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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iranians Want to Talk to U.S. Congress |
| 2007-05-15 |
| A group of Iranian lawmakers wants to create a "friendship committee" that would open contacts with the U.S. Congress -- an unprecedented attempt to build ties at a time when Iran's hard-line leadership also appears willing to talk with the country's No. 1 enemy. Proponents hope the effort, for which they were gathering petition signatures Tuesday, will be condoned by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say in national matters. Contacts between the countries have long been taboo, a status enforced by Iran's top leadership -- made up of Shiite clerics -- since the U.S. cut ties with Iran after the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. More recently, as tension between the two countries over Iran's nuclear program and other issues has escalated, the dialogue situation has also shifted. Over the weekend, the two governments agreed to hold ambassador-level talks about Iran's war-torn neighbor, Iraq. A so-called "friendship committee" would open a unique channel of communication between politicians, who presumably could tackle any topic. "If (Iranian) government officials can reconcile with Americans, why can't the Iranian nation reconcile with the American people?" asked Jalal Hosseini, a pro-reform lawmaker who signed the petition. So far, proponents have gathered 20 signatures and plan to seek more at the 290-seat parliament. Backers come from across Iran's political spectrum. No specific number of deputies is required to form the group, and proponents hope to have the petition ready for submission by Sunday. Then, it's up to the parliament speaker, Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, to accept or reject the idea. |
| Posted by:Captain America |
| #7 The only Iranians we should be talking to are ones who're willing to lead internal dissent and assist our military in |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-05-15 23:33 |
| #6 I like that word - FOAD. |
| Posted by: Elmereter Hupash6222 2007-05-15 22:59 |
| #5 You know, a muslim would surely see this as a sign of weakness. With their economy failing, gas rationing starting this week, food subsidies being decreased, it may be just that. Now they want to talk it over with a "friendship committee". Bullshit, khamenei is sending them here for some nefarious reason because he doesn't have the staying power to win and he knows it. Tell them to FOAD. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2007-05-15 22:54 |
| #4 #3 - I think it's a tie. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2007-05-15 22:49 |
| #3 "Iran's hard-line leadership also appears willing to talk with," the Democrats. Help me out here, are the Democrats the number one enemy of the US or Iran? |
| Posted by: CochinoMarrano 2007-05-15 21:50 |
| #2 "A group of Iranian lawmakers wants to create a "friendship committee" that would open contacts with the U.S. Congress -- an unprecedented attempt to build ties at a time when Iran's hard-line leadership also appears willing to talk with the country's No. 1 enemy." Sounds more like an attempt to take advantage of a bunch of gullible Democrats. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2007-05-15 21:30 |
| #1 "Hello Nancy. Loved your trip to Damascus. Would like to discuss mutual efforts to...er...diminish....the evil Booosh adminstrations' successes in the future. Believe our mutual desires for power above all else, and total immorality in achieving same would make a marriage made in |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-05-15 21:28 |