It is no secret that the editors of the Weekly Standard as
well as its contributors do not like Iran or its ultimate decision
maker, the Ayatollah Khamenei. And so, when you see these people quote the
Ayatollah, and use his sayings to denigrate their own President, Barack Obama,
you know they hate the President more than they dislike Iran or the
Ayatollah.
All this becomes evident when you read the piece that Thomas
Joscelyin wrote under the title: “Ayatollah Khamenei Accuses WH of 'lying,'
Being 'Deceptive,' and Having 'Devilish' Intentions,” published on April 9,
2015 in the Standard. What is even more amazing is that Joscelyin did more than
quote the Ayatollah; he sensationalized what the Iranian leader has said. The
author did this by throwing into the text adjectives, characterizations and
remarks that were clearly uncalled for.
The use of these tricks by the author changes the
significance of what has transpired with regard to the nuclear deal over the
past few days. If you followed the events as they unfolded, or if you plan to
research the subject matter, you will come to the conclusion that the on-air
give-and-take between the American President and the Iranian leader has not
been different from the exchanges that took place between any two leaders since
the discovery of the electromagnetic wave and the invention of the audio-visual
equipments.
It must be understood that each leader has a number of
constituencies they seek to reassure, cajole and win to their side. For this
reason, leaders of all stripes do not always make perfect sense; but this is
never as wicked a case as Joscelyin makes it sound. On the other hand, what
gives the narrative a meaning that was never intended by the President or the
Ayatollah … is the mutilation to which the narrative was subjected by virtue of
the fact it was sprinkled with statements such as those that follow.
One: Khamenei’s speech pulled the rug out from underneath
the administration.
Two: Khamenei does not agree.
Three: It gets much worse.
Four: Khamenei would beg to differ.
Five: The Ayatollah calls into question the Obama
administration's integrity.
Six: Khamenei is having none of it.
All of which are subjective interpretations advanced by an
American writer ... based on the translation of sayings that were uttered by a
foreigner; one that is as enigmatic to an American writer as the Ayatollah can
be. And these interpretations were used liberally in the article with the clear
intent to distort the reality of the situation rather than to clarify it.
Once you become aware of this, my friend, and you reject the
artificial coloring that the writer has added to the narrative, you are left
with only one bone of contention separating the two parties. It has to do with
the time that the sanctions – now in force against Iran – will be lifted.
Even if you go by what Joscelyin is reporting, you will
still wonder what the difference could be between what President Obama has
said, and what Ayatollah Khamenei has said. Here is the position of the first:
“economic sanctions will only be eased after Iran 's compliance with the terms of
the deal has been verified by international inspectors.” And here is the
position of the second: “the sanctions should be lifted all together on the
same day of the agreement, not six months or one year later.”
Now ask yourself this question: Why did the Ayatollah say
'six months or one year later' rather than say 'one month or one year later'?
Well, that's because immediately after the signing of the agreement, Iran intends to
take the necessary steps to comply with its terms.
The work can be completed in a month or less, at which time
the condition that President Obama has insisted on, will have been fulfilled.
And this is when the Iranians expect to see all the sanctions lifted.