NSN Daily Update: 6/19/09 Posted by The National Security Network

For today's complete daily update, click here.

What We're Reading

In his first public comments about the aftermath of Iran’s disputed elections, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denied claims of a rigged election, called directly for an end to protests, and warned protestors to keep off the streets. He accused “evil” Western nations, particularly Britain and the United States, of showing “enmity” toward the Islamic Republic system, and rejected American officials’ remarks about human rights as unacceptable. Iranian paramilitaries vowed a public crackdown

The House and Senate passed the FY09 supplemental war-spending bill. The $106b bill includes funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, critical IMF funding and programs for pandemic flu preparedness, and restores full payment of American dues to the United Nations. Congress denied requests for funding to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay.

An aide close to Pakistan’s Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud confirmed reports that Mehsud was behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto

Members of Obama’s national security team determined that success in Afghanistan requires a total overhaul of the American approach to development. They hope to shift away from Bush-era policies that focused on free-market reform and discrete success stories, and instead implement broader initiatives aimed at improving the lives of as many Afghans as possible

Commentary of the Day

Shane M., a student in Iran, implores Americans to stop viewing the protests “through anxieties left behind by the 1979 revolution.”

Nobel Peace Prize-winner Shirin Ebadi urges the Iranian government to void the elections or risk further violence

Matt Duss criticizes conservatives’ “Cold War approach” to Iran

Peggy Noonan slams conservatives' take on Iran and discusses the importance of Twitter, YouTube and other social networking websites.

Saree Makdisi considers the language used to describe the actors in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Energy and Power in the EU Posted by James Lamond

On a topic that is not Iran....

Looks like there is a proposal to give the European Commission more power in the event of a energy emergency, like the one we saw this past winter.  A draft Commission report says that the member states should give the Commission (kind of the the EU equivalent of ministries) more power to coordinate gas flows in the event of another energy crisis.  This may cause some Euro-critics to complain about the growing democratic deficit, since the EC is the least democratic part of the EU (commissioners are appointed by members states). These critics are largely correct. 

However, there is a growing need for the European Union be able to address external relations with a singular voice.  I wrote about this back during the energy crisis and Max has written about European- Russian relations more recently in the World Politics Review.  The common threat of energy security requiring greater coordination may push the integration process along at a time when the European Union has been under a great deal of stress. If a dispute were to, again, occur between two third-party countries, such as Ukraine and Russia, it would be best for Europe to be able to "speak with one voice."

The Lisbon Treaty offers a more democratic and unified voice, with the creation of an elected president, who would be dual-hatted as both the president of the European Commission and the European Council- in effect creating a single voice for Europe to speak to the world, particularly in the event of a crisis, such as the type that the above proposal seeks to address. This makes Czech President Vaclav Klaus's new attempts at derailing the treaty all the more frustrating.

Sullivan and Kerry Counter Neocons Posted by James Lamond

Andrew Sullivan had a great post yesterday in response to Danielle Pletka's ridiculous interesting NY Times column:

Pletka is a hard-right neocon, very close to the Kagans, and a former aide to Jesse Helms. Her support for Ahmadinejad is the same as Daniel Pipes' and the Mossad's. What we're seeing is how much of the neocon agenda really was about freedom. I have long since stopped believing that, having observed them closely for the past few years. They are about warfare against Israel's perceived enemies, and extending US hegemony to eclipse any rival regional or global power. That is the prism through which you have to watch their every statement. But why is the New York Times giving a platform at this moment to people who got the Iraq war so terribly wrong? Are there no consequences for total neoconservative failure?

Ladies and Gentlemen, Your 111th Congress Posted by Michael Cohen

In a vote that really should surprise no one who is regular observer of Congress and the defense appropriation process, the House Armed Services Committee passed a measure yesterday that would increase funding for the F-22 aircraft by taking money away from an environmental restoration program.
This comes several months after Secretary of Defense Gates rejected a significant increase in funding for the program - and it should be noted, the measure was passed with both GOP and Democratic votes.

But you really have to love this quote from Utah Congressman, Rob Bishop: 

"There is no study or analysis we have been able to see at the committee in support of Secretary Gates' assertion that 187 aircraft is sufficient to meet future air threats to our homeland a decade from now," said Bishop.

Well there is always the common sense analysis, but I suppose that is too much to ask for.

Putting aside the fact that no country has a fighter aircraft that can even compete with the F-22; and the US homeland has not been attacked by a military aircraft since Pearl Harbor and that it defies basic common sense to argue that any country would willingly engage on such a suicide mission; that 187 F-22s would probably go a long way toward protecting the US homeland and that the F-22 has never actually been flown in combat. . . well then I suppose Rob Bishop has a point.

I'd have a bit more respect for Cong. Bishop if he didn't waste everyone's time with some red herring argument about protecting the homeland and just made clear precisely why he thinks the US should build more F-22s.

It's public welfare for the state of Utah and of course Rob Bishop's political career.

NSN Daily Update: 6/18/09 Posted by The National Security Network

For today's complete daily update click here.

What We’re Reading

A Global insurance fraud scheme is discovered that provided North Korea’s leadership with hundreds of millions of dollars in hard currency.

A last-minute amendment in the House rolls back defense cuts desired by Sec. Gates and President Obama, and would restore $368.8 million towards the purchase of 12 F-22s in fiscal year 2011.

As Russia and China urge North Korea to return to international disarmament talks, a Japanese news report said the regime plans to fire a missile in the direction of Hawaii.

As Mexico's midterm elections gear up, one of the prominent campaign slogans is vouching for Mexican voters to “voto en blanco,” or vote for nobody.

A report by Amnesty International says Zimbabwe is still suffering "persistent and serious" human rights violations. These accusations flourish as Prime Minister Tsvangirai is tours  foreign capitals seeking the $10bn of aid needed to stabilize the country’s economy.

Commentary of the Day

Joe Klein provides an insider’s take on the situation in Iran, reporting on what he saw during his ten days in the country.

In a piece titled “With Iran, think before you speak,” John Kerry rebukes McCain and the neoconservative criticisms of Obama’s reaction to the elections.

While the world’s attention is on Iran, Pakistan struggles through a chaotic summer facing an escalation in hostilities on many fronts.

Why Does the GOP Support Ahmadinejad? Posted by Adam Blickstein

Contrast this:

Rep. Pence and Republican Leaders to Hold Press Conference Supporting Iranian Dissidents

Washington – House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence and other House Leaders will hold a press conference today, June 18th at 1:45 p.m. in the House Radio/TV Gallery, H-321, the U.S. Capitol to discuss the current situation in Iran and a resolution Rep. Pence introduced supporting the Iranian dissidents.

With this:

But in conversations with friends and relatives in Tehran this week, I've heard the opposite of what I had expected: a resounding belief that this time the United States should keep out. One of my cousins, a woman in her mid-30s who has been attending the daily protests along with the rest of her family, viewed the situation pragmatically. “The U.S. shouldn't interfere, because a loud condemnation isn't going to affect Iranian domestic politics one way or the other. If the supreme leader decides to crackdown on the protests and Ahmadinejad stays in power, then negotiations with the United States might improve our lives.”

Other friends I spoke with cited various reasons why the United States should maintain its discrete posture. “If Obama's position until now has been to respect Iran, then he really has no choice but to watch first how things unfold. Mousavi hasn't produced any facts yet, no one has produced evidence of fraud,” said my friend Ali, a 40-year-old photographer. “That's what is needed before Obama takes a major stand.”

My older relatives fretted particularly that any real criticism by the United States would be used as a pretext by Ahmadinejad to blame the protests on “outside enemies,” a reflexive response for the president when dealing with even housing inflation and the rising price of tomatoes. “It's better for Obama to stay out of this. Given what happened with Bush in Florida, Ahmadinejad can always claim the United States is in no position to lecture anyone about fair elections,” my aunt noted.

Why does the GOP insist on playing into the hands of the very oppressive regime they feign to be denouncing?  Why do they continue to provide Ahmadinejad with the propaganda needed to further suppress the Iranian people? Why do they continue to place partisan, domestic politics over the well-being and future of the Iranian people?

What to do on Iran Posted by Patrick Barry

John Kerry gets it:

We can’t escape the reality that for reformers in Tehran to have any hope for success, Iran’s election must be about Iran — not America. And if the street protests of the last days have taught us anything, it is that this is an Iranian moment, not an American one...

...Words are important. President Obama has made that clear in devising a new approach to Iran and the wider Muslim world. In offering negotiation and conciliation, he has put the region’s extremists on the defensive.

We have seen the results of this new vision already. His outreach may have helped to make a difference in the election last week in Lebanon, where a pro-Western coalition surprised many by winning a resounding victory.

We’re seeing signs that it’s having an impact in Iran as well. Returning to harsh criticism now would only erase this progress, empower hard-liners in Iran who want to see negotiations fail and undercut those who have risen up in support of a better relationship.

Cantor, Pence, McCain, Kagan Feed Iran Propaganda Machine Posted by Adam Blickstein

No, seriously, you guys care more about the welfare of the Iranian people than your own egos and the Republican party, right?

Iran accused the United States on Wednesday of "intolerable" meddling in its internal affairs, alleging for the first time that Washington has fueled a bitter postelection dispute. Opposition supporters marched in huge numbers through Tehran's streets for a third straight day to protest the outcome of the balloting.

The Iranian government summoned the Swiss ambassador, who represents U.S. interests in Iran, to complain about American interference, state-run Press TV reported.

The English-language channel said the government called Western interference "intolerable."

A State Department spokesman said the U.S. was withholding judgment about the election and not interfering in Iranian internal affairs.

Well, the President and most members of Congress are doing the responsible thing, and you know, listening to what experts, the Iranian people and Pat Buchanan think and not meddling with the delicate situation in Iran. As for Cantor, Pence, McCain, Kagan, Pletka, well, they are not as much into democracy promotion as they are into neocon promotion. Which means, promoting failed policies and failed ideology. I guess since they worked hard to destroy Iraq, in their estimation they might as well now try to march east on their path of destruction. But in this instance they are siding with an oppressive regime rather than demanding its downfall. Odd how that works.

Worth 1000 Words Posted by Michael Cohen

Of all the pictures I've seen come out of Iran over the past few days I find this one to be the most affecting. In an indirect manner it is perhaps the most damning indictment of the corrupting nature of the regime in Tehran as it turns countryman vs. countryman - and conversely it demonstrates the basic humanity of those who have hit the streets in recent days.

NSN Daily Update: 6/17/09 Posted by The National Security Network

For today's complete daily update click here.

What We’re Reading

Iran accused international journalists of supporting ‘hooligans’, and said it will take legal action against websites that incite riots. Meanwhile, Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi issued a direct challenge to the country’s supreme leader and called for a mass rally to protest disputed election results and violence against his supporters. In the U.S., the State Department asked Twitter to delay scheduled maintenance that would have cut off service to Iranians using the site

Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak warned North Korea to stop threatening the region and vowed to enforce new U.N. sanctions ordered after North Korea’s May 25 nuclear test. A U.S. official estimated that it might only be three years before the U.S. is in North Korean missile range

Up to 1,000 Bermudan protesters demanded that Bermuda’s premier resign, saying his failure to consult with other high-ranking officials before agreeing to accept four former Guantanamo Bay detainees showed disrespect

The Mexican navy seized more than a ton of cocaine found hidden inside frozen shark carcasses. Officials say cartels are coming up with increasingly creative ways of smuggling drugs into the U.S.

Commentary of the Day

Thomas Friedman is fascinated by what he calls the transformation of Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, blogs and texts into “virtual mosques” in Iran and Lebanon

Ramin Jahanbegloo argues that Iran’s election has opened a generational fissure

Philip Bowring discusses China’s need to balance its nationalist instincts and its desire to be seen as a fair global player