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This really isn’t a fight between “neocons” and “progressives.” It’s between people who understand post-JCPOA Iran, and people who still think Khatami is president and/or the Green Movement is still relevant. https://twitter.com/emmamashford/status/1353501802805809153
My issue is not really diplomacy and the JCPOA. It’s the fact that in the last few years you’ve had: anti-hijab protests, massive brain drain, accelerating human rights abuses and hostage taking, the November protests and internet shutdown, shooting down fight PS752...
...low turnout parliamentary elections, and the absolute squandering of the coronavirus crisis. All amidst a surprising amount of support (or at least sympathy) for Trump and increasing delegitimization of the regime. Just look at the stuff Faezeh Rafsanjani is saying.
I want the envoy to recognize these trends. I don’t think Malley does, based on multiple reports that focus too much on Trump’s policy and not enough about the domestic situation in Iran. I don’t like that he granted conspiracy theories about the November protests legitimacy.
Like I’ve said, I’m sure Malley is a good man. This isn’t a personal attack. But I’m worried that he’s too sympathetic to the regime’s talking points. I’m worried that he’s going to approach this with “white guilt” and pseudo anti-imperialism.
I’m worried that he doesn’t see that the “rally around the flag” talking point has been rendered moot (much to my surprise!). And I’m extremely worried that human rights are just not going to be taken seriously.
For some people in FP, this isn’t a concern since “interest” defines all and there’s a push to redefine US interests towards so called “realism” regarding the region. But others, including me, don’t see it that way.
For a lot of people, they see what’s happened in Iran post-JCPOA and have changed their mind about these things. Like, fuck Tom Cotton, but the reason people get so emotional and perhaps toxic is because they want all this suffering to end.
It’s not just about Iran or Saudi Arabia and Israel either. It’s about Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria too. The reason this has been the biggest “fight” thus far is because people genuinely *care*.
If Malley gets it then he gets it, but please stop saying that everyone mad about this is just irrational or hawkish or whatever. At least *listen* to them, and I hope Malley does too.
