a long respite, a "Dispatch from the Bush Posse" breaks through with this "Oh. My. God. They were capable of anything" item.

Obama's Political Play Should Shock No One (John Kass) from the Chicago Tribune

"It's amusing to watch the Washington political establishment feign shock, now that President Obama's reform administration has used a clay foot to vigorously kick one inspector general and boot another out the door."

Obama WIns Over Crowds as the Explainer-in-Chief (Al Hunt) from the Bloomberg News Service

"The administration is remarkably disciplined, one reason Obama is more effective at communicating than Bill Clinton. And unlike his predecessor, George W. Bush, Obama understands complex matters and revels in the explainer-in-chief role."

Padilla v. Yoo: Accountability for Torture? from Slate

"A week ago, Judge Jeffrey White ruled that Padilla's allegations were plausible enough to justify denying Yoo's motion to dismiss the lawsuit. ... White's decision is the first of its kind: Until now, although other lawsuits have been brought, no government official has faced personal liability for his role in the torture or deaths of detainees."

DOUBLE FATHERS' DAY NUGGETS!!

Hooray for Fathers! Hooray for Obama! (Carl Cannon) from Politics Daily

"Barack Obama spent this past week making Father's Day into one of the signature holidays of his presidency. ... Considering some of the sacred cows of modern liberalism, the president's emphasis was impressive. It even had a subtly subversive undertone"

Obama's Example: Putting Family First (Editorial) from the San Francisco Chronicle

"On this Father's Day, the American public should proudly note that our president takes his personal role as father (and spouse) as seriously as he does his job as father of the country. ... He also has spent hours wooing some key decision-makers closer to home, namely Sasha, Malia and Michelle, and invaluable lessons are to be learned from his example."

HIGH-SPEED RAIL NUGGET!!

Midwest, Calif. Front Runners for $8B in Rail Crash from BusinessWeek

"High-speed rail plans in the Midwest and California appear to be front runners in the race for $8 billion in stimulus cash based on federal criteria released Wednesday that favor projects with established revenue sources and multistate cooperation."