Alysha Sayall – Nov. 12, 2008
Obama quashes Iran’s hopes for change (Article)
BBC News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7718603.stm
Time – Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008
Place – Tehran, Iran
Key People
- President-elect Obama
- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
- Joseph Biden
- Ayatollah Khamenei
Main Ideas
During his running period, Obama suggested having open, unconditional talks with Iran – as a solution to the complete halt in relations that has resulted between Iran and the US. Yet now, these talks are not necessarily as certain an idea as they sounded. When Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, sent a congratulatory message to Obama, Obama was not quick to reply as he had been with other leaders. He said that his reply would take the form of a letter, more carefully put together, and even commented on Iran’s unacceptable nuclear program and support of terrorism. Some Iranians are criticizing Ahmadinejad for even congratulating Obama, while some are disappointed in the uncertainty of talks ahead.
Your Response to Article
I found, in reading the article, that my views on this topic are not completely certain. While I believe that we should negotiate with Iran, and halt this lack of relations that has gone on for so long, I also believe that there should be some limits. Negotiating with any country that supports terrorism is sending the wrong message to the world, especially other nations that harbor terrorist activity. Even in the case of nuclear proliferation, it is difficult to say that we should negotiate with a country that does not follow UN regulations of nuclear production – thus posing a significant threat to the entire world. Yet it is because of this threat that relations with Iran become extremely important, and without one side compromising their key tenets by agreeing to certain conditions to talk, negotiations will simply never be able to begin.
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