Iranian Influence

There's a lot of good people on the Foreign Affairs committee, but Barbara Boxer is kind of a breath of fresh air. She talks like a smart, fairly knowledgeable liberal rather than like a paid-up member of the establishment looking forward to a CFR banquet in her honor. She's driving home the point that it's a bit perverse to be worried about the potential for Iranian influence in Iraq at a time when the President of Iran is being feted by the government of Iraq that we're backing.

You can tell that Ryan Crocker finds her annoying, perhaps even "unserious," but it's good to see someone in a position of influence who's serious enough not to take all this gobbledygook seriously.

Comments

I think it's safe to say that we've come to the point where "unserious" is synonymous with "knowing what you're talking about." We have a government in Iraq led by an organization that was created by Iran, and the "serious" people think that Iran has no influence on that government. Color me proudly unserious.

Posted by fostert | April 8, 2008 5:21 PM

It'd be nice to, oh I dunno, give us a few quotes of what it is specifically that she has said to make you all crazy-awesome about her.

Otherwise, this post of yours is nothing more than "hey, I like that" which seems...wait, IS, very pointless.

Posted by Volum | April 8, 2008 5:45 PM

I agree...it's refreshing and cathartic to have someone show a little outrage and disbelief at this whole mess. I wish Hillary or Obama would do more to point out these details which make the absurdity of the situation so clear(ie. the fact that Iran is also backing Al-Maliki as well as almost every other Shia faction); the fact that they don't causes me to worry that 1) either they don't know...being too busy with campaigning or 2) don't want to because they hope to use the 'blame Iran' excuse themselves if they are elected.
The sad thing is, if Hillary and Obama don't mention these dirty little details there's no chance of the public at large catching on.

Posted by kristi | April 8, 2008 5:56 PM

Boxer wasn't very impressive. There's no shortage of feigned righteous indignation in Senate hearings. Obama was more impressive for eschewing that and attempting to articulate the points of his fellow Senators with precise questions. He's a good addition to the Senate. Here's hoping he stays there for a while.

Posted by Fred | April 8, 2008 6:12 PM

I didn't like Boxer either. I don't like how she was demonizing Iran. Why is it so outrageous that the Iraqi government gave a warm greeting to the head of a neighboring country?

Posted by mq | April 8, 2008 6:14 PM

Dang, you made me look up feted.

Posted by rob | April 8, 2008 6:41 PM

mq,

What is outrageous is the hypocrisy of the Bush Admin. who includes Iran in the axis-of-evil club, talks about war with Iran, and yet thinks it's ok to support Maliki who's also chummy with Iran(and even more so than Sadr, who is a nationalist). It demonstrates the madness of this situation...the talking out of both sides of our mouths that causes utter lack of credibility for US policy here and abroad. Where's the consistency?

Posted by kristi | April 8, 2008 6:43 PM

Dang, you made me look up feted.

Posted by rob | April 8, 2008 6:48 PM

Hey, Matt, let me explain something to you about Barbara Boxer.

I sent this jerk several emails over the last couple years questioning her (and Feinstein) about their attitudes toward Iran.

She's an Iran hawk and so is Feinstein.

Here's her last email:

Dear Mr. Hack:

Thank you for contacting me to express your views regarding relations between the United States and Iran . I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns on this issue, which is extremely important to me.

I believe that rigorous diplomacy, backed by effective sanctions, offers the best means of ending Iran 's nuclear enrichment program without a military confrontation.

As you may know, on December 23, 2006, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution imposing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. The UN Resolution demands that Iran end all uranium enrichment work and orders all countries to prevent the supply, sale or transfer of material or technology that could contribute to Iran 's nuclear program. I am pleased that the Security Council took this action.

The Security Council has given Iran a two-month deadline to suspend its program, or the Council will consider enforcing additional sanctions. In this critical period, the United States and the international community must continue to pursue diplomatic options in urging Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program.

Please be assured that I will continue to push for a diplomatic solution to end the nuclear crisis in Iran .

Thank you again for contacting me regarding this important issue.

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

She's understands nothing about Iran. She does not understand that Iran CANNOT and WILL NOT suspend enrichment, regardless of any "diplomacy", still less sanctions.

Get a clue, Matt.

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Posted by Emma | April 8, 2008 10:14 PM

As a constituent who has voted for her and contributed to her campaigns, I'm qualified to say that Boxer's just another Clinton licker. I'm done with her.

Posted by dizzyg | April 8, 2008 11:07 PM

Furthermore, her refusal to change the law of the dry cleaners is shameful.

Obama looked Presidential. He's there to do business.

Posted by David B. | April 8, 2008 11:17 PM

Incredible level of agreement here--Boxer is a pathetic buffoon, and anyone who considers her sort of stupidity "a breath of fresh air" must picnic at the landfill.

What she actually did was make a big deal of the fact that Achmadinejad got kissed on the cheeks when he arrived--sounds like Cultural Insensitivity to me.

Obama's seriousness made a striking contrast.

Posted by Robert Powell | April 9, 2008 7:26 AM

Powell...since you took the time to criticize: go back and read again what she said and then re-read what I said in post #7. There will be a pop-quiz on reading comprehension to follow. Good luck, chum.

Posted by kristi | April 9, 2008 3:40 PM

With all due respect, kristi, Boxer was quoted directly questioning Petraeus repeatedly about the fact of Achmadinejad's getting "the red carpet", including several follow-up wisecracks about his getting kissed on the cheek.
I think this was far more obnoxious grandstanding than "breath of fresh air".

Good luck to you too.

Posted by Robert Powell | April 10, 2008 4:58 AM