IRAN - Smarter Than the Average Bear

Yep! They know a slicker when they see one.

Even Yogi knew a rat when he smelled one.

Did Yogi smell an "overture"? Joe doesn't thinks so.

You can read it here: Iran's supreme leader dismisses Obama overtures

"They chant the slogan of change but no change is seen in practice. We haven't seen any change," Khamenei said in a speech ..."

"Have you released Iranian assets? Have you lifted oppressive sanctions? Have you given up mudslinging and making accusations against the great Iranian nation and its officials? Have you given up your unconditional support for the Zionist regime? Even the language remains unchanged," Khamenei said.

For its part, the Obama administration must take practical steps such as lifting a ban on selling Iran spare parts for passenger aircraft or considering unfreezing Iranian assets in the U.S., (a prominent political analyst Saeed) Leilaz said.

"They say we have stretched a hand toward Iran. ... If a hand is stretched covered with a velvet glove but it is cast iron inside, that makes no sense," Khamenei said.

Sometimes it takes a preacher to know a preacher.

UPDATE :: Tuesday, March 24, 2009
A Lebanon perspective: Dialogue of the Deaf
The following is an excerpt:

It is for this reason that the Iranians want "deeds" in addition to words from Obama. They are intelligent enough to notice the change in the type of discourse Obama is adopting with them. But what comes after this? Can the black President offer them the apologies which they demand, for more than half a century of the US dealing with them badly, from toppling Mossadegh to protecting the Shah to supporting Saddam Hussein in his war against them? In other words, can he erase half a century of the history of the country that chose him as its President?

The new US President wants to give the impression that his policies are different from those of his predecessor. But a change in the language of discourse on the part of the White House will have no effect if it is not accompanied by a change in the type of response to such discourse on the part of the recipients of US messages. Without this such discourse would become a dialogue of the deaf, which is what currently seems to be taking place between Washington and Tehran

On the one hand, there is a tendency on the part of the Obama Administration to put an end to previous conflicts and to deal with international crises with a new mindset. On the other, such a step is being interpreted as the result of the defeat of the US's plans, which entails that such a defeat should be exploited by Iran, and that it should strengthen its influence in the places where it feels it has achieved victory. Obama's problem with Iran is that he is not willing to submit to such Iranian victories, nor do his country's interests allow him to do so. [For the complete article.]

--Joe