We went out of our way to assure these bastards that they were still welcome at the parties. Because what could be more appropriate than inviting de facto representatives of the IRG to a celebration of freedom and democracy?
The United States said Monday its invitations were still standing for Iranian diplomats to attend July 4 celebrations at US embassies despite the crackdown on opposition supporters. President Barack Obama’s administration said earlier this month it would invite Iran to US embassy barbecues for the national holiday for the first time since the two nations severed relations following the 1979 Islamic revolution. “There’s no thought to rescinding the invitations to Iranian diplomats,” State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters. “We have made a strategic decision to engage on a number of fronts with Iran,” Kelly said. “We tried many years of isolation, and we’re pursuing a different path now.”
In fairness to State’s diplomats, they and the liberal academics who churn out unblinking pro-engagement agitprop get their most sophisticated insights from cocktail parties anyway. So this is kind of like doing research.
Here’s a link to the LAT story on Neda. Maybe this is one the issues we can “engage” them on over hot dogs and lemonade:
To those who knew and loved Neda, she was far more than an icon. She was a daughter, sister and friend, a music and travel lover, a beautiful young woman in the prime of her life. “She was a person full of joy,” said her music teacher and close friend Hamid Panahi, who was among the mourners at her family home on Sunday, awaiting word of her burial. “She was a beam of light. I’m so sorry. I was so hopeful for this woman.” Security forces urged Neda’s friends and family not to hold memorial services for her at a mosque and asked them not to speak publicly about her, associates of the family said. Authorities even asked the family to take down the black mourning banners in front of their house, aware of the potent symbol she has become.
Security forces “urged” them not to hold a memorial like mafia guys urge shop owners to hand over protection money. At least we’re approaching Iran with aggressive diplomacy! (via Weasel Zippers).
References:
* US says hot dog diplomacy still on with Iran [AFP]
* Liberal Foreign Policy Experts: This Ahmadinejad Reelection Was Just So Unpredictable! [MR]
* Family, friends mourn Iranian woman whose death was caught on video [LAT]
* Unreal: Obama Says Regardless of Bloody Crackdown, Iranian Diplomats are Still Invited to Attend 4th of July Parties at US Embassies…. [Zippers]
Previously:
* Iran Responds To Obama: Grovel More
* Obama: We Need To Start Sucking Up To Iran Right Now So We Can Get Out Of Iraq (Plus: Liberal American Jews Torn Between Old Anti-Israel Democrat And New Anti-Israel Democrat)
* Sarkozy: Of Course Obama’s Iran Policy Is Imbecilic
