What Motivates the US and Iran

Interesting stuff. It appears as though the US is attempting to gain some leverage by going on the offensive (clanestine) against the Iranian governement. If it produces some degree of pressure, then the Iranian's might be interested in a negotiated cease fire in Iraq. I cannot imagine that the US has the ability to covertly pressure the Iranian government and that such an effort would produce helpful results.

Perspective on Iranian Diplomacy

Just wanted to drop this article before I headed off to work. It is from an outside of Iran Iranian newspaper with an interesting perspective on the diplomacy efforts currently happening between Iran and the US over Iraq.

Readings

Currently I am reading Japan Rising-the Resurgence of Japanese Power and Purpose by Kenneth Pyle. I was drawn to this book by a podcast interview of the author (CATO I think hosted it) . He also recently feature an editorial in the Wall Street Journal. I am about one third of the way through the book and have uncovered some very interesting perspectives, not only of Japan, but also of how countries manage their international relationships in general. This is definitely turning out to be a profound book which will change my perspective of Japan and Asia.

Headed to Maine

Just a quick note, I am headed to Maine next week. I'll be in Boston on Thursday (05/31/07) and probably hang out there overnight. I'll come into Maine Friday night with Anne and hit a friends wedding on Saturday night. After shooing Anne back to Chicago on Sunday, I'll be in Maine until 06/13/07.

What this is

My original thought with this blog was to have a place where me and Dad could toss up interesting articles and thoughts, not as a public service to everyone, but as a way for us to communicate and archive what we are thinking. As I thought on it more, I realized that this blog could potentially do more. Mom might want to toss up pictures from a vacation and Arianna might want to drop a note that she will be in Maine for the weekend. As I mulled over the idea even further, I realized that perhaps Dad might want to post an article, show it to Uncle Jimmy, or even show it to someone outside of the family.

I have settled on a quasi-open forum and I will let it evolve where it wants to. I have dropped invitations for editing rights to everyone in my nuclear family and a few others. If anyone else wants rights to drop a post onto this blog, just give me a call or drop em an e-mail. Anyone is free to post what they want, but keep in mind that for now this is an open site that anyone on the Internet can reach. I have made no attempt to get this blog listed so I doubt it will suffer much traffic, but I advise against posting anything you wouldn't want seen in public.

I personally will use this blog to keep everyone up to date with what I am doing, drop interesting articles, post up thoughts I have had, and maybe toss up a picture or two. I invite anyone else to use this forum however they see fit.

edited: Anne found my use of "throw up" to be abhorrent, so I have edited all the "throw up" to "toss up". Maybe she will love me now.