U.S. says Iranian diplomats still invited to 4 July parties

[tocqueville]

Source: WashingtonTV

U.S. says Iranian diplomats still invited to 4 July parties

Updated: Tuesday, June 23, 2009
11:00GMT—7:00AM/EST

Washington, 23 June (WashingtonTV)—The United States said on Monday that its invitations to Iranian diplomats to attend 4 July celebrations were still standing, despite the continued crackdown on demonstrators in Iran.

The State Department said earlier this month that it had authorized its embassies and consulates around the world to invite Iranian officials to the US Independence Day celebrations on or around 4 July. The two countries have not had relations for nearly 30 years.

Asked if it was still appropriate to have Iranians come to those celebrations, State Department spokesperson, Ian Kelly, told reporters: “There’s no thought to rescinding the invitations to Iranian diplomats.”

“We have made a strategic decision to engage on a number of fronts with Iran, and we tried many years of isolation and we’re pursuing a different path now,” Kelly added.

Read more: http://televisionwashington.com/floater_article1.aspx?lang=en&t=3&id=11513

---

different path...

[Libertas1776]

1. That

should be one helluva party.:sarcasm: Awkward

[tocqueville]

2. indeed

http://content.cartoonbox.slate.com/?feature=4628cf75e16afce3a10ba282cd334192

[ohio2007]

3. Wonder if they will be watched by the mullahs in the near future?

imo,
"Thanks but no thanks" will be heard from more then a few missions around the world.


trying to re establish 5th columnists after the coup attempt will not be tolerated. Wonder if the diplomats fear the theocracy has much as the Nork diplomats do Kim?
edit to ad the
:sarcasm:

[Baclava]

4. Wow - what a slap in the face to the Iranian people

Where's Hillary when you need her?

[tocqueville]

5. great cartoon

[maglatinavi]

6. iranian diplomats invited to 4th of july celebration

maybe it was ok before the "massacre" taking place in iran now. it may be embarrassing to dis invite them. however, when martyrdom is rampant in iran, i think that diplomatically the us diplomats may be correct in dis inviting those invited in a manner that is not offensive. that is, telling them that in consideration of the internal situation in iran it may be better if they not attend and avoid having other diplomats challenge or ignoring them.

[No Elephants]

7. Ah, the media and its laser focus on the really important things, like party invites..

:sarcasm:

[Pharlo]

8. Are they invited to 4th of July parties,

or four parties in the month of July?

Is it me, or are writers and editors of headlines gettting worse and worse?

[struggle4progress]

9. US rescinds July 4 invites for Iran diplomats (AP)

7 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — An offer for Iranian envoys to attend U.S. embassy Fourth of July parties has been rescinded as the violent crackdown in Tehran continues, the White House said Wednesday.

"Given the events of the past many days, those invitations will no longer be extended," presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

Postelection protests and violence have rocked Iran since the contested re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The past 10 days in Iran have posed the strongest challenge to that nation's clerical rule since the system was established 30 years ago in the 1979 Islamic revolution.

President Barack Obama condemned the violence against protesters Tuesday and lent his strongest support yet to their accusations the hardline victory was a fraud ...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g080n8SN1NeMihJhxtElIp_hr1vQD9917NB81

[ohio2007]

10. Guest list now going to include Syrian missions ?

Better dig up the BBQ goat recipes :puke: