View of the Week: Reflections on #IranTalks (With Commentary by Guest Columnist Annahita Mahdavi)

We here @ #Outsiders have been assessing the aftermath of the Israeli Prime Minister's speech.    As the entire world has come to basically disregard the Prime Minister's Speech (and as we noted here yesterday that in fact progress has been made) unless one consulted the Murdoch-Owned Media Properties.

What we found especially unfortunate is that HuffPost Live featured an Iranian Actor who somehow was portrayed to convey the wishes and aspirations of the Iranian Diaspora-that is one of the most successful immigrants in the World.  Our Guest Columnist, Annahita Mahdavi, underscored this in her eloquent commentary on Facebook  which we are pleased to feature here.  Our Team here @ #outsiders was frankly surprised that the so-called "Shahs of Sunset" was even on the Air!!!    

Hollywood is famous for producing some of the world's master pieces in the art of films, but also is notorious for producing some of the world's worst and awful productions too, including the reality shows. Now, what scares me in not the reality shows themselves, although they are such insult to human intelligent, but the scary part is the fans! And the the demand on those shows, and how they are insult to human dignity, but are taken well and bringing high ratings. 

This show, the shahs of sunset, is another example of the shallow culture of Hollywood. It portrays the culture of a specific group that do NOT at all applies to the whole group. Iranian immigrants just like any other groups 0if immigrants are multi-Cultural, but as a whole, Iranians are an intelligent, educated, kind and hardworking community. And after all, based on the social sciences, there are Macro and Micro levels of cultural behavior in all nations among specific communities and in general. This person who plays Reza on the show, just stated that bombing of Iran is not only necessary but something that Iranian people ask for!! I wonder if he has ever been in Iran? I wonder if he has ever read ONE page of any book written on Iranian political, social, cultural book(s)? Please my dear fellow Iranians who are very insulted with his comments, remember that his comments come from his deep illiterate core of the view he has towards the world. His world summons up in his universe called : Beverly Hills!! 

As for the wonderful intellectual American friends who have called or messaged me about to make sense of his comments, I have only one thing to tell you: This show and all people involved in it, is another version of jersey shore, remember? As no one should generalize the American people and culture by that show, so is the case with this one. Every culture has one or two Snooki!! And as the saying goes: Stupid is as stupid does... 
 
Annahita Mahdavi
‪#‎ShahsOfSunst‬ ‪#‎Ignorant‬ ‪#‎Boycott‬ ‪#‎Insultin‬ ‪#‎Iran‬ ‪#‎PeaceForIran‬‪#‎NOMoreWar‬

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=707680312684969&pnref=story

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HuffPost Live

Reza Farahan has a message for Benjamin Netanyahu.

Thought 4 the Week

The "Daily Outsider" began with a dream.     The need to pursue dreams and make a difference.    This "clip" reflects this desire--about the art of the possible and being reminded about "Staying Hungry, Staying foolish...":

Meanwhile...in Geneva.....

The negotiations are continuing and Iran's Foreign Minister, Dr. Zarif,  sat down with NBC's Ann Curry: 



It was striking how he debunked all key points by Israel's Prime Minister.   What is also  quite striking is that the interview was featured as a headline on the Islamic Republic Agency Website.   What was also striking was how Dr. Zarif had a ready response for Ayatollah Khameini's Tweet on the frustruation with Israeli Policy.     IRNA has also been busy underscoring the rift that has been developed with what is perceived as a Campaign Stunt in Israel featuring commentary from the State Department spokesman, Jane Tsaki--who's been named to be White House Communications Director.   

Based on what is at hand, the broad framework for a deal is close.    Let's see what the next few days entail especially as the Iranian New Year is also at hand.      This is as the great Jon Stewart of  +The Daily Show told it like it is: 

The Daily Show
Daily Show Full Episodes,  More Daily Show Videos,  Comedy Central Full Episodes

Notations From the Grid: The Aftermath of #NetanyahuSpeech//The View From #israel

As we here @ #Outsiders have been assessing the aftermath of the Israeli Prime Minister's speech, this by the Haaretz US Editor, @ChemiShalev,  laid out the stark realities which we were quite pleased to share on Twitter & Commend Mr. Shalev over twitter: 

#Netanyahu splendid speech and the carnage in its wake http://t.co/L2YJmKTeHr
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) March 4, 2015

Beyond the reality on the ground, Haaretz yet again thru this Editorial underscored the true realities that haunts Israel right now:

Bravo #Haaretz👏👏👏🎉🎉as The real existential threat to #Israel not discussed & bravo 4 using the word #apartheid http://t.co/ee4o9gseEh
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) March 4, 2015

It was also quite telling that Tipzi Livni noted the profound  influence of Sheldon Addelson--the same Casino Billionaire who advocated dropping a nuclear bomb on Iran.     Meanwhile, the talks are continuing and many around the World remain ever so hopeful--and Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman dismissed his speech as "repetitive & boring" and part of the attempt to "side track" the talks.   One of the key headlines on the Farsi Version of Iran's News Agency is the statement from the White House that the President paid no attention to the speech--although reports are that he reviewed the transcript and was briefed--and he did comment on it during a photo op with the US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.   

What is clear is that beyond the Conservative Circles (as epitomized by Fox news) , The Israeli Prime Minister has a problem.    The people of Israel will have their say on March 17.   

Notations From Our World: On #NetanyahuSpeech, #Iran & #Palestine

The Prime Minister of Israel finished his speech to a Joint Session of the US Congress.    It was full of praise for President Obama as he began.  He thereafter went through his own views on why he thinks the deal with Iran is a bad deal.    He cited the story of Esther (even though he selectively forgot to note that Esther was a  Persian/Iranian Jewish Woman) .  He did not mention Cyrus the Great and his role.   He talked about the Hostage Crisis of 1979--but neglected to mention how President Khatami condemned it--the same Khatami who is now under a Judicial Ban--and how 90%+ of all Iranians abhor that day.   He reminded the Congress of the fact that Iran today dominates four Arab Capitals--but neglects key political realities on it     It was disconcerting how his reading and citation of recent history was selective at best.   

He discussed the "public disclosures" without divulging other details.     Whatever details he did disclose was already dismissed by the US Secretary of State although the President did note that he wants a 10-Year moratorium which has already been rejected by Iran.  
As we continue to assess the state of the Speech itself, we wanted to feature this very interesting "prebuttal" from the noted Scholar Professor +Juan Cole that laid out the stark profound differences between Iran and Israel:

Post by The Daily "Outsider".

He had no solution except advocating a change of behavior for Iran.   In the Monday edition of "Notations" here in #Outsider, we noted some of the questions that the grassroots are asking as well. It was quite striking as he noted how he sought peace even though he has done more to undermine peace with his policies in the West Bank and Gaza.   There is a PLO meeting beginning this week that will discuss the future of the Palestinian Authority as Israel has withheld tax money which prevents the PA from paying 180,000 employees.   

The Israeli Prime Minister was cheered some 25 Times during his speech as the wars in the Middle East rages on and as negotiations are continuing.     .    One of the things he had advocated was the war with Iraq which the region and the World continues to pay for even today as the Battle for Tikrit rages on.    We have reviewed reports of some 30,000 Iraqi and Militia Troops with support of Iran's Senior Commanders (including General Soleimani, the Commander of the Quds Force).    

As the wars rage on, at least the talks are continuing despite the profound headwinds.  The deadline is March 24 to reach the broad political framework--but Iran's new year is March 20.   There is not much time left.

An #Outsider Newsflash: On the Eve of the Speech By the Prime Minister of Israel

The Prime Minister of Israel is slated to speak tomorrow in Congress.    We have been asssessing who will and who will not attend the Speech as the Office of the Speaker announced earlier today the schedule at hand: 

PM Netanyahu's Address: A Watch Guide Office of Speaker Boehner  |  VIEW ONLINE Tomorrow, at 11 a.m. ET, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel will address a joint meeting of Congress.   The address is an opportunity for you to hear from the leader one of our closest allies about the grave threats we face from radical Islam and Iran.  If you plan on watching, we invite you to tune in at speaker.gov/live.   Facebook  |  Google+  |  Twitter Here’s a quick primer on what you can expect tomorrow: ·       Speaker Boehner will welcome the Prime Minister to the Capitol by presenting him with a bust of Winston Churchill.  Netanyahu and Churchill are the only foreign leaders to address a joint meeting of Congress on three occasions.  A bust of Churchill can be found in the Capitol’sFreedom Foyer.  ·       After Speaker Boehner gavels the joint meeting to order, a number of dignitaries will be introduced before the Prime Minister, who will be accompanied by an escort committee made up of Republicans and Democrats.   ·       Prime Minister Netanyahu’s audience will include members of Congress from both parties, as well as guests in the gallery.  Speaker Boehner’s guests include former Speaker Newt Gingrichand Elie Wiesel, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and the Congressional Gold Medal.  ·       Given the ties between America and Israel, it’s no surprise that interest in attending the speech is high.  We’ve had 10 times the number of requests for tickets than there are seats available in the gallery.  In fact, demand is so overwhelming that both the House and Senate have set up separate viewing locations, which are also ticketed events. (Don’t worry, you don’t need a ticket to tune in at speaker.gov/live.) We hope you plan on tuning in tomorrow at speaker.gov/live.  For now, here are some other ways you can watch and discuss the speech: ·       Sign up for e-mail updates to receive exclusive content about the speech.  ·       Follow Speaker Boehner on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more news and real-time updates. ·       Follow us on Flipboard to get the latest content about the speech on your mobile device.

As this was "Making the rounds", the Hill just reported on who is going to "skip the speech": 

Post by The Hill.

Notations From the Grid: #India Rising

While tending to the daily review on the Grid, we saw this very fun (Yet perceptive) clip sent forth by the Indian Prime  Minister, Mr. Modi:

Enjoy! :) https://t.co/AhGG2mdOr2 @IndiaToday @aajtak @HeadlinesToday #MyCleanIndia
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 2, 2015

It is beautifully put together as India rises up.   It is fun to be witness to it to emergence of India.