zoux posted:

https://twitter.com/MartinShkreli/status/697829657031348224

quote:

Ali Shamkhani, chief of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, claimed today that U.S. Republican officials reached out to Tehran asking that the recent release of four American prisoners be delayed until after the upcoming presidential election. There are very good reasons to be skeptical of Shamkhani’s claim. If it is true, it is completely insane.

“In the course of the talks for exchanging prisoners, the Republican rivals of the current US administration who claim to be humanitarians and advocates of human rights sent a message telling us not to release these people (American prisoners) and continue this process (of talks) until the eve of US presidential elections...However, we acted upon our independent resolve and moved the process forward.” Shamkhani said at a rally yesterday, according to the Tasnim News Agency, a firmly pro-regime organization.

The implication is that these mystery Republicans wanted their own party to receive credit for freeing the Americans, and that they were willing to let their countrymen sit in an overseas jail for 11 more months to get it.

But the idea of GOP lawmakers reaching out directly to Iran to strike a backchannel deal seems pretty dubious. For one, they would have to contend with the likelihood that communications with such a volatile actor would be surveilled by the U.S. Intelligence Community. For another, the GOP party line advocates for all-out war against the country. What Republican in his right mind would think he had influence there?

Considering Shamkhani’s emphasis on Iran’s “independent resolve” to pursue the prisoner swap on-schedule, it’s possible he wanted to have his cake and eat it too: Iran gets back six Iranian-American prisoners by engaging the U.S. diplomatically, but manages to look like it’s resisting U.S. influence while doing it.

All in all, it seems pretty unlikely that Shamkhani’s claims are true. But it certainly wouldn’t be the first time American Republicans made a secret deal with Iran! So who knows.

WhiskeyJuvenile posted:

huge, if true

zoux posted:

https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/695384762249162753?ref_src=twsrc

WhiskeyJuvenile posted:

huge, if true

DACK FAYDEN posted:

On the one hand, I'm skeptical. On the other, we live in insane times, and have been doing so ever since the Reagan administration.

WhiskeyJuvenile posted:

huge, if true

WhiskeyJuvenile posted:

huge, if true

WhiskeyJuvenile posted:

huge, if true

Scrub-Niggurath posted:

Either they're telling the insane truth or they're trolling excellently

zoux posted:

Yeah fake or not, they're still gonna have to talk about it.

Combed Thunderclap posted:

Obama did what amounts to a eulogy/retrospective for his political career and his presidency for the Illinois General Assembly yesterday.

It's very well-written, and interesting in that Obama remains publicly committed to bipartisanship even as he makes clear that he plans to devote himself to "fixing politics" as a private citizen.

DACK FAYDEN posted:

On the one hand, I'm skeptical. On the other, we live in insane times, and have been doing so ever since the Reagan administration.

zoux posted:

https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/695384762249162753?ref_src=twsrc

Scrub-Niggurath posted:

I want to know how Obama pronounces GIF

Oracle posted:

If he really wanted to throw a political monkeywrench into the election he'd name names, that poo poo is illegal.

WhiskeyJuvenile posted:

huge, if true

Fried Chicken posted:

If there is a god in heaven, please let them dump the proof of this out there and let this all come to light

Combed Thunderclap posted:

Yeah, it's literally treason, forget it, let's not even pretend it's plausible.

DACK FAYDEN posted:

On the one hand, I'm skeptical. On the other, we live in insane times, and have been doing so ever since the Reagan administration.

WhiskeyJuvenile posted:

Nixon did something similar with the South Vietnamese too.

Fried Chicken posted:

Oligarchies construct ideologies to justify their continued existence comrade

zoux posted:

We're going to have to figure out what to do about the millions of jobs that selfdriving cars would obviate, which also goes towards the earlier conversation about how our work culture requires everyone to have full time employment. Eventually we're just going to have to admit that we don't have enough jobs to justify total full time employment and go to a 20 hour workweek or something.

Trabisnikof posted:

Actually, it isn't literally treason.

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.

His Divine Shadow posted:

Socialism, just add more socialism the more technology removes jobs to make up for it and keep the economy going. Just keep doing that and eventually it's socialism all the way down.

Mauser posted:

zoux posted:

Here's Marco Rubio doing his best to combat the Robio meme.

Oracle posted:

If he really wanted to throw a political monkeywrench into the election he'd name names, that poo poo is illegal.

Fried Chicken posted:

Despite the best efforts of some sovcit-tea party types to gently caress this up, the last Oregon occupier has surrendered peacefully

Mystery Goomba posted:

So what happens to the dildos? Do they become property of the federal government and auctioned off?

Mystery Goomba posted:

So what happens to the dildos? Do they become property of the federal government and auctioned off?

Gravel Gravy posted:

No they will probably just be jailed for a few weeks while they await trial


dohohoho

Gravel Gravy posted:

No they will probably just be jailed for a few weeks while they await trial


dohohoho