Never, ever thought I'd live to hear this AMAZING statement out of Iran.

[Surya Gayatri]

Iran's president said on Friday that a framework for a nuclear deal was just the first step toward building a new relationship with the world, after Iranians greeted the announcement of the accord with celebrations in the streets.

The tentative agreement, struck on Thursday after eight days of talks between Iran and six world powers in Lausanne, Switzerland, clears the way for a settlement to allay Western fears that Iran could build an atomic bomb, with economic sanctions on Tehran being lifted in return.

In a televised speech on Friday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate elected in a landslide two years ago on a promise to reduce Iran's isolation, said the nuclear talks were just the start of a broader policy of opening up.

"Today is a day that will remain in the historic memory of the Iranian nation," he added. "Some think that we must either fight the world or surrender to world powers. We say it is neither of those, there is a third way. We can have cooperation with the world."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/04/us-iran-nuclear-idUSKBN0MQ0HH20150404
___________________

[ann---]

1. And our Congress will

disgrace America by rejecting it.

[Surya Gayatri]

2. Two-thirds majority of both houses required to do that...

Have you seen this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026971881

"I WILL Veto Any Legislation Which Attempts to Prevent Adoption of this Agreement." - Pres. Obama

[mucifer]

4. Fingers crossed that they won't find 2/3. There is a lot of hate for Iran in congress. nt

[MoonRiver]

5. There's a lot of hate, period, in our Congress.

I do think this deal will get through though.

[daleanime]

21. +1

[timdog44]

89. And a lot of stupid people

will say the usual stupid things that would wind any of us in a looney bin. I can't wait to see what all these loonies will say. And there are so many I can not even remember their names - not do I want to. I have a hard time with all these hateful people. I'd like to say I hate them, but then I would be one of them. So, I love them, hopefully to death.

[Surya Gayatri]

6. Double crossed...

[still_one]

7. same here

[spanone]

19. there's a lot of hate for Obama in congress.

they already oppose the deal....any deal.

[RiverNoord]

49. It won't be blocked.

There is absolutely no possibility that there will be a veto-proof supermajority blocking this deal. There aren't quite enough loonies or AIPAC owned Senators to pull that off.

[uhnope]

58. Words are cheap. Iran's government is a vicious gay-murdering theocracy.

How can a government run by medieval ayatollahs ever going to have a decent relationship with the rest of the world?

[maxsolomon]

63. Because the world acts together to persuade them to?

Through measures like sanctions & negotiations & trade.

That regime will not last for eternity. It just seems that way.

[rhett o rick]

73. And we killed a million innocent people in Iraq. But I'm guessing we can rationalize

that we can get away with it because we are the biggest bully. I hope you don't think we should invade Iran and get rid of the terrible government like we did in Iraq.

[Thespian2]

75. Excellent response

Right On, Brother!

[rhett o rick]

80. Thank you. I do appreciate a good "right on".

[RiverNoord]

104. Let's not forget our vigorous efforts to

end institutionalized racism in Israel, which is now very close to full-scale apartheid.

Oh, wait..

[uhnope]

105. LOL. that's like saying "I hope you've stopped beating your wife."

loaded questions are not helpful, especially when used as a litmus test. It reminds me of FOX News logic.

[rhett o rick]

106. I think you responded to the wrong post. You told us how terrible Iran's government is.

And I responded to show you a comparison of how terrible our government was not that long ago. My point was that those living in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones. But I guess you are ignoring the war crimes by our government.

And by the way, what is your point in pointing out how terrible the Iranian government is? Isn't that something one might here on Fox News? Maybe we should invade. I am sure you can get all the Republicans and some conservative Democrats to agree with you.

[uhnope]

109. your quote: "I hope you don't think we should invade Iran"

= "I hope you've stopped beating your wife."

Incredible that I can't call out these gay-murdering, woman-hating theocracies without being accused of wanting war. WTF? Talk about knee-jerk response.

Hey Rhett, guess what? The Iranian gov't SUCKS.

[rhett o rick]

110. Sorry if I got your point wrong. What was your point in telling us how terrible Iran is?

Usually, and I shouldn't generalize, those that preach "strong dislike" towards Iran are the same as those that wish to invade.

Again, what is your point? We are all fully aware that their government sucks.

[herding cats]

81. Well, the rest of the world has given the US another shot.

Considering our track record, I think we can afford a bit a understanding when it comes to atrocious governments that oppress minorities and kill innocent people.

The hope is we can all evolve into better cultures. It takes a first step, and then another and another. But, you have to be given the chance to take your first step before you can ever begin real change.

Iran may, or may not make it this time around, but one thing is for sure. The people will remember what it's like to not be sanctioned, and to have a chance at a more decent life. That's how things begin. It's baby steps, and this is the first of hopefully many for the people of Iran.

[RiverNoord]

103. Um.. well...

'those without sin cast the first stone?' The 'Ayatollahs' certainly aren't 'Medieval.' It's pretty hard to be medieval and have a nuclear energy program. Every been to Tehran? It's a rather modern city.

Were we 'Medieval' up until the 1860's when the Civil War was fought and American human slavery ended? How about when we had 'whites only' signs all over the place, permitted by law, and white-hooded men roamed around searching for black people to hang? The American LGBT civil rights movement is very, very new - pretty much starting in the mid-1960s, when there were all sorts of laws and procedures explicitly discriminating against gays. Life has been precarious in much of the country for gays for a very long time, and many still states still permit discrimination against gays in employment.

Most Islamic-majority countries have harsh criminal consequences for male homosexuality in particular. Including Pakistan, which is certainly not a 'theocracy.' Iran is probably the world's death-penalty leader, that is true. However, they're almost always for drug trafficking and/or murder.

I certainly won't condone criminalization of gay sex, nor harsh punishments including caning or death, but it's rather hypocritical to refer to them as 'medieval.' In case you're not aware, until 2003 (Lawrence v. Texas), 'sodomy' was illegal in 13 states, and in 1960 EVERY state had anti-sodomy laws.

Also, we incarcerate around 250% more people per capita than Iran. In fact, we incarcerate more of our citizens than just about every other country in the world. Way more.

How do we have a decent relationship with the rest of the world? Do we?

[rhett o rick]

107. Yes but our American Exceptionalism allows us to rationalize all that away. nm

[RiverNoord]

112. Well...

We're the best at everything. Everybody should want to be just like us and if they don't they're communists or Al Qaeda or just not Christians. They hate us for our freedoms, you know. USA! USA!

We don't rationalize, we ignore. Rationalization is too much work.

[rhett o rick]

115. "We don't rationalize, we ignore. Rationalization is too much work."

Right on!

[LanternWaste]

108. Acculturation is often too slow

Acculturation is often too slow for humanity's impatient mind, yet it happens regardless of whether one wants it to or not.

[Darb]

3. Not with a veto-proof majority.

[MADem]

26. No, they won't. Obama's got this one done.

And here come the friends and relatives....!!!!

[yodermon]

44. Repukes should be thanking Obama for giving them a nice shiny windmill to run against

for the next year, ha ha ha

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

76. I'm bettin enuf Dems support the agreement to ensure its implementation.

[HassleCat]

8. It's a trick!

Right now, I'm sitting in a fast food place, listening to some old guys agree with Fox News that it's all a trick, some kind of collusion between the Muslim Brotherhood and the secret Muslim who is our president. These guys seem to agree it would be far better to encourage Iran to develop a nuclear weapon so we have a reason to obliterate them. At least they understand the logic of phony excuses.

[Surya Gayatri]

9. They will soon be found in the dustbin of history...

[ann---]

10. Yeah, and the EU is in on it, too.

And these idiots vote. My gawd - that is why
Donald Drumpf is so popular with gopers.

[SusanaMontana41]

96. You've got to be kidding!

Why were you eating fast food?

[HassleCat]

102. The blame and the shame are all mine

I stop in McDonalds almost every morning to use the internet. I usually get coffee, but I sometimes weaken and get a sausage biscuit.

[SusanaMontana41]

111. Temptation everywhere.

[bananas]

11. Iran could have cooperated a lot earlier. nt

[Surya Gayatri]

12. Peace is an on-going process. The sanctions have worked, not bellicose bluster.

[MattSh]

48. Maybe the world should sanction the USA...

There'd be a whole lot more peace going on then...

[Cha]

69. This is an historic Peace Deal with Iran.. too bad it makes some people unhappy.

[MADem]

27. All their old guard had to get old and fuck the place up, first.

Most of Iran is YOUNG PEOPLE that were born after Shah left. They don't hate us like the geezers do. They want to LIVE and take off their veils and have some fun. Why not?

https://www.facebook.com/StealthyFreedom/photos_stream

[GitRDun]

33. Maybe it's the players that have changed...at least on our side

Cheney / Bush were never going to make peace with anyone. Iran was part of the "Axis of Evil" as I recall.

Like the President or not, he comes across (at least to me) as a thoroughly decent guy, someone who will keep his word.

I was even surprised at how much the Cubans liked him.

Just a thought, but IMO, the people matter.

[BlueMTexpat]

45. The reformers appear to be in the

ascendance in Iran, thank heavens.

The RW there are just as upset about this as our own RW radical zealot nutjobs. It's really too bad that we can't just ship all of them off to Pluto ....

Here's an excellent piece from The Atlantic. http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/07/iran-nuclear-deal-obama/398450/

[RiverNoord]

50. Um...

The thing is, Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon and is a signatory to the NPT. We slapped sanctions on Iran because it was developing a civilian nuclear power capability that could, like any other civilian nuclear power program, result in the possibility of sufficient highly-enriched nuclear material to be able to employ it in a nuclear weapon.

That's entirely legal under international law and the Non-Proliferation Treaty. We did it primarily to prevent Israel from getting trigger happy and starting a war, which we'd end up in the mucky middle of, as Israel wanted. And Israel has the bomb and has not signed the NPT.

If you were in that situation, would you 'cooperate?'

[passiveporcupine]

59. We did it primarily to prevent Israel from getting trigger happy and starting a war

^^ THIS ^^

[6chars]

91. link?

love how it seems acceptable to just make up anything bad about Israel and it is accepted. there is a parallel to how rwers can say anything about President Obama and it is just accepted in their echo chamber.

[druidity33]

61. So very true... nt.

[ms liberty]

68. This. And its the part that never gets reported. n/t

[polly7]

78. +1000. nt.

[Cha]

67. Yeah, they "could have".. But, the Peacemakers should be thanked

for their work and negotiations how ever long it took them.. not told they didn't do it fast enough.

[treestar]

13. lol they are Third Wayers now

[calimary]

20. I noticed that! "Oh GOD, don't start in with more of that 'Third Way' business..."

Here it comes...

[cascadiance]

66. Well, I guess if Third Wayers can hijack the word "progressive"...

with their "Progressive Policy Institute", then Iran probably feels empowered to hijack their name as well!

[MADem]

29. I had to laugh at that too...

Where are the "turd" way gripers???

[SunSeeker]

86. LOL

[stevenleser]

14. Cuba and now Iran. That Nobel Prize doesn't seem so silly now. nt

[Ikonoklast]

36. If one is listening very, very closely...not only here, but from all around the world..

However slightly, tentatively, almost imperceptibly slowly....one can almost hear the arc of moral history once again starting to bend toward justice.

We are all of us connected in every way on this planet, and the quicker we all realize that fact the faster we can figure out just how to survive a future that may not be the one we thought it might be, but is rapidly approaching us nonetheless.

[Fred Sanders]

37. It would be silly not to give Obama a second one.

[rhett o rick]

72. Bravo for those accomplishments, but the drone killing innocent people without any control

or oversight, puts a damper on the celebration.

[brer cat]

15. The people of Iran

have suffered enough. I hope this deal goes through and Iran does have "cooperation with the world."

K&R

[BeyondGeography]

16. It's a great day so I'm pulling out one of my old Hopey Changey photos

From the Ted Kennedy endorsement at American University in early 2008:

[Scuba]

17. Big feather in Obama's cap. Well done, Mr. President.

[calimary]

22. YES. Well done, Mr. President.

I'll put that goddamn used car salesman's legacy up against any other President's, especially the most recent poor excuses from the GOP. Let's all keep in mind what we've got coming to us if we Dems keep on quibbling and don't unite.

[Scuba]

41. The time for uniting is after the primaries. This is the time for what you dismiss as "quibbling."

[calimary]

57. Thank you very much but I used the word "quibbling" for the sake of being diplomatic.

The brickbats and toxic bombs that are being thrown around here are WAY beyond mere "quibbling." I worry that the timbre of them is such that everyone will be so alienated and divided by the time primary season ends - that it will be nearly impossible to unite.

Seems to me THIS is the time for keeping that cautionary advisory in mind, and perhaps dealing with each other with fewer instant reactive flame-throwing. The seeds of real SHIT are being planted here. All over DU. One risks burning potential allies to a crisp now - so they're not around later on when one really needs them.

[Egnever]

64. Try to keep in mind

This place is not representative of the general population.

This place is a tiny fraction of Democrats and generaly does not resemble in any way the attitudes of the Democratic in general. DU is 0 for three on the last three parties for president. I expect that trend will continue.

[Duval]

18. We all have hope! nt

[octoberlib]

23. K&R

[kacekwl]

24. We will see,

but I would much rather hear that then let's invade Iran .

[gvstn]

25. Don't turn on FoxNews today.,

I'm sure John Bolton will be on all day saying, "Lets invade Iran".

[tymorial]

28. We USED to have good relations with Iran

Then we screwed it up by backing a psychopath who wanted to overthrow a democratically elected government

[DURHAM D]

31. Are you calling Churchill a psychopath? nt

[Johnny2X2X]

30. Absolutely Historic

This is unprecedented.

Now watch the GOP put party above country and peace. They'd rather see Iran get a nuclear weapon than see Obama with a foreign policy accomplishment of this magnitude. Fortunately, I don't think they have the 2/3s to do anything about it. You're about to see the wrost side of the war mongering and racist Republican Party though.

[november3rd]

32. Cooperation is great

The problem is the news media and the dirty money in American politics.

As with the Affordable Care Act, the public has little factual information about the nature of this Agreement. So much money is being spent on the hype that induces fear, that the US could stage an incident that sabotages the Agreement, and everyone could be convinced to immediately blame Iran. So the people involved not only have to perform the actions of the Peace Process and cooperate, but they have to insulate those actions from the bomb-throwers and saboteurs in the US, the US media, and other countries that have a lot of influence over the US media.

[L0oniX]

34. So how are the MIC stocks doing today?

[Surya Gayatri]

38. Don't know, but oil is down (7%) and going downer.

That should mean that BP, Shell and Total are taking a hit as well.

[randome]

47. Dropped mics are up 3 points!

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Aspire to inspire.[/center][/font][hr]

[Fred Sanders]

35. Praise and congratulations to the Iranian people for also electing such a wise and peaceful man to lead them.

[Surya Gayatri]

40. Well said, Fred. The new generation of Iranians are the ones that enabled this!

These lovely ladies:





These handsome hunks:



This fine looking family:

[snort]

39. WAhhh but killing one another is sooooo much fun!

Thanks Obama.

[BrotherIvan]

42. Most excellent!

[Jack Rabbit]

43. Good job, Mr. President

[AtheistCrusader]

46. No, it's wrong. The first step was

America getting the neocon children out of the room, and not bullying and badgering Iran in the media and negotiations.

That was the first step.

Took having an adult in the Oval Office to get there, too.

[riversedge]

51. Curious--I have been working so not had TV on--how have the Iranians

taken the deal now that it is completed? (I note the op is from April)--but I do recall the Iranians being joyful last spring.

[Surya Gayatri]

53. Celebrations have been slow getting started - it's Ramadan and things are low-key during the day.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026973581

Tehran: "...have you ever seen that? The police are helping us..."

Celebrations seem to be kicking off in Iran, shortly after iftar, the evening meal to break the day-long fast during Ramadan. Videos and photos from Iran are trickling through on social media now.

Iranian negotiating team on the way home.

'Families and youths at Vanak square in Tehran, some holding balloons and waving flags, clapping: everybody is here happy with nuclear deal.'

http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/jul/14/iran-nuclear-talks-deal-historic-vienna-live-updates

[riversedge]

54. Thanks so much. Looks like they

are starting to celebrate. I hope so. In solidarity

[AuntPatsy]

52. Not sure I feel like clapping yet, when the government quits terrorizing their own people

perhaps I'll rethink that applause....

There are many many good Iranians, the simple fact is like many of us here still fear openly going against state policies, fearing severe repercussions could result...

I hope I am wrong but looking at our own continued injustices, I have low expectations...

[JonLP24]

95. Don't know what you are referring to

so you'll have to excuse me with this reply which is a more general response to those who may have a poor perception of Iran

fter the revolution, the government established a national education system that improved adult literacy rates: as of 2008 85% of the adult population was literate, well ahead of the regional average of 62%.[153][154] The Human Development Index was 0.749 in 2013, placing Iran in the "high human development" bracket.[45]

Annual economic growth of above 5% is necessary to absorb the 750,000 new labor force entrants each year.[155] Agriculture contributes just over 11% to GDP and employs one third of the labor force.[62] As of 2004 the industrial sector, which includes mining, manufacturing, and construction, contributed 42% of GDP and employed 31% of the labor force.[62] Mineral products, notably petroleum, account for 80% of Iran’s export revenues, even though mining employs less than 1% of the labor force.[62] In 2004 the service sector ranked as the largest contributor to GDP (48%) and employed 44% of workers.[31] Women made up 33% of the labor force in 2005.[156] Youth unemployment (aged 15–24) was 29.1% in 2012, resulting in significant brain drain.[31][157]
Personal income and poverty
See also: Social class in Iran, Targeted social assistance reform and "Justice shares"
Unemployment rate, per-capita income growth and minimum wage (2000-2009).
GNI per capita:
Iran in 2010: $4,520 nominal; (2012: $13,000 PPP)[158]
Higher GNI per capita compared to Iran
Lower GNI per capita compared to Iran

Iran is classed as a middle income country and has made significant progress in provision of health and education services in the period covered by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In 2010, Iran's average monthly income was about $500 (GNI per capita in 2012: $13,000 by PPP).[31][158][159][160] A minimum national wage applies to each sector of activity as defined by the Supreme Labor Council. In 2009 this was about $263 per month ($3,156 per year).[161] The World Bank reported that in 2001, approximately 20% of household consumption was spent on food, 32% on fuel, 12% on health care and 8% on education.[162] Iranians have little debt.[163] Seventy percent of Iranians own their homes.[164]

After the Revolution, the composition of the middle class in Iran did not change significantly, but its size doubled from about 15% of the population in 1979 to more than 32% in 2000.[165] The official poverty line in Tehran for the year ending March 20, 2008, was $9,612, while the national average poverty line was $4,932.[166] In 2010, Iran's Department of Statistics announced that 10 million Iranians live under the absolute poverty line and 30 million live under the relative poverty line.[167]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Iran

[samsingh]

55. isn't dancing in the streets illegal in Iran? Can't those guilty of dancing be executed?

[Surya Gayatri]

56. The police seem to be helping people get to and from the revelry...not arresting them.

[SunSeeker]

87. OMG how cool. That almost made me tear up.

I am so happy for the Iranian people--especially for the women. They have the most to gain from Iran opening up.

[lindysalsagal]

60. Considering that nothing ever moves forward in the middle east, this is all good.

Of course it's 3 steps forward, 1 back, but that's human nature. Barack knows that. Same thing with healthcare. Same with Cuba. Moving in a new direction begins a process that will be messy and lumpy and imperfect, but change has to start somewhere.

No one is giving Obama credit for establishing the sanctions that brought the youth of the country around to joining the world.

There will always be some Iranians in the streets with the burning flags, death to america, et. al. But we can't let that stop all hopes for the future.

Modern Iranians are more western that we know, and they're much more open-minded and far less religiously driven than any time in the past.

The futility of Syria and afghanistan makes isolationist dictators and their wars unpalatable.

This is real change. Brought to us by a brilliant visionary who is rooted in reality. A world leader who puts regular world citizens ahead of his political career. Imagine what could happen if we could have a 3rd term for Barack Obama.

[Surya Gayatri]

90. Please consider re-posting this excellent reply as an OP, lindysalsagal.

More people should be able to read it.

'No one is giving Obama credit for establishing the sanctions that brought the youth of the country around to joining the world.'

Sad to say, there are many right on this 'Democratic' forum who refuse to give him credit for ANYTHING.

[JonLP24]

97. I'm on a wait and see here

I strongly opposed the sanctions which were way overboard and impressive Iran's economy survived them so far, they take care of their people and don't buy Obama puts regular world citizens ahead or otherwise he wouldn't have backed the Houthi sanctions which were sponsored by Jordan or would have sanctioned Saudi Arabia instead.

I'm hoping this deal won't bankrupt Iran but considering Saudi anger which might have to do with their plans to be a nuclear energy middle man.

This is the major reason for the sanctions and hoping the goal of the talks were probably to privatize this industry
National Petrochemical Company
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Petrochemical_Company

[TRoN33]

62. Rouhani would be way better Speaker of House than orange-faced Boehner...

[Uncle Joe]

65. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Surya Gayatri.

[Cha]

70. This is Progress for Peace with Iran.. that has come from a lot of work and negotiations..

It's so funny when news like this brings sourfaces.

Thank you SOS Kerry and President Obama!

Mahalo Surya!

[flamingdem]

84. HOORAY CHA!

The Lame Duck Strikes again!!!!

[Cha]

85. Speaking of "lame ducks", flamingdem.. please join us in the BOG for a little lame duck celebratory

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110230168

[EvolveOrConvolve]

71. I'm not sold

There's a good chance the Republicans or Israelis will try to fuck up the whole deal.

[herding cats]

82. They will try, that a given.

This will become a political football, and it will carry over until 2016. However, they'll need a veto proof majority to make it stick. There's some valid doubt they'll be able to muster that at this time. It's actually doubtful they will be able to.

In the long run all they can change are the US sanctions anyway. That's all they have power over.

[Surya Gayatri]

92. Well, let's just call the whole thing off...eh?

You say eether, and I say aiyther
You like tomaytos, and I like tomahtos,

Let's call the whole thing off!

[EvolveOrConvolve]

113. I never said that we should call it off

I just know that certain groups have motivations that are not necessarily in the best interest of the U.S. I've seen enough of these diplomatic "breakthroughs" to take each with a grain of salt.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a good thing and a step in the right direction. I'm just being realistic about the chances of long term success with a thing like this.

[JDPriestly]

74. We need to watch what Iran does and not be complacent, but at least

we have some hope of peace with Iran after this.

[JonLP24]

94. Iran is not out to get us -- it is the other way around

Check out CIA activities in Iran

MEK support

The PBS documentary series "Frontline", reported, in October 2007, CIA supports Anti-Iranian organizations such as the People's Mujahedin of Iran (also known as the MEK or MKO) which has been involved in terrorist activities within Iran. Iran has demanded that the US stop supporting the MEK in exchange for stopping its support of Shiite's in Iraq.[18] The show quoted Vali Nasr, author of The Shia Revival as saying the Iranians had hoped that the fall of Saddam would destroy the MEK, which is generally unpopular in Iraq...the MEK operated in Iraq as an arm of Iraqi intelligence against Iranian operatives in Iraq, against Shi'ites and against the Kurds. And, in fact, one of the major pressures on the United States to round up the MEK and put them in a camp did not come from Iran; it came from [Iraqi President] Jalal Talabani.... And I think at a third level the Iranians look at the MEK issue as a test of U.S. goodwill...."

Richard Armitage disagreed that MEK was being supported. "Richard Armitage, U.S. deputy secretary of state, 2001-05, said... "I've heard through some interviews that in some of the discussions leading up to the invasion that Ryan Crocker had said to the Iranians that the MEK would be treated as part of Saddam's army, the implication being [it would be] on a target list, which wasn't exactly what happened after the war.

"I don't know about that specifically, but we had discussed the MEK more pointedly after the invasion. And there were some in the administration who wanted to use the Mujahideen-e Khalq as a pressure point against Iran, and I can remember the national security adviser, Dr. [Condoleezza] Rice, being very specific about it, saying no, a terrorist group is a terrorist group.

"That was exactly the point of view of the State Department as well. We wanted the U.S. military to disarm the MEK and contain them. ... And eventually we did disarm the major weapons [from] the MEK. Then we ... engaged in a broad effort to try to resettle these people, but we were very unsuccessful in getting them settled in foreign lands...."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_activities_in_Iran#2008

[TheNutcracker]

77. I am very proud of John F. Kerry.

[Surya Gayatri]

93. Giant of a man...all that with a broken leg!

Have you seen this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026975747

Lame duck? Lame duck, you say? I got yer lame duck right here...

He moved the world while walking on a pair of crutches!

This is a lame duck (or 'canard boiteux' in French):

[moondust]

79. I wonder...

if some Iranians may be gasping at the insane religious fanaticism of ISIS next door and having second thoughts about their own theocracy and religious fanaticism.

[flamingdem]

83. Hooray for Kerry

and all those who pushed to get this done!



I want to visit Iran now, woo hoo!

[SunSeeker]

88. K & R

[IronLionZion]

98. Anyone who mentions a "third way" shall be thrown under DU's bus!

[Surya Gayatri]

99. Oh, you...

[hue]

100. The "third way" is the only sane, intelligent way! Give peace a chance!

[Gothmog]

101. That is indeed an amazing statement

Iran needs to join the international community and this may be the first step

[deaniac21]

114. The world is saved!!!