In My Inbox

Not sure how it got there, but here it is:

Memo
From: MSM Editor
To: Reporting Staff

It’s within a week of the next negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran, so we need some commentary from important people on what is likely to or should happen at the talks. If you can’t get someone important, here are some ideas that you can combine with odd facts about Iran’s nuclear program or the 1979 coup or whatever.

• The negotiations will be hard. 
• Choose one; our publication has its preferences, so keep it consistent. A contrarian viewpoint can be fresh and new: The Iranians have been making too many too harsh too arrogant comments out of school. // Various members of the P5+1, usually identified as anonymous diplomats, have been making too many too harsh too arrogant comments out of school.
•  None of this would have happened if the US/Iran/Israel had been nicer at some time in the past. 
• Another choose one pair: If Iran would concede everything that the P5+1 plus Israel wants up front, the talks would proceed nicely. // If the P5+1 would concede everything Iran wants up front, the talks would proceed nicely.
• If the US and Iran would just sit down over a warm cup of cocoa and talk nicely to each other, we could arrive at a solution.
• If there isn’t a full solution by June 20, there will be a world war, probably nuclear. 

Adding the last to any of the earlier ones provides urgency.

“It’s all [fill in the name]’s fault” has been used a lot and needs more on the bones. You may want to do some research (hey, Google!) to give historical depth.

You may want to leaven it with some “both sides do it.” The first of the “choose one” pairs and placing fault are particularly suited to this.

And keep this memo confidential, please! Last month’s must have got out; someone said that the blogs scooped us on these stories! Not good!