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My strongest memory of #KofiAnnan was in November 1998. The Security Council was debating the Butler report on Iraq, but Butler had already provided the report to the US, which was preparing an attack on Iraq. This created great tension in the Council. >>
Others believed the Council had to decide whether Butler's findings warranted a military response. #KofiAnnan sat quietly in the room, only listening. Suddenly, CNN broke the new: The US had already started the bombing campaign - completely disregarding the UNSC debate.
Lavrov, who was Russia's UN Ambassador at the time, was furious. Other States brutally criticized the US - in the private room of the Council. Later, in the public gathering, however, their criticism was much more muted, fearing US retaliation.
Months ago I pointed out that if the EU didnt put down its foot and stop Trump from killing the #IranDeal, Trump would proceed to kill the next international agreement and then the next.
John Bolton's attack on ICC should be seen in that context.
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2. Trump seeks to destroy the entire international system to bring us back to the law of the jungle. In his primitive thinking, such an international (dis)order will be to the benefit of the US (and Israel) because of their military strength.
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3. That is utterly bizarre. Not only does this incentivize other countries to build up their militaries (making the world and the US less safe), but smart states use their strength today to establish rules that will protect them even when their relative strength wanes.
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Pompeo will announce a new "Iran Action Group" today. One person involved is former Senator Brownback, who is now at the State Department.
Back in 2003, he introduced legislation to fund Iranian opposition groups, just like the US funded Chalabi. >>
Originally, the idea was to create a council of opposition groups, who then would divide the money among themselves. But for this to work, the opposition needed to be united. They weren't. So he intervened.
He hosted a meeting between supporters of the son of the Shah and Members of the MEK terror organization. Brownback's message was clear: I can only secure this money for you if you unite.
That was easier said than done. But some progress was made.
There's an additional detail to @RichardEngel's breaking reporting on Trump and Black Cube.
This want mentioned in the report.
In November 2017, my office was burglarized. But it wasn't an ordinary burglary...
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Whoever did it, did a very clean job. They snuck into it building without getting caught on any CCTV cameras. They turned off the electricity on our floor in the building (!) They got into it office, but took only two computers.
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They could have taken much more. Including a brand new computer that was still in its box by the entrance of our office. They took no interest in that computer though. They were looking for something specific.
And then they got out again without any cameras catching them (!)
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1. I was angered and disturbed to find out this weekend that I was targeted by Black Cube (former Mossad operatives) and their efforts to discredit Obama officials and supporters of the #IranDeal.
2. A few months ago, I received an email request for an interview by a person who presented himself as a journalist. I receive plenty of these, and there was nothing about this request to cause suspicion. >>
3. The interview itself was also quite conventional, at least to begin with. Nothing was said in the interview that hadn't already been explained by me in my book on the Iran deal. >>
THREAD: 1.Recognize this language? For past 2 decades, Israel insisted Iran's nuclear program constituted "an existential threat." It was a rhetorical tool aimed at ensuring maximum American animosity towards Iran.
2. Now that nuclear issue is resolved, Ryan claims "Iran" is an existential threat to Saudi & UAE. Same language. Same rhetorical tool to ensure maximum hostility. To ensure the US & Iran do not resolve their problems because US allies in the region benefit from US-Iran enmity.
3. Let's review it again. The nuclear issue was claimed to be an existential threat. Obama resolved it. Gets no thank you. Instead, Iran WITHOUT an unchecked nuclear program is now deemed an existential threat.
/THREAD on #IranProtests/ 1. Very interesting developments in Iran. As the protests are dying down (for now at least), the fight has moved to the political scene between Rouhani and his conservative critics.
2. Rouhani believes the hardliners crossed a red line. They were incensed by his plan to slash funds for Islamic foundations. But instead of pushing back in the Majlis, they took to the streets by organizing protests in Mashhad (which they quickly lost control over)
3. So now, Rouhani is trying to channel the anger of the protests to his favor. He is slightly downplaying the economic motivations and emphasizing the people's social and political frustrations. His gov also calls on protesters to be released from jail.