“With disturbing déjà vu, the US Congress and American media are swallowing the administration’s torrent of unproven accusations against Iran precisely the way they lapped up grotesque White House lies about Iraq.”
I think EM is being generous, it is not Deja Vu it is full blown complicity.
Most of the leading candidates like Hilary, Edwards,Obama etc of the Dems have already given the green light in their stated positions.
Pelosi is already in the zionist back pocket.
The Republicans among other reasons would like nothing better hoping Bush can eek out some semblence of victory so their 2008 electoral position is improved.
North American MSM is the official voice box to rachet up the rhetoric about Iranian desire for world domination and Ahamedinijad’s desire to smoke israel in his next atomic reefer providing he can get it rolled up in time.
They don’t even care what Zibigniew Brezinski has to say, all of his concerns are falling on deaf ears.
http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_23895.shtml
Posted by oldfan at February 5, 2007 04:41 PM
Unbelievable. Simply, utterly, unbelievable.
If it happens, and if Bush stoops to this level of inhumanity and strategic foolishness, we here in the U.S can be assured, I think, that the end of American empire is near.
I can hope, as I did before the invasion of Iraq, that it’s just a bluff. Even then, I really don’t have a problem with Iranian nukes, like every other Westerner seems to fear. As Eric and Chirac already mentioned, Iran’s possession of nukes would be hugely attenuated by the fact that all of its adversaries possess many, many more.
Posted by chatman at February 5, 2007 05:44 PM
Anything is expected from these neo-con numbnuts! One would think that Dr. Strangelove is only a fiction movie, right?! Bush-Cheney administration is about the make it come true before our very own eyes! Kubrick’s bones must be turning in his grave!
Posted by Ilker at February 5, 2007 06:17 PM
http://www.rense.com/general69/dayone.htm
An interesting take on a possible war scenario with Iran (replace Rumsfeld with Gates). Aside from the appalling loss of life among Iranians, the consequences for American empire would be dire; instead of fighting to preserve a way of life based to a large extent on capital exploitation of less powerful nations, a war against Iran, which has a LOT of very advanced missile defense systems, would be an unmitigated political and economic nightmare, and could lead to global economic meltdown, starting with us.
Posted by chatman at February 5, 2007 06:40 PM
Whatsis?
http://tailrank.com/1204584/Iranian-nuclear-scientist-assassinated-by-Mossad
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3360556,00.html
Kaput? Just like that?
Tis I… the artist formerly known as Rampart.
Hello to Ghawley, Shazam, Oldfan, etc. I just read your kind words in the archives. Hello to everyone else as well. How you all doing? Not so good? LOL
Posted by The Questioner at February 6, 2007 02:00 AM
Nukes = Insurance against U.S. invasion.
Iraq: no nukes = U.S. invasion.
North Korea: nukes = no U.S. invasion.
Americans desperately need a new enemy and a new war to focus attention away from national issues and the growing mess in EYE-Raq and Afghanistan.
Posted by hedagem at February 6, 2007 08:01 AM
Oh and by the way: Israel demands U.S. invasion of Iran!!! Nontent with creating the Iraq disaster, Penis Cheney and his Israel centric neocon allies are hard at work engineering an attack on Iran.
Posted by hedagem at February 6, 2007 08:10 AM
The Questioner - Welcome back man!! And you bring shocking news - Mossad murdering an Iranian nuclear scientist. Those bastards and Junior have a lot of blood on their hands.
Ilker - I like your take on things.
So folks, the rational among us are horrified by teh Israeli-neocon plan to attack Iran. But waht are each of us doing to stop it? Join a protest, write a letter, for showing up in these ways demonstrates to our leaders our commitment to sanity and peace, else Evil will romp the planet unhindered.
Posted by ghawley at February 6, 2007 09:00 AM
Is this the type of engineering you were referring to Hedagem
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6334439.stm
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3DA5E7CF-F3AD-4478-ABB7-8B8A372E471C.htm
I am sure they are turning the screws tighter to get a response from Iran to furnish them with a Casus Belli.
Hey Questioner have you checked your hotmail account lately.
Posted by oldfan at February 6, 2007 11:53 AM
Is this the type of engineering you were referring to Hedagem
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6334439.stm
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3DA5E7CF-F3AD-4478-ABB7-8B8A372E471C.htm
I am sure they are turning the screws tighter to get a response from Iran to furnish them with a Casus Belli.
Hey Questioner have you checked your hotmail account lately.
Posted by oldfan at February 6, 2007 12:13 PM
Sorry for the double post, don’t know what happened
Posted by oldfan at February 6, 2007 12:15 PM
You know what’s strange? I don’t think Iran is going anyplace with their nuke program… it seems to be a dud. Yet, they still offed one their tech guys.
Is this the first time with Israel? Didn’t they kill off some other guy… some Iraq nuke tech once? And of course, there was Gerry Bull (super-gun project guy)….
How come nobody killed one of our guys when we were doing this stuff? Is Iran making it up, I mean? I don’t think so, but anything is possible. Both Iran and Yahoodistan are dirty fighters… thumb-in-eye kind of folk. No concept of honor with these two.
Anyways…. yes, Oldfan, I just checked my email. There was much spam of the penis-enlargement kind.. the usual. Why do you ask?
Posted by The Questioner at February 6, 2007 12:18 PM
An incisive article outlining the extreme insecurity of the zionists which is leading to the confrontation with Iran.
Pre-Emptive Strike Against Chirac
Frenzy in France Over “Iranian Threat”
By DIANA JOHNSTONE
http://www.counterpunch.org/
EM alluded to Chirac’s statments this articles some outline.
Questioner:
Did any of the treatments help, that aside do you have initials R and O in your name, I took a stab in the dark and sent you an email but as yet have not heard back not sure if that was the right one.
Posted by oldfan at February 6, 2007 01:16 PM
Considering Eric Margolis’ record for predicting wars in the past, today’s column is a sure sign that there will be no war with Iran.
“Nuclear War Looms in South Asia”: (http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2001/12/nuclear_war_loo.php)
A terrorist war predicted in Peru: (http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2002/03/terrorists_are_everywhere.php)
Disaster predicted in Afghanistan: (http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2001/10/afghanistan_1_t.php)
“the Communists are in power in Kabul”: (http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2001/12/the_score_so_fa.php)
Recommending that we overthrow the Uzbek government:
(http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2005/05/uzbekistanas_ty.php)
and last but not least, “Iran is not a threat”:
(http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2006/05/iran_is_not_thr.php)
So I use Eric as a useful anti-oracle. Whatever he predicts, the opposite usually happens. Thank goodness we’re not going to war with Iran - even if they are a threat.
Posted by jkwilson at February 6, 2007 01:29 PM
Here are the links again, without the annoying parentheses:
“Nuclear War Looms in South Asia”: http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2001/12/nuclear_war_loo.php
A terrorist war predicted in Peru: http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2002/03/terrorists_are_everywhere.php
Disaster predicted in Afghanistan: http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2001/10/afghanistan_1_t.php
“the Communists are in power in Kabul”: http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2001/12/the_score_so_fa.php
Recommending that we overthrow the Uzbek government:
http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2005/05/uzbekistanas_ty.php
and last but not least, “Iran is not a threat”:
http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2006/05/iran_is_not_thr.php
Posted by jkwilson at February 6, 2007 01:32 PM
Oldfan… what are you on about dude? What bloody “treatments”???
I have never given you… or anyone else…. my email. Not even a hint. I did just notice you giving your hotmail in a previous post…. but I never emailed you.
If you have been talking to someone… that wasn’t me. LOL.
Posted by The Questioner at February 6, 2007 01:37 PM
Jkwilson:
Yes, I also feel Margolis can be an alarmist sometimes…. that article you linked to about nuke war between India/Pakistan… that was a very toned down version of the crap he wrote in DAWN. (more or less suggested that we were as good as dead in a few days)
That was the one and only time when I felt Eric had taken leave of his senses. LOL
So, yes, I also think, like yourself, that there will be no fireworks over Iran. This is all a game of bluff and counter-bluff. Everyone knows, Iranians are ready to die… some kind of martyr complex, they have. But Americans are not ready to travel on bicycles or donkey-carts. THAT is the bottom line.
Posted by The Questioner at February 6, 2007 02:12 PM
The bottom line is also that Iran and its various proxies are a nice counter balance to the Sunnis in the region…By eliminating or weakening Iran, the West/Hamreekans don’t want to give the clear advantage back to Sunnis for various reasons…
Posted by williamwallace at February 6, 2007 02:46 PM
Well you mentioned P-enlargement so I thought maybe I’d ask if indeed those treatments work. LOL. So go ahead email me I won’t bite.
jkwilson:
I see you don’t think much of EM’s oracular abilities and yet you go through a fair bit of work to post his archival links.
If you don’t think he is a credible writer why do read him regularly, is there some sort of masochistic tendency that one may detect?
It seems there is dislike you have for EM, but still you keep coming here occasionally to take swipes at him, so what’s your agenda.
“This is all a game of bluff and counter-bluff.”
Why, Iran is not going to back down from its nuclear program they are within their legitimate right according to NPT for the civilian program. As for proving a double negative it is not even worth it for Iran to open itself to international inspection, Iraq is a case in point.
Posted by oldfan at February 6, 2007 02:56 PM
William Wallace:
Exactly! Attacking Iran will unravel whatever stupid fantasy Amreeka has going in Iraq. They can’t prop up the Shia and keep down the Sunni in Iraq while having it out with Iran.
However, news like this makes me wonder how stupid the Amreekan leadership is:
Gunmen (under American command) kidnap Iranian diplomat in Iraq.
Meanwhile… and you will only understand this if you are from Pakistan… have you noticed the similarities in Iranian facial features and Jewish facial features? Parsi facial features? You think one cousin will attack another? LOL. All this is a stupid show, nothing more.
Oldfan: I check my email once every month or two months… I hate Hotmail. All they have given me is P-enlargement and “help me I am Nigerian” emails…. I fortunately don’t need the former and am too smart for the latter.
Anyway.. here is the one I’m using right now:
rampart-at-large@hotmail.com. Since I can’t think of anything to say, you email me first….LOL
Posted by The Questioner at February 6, 2007 03:42 PM
If this madness does occur then there will be loads of blame to go all around. The most responsible will be America’s western allies. The EU, Canada, Australia and a few others. We have the ability to stop this in its tracks right now if we make it clear to America and Israel that they will face a total diplomatic and economic boycott if they attack Iran. we have the ability, througg peaceful means, to punish the US economically to such an extent that they will never have the means to wage such a war again. China alone could collapse the US dollar in a day.
Granted that a bit extreme, however our politicians, instead of trying to deter such an attack are, instead trying to figure out how they can stay best buddies with America after the attack.
Of course the average Canadian or European isn’t going to support hurting ourselves economically just to punish the US. we’ll rant and rage after it happens(but do nothing). World peace, like global warming, is not a high priority amongst us. It’s just something we say we oppose because talk is cheap and painless.
Good luck Iran…you’re on your own!
Posted by Paul Whiteside at February 6, 2007 04:24 PM
I actually think Eric has this one right. Israel has been demanding the US take out the budding nuclear electrical generation infrastructure, in the name of Israeli security; the neocons dance to their tune, adding the melody of “global power balance”.
Part of the name of the game is to keep Iran and other aspiring mid-east countries down and what better way than to periodically destroy their oil-enabled economic infrastructure. Back to zero again.
Hmm, wonder if there will be a terrorist fallout risk assessment from an illegal or otherwise attack on Iran? And the West, Canada for sure under Jr. Jr., will wring their hands and say: “We had to preserve the peace of the world and safety of all mankind through this preemptive act”.
As for Iranians and Jews being cousins, well, look at what they are doing to their Palestinian cousins. A blood relations insurance policy is worth zero.
Folks, it is past time the UN moved out of New York. I vote for Jerusalem.
Posted by shazam at February 6, 2007 04:49 PM
Ghawley my friend, I try to do my part, sadly as little as I can, to defy these born-again, warmongering, money&power worshipping dimwits!
I was at the Washington Rally with some really cool folks from all over US to keep the spirit alive.
It’s not time to lose hope now! We’ll have another rally at Pentagon on March 17. I truly wish to see u and all the intelligent commentors of this blog in Washington on that symbolically historical day.
We r not alone guys. It’ll take some dedication, and sacrificing on our part to topple these fascist bastards! I know it’s a cliche slogan but it still represents the truth: “United we stand! Divided we fall!”
If u like to get some of the pictures of the rally, please e-mail me at “ilktar@gmail.com”.
And yes I am stupid enough to post my e-mail on a closely watched website. When more innocent lives r at stake, I think it’s worth to reveal one’s identity. What else we have left to lose, ha guys?!
Posted by Ilker at February 6, 2007 06:10 PM
Honestly, as much as I hate the administration, and as much as I abhor the very though of unleashing another war of “shock and awe” against Iran, I don’t think public demonstrations are very effective unless they absolutely overwhelm civic resources. By contrast, well written letters, and infiltrating government through judicial or political advocacy would allow a single person to wield a much greater power to change things. Barring the commitment (and education) that such a course would require, I honestly think that well drafted letters (and not a boilerplate Moveon.org effort) or Op Ed pieces targeted to various lawmakers would be more effective in conveying the public opinion than a protest. Most rallies result in little more than a few arrests, disorderly conduct, some minor property damage, and the scorn and ignorance of the people who are really in power.
Get half the population of DC involved in the rally, and I would be impressed. But anything less than a 2-million person march would not, in my view, make much difference in what these idiots are prepared to do with our futures.
I’ll get back to that letter now… in between my clerkship applications :)
Posted by chatman at February 6, 2007 07:07 PM
Can the Iranians not take their case to the UN or to the world court to the effect that they are being threatened by the US and that they are doing nothing illegal?
Posted by dikcoates at February 6, 2007 08:02 PM
Good article, Eric. What to do about it? As chatman states, letters are effective, and I would include political leaders of our own countries, as well as those in the US. Why? Well, contrary to Blair and Harper’s beliefs that an isolated and unilateral US is more dangerous than one on the immoral and criminal path to war, it is plain that joining in those criminal ventures only serves to facilitate the aggression.
Beyond that, yes, I do believe that protest demonstrations serve an important purpose. Granted that the numbers are always minimised and the people behind the numbers, ignored. Nevertheless, those who read our letters and articles are commonly those who already believe.. (or those whose agenda is to refute, without receptivity) Sad as it may seem, seeing someone you respect, or seeing ever greater numbers of ordinary people, speaking out for what they believe does open people’s eyes to the possibility that the official line is not the only one.
Posted by Raven at February 7, 2007 01:49 AM
dikcoates, regarding Iran “taking their case to the UN”:
On 23 December 2006, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1737, banning the supply of specific nuclear materials and technology to Iran, and freezing the assets of individuals and companies linked to Iran’s nuclear program. The resolution also specifies that if Iran fails to suspend nuclear enrichment, further sanctions may follow.
That means that even China and Russia signed off on 1737.
Posted by Bino at February 7, 2007 10:28 AM
Right after which Russia sold their Tor air-defense missiles to Iran, numbers not known. LOL
Dikcoates… 1737, under the rules of the UN charter, can’t be militarily enforced. As it is, it was watered down thanks to China and Russia as to be nearly meaningless.
As seen above with the TOR missiles and the watering down of the UN crap, the likes of Russia and China can be counted on to help out Iran when it needs help. More power to them.
And Iran can indeed complain about harassment of it’s diplomats and other kinds of bullying. That is a totally separate issue. That the UN is useless is another reality however.
Posted by The Questioner at February 7, 2007 11:08 AM
I want to echo that writing letters does matter. I have first hand how a letter can change government policy.
Harkening back to my earlier post, I surmise the point of bombing Iran, Iraq, and isolating Syria and controlling other mid-east states is, yes, about oil, but not exclusively. I am beginning to think it is not even the primary motivation. I have concluded the subjugation of the Muslim nations is about religious superiority. I was born Anglican and recall vividly the hymn: “Onward Christian Soldiers”: Onward Christian soldiers, marching off to war, with the Cross of Jesus, going on before….”. Yuck. GWG is very much on a Crusade. Don’t take my word for it - ask him - he mentioned the “C-word” when he was setting the stage for conquering a largely benign Iraq as a Crusade.
As for symbolism, in a pep rally for the troops just prior to the land invasion, the Pentagon/Administration arranged for a female (need of defence) blond and blue-eyed singer (European stock) wearing a blue dress (color of truth (is on your side)) sang “You Are My Hero” to those wildly cheering naïve kids. She had no visible jewellery other than a shiny gold cross dangling from a necklace. And the big screen featured close ups of her.
It is a fact of history that previous religions don’t recognize later ones, whereas later ones recognize previous ones. Such is the story of the Peoples of the Book.
Posted by shazam at February 7, 2007 11:56 AM
Rampart, welcome back man
Iranians are aryan, not semitic. Iran literally translates to “land of the aryans”
Personally, i find iranians to be very very “emotional”…
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ir.html
Iran’s population is 68 million. Iraq is roughly 25 million
Secondly, Iran’s Basij militia numbers about 11 million
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basij
Posted by _RealityBites_ at February 7, 2007 12:01 PM
No one’s attacking or occupying Iran any time soon… Israel may bomb them, but I doubt it…
Posted by _RealityBites_ at February 7, 2007 12:02 PM
Dikcoates:
No disrespect or offence intended you are indeed assuming that the UN or the World court are independent bodies with any type of authority to impose their edicts.
In fact what they are, are a convenient rubber stamp to legitimize the illegitimate activities of the powerful nations and their cronies.
israel has spit upon numerous UN resolutions against it, because it has the protection and backing of America. So once israel complies with Resolution 242 from 1967and the countless others over time that it has flaunted then maybe the world and especially verbose zionists and apologists of this illegal entity can get a bit more serious in enforcing contrived resolutions against Iran.
zionists just simply forget to mention the violations and abuses committed by israel but are extremely vigilant in bringing to light and pressing others to fulfill international obligations.
Posted by oldfan at February 7, 2007 12:15 PM
Dikcoates:
No disrespect or offence intended you are indeed assuming that the UN or the World court are independent bodies with any type of authority to impose their edicts.
In fact what they are, are a convenient rubber stamp to legitimize the illegitimate activities of the powerful nations and their cronies.
israel has spit upon numerous UN resolutions against it, because it has the protection and backing of America. So once israel complies with Resolution 242 from 1967 and the countless others over time that it has flaunted then maybe the world and especially verbose zionists and apologists of this illegal entity can get a bit more serious in asking for enforcement of these contrived resolutions against Iran.
zionists just simply seem to forget to mention the violations and abuses committed by israel but are extremely vigilant in bringing to light and pressing others to fulfill international obligations.
Posted by oldfan at February 7, 2007 12:18 PM
Not again, double post, my apologies….
Posted by oldfan at February 7, 2007 12:20 PM
The Questioner,
Did I hear you say Abdullah Bin Saba…Catch my drift?
Posted by williamwallace at February 7, 2007 01:02 PM
To those who are not from the region and don’t know the ground realities as well as Rampart and myself do…a little insight into a historical pheonomenon that we’ve known for centuries would go a long way in crystalizing the current dynamics, shias have a lot of zionist tendencies in them…their collaboration goes way back in history…the current saber rattling is just for show, nobody is attacking Iran…
Posted by williamwallace at February 7, 2007 01:13 PM
williamwallace:
History and ground realities will be meaningless. There will be no ground war, just missile and bomb attacks. The object will not be to subjugate Iran, but to reduce it to the stone age.
Posted by Weary at February 7, 2007 01:52 PM
By reducing Iran to stone age would be an even greater blow to US/Western/zionist interests in the region…Hamreekans might too asnine to know this, but the zionists are too smart to let their whore/amreeka do something to undermine zionist interests…
Posted by williamwallace at February 7, 2007 02:13 PM
Weary:
When it comes to the MidEast, history is everything. Why do you think they are still fighting in Yahoodistan if not over history?
A few missiles might fly like you say. Then what? Iran’s nuclear program won’t be set back at all… lets be clear on that. You can’t do that with surgical strikes given all the warnings a paranoid people like the Iranians have had.
So… a few cosmetic missiles fired… price of petrol goes up. Iranians and Yahoodistan and Amreeka eat oil profit.
Just on the outskirts of Karachi, I can get smuggled Iranian-petrol. It is real shitty stuff… won’t put it in my car, but it is damn cheap. Point is, Iranians… with official backing I am sure… are already smuggling petrol everywhere they can.
Rs.20 a litre…..imagine that.
WilliamWallace:
Yep. You got it. That Abdullah guy.
Many of history’s stupidest ideas came from Iran. Reality-bites (hi, and thanks) is right when he sez these are an emotional people. Emotional=stupid.
All this amateur drama explains why the Iranian president can’t find the shut-off button for his mouth. Maybe it is all to raise the price of petrol… LOL.
Posted by The Questioner at February 7, 2007 02:19 PM
williamwallace and The Questioner:
I hope you are right, but don’t underestimate stupidity, arrogance and religious zealotry, all rolled into a single person controlling the most powerful armed forces on the planet.
Posted by Weary at February 7, 2007 02:27 PM
Weary:
The most powerful armed forces on the planet may be under control of Chimpy, but then is Chimpy in control of himself?
No, as WilliamWallace said, Chimpy is the Zionist’s “baghal-bachcha” (butt-boy). Why even think about the monkey when we know who the monkey-walla (organ-grinder) is?
Posted by The Questioner at February 7, 2007 02:38 PM
I’m with Weary on both his posts.
I fail to see how ruining Iran will harm Israel.
Please explain.
Posted by ghawley at February 7, 2007 02:41 PM
If you say a strike can’t stop a nuclear program, and you say history is everything, I guess you’re forgetting what happened at Osirak about twenty years ago. That strike sure was an effective setback.
DCanuck
Posted by D. Canuck at February 7, 2007 02:47 PM
First of all touching Iran won’t ruin them. Unless they have been very stupid, they have taken care to make sure their nuclear assets… whatever they are… would make it through any offensive bombing campaign. When a two-bit nations like Serbia can survive NATO’s bombings with most of it’s military intact, Iran can do a lot better.
Now… Iran can also touch Isreal. Or they can touch the US in Iraq. And it won’t be pretty at all.
So there is great danger in touching Iran.
WilliamWallace and I were speculating on a bit of Islamic history. Basically, Iranians and Zionists have had long links… there is even a prediction that the Anti-Christ will travel from Isfahan in Iran with an army of 7,000 Iranian-Jews for his final battle (in which he will get squished). Such thoughts are common amongst us Paks… we don’t think well of Iranians, Aryans, Indians (again, Brahmins are Aryans… or they pretend to be) and Jewish people. We have always believed them to be in cahoots in some way or another. So… for purely speculative reasons… even though events suggest something else… we don’t think anything is going to happen.
Posted by The Questioner at February 7, 2007 03:05 PM
D.Canuck:
Osirak was a total surprise because it was an Isreali operation from start to finish.
This will involve a bumbling giant called USA… who has already telegraphed their intentions since many moons now about exactly how they are going to pull Iran’s limbs apart.
Second… Iraq had put all it’s eggs in one basket. Iran’s program is very dispersed.. or should be by now.
Third… Arabs have this habit of buying foreign stuff, forgetting that you can find yourself in big trouble if you depend on foriegn weapons to protect your assets and can’t make any of your own.
I remember reading that when the Isreali F-16s used laser-guided bombs to cave in the reactor’s roof upon itself, Osirak was guarded by Russian SA-8 anti-aircraft missiles and the missiles were activated and turned themselves towards the F-16 and F-15s which were providing cover overhead.
Guess what happened next? The missiles didn’t fire. They had the planes dead… but they didn’t fire. The system was compromised at the Identify-Friend-or-Foe level. That is what you get by buy stuff through middle-men…
Iranians won’t have the same problem.
Posted by The Questioner at February 7, 2007 03:19 PM
Some interesting comments from ‘Questioner’, he’s obviously a humerous sort.
One could possibly conclude that the fighting in ‘Yahoodistan’(his word for Israel), could possibly be due to the occupation of several million Palestinians and their insistence to put an end to this victimisation.
However ‘Questioner’ likes to make light of it, calls it, and everything else in the Middle and Near East “history”, heart warming, such nihilistic and meaningless fun.
He calls strikes “surgical”, another piece of Bushism, an attempt to confuse medicine/surgery/therapy with shedding blood indiscriminately or is it semi-indiscriminately?
He feels Iranians are ‘paranoid’. I spent some time there 2 years ago. I can tell you he is quite wrong. In spite of the overthrow of their democratically elected government by the US in 1953, being saddled with a US supported tin pot dictator for 27 years, having a US supported Saddam attack and invade in an 8 year war that cost several hundred thousand lives, and now blighting of its civilian nuclear programme with attempted economic strangulation and UNSC sanctions, it is actually NOT paranoid about the US, amazing. However the last 5+ years since 9/11/01, the US has been a picture of paranoia, attacking a country that posed no threat based on fraud and cooked intelligence and dare I say, PARANOIA, unrestrained and with continued collusion of the media. “Land of the brave”?
I’ve put sub-standard petrol in my car before, bought it at a ‘gas station’ in America (not Pakistan). The engine light came on and I believe my rental car was damaged on account of it. No, you don’t have to be in Pakistan to buy sub- standard petrol. However, if you happen to purchase it (a stupid idea), then I recommend making lemonade!
As for the most stupid ideas in the world, well, I’m afraid again the US takes credit for much. Just watch commercial television in America for a few hours and you’ll find stupid ideas are driven by a mixture of greed, poor education, and a lack of politicisation, no, I wasn’t referring to the current neo con administration, just referring to network television, that’s all.
And as for a shut off button for political leaders, “Questioner” may want to consider an entire array of candidates much closer to home than traveling 6000+ miles to favour the Iranians with his efforts and suggestions. Clear now? Questioner?
Posted by Etonhurst at February 7, 2007 03:35 PM
Etonhurst:
You’re new here…. I’m not American (in case you haven’t gathered that already). I live next door to Iran. In Pakistan.
Clear now? Etonhurst?
Yes, I used a wrong choice of words (me not speeky english so goodly… sue me, LOL). I should not have said Iranians were “paranoid”. I should have said, because of all the shot they have been through and put themselves through, they are now “hyper-sensitive”. I think that would be a better word… hyper-sensitive… meaning they can see the Americans coming before the Americans think they were seen coming.
You are right when you say the word “paranoid” is better used for American leadership.
Thanks for the correction.
Posted by The Questioner at February 7, 2007 03:48 PM
The Neo-Conservative Playbook, 12 Step Program
1) Get in power, never mind how.
- 2000 Presidential elections
2) Find a scapegoat.
- Iraq, Iran, The Axis of Evil,
3) Create a fictional crisis, blame it on the scapegoat.
- WMD’s
- Sponsoring terror
- Actions from decades past
4) Polarize everyone into “us” and “them”.
- “You’re either ith us or against us.”
- Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, etc.
5) Accuse anyone who disagrees of being a traitor.
- Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, etc.
6) Give the scapegoat a deadline to prove he’s not responsible for the fictional crisis.
- “Prove you DON’T have any hidden weapons!”
- Tout people like Hans Blix, Scott Ritter then pillory them.
7) Declare war on the scapegoat.
- “We’ve given them too much time already to give up their hidden WMD’s”
8) Use war fever to suppress freedom and dissent.
- The Patriot Act
- Foreign prisons and torture
- Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, etc.
9) Use war deficits as an excuse to cut social programs.
- $90B cut to Medicare
10) No matter what, claim success.
- Mission Accomplished
11) Stay in power, never mind how.
- Cue Osama for another helpful video
12) Go to step 2
- Next up… Iraq
There is no War on Terror. It’s an Orwellian ploy.
DCanuck
Oh and…
“Sugar rations have been INCREASED to 5 grams!”
Posted by D. Canuck at February 7, 2007 04:54 PM
EtonHurst, Yahoodistan is taken from the word “Yahoodi”… its the arabic/persian/urdu word for Jew… its not a racial slur… i believe the hebrew version is “yahudi”
the “istan” just sort of grouping them with the rest of the “istans”… Pakistan, Turkemanistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, etc…
Posted by _RealityBites_ at February 8, 2007 04:08 AM
Interesting (on topic) article:
Posted by Bino at February 8, 2007 09:05 AM
Nearly 60 countries signed a treaty on Tuesday that bans governments from holding people in secret detention, but the United States and some of its key European allies were not among them. The signing capped a quarter-century of efforts by families of people who have vanished at the hands of governments.
For the full story, go to:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/020807P.shtml
Posted by shazam at February 8, 2007 10:42 AM
Yes, thank you Questioner. And let me say your English is not so poor. In fact it is superb. And yes, I’m “new”. Nevertheless I cannot agree with your use of the word “hypersensitivity”. I believe Iran is sensitive, though not “hyper” sensitive. Look at this morning’s news item: ‘Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader asserts there will be retaliation if the IRI is attacked’. Many would regard this to be actually a rather measured response from a country sensitive to the fact that two American aircraft carrier groups armed with nuclear bunker busters are currently assembling in the Persian Gulf, nuclear submarines with MIRVed missiles from ‘Yahoodistan’ are rumoured to be in the Arabian Sea and Israeli and American intelligence operatives are rumoured to be active in Iranian Kurdistan.
On the other hand, the Americans, banking on the usual mass ignorance of current affairs from their public have reacted with “hypersensitivity”. They regard Khamenei’s assertions as an “unprovoked threat”. Do you catch my drift?
It is rather interesting and a bit odd that Pakistanis regard the Iranians with suspicion and think they are secretly conspiring with the Yahoodis (you say) and are not in earnest regarding Palestinian national rights; while the Iranians are genuinely sympathetic toward the Pakistanis (and Palestinans), I’ve been privy to that fact on a number of occasions and by individuals across class and ethnic lines in Iran. So what gives?
Oh, and Realitybites, thank you for that elucidation, but it really wasn’t necessary.
Posted by Etonhurst at February 8, 2007 01:13 PM
Etonhurst…
Pakistan is predominantely a Sunni country and Iran the holyland of Shias, but here is the caveat, an SAT analogy if you will, Shias in Pakistan is to Zionist in Hamreeka…
There in lies the intrinsic schism between Iran and Pakistan…Iran’s closeness with the USSR, during the Afghan War, its support for the Northern Alliance commie war criminals in collaboration with the Indians, Russian and here is the surprise Israelis, its affinity for India and lack of support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue haven’t help matters neither…
Posted by williamwallace at February 8, 2007 01:50 PM
What WilliamWallace said above…..
The way Iran uses Islam in a in-your-face way… most people find that nauseating.
But that does not give Amreeka the right to kick them around. If we can find anyway to ruin America’s party without throwing a punch… I’m all for it. Amreeka needs for someone to piss into their corn-flakes. We have more than proven we can serve pissy cornflakes for breakfast. That is what NATO is choking on in Afghanistan.
I don’t really know if there is drama going on or if this will really happen…. Iran being attacked and all (I doubt it). And I don’t care. All I know is we don’t need this shit happening next door raising the cost of petrol over here.
Posted by The Questioner at February 8, 2007 03:06 PM
Ah well, terribly sorry, I actually thought that ‘Questioner’ was concerned with principle, truth, and logic of conduct. Alas he cares not tuppence for any of it, he’s just concerned with reducing his energy costs, his outlay for petrol. Sorry I misjudged you old boy. Good luck with the Morris Minor!
The “in your face” religiosity of some Iranians you’ll find concentrated amongst the ruling clergy, while Iran generally and popularly is rather cagey about religion and religious ceremony. They tend to appreciate mysticism, a natural tendency, given their long history and their traditions in literature.
So, William Wallace (not the Scotsman I assume) thinks of Pakistani Shiites as a 5th column for Iran. I tend not to believe it, I tend not to consider them as a significant power and proportion of Pakistani society, and equating them with zioinists in America…Now that’s laughable, please, too funny, you’re making my sides hurt!
As for the Taliban: I understand they assassinated over a dozen Iranian diplomats in Kabul(cut their heads off) and would not even return their bodies. I also understand they were destroying the livelihood of the ethnic Baluchis by shutting off the flow of a borderline river shared by both countries. Besides, the Taliban were a right bunch of ultra thugs. And yes I understand Russia and Iran were both involved in support for the Northern Alliance and Massoud Shah, but India? Israel? I’m afraid that’s not a credible piece of data.
By the way, Iran is not the holy land of Shiism, it is in fact Iraq, with Karbala and various other holy sites, shrines and mosques.
I tell you what struck me as interesting in my travels and my natural curiosity and tendency to ask questions. In the Middle and Near East, most people found it “nauseating” that Musharraf, the Pakistani military dictator immediately turned over and presented his rump when told to do so on the phone by an under secretary of the Bush administration, to jump on board on the “fight against terrorism” or else (brother pervez admits this!). It really gives a new definition to ‘phone sex’. I’m sure a couple of well informed Pakistanis like you chaps are richly aware of that. Right?
Posted by Etonhurst at February 8, 2007 04:01 PM
W Wallace, Questioner, Etonhurst:
Have a read of this article the last 2 paragraphs provide a bit of prespective and an understanding to Iran’s position.
http://www.gwynnedyer.net/articles/Gwynne%20Dyer%20article_%20%20Chirac’s%20Gaffe.txt
Saudis and the fat cat gulfers, Egypt, Jordan long ago sold their souls to the Brits first and now the Americans because they were so distrustful of each other.
Lacking self reliance and confidence they have become easily manipulated by the western powers and that is where they remain today to the detriment of their own future generations.
As far as my knowledge was concerned I thought the most holy lands for all Muslims were Mecca and Medina, albeit that are great reverential sites for Shia Muslims in Iraq, Iran and Syria.
Posted by oldfan at February 8, 2007 11:24 PM
Etonhurst:
Fact is, Iranians have always been “emotional” (as pointed out above). They are best at word-wars and shouting at the world.
I doubt you… and other MidEast people (most of whom we regard as weak fools)… would understand the strategic value of dumping a tool. The Taliban served Pakistan well to keep the likes of India and Iran away. And then the Taliban served Pakistan well again, when we dumped them and left them to be killed.
They were a good tool. They still are. LOL
Now then… about holy places… These are Mecca, Madina (and Jerusalem if one insists).
The rest is all Shia crap. Whether in Iran or Iraq, we don’t give a damn. All we know is the Shia religion is a Jewish corruption of Islam. It was most notorious for starting the so called “islamic revolution” by Ayatollah Shitullah Khomaini.
Iran always finds itself in the usual spot of making touble when there wasn’t any to start with. What the hell did Israel ever do to Iran??? Why start a war of wrods with them? This is sooooo stupid that we think this must be some kind of drama. How can anyone be this stupid?
Anyway…
The way we used our hammer… our tool.. called “Taliban” was a superb bit strategy. We ended the dream of Iran-India cooperation, thanks to this strategy of cooperating with Amreeka when it needed us the most. LOL
You said *** And yes I understand Russia and Iran were both involved in support for the Northern Alliance and Massoud Shah, but India? Israel? I’m afraid that’s not a credible piece of data.***
No?
Read this from 2003:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_28-1-2003_pg3_1
AND below:
DefenseNews.com
January 23, 2003
India, Iran Sign Strategic Accord
By Vivek Raghuvanshi, New Delhi
India and Iran have forged a strategic alliance that dramatically
alters the political landscape in volatile South Asia, according to officials
here.
The startling new accord gives New Delhi the right to use Iranian
military bases in the event of a war with neighboring Pakistan, in
exchange for India providing Tehran with military hardware, training, maintenance and modernization
support.
By joining sides with Iran, however, India may inadvertently force the
United States to again bar arms sales to New Delhi, which only
recently resumed. The United States, which was caught off guard by the
deal, suspended sales to India in May 1998, after it conducted a series of nuclear tests .
The Indo-Iranian defense cooperation agreement was signed Jan. 19 in
Tehran by Adm. Madhavendra Singh, Indian Navy chief and chairman of the Chief
of Staff Committee, and Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani, Iranian minister of
defense and logistics of the Armed Forces. The pact is a prelude to a
visit here Jan. 26 by Iranian President Mohammad Khatami.
The agreement would mark a shift in regional alliances. India, once an
ally of Iraq, has had a chilly relationship with Baghdad since the Gulf
War. Pakistan in the past has been allied with Iran.
“We need India’s help in all military aspects,” said Iranian Brig.
Gen. Ali Motaghi, the armed forces attaché at Iran’s embassy here. Motaghi
called the agreement a milestone in defense ties between the two countries.
Indian Defence Ministry spokesman Pradipto Bandopadhyay said, “Defense
cooperation with Iran is part of India’s efforts to boost military
exports to the Middle East, and Iran is very important for us in view
of geopolitics of the Middle East.”
Outside Looks
A local scholar called the new alliance mutually beneficial.
“India will get a credible gateway to Central Asia through a friendly
Islamic nation, and Iran will get military assistance from India
through its various establishments, particularly its research agency, Defense Research and Development
Organisation, DRDO,” said Sreedhar Rao, professor at Jawaharlal
University.
But the budding relationship concerns some in Washington, who fear
that the move will further inflame the tensions between India and Pakistan, the
two nuclear-armed states who remain bitterly divided over the disputed
region of Kashmir.
“We’ll be watching this closely,” one senior U.S. State Department
official said, declining further comment. “Such an agreement would raise
obstacles in our burgeoning defense trade relationship with India.”
After the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, U.S. officials moved quickly
to rekindle its military and arms cooperation ties with both India and
Pakistan. Pakistan was seen by U.S. leaders as key to ousting al Qaeda
and Taliban forces from nearby Afghanistan, but Bush administration
officials also took the opportunity to improve
its relationship with New Delhi. The United States had suspended arms
sales and military cooperation with both south Asian countries after India,
then Pakistan, conducted nuclear tests in 1998.
Arms and Access
The new alliance has been in the works for some time. In December, a
high-level defense delegation from India, including bureaucrats,
senior officials from the Integrated Defence Staff, and engineers from
Ordnance Factories and Defence Shipyards, visited Iran to see how they could support Iranian military
hardware.
The Indian team also evaluated the proposed development of a transport
corridor from India to Afghanistan and Central Asia through Iran. The
team submitted its findings in a report to the Defence Ministry.
Under the new agreement, India will:
. Support the construction of warship repair facilities at Iran’s new
port
at Chahbahar.
. Station aeronautical engineers from the Indian Air Force and
state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., Bangalore, at Iranian military
bases to maintain and give mid-life upgrades to Iran’s MiG-29 fighters.
. Send Indian ordnance factory engineers to Iran to refit and maintain
T-72 tanks, BMP infantry fighting vehicles, and 105 mm and 130 mm towed
artillery guns.
. Sell Indian Konkurs anti-tank guided weapons and spare parts to
Iran.
. Train Iranian troops in India and Iran. Iran has been seeking the
Indian Navy’s help in operational and combat training for warships and
missile boats. The Indian Navy currently trains Iranian sailors and
engineers at Mumbai and Vishakapatnam on warship maintenance and
operations.
In return, India’s military planners want to be able to quickly deploy
troops, armored personnel carriers, tanks, light armored vehicles and
surveillance platforms to Iran during crises with Pakistan. India’s
current rapid-mobility capabilities are aimed at defending the
Indo-Pakistani border.
India also plans to sell missile boats, and ship and submarine
simulators
to
Iran. Indian officials did not disclose their financial expectations
from exports resulting from this alliance.
“New Delhi has been hunting for a viable defense partner for a long
time in the Middle East through which India can achieve its rapid mobility
defense goals and boost its defense exports,” one Indian Defence
Ministry official said.
Vago Muradian contributed to this report from Washington.
————
Zia Mian
Program on Science and Global Security
Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs Princeton
University
Posted by The Questioner at February 9, 2007 12:21 AM
See, THIS is how you fight a war. THIS is the art of soft power which is far more efficient than hard military firepower. Too bad Arabs and Iranians will never understand this concept…
Pakistan de-fanged Iran/India alliance so softly… without a shot being fired… that most people aren’t even aware of it. LOL
Posted by The Questioner at February 9, 2007 12:31 AM
Rampart, Iran repudiated that any such treaty exists or was ever signed a couple of days after the indians wrote such articles. creative marketing in overdrive.
Officially, the Pakistani government has also said that it will not allow its land or air to be used against Iran. This was a couple of weeks ago I believe. Not that the US needs any such bases for an attack.
I do not believe for a second that the Pakistani government would attempt anything like it.
Posted by _RealityBites_ at February 9, 2007 05:47 AM
Eton being a Pakistani myself, I should tell you that most Pakistanis agree with your assessment about Musharraf
You should read our newspapers. alot of people agree with the phone sex portion…
Posted by _RealityBites_ at February 9, 2007 06:02 AM
That damn news seems to be too detailed to have been totally a fantasy, though as you suggest, I am well aware of the lousy Indian habit of making mountains out of mole-hills.
Anyway, despite suspicions, despite everything, Pakistan is very much on Iran’s side if the crap starts flying. At the very least, we will never harm Iran or allow our being used to harm Iran.
In fact, that is probably what is keeping them alive right now. Firing shots… missiles and nukes and whatnot… in a nuclear power’s backyard isn’t done without thinking through all the possibilities of how it could all go tits-up. And that isn’t so easy since the problem is open-ended. See… they don’t trust us when it comes to Afghanistan, how will they trust us when it comes to Iran? We are very untrustworthy…LOL.
People should be clear on this point. I and others might not like Iran.. sometimes… but we like Amreeka (not to mention Israel…) far less…. far, faaaar less. I hope that is clear to Yahoodi and non-Yahoodi.
Posted by The Questioner at February 9, 2007 06:07 AM
Rampart, India also recently referred Iran to the security council…
not much love there…
Posted by _RealityBites_ at February 9, 2007 06:15 AM
And to you, Reality, I would say that yes, I think our poor President has been the most insulted President in the press ever, off and on. And yet, he is most responsible for all this media freedom we are enjoying. (I’m a fan of the dude)
Posted by The Questioner at February 9, 2007 06:19 AM
Now that India-Amreeka have their nuclear deal nonsense, India will do whatever they are told to do, being careful not to risk the little bread US has thrown their way. LOL
Posted by The Questioner at February 9, 2007 06:23 AM
We’re a nation of over 150 million… the freedom exists because mushy will not try to push people too far… the religious parties are out for his blood, so are the political parties and the tribals… if he pushes the situation too far, the people will get off their ***** and actually do something about the whole situation…
he’s simply passing time, pushing forward the sham of democracy and feeding the idiots(both external and internal), all the BS to stay in power… thats his national policy; “Get past tomorrow”
Posted by _RealityBites_ at February 9, 2007 07:24 AM
I agree he is using “time pass” strategy and thinking everyone else is stupid….. they all do. But then we get to the same old problem:
We ain’t got nobody better. At least I can’t think of anyone…. except myself. LOL
It is true we are very lucky in many ways. Not only do we have 150 million people, the average person here has fire in his ass not normally seen in people of other countries.
Posted by The Questioner at February 9, 2007 07:50 AM
Sorry… fire in his or her ass. Very important point. Ignore at your own risk.
Posted by The Questioner at February 9, 2007 07:51 AM
Haha, we should call this Rampart’s list of Questions now.
I don’t feel comfortable with how quickly he’s taken it over.
Tovy
Posted by Tovy at February 9, 2007 10:20 AM
Thelma and Louise Imperialism
Over the Cliff with George and Dick?
By Tom Engelhardt
http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=164164
Posted by oldfan at February 9, 2007 11:39 AM
A possible attempt at creating a terrorist incident and a convenient casus belli for attacking Iran.
ISRAELI EMBASSY IN NYC A RADIATION HOT SPOT
“One alleged radiation hot spot on Manhattan’s east side has the
potential for becoming a political hot spot: A strong radiation spike
from the area of the Israeli Embassy. Officials would not comment on why
they thought that particular area allegedly showed such a stunning peak
in radiation.”
The complete story is here:
http://cleveland.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/22798.php
Posted by oldfan at February 9, 2007 12:53 PM
Tovy,
I hear you. I’ve had to go back to checking who’s posting before reading the post. And on this thread it* was extensive.
DCanuck
*It = Annoyance Avoidance
Posted by D. Canuck at February 9, 2007 01:35 PM
That’s right oldfan, the whole exercise was just a pretext to invade Iran as per the Zionist whip master’s desire.
I’m actually embarrassed for you.
I suspect your tinfoil beanie is strapped on too tight.
Posted by Bino at February 9, 2007 01:36 PM
A dirty bomb scenario has been much talked about. Zbigniew Brezinski has warned about an event being manufactured to provide a pretext.
israeli intelligence and mossad would be happy as hell to provide this scenario.
Just imagine an Arab or Islamic country’s diplomatic mission showing a spike in radioactivity the compliant press would be on the story like flies on shit.
This story was suppressed on the whole and where it was reported the israeli connection was edited out.
Check out these two links below, the same story line but no mention of you know who, the story has been cleaned up, wonder why?
http://www.newsradio88.com/pages/86759.php?contentType=4&contentId=209765
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=4586185
I know Bino you don’t like these incriminating details to get out in the open, wonder why?
Posted by oldfan at February 9, 2007 02:36 PM
Oh and here Bino another look at your idol dershowitz spouting off his usual nonsense. Bloody warmongerer…
Posted by oldfan at February 9, 2007 02:52 PM
Dershowitz is an pseudo-intellectual monster. Good thing he has tenure.
I’ve never seen a call for equal justice ring so hollow; “we demand equal justice for all mankind” followed less than two minutes later with “we are drafting a brief justifying the use of pre-emptive force against Iran in the event it comes close to building a nuclear weapon; we will not wait to see if [such a weapon] is used.”
If my neighbor two houses down the street, who I know hates me but does not own a gun, walks into a gun shop, I reserve the right to kill him with my own gun. Talk about equal justice for all.
I don’t think Dershowitz remembers what the word “justice” means… perhaps he should go back to law school and find out. While he’s there, perhaps he might become aware of how terribly transparent his oratory is. The world is neither a jury nor a judge that needs, that one must repeat bad arguments over and over and over again.
Posted by chatman at February 9, 2007 03:58 PM
A well written piece about the old divide and rule concept:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IB02Ak01.html
Posted by oldfan at February 9, 2007 05:39 PM
Do all Pakistanis live in a fantasy world, or just those who post here? Instead of so fervently believing your government’s propaganda, why don’t you admit, hard as it may be for your self-esteem, that Pakistan is/has been the servant alternatively of Saudi Arabia, China, and America? Pakistan’s only foreign policy “success” was a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, and we all know how well that has turned out.
But at least Rampart’s verbosity seems to have scared away Bino.
Chatman: as someone (like yourself?) who has been to law school, I would recommend it as one of the last places to go to learn what justice is.
Oldfan: I look forward to reading your many excellent links.
Posted by hyperbolus at February 9, 2007 08:43 PM
Hyperbolus:
We practice realpolitik. LOL. When you’re a small fry like we are, the only way to punch above your weight is to make yourself useful to someone who has an advantage. One may argue that we act like China’s “cat’s paw” (Indian term for our relationship with China) or American slave… but from our point of view, we get enormous advantages linking up with the bigger dudes. Also we are known for taking our pound of flesh, at least from the Americans (American state dept. word for Pakistan.. “the expensive prostitute”).
And yes… the caterpillar who became a butterfly… or rather a cockroach that grew wings… during my sabbatical.. is again reverting back to it’s former condition. Enjoy.
Posted by The Questioner at February 9, 2007 10:58 PM
Oldfan:
Radiation coming from Yahoodistan embassy could be either from them or because someone is irradiating the tossers. (like when the Russians microwaved American embassy in Moscow)
Posted by The Questioner at February 9, 2007 11:16 PM
And that article about divide and rule is quite something… Americans are always looking for social fault lines to exploit. (case in point… Kurds).
About irradiated Yahoodi… I should explain further. Russians, once upon a time, came up with a brilliant design for a bug that couldn’t be detected because it didn’t have a power source of it’s own… it didn’t have electronics inside it even.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_listening_device
It was powered by microwaves beamed from outside.
The article Oldfan gave doesn’t say clearly what kind of radiation they were giving out… but one can assume it has something to do with skullduggery. Either Amreeka is spying on it’s best buddy or they are up to no good (which they never are).
Posted by The Questioner at February 9, 2007 11:30 PM
Here is something more about Iran (and India-Iran links).
http://www.antiwar.com/bidwai/?articleid=10501
————————
On the eve of Mukherjee’s visit to Iran, U.S. Ambassador to India David C. Mulford made a threatening gesture and warned New Delhi that any economic transactions with Iran exceeding 40 million dollars can attract American sanctions. The Indian Foreign Office, which usually bristles at such threats to India’s “sovereignty,” did not respond to the statement.
——————————-
And the tail went between the legs…
Looks like Amreeka is seriously buttoning down any and all possible means of support to Iran.
Posted by The Questioner at February 10, 2007 10:33 AM
This is some very funny stuff coming from ‘Questioner’. Let me understand this, he is a Pakistani with hostile/racist feelings towards the Iranians. Too funny! I had heard about this phenomenon: a blind black man (blind from childhood) harbours sympathies for the KKK until he is told that he is actually black.
Hey ‘Questioner’, you are a Pakistani!
Well, somebody had to tell him…
Posted by Etonhurst at February 10, 2007 03:34 PM
Etonhurst, why are you here? If you are here to make sure nobody bad-mouths Iran then wouldn’t it be better not to make waves? Specially not with me?
Emotional as ever…. learn some control dude.
Posted by The Questioner at February 10, 2007 11:20 PM
As for Iran, I can only feel sorry for it. Trust me, there is no hate involved. Only pity.
You guys are in a spot (IF this isn’t all an act) that nobody should ever be in…. and I swear by God… hope you guys make it… I would hate to see a war in my backyard… bad effect on petrol prices and all that.
Control.. control…. deep breaths now…. OK now dude?
Posted by The Questioner at February 10, 2007 11:32 PM
And so it starts….More Amreekan propaganda. Of course it had to be from New York Times.
——————————-
Deadliest Bomb in Iraq Is Made by Iran, U.S. Says
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 — The most lethal weapon directed against American troops in Iraq is an explosive-packed cylinder that United States intelligence asserts is being supplied by Iran.
———————————
United States “intelligence”? The same clowns who have been wrong about everything?
Posted by The Questioner at February 11, 2007 02:07 AM
Etonhurst, you hit the nail right on the head. “The Questioner” posits a vast American-Israeli-Iranian-Russian-Indian conspiracy directed against Pakistan, against which Pakistan has valiantly fought and even sometimes prevailed. But the reality is much less glorious: always a mere pawn, be it England’s, America’s, China’s, or Saudi Arabia’s.
Posted by hyperbolus at February 11, 2007 06:45 PM
My guess for the next post is the missing $12 billion or so sent to Iraq in plastic wrapped $100 bills. I heard Bushes Republican cronies were showing up saying they were there on government business and needed a quarter million or so to fulfill their Iraq-related mission. What a robbery of US taxpayers.
The Questioner is no doubt a bit paranoid given all the superpower machinations that have and are occurring in his neighbours’ yards for the past eons, which may have spilled over into support for one or another secular or Muslim factions within Pakistan. The whole place has the potential to unravel politically because of these pressures, especially as there is no robust middle class to stabilize the decision making.
The Questioner is rightly proud of how Pakistan has walked the tightrope and balanced the concerns of significant others, both internal and external others, to PK’s advantage time and time again. One must grant him that. I sense the taunt hyperbolous and maybe that’s OK, or not, but you must hand it to PK - they are evolving politically and economically at a fairly impressive rate.
Any other takers on what Eric will write about next?
I like the new spell check feature in the blog.
Posted by ghawley at February 11, 2007 07:57 PM
Hyperbolus:
The reality is even simpler.
I’ll give an example. 90% of the cars on the streets here are partially owned by some bank.
What is going to happen when the economy takes a hit? What will people be left with? Donkey carts?
Somehow or another, this shit that Iran started is going to effect my life. Why should I appreciate it?
You are a fool if you can’t understand this little point.
If you are American, would you like to see Mexico flattened? How would that effect your economy (even though Mexico is a pipsqeak compared to the US).
See… Ghawley understands it.
Ghawley:
What spell check? I can’t see no button…
I use Firefox… that spellchecks automatically. Or there is a great spellcheck feature in Google Taskbar.
I also notice, folk are slowly calling me Questioner instead of Rampart. Good good.
Posted by The Questioner at February 12, 2007 12:21 AM
And I dread the flood of Iranian refugees headed my way. And they won’t ever leave.
They came when Ayatollah Useless took over. They never left.
Just like Afghans came here. And they never left.
Maybe we should change name from Pakistan to Glue-istan.. or Epoxyistan.
Posted by The Questioner at February 12, 2007 12:33 AM
And Hyperbolus set me thinking… what super-feat has Pakistan pulled off recently?
And I got it…. When Darrell Hair collided with Captain Potato and came out a distant second best. Even I was amazed. The man was thought to be invincible… until he met our ever-corrosive boys.
(only someone who plays Cricket will understand the above)
Posted by The Questioner at February 12, 2007 12:50 AM
Questioner/Rampart - or should I say, Spampart:
Isn’t this quite enough?
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Posted by The Questioner at February 10, 2007 11:32 PM
Posted by The Questioner at February 11, 2007 02:07 AM
Posted by The Questioner at February 12, 2007 12:21 AM
Posted by The Questioner at February 12, 2007 12:33 AM
Posted by The Questioner at February 12, 2007 12:50 AM
That spam is what got you as Rampart booted in the first place. Now lay off and stop hogging the board.
Tovy
Posted by Tovy at February 12, 2007 02:34 PM
The scorecard comes from a person whose contribution to this blog is next to nothing.
Why blame me if you have nothing to say?
Posted by The Questioner at February 12, 2007 02:57 PM
Congrats, that’s post #30 for you so far!
Tovy
Posted by Tovy at February 12, 2007 03:01 PM