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US Launches Virtual Embassy For Iran

Posted by Soulskill on from the administered-by-the-undersecretary-of-tweets dept.

An anonymous reader sends this excerpt from a report at Al Jazeera "The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has launched a virtual embassy for Iran in what it said was a bid to promote dialogue with the Iranian people in the absence of formal diplomatic ties. The web-based embassy went online on Tuesday in English and Farsi, offering visitors what it described as 'another perspective' for Iranians who 'remain hungry for information about the United States.' 'This website is not a formal diplomatic mission, nor does it represent or describe a real U.S. embassy accredited to the Iranian government,' the U.S. state department said in an introductory note. 'But, in the absence of direct contact, it can work as a bridge between the American and Iranian people.'"

14 of 174 comments (clear)

  1. In future news.. by Moheeheeko · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ..Iran has blocked the Virtual Embassy for the entire nation.

  2. Really? by saleenS281 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Because I know the first place I go when I want to know about a foreign country is their embassy. I'm sure the members of that institution are COMPLETELY unbiased about the country they're representing. Talk about an empty gesture. A spy plane gets shot down over their airspace, and the response is an e-embassy? I'm sure that'll sway the masses!

    1. Re:Really? by fsckmnky · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Given that all governments, some of the time, tell lies and use the tactic of propaganda, how can one arbitrarily choose which government is telling the truth 100% and the other 0% ?

      The story of the link you pasted, has the US admitting to losing a drone near the Afghanistan border. This does not equate to an admission that a drone was shot down after violating Iranian airspace, unless the person reading the story has an extreme emotional bias.

      From all accounts thus far, it seems likely 1) the US has lost a drone and 2) the Iranian authorities probably have it. That's it.

      The story will continue to unfold, and any admissions from either side, will most likely be designed to benefit the side from which they originate. Choosing 1 side of the story as absolute fact, and the other as absolute falsehood, ignores the larger truth of the issue and the realities of politics.

  3. And? by Morky · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's like a Voice of America type thing. No big deal.

  4. How about not toppling democratic governments? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Thanks for the nice embassy, US, but how about not toppling democratically elected governments in the first place, mmmkay?

    "The 1953 Iranian coup d'état (known in Iran as the 28 Mordad coup[3]) was the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh on 19 August 1953, orchestrated by the intelligence agencies of the United Kingdom and the United States under the name TPAJAX Project.[4] The coup saw the transition of Mohammad-RezÄ ShÄh Pahlavi from a constitutional monarch to an authoritarian one who relied heavily on United States support to hold on to power until his own overthrow in February 1979.[5]"

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d'%C3%A9tat

    1. Re:How about not toppling democratic governments? by bonch · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Let's fret about things that happened 60 years ago.

    2. Re:How about not toppling democratic governments? by ShavedOrangutan · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's obviously Bush's fault.

      --
      Godaddy is a scam and a ripoff.
    3. Re:How about not toppling democratic governments? by HornWumpus · · Score: 3, Insightful

      While ignoring the larger chess game being played 60 years ago, only focus on one pawn and how butt hurt it now is.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    4. Re:How about not toppling democratic governments? by gknoy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      For that pawn (or, more accurately, the citizens living in it), the degree of hurting is absolutely relevant to them, and their opinion of us as a nation.

  5. You want this to be interesting... by Genda · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Put links to founders of the "Middle East Spring" movement. Add virtual links to American and European Persian supporters and business people. links to leaders in the American Muslim movement. Make this resource a combination; "Open Hand", "Information Clearing House" for liberal and moderate Persian ideology, A celebration of Persian culture and a clear commitment from the west to be ready for and open to dialog to empower the future of a free, democratic and peaceful Iran.

    Of course at the same time, we need to have "Come home to Moses" talk with Israel about changing their stance to one of causing peace in the Middle East instead of undermining it. There are so many brilliant Israeli people, who want an end to hostility, and are more than willing to work out coexistence. The ongoing growth of illegal settlements only destroy options and nail the future to rails that lead to inevitable violence and ultimately the genocide of Palestine. Certainly there must be a better answer.

    Iran has incredible resources, and amazing people. If we could only convince the population to pull it back from theocracy, its future would be incredibly bright.

    1. Re:You want this to be interesting... by MasaMuneCyrus · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Iran has incredible resources, and amazing people. If we could only convince the population to pull it back from theocracy, its future would be incredibly bright.

      Firstly, I think as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have shown us, we (the US, collectively) have very little power to change or encourage people to think how we'd like them to. We 'ought to have learned a little humility. If we toppled all authoritarian regimes in the world by force and gave the people perfect, free and fair elections, I bet 9/10 of those countries would vote a religious theocratic dictator right back in.

      Secondly, we don't need to do that. Fortunately, most Persian people are already disgusted with the theocracy. What many of the revolutionary Arab states are voting for, the Persians have lived with it for 40 years. They're tired of it. The only reason it isn't gone is because you will die if you go against the regime. In fact, dying might be the most pleasant part. You'll probably be tortured, and if you're really unlucky, your family will be killed, too. Or maybe just your father. You don't even have to protest to be caught when the best minds of US and European IT companies are doing their best to allow the Iranian government to track your every move.

      Most people tend to favor living with harsh favor political oppression over death. That's why Iran is not free, yet. It will become free when
      1. The cost of freedom is lowered
      2. The cost of oppression is high enough to warrant "give me liberty or give me death."

  6. Re:Shut it down by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 5, Insightful

    US sets up another propaganda/disinfo channel.

    Iranians are much more aware of America and life in the US than vice versa. Americans imagine some weird, gulf-state with face covering and camels.

    Not this:
    http://tehranlive.org/

    Tehran has a better claim on 1st-world status that does Detroit.

    Despite their current Government, Iranians live freer and are better connected to Europe and the US than are the people in "democratic ally" states like Uzbekistan!

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
  7. Re:Shut it down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    Iranians live freer and are better connected to Europe and the US than are the people in "democratic ally" states like Uzbekistan!

    Yeah, if you're the correct gender and religion. It's a lot better than many of its neighbors, but your gushing praise here is a tad overboard and rosy tinted.

  8. Re:Shut it down by MimeticLie · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Every statement you made was false.

    Prior to 1953, Iran was a constitutional monarchy. Mohammad Mosaddegh was not appointed by the Shah, as you claim, but elected by the Iranian parliament. The Shah also wasn't nearly as independent as you claim; his deference to the United States was part of what led to his eventual ouster. He also wasn't supportive of communism. The communist party of Iran (which supported the nationalization of Iran's oil industry during Mosaddegh's time as Prime Minister) was banned by the Shah. The Soviets even tried to assassinate him, according to defectors.

    As for the sources relating to Operation Ajax being from the CIA, well yeah. It was a CIA operation, who else should have known about it? But it didn't occur in a vacuum. The UK wanted Mosaddegh overthrown (remember who owned the oil industry that Mosaddegh wanted to nationalize). So your version of the story is what? That the Shah staged a coup coincidentally at the same time that the UK wanted the US to do the same thing, and the CIA then faked documents taking credit for it? Yeah, sure.