Comments on: FDL Book Salon Welcomes Jonathan Schell

By: Elliott

Elliott — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:37:09 +0000

Jonathan, Natasha, Jane, Christy, thank you all soo much, what a discussion!

By: Natasha Chart

Natasha Chart — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:32:01 +0000

Thanks again for having me. Though lastly, for one more data point in support of Schell’s thesis, this headline today …

Turkey says U.S. nuclear policy strengthens Iran

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - U.S. ally Turkey said on Saturday Washington’s efforts to isolate Iran over its nuclear programme were undermining reformists in Tehran and bolstering Iranian influence across the Middle East.

… “Simply isolating Iran in our view caused Iran to be more united, to weaken the hands of the reformists,” Babacan told reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“Also (it led to an) Iran which had more and more influence in the region. That is the reality we are observing”. …

By: Jane Hamsher

Jane Hamsher — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:30:06 +0000

Thanks so much for being here, Jonathan. It was a pleasure to have you. And thank you too, Natasha. Great job.

By: Christy Hardin Smith

Christy Hardin Smith — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:29:43 +0000

Jonathon, thanks so much for the discussion today and the great book. And a huge thanks to Natasha for such a wonderful intro to the discussion today. Much appreciated, both of you!

By: Natasha Chart

Natasha Chart — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:28:32 +0000

Thanks, Jonathan, it was great having you!

By: hackworth

hackworth — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:27:06 +0000

Mr. Schell, Thanks for your fine work. Having been a Nation subscriber, I seem to recall reading some of your writing in that magazine. Are you currently a regular contributor to the Nation?

By: jschell

jschell — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:26:50 +0000

I do see events in Pakistan in the way you suggest. The events there show the primacy of local politics over superpower machinations. Yet it’s hard to be very optimistic as it’s difficult to see how the groups there can put together a coherent peacable state anytime soon. So while the nuclear weapons may be secure in the sense of having good barbed wire fences, the question of what political force will inherit them down the road is up in the air.
I’ll be checking out now, but I’ll look in again every now and then in case the conversation goes on.
Jonathan

By: Natasha Chart

Natasha Chart — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:22:58 +0000

Jonathan, you mentioned in the book the implacable trend towards people everywhere reasserting self-governance. Do you see that as being part of what’s going on in Pakistan, and what do you think of their recent claims that their nuclear program and materials are secure?

By: BooRadley

BooRadley — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:17:24 +0000

Mr. Schell, a great honor to have you here at FDL.

By: Natasha Chart

Natasha Chart — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:16:50 +0000

They are both sort of hedging on nuclear power, though Obama’s put more caveats on its use such that if he did work to implement them, it might be a long time coming. And both of them seem to have been quite belligerent on the question of Iran, which is in large part a nuclear issue.