Hamas' "Encouragement," Iran's Success

"Iran Gives Hamas Enthusiastic Support, but Discreetly, Just in Case"
A10, Tuesday 1/13/09
By Michael Slackman

Iran gearing up for direct negotiations with the U.S. and looking to use Hamas to “have all the cards of the region in hand,” is an interesting theory as to why Iran is "leery" of backing Hamas now, that it's not looking good.

What sort of value does Iran see in such negotiations? Slackman cites an Iranian commentator that Gaza “has made it easier for Iran to promote anti-U.S. feelings among Muslims.” Does Slackman suppose these are the same Muslim masses who would then approve of successful negotiations that normalize US-Iran relations?

Importantly, Slackman points to Iranian society’s discontent the possibility “the country’s scarce resources are being used to help anyone other than Iranians themselves.” As if they're not already aware of it.

While Slackman reports that Hamas gets money and training from Iran, he states innocently that “for now, Iran is encouraging Hamas to hang on and refuse to give up.”

Does it occur to Slackman that Iran may be the decision-maker here, with the funding, equipping [unmentioned] and training to what he states is its "proxy"? what he calls Hamas' “primary patron"? He states that Iran is Hamas' “primary patrion,” yet ignores the conclusion that Iran may have been dictating Hamas policy all along, to test Israeli reaction to different levels of provocation, and to take focus away from its nuclear program.