IRAN PROPOSED REFERENDUM TO NORMALISE TIES WITH WASHINGTON

Iran Press Service ^ | 4.12.2003 | Safa Haeri

[risk]

"Our ideology is flexible. We can choose our interests on the basis of Islam. Still, to put the country in jeopardy on the ground that we are acting on an Islamic basis is not at all Islamic", he said, noting that Iran's stance of distancing itself from the US is "political rather than religious".

Imagine a future after an Islamic enlightenment. I hope it can happen, and I want to encourage it whenever we can. We should support the olive branch when it comes to us from these brave intellectuals.

I would quickly open diplomatic relations with Iran if they ask us. But I will never forget the 444 days.

[Go Gordon]

North Korea and Iran wanting to talk right now must just be a coincidence.

Nope. Its because they're afraid of the Clinton military being unleashed on them.

[San Jacinto]

Imagine all this happening now, what with us having such a stupid person for president and all. /sarcasm

Oh, I'm sure it's bill clinton and jimmy carter working behind the scenes.<//doublesarcasm

[thatdewd]

"If the American want establish real democracy in the region, they must help Iranians to change their regime", he added.

Bump for Truth.

[freedom44]

"Now that the ruling ayatollahs have realised the danger that looms over their head, that this American Administration is serious in its menaces, they try to get out of the pit in which they had plunged themselves", commented Mr. Ahmad Ahrar, a seasoned political analyst.

"Unites States biggest mistake would be to shake the hands of the Islamic Republic, a regime that has no legitimacy with the Iranian people, a regime that is in a vegetal state. If the Americans fall fool of these statements and buy such lies, they would also loose the sympathy they enjoy with the Iranians", said one students leader speaking on cndition of anonymity.

My take EXACTLY.

[WarSlut]

Bump to that. (great quote, btw)

[anymouse]

Peace through superior firepower.

Knock off the biggest bully of the block and the the others will fall all over themselves to kiss your feet.

[FreeReign]

The President:

Islam is a religion of peace -- Taliban-SMASH-WACK!
Islam is a religion of peace -- al Qaeda-SMASH-WACK!
Islam is a religion of peace -- Iraq-SMASH-WACK!

Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani:

"Our ideology is flexible. We can choose our interests on the basis of Islam. Still, to put the country in jeopardy on the ground that we are acting on an Islamic basis is not at all Islamic", he said, noting that Iran's stance of distancing itself from the US is "political rather than religious".

Humana-humana-humana....

It sounds like the Ayatollah is beginning to understand the message -- at least outwardly.

BTW, did anybody notice in this article that the writer initially addresses Rafsanjani as Ayatollah Rafsanjani but then later in the article he address Rafsanjani as Mr. Rafsanjani.

[ccmay]

Still, to put the country in jeopardy on the ground that we are acting on an Islamic basis is not at all Islamic", he said

That's the most sensible thing I recall hearing from these wackos in a very long time.

-ccm

[AmericaUnited]

Well Golly and Shazaam! First North Korea wants to make nicey, nice with us all of a sudden and now the Iranians. The liberals/demonrats/socialists were right... the whole region is getting "destabilized" LOL!

[risk]

(great quote, btw)

I have strongly mixed feelings. But I'm looking forward to the day when patriots in the executive branch aren't exasperated by the legislative branch's complacency and lack of vision.

[McGavin999]

Our president has said repeatedly that he stands with the people of Iran. It would seem that no one has figured out yet that he means what he says.

[Frunabulax]

Well Golly and Shazaam! First North Korea wants to make nicey, nice with us all of a sudden and now the Iranians. The liberals/demonrats/socialists were right... the whole region is getting "destabilized" LOL!

ROFL! Yup, they're lining up to be our bestest ever pals. I hope they save a place for Syria.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

IRAN PROPOSED REFERENDUM...

Well well, look who's come crawling back. Still think international terrorism is a good idea?

It's not enough to go after terrorists and their group leaders, we need to take down the GOVERNMENTS that are sponsoring it, and we are. Their tack is a whole lot different when they see that we're serious.

[Illbay]

Many here have been saying "we need to immediately invade Syria and Iran and North Korea and take care of them." I have responded that I don't think this is going to be necessary.

I predict that the next twelve months or so is going to see some interesting shifts in policy by some of these belligerent states. They have seen the giant awaken from its slumber. They have seen what this President is willing to do despite the entire world being against us, when U.S. security is at stake.

I predict they are going to be much more willing to listen to reason, and much less willing to engage in intrigues against us.

I predict that there may even be some "Gifts" arriving at our door from some of these regimes, such as information as to where to find terrorist camps and terrorist leaders. And a willingness to look the other way as our SpecOps people descend on these camps and utterly destroy them.

The days of al-Qa'ida, Hezbollah and others, who have killed our people in the last quarter century, are doubtless numbered.

And once again, the entire world will benefit because this great nation is willing to do what it takes.

Not that any of them will ever thank us. Perish the thought.

[Illbay]

Syria is NOTHING. They are a pipsqueak nation with no resources, no real military, and no prospects for the future if they are pressed by us with sanctions, etc.

Syria is small potatoes.

[Illbay]

You are wrong. There are many, many in Iran that are fed up with the Islamic government.

And there are TENS OF THOUSANDS of Iranians in the U.S. who would willingly go back to Iran in a HEARTBEAT if called upon, to lead a revolution against the Mullahs.

People really do misunderstand what is really going on in that part of the world.

[antaresequity]

You are wrong. There are many, many in Iran that are fed up with the Islamic government.

70% of Iran is under the age of 30, and a very large percentage of that 70% hold pro-western secular views of government and want reform...

[handk]

[Illbay]

One of my good friends is a woman engineer who used to report to me. She and her husband came here as teens in 1979 with their families, running from Khomaeini. Her father was a Major General in the Iranian Air Force and had a death sentence on his head.

A few years ago, when the first rumblings of discontent began to be heard, I found her in her office listening to the local Farsi language radio station here in Houston. It was a talk show originating from Los Angeles, and people were calling in to say "I'm ready to go back! Let's buy the rifles, let's buy the hand grenades, let's buy helicopters, etc.! Let's go take back our country."

I said to her, "do they really think they could do that?" I thought it was a joke. She looked at me, indignant, and said firmly "I would go back in a moment, with an AK-47 and hand grenades, and kill those people if I thought we could free our country!"

She was in tears.

The thing is, this woman and her husband have children, probably earn in excess of $200K per year, have a palatial home here in Houston, and a son who is just about to go to medical school.

It's not as if they have been poor refugees with nowhere to go but up.

Don't underestimate the fire in the belly of the true patriot.