David Frum: Waking Up to the Iranian Threat

The National Post ^ | July 27, 2004 | David Frum

[quidnunc]

What's a Canadian's life worth? Eighteen thousand dollars says the government of Iran. That is the compensation that an Iranian court proposed to pay the family of murdered photographer Zahra Kazemi — after that same court refused to hold any individual responsible for Kazemi's death.

What can or should the government of Canada do now?

It could start by opening its eyes. For years, Ottawa has regarded Iran as just another authoritarian country with an unfortunate human-rights record — deplorable to be sure, but not ultimately a problem of special concern to Canada. Indeed, private citizen Jean Chretien, now a consultant to a Calgary oil company, unconcernedly does business there.

That indifference must end.

Iran is not only a terrible human-rights abuser, although it is that and worse. Iran is also one of the world's leading aggressor states. It is the world's foremost surviving state sponsor of international terror, terror that has reached into Europe and the Americas. Gunmen in Iranian pay have committed mass murder in Berlin; in 1994, Iranian agents blew up the Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires, killing 86 people — until 9/11, the deadliest act of international terror in the history of the Western hemisphere.

Now this gruesome regime is nearing completion of a nuclear weapon.

Once Iran acquires such a weapon, it will be able to practice terrorism with impunity. Nuclear mullahs will gain the power to defy not only Canada, but the entire international community.

-snip-

[nuconvert]

"They may understand that Iran is a vicious regime. But they have a hard time comprehending that this viciousness has anything to do with them."

This is the problem with Europe also.


"Al-Jazeera .... sometimes incites its listeners to go kill Jews."
" the whole point of al-Jazeera is that it is precisely not a news service. It is a tool of mobilization and propaganda used by the terrorist enemy to rally support in the Arabic-speaking world.""

And that's why they have NO place at the Dem. Nat'l Convention. (and better NOT be at the Rep. Nat'l Convention)

[sweneop]

Once Iran acquires such a weapon, it will be able to practice terrorism with impunity. Nuclear mullahs will gain the power to defy not only Canada, but the entire international community.

this is the rub. iran doesnt want to actually use its nukes (as many here seem to fear), that would be suicide. nukes provide immunity from invasion.

of course their normal covert support for terror would most likely continue, and they would be much safer from any retaliation.

we must bomb the nuclear sites not only for our sakes, but irans and the iranian people. i have many friends in tehran. on a clear day with the massive mountains in the background, its a lovely place. i dont want to see the millions of people who live in the foothils of the alboors trapped in between the evil mullahs and the west, both wielding a nuclear threat.

free iran!

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Honestly, when Iranian start sniping off some of the Mullahs, the rest of the world might think that most Iranian want to be free. As it stands right now, its seems like a small group of intellectuals yearn for something better. That is not a revolution. That is blather.

[sweneop]

the saddest man i ever met was imprisoned for years by the regime for handing out leaflets. him and his wife were tortured in front of each other many times.

last year, he slit his own wrists and ended the pain.

after some of the student protests not long ago, the unnofficial millitias broke into university dorms, smashed up everything, violently beat people, and dragged some away, never to be seen again.

these people risk EVERYTHING just being seen to be protesting. maybe you shouldnt be so flippant about them.