Comments on: German Broadcasters Romance Press TV http://blog.z-word.com/2010/07/german-broadcasters-romance-press-tv/ Commentary about Zionism, anti-Zionism, antisemitism and the conflict in the Middle East Thu, 24 May 2012 03:58:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5-RC1.1 By: ganselmi http://blog.z-word.com/2010/07/german-broadcasters-romance-press-tv/#comment-13589 ganselmi Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:44:25 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=1662#comment-13589 Kinzer's work as a historian of Iran has been discredited. He has popularized a simplistic narrative regarding the US role in the coup that deposed the nationalist prime minister Mohammed Mossadeq. Not to say that the US didn't play a role in that sordid affair - but Kinzer and his followers exaggerate that role and also overlook the facts that (1) Iran didn't have the capacity to refine, market, or distribute its own oil so nationalization at the time was an fool's venture and (2) Mossadeq himself was an erratic autocrat. (See, e.g., Gholam-Reza Afkhami _The Life and Times of the Shah_, UC Press). Even if his history of the coup is accurate (which I would argue is not the case), Kinzer nevertheless draws overly broad lessons from it. Those lessons make him reach the conclusions and policy proposals he advances. Kinzer’s work as a historian of Iran has been discredited. He has popularized a simplistic narrative regarding the US role in the coup that deposed the nationalist prime minister Mohammed Mossadeq. Not to say that the US didn’t play a role in that sordid affair - but Kinzer and his followers exaggerate that role and also overlook the facts that (1) Iran didn’t have the capacity to refine, market, or distribute its own oil so nationalization at the time was an fool’s venture and (2) Mossadeq himself was an erratic autocrat. (See, e.g., Gholam-Reza Afkhami _The Life and Times of the Shah_, UC Press).

Even if his history of the coup is accurate (which I would argue is not the case), Kinzer nevertheless draws overly broad lessons from it. Those lessons make him reach the conclusions and policy proposals he advances.

]]> By: Noga http://blog.z-word.com/2010/07/german-broadcasters-romance-press-tv/#comment-13572 Noga Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:38:31 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=1662#comment-13572 "This is why we in the diaspora keep insisting that Western institutions and governments not legitimize the regime, as the German broadcasters did here." ganselmi: Last week I watched Charlie Rose interview Stephen Kinzer, author of “Reset: Iran, Turkey, and America’s Future” in which he suggested that what you are saying is exactly what liberal Iranians do not wish. What do you think? http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/11110 “This is why we in the diaspora keep insisting that Western institutions and governments not legitimize the regime, as the German broadcasters did here.”

ganselmi:

Last week I watched Charlie Rose interview Stephen Kinzer, author of “Reset: Iran, Turkey, and America’s Future” in which he suggested that what you are saying is exactly what liberal Iranians do not wish. What do you think?

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/11110

]]> By: ganselmi http://blog.z-word.com/2010/07/german-broadcasters-romance-press-tv/#comment-13552 ganselmi Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:17:52 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=1662#comment-13552 Let me answer my own closing question: quite soundly, I'm sure. Let me answer my own closing question: quite soundly, I’m sure.

]]> By: ganselmi http://blog.z-word.com/2010/07/german-broadcasters-romance-press-tv/#comment-13551 ganselmi Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:16:55 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=1662#comment-13551 Ben, Thanks for bringing our attention to this. The YouTube clip is revolting to watch for me. This is why we in the diaspora keep insisting that Western institutions and governments not legitimize the regime, as the German broadcasters did here. IRIB will replay this footage over and over for domestic consumption, the message being that "we are not isolated, we have friends abroad." That in turn demoralizes the opposition. How can these esteemed executives sleep at night having shaken those bloodied hands? Ben,

Thanks for bringing our attention to this.

The YouTube clip is revolting to watch for me. This is why we in the diaspora keep insisting that Western institutions and governments not legitimize the regime, as the German broadcasters did here. IRIB will replay this footage over and over for domestic consumption, the message being that “we are not isolated, we have friends abroad.” That in turn demoralizes the opposition.

How can these esteemed executives sleep at night having shaken those bloodied hands?

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