"Kerry Has Reportedly Filed Formal Request to Visit Iran"

[Clio the Leo]

Kerry Has Reportedly Filed Formal Request to Visit Iran

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) “has filed a formal request to visit Iran, Iranian news agencies reported Tuesday — news made public in the middle of the government’s bloody crackdown on dissidents that has left more than a dozen dead,” according to Fox News.

While representatives for Kerry have so far not confirmed whether he intends to travel to Tehran, a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry said the country’s parliament is already considering the Massachusetts Democrat’s official overture.

If Kerry goes, it “would be the first such high-level visit since the 1979 Islamic revolution.”

The White House appeared comfortable with the visit when it was floated last week, provided Kerry goes in his capacity as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

http://senatus.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/kerry-has-reportedly-filed-formal-request-to-visit-iran/

Related
http://senatus.wordpress.com/2009/12/24/kerry-mulls-visit-to-iran/

[Barack_America]

1. This really makes no sense to me.

This hostile government is on the verge of falling, why provide it legitimacy?

[flpoljunkie]

6. That depends. The Iranians who are out in the street may beg to differ.

[Clio the Leo]

8. umm........ because the government is killing and oppressing its own people...

... and good Democrats aren't apt to turn a blind eye to that?

[janx]

11. What I find fascinating:

Whom will he meet with there? Mousavi? There are something like 1500 people jailed in Iran right now.

[Barack_America]

15. I can only assume this request was made with the expectation it would be rejected.

He cannot possibly think he would be able to broker some sort of agreement between the Islamic hardliners and less hardliners.

He most certainly would not be able to meet with Mousavi or Karroubi.

The most he could be hoping for is either:
1). The rejection which would give the US the ability to say "we tried" before supporting new sanctions against the govt.
2). Taking advantage of the regime's instability and need for legitimacy in order to push our position regarding nuclear proliferation.

Neither of these options help the people out in the streets at all.

[Clio the Leo]

23. And you could be on to something...

... and perhaps it has more to do with the uranium plants than the protestors. "We tried to talk to them about the plants but they refused, therefore, we have no choice but to sanction them."

[janx]

25. Those thoughts occurred to me as well.

Civil unrest + nuke factor = some seriously challenging diplomacy

[Barack_America]

12. So he's going over there to legitimize the govt. and their claims of our "meddling"?

I just don't see how that helps anyone but Ahmadi and Khamenei.

I personally agree more with the President's very different approach to this matter.

[janx]

14. From the link:

"The White House appeared comfortable with the visit when it was floated last week, provided Kerry goes in his capacity as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee."

[Barack_America]

17. I read that.

And I'm really confused why the WH would be changing their approach now.

I'll be very curious to learn what Reza Aslan has to say about this proposed trip. I must be missing something here.

[Beetwasher]

18. Obama Needs Unfiltered Intel He Can Trust

Who better than JK to go in?

[Barack_America]

22. Kerry is going to be allowed to wander freely and gather intel?

That's rather doubtful, don't you think?

If he goes he will be shown what the regime desires he see.

[Beetwasher]

24. You'd Be Surprised What Someone Like Kerry Would Be Able To Accomplish

n/t

[flpoljunkie]

19. Shall we just give Israel the go ahead to bomb their nuclear facilities?

I don't think so.

[Barack_America]

21. And what if this visit is used as an excuse to crack down on the protestors.

Do we care about that?

There is another way after all, in which we simply tell Israel, "why no, you cannot use Iraqi airspace to bomb Iran".

[razorman]

26. I agree. Now is not the time. We should be supporting the protestors,

at least vocally, if not materially. Once things have changed there, perhaps with a more rational government, we might begin to normalize relations.

[cal04]

2. Spokesman Confirms Reports on Kerry's Request for Visiting Iran

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8810081765

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast on Tuesday confirmed earlier reports that US Senator John Kerry has filed a request for visiting Tehran.

John Kerry Inches Closer to Iran Visit?
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/12/29/john-kerry-inches-closer-to-iran-visit/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wsj%2Fwashwire%2Ffeed+%28WSJ.com%3A+Washington+Wire%29

[janx]

3. What is he going to do over there?

:shrug:

[Beetwasher]

7. If John Kerry Believes It's A Good Idea

I'm inclined to trust him.

[janx]

9. The situation over there is insane!

He must know something we don't know.

[Beetwasher]

13. And JK Is Precisely The Guy I Would Trust To Go over There To Evaluate

the situation and represent.

[janx]

16. Would he even be allowed in that country? n/t

[Beetwasher]

20. I Guess We'll Find Out

[babylonsister]

29. He probably does. And I trust him, too. If he thinks he can accomplish

something, more power to him. I just hope he stays safe.

[Cha]

10. Exactly..it's not always in the best interests

to just ignore insanity.

[Sebastian Doyle]

27. Maybe a little windsurfing in the Persian Gulf?

:evilgrin:

[timeforpeace]

28. Black Ops.

[timeforpeace]

4. "...and let John sort 'em out..."

[Enrique]

5. that's interesting, man n/t

[Imagevision]

30. What? -> Hillary can't do her job?!?