This sunday, former Iranian president Mohammed Khatami is scheduled to give an adress at Harvard's Kennedy school of government. Although this is a privately scheduled visit (one of a number of U.S. speaking engagements) the state department has asked Mitt Romney to provide trooper security for Khatami during his time in MA, in consideration of the fact that Khatami is a high level foreign visitor. Romney refused. The story is here
http://www.boston.com/...
Commentary on the flip...
In the article listed in the intro, Gov. Romney is quoted as saying
"There are people in this state who have suffered from terrorism, and taking even a dollar of their money to support a terrorist is unacceptable,"
Of course, in his desire to throw some meat at republican primary voters, Romney has concluded that all Iranians are terrorists. Of course, he can justify the statement and action by pointing to the regime's support of groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, but the soundbite's purpose isn't to open a meaningful dialogue concerning Iran's political bedfellows. It was a political shot aimed at those who want to see more dialogue and less bullets exchanged with Middle Eastern states.
As we have so oft been told, today's GOP runs primarily on the politics of fear. For the past few years, it seems to have worked out fairly well for the party. However, with the failures in Iraq and Afghanistan that fearmongering have produced have lessened the effectiveness of this strategy. Thus, the Republican leadership is attempting to shift the focus to Iran, where it believes the people of America see a greater threat.
The problem with this strategy is that, like many political issues, the situation with Iran is not black and white. Yes, the current leadership of Iran has displayed hostile attitudes towards the west and Israel. It has also engaged in questionable nuclear activities and seems to be advancing towards nuclear weapons technology. What the masses in America don't often hear is that:
A.) Iran is AT LEAST five to ten years away from a nuclear weapon.
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/...)
B.) Contrary to western belief, there is a reform movement in Iran.
Part B is where Khatami's visit fits in. Khatami was elected president on a reform platform. His goals included a more open Iranian society, and he enjoyed support of reformist groups (http://news.bbc.co.uk/...). Sadly, because so much of the political power in Iran lies in the hands of the ayatollah and other religious leaders, he was unable to implement many of the reforms he desired while president. This stagnant rule may well have enabled the election of the current regime.
When a famous Iranian reform politican gives lectures in the US, American's see a side of Iran that is not usually represented in the mainstream media. If more Americans realized Iran does not wholly consist of America-hating terrorists it would be much easier for them to accept dialague rather than war with Iran. It would reduce the fear that many in the US have of Iran and slow the desire for military action. Today's GOP cannot afford this, as the other ships of fear they have sailed are beginning to sink. That is why Mitt Romney and his ilk are playing the "terrorist" card. That is all that is in their hand now. It's time to lay the chips down and prove that the Democrats have a better one.