Iran Nuclear Deal

[smalishah84]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/15/w...p-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

potentially HUGE game changer in so many ways

 

[Jono]

Huge month for the President.

L-E-G-A-C-Y

 

[Ikki]

Yeah, thank ****. This can be the start of some real change. There is a Guardian headline about this being Iran's own Berlin Wall moment and it just might be. A long time has passed and people probably don't remember but prior to the Islamic revolution; Iran was a very modern and westernised kind of place. Maybe so much so that it caused a rippling that eventuated into the revolution; as people thought they were losing their identities, as well as the belief that the Shah was a patsy.

But culturally, Iranians are generally not very extremist at all. Even the religious (I mean, the general population) aren't really fanatic and more casual. They love the west's culture and you can see it anytime a person goes to Iran how they're treated. These doors opening can be a bit of an economic boon for the area as well which will have results globally. Iran has a highly educated and young middle class, whose potential has been dormant. A lot of the brain drain has benefitted other countries instead.

As for Obama; my own political leanings aside; I think considering the values of a lot of Americans these days (especially Liberals); he's got to go down as one of the best Presidents in the last few decades. He's made enormous moves. This is one of them. He's basically going against the Saudis and the Isrealis to make this deal; but it's the right thing to do.

 

[smalishah84]

Quite agree with you there on all the points.

 

[silentstriker]

I support this deal because I don't think the alternative are any good, but do people really think that the Iranian regime will be significantly different in 10 years?

 

[Ikki]

I support this deal because I don't think the alternative are any good, but do people really think that the Iranian regime will be significantly different in 10 years?

I think the difference is in this day and age where the internet plays such a vital role; that once these doors open there's little going back. Iran's population is very young and even with all the impediments they just love their internet and social media. The only way the regime has kept strong for so long is by blocking links of like-minded people so that a fanatical but vocal minority rules. The 'Green' movement was a blue-print of what can happen - twitter almost caused a revolution.

I doubt there'll be a revolution anymore; but I think this is a big step towards Iran's base being diluted with more rational, less fanatical, mix. The more and more these young people get into positions of power the less it will resemble what it is now. Heck, even the middle-aged ones have been educate on foreign shores (Zarif and Rouhani themselves) and I think all that plays into the change.

Conversely, the wider world - especially Americans - will probably get a clearer glimpse of Iran as it is and I'm sure will stop being scared. If you go to most of Iran, especially the capital cities, it looks very modern and rich. Hopefully tourism will encourage this cultural exchange.

I think in 10 years time it'll definitely be different to what it is now and it could potentially be vastly different considering the speed with which change comes in the world now. Or maybe I'm just hoping for this to happen.

 

[Uppercut]

I support this deal because I don't think the alternative are any good, but do people really think that the Iranian regime will be significantly different in 10 years?

It depends what counts as significant. Comparing it now to ten years ago, the sham-democracy is still in place but it's being allowed to return much more liberal candidates.

I'm far from an expert but this seems to me like very good news.

 

[Prince EWS]

As for Obama; my own political leanings aside; I think considering the values of a lot of Americans these days (especially Liberals); he's got to go down as one of the best Presidents in the last few decades. He's made enormous moves. This is one of them. He's basically going against the Saudis and the Isrealis to make this deal; but it's the right thing to do.

I wouldn't go as far as "one of the best Presidents" but I definitely have to give him credit for how he's dealt with Cuba and Iran, particularly given I probably would've held my nose and voted for Romney if I was eligible, and Romney has opposed relaxing the sanctions in both these cases (hell, even Rand Paul is opposing the Iran deal). Treating foreign citizens are amorphous extensions of their tyrannical governments is one of the most offensive practices of western governments.

 

[Ikki]

He's not my perfect President but I think considering the last few he's up there. For me, a weird mix of harsh criticism for some of his moves while standing ovation for his others.