News Nuggets 185

With the coming of summer, my mind drifts towards interesting destinations.  The caves shown above are in Alabama -- from National Geographic.

Splits at the Top of Iran's Islamic Regime Seem to be Reaching New Levels from Robert Tait's reporting at the 12:30PM time post at the Guardian's live-blogging of events in Iran.  

This has been getting a lot of play at the New York Times and other MSM sites.

"The splits at the top of the Islamic regime seem to be reaching new levels. Vatan-e Emrouz, a newspaper owned by Mehrdad Bazrpash - a renowned hardliner and close aide to Ahmadinejad - has today attacked Larijani, the conservative speaker who is nominally on the side of the status quo and against the protesters."

Clerics Join Iran's Anti-government Protests from CNN

"In a blatant act of defiance, a group of Mullahs took to the streets of Tehran, to protest election results that returned incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power."

On the face of it, this would seem to be significant -- but I have to say I'm skeptical of it.  How representative is it? Moreover, it could be more an indicator of things going on behind the scenes among the political elites.

ROGER COHEN NUGGETS!!

He's been doing a very good job this last week in Iran.

Life and Death in Tehran (Roger Cohen) from the New York Times

"As the sound of the prayer rose, the regular city police joined in. This was too much for the Basij militia, the regime’s plainclothes shock troops, who arrived on motorbikes and, wielding sticks, broke up the gathering of about 60 people"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/opinion/23cohenweb.html?pagewanted=print

The End of the Beginning (Roger Cohen) from the New York Times

"Iran’s 1979 revolution took a full year to gestate. The uprising of 2009 has now ended its first phase. But the volatility ushered in by the June 12 ballot-box putsch of Iran’s New Right is certain to endure over the coming year. The Islamic Republic has been weakened."

What Does Khamenei Have Against Little Old Britain? (Editorial) from the Telegraph [of London]

"There is a good reason why the ayatollah bashed Britain with such singular ferocity, and it is to do with the Iranians' changing view of America. We have been co-opted to play the role of Great Satan, because America is now led by Barack Obama, or Barack Hussein Obama, as Fox News always calls him, and it is obvious that the mullahs don't know quite how to handle him."

This piece is interesting both for its observations about the US and about what it indicates about the average mindset of the post-colonial British.

President Cool Plays it Right (Richard Cohen) from the Washington Post

"The current policy, much criticized by prominent Republicans, vindicated Barack Obama's boast in his Cairo speech that he is a "student of history." The student in him knows that the worst thing the United States could do at the moment is provide the supreme leader and the less supreme leaders with the words to paint the opposition as American stooges -- or, even worse, suggest to the protesters that some sort of help is on its way from Washington."

The Green Revolution(s) (Thomas Friedman) from the New York Times

"Iranian reformers don’t need our praise. They need the one thing we could do, without firing a shot, that would truly weaken the Iranian theocrats and force them to unshackle their people. What’s that? End our addiction to the oil that funds Iran’s Islamic dictatorship. Launching a real Green Revolution in America would be the best way to support the “Green Revolution” in Iran."

During the last couple of weeks, Friedman has been really ON TARGET.  I sense that events have wandered into an area Friedman has been dwelling and perhaps preparing another book.

Obama's Subtle Diplomacy (Eleanor Clift) from Newsweek

"President Obama hasn't gotten enough credit for the small-d democratic stirrings he set in motion when he became the first American president to speak directly to the Muslim world. He was criticized for apologizing too much for past U.S. actions, but religious teachings say you must first remove the plank from your own eye before commenting on the sawdust in your brother's. Acknowledging actions broadly recognized as mistakes confers legitimacy, not weakness."

YOU TELL'EM, ELEANOR!!

Nation Editor: 'Virulent Strain' of Neocons Want to Meddle in Iran from RawStory

“You know, I read that post and I thought it was very smart also and I agree. I mean, I think that there is this very virulent strain of neocon ideology that has kind of manifested itself.”

Israel Stunned by Obama's Tough Love from the Asia Times

"Israel is no longer more equal than others, the Palestinians no longer a mere backdrop and all evil does not emanate from the Arab world. Obama has changed language and tone to break through the tough mythologies of the region, calcified in years of failure to make peace. "

Russia, US Resume Landmark Nuclear Talks from Agence France-Presse

"Restarting the US-Russian nuclear arms control process will help repair frayed US-Russian relations, open the way for dramatic reductions in the overall number of nuclear weapons, and improve global cooperation to help meet other nuclear threats," said US disarmament analyst Daryl Kimball.

Democrats Cut Deal on Climate Bill from Politico

"House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) has overcome one of the last big obstacles standing in the path of his landmark climate-change bill, cutting a deal with Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, who sought greater protections in the bill for farmers and other rural interests. Their agreement sets the stage for a vote Friday in the House."

NIXON HISTORY NUGGETS!!

On Nixon Tapes, Ambivalence Over Abortion from the New York Times

"Nixon worried that greater access to abortions would foster “permissiveness,” and said that “it breaks the family.” But he also saw a need for abortion in some cases — like interracial pregnancies, he said."

How to Shore Up GOP in 1973? Get 'Attractive Women,' Nixon Says from CNN

"President Richard Nixon believed one way to shore up the GOP in 1973 was by recruiting "attractive" women, but not because he was "for women," according to audio tapes released Tuesday."

Is this supposed to be different from the GOP today?  How many conservative blogs have whole sub-categories devoted to Sarah Palin's 'gams'?