August 22, 2016

Iran Tosses Out Russia For Blabbing Too Much

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Last week Russia announced that it would start attacking Syria using bombers based in Iran. This produced a huge reaction both inside and outside Russia. Today Iran decided to kick out the Russians:

Iran’s sudden reversal Monday showed that allies with a common cause, fighting against Assad’s enemies, maintain diverse goals in the region. While Russian politicians indicated a long-term deployment, saying that warplanes stationed in Iran would conserve fuel instead of flying a longer route from the Russian Caucasus, Iranian officials made clear that they were unhappy about the publicity and being seen as a Russian client in the region.

Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan on Monday attacked publications of the Russian military press that reported the use of Iran’s air base. “There has been a kind of showing-off and inconsiderate attitude behind the announcement of this news,” he told an Iranian television channel.

This is the Vladimir Putin/Donald Trump approach to world affairs: Boast endlessly about even small things, substituting braggadocio for substance. The problem is that the targets of your boasting probably don’t like it much.

This is why quiet diplomacy is so often better than Trumpism. If you just want to feel good, then big talk is your friend. If you actually want to accomplish something, hard work and a willingness to keep your mouth shut are usually a better bet.

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WE'LL BE BLUNT

It is astonishingly hard keeping a newsroom afloat these days, and we need to raise $253,000 in online donations quickly, by October 7.

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