Iran assails Burns' remarks in Delhi (Burns Called Iran a Terrorist State)

The Hindu ^

[indianrightwinger]

Iran assails Burns' remarks in Delhi

Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Iran on Sunday said that criticising a third country when on a foreign visit showed "scant disregard" for diplomatic norms.

It was referring to Friday's remarks in New Delhi by visiting American Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, that Teheran was a "terrorist State." The remarks were made in the presence of Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran.

The Iranian Embassy said in a statement that it was the U.S. that had prevented the establishment of democracy and popular governments.

"Regarding the claim about the support of Iran to terrorism, it should be mentioned that the real reason behind terrorism is their wrong foreign policy which for more than 50 years supported the unpopular governments, toppled governments like that of Dr. Mossadegh [in Iran] and prevented the establishment of democracy ... and ultimately helped in the formation of radical thoughts," it said.

`Nuclear energy for peaceful purposes'

Iran, the statement said, had reiterated in international forums that it was using nuclear energy only for peaceful purposes.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, too, had found no proof to contradict this.

"On the other hand, some countries which are members of the NPT [Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty] and have large stocks of nuclear weapons in their possession, have, not only not reduced their stockpile, but intend to increase the same," it said.

Referring to the several "positive steps" that had been taken on the Iranian nuclear issue, the statement hoped that the next IAEA governing board meeting would prevent a "new crisis" in the region.

© Copyright 2000 - 2005 The Hindu

[indianrightwinger]

Nothing factually wrong in calling Iran a terrorist state.

Now, time for Bush's original WOT policy to be applied to this Terrorist State.

[popdonnelly]

Not only is Iran a terrorist state, it actively terrorizes its own population.

[Dark Skies]

Not only is Iran a terrorist state, it actively terrorizes its own population.

True. And, the way many people talk right here at FR, one shouldn't expect such behavior from those peaceable Shia's.

[indianrightwinger]

Yes, but Iran's Shia and Iraqi Shia are quite different.

[Dark Skies]

I am sure there are significant differences between Iraqi and Persian Shia's, but could you give me a thumbnail.

By the way, welcome to FR. Are you from India? I love Indian food (Sushi in a close second) and if there isn't Indian food in heaven...it won't actually be heaven, will it?

[indianrightwinger]

Yes, I am from India. Thanks for the warm welcome.

Some information below:

---

Fall of Hussein Could Lead to a Shift in Center, Focus of Shiite Muslims
Azadeh Moaveni , Times Staff Writer, LA Times , April 17, 2003

TEHRAN -- The fall of Saddam Hussein's regime is likely to lead to the reemergence of the holiest site in Shiite Islam, the Iraqi city of Najaf, and foster a more moderate form of the religion that could challenge the authority of Iran's Islamic Republic among the world's 170 million Shiites, religious scholars say.

The reemergence of Najaf could assist Iranian reformers and offer Shiites elsewhere a more open interpretation of the faith, the scholars say.
An important Shiite figure in Iran, Mohsen Kadivar, who spent 18 months in prison for criticizing his country's system, said that because of its own Shiite traditions, "Iraq could end up with the sort of government Iran was supposed to have -- religious, but also democratic."

"If there is freedom in Iraq, many would go to Najaf. Qom would be lessened as a place of scholarship," said the preeminent Shiite religious
authority in Lebanon, Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah.

---

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0844916.html

[Dark Skies]

Vy interesting. Thx!

[Panic in the Streets]

Can't even speak the truth now, can we.

I remember the Left going bananas when Reagan called the USSR the "Evil Empire." They really flipped out, as they thought we were the bad guys.

[CarrotAndStick]

Iraqi Shias are mostly Arabs, Iranian Shias are descendents of former Zoroastrians, and are an Indo-European people, related closely to the Indians.


Basically Islam + (insert race here) = violent, bloodthirsty savages.

[ketelone]

Hahah "Scant Disregard" eh? So really, he should ave been showing much more disregard than was served up? The Iranians werent satisfied with the quanta of disregard on offer?

[indianrightwinger]

I bet they meant to say "scant regard". :-)

They screwed up.

[goldstategop]

It wasn't too diplomatic was it? But it was the truth. The Islamofascists in Iran do train, arm and subsidize terrorists with the intent of exporting their murderous doctrine abroad. The complaint of Iran's Islamofascist terrorist regime is akin to a murderer complaining he's been identified as a murderer.

("Denny Crane: Gun Control? For Communists. She's a liberal. Can't hunt.")

[indianrightwinger]

100% true.

Good news is that they are making complete fools of themselves as a regime. See the latest dumb statements by the Terror head of Iran. Blair nailed him on it.

Count the years for the downfall of Iran's radical state.