[DoctorZIn]

The article is by a pro US Iranian news service.

It appears the pressure is on the Iranian leadership. The people want a national referendum on the future of their governemnt. I believe this is just an attempt to calm down the pro US sentiment in Iran. It is looking like Iran is taking the same path as the former USSR. They would only do this if they see no other option.

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[WOSG]

Nice, very nice.

Shock and Awe at American victory

[savedbygrace]

One axis down, two axes to go. Amazing they're both suddenly willing to talk with us. Imagine all this happening now, what with us having such a stupid person for president and all.

</sarcasm>

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

We need to engage them. Insist on free democratic elections, and support those Iranians who are ready to topple the old, and put in the new (In otherwords, the Ayatollahs know the writing is on the wall in more ways than one.)

The Ayatollah's just may LIVE that way. Self preservation is a powerful tool.

[konaice]

"The article is by a pro US Iranian news service.
It appears the pressure is on the Iranian leadership."
-----

The other intpretation, given the source, is that this is simply wishfull thinking, and an attempt to put words in the mouth of the Iranian administration, thereby makeing it necessary for them to come out and make denials.

It would seem to me that pride alone would make them hold off makeing such policy reversals this soon on the heals of the (as yet to be finalized) coalition victory. Especially in light of the fact that sabers are being ratteled toward Damascas and not toward Tehran.

Still, with US troups to the east and west, and US Navy to the south, the time to play kiss-and-make-up would seem to be at hand. I am just highly suspicious that such a mundamentalist Muslimist regiem would have the precience to see the writing on the wall.

[angkor]

Nah, sorry, it's endgame.

The Islamist & Arabist governments are all about to fall.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

Normalization in return for what??
Methinks this would require them to stop the exportation of Islamofascism, subject to inspection by the US (not UN).

[dixiechick2000]

What's your take on this?

[rs79bm]

The power of victory and G.W. ... First N. Korea and now Iran!

[Smile-n-Win]

Would this be a referendum like the one that "re-elected" Saddam Hussein a few months ago? It seems the Iranian leadership is trying to make us believe that their people would not welcome us as liberators, as the Iraqis did.

[SkyPilot]

"Weeelll Oiieeee Doggies! Lookin what we got here Jethro!

[George W. Bush]

...Still, to put the country in jeopardy on the ground that we are acting on an Islamic basis is not at all Islamic", he said,...

I hope I never understand this. People this confused need to be liberated spirtually far more than politically.

[NewRomeTacitus]

I love the sound of terrorists' shorts filling in the morning. It sounds like...Victory. (pardon the paraphrase)

[Semper Paratus]

International Strategery!

[Grampa Dave]

As Iran realizes that Soddomite is gone or powerless and that his top 54 thugs are powerless, their regime change is starting.

[11th Earl of Mar]

I thought the Democrats claimed that Bush's action in Iraq DIMINISHED America's influence abroad. WTH???

[Petronski]

Holy Cow!

[prisoner6]

Posted on another thread but applicable here...

Nothing promotes peace - I'm serious about this - more than kicking some little pissant country to hell and back. I know it sounds terrible, but really third world countries only have respect for power. Most of them are tribe or clan based and it was the most powerful tribes/clans that got respect from everyone else.

Until they move to the next level, the only way we can ensure peace in the world is to let 'em know we got The Big Stick and we're not adverse to suing it.

Lord, I miss The Gipper...

prisoner6

[doug from upland]

Iran could have played games with Bill Clinton. They cannot do so with George W. Bush, a real commander in chief, as opposed to someone who played one on television.

[KriegerGeist]

I saw an interview on CBN between Pat Robertson and an Iranian professor in London (that I wish there were a transcript to) concerning the Ayatollahs and Imams in Najaf and Karbala that basically describes them as being "senior" to the "junior" Ayatollahs and Imams and their declarations (or "fatwas") as carrying more weight with the faithful than those in Iran. And that, along with freedom in Iraq scares those in Iran who are sort of "nobodies" in comparrison.

From CBN News:
When the war began, Iran's ruling mullahs called on Iraqi Shiites to boycott the coalition forces and condemn President Bush. But the Iraqis not only ignored the advice, a leading Iraqi Shiite Cleric, the Ayatollah Sistani, issued a fatwa telling Shiites not to oppose the invading coalition forces.

And other statements indicate Iraqi Shiite clerics view the United States as a friend. They were pleased at the way coalition forces respected Muslim holy sites in Najaf and Karbala.

In the end, a split between Iraqi and Iranian Shiites could work to undermine Iran's brand of radical, politicized Islam that has fueled terrorism around the world.