In an interview with CNN yesterday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) criticized President Obama’s approach to the turmoil in Iran, saying that he shouldn’t be concerned about being seen as “meddling” in Iran’s affairs. But on Fox News last night, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, noting that he was a McCain supporter, said that he thinks “the president has handled this well”:
KISSINGER: Well, you know, I was a McCain supporter and — but I think the president has handled this well. Anything that the United States says that puts us totally behind one of the contenders, behind Mousavi, would be a handicap for that person. And I think it’s the proper position to take that the people of Iran have to make that decision.
Of course, we have to state our fundamental convictions of freedom of speech, free elections, and I don’t see how President Obama could say less than he has, and even that is considered intolerable meddling. He has, after all, carefully stayed away from saying things that seem to support one side or the other. And I think it was the right thing to do because public support for the opposition would only be used by the — by Ahmadinejad — if I can ever learn his name properly — against Mousavi.
Watch it:
Kissinger isn’t the only prominent conservative to push back against McCain and the neocons. On Tuesday, Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN), the ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, said that “for us to become heavily involved in the election at this point is to give the clergy an opportunity to have an enemy…and to use us, really, to retain their power.” Other Republican senators, including Sens. Mel Martinez (R-FL), Bob Corker (R-TN) and John Thune (R-SD), agree that Obama is handling the situation well.
This comment by Super-K is going to drive the party base absolutely ape-shit.
Popcorn time again.
June 18th, 2009 at 3:33 pmHenry: because public support for the opposition would only be used by the — by Ahmadinejad — if I can ever learn his name properly
– - Uh huh, that alone speaks volumes. Hey Henry, say “Vatergate” for me.
June 18th, 2009 at 3:34 pmHmm. I’m not so sure a stamp of approval from Henry Kissinger is such a good thing. Would he have said the same thing if Obama’s reaction to Iran’s election was to carpet-bomb Cambodia?
June 18th, 2009 at 3:35 pmHow long until Rush kicks him out of the Rethuglican party?
June 18th, 2009 at 3:36 pmgood thing kissinger wasn’t on the o’lielly show otherwise that asshat would have been shreiking “cut his mike…CUT THE MIKE”
June 18th, 2009 at 3:37 pmMore proof that traditional conservatism has been taken over by obstructionist neocons.
PEACE
June 18th, 2009 at 3:39 pmLimbaugh is prolly digging in the sofa cushions looking for oxycontin
June 18th, 2009 at 3:44 pmLittle Seanie Vanity started his daily rant-fest in a hissy-fit over this issue, too. According to him, Obama doesn’t recognize the “greatness of America” and isn’t following Ronnie RayGun’s playbook, blah, blah, blah.
Perhaps Vanity should have consulted with Hank K. before he shot his mouth off today. As if anyone really cares what this community college drop-out has to say about anything.
I wonder what Little Seanie Vanity thought about the time that Poppy Bu$h encouraged the Iraqis to overthrow Saddam and then failed to support them when they tried.
June 18th, 2009 at 3:47 pmchiroptera toasterhead
That’s a fair concern, but in this case, Obama is clearly doing the right thing. We have no business getting involved in their election unless they flat out ask for our help (that’s not likely to happen, I’m sure). The best thing that can be done about it is to make a statement of blanket support for the will of the people to prevail without mentioning who you think that should be, and then shut up about it while they work it out. That’s exactly what he did.
To those who think we should get involved, I have a question – what would have been your reaction if, say, France had decided to get involved in the 2000 election scandal in this country? Would you have been grateful to France, or would you have asked them firmly, and potentially with explosives, to mind their own damn business?
June 18th, 2009 at 3:50 pmHenry Kissinger was a lying war criminal back in the days of President Nixon’s war of aggression on the Vietnamese people in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Kissinger went along with Nixon’s “secret plan to end the war,” which was actually a plan to continue US aggression for as long as possible. Who cares what this lying old war criminal says in the 21st century?
June 18th, 2009 at 3:54 pmNeocons just encourage irresponsibility. They’re not fit to govern, much less to even be given a platform to participate in public discourse. They’re basically children.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:01 pmsmidget Says:
To those who think we should get involved, I have a question – what would have been your reaction if, say, France had decided to get involved in the 2000 election scandal in this country? Would you have been grateful to France, or would you have asked them firmly, and potentially with explosives, to mind their own damn business?
June 18th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
____________
Don’t expect an answer to that from our trolls – I doubt that was one of the talking points in this morning’s RNC fax.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:02 pmWho cares what Kissinger thinks . .
But I was happy to see during the Iranian protests that NOT ONE AMERICAN FLAG WAS BURNING . .
FINALLY . .
Thank you President Obama!!
June 18th, 2009 at 4:02 pmOval12345678 aka James K. Sayre Says:
Henry Kissinger was a lying war criminal back in the days of President Nixon’s war of aggression on the Vietnamese people in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Kissinger went along with Nixon’s “secret plan to end the war,” which was actually a plan to continue US aggression for as long as possible. Who cares what this lying old war criminal says in the 21st century?
Hint: it’s the person interviewing him who cares.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:03 pmI’m glad he’s staying out of it. We’ve done enough meddeling in the business of sovereign nations for a lifetime.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:04 pmSmidget no one would have said that to the US for the simple reason that we are the most powerful nation in the world. Whether you want to admit it or not.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:04 pmKissinger knows very well that the situation is handled by the global elite (the powers that be). Obama is just an instrument who does as he is told.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:08 pmHe may be pure evil…but there’s no denying Kissinger’s brilliance in foreign policy.
(this comment will likely attract much flaming…)
June 18th, 2009 at 4:10 pmCP Says:
Smidget no one would have said that to the US for the simple reason that we are the most powerful nation in the world. Whether you want to admit it or not.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
______________
USA! USA! USA! USA! WOOH WOOH WOOH WOOH WOOH! WE’RE #1! WE’RE #1! WE’RE #1! WE’RE #1!
Sigh. I can’t wait for the day when foreign policy isn’t dictated by penis size.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:10 pmWell chiroptera it’s the truth, no other countries really tell us what to do. I’m glad to see your proud of our standing too.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:14 pmOval12345678 aka James K. Sayre Says:
Who cares what this lying old war criminal says in the 21st century?
I can assure you NO ONE was thinking…..”hummmmm, I wonder what Kissinger thinks?”
Kissinger has no prestige nor credibility. These are the kinds of monsters our society breeds when we don’t prosecute war criminals!! They always rear up their hate-filled heads to poison public discourse. Dick Cheney, anyone?
June 18th, 2009 at 4:16 pmTo those who think we should get involved, I have a question – what would have been your reaction if, say, France had decided to get involved in the 2000 election scandal in this country? Would you have been grateful to France, or would you have asked them firmly, and potentially with explosives, to mind their own damn business?
But that’s different, we’re muricains damnit! we invented democracy fer the love of peet, and besides them frenchies don’t even have a word for–entreupeneur– they got to use our word for it…
June 18th, 2009 at 4:16 pmCP Says:
Well chiroptera it’s the truth, no other countries really tell us what to do. I’m glad to see your proud of our standing too.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
_____________
Proud? Hell no. I’m embarassed by it, in fact.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:17 pmCP Says:
Smidget no one would have said that to the US for the simple reason that we are the most powerful nation in the world. Whether you want to admit it or not.
So by your logic we can interfere in the democratic process of other countries because we’re powerful and can beat them up? Might makes right? There’s this thing you should read sometime, it’s called the Declaration of Independence. It kind of touches on this subject… most real American patriots are aware of it, so I can understand why you wouldn’t be.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:17 pmWhatever happened to that loud cry from the GOP for the US to stop being the world’s police? Were they wrong then or now?
June 18th, 2009 at 4:19 pmDon’t ever be ashamed or embarassed by it chiroptera.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:19 pmCP Says:
Smidget no one would have said that to the US for the simple reason that we are the most powerful nation in the world. Whether you want to admit it or not.
And I’m stronger than my wife and daughter, does that mean I can beat them when they do something I don’t like?
June 18th, 2009 at 4:20 pmhellinabucket Says:
June 18th, 2009 at 4:21 pmWhatever happened to that loud cry from the GOP for the US to stop being the world’s police? Were they wrong then or now?
goopers are never wrong! just ask them.
Bobwurst you not even close to making sense with that statment.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:22 pmCP Says:
Don’t ever be ashamed or embarassed by it chiroptera.
chiroptera is ashamed and embarrassed by you seepee.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:23 pmOur President is handling the latest Iran situation with the calm and calculating manner in which he was popularly elected on. Knee jerk reactions were the last administration.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:24 pmCP = sockpuppet
Ignore the troll
June 18th, 2009 at 4:24 pmCP Says:
Well chiroptera it’s the truth, no other countries really tell us what to do. I’m glad to see your proud of our standing too.
And yet that shouldn’t mean that others countries ought to kowtow to what we tell them to do. In fact, we shouldn’t be in the position to tell others what to do either.
Would you rather the United States be seen as a benevolent leader or a tyrant?
June 18th, 2009 at 4:24 pmCP Says:
Bobwurst you not even close to making sense with that statment.
that’s your logic pal. You are the one who is advocating using force to get “our” way with weaker nations. And that’s just what your drunken dad did when he came home late and beat your mom and raped your sister.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:24 pmgummble-bee-itch Says:
CP = sockpuppet
Ignore the troll
thanks for the tip, whose hand is up its ass?
June 18th, 2009 at 4:26 pmRemember leading by example?
June 18th, 2009 at 4:27 pmAdmitting Obama’s success is just killing the Republic Fascist Party, they just hate for government to succeed at anything because it proves them wrong again and again.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:28 pmWho said anything about force? You the one who talked about beating his wife and children. You associated powerful with military might. It also means economic power, diplomatic power etc.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:29 pmCP Says:
Don’t ever be ashamed or embarassed by it chiroptera.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
____________
Too late – I already studied history, see.
Being the world’s bully is nothing to be proud of. Arrogance is nothing to be proud of. American exceptionalism is nothing to be proud of. American Imperialism is nothing to be proud of.
Military might is just fake power. It doesn’t translate to global leadership or scientific achievement or cultural enlightenment. It doesn’t even correlate with economic success, as the war-fueled recession clearly demonstrates. All military strength ever does is justify its existence.
We buy these bombs and multi-billion-dollar toys to keep us “safe,” and we need to use the bombs and toys to justify the expense so we start needless wars, which create more enemies we then need to keep ourselves “safe” from. It’s a bullshit vicious cycle.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:29 pmI’m glad he’s staying out of this. It’s about time we mind our own business for a change and keep our noses out of other countries messes.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:31 pmCP Says:
Who said anything about force? You the one who talked about beating his wife and children. You associated powerful with military might. It also means economic power, diplomatic power etc.
All of President Obama’s critics, like your sad drunken grandpa mccain who wanted to “bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran”
bush and his band of idiots tried everything short of overt military action against Iran (they did send in speical ops troops, along with predator drones) and all we got back in return was the strengthening of Aminginddad (yes, I spelled his name horribly).
Now, these same idiots complain when President Obama doesn’t do what they did, even though it didn’t work.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:34 pmI wonder when the trolls will say Kissinger is a LIBERAL?!
June 18th, 2009 at 4:39 pmI’m surprised that CP doesn’t grasp the larger scope of things here. Our stance on Iran is already clear. By throwing our weight around would only give the hardliners in Iran ammunition.
President Obama is starving the beast. Just like how he handles Fox nues.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:40 pmI don’t disagree with your assessment Bob, but you miss understand my position. Simdget asked what if Frnace had interviened during the 2000 election here. I said it would never happen because the US is the most power nation in the world and other countries really don’t dictate how we act.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:41 pmhellinabucket Says:
——————————————————————————–
I’m surprised that CP doesn’t grasp the larger scope of things here. Our stance on Iran is already clear. By throwing our weight around would only give the hardliners in Iran ammunition.
President Obama is starving the beast. Just like how he handles Fox nues.
exaclty. idiots like seepee forget that we installed the Shah back in the 50’s but the people in the streets of Iran remember. If we say anything that even sounds like support of one or the other canditate, that canditate is doomed. They don’t hate us for our freedoms, they hate us because we gave them 30 years of a violent repressive dictatorship.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:44 pmCP Says:
Bobwurst you not even close to making sense with that statment.
***
s/b “you’re not”.
you’re not even close to making sense
with your comment about Bobwurst’s statement.
…
see how it works?
give it a try!
:)
:)
June 18th, 2009 at 4:44 pmCP Says:
I said it would never happen because the US is the most power nation in the world and other countries really don’t dictate how we act.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
_____________
And yet you people wonder why so many around the world hate us.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:44 pmWell hellinabucket I haven’t really stated my position on what Obama’s doing but for the record I think right now he is doing the right thing. If this resistance to the Iranian government turns into a full blown revolution I think the Iranian resistance would want us to stay away. This way if they succeed it will be seen as “their” revolution, not “ours”
June 18th, 2009 at 4:48 pmPersonally I could care less what Kissinger thinks. I find the man to be beyond scary.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:50 pmI’ll NEVER forgive Kissinger, for what he did to Cambodia.
Placing Cold War Imperial Ideology over innocence, he engineered the Carpet Bombing of a previously gentle and innocent society into a MONSTEROUS Situation , the killing fields under Pol Pot.
The US Dropped more Bombs on Cambodia than it dropped on Hitler….resulting in a collapsed society that was Rescued FINALLY by THE VIETNAMESE ARMY!
But even a Broken Watch is right twice a day!
June 18th, 2009 at 4:52 pmIf we are the most powerful, what does that make our creditor, China?
I don’t trust Kissinger. He was counseling Darth Cheney during BushCo’s murderous run.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:52 pmhellinabucket Says:
Were they wrong then or now?
Both, natch.
.
Bobwurst Says:
And I’m stronger than my wife and daughter, does that mean I can beat them when they do something I don’t like?
The Bible says “yes.”
.
chiroptera toasterhead Says:
We buy these bombs and multi-billion-dollar toys to keep us “safe,” and we need to use the bombs and toys to justify the expense so we start needless wars…
Planned obsolescence. A bomb sitting in a bay or armory doesn’t cost anything – or at least not much. Discharging it means it needs to be replaced.
.
Bobwurst Says:
the strengthening of Aminginddad (yes, I spelled his name horribly).
I mental trick I use to get his name right is to say to myself “I’m a dinner jacket,” then imagine slurring it like Bush at the Chinese Olympics: “Ahmedinejad.”
.
CP Says:
I don’t disagree with your assessment Bob, but you miss understand my position. Simdget asked what if Frnace had interviened during the 2000 election here. I said it would never happen because the US is the most power nation in the world and other countries really don’t dictate how we act.
And yet in the same thread you’re advocating using that power to attempt to interfere with Iran’s election. You really can’t see the “shoe on the other foot” analogy here, can you? That’s amazing.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:52 pmGeez Bruce are you blind where do I say “Iran” and “interfere”?
June 18th, 2009 at 4:53 pmI’ll be so glad when all these cold war folks retire and spend all their time fishing, gardening or maybe bowling or something besides playing the great game
June 18th, 2009 at 4:53 pmSo CP, you state it’s good that President Obama didn’t inflame the current Iranian situation but you also tout that the allmighty US can do anything we want.
Do you have any significant point you want to make? Or are you trying to inflame posters here for enjoyment? Or…..?
June 18th, 2009 at 4:56 pmI am so happy we no longer have a “shoot first and ask questions later” President. It’s a wonder that our country survived the Bush Crime Family.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:56 pmhellinabucket
You won’t be surprised by CP’s puny grasp after you read CP’s blog–it’s appropriately tilted “Off the Top Of My Head”.
Some examples:
“If we are going to give Blacks, Asians, Hispanics etc equal standing with whites…”
“If the photos turn out to show everything they have said they do, then use them in a court of law and then lock them away. They don’t do anybody any good. If those types of pictures did then we would see photos of rape victims and gun shot victims on the 6 o’clock news. Well we don’t and I pray we don’t ever.”
“…we aren’t exactly cutting limbs off people like in Darfur, and as more and more info is coming out, it looks like we only waterboarded three people all high ranking Al Qaida members. I for one can sleep well at night.”
But I will say this in CP’s defense, there’s no cutting and pasting or plagiarism involved, unlike CFP. So on my scorecard, CP gets an ‘E’ for Effort ( whereas I gave CFP an ‘F’ for eFFort).
June 18th, 2009 at 4:57 pmoops, titled, not ’tilted”.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:58 pmI apologize to anyone who might have been offended by my typo, I was using the wrong sort of keyboard that a friend gave me.
During the Bush Crime Family rein of terror, I was ashamed of what our country had become. President Obama is helping me regain some pride in our country once again. If McCain had won the last election I would be living in Costa Rica today.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:59 pmIIRC a pretzel finding in oh ate.
June 18th, 2009 at 5:00 pmCP Says:
I don’t disagree with your assessment Bob, but you miss understand my position. Simdget asked what if Frnace had interviened during the 2000 election here. I said it would never happen because the US is the most power nation in the world and other countries really don’t dictate how we act.
The day may come soon where China dictates how we act. All they need to do is to call in all the loans they gave us to finance George Bush’s war of choice.
I am so happy that Obama doesn’t feel the need to be the bully of the world.
June 18th, 2009 at 5:01 pmNo hellinabucket you actually got exactily what I’m saying. We do have the power to sway what is happening in Iran, but we are not using it. And I’m fine with that.
Thanks reading 5th Estate.
June 18th, 2009 at 5:01 pmWe do have the power to sway what is happening in Iran, but we are not using it.
I dunno bout dat
June 18th, 2009 at 5:04 pmWe have the power to blow the world up seven times over.
So what?
June 18th, 2009 at 5:05 pmOf course 5th Estate you did take a big liberty with your cuttign and pasting of what I wrote. I think this is a better version.
If we are going to give Blacks, Asians, Hispanics etc equal standing with whites, I think that should also translate over to the topic of racism too. Those groups can be racist towards one another just like white can. I don’t think it would be called reverse racism if a Hispanic was racist toward an Asian.
June 18th, 2009 at 5:05 pmAre we sure the CIA is not interfering? I’m seeing alot of signs in English…
June 18th, 2009 at 5:13 pmno other countries really tell us what to do
June 18th, 2009 at 5:18 pm—–
Well them maybe it is about time they do. We seem to have no problem telling them what to do…
CP…
Yes I did take a liberty in excluding the nuances of the entire paragraph and that was very sneaky and wasn’t at all fair.
But I ‘read it’ like so;
“IF we are going to give Blacks, Asians, Hispanics etc equal standing with whites…”
… as though equal standing was in your opinion a privilege to be bestowed that overrode the subsequent nuances of your arguments in the rest of the paragraph.
I did think about that briefly before I selectively pasted your comment, but I pasted it anyway (without adding the emphasis I just provided above).
I apologize for being a weasel in this respect.
It’s not your fault that I may have misconstrued your argument,it’s mine for reading more into a very reasonable sentence construction than I should have.
“If X then Y, given A, B and C” is the form of a rational argument, and that’s what you provided, and that A, B and C, I purposely excluded for a prejudicial gain.
So, I have to apologize to you for that. It wasn’t fair. And for what it’s worth from me now, well defended.
June 18th, 2009 at 5:55 pmIt’s called “You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em.” The saying nothing strategy is working…The trolls fail to realize, we don’t have the best of reputation in Iran or that part of the world. If President Obama says anything the other side will use it against us. It’s also called taking tools away from your enemy
June 18th, 2009 at 6:01 pm5th Estate,
Apology accepted. You are right, if you take it at face value it would seem that I believe that Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics having equal rights is a privledge and not a right. Which is certainly not what I meant.
Poor choice of words on my part.
June 18th, 2009 at 6:14 pmspring heeled jack Says:
I’m seeing alot of signs in English…
I’m Sure Lots of Iranians…especially the well educated young…speak good english.
The photos released into the American Media may just be self Selecting for Signs in English. Americans just wouldn’t Understand what signs in Farsi are saying.
I Doubt the CIA is not following Obama’s lead….but I wouldn’t put it past Other countries trying to stir the pot so they can Have an Enemy.
June 18th, 2009 at 6:19 pmCP..I left a more expansive comment on your personal blog.
June 18th, 2009 at 7:07 pmThanks for not taking umbrage. That says a lot.
Xisithrus Says:
I’ll be so glad when all these cold war folks retire and spend all their time fishing, gardening or maybe bowling or something besides playing the great game
June 18th, 2009 at 4:53 pm Recommend (0) | Report Abuse
They’ll use C4 to fish and M-60 to hunt.
June 18th, 2009 at 7:38 pmCP Says:
I said it would never happen because the US is the most power nation in the world and other countries really don’t dictate how we act.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
These are code words for breaking international agreements whenever he or the politicians he likes sees fit. See “Geneva Conventions” for an example.
And then again, they wonder why people around the world doesn’t like a faction of the USA politicians.
June 18th, 2009 at 7:42 pmKissinger must use his amazing rhetorical skills to reconcile support for McCain as president with support for how President Obama is not meddling in Iran’s affairs.
June 18th, 2009 at 8:00 pmCP Says:
No hellinabucket you actually got exactily what I’m saying. We do have the power to sway what is happening in Iran, but we are not using it.
Why yes, we could have the Prez come out pubilcly in favor of Mousavi, thus guaranteeing his defeat. That’s the only lever we have there. I’m glad Obama’s not using it.
.
spring heeled jack Says:
Are we sure the CIA is not interfering? I’m seeing alot of signs in English…
No, that just tells me that a lot of people there are interested in what English-speaking countries (England, America, Australia) think. They want us to know. The best we can do to respect their wish is to pay attention.
.
wiley Says:
Kissinger must use his amazing rhetorical skills to reconcile support for McCain as president with support for how President Obama is not meddling in Iran’s affairs.
Oh God, could you imagine is Action Johnny were the Prez right now? He’d be parachuting into Tehran with a knife between his teeth or something. Palin with her finger gently caressing “the button.”
June 19th, 2009 at 2:29 amWho could possibly care what some 86-year old republican who was completely wrong about the last administration has to say.
June 19th, 2009 at 7:05 am———————————————————-
I see you take it for granted that we are “the best, most powerful country in the world”, but what do YOU actually do to help keep us that way besides cheerlead from the sidelines? What do you think keeps us that way? We are from the best country in the world when it comes to education, health care, individual health (i.e. obesity), innovation, quality of our manufacturing (otherwise our car companies wouldn’t be bankrupt)… we have a powerful military and we used to have a lot of money but our greedy investment bankers have F*&ked that up now… so what exactly is your definition of the best? I would say it’s quality of life for the average citizen so how does the most powerful military in the world, and bunkrupting ourselves using it on wars of choice to enrich the oil companies and war profiteers contribute to OUR quality of life when we have double digit unemployment and people going bankrupt to pay for their healthcare?
June 19th, 2009 at 11:03 amCorrection to my post from 11:03 am
June 19th, 2009 at 11:05 amIt should read: “We are FAR from the best country in the world when it comes to education, health care…”
I SUPPOSE that Mr KISSINGER WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED THAT “POLITICAL CAUTION” FROM DEMOCRACIES? WHEN HE WAS WITH HIS FAMILY IN GERMANY IN THE THIRTIES…..??????????????????????
June 21st, 2009 at 11:25 amThank you..
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June 22nd, 2009 at 3:04 amSesli Sohbet
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