Iran: Why is Israel Now Endorsing the Enrichment Deal?

The Latest from Iran (31 October): Parliament’s Challenge to Ahmadinejad

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On Friday Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu praised the Obama Administration engagement with Tehran and Washington's plan for "enrichment outside Iran by a third country":

I also wanted to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the president's ongoing efforts to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear military capability.

I think that the proposal the president made in Geneva, to have Iran withdraw its enriched uranium - a portion of it - outside Iran is a positive first step in that direction.

Hmm....Only days ago Israeli officials were declaring their opposition to any thought of enrichment of Iran's uranium, inside or outside the country.

So why the change in attitude? Step up all those who think Israel now believes the talks on enrichment will fail. Once the prospect of agreement is gone, Tel Aviv can pose as a supporter of engagement while heaping blame on Iran for its devious and manipulative approach to all peaceful, freedom-loving nations.

Iran: Human Rights is a Problem...in the US and Europe

Latest from Iran (30 October): Now to the Real Contest

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Sometimes a political move is so audacious that --- for all the pain and tragedy that it obscures --- you have to tip your hat at the hypocrisy.

Iran's delegation at the United General Assembly cut loose yesterday, criticising the US, Canada and European Union for human rights violations. One Iranian concern was that “racial and religious prejudice have increased in the EU countries in the past few years. Muslims and religious minorities are verbally and physically attacked and are often barred from job opportunities." Another was that in the United States, "ethnic minorities and residents who are originally from Africa or Latin America are the victims of prejudice and deprived of human rights".

However, it was what followed that turned my interest into wonder: "The Iranians went on to say that police in the EU countries have 'resorted to torture and violence'." In Canada, “Native women are the victims of police violence and rape. They are kept in mixed prisons in which they are inevitably bothered by either their cellmates or prison staff.”

Where is the Iranian Jon Stewart when you need him?

An Israeli Snub to "Very Valuable" Turkey?

Israel and Syria: Can Turkey Be a Mediator?

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Maybe it's because Israeli leaders had a busy day on Thursday --- debating Palestine, considering the economy, getting their hair done --- but I can't help thinking that this may be a snub. At Turkey's Republic Day reception in Israel, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, the Industry, Trade and Labor Minister, was the only Israeli politician to be found. President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon all declined their invitations.

Asked whether this was a form of protest, a spokesman for Peres said she had nothing to add. Lieberman's spokesman stated only that the Foreign Minister would not attend and did not give any detail. A spokesman for Netanyahu said the prime minister had other obligations Thursday night. A spokeswoman for Ayalon said on Wednesday that he was not able to attend due to "scheduling problems".

Ben-Eliezer did speak at the reception on the "very valuable" Israeli-Turkish relationship and said that it was a "great privilege to be here to today with good friends and to commemorate the 86th Republic Day of Turkey". Then he added, "Both [Israel and Turkey] cooperate strategically - we must make the utmost of efforts to put the train of our friendship back on track."

Politics and Money: Should the Big-Bucks US Campaigns Concern Britain?

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In the 1940s and 1950s, my family looked forward to the arrival of so-called care packages from our better-off relatives in New York. The goodies were marvellous. Chocolate was very scarce in those days. Hence, I was led to believe that all Americans enjoyed abundance, whereas all Brits could look forward to was rationing and penury.

I think of those care packages and wonder if British politicians like Prime Minister Gordon Brown and opposition leaders David Cameron and Nick Clegg look longingly towards America. In the United Kingdom, campaign spending is limited and closely monitored and regulated, but political parties manage to get themselves heavily into trouble and debt at election time. To repair the damage, the major parties have acted like shiftier financial advisors. “Don’t 'give' us the campaign contribution, Mr. X, lend it to us and then we don’t have to declare it.” If a Mr. Tony Blair thought up this clever little ruse, maybe he should be taking a more active role with J. P. Morgan.

Yet this British manoeuvring is child's play to the sleights-of-hand in the US, where American campaign finance laws do not work.

As a result of the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the 1st Amendment that money equates to free speech, it is almost impossible to restrain what American politicians do to raise funds and how much they spend promoting themselves. There have been valiant efforts to exercise control, most recently the McCain-Feingold statute, but the “soft money” ruse can get around pretty well every regulation with little effort. There is also an exception that a candidate may finance himself, something that has been a distinct advantage to Michael Bloomberg.

Bloomberg is running for re-election as New York City mayor. It is reported that so far he has spent $85 million of his own money on his campaign and it is estimated that he will spend a total of $140 million before Election Day on 3 November, election-day. In his three New York City elections, he will have parted with $250 million or more. Not that will bankrupt him --- Bloomberg is said to be worth $16 billion.

There is a major plus to this expenditure. Mayor Bloomberg’s $1 million a day on advertising, trave,l and entertainment goes directly into the New York City economy. New York consumerism receives a welcome boost at election time, and Bloomberg's campaign also offers employment to more than a hundred people.

But is there not a minus? Is there not the toxic element that if you are not mega-rich, you don’t stand a chance against an opponent with mega-bucks. The even playing field turns into more than a sloping pitch. It becomes a ski piste.

Bloomberg is already a two-term incumbent. So why does he feel the need to spend so much on re-election, rather than rely on the eight-year record of his administration? Yale political science professor Jennifer Stern comments, “I have never seen anything like this – it’s off the charts. He’s in a league of his own.”

Returning across the water, what if super-rich Brits, or those from abroad with interests here who consider naturalisation as British citizens, seek political office? Would they find ways around our election laws to buy their seats at the high political table? I like it that our politicians have to account for every penny at election time and woe betide them if they overspend. I also like it that we don’t have “soft money” distinctions. I warm to the fact that £10 million is a regarded as a large fortune by our political parties.

I wonder whether a majority of New York City voters are feeling the same about now?

Transcript: Obama Statement on Turkey's Republic Day

An Israeli Snub to “Very Valuable” Turkey?

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The people of the United States join the people of Turkey in celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey. The friendship between our nation is strong, and our alliance is enduring. More than fifty years ago, the United States and Turkey began a partnership based on shared values and mutual respect – a partnership and friendship that has deepened over the years as we have overcome many shared challenges. Turkish-Americans help to forge the bonds that join our nations in friendship, and they continue to contribute to our society, in a wide range of field including arts, athletics, education, business, medicine and science.