iran returns the sailors and the riverine boats

[karynnj]

This could have been a long nightmare without the strong relationship of Kerry and Zarif. Yesterday must have been pretty intense.

Not to mention, he saved sailors on 5 person riverine boats. Congrats to the young swiftboat commander inside him.

[MBS]

1. I'd also thought that the relationship built up in the Iran deal

had to be useful here. But you also added some more dimensions to this - yes, that swift boat commander experience had to be helpful here!

Count on the Republicans to ignore the victory here, or to twist the facts.

[karynnj]

5. That swiftboat experience might have been a big advantage - from details in the NYT

It sounds like the young swiftboat sailors might have not been carefully going from point A to point B.

I can't cut and paste - because the NYT somehow makes that impossible. But after saying that the course they were suppose to take would course mapped in advance to avoid Iranian water, a "Navy officer" said - "Look, these are kids riding around in cool cammy (camouflaged) boats." It then speaks of senior Pentagon people expressing dismay - as details come in. They said that it seems that the guys and the gal were not good mariners. It also said they went in pairs.

Reading between the lines - it sounds like they might have been racing around on a beautiful Mediterranean day and they were not paying attention that they entered Iranian water. (From the maps shown, there is territorial water around the small island owned by Iran that their Navy used.) Regardless, they are very very lucky that Kerry had that relationship with Zarif!

Now, obviously JK's time on the swiftboats were different as there was some real probability that he could be killed or seriously maimed any mission he went out on -- and he was not your average person. However, remembering the films he made of the swiftboats going through water when they were NOT in the dangerous channels - I would bet that the MA sailor in him might have when not in danger enjoyed the speed of the boat himself!

link - http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/world/middleeast/iran-navy-crew-release.html?_r=0

[MBS]

6. thanks for this.

I haven't had time yet to read the NYT today. .so hadn't seen this yet.
There is absolutely no doubt that the relationship between JK and his Iranian counterpart was absolutely crucial to speedy resolution of this mess.
How lucky we have been to have Sec. Kerry on board at this particular time.

Yet another example of the stellar achievements of the Secretary of State.
IMO JK has already earned his place in the history books for his distinguished service to date; and I am sure that there will be more achievements in the coming year.

[karynnj]

7. As always I agree completely

Thought while watching the foreign policy speech -- Kerry, himself, is leading what might be the "turning" of our foreign policy that he yearned for in 1971. From the thoughtful analysis to the real concern that the nightmare be ended in Syria, he showed the intelligence, strength and basic decency that we have always seen.

As to earning his place as a truly outstanding SoS, you are right he obviously has. One sign that this already has happened on the left is that over the last several days - when there were comments on HRC being a great foreign policy expert or great SoS, I put in a couple of posts noting she was - after all - the second best Obama SoS. What was interesting is that not one HRC supporter opted to take that bait. (I don't intend to do that again because there is no reason to get involved in the primary fights.)

I wonder if energizing the switch to green technology might be the first thing he really works on when he is out of the government. Obviously, he will do something on foreign policy. I hope that he writes a memoir based on his long, consistently positive service to this country.

[Luftmensch067]

8. What a happy thought!

I love what you say here about JK leading the "turning"! I agree and feel that is a very worthy legacy, among so many others.

[YvonneCa]

2. Checked my phone at 4:30 this morning..

Last edited Wed Jan 13, 2016, 11:19 AM - Edit history (1)

...and saw that. Great news!!! Will post again after his speech.

Edited to add...

[MBS]

3. C-SPAN link to video

http://www.c-span.org/video/?403114-1/secretary-state-john-kerry-foreign-policy-address

[karynnj]

4. Thanks

His speech was wonderful in giving articulation of their efforts to try to look at what needs to be done long term, while dealing with the unexpected crises. I hope that whoever becomes President considers having someone who will continue the move towards diplomacy to work on frozen conflicts.

His comments on Syria were very very good -- and I hope that he and others of good will have the chance to get a ceasefire. I was pleasantly surprised that many of his comments on global climate change could have been lifted from his 2004 speeches. (I would bet that you and other MA people might tell me that his positive comments were there long before them.