Posted on 07/02/2005 8:42:55 PM PDT by freedom44
Iran’s new president-elect, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, raised eyebrows in the international community today by claiming that his nation is building what he called “the most peaceful nuclear weapon ever.”
In a press briefing in Tehran, Mr. Ahmadinejad acknowledged for the first time that Iran was in fact building a nuclear weapon, but pooh-poohed any talk of Iran being a threat to its neighbors, telling reporters, “The nuclear bomb we are currently building is for display purposes only.”
Mr. Ahmadinejad said that it was his hope that in building the world’s most peaceful nuclear weapon, other nations in the region and around the world would build totally peaceful nuclear weapons of their own.
But the Iranian president-elect’s claims about the peacefulness of his nuclear weapon drew a somewhat skeptical response from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei, who told reporters that he had seen Iran’s nuclear weapon and noticed that it was “hooked up to a countdown clock like you see in James Bond movies.”
The IAEA chief added, “Also, it was attached to a little box with a red button on it – what’s that all about?”
In response to Mr. ElBaradei’s question, Mr. Ahmadinejad said, “A little red button is nothing to worry about. Red is a happy color.”
In Washington, President Bush criticized Mr. Ahmadinejad’s nuclear policy and also complained that “Ahmadinejad” was “nearly impossible to spell.”
Elsewhere, in his most gloomy assessment to date, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said that the insurgency in Iraq could last longer than Cher’s Farewell Tour.
Great, they are different people, they speak a different language. But the fact that they are Muslum, and don't like us doesn't instill a great deal of confidence. Then we can look at history and see how they had no difficulty attacking our embassy and holding those people hostage. They had not moral limitations when it came to dragging the burned corpses of our military's failed rescue attempts through their streets. I also remember that the DAY that Ronald Reagan was sworn in as President, they suddenly lost interest in keeping our hostages any longer.
Forgive me for not giving a rat's behind of concern for their health or well-being.
"I don't understand why anyone would take it seriously :)."
Good point. Guess I did not observe the category. Been a hard long day trying to defend our position in Iraq.
have a good one.
Iranians are not Arabs, and I am told it is quite offensive to them to be mistaken for Arabs.
"Upon reading this I had to check back quickly to verify that this wasn't from the New York Times, The LA Times or The Seattle Times!"
LoL. I did too
Sure. But, pre-1979 Iran and US had the closest relationship in the world. Iran-US had extensively comprehensive cultural, military, and educational arrangements. US relied on Iran for sufficient oil and mid-east security in exchange Iran was supplied with the 4th largest military in the world and a progessive economy. It's fairly difficult to phantom but at the time the relationship between US and Iran was much closer than US/England or US/Israel.
The 79 revolution was a revolt against the Shah by commis, islamists, nationalists, etc. helped along by Carter. The idea of the revolt was in essence good to install a democratic regime, but it was hiijacked by the Ayatollahs. What Carter and others didn't understand is that it takes time to develop full blown democracy and modernization and progress should come first. Today Iran is a backward absolute dictatorship a regime of hard-line radicals running a country dubbed by Michael Rubin [Washington Enterprise Institute] as one of the most pro-US in the world.
Never underestimate the powers of fear and terrorism.
Ahmadinejad is hoping the dissidents in Iran will buy it. He is a populist and is already trying to make waves with the young. Everybody can have a satellite TV and we need to promote new Iranian music, he says. This man, with his energy and winning smile is very, very dangerous.
"they are Muslum, and don't like us"
If you're speaking about the people, they are predominantly secular muslims and DO like us.
The regime's a different story.
The first thing I did was go back and look for scrappleface, however, unfortunately, the situation in Iran is critical, and most find it difficult to laugh about it, I think.
Too many conservatives retreat to and hole up in knee-jerk reactionary positions when found out wrong, rather than investigate and learn more. One would hope you're not one of those.
Probably because Ahmadinejad speaks out of both sides of his face.
Knee-jerk reactionism is hardly a valid description of conservatives.
I understand. I agree.
I was just pointing out that some individuals don't realize that Borowitz is mostly noted for (and awarded for) humor.
If this post is otherwise, I apologize...
I seriously doubt we'll "go into Iran". We have our hands full trying out experimental "nation building" in Iraq and Afghanistan to consider trying more of the same on them. We'll just bomb the snot out of them and leave them to consider the wisdom of their recent behavior in the rubble of what used to be their country. Or, more likely, we'll just let Israel take care of this problem for us. you just have to ask yourself, "Which does Israel fear more: pissing off the U.S. and the muslim world, or a nuclear Iran?"
There are only three possible resolutions to the Iranian nuclear issue (in decreasing order of likelihood):
"We'll just bomb the snot out of them and leave them to consider the wisdom of their recent behavior in the rubble of what used to be their country."
No, we will not. Luckily our President recognizes that the majority of Iranians are pro-American and would like to keep them that way.
I will remind you that there are FReepers from Iran and FReepers who have friends and family in Iran. Your remarks are offensive.
Did you see the people in the streets of Tehran celebrating and dancing in the streets on 9/11? I did.
During Desert Storm, Saddam flew his fighters to Iran for safe keeping. Does this seem to be something that one would do for their greatest enemy?
Maybe you've never seen anti-American demonstrations in Iran. Perhaps your TV doesn't receive the pictures of flag burning, and 'Death to America' chants like mine does.
Simply stated .... they don't like us. Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia; pretty much the whole middle east. We were told how the suppressed population in Iraq would rise up and help us overthrow a ruthless dictatorship. I don't see that, do you? Now we have a DEMONSTRATED hater of America (remember that whole 'Hostage' thing?) and you want to repeat our performance?
Iraq presented a clear threat, they not only harbored terrorists, but provided funding and training. Iraq ignored 14 UN resolutions, we had no choice. Thus far, Iran has done nothing.
Would this be the same hypothetical "pro-American majority" that did so much in the last election to ensure the defeat of known anti-American terrorist thug Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?
Given the recent Iranian elections, I'll believe in pixies and elves before I believe in any "pro-American Iranian Majority". Hopefully for America, we elected a real-world President who deals with real world issues, such as the growing Iranian and North Korean nuclear threats, and does not give credence to happy little fantasies like the hypothetical "pro-American Iranian majority".
I will remind you that there are FReepers from Iran and FReepers who have friends and family in Iran.
Well, they should stand up and actually do something about the theocracy in Iran. But all I've seen so far are a bunch of cheerleader posts here and on other forums extoling the works of the patently non-existent "pro-American Iranian majority". That and reports on "student protests", which, quite frankly, are about as effective and meaninfull as the average drunken football pep-rally.
Iran sealed its fate by electing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Now the Iranians will need to either stand up and actually do something to free their country and end it's aggressive nuclear ambitions, or continue to sit on their tails and accept what they get.
Your remarks are offensive.
No, a group of people who do nothing to free themselves (student protests and internet posts do nothing and don't count) but instead insist another country like the United States do it for them, but on their terms, is offensive.
I, on the other hand, merely stated the obvious truth. Iran will not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. If there truly is a "pro-American Iranian Majority", and (against all odds and evidence) it isn't just a fairy tale fantasy, then it is incumbent upon them to take real world effective steps to overthrow the mullahs and liberate themselves. If they don't do this, and do it soon, then the United States and Israel have no option but to take matters into their own hands and resolve things in their own way.
When we invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, we expected a groundswell of populist support for liberation from the Afghanis and Iraqis. We didn't get either. The recent Iranian elections proved strongly that we cannot expect one in Iran either. Therefore, we would be foolish to invade and try to liberate Iran. But bombings will end the Iranian nuclear threat just as effectively.
It would be very nice if the so-called "pro-American Iranian majority" weren't just a fantasy. If it isn't, then it needs to do something about the mullahs, and it needs to do it soon. Because if it doesn't act, and act soon, then we (or the Israelis) will. And if the so-called "pro-American Iranian mojority" doesn't like the results, then too bad for them; they will have had their chance and blew it.
Well I guess those darned N.Koreans and Cubans and Sudanese and Zimbabweans, and anyone else living under a dictatorship in this world must have what's coming to them too. Dang! If they'd only all just stand up like you said. Let me call and tell them , cuz I doubt any of them have thought about doing that.
And the next time they have "elections" in their countries, maybe they can just call you to report the results instead of bothering with the MSM, cuz you seem to want to believe the garbage that these murdering dictators spew out.
Now, try reading almost any report (including the Times, for pete's sake) since the Iranian "election", and you'll find out that it was a SELECTION fixed by the current dictator, not an election.
And I repeat, "Luckily our President recognizes that the majority of Iranians are pro-American and would like to keep them that way." Don't believe that? Again, read.
The pro-American sentiments of Iranians have been reported by writers and mideast specialists on the left and right. No need to believe in pixies & elves.
Oh, Yeah. I guess those darned Iraqis should have just stood up to Saddam. Goodness knows why they never did. I guess maybe we should have just bombed them all to smithereens.
Happy 4th of July.
<</soaking wet with sarcasm/>>
The pro-American sentiments of Iranians have been reported by writers and mideast specialists on the left and right.
I've read a lot of "reports" proclaiming the mythical pro-American Iranians. I've also seen footage of Iranians dancing and celebrating the September 11 attacks. I've seen footage of Iranian "Death to America" rallies. Forgive me if I take the evidence of my own eyes over the fantasies put out in the New York Times (and written and promoted, no less, by those that would use the U.S. to put themselves in power instead of liberating themselves).
More to the point, I've also seen footage of student demonstrations where the predominant theme was not pro-US, but anti-mullah. In fact, the only pro-American thing I've actually seen among the anti-mullah opposition in Iran was pro-using the U.S. as a catspaw for deposing the mullahs, and putting their own despot in power. People can desire to use the U.S. to further their own ambitions without being friends of the U.S.
Either way, a nuclear Iran is simply not acceptable to the United States (much less Israel). Before they gain that capability, the mullah's nuclear program will be destroyed, and by whatever means are necessary. We cannot let the gamble that the mythical "pro-American Iranian Majority" actually exists deter us from ending the nuclear ambitions of the mullahs. Plain and simple.
Regardless of whether or not the recent election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was legitimate, it did demonstrate unequivocably that the mullahs will not be disarmed and removed without violence. If the mythical "pro-U.S. majority" manages to encompass this, all the better. But history and real world evidence (which is different from reports in the New York Times) has shown they probably won't because they probably don't exists. But regarless of whether or not the mythical "pro-American Iranian majority" exists, unless they end the nuclear ambitions of the mullahs, we (or the Israelis) will.
The clock is ticking. The so-called "pro-American Iranian majority" is running out of time.
Your responses are obtuse & off the wall.
"I've read a lot of "reports" proclaiming the mythical pro-American Iranians. "
Really? Any mythical reports from Amir Taheri or Michael Ledeen, or Jerome Corsi or David Frum, or Kenneth Timmerman, or Michael Rubin or Daniel Pipes or Reuel Marc Gerecht? How about the mythical report on the State Dept's website?
"I've also seen footage of Iranians dancing and celebrating the September 11 attacks."
That's a lie or hallucination or some fantasy of your's. Because the pictures of Iranians holding candlelight vigil in the streets in Iran (an act that defied the regime), were shown all over this website and the news.
The rest of your comments, frankly, I just skimmed. No point wasting time reading uninformed drivel.
You have insulted every Iranian FReeper and every FReeper with Iranian friends and family in the U.S. and in Iran.(and anywhere else)
You couldn't just apologize when you were called on it. You had to insist on insulting them more.
You've succeeded in shining a spotlight on your ignorance of Iran and the Persian people for thousands to see.
Congratulations.
Rather than send you 50 links about Iran, just use Iran as a keyword in the search here on FR and start learning something. Stop making a fool of yourself.
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