Iran’s Reversal: Why Isn’t This Story Getting More Play?
Iran told the United Nations nuclear watchdog on Thursday that it would not accept a plan its negotiators agreed to last week to send its stockpile of uranium out of the country, according to diplomats in Europe and American officials briefed on Iran’s response.
And yet, over at Memeorandum, as of 11:00 am ET, the top three memes were about Congressional ethics inquiries, the race in NY-23, and the deal to restore Honduras’ booted president.
In fact, you don’t see anything on the page about the Iran story until you get to the “Earlier Items.” OK. So this meme was chatted up for awhile, but we’ve seen other major memes (e.g., health care reform) command prime placement for much longer periods. So why on this one — even with a senior European official acknowledging that this is “not a minor detail” — do we get only a relative blip on the radar screen before the Netizens get distracted and run off chasing other stories?
Maybe I’m making too much of this. I just don’t see how there’s a bigger story than Iran’s reversal. That reversal potentially changes the entire equation — affecting decisions we make about Pakistan, Afghanistan, and yes, even domestic policy/health care. We live in a world of limited resources and no matter how much we like to think we can, we can’t afford to do/deal with everything, whether that “everything” is measured in dollars or time or human talent.
Still the Netizens chase every stray lead and boost to the top of the discussion charts subjects that seemingly pale in comparison to this one.
16 Responses to “Iran’s Reversal: Why Isn’t This Story Getting More Play?”
This isn't an “us only” problem. The EU has been dealing with Iran for years. They are just as invested as we are. We should continue to let them do the work.
Yes let the highly effective UN take the reins. The UN track record in Africa, (Darfur) for example, has been exemplary.
“I just don’t see how there’s a bigger story than Iran’s reversal.”
1. There may be more important domestic issues, as with how Afghanistan rates against these issues.
2. The reversal doesn't fit in with the happy ending the lib establishment anticipates or expects with Iran.
3. There are idosyncracies and preferences, colored by trends or a group (herd) mentality about favorite topics of the moment or of the day, just as there are on this Web site. There has been no thread yet here about the Congressional ethics investigations, or about Rattner's remarks about General Motors's management (and the secondary story about the question of self-aggrandizement by Rattner himself), or the alarming proposal to create new dictatorial powers over financial firms (including explicit takeover details), which Mikkel is planning to write about, admittedly.
Because it is not 'news' to the MSM. Iran reneging is dog bites man, not man bites dog.
Plus, it doesn't fit the meme of Nobel Prize winning President reduces World Nuclear Threat. They don't want to print “Nobel Prize winning President gets punked by Iran – AGAIN!”
“Nobel Prize winning President reduces World Nuclear Threat”
Horsey didn't fail to notice this:
http://www.seattlepi.com/horsey/viewbydate.asp?…
Nor this…
(Peter, Paul, and Mary? No, Harry, Nance, and Barry.)
http://www.seattlepi.com/horsey/viewbydate.asp?…
“The UN track record” … “Nobel Prize winning”
Wherever has the Committee been? Especially with the UN General Assembly? ($1 million, each and all!)
Why isn't the fact that Israel has 200 nuclear warheads is not part of the Nuclear Non Proliferation treaty getting more play? If I were Iran I would want Nukes too.
The EU is not the UN. You realize that right?
The EU is not the UN. You realize that right?
Of course it isn't. The EU is even less democratic and transparent than the UN. The UN exists to allow third-world countries to enrich and enable their corrupt governments; the EU exists to restore the aristocracy to the rule of Europe.
Even less democratic? Err.. OK.
Wow! Get out of Oklahoma much?
The EU has something the UN doesn't. Leverage against Iran.
Get out of Oklahoma much?
Do you have a clue about US geography? AustinRoth. Duh.
Sorry dude but Sooner is as Sooner does
The EU has been “working” with Iran for years on the nuclear issue.
I'm quite certain that their work will culminate with an Iranian nuclear missle. Diplomacy hasn't worked well for Europe for the last 80 years or so.
EU bad. UN bad. Only U.S. good.
Anyway, I agree with Austin's original comment: No one expect Iran to actually agree to anything. When they truly follow through with a promise, that'll be news.
The bigger story on this might not be the Iranian oligarchy reneging, but the fact that the Iranian negotiators don't appear to actually have sufficient power to negotiate. If the deals they cut are ignored, it will become worthless to negotiate with them. It's similar to the trouble that U.S. administrations have on many trade deals. The executive negotiates, but the legislature decides. Makes it harder to negotiate with us.
Hey, be nice to Oklahomans. I is one!
Sil, at least, provided a halfway intelligent lefty response. Missing fundamental substance, though.
“Why isn't the fact that Israel has 200 nuclear warheads”
Israel is a responsible, trustworthy nation, unlike its scumbag enemies. There's an obvious difference!