An Open Letter to President Obama on Appeasing Iran
Three decades after the Islamic revolution, the West still fails to understand the political structure of Iran and the mentality behind it. That ignorance endangers the world, for the madmen who rule Iran in their iron grip are bent upon launching Armageddon.
Several U.S. presidents underestimated the crazed policies that the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini forced on the Iranian people beginning in 1979. If Barack Obama doesn’t take this nightmarish threat seriously, Israel could very well be destroyed — and that destruction could expand to Europe and America.
We only have to look at history to see all too clearly Washington’s folly at trying to appease Tehran.
President Carter and his national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, began America’s misguided policy toward radical Islam, Carter by calling Khomeini “a man of God” and Brzezinski with his plan to help Islamic militants confront the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, that policy of negotiation and hope for a moderate leader in Iran who would open the doors to the West continued under President Reagan.
While I was writing coded messages under dimmed light in the middle of the night informing the CIA about the mullahs’ terrorist activities and the Revolutionary Guards’ expansion in Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East, the U.S. government was meeting in private with the Revolutionary Guards in Geneva, Brussels, Frankfort, and Mainz during the mid-1980s. The Guards negotiators at these meetings, close associates of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, were assigned the names “the Engine” and “the Relative” and had met with U.S. negotiators several times, including Oliver North. The CIA facilitated a trip for “the Relative” to Washington, D.C., where he was even given a tour of the White House.
At the time, the CIA knew that the barracks bombing in Lebanon, which killed 241 American servicemen, was the work of the Guards under Rafsanjani, then the speaker of parliament; Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the president at the time; and Imam Khomeini, the supreme leader. The CIA was aware of all the kidnappings, torture, and killing of hostages, such as CIA agent William Buckley, who was executed by Islamic Jihad — a front name for the Guards and their activity in Lebanon. But despite Iran’s treachery, the U.S. government entertained a long list of demands by the Guards to clear the way for improved relations.
Washington’s efforts resulted in securing the release of only a few hostages, and in return the Guards received many shipments of American weapons, some of which ended up in the hands of the terrorist group Hezbollah, based in Lebanon. Later, many more hostages were taken and more demands made.
Kazem, my then-commander in the Guards, had told me, “The dumb cowboys think we will help release their hostages in Lebanon and improve our relationship with them. They are giving us arms, lots of arms. Haj Agha Rafsanjani knows how to play with these bastards and how to milk them.”
This shortsightedness continued with President George H.W. Bush, who ignored the Iranian involvement in the Pan Am bombing over Lockerbie (as I had reported to the CIA) in his secret negotiations with Rafsanjani, the Iranian president at the time, who had promised better relations. That effort also failed, just as President Clinton (who looked the other way at Iran’s involvement in the Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia) failed in negotiating with Mohammad Khatami, the next Iranian president, with another promise of cooperation while secretly purchasing parts for Iran’s nuclear project.
The Revolutionary Guards recently performed multiple tests on surface-to-surface missiles fired from a ship. One needs to ask what the purpose is for such tests. Could it be that they intend to launch missiles against an enemy far from Iran, perhaps from a ship closer to that enemy’s border?
With the help of North Korea, the Guards are working on long-range ballistic missiles in tests that are concealed by their space project. Other tests include expanding the reach of their Shahab-3 missiles to cover Europe, which currently are capable of targeting Tel Aviv, Riyadh, U.S. bases in Iraq, and the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. The Guards now have more than 100 Shahab-3 missiles in stock while working to develop a nuclear warhead. At the same time, the Iranians are increasing the number of centrifuges (over 5,000 as of November 2008) for the enrichment of uranium while enough nuclear material has already been produced to make a nuclear bomb.
A nuclear-armed Iran under the thugocracy of the mullahs is near, maybe in a matter of months, and any misconception about their intentions will have grave consequences.
Don’t try too hard. Obamble won’t listen and he probably doesn’t even care. he is more worried about his own image in the mirror and the aura surrounding him.
How are these signs any different than fundamentalist Christians listing their own countdown to the apocalypse, and their desire to bring it about ?
The problem has always been when religion and political power become bedfellows. It creates madness and the sincere belief that you are right, everyone else is wrong, and the world be damned. Radical fundamentals on both sides should be forced to live on their own Island and battle it out among themselves, leave the rest of Humanity out of their turf war.
As long as the Jews are the intended first target, the USA and specificaly Barack Hussein Obama will do nothing and await the expunging of the troublesome Jews. In this he has the full cooperation of the State Department, whose traditional stance is that the jewish State is a “wound, a festering sore” (Obama’s own words to the Atlantic) which should never have been given the go-ahead by Eisenhower. This view is in perfect accord with Whitehall, the Quay d’orsey, Hugo Chavez, Ahmadinejad, Nasser, Assad, and former Prsident Carter, whose world views do not include a sovereign Jewish State. Ergo, if Israel does not abolish the Nuclear ambitions of Iran, as it did iraq and Syria, Obama will stand aside and encourage Iran to complete the work Hitler started.
#2. Alex:
“How are these signs any different than fundamentalist Christians listing their own countdown to the apocalypse, and their desire to bring it about ?”
If you really are THAT ignorant, you shouldn’t post comments here.
Go and read the Apocalypse of St. John the Divine and then report back to me where it calls for Christians to nuke anyone or make any wars to hasten Armageddon.
The Fundamentalist Christians, most notably the Evangelicals, believe that they must spread the Word of God to every nation on Earth.
That’s about it, fella:
“Here’s the Bible, have a nice day!”
“Radical fundamentals on both sides should be forced to live on their own Island and battle it out among themselves, leave the rest of Humanity out of their turf war.”
Nice…you lump devout Christians in with Iranian theocrats who support terrorist organizations, and who sent twelve year olds to find land mines with their feet.
Mind my asking what the f*ck Christians ever did to you to merit such an absurdly simplistic equation?
“It creates madness and the sincere belief that you are right, everyone else is wrong,”
You really are profundly miseducated about a faith that you probably have lived with and among all your life.
Ever heard of Humility and Contrition?
They are the precursors to Confession, which is the necessary component to Salvation.
And you can only benefit from that if you realize that you DO NOT know it all, and you are NOT perfect, and that there are some things that only God’s Grace can bestow.
Hasn’t anyone ever explained this about us to you?
Or have you listened only to the avowed Godless?
75% of Iranians are pro-American. 95% of Iranians are pro nuclear power. They have not yet gone full into bomb-grade enrichment. Currently they have made enough 3% enriched that if they want to, they can go to getting enough 90% bomb grade enriched for one bomb.
Iran has ample reason to wish to establish strategic deterrance – they are surrounded by nuclear powers – The US, Russia, Pakistan, Israel. They also have a powerful Turk army and AF right across the Border. What Iran needs is either a nuke WMD-free ME (which includes Israel giving them up), their own WMD program eventually, or falling under someones nuclear umbrella with a security guarantee (something Nixon was working on before the Islamic Revolution)
Reza Kahlili is a hysteric, if he actually exists and is not a DEBKA hoax.
Israel has no way of conventionally bombing some 80 separate facilities in Iran, most on distant Central or NE sections of the country. It has no way of ever getting Turkey, Iraq, KSA to let Zionists refuel or cross their airspace unopposed.
Nor would Israel last long if it started a preemptive nuclear war. At the least, such a sneak nuclear attack would trigger a global oil embargo the US wouldn’t have the influence or even the willpower to break if their “Special Friend” just started an unprovoked nuclear war that killed several million Iranians..Israel woul last about 2 months, collapse, then discussion would start on them moving to a new Siberian Oblast created for them or up to Laborador or Kodiak Island.
Nor, as things stand, is America willing to stick itself into a 3rd war, one which would be far bigger and costly than the Iraq mess. No matter how much AIPAC cojoles, bribes, or threatens the US Congress. Not unless OUR Vital Interests, not Israel’s, are in play. Consider all the Neocon triumphalist junk about “easy surgical bombing” or Beloved Maximum War Leader George Bush’s promise he would stop Iran from getting nukes no matter what – all ancient history now.
As a conservative, military officer, and scholar of Iran I am deeply saddened and highly offended by this article. Attempting to characterize the future foreign policy actions of Iran based upon religious dogma and the “mad mullah” mentality is simple ill informed fear mongering and adds more to the problem and much less to any possible solution. All we hear these days is about the crazed Iranian regime and their insane lust for nuclear war, which is entirely and bluntly untrue. While i do not condone the various bombings, or attacks that have been attributed to the regime, I most assuredly could not characterize the actions of the Iranian state as irrational. In fact by comparison to several of the state actors in the middle east, the Iranians are some of the most level headed, and by far the best negotiators in the region. The Iranians want more power, and they want something to distract the youthful generation (some 65+ percent of the country)from asking for more civil rights, and the inception of nuclear power adds legitimacy to the regime. Nuclear POWER is a sign of great magnitude on the international stage, and the Iranians culturally see it as a blotch on the fabric of their nation that someone culturally “less” than them, like the Indians or the Pakistanis, have the nuclear power and they don’t. In fact the prevailing winds in the middle east would carry any fissile material launched into Israel back into Iran… making a nuclear strike all but suicide. It is the type of mis-characterization and generalizations about the Iranian people and even the Iranian state itself that goes furthest to promote conflict, and it seems that fault is with the U.S. I am not Iranian, nor am I an apologist for many actions of the Iranian state, but nuclear conflict is NOT the aim of the Iranian state, and the suggestion that is does does nothing to solve this problem.
Agha-ye Kahlili, I think you may have a typo – should that be Sura 2:193?
As you read the articles that are available on a variety of websites, a few articles have a grain of truth that punches you in the gut…this is one of those artiicles.
I have been speechless that our leaders have allowed Iran to furnish, ship and sometimes plant the IED’s that have been so harmful to our troops. In my mind, the first time we found one with absolute certainty, I would have told thew world about it, given them 7 days tomake amends and sin nomore.. and then bombed the crap out of them until they had their own problems to worry about.
I understand the whole thing about Armageddon and you can’t fight everybody at the same time but you can’t let them bully you. All they are is common neighborhood bullies and as soon as you punch them in the mouth, they go away. Dubya would have probably done just that if he hadn’t let the libs bully him.
Sometimes you have to do what you have to do just like my hero Atticus Finch in “To kill a Mockingbird” When you have a rabid dog in the neighborhood, you have to deal with it NOW.
BILGEMAN
#4
Very nicely said, brother. Your logic is both linear and seamless. There is far too much of alex’ shallow “logic”
extant in our society.
“Can President Obama dissuade Iran from destabilizing the world and prevent it from launching Armageddon? I pray for his success.”
–
Not a chance. He hasn’t a clue. Obama, and his supporters are part of the problem. I pray we survive him.
And people like Alex need to shed their anti-Christian cocoon and wake up – or at least stop annoying us with their mindless babble. He should start by reading the speech Ahmadinejad gave to the U. N. – I believe in 2006 – when he spoke about his dream for the return of the 12th Imam. There are no Christian leaders with access to nuclear weapons who bear any resemblance to this fanatic.
From what I understand this is not really an issue for the US. In about 2 weeks Israel is gonna blast em .
Clearly, Obama cares not a whit about the nuclear capabilities of other countries. As Barack said in the primaries, he’s interested only in reducing the military power of the United States, dismantling our missile defense shield, while enacting every socialist program the mob left have ever thought of.
Not living in a world of good and bad, evil and not, Obama’s grand plan overlooks the intention of any religion or nation or terrorist to willfully and with premeditation visit death and destruction on another.
Either Obama is naive to the nth degree or a closet apocalypse enabler. Both have a modern day killing fields potential written all over them.
Can Israel survive the Obama election? That is its 7.3 million population question.
By virtue of electing Barack Obama, the children of Israel, Europe and the United States are sentenced to live in fear of nuclear annihilation for decades to comes. Unless annihilation comes first.
Zbigniew Brzezinski, began America’s misguided policy toward radical Islam, Great? We have this same gentleman working for Obama now. What goes around comes aroung.Rerun time.
11. Tom H:From what I understand this is not really an issue for the US. In about 2 weeks Israel is gonna blast em.
Maybe. They’ve asked for permission to fly through Iraqi airspace a few times already (we denied them). But it remains to be seen if they go for it anyways.
Israel is far from suicidal, but they might be coaxed into inaction long enough for Iran to get the bomb.
Depressing.
It all make sense now. The radicals in Iran are on track for their Mahdi.The rocket they launched to place a satellite in orbit, can be armed with a nuke warhead which could travel 2500km, placing much of southeastern Europe within its range.Too bad Iran’s apologists are too dumb to realize the facts.
I’m just waiting for the Iranian version of the “Left Behind” series.
I remember learning about 12th Imam Shi’ism about twelve years ago in a Middle East policy class in college. This eschatological idea of the return of the twelfth mahdi (who, I think, disappeared as a youth–can anyone give a source for that?) does govern the religious belief and practice of many hard core shi’ites in Iran (many of whom, but not all, are in leadership positions). Of course, something does make me skeptical about all of these prophesies from these hadiths. Does anyone have a source for these? I’d be very curious.
But remember, it only takes one nuke. The Iranians need to be lucky only once. One lucky shot against Tel Aviv will causes horrors previously unimagined. I can only hope this author is blowing smoke and overstating the case. We’ll see.
#4 Bilgeman, #9 Pinkerton, #10 Terry,
Did i touch a nerve amongst Thee..??
1) Your confusing the word of God with the actions of men. What the Bible and Koran say to do, is not what actually occurs. Using either book as an EXCUSE for a particular action is the foundation of this article and postings.
2) St John the divine..?? maybe your referring to john of patmos, to whom the book of revelations is typically credited with writing. The book of revelations was copied from far earlier Roman works known as sybilline prophecies, these were wildly succesful books in Rome hundreds of years before John of Patmos wrote his interpretations. There are many recorded references in Roman literature to these prophesies hundreds of years before Christ walked the earth. They were best sellers of their time.
3) i see no difference between sending 12 year old into mine fields or dropping napalm and cluster bombs into civilian areas. They are both murder committed by madmen. One cannot justify the other
4) confession a neccesary component to Salvation..? you must be referring to repentance. We can chalk that up to regional language differences and the particular bible you have read.
5) fundamentalists and evangelicals are two completely seperate issues, your confusing two very different groups of people. Evangelicals do not call for the end of times.
Fundamentalists are foaming at the mouth for excuse to bomb Iran and bring about world war in mistaken belief that fulfills gods plan for Man. Ive met and talked to them, they are wildly fervent in the belief of self righteousness and they are fulfilling Gods plan for Man.
For the record i am not anti Christian, just tired of the bible thumpers that believe their interpretation can only be the correct one. Ive been to many conferences and watched evangelicals rip into protestants who rip into Catholics who rip into the Mormons…its a tragedy and frankly im sick of it.
Gods Grace does not allow for the self righteous to force their belief on Others. Christ did not ask the hungry what they believed in, he fed them fish and bread and asked them to sin no more. Somehow the Christian movement ( or pauline movement, take your pick) has been shifted that we minister only to those that already believe in what we do and impose conditions for ” approval” of who is Christian and who is not. Its sickening to watch and experience.
The assumption that i am anti Christian is nonsense. i am happy to discuss Christian theology with anyone who is serious in faith and secure in their understanding.
Postulating: In the presidents mind.. No action = shrewd nuanced response.
I think Obama will vote “Present”, and through flowery retoric indicate that he won’t take any sides or meaningful actions. That will push Israel into offensive military action against Iran. Obama will then critize and condem Israel’s military response. Obama will try and keep the US out of direct action and remain on the nice side of Arabs, Jews and Persians.
Voting present on tough votes is what he knows how to do, and what has made him successful.
So Israel is demonized. nothing to see here, move along. So Iran threatens death to the infidels. Yawn… So a bunch of iranians lose their lives in Israel’s attacks. Well, UN sanctions on Israel are needed. Maybe a commission? Yes a commisssion will see this made right.
I don’t see how Obama loses sleep over it. I don’t like the approach.. but given his actions up to now, this is what I expect to see.
TO: All
RE: Survivalist Aspect
Looks like its time to buy a lot of ‘space blankets’ and/or aluminum foil to block my computers against EMP.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
P.S. What will Obama do?
TO: Alex
RE: Come On To My House….
…I’m a born-again, evangelical fundamentalist.
You wanna talk God-talk? I’m happy to oblige.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
P.S. About that….
….
…business….
…you appear to me to be VERY ignorant. Or can you declaim the statement…
TO: All
RE: The Track of Time…
…towards the proverbial ‘bottom line’.
I’ve been watching this all play out over the last 22 years.
Things are progressing as described in the Old Book.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Even so, come, Lord Jesus.....come.....]
#6 flynavy – You make some good points, but you miss the overall picture. Iran has been a great sponsor of terrorism. Furthermore, their own rhetoric condemns them. They will end up being trapped by it in times to come, and be forced to act, if indeed, they need any forcing. Moreover, do not confuse deliberate, calculating behavior with level-headedness. Serial killers act like that, too.
They are Islamists. If you think that they will show restraint, you are kidding yourself. The problem with being a scholar of the enemy is finding yourself empathizing with the better parts, and thus, being blinded to the completely objectionable parts. “But, they’re such admirable serial-killers!”
Alex
Read Ahmadinejad’s U.N speech and get a clue.
“Reza Kahlili is a hysteric, if he actually exists and is not a DEBKA hoax.”
Feel better now that you have your daily anti-Semitic rant out of the way?
20. Chuck Pelto . . . “I’m a born-again evangelical fundamentalist”. . . you say that as if it makes you an expert in some way. To many it makes you the leat qualified to comment on comparative religion.
Here is the simplest question that nobody can ever answer . . . What if I don’t believe that? What if I’m a a Mormon and baptize the dead? What if I’m a Jew and I’m still waiting for The Messiah? What if I’m raised in a Buddhist monastery? SOL am I? Waiting to be perfected? Given a special place Heaven reserved for the “almost right?”
The major organized religions all have a fundamental core and a fundamental flaw, and it’s the same ting . . . exclusivity. And it’s that exclusivity that rots the human experience. What better example do you need than partisan blogs?
“…and it seems that fault is with the U.S.”
Well, I don’t think robotically-chanting masses shouting “Death to America” really does much to increase understanding between nations.
No, my friend, the fault is with the Persians – or rather, their “revolutionary” government.
Nevertheless, I too doubt Iran seeks to acquire the Bomb to catalyze the end-times. Their purpose is to immunize themselves against attack; our enemies know we regard atomic warfare as more politically anathema than they do. That windborn radiation argument, by the way, is complete bullshit and you know it.
No, Iran wants the Bomb because they crave power and intend to greatly magnify their ability to subvert the quasi-states in their region ripe for takeover: ethnically atomized Syria, barbarous Afghanistan, little Lebanon. If it managed to destroy Israel – easily done with a few Bombs – they would only enage in this if they believed the outcome would net them increased cred vs. the damage they expect to sustain.
In any case, it is all a ruse: no one intends to use nuclear weapons when they are such an effective bargaining chip against the supine West, whose peoples will fairly rush to elect governments that concede to the mullahs and their sponsors. It is ridiculous. The only offensive use to which nukes will be put is in a surprise first strike on CONUS. Get ready for it.
All no doubt true but don’t bother.Obama is in way over his head as one would expect from an empty suit who never held a full time job that lasted 4 years before.Appeasement is all that he is capable of.He is a bigger stimulus for the world’s dictators than that monstrosity that just made its way through Congress will ever be to the economy
Alex, you are an idiot. Equating evangelicals with islam extremists is ridiculous. I don’t know of any evangelicals actively working to ensure the end of days.
Let me try and be as pithy as possible…
If a Christian religious zealot bombs an abortion clinic they are put on trial and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
When an Islamofascist straps an explosive device themselves and detonates it in a civilian location to achieve the maximum carnage, they are revered and martyred for their deed.
You don’t play ‘wait and see’ with these people until it’s too late. For ME, that has nothing to do with Christian ‘end times’ thinking, this is about self-preservation and protection from a bunch of extremist, rapist, pedophiliac, misogynistic, misanthropic, murderous, nihilistic psychos! Islamists don’t believe in peace talks over tea, they don’t believe in you AND me…they believe in you OR me.
Is it going to take another 9/11 on steroids for some people to wake up and get pull their heads out of the sand?
rant/
or Christian fundamentalists. It seems Alex is characterizing the Bush admin as the arm of the fundamentalists? You’re just as deranged as you claim the author to be.
Delia says: Let me try and be as pithy as possible…
If a Christian religious zealot bombs an abortion clinic they are put on trial and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
When an Islamofascist straps an explosive device themselves and detonates it in a civilian location to achieve the maximum carnage, they are revered and martyred for their deed.
I’m curious, Delia, how many Muslims do you know personally?
To paraphrase Don Corleone, Ahmadinejad is a pimp. Khamenei is Iran’s Barzini. If Obama can’t talk to Barzini, he shouldn’t waste his time with Tataglia.
#2-Alex,
The difference is that the christian nutballs don’t have nuclear weapons, and therefore don’ have the power to make you us live in our basements for two-three weeks to avoid the fallout from an Iranian-Israeli nuclear exchange. But I doubt if it will get that far, Israel will take them out before they can become a real threat. They took out the Bahgdad and Syrian reactors, one just last year (?). They might even use their own nukes to get the job done. What’s the downside? Worldwide condemnation, but still alive. Sounds like an everyday routine for jews.
Steve P., I’ve known a few [males] actually and not a pleasant experience.
Why? How many do you know, Steve? Are you an infidel or one of ‘them’?
-And, you don’t need to know them all to know their core belief systems.
http://pajamasmedia.com/phyllischesler/2009/02/17/cold-premeditated-ritual-murder-the-honor-killing-of-aasiya-z-hassan-part-two/
flynavy
Undo your fly, use the toilet. It may help your thinking. Iran is already playing a power game and it uses force ie. Lebanon, Iraq. When the US will leaves Iraq, Syria and Iran will dismember Iraq. There will be a radical moslem country stretching from Syria to Iran. Iran won’t need a nuclear bomb to destroy Israel. It will come through Syria and Jordan with conventional forces. Its proxies will engage Israel in Gaza and Lebanon and possibly the West Bank pinning down the IDF. Without the IDF capable of manuvering it will be a sitting duck.
I’m an Odinite, awaiting Ragnarök myself, but sometimes I suspect all this end time chat started with the Sumerian astronomers calculating the orbits of the spheres, and my ancestors fell for it. Because I can’t think where else it came from, and Valhalla has the requisite number of doors, and fighters to fit right into Sumerian numerology, closely considered.
TO: mister man
RE: Expertise
Well….
…everyone is entitled to their own opinion. BUT, as I recall, in my 58+ year excursion in this venue, if you want a valid opinion on a particular subject, you should ask someone who is relatively qualified in the area.
After all, wouldn’t you trust someone who was deeply involved with an issue for information than someone who was not associated with it?
Do you ask your bartender advice on how to repair the transmission on a ’77 TR-7?
I’ll provide my side. Let others provide theirs.
Hope that helps…
…but in light of our ‘approach’, I have my doubts as to that.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Opinions: Everyone has one. Like they have an anus. The question is what comes out of them.
TO: mister man
RE: Heh
Here’s the simple answer to the ‘simplest question that nobody can ever answer’….
….you place your bets and you take your chances.
And those who have the wherewithall to see beyond their prejudices have the advantage.
Hope that helps….
…but as I said in my previous reply to you…..
….three guesses.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[God builds his temple in the heart on the ruins of churches and religions. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson]
The radicals in Iran are trustworthy and we should engage in talks,they will surely unclinch their fist. Yeah right:
In their first assessment of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear programme since Barack Obama became US president, atomic inspectors disclosed that Tehran’s leaders understated by a third how much uranium they had at their disposal.
French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner spoke Friday of a new enrichment plant capable of housing thousands of centrifuges the Iranians had built at a secret site.
I remember quite vividly back in ’79 during the hostage crisis, meeting and befriending a group of Iranians who were more or less stranded in the US. Their views were much more in line with the authors, and unfortunately were guilty by association in the eyes of other US citizens.
TO: All
RE: Sales Opportunity, Anyone?
I’m working on a series of magnetic bumper stickers….
Various images with the statement “Don’t Blame Me….”
Images to include:
• Chart of crashing stock market
• Illegal immigrants rioting in LA
• Nuke cloud over city-scape with the initials of the city, i.e., NYC, LA, etc.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[If you think things are bad now....just wait until they fix them.]
Steve P says
“Delia says: Let me try and be as pithy as possible…
If a Christian religious zealot bombs an abortion clinic they are put on trial and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
When an Islamofascist straps an explosive device themselves and detonates it in a civilian location to achieve the maximum carnage, they are revered and martyred for their deed.”
-
-
‘I’m curious, Delia, how many Muslims do you know personally?’
—-
I’m curious, Steve P, do you have to experience something personally to understand it?
TO: Terry Gain
RE: Experience?
My brother-in-law is an Iranian. I’ve served with Muslims. I’ve trained with them at levels just under God.
What, specifically, is your question?
Regards,
Chuck(le)
P.S. Perhaps personal experience DOES provide additional expertise in an area. Maybe it has something to do with reality as opposed to supposition.
Personally, I would suggest that a personal experience with something significant makes someone a tad more of an ‘expert’ in that than someone who has never had such an ‘expreience’.
[You haven't lived until you've almost died.]
The Muslim males who flew the planes into the twin towers, the pentagon and the field in Pennsylvania were by all accounts normal, polite, “Westernized” men. Islamists are liars and murderers for their supposed ‘faith’ and they are very adaptable with regards to wearing metaphorical masks to accomplish their evil tasks.
-Even if you think you ‘know’ someone that does not always guarantee you really do [and that goes for everyone and not just Islamists btw].
The problem is the violence and evil indoctrinated into Muslims via Islam and the teachings of the Koran. You cannot have one without the other.
Will the infidels survive and overcome?
Stay tuned?
Regarding the “Economic Meltdown” event occuring after the war in Iraq and before the black man gaining power in the West:
Does anyone here know anything more about the $550 Billion withdrawals from U.S. banks in the one hour one day in early Sept. 2008? This, supposedly, was the event that prompted Hank Paulson to plead to Congress to fund the $700 Billion TARP program.
Did this really happen? If so, could it have been orchestrated by Iran?
I’m curios as to what you Pajamas readers know/believe about this.
Terry Gain says: I’m curious, Steve P, do you have to experience something personally to understand it?
Not necessarily, but I would be very skeptical of the viewpoint of anyone whose knowledge is only secondhand at best. I personally know many Muslims because I live in a very diverse area. I’d suspect most of you making negative comments about Muslims do not know any. Muslims are just as industrious, hardworking and compassionate as any other group of people in America and in the world. The violence doesn’t stem from the faith, it stems from poverty, politics, and a fringe group of tyrannical religious psychopaths who manipulate the Islamic faith for their own evil ends. Does that excuse violence in any case? Of course not. Should Muslims living in America conform to American laws and American culture? Of course they should. But blaming and hating Islam in its entirety, and advocating its destruction, because of the actions of a few, is not the answer.
#17 Alex:
“Did i touch a nerve amongst Thee..??”
Yes, you did. You painted with an overly-broad brush…and frankly, went outside the lines.
“For the record i am not anti Christian, just tired of the bible thumpers that believe their interpretation can only be the correct one. Ive been to many conferences and watched evangelicals rip into protestants who rip into Catholics who rip into the Mormons…its a tragedy and frankly im sick of it.”
And your sickness has affected your reason, sir.
We can good-naturedly argue finer points of doctrine and theology without strapping on suicide belts or planting a stake and gathering the kindling…even with benighted pagans who ignorantly worship rocks,trees and bodies of water…(you know…Methodists), and yet still agree on the broad outlines of what the Christ taught.
I’m supremely sorry that some of those discussions have become so heated that it has left you with a deep distrust of people who profess faith in the divine, but that is really no justification to indict us all as equals in the crimes of a few.
“i see no difference between sending 12 year old into mine fields or dropping napalm and cluster bombs into civilian areas. They are both murder committed by madmen. One cannot justify the other”
Seek your redress to Caesar for the napalm and cluster-bombs. Such was done not in the name of God, but by a secular power.
“i am happy to discuss Christian theology with anyone who is serious in faith and secure in their understanding.”
You may think you are knowledgable on the subject, and in a strictly academic sense, you may indeed be, but it seems that you have entirely missed the point.
mister man and alex
The major organized religions all have a fundamental core and a fundamental flaw, and it’s the same ting . . . exclusivity.
Christianity is very different from all, all other religions because of this one major fact:
Freedom from your sin is a free gift, not earned, but paid for by the blood of Jesus. Anyone can join, no one is excluded. If you refuse to join, Christians don’t circle your house a night calling for your death.
The author should give Ronald Reagan a little credit. In April 1988, after the U.S. Frigate Samuel B. Roberts struck a mine in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Navy attacked an Iranian oil platform and naval forces, destroying the oil platform and sinking a frigate and some gunboats. The Iranians were quiet for years after that. It’s long past time to hit them in the mouth again. George W. Bush could have achieved regime change in Iran through non-violent means as strongly recommended by Michael Ledeen but Bush did nothing. There is no time left now except for military action. Of course the Obama administration wouldn’t retaliate against the Iranians if Ahmadinejad himself setup a WMD on the US Capital steps. It falls on little Israel to do what the rest of the world doesn’t have the guts to do.
mister man:
“The major organized religions all have a fundamental core and a fundamental flaw, and it’s the same ting . . . exclusivity. And it’s that exclusivity that rots the human experience. What better example do you need than partisan blogs?”
So…you believe there are many truths?
“How are these signs any different than fundamentalist Christians listing their own countdown to the apocalypse, and their desire to bring it about?…” Gosh, how about the fact that Pat Robertson cannot access the secret codes to the nuclear football; that he has no influence
in either State, NSC, DOD, Joint Chiefs, etc.; that he is subject to the scorn of much of informed opinion and powerful government officials; that so far he has not been able to galvanize his followers to attempt a civil insurrection; and that his loyal followers–in their idle times, generally do not march down streets burning prominent figures from other nations or religions.
Pope Linus –
But remember, it only takes one nuke. The Iranians need to be lucky only once. One lucky shot against Tel Aviv will causes horrors previously unimagined.
It’s a stupid meme. That the US must involve itself in half a dozen significant wars, and bleed away our wealth, internal unity, and internatinal goodwill so nations will be forced to become “democratic” so their “noble freedom-loving” Muslim tribes will not want WMD.
Democracy has nothing to do with it. Pakistan feverishly worked in getting nukes through periods of democratic regimes to match the nukes democratic India had. Democratic nations USA, France, UK, limited democracy S Africa and Israel went with them. Democratic nations Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy strongly considered going with them. At the height of the Cold War we had Canadian interceptors armed with UD nuke bombs.
And in the region, Iran is far more advanced with democratic elections and structures than any in the region save Israel and Iraq’s nascent, imposed democracy (with the Islamists being like the US Supreme Court, ready to veto things..)
Pope Linus – One lucky shot against Tel Aviv will causes horrors previously unimagined.
Another stupid meme is “the only have to be lucky once!!” one we ascribe to “Evildoers”. The truth is in any conflict, we will be “lucky” many times, and the enemy will be “lucky” many times. Some round sprayed without aim by some untrained Shiite militiaman miraculously catches some hypertrained, fully armored Marine right in the throat a half mile away..
The phase actually originated with IRA terrorists talking about – correctly – the impossiblity of the Brits providing 100% perfect security for their high officials. (Just as we cannot provide 100% security against people seeking to shoot the President, shoot a missile salvo into the US, a Army guy getting killed in Afghanistan, or take out several of our warships with 3rd world subs..)
But it was said by a PROVO IRA gunman at a time when the IRA was effectively doomed by infiltration and changing politics even if they would inflict more casualties as they died out.
The Jews were warned repeatedly by nations and think tanks starting in the 60s that if they went for their nuke, nerve gas, and biowar WMD capacity – that they would have a window of security – but then the technological capacity of their enemies would progress and they would be in a strategic weapons arms race.
And the US and Russia both had already learned that they could not pre-emptively block nations they didn’t want to have nukes, get them, if their heart was set on it (France, the Soviets themselves, China, S Africa). Only setting up nuclear umbrellas stopped nations that could, from desisting and still feel as protected against WMD as the principals..That or nations meeting and agreeing they will be making regions like Latin America, Oceana, Africa nuclear weapons-free.
Finally, consider what “lucky” would mean to N KOrea, Iran OR Israel if they launched a successful preemptive nuclear strike on an opposing party. The retaliation by other nations would ensure the end of N Korea, or Israel or the end of Islamic Iran.
“The violence doesn’t stem from the faith, it stems from poverty, politics, and a fringe group of tyrannical religious psychopaths who manipulate the Islamic faith for their own evil ends.” Steve P
Very PC of you Steve P and completely wrong. I’m guessing you’ve never had an honest conversation with any of these people. If they are so advanced why do Muslim nations have atrocious human rights records? Poverty my ass. bin laden is the son of a billionaire. The 9/11 attackers were not poor. They were well educated and well off. They were also devout Muslims who took the teaching of Muhammad at face value. The peace loving Muslim whom you think you know Steve P are likely heretics who are ignorant of the core tenets of their “religion.”
” But blaming and hating Islam in its entirety, and advocating its destruction, because of the actions of a few, is not the answer”.
Those who are waging war against infidels are motivated by Islam so whom are we supposed to blame, Zoroaster? There will be no peace until Islam reforms or is forcibly reformed or destroyed. All of us would prefer that Islam reform itself. There is no chance of that happening so long as Muslims deny that some Islamic doctrine needs to be abandoned as being incompatible with the realities of the global village where tolerating the beliefs of others is necessary if we are to live in peace.
Pretending that Islamists do not feel justified in imposing their faith on the rest of us will result in war for which we are unprepared or our subjugation.
“The Jews were warned repeatedly by nations and think tanks starting in the 60s that if they went for their nuke, nerve gas, and biowar WMD capacity – that they would have a window of security – but then the technological capacity of their enemies would progress and they would be in a strategic weapons arms race.”
cedarford
Seventy years ago the Jews were nearly wiped out, while the world turned it’s head to avoid seeing the carnage. You expect them not to defend themselves? How many more Jews need to be wiped off the face of the earth before fascists like you are willing to grant them their humanity? You have the understanding of a pile of dung.
Right like when Egypt imported those Nazi scientists to build those rockets to attack
Israel, headed by Eichmann’s chief aide Alois Brunner, commuting from Damascus to run the operation; that was because, no, the Altoona
reactor incident was after this situation was
discovered.
What was it that Acmynutsareinajar said? I remember now,”Israel will be destroyed!”
Sure, let them have the bomb. We can just CFR talk it out while wearing pink panties, and holding hands.
The world must be destroyed so the 12th Imam can come out of that well!
I for one, think that Christians are just as frightening as Muslims. Which is why I cringe when I see a nun on an airplane, refuse to go to Minnesota with all those Lutheran suicide bombers, am sure that I would get beheaded by those Baptists down in Texas, and lie awake at night worrying about the “Mormon Nuke”.
class clown
Unfortunately leftists are now beyond parody.
57. class clown
*spews coffee on monitor*
Bahahahaha!
Good ‘un.
So; Believe what the Muslims tell you about Islam; It’s not their fault that they strap on explosives or direct aircraft into buildings or place roadside bombs. It’s the people who drive them to this- the Westerner!
Is that a religion? Where’s the church? Do they have Sunday service?
# 7 prague, Doost aziz , the correct Ayeh of the Albagharaeh Sure is 192:Va ghatelo hom hata…Don’t get confused by the numbering of the translation.
#5 cedaford, please don’t be deceived by the polls conducted by the Iranian government, its a total BS.The Iranians have no right to free opinion under the mullahs and that’s why many end up everyday on the hanging stand!
#49 J.Rockford, I do give credit to President Reagan in my book .It was for him and his stern warning to the mullahs that Khomeini drank the cup of poison and accepted peace with Iraq.We need more of that.
To all: Please do not confuse the Persians /Iranians with the radicals who control the government in Iran. Iranians are educated,pro western and hate the ruling mullahs more than you could know. There is not a day when there is no demonstration,arrests,torture and hangings but do you see any of that in the media. No. because the west is still trying to negotiate with the mullahs.
Take free tour of Iran and its people:
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/98910/
Also Valentine day and how they disregard the mullahs:
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/valentines-day-in-iran/3862994655/?icid=VIDURVNWS08
To those that do not give it even a remote chance that the mullahs are crazy enough to prepare for an end of times,please do some study.Here to help you:
Official site of the holy mosque of Jamkaran,the place where Mahdi is said to be in hiding(Read the brief history and you will get the idea):
http://www.jamkaran.info/
Mahdism Doctrine : http://www.mahdaviat-conference.com/en/
Mahdi web sites: http://www.mahdavia.com/index.asp
http://www.zerotime.org/
http://www.66619.org/666.htm
God Bless
Tery Gain – Seventy years ago the Jews were nearly wiped out, while the world turned it’s head to avoid seeing the carnage. You expect them not to defend themselves? How many more Jews need to be wiped off the face of the earth before fascists like you are willing to grant them their humanity? You have the understanding of a pile of dung.
You’re being a stupid, clueless assh*le. Long ago, past victimhood, means squat when nations are confronted with present-day WMD threats. Yeah, the Jews suffered. So did the Soviets and Chinese, who lost 23 million and 16 million respectively to the Nazis and Japs that invaded and occupied major parts of their country. And the French and the NORKs also suffered traumatic occupations.
That has nothing to do with how other nations seeing a Soviet bomber capable of blowing up 8 of their cities or Muslims seeing Israeli nuclear-tipped missiles can be expected to react to the threat.
If their enemy has a weapon they don’t, they will seek it if they have the capacity to. The suffering of their enemy at the hands of another enemy doesn’t mean a hill of beans.
The present Israeli WMD monopoly is untenable. Without a sneak nuclear attack, Israel can do next to nothing to block Iran from it, or the Turks and Saudis and “democratic” Iraqis that may resume their own program after the US leaves.
Nor is the US, presently melting down economically, rejecting the Neocon line of endless war to preserve the Israeli WMD monopoly – willing to blow another trillion and another 45,000 to 150,000 casualties to “take out” Iran. Nor even willing to allow the Zionists to make us complicit with them by allowing them to cross the Iraqi airspace we still control on behalf of the legitimate Iraqi gov’t. (who still hate the Israelis as much or more, BTW, than when Saddam was in charge).
Long term, the choices are:
1. A nuclear free ME by Treaty with final Borders. Israel and Iran become clients of one or more “nuclear guarantors” who will wipe out any that use WMD against Israel, Iran, or the other Gulf States.
2. Preemptive nuclear war by Israel leading to the eventual eradication of Israel by economic strangulation or by a Pakistani/Russian/Chicom counterstrike that ends the Israeli nuclear threat to the region permanently.
3. A nuclear arms race unchecked by the major powers. Eventually seeing Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, as well as Iran with crash programs..
4. The US embarks on another major war and throws the World into full economic collapse and keeps the Mullahs in power for another 40 years simply by bombing Iranian targets and then having to fight 80 million enraged Iranians, inc. 3/4ths of them who are pro-American…because Israelis and Christian Zionists and Jewish Americans somehow get the US to make such a war happen..
#45: Kevin…
I was able to locate only 2 other sources that describe the electronic bank run on Sept. 18th, 2008 (apart from Sen. Kanjorski’s video on C-SPAN). These provide a more accurate picture of what happened:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/02/business/02crisis.html?_r=1
on page 9 of this link:
http://www.house.gov/jec/Research%20Reports/2008/rr110-25.pdf
So let me see if I get this.
Among all of the other insanities I am asked to believe is that some 1,400 years or so ago, the false fuhrer, Muhummad, an insane, illiterate, shirt-lifting, turd-burgling, sister, goat and little-boy buggering, meteorite-mooning, mass-murdering, pedophile pirate — and/or his similarly inclined and disposed heirs and successors, foresaw the 11 November 1920 British creation of the State of Iraq, its subsequent 1932 nominal independence — and its much-later liberation (from yet another of the world’s British and/or other Euro-peon-created tyrannies) by the United States of America?
Nah.
Nuts.
Keep it simple, Stupid.
The present Iranian dictatorship, like every other of the world’s way-too-many psychopathologically-hesperophobic, barbaric, Islam-oriented dictatorships is a manifestation of evil, is absolutely incompatible with Human Civilization — and must be eradicated from the Earth.
Kah-BOOM!
Next?
Brian Richard Allen
Los Angeles CalifUBAMBIcated 90028 and the Far Abroad
61. cedarford:
Israel is not the reason why Iran wants nukes. Iran would want nukes even if Israel never had any. Even if every other nation in the world got rid of their nukes, Iran would want them. Even if Israel never existed Iran would build nukes. They want the power and immunity from invasion that a nuclear weapon provides. Power over their neighbors to make Persia great again.
Not everything is Zionist Israel’s fault. In fact very little is. Faulting Zionists is a poor excuse.
61. Reza Kahlili,
You sound earnest and fearful but are you an Islamist or do you rebuke the Qur’an and it’s violence and do you then consider yourself an infidel?
If you take offense, you have to see by my posts and where I’m coming from? I mean no ill will towards you at ALL and I appreciate the truths in your post.
Should I pray for you? I think I should.
Blessings upon you,
Delia
-And,
Put nukes in the hands of the people who masterminded 9/11 and ask yourself if they’d push the ‘red-button’?
Hellllllllllllllo?
Kevin in OK: there is a long discussion of this at the Belmont Club. See the thread “Tin Foil Hats”. Lots of pointers there. The short answer: we may never know who did it.
(( Mostly for #7 ))
See your Cow II:293 and raise you a Spyder 29:3:
_fa-la-ya‘lamanna LLáhu lladhína Sadaqú wa-la-ya‘lamanna l-kádhibín_!
Happy days.
White House waking up after new UN report on Iran. Robert Gibbs told reporters that this is an urgent problem, we can’t delay addressing.
Let’s move it guys before they test the big one!
JHM, what the hell is that?
C-fudd:
“You’re being a stupid, clueless assh*le.”
Better bone up on your Dale Carnegie, Fudd. It wasn’t *my* post that got deleted from Roger’s blog bwahahahaha.
Terry Gain: I was going to write rebuttals to all the… let’s call them “overly-erudite gentlemen” here, but mercifully, you have done that for me. Thank you for you energetic, perceptive, and poignant comments! Nevertheless, I will throw in a few words on one theme: the motivation of those seeking the end of the word (in any religion).
While it’s true that “rational” arguments can be made for the ruling Mullahs’ desire for Nuclear weapons, the fact is that it’s the “bringing about the end of world” (eschatological) motivations that have always distorted the otherwise cogent arguments that have been made here and elsewhere by people who (I believe) aren’t fully acquainted with the degree of Ahmadinejad’s feelings on this matter. In short, if it weren’t for the strongly eschatological element that exists in a very well documented way in this particular case, then yes, by all means, we should in fact treat Iran as we did, say the USSR (e.g. M.A.D.)
And to the person who made the comment about there being “end of times” people in Christianity as well, you are of course absolutely correct (even Jews flirt with this alluring subject — see for example the very serious attempts to breed a “Para Adoma” (a Red Cow free from imperfections) that must exist if any new Temple is to be consecrated). The only difference however is that there is no eschatologically–obsessed dictator who has at his disposal an, army, nuclear device, and perhaps hundreds of sleeper-cells all primed and ready for action. I would also add that the 12th Imam sect is viewed by the majority of Iran’s Muslims in the same barely bemused way that Hitler was looked at by educated Germans of his day – which is to say, no one took him seriously.
As the author implies in his comment, Iran is not only a highly diverse country (Persians are but one of many religious groups), Iran is also surprisingly “Westernized” albeit in a quasi-underground fashion. Thus, again, while *rational* arguments would no doubt appeal and resonate with most Iranians, the singular problem we have here, now, at this time is that it’s not those rational Iranians that are at the helm in Iran.
One, perhaps not convincing to all who read this, concrete example of the extent to which Ahmadinejad has already enacted a “real-world” project explicitly meant to hasten the arrival of the hidden Imam (and corresponding end-of-world) is the well documented and ill received fact of his spending untold millions of dollars to tear down miles and miles of stores on either side of the main boulevard (name anyone?) leading into Tehran to significantly widen it in order that the hidden Imam will have no trouble (presumably) “finding” Tehran or getting stuck in some such way in said boulevards narrower incarnation. There are other projects having to do with the holy well where the 12th Imam is presumably hiding.
But taking pot-shots lessens the very real fear that Ahmadinejad should in fact bring forth. There is very real damage that eschatologically–obsessed people have, in many documented cases throughout the ages (a famous one in upstate New York in the 1800’s comes to mind) bring upon themselves and their followers. Before the advent of 20th century technology one could sympathize and leave it at that. Now however they can take the rest of us down with them as they take their very real-world steps to “hasten” the end of days no matter what their religion.
And that is the one and only reason I personally happen to be obsessed with Iran at the moment. Otherwise I’d think of them more along the lines of, say, Pakistan: not friendly to the Israel or the USA per se, but also, like North Korea, not lead by an eschatologically–obsessed dictator.
The point being this: imagine yourself to be this particular “end of timer” who has the power of nuclear weapons at your disposal, who deeply believes in your heart of hearts that you *can* in fact hasten the glorious end time for the world where there will be no more starvation, where G-d’s judgment will reign in a new and miraculous way – would you *not* in fact do everything in your power to help bring this about – assuming your religion says that man *does* possess the ability to hasten this glorious end along? Remember, the millions of deaths you may have caused just a moment ago will now mean nothing as we are all now in the bliss time… the rapture. I know *I* would. By definition any man acts on what he believes strongly in his heart of hearts. How could you live with yourself to deny this glorious time to the ailing peoples of the world? Why would you?
Well well well, lookie here:
BBC: Iran sought deal over nuclear program
Iran in 2005 approached the West with an offer: ‘We stop killing you in Iraq, stop undermining the political process there, you allow us to carry on with our nuclear program,” British diplomat John Sawers told the BBC in an interview that aired Saturday. Tehran began shopping its offer around Europe after the U.S. accused Iran of aiding the Iraqi insurgency.
Where are those who said Iran was not meddling in Iraq.IDIOTS
(the) FrumiousFalafel,
I am touched by your balanced and thoughtful post. However there needs to be one correction, Ahmadinejad is not the main figure. I compare him to a child of the regime with a big mouth who reveals the true motivation of the mullahs. The true players are the mullahs behind the scene who had him elected as the President, also the same people who had Khamenei promoted to an Ayatollah overnight to have him become the Supreme leader after Khomeini’s death. Its a secretive society of the Mahdi believers,their members unknown to the public but well known within the Guards who share the same sentiment.
Reza, you do focus the argument most plainly, Ahmadinejad, is but a tool, a clumsy one by the eyes of some of those in the Guardian’s council; who makes too explicitly an argument that should be implicit. Hence they will try to replace him, with a more discrete figure like Khatami or Rafsanjani. But he does have a following among the State Organs like the IRGC, who control large
parts of the economy, and have been the trouble makers in Lebanon and now Iraq. The new policy makers in Washington, are truly blind to this.
Thank you Reza for your kind words. Yes, certainly you are correct by noting that Ahmadinejad is but one man, and that behind him must exist a group of men working to further his aims – perhaps we could refer to them as “Ayatollah Yazdi et al.” or “Yazdi’s coterie.” Either way, it doesn’t surprise me that this group, who believe that the Mahdi is not only the 12th Imam, but that his occultation can be revealed, unveiled, or brought to light by the actions of man, are secretive as you adroitly point out. Since almost all Iranian Muslims, Shia or otherwise, view this sect as one filled with immature beliefs and other aspects which separate it from more mainstream, more intellectually developed, and more thoughtful strains of Islam, group secrecy becomes almost a necessity (in that respect, not unlike the Crypto-Jews or Marranos of Spain). While I happen to be a Jew, it does not escape me that intelligent men exist everywhere. And those intelligent Iranian Muslims must cringe when they realize that their country has been in effect hijacked by Yazdi et al., a near cult.
Vice versa, if I were a follower of the hidden 12th Imam, I would probably keep my beliefs relatively quiet– if for no other reason than to avoid the belittlement that must accompany the holding of such views by more mainstream countrymen. When your cohorts believe literally (not figuratively) that the 12th Imam – the true Mahdi – is hiding in a specific hole in the ground known as the “Jamkaran Well” in the city of Isfahan (near Qom, or Q’um), you open yourself up to the embarrassment of your, mainstream Muslim, Westernized, or at least modernized neighbors. That this is true is “unremarkable” as doctors would say since it happens, and has happened, throughout recorded history.
If Yazdi’s coterie didn’t control nuclear weapons, I would pay them no heed. But alas, as you rather passionately point out (and passion is demanded when discussing this subject!), they view themselves as realistically able to hasten the Mahdi’s return. And as I tried to point out in the last paragraph of my last post, no particular “evil intentions” need be ascribed to these men. They are only doing what they believe in their heart of hearts. The problem that exists for the rest of us, including the millions of Iranians who will in fact be killed by Israel’s retaliatory vengeance after they are struck (which no student of history can rightfully deny them) is that Yazdi’s coterie are in fact very close to achieving their goal.
Mark Steyn nails this on the head in the prologue to America Alone. Why were western elites all worried about Reagan and Thatcher having nukes, but all calm and sanguine about Iran and North Korea having them?
The deathwish Western “elites” have for their own culture creeps me out.
FrumiousFalafel (a glorious name!) wrote:
“a “real-world” project explicitly meant to hasten the arrival of the hidden Imam (and corresponding end-of-world) is the well documented and ill received fact of his spending untold millions of dollars to tear down miles and miles of stores on either side of the main boulevard (name anyone?) leading into Tehran to significantly widen it in order that the hidden Imam will have no trouble (presumably) “finding” Tehran or getting stuck in some such way in said boulevards narrower incarnation.”
Fair enough, but I’m curious: is there perhaps some military reason for doing this? Of course the first reaction is, “No, if you anticipate invasion, you add obstacles, you don’t remove them.” And yet, I have to ask whether there isn’t some other equally cogent military reason for widening the boulevards – perhaps a different kind of defense? – since I have so often been wrong about such presumptions. Anyone got a guess? If not, not, but I’m curious.
Your comment on my moniker was much appreciated. Thank you.
As to the gist of your question: whether there could be other “non-religious” reasons for widening this famous boulevard whose name escapes me, I can only tell you what I can tell you.
At the time it was done there was widespread public press on the project and while I’m going out on a limb just a little here, I’m almost positive that Ahmadinejad made multiple proclamations as to it’s Raison d’être. In other words, there was no attempt made to hide it as some kind of overblown “fixing the potholes” project.
That then brings up the question: what if Ahmadinejad said those things but, the sly fox that he is, actually had other, more nefarious things in mind.
Well I’d give two answers to that. The first and probably best is that as you cogently point out, “standard military doctrine” would seem to dictate something that would hinder, not help, the supposed convergence of tanks into your capital.
There’s also always something to be learned by any one of Israel’s last 2 or 3 wars. And perhaps the predominant lesson there — a lesson that has, in fell swoop “converted” the entire political Left in Israel to a far more militaristic posture — is the “new era” in warfare involving missiles. While the big ones can be defended against, the far more numerous smaller ones cannot — and certainly cannot once you throw in the cost of even attempting to do so). The point of all this being that we’ll be seeing much more of missile exchanges in non-contiguous countries than ever before. As usual the Germans pioneered this exact tactic with the V2.
The 2nd reason I would give in answer to your question which does not have to do with war is that the boulevard widening was only one of Ahmadinejad’s famous projects to hasten the Mahdi’s arrival (although perhaps the best known).
But the fact is that there have been a plethora of “public works” projects all with the loudly stated goal (and I would imagine pomp and circumstance) to coax, or at least facilitate, the hidden Mahdi out of his occultation. I have even heard talk of some sort of light rail line in order to ease the passage of the believers to Qom. Logistically it wouldn’t be that difficult: Tehran to Qom is approximately 100 miles and crosses the relatively flat width of a valley.
But Qom’s traditional elders are, to put it mildly, upset at Ahmadinejad’s building in and around the Jamkaran Well. And to add insult to injury, they don’t take kindly to a leader who straightforwardly claims he is guided by the hidden Imam himself(!)
So to spell it out: the boulevard widening project was but one of many such projects all conducted with the same publicly stated goal. You must remember that Ahmadinejad is a person who (purportedly) wrote down the names of the newly elected Majlis (Parliament) on separate pieces of paper and then dropped them into the Jamkaran Well. Presumably he felt this would allow the hidden Imam to stay abreast of important political events. I do not believe he did this as a “symbolic act” or for any reason other than his actual belief that he was in fact communicating with the hidden 12th Imam. I also do not think that Ahmadinejad would disagree. Therein lies the danger.
Here is a short history lesson to all right wing morons in here that think war is the answer to everything.
In 1953, morons at the CIA initiated a coup and disposed of the DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED LEADER of Iran, mossadegh. They said he was a communist…but he wasn’t. He was about as communist as Obama is..but you know how morons do.
They invent lies, they create propaganda, they demonize…and they kill people like MLK, JFK, and dispose of democratically elected leaders to stic it to the “commies”
Well, the morons decided to give all the power to a king, and this king, outlawed all but his political party in 75. He tortured many, he executed many, but he wasn’t that bad of a leader…but bad enough so taht bigger RIGHT WING MORONS, would use this against him.
These morons, led by RIGHT WING MORON Khomeni, then deposed of this government by promising free gas, and free water to all iranians at at ime when ALL iranians were fed up with the Shah.
Then khomeni turns out to be even further to the right than the Shah.
And today…..instead of helping groups inside of Iran take their country back, american RIGHT WING MORONS want to bomb iran.
This is the time to start a coup in iran..now is the time to start assassinating certain people in Iran…
but you can’t get the oil that way…oh no..blackwater needs money..Lockheed needs a WAR.
So go tell your lies…fight your wars morons. If the shit hits the fan, i’ll be in south america..
And here is another history lesson for the morons..concerning israel.
Well, first of all, Abraham, father of jews and arabs…was born in modern day IRAQ.
He moved west with his tribe…and then “god” said
My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites; and I will wipe them out. (Exodus 23:23 NAB)
AND THE JEWS HAVE BEEN KILLING OVER LAND EVER SINCE…if any of you morons had a brain, you would be able to read the old testament, and figure out, that Abraham killed MILLIONS of people, over land which he claims taht “god promised” him.
KOO KOO, FOR COCOA PUFFS. WAKE UP MORONS. RIGHT WING MUSLIMS FANATICS DON’TA TTACK US CUZ WE’RE “FREE”. THEY ATTACK US BECAUSE WE GIVE FREE GUNS AND PLANES TO THE PEOPLE WHO STEAL THEIR LAND, AND SHOOT AT THEIR CHILDREN, AND ADMIT TO IT….WITHOUT ANY CONSEQUENCES.