Posted on 11/09/2006 4:05:19 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Iranian opinion-makers today welcomed the resignation of the US secretary of defence and the Republican Party's losses in Congress, saying the two events could reduce the chances of a confrontation with the United States over Iran's contentious nuclear programme.
The new Democratic majority in Congress will choose to negotiate with Iran, said a liberal political scientist at Tehran University.
State radio was particularly sharp in its view of the ousted defence secretary, saying Donald Rumsfeld had been a "symbol of stupidity and unilateralism" and his downfall reflected "America's defeat in Iraq, the end of the era of neo-conservatives and the failure of America's war policy - of which Rumsfeld was the architect."
Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said the Republicans' electoral defeat "might soften the US warmongering policy in the region".
In the elections, the Democratic Party won control of the House of Representatives and, by unofficial count, the Senate as well.
"It is possible that the United States will behave in a wiser manner and will not pit itself against Iran," said Larijani, who is known to be close to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The United States is currently pushing for the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Iran for its refusal to cease uranium enrichment - a process that can produce material for atomic bombs or nuclear reactors - and it also accuses Iran of aiding the insurgency in Iraq.
"Rumsfeld's departure has greatly reduced the chance of a confrontation," said Nasser Hadian, a well-known analyst and professor of politics at Tehran University.
The appointment of Robert Gates as the new U.S. defence secretary was a "positive sign for reducing tensions" between Iran and the United States, Hadian added.
A second commentator, Yadollah Eslami, said the American voters had rejected Rumsfeld's "war mentality," and his departure would change the tone of US policy toward Iran.
"The Democrats will do their best to resolve Iran's nuclear issue through negotiations rather than resorting to big threats, as Rumsfeld and other neo-conservatives did," said Eslami who belongs to the Islamic Iran Participation Front, Iran's largest reformist party, and teaches politics at Tehran University.
The hard-line newspaper Kayhan said that President George Bush would not contemplate further military campaigns abroad because he will now be embroiled in fighting the Democratic majority in Congress.
"The victory of the Democrats means the Bush administration will be forced to tread cautiously, instead of waging war around the globe," Kayhan said in an editorial.
O goody, I'm so happy.
The negative ramifications from the Dim win continue to come in.
"America's defeat in Iraq, the end of the era of neo-conservatives and the failure of America's war policy."
Defeat/defeatist/defeating.
Tell a person he's scum long enough, and the Dims will believe. The lie doesn't have to be true, just LOUD
Why talk tough, when we can just ask and have it given to us?
-The Iranians on the new Democratic Congress
No shiiiite sherlock...the appeasers are in control now.
If we needed any more proof of the Dhimmicrat party"s role to play, here it is.
There is a reduced chance of conflict with the US because NOW THEY GET THEIR BOMB.
Is anyone on earth so stupid that they don't understand what this means?
Iran is mistaken.
Libs are very good at starting wars - they just don't like finishing them.
Now we get another N. Korea under the dems policy: give them lots of money, make them promise not to continue research, make sure there are no safe-guards to keep an eye and stop 'cheating'. Oh by the way, Israel, sorry you got nuked, we sure do feel your pain.
The Iranians are probably right. The 'RATS don't give a crap if the Iranians have nukes and intend to use them on Israel and America. They could care less. Hell! Clinton and Cahtah even gave the North Koreans their nukes.
The Iranian kooks do not get the idea of America at all and they understand the US Gov't even worse than American high school graduates.
Israel has to dump Olmert, get a real leadership, spit on world opinion and be prepared to use it's nukes against Iran. Should Israel be on the receiving end of an Iranian Nuke first, they should take the whole Middle East down in a nuclear firestorm.
Again thanks to the voters who got the Dems into power.
God help us.
The next terrorist attack on on America - courtesy of the Democrat party, coming soon, to a city or town near you.
I have to admit that my guess is now that the U.S. will uselessly attempt to wheel and deal with the Iranian madmen, making the same fatuous moves that Carter and Clinton made with the North Koreans, while the Iranians will openly continue their nuclear development.
the iranian bomb - means the world will be a safer place without Israel?
Oh, there'll be a clash, but sadly, it will come later and more intimately. It would be nice if Iran and its friends would decide not to attack the West, but that's doubtful. Most of our people who were young during the Vietnam years are making a sacrifice of our next generation to the expanding Islamofascists.
We really have regressed to the late 70s. This sucks! This really sucks!
No sheet, no one will stop them from doing what they want. Basra and Kuwait City port cities of Iran. The dementia in Washington will not stop anyone from doing anything. Kim will demand Americans out, and South Korea will agreed. And, John, Okinawa doesn't want us there either. In the next decade we will have to pay for the same ground all over again at a much higher price. The genocide in Darfor will be pattern for others. Like teenagers, the world needs adult supervision, and, like teenagers don't appreciate it. The UN is anarchy central high school.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.