“I feel it’s 1938 again – Bernard Lewis *
More: Joyner has been following the updates (as have readers in the comments).
Damian Penny;
The lefty bloggers, not surprisingly, are jumping up and down with faux outrage about righty bloggers (including myself) writing about this untrue story.
So, guys, has Karl Rove been indicted yet?
Fascism — as opposed to its German variant Nazism — is not primarily, fundamentally or at least necessarily about bigotry, toward Jews or anybody else. It is about collectivism, in one form or another. It is about imposing — with both the carrot of socialism and the stick of the police state — uniformity on the entire body politic, to get all the oars pulling at the same time, in the same direction. The fact that the Iranian regime wants to enforce a national dress code which is “authentically” Iranian says more about their fascistic impulses than the regime’s anti-Semitism. Not only does anti-Semitism predate fascism by a lot of centuries, but anti-Semitism is not unique to fascism nor is it always present in fascist movements. What is always present is the desire to enforce conformity and uniformity on the masses. So breathe your sigh of relief if your concern is the maltreatment of Jews in Iran (though a small sigh it must be). But if your concern was that Iran might be fascistic, then the debunking of the yellow star story should not allay your fears at all.
May 23 Update: Amir Taheri stands by his story;
The law has been passed by the Islamic Majlis and will now be submitted to the Council of Guardians. A committee has been appointed to work out the modalities of implementation.
Many ideas are being discussed with regard to implementation, including special markers, known as zonnars, for followers of Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism, the only faiths other than Islam that are recognized as such. The zonnar was in use throughout the Muslim world until the early 20th century and marked out the dhimmis, or protected religious minorities. ( In Iran it was formally abolished in 1908).
I have been informed of the ideas under discussion thanks to my sources in Tehran, including three members of the Majlis who had tried to block the bill since it was first drafted in 2004.
I do not know which of these ideas or any will be eventually adopted. We will know once the committee appointed to discuss them presents its report, perhaps in September.
Interestingly, the Islamic Republic authorities refuse to issue an
official statement categorically rejecting the concept of dhimmitude and the need for marking out religious minorities.
I raised the issue not as a news story, because news of the new law was already several days old, but as an opinion column to alert the outside world to this most disturbing development.
Yet another smorgasbord set out for the trolls..
Can Sent,I notice you’ve somehow managed to pigeon-hole together ALL independent free-thinking NON-PARTISANS as some organized group you consider bad like those nasty lefties.
I’m starting to worry about you my friend,you seem to be losing all ability to think independently,instead worshipping at some conservative altar.(we good,they bad…we good,they bad…)The world is NOT black and white,there are NO absolutes(exc.death)!
Stop treating almost EVERYONE with a differing opinion as the enemy!
Although I agree Libby was way off base,take the time to reread your rebuttal.It is not much more than a long list of insults,taunts and sarcasm.
Am I alone in my hopes of intelligent debate here or do most people just want to rant and then have a hayday insulting anyone else who dare offer differing opinions?
I’m sorry to be picking on YOU again,but that does not change the fact I believe I needed to say what needed to be said.Have a good day.
Oh yeah,and don’t overfeed the trolls!
Maybe Libby should be forced to wear a piece of brown fabric identifying her as a troll? She does approve of it, after all!
Maybe a piece of BROWN fabric to identify her as the piece of s**t she is.
Maybe Libby should be forced to wear a piece of brown fabric identifying her as a troll? She does approve of it, after all!
Maybe a piece of BROWN fabric to identify her as the piece of shit she is.
Sorry for the double. This new posting set up works in weird ways
I’m still assuming that Libby was being sarcastic. Not even a troll could come up with so asinine and ridiculous a comment and actually mean it.
If not, she would win the asshat of the year award which she could pick up from Peanut Jimmy Carter.
Liberals will be in a quandary over this one: how to balance their love and uber-tolerance for all things non-western/Christian with the fact that forcing people to wear identifying marks seems a tad intolerant even in a Muslim cultural context. What to do? What to do?
Canada makes move on diplomatic front:
http://www.international.gc.ca/middle_east/iran_relations-en.asp
Jerusalem Post also picks up the story….
Assume the Libby post was simply some sort of dark parody written for the purpose of mocking liberals.
On a closely related note the 2006 Census form asked to list the race of every member of my family. I clicked the “other” check box and filled in “Canadian” for all five of us. I hope this offensive request was a hangover from the outgoing Libs who love to play the race game.
Canadian Sentinel: Prime Minister Harper and Prime Minister Howard speak out.
Speak, Canadian Sentinel; you are in good company.
God bless Stephen Harper and John Howard. …
Harper slams Iran label reports
CP | May 19, 2006
Posted on 05/19/2006 9:56:09 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says news reports that Iran could require Jews and Christians to wear coloured labels in public might be true.
He says Iran’s hardline Islamist government has proven itself capable of such extreme actions.
He called a law allegedly being considered in Iran a mind-boggling reminder of Nazi German practices.
He says reports that Iran is considering a law to force Jews to wear yellow labels, and Christians red ones, are a reminder to the world that Iran must never gain nuclear weapons.
He made the remarks at a news conference with Australian Prime Minister John Howard. …
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1635035/posts
So, what to make of this….
http://www.international.gc.ca/middle_east/iran_relations-en.asp
Any thoughts?
How ironic that no one complained when the Israelis made the Palestinians working construction in Israel wear white hard hats with big red crosses on them so they would be more visible to the Israeli snipers watching them. How quick we are to condemn one side but not the other.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/33C79FBE-FFEF-4005-AB28-D96DD6C1E82F.htm
maz2- The news report was carried by the National Post; it’s also headlined in the NP paper edition. The colour is yellow for Jews and red for Christians. It doesn’t become law until it is approved by the Ayottolah.
However, I maintain that this proposal has two agendas. First, it’s a taunt to the West, a mocking taunt. Hopefully, such a taunt will encourage the type of emotive reaction that we’ve seen on this thread.
Iran wants to set itself up in Muslim eyes as ‘Under Attack by the West’. The argument for the attacks will be discrimination by the West against Muslim behaviour. After all, they will say, in Israel, you forbid Palestinians to live with their wives, husbands and children who live in Israel. In Europe, you forbid our women to wear the headcloth in school. That’s ‘discrimination’. You define us as evil people and we are not; we are just protecting our rights..and so on and so on and…
So, we here in Iran will discriminate against you. It is, after all, in the Koran.
Second and aligned with this first (i.e., there’s no first/second)..is that Iran wants to set itself up in Muslim eyes as the Apex of Islamism in the whole world. It is trying to achieve this by all these PR tactics which capture the West’s attention, and the West obliges by putting it on all the front pages of their newspapers and TV screens. This focuses Muslim attention on Iran. And, when the West reacts against Iran – it sets up Iran as The Defender of The Faith.
This new action, of denigrating People of the Western Religions, is just this week’s scenario. It’s obviously working.
Next week, who knows what they’ll do next week? But, it’s those two agendas: Make Iran the Apex of Islamism in the whole world; and, make the West attack and criticize Islamism. That bonds Muslim people together, under Iran.
Think of all the communist cells all over the world, which bonded together, as the West attacked communism. Same thing..
By the way, for heaven’s sake – Libby’s post had to be sarcastic metaphor. Can we shut up about it?
your source is Al Jazeera? Why not the KKK?
uh-oh…
sorry to dissapoint some of the anti-CBC, lefty-hating, harper-loving conspiracy theorists out here, but it turns out that our beloved prime minister might just have created an international incident.
There’s word out there that the National Post story is untrue. It’s starting to get debunked on a few websites.
Meanwhile, our prime minister is comparing Iranians to Nazis based on a potentially BS story.
At least the CBC and most media were smart enough not to bite — because, unlike some of y’all — they can smell National Post BS from a mile away.
Too bad Harper thinks it smells like roses.
Turks: “We are not Iran.” …
Thousands of Turks Rally for Secularism
Michael Rubin at The Corner has news of an amazing development in Turkey, following the Islamist attack in an Ankara courthouse. (Hat tip: Jim in Virginia.)
I spoke at length with Turkish officials last night. What is happening in Ankara is amazing. Crowds booed Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul—the ruling party’s representative at the funeral—and police corridors had to protect the ruling AKP ministers from the crowds. Journalists are also saying people screamed “Murderer” at the Prime Minister. The crowd even booed former AKP politicians who had defected from the party in recent months. Tens of thousands of Turks are rallying spontaneously in favor of secularism and liberalism. Some Turkish journalists are beginning to describe the events of the last couple days as Turkey’s 9/11. It has certainly been a wake-up call. I saw some faxes of Turkish papers yesterday carrying comments to the effect “We are not Iran.” Turkish papers are traditionally slow to take on the government because so many media conglomerate owners rely on state contracts for their other businesses. However, once the public mood shifts, the newspapers pile on. And that is what they are doing. Turkish security officials are investigating the assassin’s ties to the AKP and there are also some rumors—so far unconfirmed—that he had recently trained in Iran. People in Istanbul and Ankara are talking about early elections. It is unclear how long the AKP can continue to govern, or whether other political parties will want to ally themselves with the group in a coalition. … via LGF
Links to the websites that are debunking?
I know UPI and JPost are now running with the story…
I’ve been busy this morning and only catching up. Wasn’t going to comment since on this website with this audience it doesn’t really need to be said. But, since my name has already been taken in vain, for the record (and if this story is true – I wouldn’t doubt it’s truth because it seems like something this Iranian government would do but there seems to be questions): I do indeed think that this is one of the most outrageous, sick and dangerous measures taken by any government since the Taliban was in power.
Now to catch up on a few other comments:
– the Libby comment above was clearly, as was immediately obvious to many but some fell for anyway, was either a joke or a plant by someone wanting to stir the pot. Those aren’t even the arguments the Iranian government would give it. Methinks someone was getting bored without having anyone to jump on and scream at. If I’m wrong, Libby you are a moron.
– liberal leaning organizations and rights groups were very quick to speak out against this. Again, I don’t know if it is a true story (assuming it is), but the very Post article referred to by Kate includes some quotations. Sorry to steal a chance to jump on imaginary liberal positions, but you’ll have to go on inventing liberal strawmen on this one.
– why is it that on every single comment section at SDA more than a few conservatives feel the need to always step to the plate and cast as wide a racist net as possible. You make the rest of the conservatives, who are frankly in the majority, look bad you know. Saying the Iranians are bad because they want to colour code races but that’s not a bad idea for us to do with Muslims, fits in that category. Read the Post article: it quotes many Iranians who are outraged by this.
– to those who whine that liberals are marching on the streets in protest about this, two things. One, the story, if true, only broke today bozos. Two, if you are typing away or reading this it would appear to me that you ain’t doin’ much either. Besides, the Iranian government doesn’t care too much what you or I think.
Now, with that out of the way, what would we all do about Iran? A lot of conservatives here, not surprisingly, are only interested in bashing liberals or the UN for not doing anything here, but come up a bit short on actually suggesting anything practical or within the realm of reality.
OF COURSE no one wants Iran to have a nuclear bomb. I’m sure you could find some lefty wackos who might equivocate on this issue, but progressives and liberals don’t want anyone to have the bomb, especially a crazed group of theocrats (regardless of the religion).
But what are we to do?
It takes military might to force the Iranians to do anything. I’d be all for going in after them, but who is going to do that? The Americans have so bungled up Iraq that they have no ability to do anything but bomb a few factories. The Iranians know that which is reason #1 they are rattling sabres and doing whatever they like.
Reason #2 for their nuclear push is that it paid off well for North Korea. How much is the US paying them to (temporarily) not produce nuclear weapons (publicly)?
Reason #3 is the inherent racism that is part of the fuel of this horrible theocratic regime.
Don’t take that as anti-Americanism, although most of you won’t be able to resist. A strong America is exactly what we need right now because no one has one tenth of the military power they do. And certainly not anywhere near the intimidation ability. What is it you want Harper to do right now anyway? Threaten invasion without the US deciding what to do first? The Americans can’t commit to another war because of Iraq. No one else has the ability to take them on. So your sabre rattling looks a little silly, even if your heart is in the right place.
There is certainly an element, a large element, of US and Canadian society which waits for the US to decide what to do before deciding that that is what they must oppose. That is childish, of course. Foreign policy should be based upon principle and national interest, not on what the US/UN/NATO approves or does. But all the warhawks here clamouring for action seem awfully quiet on what Canada can actually do right now, either that or they are so bereft of a sense of reality that it would be unfair to engage their delusions about what the Conservatives could do on their own right now.
(As an aside, anyone notice that the Post failed to mention that the supposed colour bars applies to Christians as well. How come no one is attacking the National Post as anti-Christian the way you most assuredly would have had if the Globe or CBC had broken the story? Nevermind.)
Long weekend coming up folks and I want to get out from behind my desk so I’m outta here.
Remember, take lots of antihistamenes. Attaking strawmen so vehemently can cause allergic reactions.
Have a nice long weekend.
Ted
Cerberus
Cdn Observer, you should refrain from changing the subject. I’m aware of your opinions of my commentary, and accept your right to hold and express them, ok…
Do you not realize that the left is the champion of screeching slander against folks (like me, believe it or not) who really do prefer intellectual, calm, rational, polite, fact-based dialogue?
I have found election after election that if we let their slanders go unanswered, then the voters tend to actaully believe the lies told by the left. I therefore vowed to hit back with equal ferocity, calling them the same stuff they call us, to neutralize their attacks while the professional politicians who actually run for election tell the facts to the people. When the voters see everyone slamming the other side, they’ll learn to ignore the slams. But they need to learn first by seeing how silly it is. That’s what I do and I won’t apologize. I hope the other sides will then realize they need to be more civil and honorable in the future. It’s their move.
I’m sure you can understand why I rip into the other sides, for they far too often Pearl Harbor folks like me AND you.
But that’s enough about that. I don’t want to abuse Kate’s bandwidth any further by going off-topic.
Tony, if you actually saw the press conference, PMs Harper and Howard specifically started their statements by saying:
“I have not heard reports of this, but if it is true….”
We are not Iran: no they are not. Iran has never committed genocide, as Turkey has. Turkey will still not admit to it. They have a long way to go towards being a liberal democracy, and admitting to the genocide that Hitler used as a blueprint for the Holocaust might be a good first step. Oh, but that would be bad for all the western defense contracts that sell arms to Turkey.
Seems as if the official (?) Iranian news agency is corroborating the story…
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0605158004121559.htm
Gawd. That was a long post by me. Just kept adding to it. Note to self: check in with SDA earlier in the morning so mid-afternoon comments aren’t so long.
Ted
Cerberus
Winston Churchill’s October 5, 1938 speech to the House of Commons
(idea) by Thomas Miconi (2.6 y) (print) ? Wed Jun 07 2000 at 19:28:42
NOTE: This speech was given by Winston Churchill at the House of Commons after the Munich Pact was signed. Those are only excerpts, transcripted from the remarkable http://library.byu.edu/~rdh/eurodocs/uk.html . The full version may be found at http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/munich.htm .
Having thus fortified myself by the example of others, I will proceed to emulate them. I will, therefore, begin by saying the most unpopular and most unwelcome thing. I will begin by saying what everybody would like to ignore or forget but which I must nevertheless be stated, namely, that we have sustained a total and unmitigated defeat, and that France has suffered even more than we have.
Viscoutess Astor: Nonsense.
When the Noble Lady cries “Nonsense,” she could not have heard the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon) admit in his illuminating and comprehensive speech just now that Herr Hitler had gained in this particular leap forward in substance all he set out to gain. …
We are in the presence of a disaster of the first magnitude which has befallen Great Britain and France. Do not let us blind ourselves to that. It must now be accepted that all the countries of Central and Eastern Europe will make the best terms they can with the triumphant Nazi Power. The system of alliances in Central Europe upon which France has relied for her safety has been swept away, and I can see no means by which it can be reconstituted. The road down the Danube Valley to the black Sea, the resources of corn and oil, the road which leads as far as Turkey, has been opened. In fact, if not in form, it seems to me that all those countries of Middle Europe, all those Danubian countries, will, one after another, be drawn into this vast system of power politics — not only power military politics but power economic politics — radiating from Berlin, and I believe this can be achieved quite smoothly and swiftly and will not necessarily entail the firing of a single shot….
I do not grudge our loyal, brave people, who were ready to do their duty no matter what the cost, who never flinched under the strain of last week — I do not grudge them the natural, spontaneous outburst of joy and relief when they learned that the hard ordeal would no longer be required of them at the moment; but they should know the truth.
They should know that there has been gross neglect and deficiency in our defences; they should know that we have sustained a defeat without a war, the consequences of which will travel far with us along our road; they should know that we have passed an awful milestone in our history, when the whole equilibrium of Europe has been deranged, and that the terrible words have for the time being been pronounced against the Western democracies:
“Thou are weighed in the balance and found wanting.”
And do not suppose that this is the end. This is only the beginning of the reckoning.This is only the first sip, the first foretaste of a bitter cup which will be proffered to us year by year unless by a supreme recovery of moral health and martial vigour, we arise again and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time. …
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=593152
I hestitated to comment because the apparent source is suspect to me. Iranians in Canada? The National Post? It makes me pause and look around.
I don’t see any confirmations from sources that would be more credible like BBC or some Arab, Asian or Indian source.
It could be planted as simply more Iran bashing by American CIA sources. You remember what they do to enemies before they take them down or as part of ongoing campaigns. They identified Iran as an evil power. So now they have to “prove” like they did with Iraq. Remember how dangerous Iraq used to be? It seemed like they were as dangerous as the Russians or Nazis but of course everyone knew Iraq was really a “slam dunk” kind of enemy. Like Granada or Cuba or Panama etc. So you see before I jump on the bandwagon you don’t mind if I have a little skepticism about the truthiness of this latest verbal volley in Americas ongoing attempt to demonize yet another “enemy”.
Meanwhile, I will watch, somewhat amused, somewhat bewildered, by the nationalistic myopia and lack of historical memory of most bloggers.
Steve,
That you find the BBC credible on any question removes you from reasoned debate.
Granada and Panama went off perfectly. Not sure of your point there. As for Cuba, I assume you refer to the bay of pigs. It’s best you don’t rely on a Kennedy. Bad track record that lot.
And Iraq was plenty dangerous if you happen to be a Kurd or Iranian or Kuwaiti or Israeli or…
Good heavens, steve d. So, Iran is a peace-loving haven of the free, a supporter of freedom of speech, thought and religion, a promoter of Iraqi and Afghanistan democracy, a harbinger of goodwill and any words that suggest otherwise, are ‘due to the Americans and the CIA and’…. My, my.
I wish that those who express their belief that Iran is merely saber-rattling and that the story is a hoax were right.
But the world largely thought Hitler was just mouthing off or something, and then they saw how wrong they were.
Let’s keep that historical truth in mind today as well.
And remember how often the good people of the Free World have uttered the words “NEVER AGAIN”.
Those of us who ever said “never again” and meant it had better apply it to Iran and any other nation who promises to commit genocide, as has President Ahmadinejad. He promised to his own people (not to the Free World) to “wipe out all Anglo-Saxons everywhere”.
OK, Canadian Sentinel, agree with all your points. But what are you asking our government to do? What are you asking the Americans to do?
Ted . . . fess up buddy cause you messed up.
here’s from the NP article
“Iran’s roughly 25,000 Jews would have to sew a yellow strip of cloth on the front of their clothes, while Christians would wear red badges and Zoroastrians would be forced to wear blue cloth.”
What have YOU got against the Zoroastrians ???
Ted: Very good comment. Lord know what can be done.
steve d.: The CIA has better things to do. Whether or not the story is true should be easy to verify in short order. If you believe Arab sources in general are reliable…
Mark
Ottawa
Ted,
I’d like the west (including the Eurocowards) to get with the program, set a carrot and stick program with a solid deadline (full diplomatic recognition, etc for compliance and military bombings if not.)
That deadline would not be: “do as the UN says or face a stern warning or nasty letter” it would be do it or be bombed.
If they don’t, the international community (preferable the whole UN but since that is impossible, then ALL of NATO) should bomb all of Iran’s nuclear facilities, their mullahs, their leaders their missile bases and naval asset (to prevent the Iranians from closing the straight of Hormuz) etc.
The choice is between very, very bad and total destruction. There is no good choice. Can you imagine WWIII but with Nukes? No thanks. No price is too high to pay to stop them from getting nukes.
Care should be taken to minimize civilian deaths but at the same time a realization that what has to be done, has to be done. If they have put a school on top of a bunker, hit it at night. But hit it.
What’s your solution? I’m assuming you would be horrified by mine but who knows?
George said:
“How ironic that no one complained when the Israelis made the Palestinians working construction in Israel wear white hard hats with big red crosses on them so they would be more visible to the Israeli snipers watching them. How quick we are to condemn one side but not the other.”
George where have you been. Do you not follow the UN? How many times has Israel been condemned by the UN? I’ve lost count. The problem is that the international community is always quick to condemn Israel’s actions but is too scared or hypocritical to condemn Muslim countries. The Iranian leader has said that the holacaust was a hoax. I’m tired of the double standard. This is racism pure and simple.
Ted,
I have recommended that if the UN does nothing, then the US and other reasonably capable military powers(what can Canada do– the Liberals beginning with Trudeau have effectively castrated the Forces; sorry, but it’s the truth) shall have to preemptively take out Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and preferably its other military capability, considering its promises to wage international war against the Free World regardless of whether we strike them first.
Canada should give moral support for this action, and implement complete sanctions against Iran, economic and diplomatic. This we can do today.
Iran refuses to cooperate with the UN, yet the UN will apparently never do a thing in response to this clear affront.
Iran has promised to be a grave threat to humanity.
Do we want to find out by doing nothing? We did indeed have that horrible experience in WWII.
You may disagree.
What do you think we should do? Sure, we can talk and be diplomatic, but do you believe it’ll make any difference? I don’t. I wish I could see any reason to think so, but the mentality of the Islamofascists is that we’re irrelevant and inferior and that only Allah and the Koran can guide them or tell them what to do– and that’s to hate us and kill us.
I’m not making that up. I’m serious.
Dichter: He who forces Jews to wear ribbons will die
Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter said in response to the reports regarding Iran’s plan to obligate minority members wear colored badges that, “he who will force Jews, wherever they may be, to wear yellow badges will eventually find himself in a casket covered in black cloth.” …
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3252855,00.html
The NP article doesn’t appear as a hoax; it’s written by Amir Taheri and refers to a law passed by the Iranian parl’t on Monday – to establish a dress code for all Iranians. With respect to women’s clothing, it replaces the 1982 one that put them all in the hijab.
No more imports of clothing; all clothing must be made in Iran. No jeans, no western clothing, no ties. No vivid colours; black, grey, dark blue.
Infidels clearly delineated by colour marks, with yellow for Jews, red for Christians and blue for Zoroastrians. Agnostics and atheists, who are forbidden to exist, will just, I presume, be stoned to death.
Total ban on imports of clothing from the West.
Debate still ongoing about the shape and size of men’s beards and mustaches – that will be dealt with by parliament next year (ahh, the weighty issues to be discussed).
All public sector workers to be in uniform by 2009 at the latest.
And, Iran has sent a team to Lebanon to inform them of the new law…See what I mean? Iran is setting itself up as the Apex of Islamism.
It’s quite interesting to watch a nation move itself into totalitarianism of its people. Watch what happens to its economy and its science; remember the Taliban did the same in Afghanistan. Remember what happened in China and ‘Mao’s uniform’. Stalinist Russia. I’ll maintain that a fundamentalist totalitarianism, a top down centralism, is innately internally disastrous. Watch it implode.
But remember, for it to even work – Iran wants and needs the West to act hysterically. It requires the West to attack it; that will unite Muslims world over, to bond to Iran as The Saviour of Islam.
There are two kinds of agendas among the Islamic fundamentalists. There’s Iran, which is ‘going crazy’. Its agenda, as I said, is to move itself into a central power, by asserting itself as the head of world Islamism.
And there’s Al Qaeda, which is, I think, but may be wrong, was earlier than Iran’s agenda and had a different focus – a focus more on Saudi Arabia than Islamism. Bin Laden was after SA. That failed and now, without Bin Laden (I think he’s dead), I think that Al Qaeda has degenerated to overall criminal anti-Western, anti-capitalism, anti…without a clear future-oriented (what if we suceed?) agenda.
Good on Avi. We know the one group of people who will take this crap seriously…
The question is: Will we force them to stand alone? If so, we make a mockery of “never again.”
What will British academics do?
Silently applaud, no doubt.
I know you’re not making this up. And I’m also not saying that I have the answer. We can’t let Iran get the bomb (get more bombs?). But the US is in no position to prevent them, regardless of however many UN resolutions you adopt. Obviously, start with the UN resolutions – it took 10 years with Iraq before the US decided to unilaterally act – so maybe just possibly the US will be out of Iraq by then and ready to take on an Iran that by then has plenty of nuclear weapons.
The sanctions one I agree with. It’s something we could do. But go to war with them now or a Clinton-like war-lite with bombing? I just don’t see how that is realistic given the situation in Iraq and the US, regardless of how much good it would do and regardless of how much we sable rattle with our keyboards.
Ted
Cerberus
Can.Sentinel,actually,I think I agree with your position on this dispicable action by Iran,but I cannot be sure as it is sooo hard to separate your message from all the gratuitous garbage it is mixed in with.I do thank you for responding to my points with calmness and clarity,all I ask is you consider treating others similarly!
BTW,since you consider tossing insults at anonymous lefties an honest response to counter their habits of slander,does that also mean you want to start committing acts of fraud,theft and treason to counter those bad habits too?Just something,again,for you to contemplate.
West should seriously consider regime change in Iran before it is late
Last comment directed to Canadian Sentinel.
Speaking of Zoroastrians, the majority were forced out of Iran by the present-day Muslim occupiers. When will the Muslims get out of Iran so that the Zoroastrians can go back to their ancestral homeland?
End the occupation now!
Et
I never said Iran was angelic nor did I say America was evil. To be clear Iran is in a squeeze play between super powers. America loves/needs docile cooperation(ie Canada) to enable it to feed its voracious appetite for resources. Iran is looking to the east for customers and that just feeds China the only long term threat to American economic domination. In the end, that is what all this is about. That is what the foreign policy of America is all about.
In fact, the recent history of Iran is a perfect microcosmic example of the kind economic imperialism the resource countries have had to cope with since the first world war. You can trace how English Imperialism gave way to American Imperialism. Notice along the way how America usurped a constitutional Monarchy in Iran because the democratic government wanted to nationalize their oil. Now America is telling us they want Democracy in the Middle East. Gimmie a break. They want free access to cheap resources just like every superpower before them. America isn’t bad, they are merely the latest elephant in the room taking up all the resources. They didn’t set out to be an economic elephant. They just thrived due to the economic and political biology of the world being very favourable to their growth. How the elephant treats the mice in the room does become a concern for the rest of us mice.
Quote from Minister of Internal Security in Israel:
“he who will force Jews, wherever they may be, to wear yellow badges will eventually find himself in a casket covered in black cloth.”
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3252855,00.html
Ted,
France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Norway, and all the other Nato members all have air forces. It’s about time the rest of us stepped up to the plate and took things seriously.
The worst part of leaving everything to the Americans all the time is our own lack of seriousness. We too are responsible for the safety of western civilization. Not just the Yanks. In order to send the message that it isn’t just the big and little Satin bombing the Muslims, many more countries have to be involved.
It would be a disaster if only the Yanks – or worse, only the Israelis were involved.
Sanctions don’t work on undemocratic regimes because they have a large lack of respect for the suffering of their own people. What does the mad mullah’s care if the average Iranian suffers? They’re willing to start a war, willing to run a police state, willing to execute and torture their own citizens… What are sanctions going to accomplish?
Sanctions haven’t brought down Castro after half a century. Castro never had oil.
Rewax… it’s a world-wide ad scheme; similar to the “United Colours of Benett…n”. Why, it’s been exported to Lebanon… say reports. It’s just the rag-trade flexing its musselmans in Iran…
Phewwww… rewax… infidels….
Excerpt:
A colour code for Iran’s ‘infidels’
Amir Taheri, National Post
Published: Friday, May 19, 2006
By September the Majlis is expected to approve an initial budget of US$800-million to help “the poor and the needy” to adopt the new uniforms. All public sector workers, estimated to number 4.5 million, will be in uniform by 2009 at the latest.
What is already labelled “the Islamic clothes revolution” will not be limited to Iran. Tehran has already sent a team to Lebanon to inform the Hezbollah of the new law and train cadres to impose it on Lebanese Shiites.
“Our aim is to make sure that every Muslim, wherever he or she happens to be on this Earth, is a living and walking symbol of Islam,” says Pourharandi. …
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=398274b5-9210-43e4-ba59-fa24f4c66ad4&k=28534&p=3
Steve D.
Your not that bright. If all the Yanks wanted was oil they’d have bought it a lot cheaper than what they’ve spent on military action.
Just like France/Chrétien did with TotalFinaElf cum Total Group in Iraq as well as Iran.
The Yanks buy oil from all kinds of places they haven’t invaded. Canada for one. Even Hugo’s socialist paradise is a huge supplier of oil to the US. I don’t think the military is going into either place.
The War for Oil thing makes no sense. Markets and capitalists like stability. War is not stability.
Cheap resources? What do you drive? A skateboard? Oil’s $70 a barrel and copper, aluminium, zinc are all very expensive nowadays despite the week’s pullback in commodity markets.
Michael, Who cares if it*s true or not.
The Iranians are mostly OK, but the power crazed Mullusks did say they would vaporize Israel, did the not?
Any opportunity to pile scorn upon the heads of said mullusks should be siezed with gusto.
If there is nothing to the story, I will print an apology…. sincerely,
on toilet paper. TG
Ted,yesterday you p*ssed me off,today I agree with your take completely.Thanks for keeping me on my toes.
ET,some excellent points,we are definitely being goaded by Iran to take action.The larger problem,I believe,is their leaders are working hard to make it Not a war against Iran but against all of Islam!
Steve d.: China is the largest foreign investor in the Sudanese oil industry and Sudan is China’s fourth largest source of (rapidly growing) oil imports. China (along with Russia) is blocking efforts by the UN Security Council to take action that might be effective in Darfur.
In this case it really is all about oil. How did you miss it?
Mark
Ottawa