If you've been following the presidential debates and the latest news about Iran, but you're new to the political scene, you might be asking what the heck Hilary and the pundits mean when they say, "We need a carrots and sticks approach to Iran."
Here, then, as a brief explanation.
First, the literal terminology: to get a donkey or a horse to move, you'd dangle a carrot (offer a reward) and hit it with a stick (a punishment) so it does what you want.
Therefore, when it comes to Iran, moderate-to-liberal minded American politicians are of the mindset that we should take a "carrots and sticks" approach to Iranian policy-makers.
This is in opposition to the Bush administration, which has gone with a sticks-and-nothing approach. That is, they threaten war, declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guard - the Iranian version of the Secret Service - a terrorist organization, and slap major sanctions on them, all while completely ignoring the high level Iranian diplomats and politicians. This is because, according to Cheney, "We do not negotiate with terrorists."
The problem with the blanket declaration in regards to Iran- and any blanket declaration about anything - is that the situation is not black and white. Just as there are politicians of various mindsets here in the US, so is there a spectrum in Iran. They are not all absolute and total nutjobs like Ahmadinejad. (Mahmoud even has a blog! He's so hip, with his blogging and not wearing ties and making fun of gay people, even though some might speculate he is, as Dad would have put it, a little light in the loafers.) Just like, THANK THE GOOD LORD, not every politician in the US is like Dick Cheney.
That is why H. Clinton and the like have been proponents of a "carrots and sticks" approach. Carrots would be high level meetings and negotiations, and an easing of sanctions; sticks would be strengthening sanctions and keeping war-like (yikes!) aggressions on the table (which is why Hilary justifies her vote in the Senate to name the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization.)
Sources:
Hilary Clinton Defends Vote
Democratic Presidential debate and follow up article on NPR
Carrots and Sticks definition
WBUR's OnPoint show on Iran and US relations
Week in the News 12/7/07 OnPoint show
For You, In the Pines Reader
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Repost : Epistles to Ikea #3
Don't forget to view all the other epistles to Ikea by clicking on the tag link here or at the bottom of this entry.
Epistles to Ikea, 3
6/15/06
Dear Ikea,
I'm sorry I haven't written in a while. I've been busy.
Anyway, I wanted to thank you for the wonderfully arranged showroom. It made me want to grow up and have my own apartment again so that I could arrange a black, white and red retro-60s kitchen and a purple living room. My parents were also grateful for this inspiration, however ephemeral it was.
I'm sorry that I wasn't able to view your entire efforts. My sister was my furniture-lifter and was desperate to get home to watch the finals of "American Idol," which was airing on the night of my visit. That's why we had to take the short- cut to the exit after the shelving units section.
I was most intrigued by the first floor, which we ran through because it was approaching 8 PM. I can't wait until I finally receive my first paycheck from the job I've been working at for the last month and a half. Maybe I'll buy wedding presents from your vast stock of kitschy kitchen supplies.
Well, that's all I have time for now. I'm writing about what I think is my most favorite thing next: the concession stand.
With love,
your Brigitta
Epistles to Ikea, 3
6/15/06
Dear Ikea,
I'm sorry I haven't written in a while. I've been busy.
Anyway, I wanted to thank you for the wonderfully arranged showroom. It made me want to grow up and have my own apartment again so that I could arrange a black, white and red retro-60s kitchen and a purple living room. My parents were also grateful for this inspiration, however ephemeral it was.
I'm sorry that I wasn't able to view your entire efforts. My sister was my furniture-lifter and was desperate to get home to watch the finals of "American Idol," which was airing on the night of my visit. That's why we had to take the short- cut to the exit after the shelving units section.
I was most intrigued by the first floor, which we ran through because it was approaching 8 PM. I can't wait until I finally receive my first paycheck from the job I've been working at for the last month and a half. Maybe I'll buy wedding presents from your vast stock of kitschy kitchen supplies.
Well, that's all I have time for now. I'm writing about what I think is my most favorite thing next: the concession stand.
With love,
your Brigitta
Junk Blog about my hair
I'm here to pose the truly brainless question of: What do you think of my hair?
I think I wanna go short like this Rihanna bob. And I know it doesn't seem like it, but she and I have a similar face shape, with a high forehead and a long face. It's just her nose is so cute, and mine is so long. But eye shape and face shape are the same. PLus it's versatile. (See the other pics at the end of the blog.)
.
I'm thinking I'm going to keep the red, though I really adore the chestnut brown-ness of it in this photo, featuring me and Anais Nin
And it's nice to be putting it up in a tiny pony tail, but I think I want to go with one more short bob before I go in for the long haul of growing it out for Locks of Love again.
So, what do you think?
Rhianna photos care of "The Trendsetter".
UPDATE: I did get a haircut! And it's versatile, just like Rhianna's hair, but shorter. See the slide show of BEAUTIFUL pictures of me. Like, just really gorgeous. Or not. At all. But I posted them anyway, because funny pictures deserve to be seen. See the slide show here.
I think I wanna go short like this Rihanna bob. And I know it doesn't seem like it, but she and I have a similar face shape, with a high forehead and a long face. It's just her nose is so cute, and mine is so long. But eye shape and face shape are the same. PLus it's versatile. (See the other pics at the end of the blog.).
I'm thinking I'm going to keep the red, though I really adore the chestnut brown-ness of it in this photo, featuring me and Anais NinAnd it's nice to be putting it up in a tiny pony tail, but I think I want to go with one more short bob before I go in for the long haul of growing it out for Locks of Love again.
So, what do you think?
Rhianna photos care of "The Trendsetter".UPDATE: I did get a haircut! And it's versatile, just like Rhianna's hair, but shorter. See the slide show of BEAUTIFUL pictures of me. Like, just really gorgeous. Or not. At all. But I posted them anyway, because funny pictures deserve to be seen. See the slide show here.
Repost : SoHa Lofts Follow Up
Follow-Up SoHa Lofts
6/15
First, I must admit that SoHo is named after SoHo in London, so yes, I do realize that NYC was copying London and now we're copying NYC.
Anyway, I also did some investigative blogging, if you will, and subscribed to the SoHa mailing list.
Here's what I got on the email today:
Thank you for your interest in SoHa Lofts!
This rehabbed building will feature 59 open floorplan lofts with sizes ranging from 660-1450 sq.ft. Prices start around $330,000. Each unit will have original wood beam ceilings with polished concrete floors and contemporary kitchens and baths. The entire project will have 86 units.
Currently, we are scheduling people for private showings during the weekdays after 3pm. Please contact Kim [redacted] at [redacted] for more information.
Hmmm... 330,000. That's not like the ridiculous afford-ability of the original SoHo lofts from back in the day. It's more like the contemporary yuppy SoHo lofts. They're cutting out the development of neighborhood and starting right at the downfall.
Fun.
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