How might Hot Dog Diplomacy influence relations with Iran?
In early June, President Obama offered an invitation to Iranian officials to celebrate the Fourth of July at foreign U.S. embassies.
Now, even with violent protests in Iran causing friction, Obama has left the invitation open, but said at his press conference yesterday, according to Fox News, that it will be up to them to attend:
I think that we have said that if Iran chooses a path that abides by international norms and principles, then we are interested in healing some of the wounds of 30 years in terms of U.S.-Iranian relations. But that is a choice that the Iranians are going to have to make.
Here is a link of the full press conference on June 23 from the New York Times’ web site.
As reported by Fox News, when the invitations were first sent out, the Obama administration had announced that it would be a full participant with Iranian officials in six-nation talks aimed at getting Iran to address concerns about its suspect nuclear program. But considering the recent events, it seems there will probably be even more to talk about during the Fourth of July events, which generally feature speeches about American values, fireworks, hot dogs and hamburgers, according to Fox News.
In what is now being called Hot Dog diplomacy, what do you hope will be discussed during the Fourth of July meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials? Do you think Iranian officials will even show up? Are Obama’s friendly gestures one sided? Should we even be extending a hand? Are Iranians too unwilling to unclench their fist?
How could this invite be good or bad for U.S. foreign relations?
They should totally serve Hebrew National Hot Dogs.
Hey, those are some yummy dogs!!!
After a long, hard day of cracking heads and gunning their own citizens down in the streets, nothing hits the spot like a hotdog and ice cream. I’m sure the mullahs are duly impressed.
The Iranians wont show up. They wont talk to the Obambi administration. They KNOW Obama is weak; they know he is poll driven. They know they can ignore him and he will do NOTHING to stop their nuclear ambitions and their ultimate goal, the complete destruction of Israel. The invitation shows Obama’s weakness and naivety. To those who will say “It cant hurt to talk to them” (Liz), what evidence do you have that they will tell you the truth? What evidence do you have that talking to them has ever produced a positive result for our interests?
Possibly they could discuss human rights and the oppression of women in their country unlike Hillary Clinton who doesn’t broach those subjects at all.
Moderator, please delete the post by “Well if”.
Iran is a ‘no-win’ situation. We do nothing and they still blame our CIA for involvement! Till we can ALL see Iran’s nukes on the evening news…..then we should do something. The people who were robbed of their election….still hate America as the Great Satan and believe their Koran rewards them for killing American infidels. Why help these people?? The guy who “lost” the election is just as crazy as the rest of them. Maybe God’s solution for the growth of the Extremeist Islamic cult is for them to kill themselves and reduce their own populations?
No time for the topic, other than to observe that we have a sorded and embarassing history with Iran that may be more than Obama can overcome — but I want to second albovey — the sorry entry from “Well if” needs to be flushed down the “well, if” there’s one handy. Please…..
Whoops - make that “sordid”…
“Moderator, please delete the post by “Well if”.”
–albovey–
No, leave it right where it is. Folks need to see what truly “enlightened’ racists sound like.
This is, without doubt, THE most banal and licentious statement I’ve seen made on this site.
—————–LEAVE IT RIGHT HERE FOR ALL TO SEE———————-
The light of truth will make the cockroach who wrote this scurry back under the bushes, where he can’t be stomped.
Came back from watching the U.S. soccer team defeat #1 ranked Spain 2-0, and this is what is found.
From enjoyment to profound sadness in 5 minutes.
Only in America, the land of the formerly free, and the home of the incredibly dissolute.
Sorry, but I lost my train of thought on the previous post…
As for as the topic du jour-
—I hope they show up and cozy right up to the “0″. Photo-journalists all over the world can get a picture of the “messiah” bowing and kissing the ring of the Dark Lords from Mordor, sorry, I mean Iran.
—One can only hope…
Have to give Liz credit though, unlike others on the editorial board, too timid to look in the mirror, at least she asks good questions.
—See now, just like with my 14 year old. If you want them to do something, TELL them you DON’T want them to do it.
—Reverse psychology really works with liberals as well.
Guess you libs will have to look up the definition of LICENTIOUS and DISSOLUTE on your own, as the muckity-mucks who run this place decided to edit the definitions as well…
Why?
Providing definitions are unnecessary and off topic. Also, the definitions were copied and pasted directly from a web site without citation.
—Disagree, as am constantly derided by libs too lazy to look up definitions on their own, and don’t think the DICTIONARY requires citation.
BTW—If you edit all the unecessary and off topic posts on this site, there would be few libs represented at all. On second thought…
Dictionaries, too, are copyrighted including ones online. Check the Terms of Use.
Just ask Mushariff, the former er..um..president/dictator??? of Pakistan what happens when you leave town? I doubt, very seriously, that any Iranian Official has any intentions of leaving soon. Unless they’re running for their lives.
Liz-
—Ok, but what about the off-topic thing? I can only hope you try to make that stick. Good luck!
Jellio-
—The Iranians “diplomats” are already here, as the O has seen fit to bring them back into the mix.
I wouldn’t expect any government officials from Iran to show up. The history between our two nations over the past 30 years is just too strained to expect it to be so quickly cordial. Not only that, they have some serious internal problems to deal with. I also don’t think that Obama is just some good ole’ boy inviting the cranky neighbor over for a good time. We have an interest in improved relations, but I don’t see the administration giving up on our ideals either.
………..I agree with jfmoyn.
Thank you, jfmoyn. It took 20 posts for someone to finally say something sensible on this topic. Yes, our history with Iran is badly stained and strained. Our ignorance of their culture, our incessant meddling and propping up of the Shah in the 1960’s brought on the hostage crisis and helped fuel the Islamic Revolution. We have an uncanny skill for backing the wrong horse. Then we illegally funneled arms to the same cut of extremists we are up against now.
When will we ever learn? And note, all you bashers of anything liberal — it was Republican administrations that made these messes in the Middle East that are now left for Obama to clean up — dating back to Nixon playing footsie with the Shah, GHW Bush and Iran-Contra, and Junior, of course, being Junior and making everyone who didn’t already hate us jump on the bandwagon of derision. Obama is on the right track, and I wish him luck.
I don’t see progress happening any time soon. There is simply too much to overcome, too much mutual distrust and hangover enmity from too many years gone by. If we do sit at the table with them at all, it will be a major breakthrough, but tangible benefits will be hard to come by. Besides - with Korea threatening war, and we KNOW they have nuclear capabilities, we’ve got bigger fish to fry.
Iranians are least fortunate to still be allowed to protest. In the USA protestors are kept miles away from any event and locked behind 10 foot high fences, no signs or banners…. Iranians are far more free and democratic.
Great idea! Send former President Carter as a special envoy and he can apologize for the failed hostage rescue attempt he approved. Hillary could attend and re-gift that big push-button that didn’t go over so well with the Russkies. They could use it to start the fireworks display. Think of the possibilities!
Newsflash…Invitations revoked.
It’s going to take more than burgers, brats, beer and BBQ to smooth over this neighborhood disagreement.
“Iranians are least fortunate to still be allowed to protest. In the USA protestors are kept miles away from any event and locked behind 10 foot high fences, no signs or banners…. Iranians are far more free and democratic.
— Free Speech Zones ”
You are an idiot. Iranians are being slaughtered in the streets by their government for protesting.
Invite’em, by all means. But make sure they go through a metal detector first. . .