| Author | Message | ||
     Ivan |
War Handicaps Reason- 2: War IS Handicapped Reason. Sin-political-religion: This is a continuation of War handicaps Reason, which has run long, but still open. On this continued thread, the emphasis is less on how war is cause for failed reason, as much as war being the effect of failed reason. We are all reasonable beings, to a greater or lesser degree, and if we were only reasonable, one could make the argument that we could always find a way to agreement, and thus avoid war. However, we are not always reasonable, or not reasonable enough to find agreement, so that in the failed reason context, there will be those who will pose to force their will on others, which is war. As had been explored on the predecessor thread, war has many examples of imposed will on others, against their agreement. Coercion demands response, however, so war results when reason fails and coercion is forced. That's war. I would like to propose it one step further, in this discussion on war. That we leave out the political religious aspect of war, or using Spanish preposition for 'without', I call it "Sin-political-religion" approach to war. Religion, as stated many times here, is a personal thing. But when politicized, then it becomes an evil thing. As the founding fathers of this great free nation, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, so wisely concluded, there must be a separation of church and state, or religion and governance, to prevent the tyrannical abuses of dogma in human affairs, if we are to enjoy our newly found freedoms. Any belief system that will force individuals into a political act against other individuals in the name of God is a failed system where it degrades God by making man act for God. This then becomes an admission that God is incapable of running the universe, and human affairs in it, and must default to its lesser species of man to force other men and women to do as He needs. To me this idea is profane, since it belittles God to becoming man's servant in the world, which is an absurdity. So to force political action against others in the name of God is blasphemy against God, even a rape of God's Love for humanity, to serve the intents and ambitions of men. That makes these ambitions and intents of such men evil, by this definition, because it subordinates God to man. And that subordination is failed reason, the cause of so much strife and suffering in the world at the hands of men. So in this discussion, let us turn our attention to 'sin-political-religion' causes for war, those that force human beings into conflict with one another, not involving God but man. As free human beings, we have no business acting for God, because God does not need us to act for Him, but rather we have an obligation to each other to act in ways that are reasonable to enhance our ability to find agreement, as opposed to acting in ways that coerce us into conflict with one another. A prime example is Iraq. Here we imposed, by deposing an evil dictator, a form of democratic government on a people who had not freedom and democratic principles in their cultural history; rather they had only known oppression at the hands of dictators. Granted there are progressively thinking Iraqis who do want freedom and democracy, but they are badly outnumbered by those who are regressive and only understand the use of force, the politicized force of religious dogma of man against man. The results are self evident. Once democracy is introduced, without sufficient force to stop those who coerce for their political ambitions, the process fails. What happens then is what we see, increasingly violent and vile behavior of man against man, killing and suicide bombings, citizens of Iraq turned against each other en masse in a sectarian war. Sin-political-religion, this would not have happened, but we did not foresee the power of religious dogma on the political structures of the region, and thus stepped into a hornets nest from which we will need to withdraw. War is the currency in present day Iraq, to the distress of those who would see a successful nation as a member of the world, and now will be isolated to its religious and regional sectarian conflicts. Such a thing would not have been foreseen by the founding fathers of our nation, though it too forged its freedoms out of war. Can the Iraqi conflicts result in the same freedoms for the Iraqi people, or all the people of the Middle East? That will be left to them, and to God, sin-political-religious meddling on the part of God. The threat of war today, just as posed by political Islamic Jihad, all around the world (about 80% of all world conflicts have Islamic Jihad on either one or both sides of the conflict), and especially as it applies to safeguarding our hard earned freedoms at home, is in large part a conflict against the politically motivated forces of using God to force others against their will, against their freedoms. As failed reason, war is a failure of humanity to respect each other's divinity before God, that each human being is born free to be who God made them to be, and thus use violence to impose political ambitions on others. Iraq is a best case test of such failure, and the violence that results, what had been violence for 1400 years in the imposition of a political dogma on others, is what we have to fight against. We are fighting war itself, and failed reason handicapped by political-religious motivations is what we must overcome. Can it be done? Let us see if there can be a way out of this mess created by ignorant, and ill believing, human beings who do not believe God is powerful enough to run the universe, and our world, but must act politically on His behalf. That sin-political-religion solution to war may be one way to bring a sustainable historical peace to our world. This we must believe, that without political-religious coercions, without politicizing individuals to force others in the name of God, truly a failed reason, we can have peace. So let us bring back power to the people, as a freedom loving people, and find a way to peace, a lasting world peace for all humanity. Was is failed reason. So let us find a true path to peace, a reason for peace to win over war. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
So let us find a true path to peace, a reason for peace to win over war. Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 09:58 am: Ivan Why fight? Take the case of Iraq itself. There are refugees - internal refugees. Yes some have gone to neighboring countries. What is their status? Are they integrated with the population of the host country? They are kept in refugee camps in such a pathetic condition that they would love to return to their homeland as soon as possible. My question: Can the nations assimilate the refugees who come to them? Are there limitations that need to be overcome so that one who was driven out from own country could settle where he / she reached for safe haven? As regards the other thread I have no difficulty in closing it if other posters agree. Do we explore ways to avert the impending war on Iran in this thread? | ||
| Ivan |
Not planned to close other thread, unless there's call for it. As far as "impending war on Iran" is concerned, none is impending that anyone knows of. What is impending is a strategic strike against deep bunkered nuclear facility installations, not a full invasion war of Iran. Really, what would such an invasion gain? Would it benefit the Iranian people? Not very likely, seeing how deposing a dictator in Iraq did not benefit the people there. The only concern is Iran's clerics hankering for the atomic bomb to boost their power and prestige. That will not be allowed to happen by the world community, in my opinion. Ivan | ||
| Anon |
A very well thought out and articulate statement Ivan. As to Mohideen's statement, I concur that we should close the other thread and put it to rest. It is my belief that we are witnessing the birth of a new age. One where the people are gaining a new ability to influence events and make their voices and opinions heard on the world stage. Linked via the Internet, modern communications capability and common shared beliefs people can organize themselves to take back control of their destiny from groups of elites who hold the reigns of power. In this new age, command of information, access to the media and power of the internet has allowed the people of the United States of America to regain control of their government. This is despite the power of the republicans, which manifested itself in congressional redistricting, appointment of government officials, and determining who gets hired and fired from federal service. This power was challenged by people, organized and linked by the Internet, who coupled their genius to a network of organizations in a grand alliance to bring and end to single party rule in this country. Al Qeada has done a similar thing within the world of Islam but has turned its collective human resources, genius and technological capability to destructive ends. At the height of the battle to bring down single party rule, my allies and I had to use every resource at our disposal to bring out the hidden truths and misdeeds and failures of the republicans for the people to judge. In doing so many men and women sacrificed careers, jobs, homes and prospects for further service to this nation on behalf of the federal government. Posted on these web pages are lists of some of those people. Common to them were some characteristics that bound them together in an alliance. Some became vocal advocates in public; others used the Internet to provide guidance and command and control; while others still remained silent in the government but leaked information of illegal or moral activities that the government wanted to keep secret. Common traits shared by these men and women were, faith in god and the people of the United States; faith in Science and technology; and a deep reverence for the constitution of the United States, freedom of speech and religion. In earlier decades similar events involved much bloodshed, loss of life and the destruction of property. We can look back to the Great Civil Rights Movement, the Protests over Vietnam and see an evolution occurring within the advanced nations of the world. Were people wake up and say enough is enough we will accept no more dictators and end the rule of state for the state by the state and not of the people for people by the people. Within Iran the seeds of change have been sown. Networks of people seeking change are beginning to be established. Hindered by the organs of state security the growth of these networks is slow but gaining momentum. To bring peaceful change to Iran will take a combination of skilled diplomacy, tailored sanctions, use of the media and well thought out covert operations. As I sit here, I note I have just come from a counseling session with my readjustment counselor. She tells me it is time to let go and move on with my life. That my days of briefing general officers, influencing national policy and engaging in intelligence operations are over. That I need to turn my predictive skills and talents to other tasks and seek to contribute to society in other ways. I agreed and though it pains me I must let go of my predictions of terrorist attacks and the rest. I told her that I have recently reviewed the evaluations of Intelligence Officer performance at our National Training Center on the Global Security Website and found them to be shocking. They indicate that our intelligence officers lack the ability to fully develop and use the tools of predictive analysis to project enemy courses of action. Because of this many are dying that might yet live. I told my counselor that from my time in the Middle East I found the Islamic people to be very intelligent. Many could recite verse after verse of the Koran from memory, perform complex calculations without the aid of calculators, and remember where every item was in a jumbled store. This ability coupled to years and decades of fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan, and the Egyptian security services is what these S2/Intelligence officers are up against. These men communicate via code speak and share a common vision they are trying to bring about. A vision of which we have only fragments of data to work with in terms of rebuilding what they are up too. These are the same men that killed Sadat for making peace with Isreal. On this site I have demonstrated my ability to take fragments of data and link them to form a coherent whole picture of what is to come. That one man can do such things is possible. That Osama could do it is understood. That there are men and women that oppose him with the same abilities is also understood. That our president lacks this ability is a given. At the height of the battle I predicted the effects of storms, earthquakes, the crisis in Sudan, terrorist attacks, survived poisoning, CNS, spinal cord and nervous system damage then went on to achieve dean’s list at university while working 70 plus hours a week. I also solved the Billiard Problem with compass and ruler. All of this despite being 80 percent disabled. It was my intent to set a mark by which future intelligence officers would be measured. I believe I have done so. I have just finished watching the movie the Guardian and I am still waiting for an intelligence officer to take my place and exceed what I have done. When that day comes I will rest easy. As to where we go from here. That is something we will have to explore in future posts. I have some tasks to work on and leave the rest for now up to you. My Best Ed | ||
| Naive |
Children like to resolve their conflicts through brute force. I have often wondered if people have a disposition toward violence. Is the reaction within us, that demands violent response, a chemical process within the brain? Take for example sleep. We must sleeep to dream. Dreams help the brain release various chemicals which keep restores balance to the imbalances of the earlier day. Without sleep, we perish. In essence we are addicted to sleep. Are we addicted to violence as well? Is this why we jump to rash decision making when we are angry? Is it a needed chemical process, that quells some internal imbalance caused by our initial reaction to an unfavorable event? Why in the world do we want to lash out? Is it a complex version of fight or flight? Whatever the case, the propensity for violence is indeed related to a specific chemical response to some perceived stimulus. The real question is not how it happens, but why don't we spend more time and money researching the process and ways to stop it? On the other hand, the fact that a large number of people are required to wage war is a far more complex version of the afore mentioned process. I don't think you can exclude the internal workings of a governing body in its ability to manipulate the personal feelings of its citizens (in essence the government stokes the fire of the public's individual brain processes). Conformity, religious fervor, whatever you choose to use, becomes the uniting factor that can turn an individual desire for war into a public spectacle. Really its pretty sad. Naive | ||
| Anon |
http://www.persecution.org/suffering/newsdetail.php?newscode=4534 The link above goes to a Christian Site that has a copy of a statement made by the Leader of Al Qeada in Iraq. The Statement confirms Al Qeada desires to expand the current conflict to include Iran and confirms my previous assessment of Al Qeada operations designed to inflame tensions between the United States and Iran as well as attack United States forces in Iraq. I would recommend reading the statement from AL Qeada and then commenting upon it as part of our discussion of the nature of the conflict we find ourselves in and what the Al Qeada organization and its allies are capable of doing to expand the conflict by attempting to cause an over reaction by ourselves and our allies. Ed | ||
| Ivan |
Fight or flight?... of something else? We humans are complex animals. From the millions of impulses that are input into the brain continually, maybe only a few thousand are statistically relevant to our thoughts and actions, of which perhaps a few hundred dominate a given choice at any one time; all of which may be distilled further down to only two or three choices that really matter, and finally one: the one that was done. Now, as Naive pointed out above, there is some instinct in us that makes us fight, or not, like a force of nature, like sleep or hunger. Multiply this with the above impulses driving decision, and multiply by it by the numbers of humans in community, and you can appreciate the immense complexity of when any society is forced into war. It boggles the mind, but it happens. It is almost as if we are the butts of some mad cosmic joke of infinite proportions, one where we are prodded into action by forces unseen, only to watch what will be our response: will they fight, or flight, or something else?  The gods must be laughing. Ivan | ||
| Ivan |
We find no blood sweeter..
These butchers are living in the past, disconnected from any relevant reality but their own war hatred filled madness. They can all go to hell, where they all came from to start. The relevance of making right decisions, especially when faced with threats of war, or destruction, of safeguarding ourselves and loved ones, of saving our community from disaster; of saving our freedoms; all these decisions takes strength of intellect and leadership. Why is it so few possess such strengths to lead, while so many fall victim to bad leadership? The al Qaeda character in the link above is a failed leader of failed men who lash out with anger and hatred against the world. Let them live in the hell of failure they have created themselves. Tighten the noose, not in fight or flight, but in good decisions, with clinical precision, to let them die inside their own hatreds, inside their own waste. It is their hell, not ours. Religiously motivated or whatever is irrelevant. Their all consuming hate eats them from the inside. Sad human condition, but there it is.  Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=2&from_verse=178&to_v erse=179&mac=&translation_setting=1&show_transliteration=1&show_yusufali=1&show_ shakir=1&show_pickthal=1&show_mkhan=1 The Law of Equality [2:178 and 2:179] permits the punishment of a crime to be no more than the crime itself. Even then God encourages forgiveness and acceptance of 'blood money' and sparing the life of the guilty. Such forgiveness would be possible only when crimes cease; not when those who are to protect the population commit crimes against the population. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1353577.ece === It also follows months of allegations that the Health Ministry, its facilities and hospitals, have become de facto outposts for Shia militias, above all members of the al-Mahdi Army, the largest and most-feared Shia armed group in the country. Sunni MPs have complained of dozens of cases of Sunni Muslims being refused treatment in hospital and even being shot in their beds. === How could a hospital become a place to be executed instead of getting treatment? Under the circumstances it would be better for us to withdraw from Iraq and let the Iraqis fight among themselves. The US army is possibly doing the right thing in disarming the militias. Unfortunately the timing is wrong. Any action against the Shia inside Iraq by the Americans now would be misconstrued as an indirect attack against Iran. We must support our troops. What is true support? Is it permitting a flawed policy that was and is rejected by the population to continue? True service is to reverse the flawed policies. If the Democrats do not have the courage to stop the surge by using whatever powers the people have given them, let them know that they run the risk of getting labeled as 'cowards' and they might lose their chance of getting back the WH. We believed those who ran away from Iraq; who had their personal agenda and not the welfare of Iraq; we attacked Iraq for wrong reasons; we were at fault. True courage is to accept the mistakes and try and help the population of Iraq to get back on its feet. We have no brief to decide between the Sunni, Shia, Kurd tussles. We did not create their age old enmity. We should walk out because the Iraq government does not govern. Once we withdraw the Christian blood from Iraq, the so called leader seeking Christian blood must first and foremost survive the internal hostilities. Let us bring our boys and girls home. Then we wait and watch the rivalries inside Iraq to settle and then that population that survives the orgy of violence could be helped by us. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Are we repeating the blunder now in Palestine? http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/abbass-jittery-forces-have-little-stomach-for-f ighting/2007/02/08/1170524236677.html === These signs of collapsing Fatah unity and self-belief come despite, or perhaps because of, the White House's recent announcement that it will provide $US86 million ($110 million) to strengthen Mr Abbas's Presidential Guard for any showdown with Hamas. In the West Bank town of Jericho US military personnel have been training members of this revamped force, increased from 300 men under the late Yasser Arafat to 4000 so far. === http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/abbass-jittery-forces-have-little-stomach-for-f ighting/2007/02/08/1170524236677.html?page=2 === For all the money, guns and training it is doubtful that the new Presidential Guards - any more than the other 60,000-odd members of the authority's ramshackle network of rival security forces - are up for a showdown with Hamas's devout Islamic warriors. ... All sides agree that there will almost certainly be a further escalation in violence should this week's Mecca peace talks fail to clinch a long-sought but elusive power-sharing deal. A Hamas intelligence chief - known as Abu al Abd - in northern Gaza's Jabaliya refugee camp, said that if the talks break down Hamas, which claims to have 15,000 trained fighters in its armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, would have no difficultly in over-running the remaining Fatah bases in Gaza, including the Muntada. === After all Hamas won the election. Why not respect the population of Palestine and negotiate with Hamas? Agreed Israel would not and could not negotiate with any group calling for its destruction. But what about us? Hamas is not calling for our destruction. It is well known that parties announce extreme positions before the start of negotiations so that they have some face-saving outcome. Should we support Fatah against Hamas? | ||
| Anon |
Could Cold War-type campaign beat terrorism? Some in West push for information, propaganda campaign for Muslim minds http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17044878/ I posted the link above as part of our discussion of what we need to do to win the war against the Islamic Extremists. Around the globe our conversation has been monitored and along with my regrowth and healing has hope in some small way been born. To the thousands of Muslim lives I have tried to save by prediction, it is in small repayment for those I helped kill over the years in service to my nation. That I hold strong christian beliefs makes me what I am. I am not a Muslim, but I respect the learned kind men of that faith and wish only to live in peace with them. It is my hope that our discussions here and the networks of contact, friends, doctors and scientists we have touched in our lives will serve to provide us a vision and example of what can be done to aid us through the dark days of the future battles that are to come against the forces of darkness and hate. Where men and women of different faiths and cultures can work together for the bennefit of all mankind in opposition to such forces. Ed | ||
| Naive |
Perhaps we resort to war because historically it has produced the most results. Early humans didn't "reason of their grievances" to borrow from Shakespeare. Indeed, when the decision making of entire nations was in the hands of a single monarch or dictator, the move to war was based upon that single impulse. Perhaps the general populace of any nation is still too dull to question leadership (like an ingrained cultural pattern). Or . . . Perhaps as we have seen, some humans feel cultural and political differences are so irreconcilable that it is simply more convenient to resolve the issue with brute force. Afterall we all know brute force doesn't prove who is right, only who is more organized and efficient. Indeed perhaps the sign of our success and other successful nations (like ancient Egypt) lies in the contentedness of the populace. Leadership which has a pulse on the desires of it subjects , will also be able to galvanize them into action. In other words, we may chose to follow our leaders into war because the current state of our nation/lifestyle suits us quite well. So what will be stronger - the desire to fight for social ideals and comforts, or the momentum of blind devotion? The answer will serve as a measuring stick for the maturation and progress of humanity! Naive | ||
| Anon |
WASHINGTON - A "very damning" report by the Defense Department's inspector general depicts a Pentagon that purposely manipulated intelligence in an effort to link Saddam Hussein to al-Qaida in the runup to the U.S. invasion of....... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070209/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_pentagon_intelligence In our society trust in the institutions of Government is what keeps our society functioning. The link posted above is to an article about how a few men and women in the Pentagon maninpulated intelligence in order to justify the War in Iraq. These men and women purged anyone who disagreed with their assessment from the intelligence community and used the power of the government to silence, discredit and bankrupt anyone that disagreed with their assessment. In doing so these men and women used blind devotion to a cause to justify our intervention in Iraq. In response to this men and women with long history of service to the government rebelled and leaked the truth out to the people and the people spoke at the ballot box. The people are angry at being decieved by the agencies of the government that are supposed to tell them the truth, no matter how unpleasent the truth is. Like Naive discusses above when the decision making process of entire nations is in the hands of a single monarch or dictator the move to war is based upon a single impluse. In this case we had a president and single party rule that amounted to a dictatorship imposing its will on the freemen and women of the United States. The end result was that freedom and a desire to know the truth prevailed and a government fell at the hands of the people via the ballot boxes. Ed | ||
| Ivan |
Beware the enemy within. Self criticism in our society and governmental departments is healthy. Such as the article mentioned by Ed above on the 'leaked' Pentagon intelligence linking Saddam and al Qaeda. Where this 'self criticism' fails, however, and becomes seditious is when it is presented to us by the other side, in effect, when it is the enemy guiding us into self criticism. They, the enemy, do not have our best interests at heart, so not to be trusted. Trust is earned, and not a given right. This is true of individuals as well as governments. But beware of that 'trust' being given to you by your enemy, for war is deceit, especially with an enemy within. Ivan | ||
| Anon |
Your point is well taken Ivan, What we have learned over time is that cover-ups are far worse than honest mistakes and that the investigation of a cover-up and the disclosure of a cover-up have long been part of the American tradition. In the end the people are presented with the truth and make a decision. As was proven in our last election. What you decribe about an enemy guiding us into self criticism is known by the term disinformation. A tactic the Soviets used against us throughout the Cold War. Doing much to undermine support for our government and culture. The line between the two scenarios you discuss in your posting is a fine one that many have trouble seeing. Remember Watergate, the Iran-contra affair and a number of other such events that color our history and the long tradition of leaking information to the press about acts by our leaders that violated the principles of our nation, tarnished its reputation and which in the end when presented to the people lead to major changes in the body politic that is the United States of America. That Al Qeada and militant Islamics are a threat to our society and the millions of peaceful Muslims is without a doubt. What we are currently debating is whether or not by way of dubious intelligence that we have been drawn into a battle that we may only be able to win at great cost if at all. This is in contrast to being able to pick and choose the time and place of battle, retaining what is termed the initiative in military terms, rather being bogged down in a conflict in Iraq that is bleeding away our military capability. That is what we need to debate in a meaningful way in Congress. Sometime on the battlefield you have to disengage in order to go on the offensive in other areas. More food for thought Ed | ||
| Anon |
Bloggers grow in Mideast; police watch http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070209/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_blogging The link above is to a good article on the rise of bloggers in the Middleeast who are acting as agents of change within Middleeast society. These young men and women are at the forfront of the battle to oppose coercion and the terrorists that kill innocents in the name of Islam. To them and the thousands that visit this website from around the globe. Understand that my skills as a code breaker, analyst and geometrist, along with my heritage of being descended from the founding families of the United States is what made me what I am, a fighter in defense of freedom, civilization and the christian faith. My religous faith is personal and not one I would force on another. That I survived and healed from damage in a way that science is only begining to understand, I ascribe to both Darwin and God. I see no great reason that both Darwin and the Churches can not be right and both held in equal esteem. IN my recovery from a chemically induced near death experience as a result of toxic exposure I said many things as my neurological connections reforged themselves. Through this healing I experienced many levels of conciousness that I shared here as a way of understanding the evolution of a conciousness. Throught it I have progressed back to my pre-exposure levels with deficiets in several areas. It was an internal journey from near death, to maddness back to rationality that I would not wish on my worse enemy but is I think enlightening. With appropriate medication my dopamine balance has been restored and I function normally. With the exception of some minor side effects of the medication I take I am healthy and can lead a normal productive life. I offer this as a illustration of what can be achieved with modern medicine and faith in god, science and the kindness of people. To the bloggers in the Middle East. I salute you and know that nothing is impossible. You are at the forefront of a movement that spans the globe and touches the heart and soul of the Islamic people, by saying what they feel but are to affraid of to say themselves. Ed | ||
| Ivan |
Freedom of speech is always a pain to controlling authorities. Ed, in your post above, the linked article says: Watching the watchers is a balancing act between governmental use of authority and responsible criticism of such authority. We in our Constitutional government have that leisure, where our individual rights are protected from persecution because of what we said. But this is not a universal right in many countries, especially those of the Middle East Islamic rights countries, where personal freedoms are almost non-existent. So even 'progressive' states like Bahrain will forbid free expression of thoughts. And because it is forbidden, so is it feared and despised. Controlling forces hate freedom, almost by definition. But by example of our freedoms, imperfect as they are, and the global village of the internet, a western technological creation, those freedoms are spreading world wide, and they just hate it. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070209/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_pentagon_intelligence === Gimble said that while the actions of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy "were not illegal or unauthorized," they "did not provide the most accurate analysis of intelligence to senior decision makers" at a time when the White House was moving toward war with Iraq. === The above is an attempt to insulate Bush from the follies that led to the Iraq war. The above is also an attempt to deflect any move - however feeble it might be - of impeaching Cheney by the Democrats and honest Republicans who might desire to protect our sons and daughters by bringing them home soon. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2007/02/11/afx3415822.html === 'From now until April 9 you will hear frequently about the great progress of the Iranian people and unique developments in the domains of industry, agriculture, and especially nuclear energy,' Ahmadinejad told the rally in Tehran. He also insisted that Iran would continue cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, despite a parliament law that gave the government the power to reduce its cooperation with the UN watchdog. === Is this a master stroke from the politician? From http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070209.wiran10/BNStory/Inte rnational/?pageRequested=all we find: === So it is surprising that Mr. Ahmadinejad now finds himself in the awkward position of needing to persuade the ayatollahs, who have become openly critical, to let him stay in power. ... “Our research shows that more than 80 per cent of the young generation of Qom want to leave, ideally for Tehran, as soon as they're married, and that the overwhelming majority of them do not support the revolution any more,” says an Iranian sociologist who has just completed a major survey of Qom's youth. The study will be published in France, because its authors fear government reprisals in Iran. ... The United States or Israel may attack, but even a total mobilization of Iran's already heavily militarized society is unlikely to distract people from their deepening troubles. The fissures are widening beneath Mr. Ahmadinejad's feet, and his anti-American tub-thumping only widens them. “He talked about class struggle and all that, and he said he was going to bring a lot of money into people's houses,” says Daryush Shayegan, Iran's most prominent secular philosopher. “He made a lot of promises, and those promises didn't work out. The only thing we've had so far is inflation.” Mr. Ahmadinejad, begging for his political life while making fire-and-brimstone proclamations, is learning the ultimate political lesson: Your foreign accomplishments, no matter how grandiose, will never fully distract from an unhappy situation at home. “After all, economic things are very stubborn,” Mr. Shayegan says. “You can't just manage an economy by fatwas.” === Who make the Fatwas? Not Ahmadinehad! The fatwas are made by the Mullahs. It looks like the best we could hope for is the survival of Ahmadinejad and his delivering on his promise of distributing the oil income to the population of Iran away from the Mullahs. Any attack on Iran would simply make the Mullahs unassailable under a war when the population would turn to religion. | ||
| Ivan |
Hard to say the population en masse would turn to religion, if Iran attacked. Did they turn to religion during the Iraqi war? Some did, such as sending their children to become 'martyred' by walking into minefields in order to clear a path for their soldiers. But what part of the population would respond to this? The educated Iranians of the cities, or the uneducated ones of the poor rural areas? Is there a socio-cultural difference between these two populations? Which would support the Mullahs, which not? All difficult question that would need to be understood if Iran was to be invaded. But that is no one's plan I'm aware of, to invade. Rather, the only strategic use of force is to take out the nuclear facilities where bombs could be made. Keep it simple. We do not need another Iraq in Iran. Ivan | ||
| Ivan |
Iran keeps denying their involvement in Iraq, but... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6351257.stm There seems to be intelligence that Iran is behind the manufacturing of bombs used by Shia insurgents in Iraq. If so, then Iran must be held accountable by the world community for being involved in Iraqi efforts at rebuilding their nation. Deposing Saddam was only the first step, a viable Iraq as part of the world community is the second and much larger step. But this is for the Iraqis to do, not the world community. All the world can do here is stop Iran from fanning the flames of hatred and killing. To date, they had not succeeded. Also, any regime change counter to their Islamic fundamentalism revolution must come from the people of Iran. World pressure may help them in their cause, but it is not directly our problem. Our problem with Iran for now is nuclear weapons. How can that be addressed without another Iraqi styled war? This is the question. And if the power structure of Iran perpetually lies, what is the world to do? Whom do you trust? If they lie, is diplomacy a realistic option? Anybody in Iran telling the truth? Seek the truth, and perhaps there is hope for peaceful solution in both Iran and Iraq. Ivan | ||
| Anon |
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17086418/site/newsweek/ Rumors of War The link posted above is to a good assessment of the ups and downs of the United States Iranian relationship and the shift towards a footing of confrontation between the United States and Iran. The current president of Iran is supporting the fielding of IED technology to Iraq as part of a proxy war against us. He is also pursuing the development of Nuclear weapons. Our president and his administration have misread the situation in Iran and engaged in behavior that resulted in the current president of Iran being choosen by the religous leadership of Iran as a frontman in a conflict with the United States. In his mind our president sees the world in black and white terms shaped by his religous worldview in doing so he failed to engage in the dialog necessary to show the Iranians that reformists in Iran could win concessions for the Iranian people from the West. With the ascendency of George Bush, all efforts to establish a relationship with Iran were rejected. In reaction the religious leaders in Iran put into power the current president who is pursuing a different approach towards winning concessions from the West. This time thru the use of terrorism, military power, threats and blackmail. Regardless of how we reached this point and who in the governments of Iran and the United States were responsible for this downturn in relations, we need to manage the situation correctly in order to avoid a disasterous military confrontation. Our current SECDEF gates at a recent NATO meeting made a number of statements in a speach. Among them he reminded NATO and the world that its combined forces are the most potent military force on the face of the earth and its combined armies include 2 million soldiers. A subtle message should the world of Islam and the West be driven to general war. Following this statement by Gates, which also included a rejection of Rumsfield's worldview, the Iranian president toned down his retoric regarding Tehran's nuclear program and did not escalate the tension over it at a planned public announcement. Behind the scenes in the United States, Europe and Iran. Serious technocrats who wish to avoid war are engaging in manuevers to defuse the crisis. While showing the Iranians that we have the ability to strike back in a variety of ways. Ed | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/11/news/putin.php?page=2 === If the United States and its partners fail in Iraq, and chaos tears the nation apart, Gates warned, "every member of this alliance will feel the consequences" of regional turmoil and terrorism. === The above scenario evolves when we allow Bush to surge troops and continue to subdue Iraq. If we fail trying to subdue Iraq then even those who have hatred against us but were afraid of our military capability would get courageous and start hurting us. However if we engage in diplomacy and withdraw informing the world that the US administration has heard its population's verdict and respecting the people the withdrawal is made. If 'the US and her allies are ready to help the government that would emerge after the next general election in Iraq' is the message conveyed, the Iraqi population would support a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Sunnis and Shis in Iraq have many inter marriages and thus left to themselves the chance of their uniting is much more than the chances of disintegration. Of course at this point in time no person can say with authority what would happen. In my view withdrawal from Iraq is a safe option. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6353489.stm === For a start, the fear among some is that the US is softening up world opinion for an attack on Iran. Such an attack would be aimed at Iran's nuclear facilities. === http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/12/ap/world/mainD8N88TD80.shtml === (AP) Iran on Monday rejected U.S. accusations that the highest levels of Iranian leadership have armed Shiite militants in Iraq with armor-piercing roadside bombs. ... The Bush administration is confident the report about the weapons flow from Iran into Iraq is accurate, spokesman Tony Snow said Monday. === http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewFlash.asp?Page=/ThisHour/Archive/NTH20070212a.html === February 12, 2007 12:57 pm The House is expected to vote this week on a nonbinding resolution expressing disapproval of President Bush's decision to deploy 20,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq. Debate on the measure begins Tuesday and will mark the first debate in Congress on the war since Democrats won control of Congress last year. === How convenient? Do we need to impeach this administration soon to save our boys and girls? | ||
| Ivan |
Isolation and pressure on Iran? From the BBC link above, it says: Is this the strategy, to show that as Feb. 21 passes by, and nothing is resolved on the Iranian nuclear issue, the heat gets upped a notch with the EFPs news? I think the Iran theocratic power elites had better sit up and pay attention. This president means business, whether anyone likes it or not. Congress will hold him back as best they can, but I would put Iran on notice here. Will the democratically inclined reformers in Iran pick up the ball? Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6360469.stm === The US presented evidence this week it said proved the "highest levels" of Iran's government were supplying arms used by Shia militants in Iraq. Gen Pace said all it proved was "things made in Iran" are being used in Iraq. "We know that the explosively formed projectiles are manufactured in Iran," Gen Pace said while visiting Australia. "But I would not say by what I know that the Iranian government clearly knows or is complicit." === It is indeed possible that the Iraqi government is complicit. A large number of Iraqis visit Iran for treatment and other purposes. These Iraqis while on their return could smuggle the projectiles to be given to their armed sons to protect them from Sunni insurgents. It is possible that these projectiles change hands - voluntarily or under duress - and the insurgents might use them! We are told the borders with Iran and Syria are getting closed. Does that mean no person crosses the border through manned checkpoints? Or just that the borders are under satellite cover so that any illegal crossing is to be attacked? The one way we could stop these projectiles entering Iraq would be for our boys and girls to man the checkpoints. Would that be agreed to by the Iraqi government? The best option is to withdraw our boys and girls and let the Iraqis settle their scores. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6360817.stm === The EU parliament voted to accept a resolution condemning member states who accepted or ignored the practice. The EU report said the US had operated 1,200 flights, flying suspects on to states where they could face torture. The report was adopted by a large majority, with 382 MEPs voting in favour, 256 against and 74 abstaining. === How would this affect the US - Euro relations? Could we expect a turnaround under the new SecDef? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5322646.stm === Thursday, 7 September 2006, 08:32 GMT 09:32 UK In fact, Mr Bush issued a robust defence of those secret prisons: necessary and effective tools - as he sees them - in the struggle to get information from the most dangerous, best-informed terrorist suspects, such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, alleged mastermind of the 11 September attacks. To emphasise his point, the president went into some detail about several potential terrorist plots, both at home and abroad, which, according to him, were foiled, thanks to intelligence gathered through "tough", but legal questioning by CIA interrogators. === Or would the new SecDef simply defend his boss? | ||
| anony |
The soulution to Iraq-Iran is... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6360759.stm "Feng Shui guru aids zoo's quest to make monkeys feel at home." Why it's so simple, of course! Hire 100,000 Feng Shui masters to guide the Shiis and Sunnis on to peace. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0214shadegg0214-ON.html === "We urge you to instead broaden the debate to the threat posed to Americans, the world, and all 'unbelievers' by radical Islamists," the letter states. === Won't it be nice if they look at our discussions on 2:256 and other Verses of the Holy Quran? If some of our arguments become part of the debate it might help awaken the sleeping peace-loving Muslims. | ||
| Ivan |
Victory in understanding. Good point, Mohideen. If only the world focussed less on being 'right' and instead more on finding 'agreement' in a noncoercive manner, then perhaps the explorations and conclusions that manifest from our discussions would make an imprint upon their thoughts and actions. To awaken the mind, Muslim mind and universal mind, Akashik mind, is what raising consciousness is all about. Once people understand how they stand in their own way of becoming better human beings, by forcing their way of what they think is 'right' onto the world stage, then things fall apart. The only right thing to do is to respect all human beings as equals before God, and to make sure this same respect is reciprocated in return equally. That is how we gain peace and civilization. But if that fails, then force is the only recourse, as we have seen. And if it means force, then this is what must be used. To echo the recent words of Gen. Petraeus, where he spoke to the brave American men and women in uniform in Iraq, these words are by another general more than two thousand years ago. Alexander said to his troops when at Punjab, India: "For a man who is a man, work, in my belief, if it is directed to noble ends, has no object beyond itself; none the less, if any of you wish to know what limit may be set to this particular camapaign, let me tell you that the area of country still ahead of us, from here to the Ganges and the Eastern ocean, is comparatively small. You will undoubtedly find that this ocean is connected with the Hyrcanian Sea, for the great Stream of Ocean encircles the earth. Moreover I shall prove to you, my friends, that the Indian and Persian Gulfs and the Hyrcanian Sea are all three connected and continuous. Our ships will sail round from the Persian Gulf to Libya as far as the Pillars of Hercules, whence all Libya to the eastward will soon be ours, and all Asia too, and to this empire there will be no boundaries but what God Himself has made for the whole world. For more on Gen. Petraeus, news briefing: http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2005/tr20051005-4021.html As Alexander said, "Stand firm, for well you kow that hardship and danger are the price of glory, and that sweet is the savour of a life of courage and of deathless renown beyond the grave." It is not glory we seek today, but clarity of understanding and freedom for all human beings. We will prevail with our men and women serving those freedoms. The glory comes from our success in raising human consciousness to where all humanity is made free. For that we must also thank our brave troops, serving in Iraq and other fronts in the world, because it is they who stand firm against aggression and barbarisms of today. Ivan | ||
| Anon |
A very good posting Ivan, It is ironic that it took a rebellion at the ballot boxes to bring the change in leadership we needed to fight the war in Iraq with a chance of winning. Gen Patreaus notes a need of raising human consciousness to where all humanity is made free. His statements are a message intened for many autdiences and seeks to resonate in many populations. He cites Alexander who is revered in the Muslim and Persian world. He also intended his words to reach the ears of the Alliance of Patriots to signal an end to the rebellion against Georged Bush and a need to focus on winning the war we are engaged in. To that end I and the other decendents of the founding families; these include Franklin, Jefferson, Handcock and a number of others rich and poor that worked behind the scenes bound by blood the constitution our forefoathers created; have layed down the sowrd of truth we used to bring down the Bush government's hold on power via a single party government. We now focus our efforts on Iran and note the recent bombing in Iran was not the work of the supporters of the Alliance of Patriots but those in league with Al Qeada. Al Qeada sees the same conditions for revolution in Iran that we do and is moving like us to helping shape it. In this battle for the hearts and minds of the Iranian people we are in a race with the Militant Islamics allied with Al Qeada. Ed | ||
| Ivan |
Post Script to Alexander's speech to his troops in India. General Patraeus’ remarks following Command-change at Camp Victory, February 10, 2007; here is the main thrust of his speech:
http://bamapachyderm.com/archives/2007/02/11/general-patraeus-remarks-following- command-change-at-camp-victory-this-morning/ Our troops are spoken to from centuries of our history, and our freedom based civilization with roots millennia ago, for victory against barabarism and hideous crimes against humanity, by those who would have the gall to speak to us for God with their heinous violence. American service men and women, we salute you. Ed, and all veterans, thanks for your service to our country. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
For more on Gen. Petraeus, news briefing: http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2005/tr20051005-4021.html Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 10:12 am: Ivan I read the above document more than once. I just couldn’t help wonder at the stupidity of some of our leaders. We have trained an army of about 200,000 Iraqis mostly Shiite to reach level two and three capabilities teaching them all our code and commands so that they operate properly along with us. Now there is talk of initiating a war with Iran, a Shiite country. Don’t our leaders understand that these 200,000 mainly Shiite Iraqis would pounce upon our boys and girls inside Iraq once there is hostility with Iran? The Congress might do well to pass a resolution constraining this administration from starting any hostilities with Iran. | ||
| Naive |
Proactive stupidity leads to retroactive chicanery! That's the hallmark of U.S. foreign policy . Naive | ||
| Anon |
Both Naive and Mohideen raise valid points over the training and equiping of the Iraqi army. I note the Iranian's are claiming that the United States is behind the recent bombing in Iran and says it has evidence that the explosives used in the blasts were American made. In the great game of international politics the truth is very often hard to find. With regards to Iran the history of Iranian invovlement in terrorism is a long one. Almost 18 years ago the Iranians paid the Palestinians 11 million dollars to destroy comercial airliners in Europe while in flight. This was following the downing of an Iranian Airliner by the United States in the Gulf. The Palestinians were chosen because they had networks of supporters in Europe and had contacts with the East German Stasi and Soviets who provided them with inteligence and technical support to conduct these operations. The West Germans detected the Palestinian operation and disrupted it, however, not all members of the cell were captured. For a variety of reasons the Stasi and Soviets wanted the mission to go forward and in turn provided the remaining cell members with a bomb that was placed on Pan Am 103. The rest is history. I posted the above to show that the truth is often hidden and for a number of reasons and sometimes manipulated to shape public opinion. Often times scapegoats are used to satisfy the need to appease a people that have been stired to anger. Long afterwards the truth comes out many times too late to prevent many lives being lost. At present he Libyian intelligence officer convicted of the bombing of PAN AM 103 is appealing his case to the international court. much doubt about his conviction has been raised. It is likely the court will recommend a new trial or his release. The Arab media has latched onto this and is already using it as proof that the West and CIA manufactured the evidence to convict him. In the highly charged environment that is the middle east today this case is likely to reinforece anti-American sentiment in the minds of the Islamic people and further fuel the notion that the United States manipulated the intelligence to get us into the war in Iraq and will likely do it again in Iran. On a side note I post the following about Libyia today and oil and the republicans "09-02-05 The shift of Libya by the Bush administration from terrorist state to poster boy was ratified in January by an important announcement. On the last weekend of January, the Libyan National Oil Co. announced that 11 of 15 new oil and gas exploration concessions would go to American oil companies. Primary among them was Occidental Petroleum of Los Angeles, a big donor to Republican campaign finances, including to the inauguration." http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/company/cna50862.htm In the world of oil power and wealth the truth is often the first to be lost. I also note that following the sanctions against Lybia the price of oil rose and the Soviets and Iranians made substantial profits. Just some more food for thought. Ed | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
In the world of oil power and wealth the truth is often the first to be lost. Ed Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 06:20 am: Anon Here is a recent example. Read the whole article to see how the truth gets sidelined. We quote a few words of importance to us. http://www.mees.com/postedarticles/oped/v50n08-5OD01.htm === 4.3 IOCs, in my view, should aim for the urgently needed rehabilitation of infrastructure, the expansion of capacity at partially developed fields, improved reservoir performance and the development of the many discovered but as yet undelineated oil fields in partnerships with INOC, rather than opting for extensive exploration for unnecessary new oil. A stampede for exploration and development contracts at this particular juncture of Iraq’s political and economic development would be viewed as mortgaging the reserves of future generations. It would also fuel the view that the war was about oil. === The above comment is from Mr. Tariq Shafiq, a principal drafter of the Petroleum Law of Iraq. Would the International Oil giants heed his request? We don’t expect it. http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-14562894.htm === Analysts typically say a company's reserves replacement should average more than 100 percent over a three-to-five-year period to indicate growth. Proved reserves are a key asset of oil companies. … Houston-based ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) said last month it added three times as much oil and gas to its reserves as it produced in 2006, but the announcement did little to impress Wall Street analysts because the gains occurred largely through acquisitions. === Mr. Shafiq hopes the damaged oil fields would be restored by the IOCs instead of bidding new areas in Iraq. Unfortunately the damaged oil fields are already counted in the world oil reserves and thus they would be treated as acquisitions and not as discoveries. In our opinion, the damaged oil fields need to be restored by the Iraqi government only. No IOC would sink its wealth and see the stock suffer. Why are we looking at this aspect? It affects our boys and girls inside Iraq. Until and unless the standard of living of an average Iraqi is restored to pre-invasion levels the insurgency would not die. Selling of new exploration contracts does not lead to increases in living standards. This is because the companies would pay Iraq for the oil that they sell and not for the expected oil. Our boys and girls currently pacify the Iraqi population. The current Iraqi government of expatriates might collapse the day our boys and girls leave. If this Iraqi government collapses does it mean democracy in Iraq has failed? Not at all. Democracy has already taken root while the current government was formed. We do not lose anything with respect to fostering democracy if one elected government fails. Thus we should withdraw our boys and girls even if there is a possibility that the current Iraqi government might collapse. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200702/POL2007021 5a.html === February 15, 2007 Securing Iraq is a lost cause for U.S. forces, and President Bush should begin withdrawing troops to avoid "floundering ineffectually" and further damaging U.S. credibility, a report issued by the Council on Foreign Relations concludes. === For information and use. | ||
| Ivan |
Alternative fuel is the grandest solution to the political instabilities of the Middle East. If money does not flow to the Arab states with their particular 'post European colonization' agendas; that evil done to them by commercial interests, an evil they now feel they must do a crusade against, an ever so convenient scapegoat for their own social and economic failings; then the bite of their evil agendas against the powers of the West would become toothless. They can rave all they want how we 'raped' their oil, an oil for which we pay dearly, but once our dependence on their oil is removed, then all they will have left is their seething hatreds of our way of life, where freedom is successful, against their failed way of life, where freedoms, even democracy, are elusive. Stop empowering their undemocratic governments with oil revenue, and stop treating their non-oil Arab states like our welfare states, and they will have to turn their attention inward to solve their own social and political and economic problems, including their medieval jihad problems. Let them rail against 'colonialism' all they want, or Zionism or American conspiracies, or whatever, but dump the problem back into their laps, and stop spending our hard earned money on them. Then, with alternative fuels driving a cleaner economic engine in our world, let the Arabs figure it out that it is not 'colonialism' that is their problem, but their own internal social and political dysfunctions. Stop buying Arab oil now. As far as Iran is concerned, all talk about attacks against them are 'trial balloon' rhetoric, which will go nowhere. If there is any military strike, it will be against their deeply buried bunkers for nuclear bomb development, which will not be allowed to happen in the theocratic controlled country spewing hatred towards us, Israel, our freedoms, democracy, the 'crusaders' and so forth. We cannot see 21st century lethal technology in the hands of these primitives, so they cannot have the bomb. If the Shias and Sunnis can work it out between themselves, more power to them, but the record is poor. Iran and Iraq are test cases for how Saudi and Syria, Egypt and Turkey, etc., will play out their 'Great game' for their regions. That is not our affair if we develop alternative fuel technologies. No need to war on Iran, and none is forthcoming, if they stop their nuclear bomb ambitions. Any calls for war in Iran, or fears of war, are Cassandras to be ignored. The real solution to the Middle East is to stop buying their oil, develop alternative energy to run our industries and machines, SUVs running on hybrid hydrogen technology, and tap into our own domestic natural gas, coal, and oil resources while in transition. Do not empower the Arabs any more. The rest is up to them. If I were CEO of multinational oil companies, I'd be spending less on advertising and more on alternative fuel research, and get in the game early, or be left out in the cold. Ivan | ||
| Ivan |
Cassandra war news alert. US 'ready to strike' Iran Gulf News Report http://www.gulfnews.com/world/U.S.A/10105218.html Iran can develop nuclear electric energy without having to hide deep inside their bunkers. Russia offered to refine nuclear fissionalbe uranium for them, but Iran refused. What does that tell you of their intentions? Electricity or bombs? Why believe anything they say, if in their modus operandi 'war is deceit'? We may strike their military targets of uranium enrichment, but we will not go to war with any full scale invasions. And certainly no 'nation building' for Iran. Let their own people work it out, if they want to shake off their medieval theocracy and join the rest of the modern world. It is not up to us to lift them out of their backwardness, but it is up to us to make sure lethal nuclear weapons do not fall into the power of regressive medieval primitive theocracies. We are very clear on this, regardless of who is in the Oval Office, and they should pay attention. If not sooner, than later, but later may be too late. Ivan | ||
| Ivan |
Report: Iraq a Lost Cause, US Should Withdraw By Nathan Burchfiel (from link provided by Mohideen above): http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200702/POL2007021 5a.html From the article:
I think Iraq is a 'lost cause' for US interests in the region because Iran's ayatollah regime will call the brutal shots going forward. Here is how Richard Engel, who spent four years in Iraq, sees it: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/25/AR2006102501982. html How does peace come to Iraq, if their barbarity is so openly displayed by fellow Iraqis? Does Iraq even exist? In his book "A Fist in the Hornet's Nest: On the Ground in Baghdad Before, During, and After the War", Engel describes the situation from the ground. He is also critical of Iraq in this article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11843652/ , where he says:
Was it worth it, for Americans to go into Iraq? Very tough question, one which history will answer decades from now. As Alexander found out more than two millennia ago, this is not a place to enter with grandiose visions, but a seat of death. Ivan | ||
| Naive |
Iraq is a lesson we are learning as little more than an historical conundrum. Unfortunately, for the Iraqi people, the lesson has been lethal. Our country owes Iraq the greatest of debts. Yet there is no way to repay it without soaking our hands in more blood . . . including our own. I think our leadership should hire a team of writers to mull out all possible scenarios before they take actions designed to capitalize or exploit public sentiment. Just as Ivan says alternative fuel is the ultimate answer to the middle-East crisis, so too is revolutionary public education is the answer to the internal U.S. political crisis (and by that I mean the exploitation of the masses by our corrupt government). Naive | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
It is not up to us to lift them out of their backwardness, but it is up to us to make sure lethal nuclear weapons do not fall into the power of regressive medieval primitive theocracies. Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 11:07 am: Ivan http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4564264.html === Putin's increasingly defiant posture toward the United States would make it highly unlikely that the Kremlin could opt out of the agreement, particularly now that U.S. concerns have been eased by an agreement obliging Iran to return spent fuel — which could potentially be used for a nuclear weapons program — to Russia. ... Russia has signed a deal with Iran obliging it to return all spent fuel from Bushehr for reprocessing — a move intended to assuage global concerns that the fuel could be diverted to make nuclear weapons. ... The Kremlin had proposed that Iran move its enrichment work to Russian territory, where it could be better monitored, to alleviate international suspicions. Iranian leaders had said they were interested in the idea, but nothing came of it as Tehran insisted on keeping some uranium enrichment activities on its soil. === The above development of returning the spent nuclear fuel back to Russia opens up a new model for the whole world. The nuclear powers could now build nuclear power plants all over the world thus avoiding the CO2 trap. Further there should be no more reason for attacking Iran as without the spent fuel rods to accumulate reprocessed fission material there is no way Iran could ever manufacture a nuclear bomb. | ||
| Ivan |
Not 'if' but 'when' for Iran? BBC News: US 'Iran attack plans' revealed http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6376639.stm If targets had been selected, that is tough talk, but will they really strike? I say we let Russian and Iran work it out over enriched uranium, though I also sense Russia is having second thoughts about dealing with the ayatollah regime. Interesting... something about that 21 February date that is intriguing... can't put my finger on it. Not trigger happy, but the message to Tehran should be clear. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Not trigger happy, but the message to Tehran should be clear. Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 06:32 pm: Ivan Sure we are not trigger happy, but someone else might be. The Iraq war was started without explicit sanction from the UN. Could history repeat now? http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4565738.html === "That ... we shut down our nuclear fuel cycle program to let talks begin. It's no problem. But justice demands that those who want to hold talks with us shut down their nuclear fuel cycle program too. Then, we can hold dialogue under a fair atmosphere," Ahmadinejad said. === On the face of it the above demand seems reasonable. However it is not practical. The advanced countries have innumerable nuclear power plants producing toxic nuclear waste. If these nuclear wastes cannot be removed their power plants need to be shut down, which is impossible. The case with Iran is different: it has no nuclear power plant in operation and thus there would be no disruption to life inside Iran by suspending the research and development. A suspended research can be restarted if the negotiations drag. In Islam the time and place of death of every individual is pre-decided but not the manner of death. By his intranscience Ahmadinejad might share in the sin of the innumerable deaths due to war - even if it be unjust from his point of view. As a Muslim I appeal to the Iranians to please suspend the nuclear activity before 11:59 pm February 20, 2007 at New York, USA. | ||
| anony |
Amedinehad- "They tell us 'come and negotiate on Iran's nuclear issue but the condition is to stop your activities'. "We have said that we want negotiations and talks, but negotiations under just conditions." Mr Ahmadinejad also called on Western nations to stop their own nuclear enrichment programmes if they want Iran to do the same. -BBC News- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6378289.stm Says who? Says what? He reminds me of Peter Ustinov in the movie: The Mouse that Roared. | ||
| Ivan |
RE http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4565806.html post by Mohideen, I suspect the Iranian people have no access to this news, which means they are unable to comment on it themselves. So if Mr. A. wants to negotiate a "just and fair" agreement, while the people of Iran are kept ignorant of the facts of what all this is all about, there can be nothing fair or just about it. A dictatorial power is unfair by definition, so using such terminology is oxymoronic of him. Let's see what happens a 2359 hours tonight, or a second later. Ivan | ||
| Naive |
Interesting dialogue above. I can see the double standard the Iranian government is trying to expose. It is indeed not fair for us to demand terms that we would not abide to ourselves. I suppose we look like bullies, arrogantly proclaiming we stand on a higher moral ground. Is it fair that we can bomb the world into oblivion, and other countries must live in fear of it? The answer is a resounding NO! On the otherhand, is it safe to trust a fanatical government with the potential to develop weapons of mass destruction? Many such tests of the "chink" in our armor will be forthcoming. And ultimately, whether they die for God or country, the oblivious will be the victims. Naive P.S. We know it has been the historical tendency of almost all U.S. Presidents to take the hardline stance in Global Policy. I'm sure our leadership will make another foolish decision, soon. | ||
| Ivan |
Regional Sunni - Shia secterianism, front and center in nuclear debate? Sunni and Shia: Spectre of sectarianism http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6378553.stm This BBC article hints that there is an Iranian inspired campaign to convert Sunnis in the Arab world to Shia-Islam. This is inspired by 16th century Persian dynasty's introduction of Shia-Islam to Iran, the Safavids, who then also ruled large parts of Iraq. This is history repeating itself? The campaign for nuclear power in Iran may go deeper than their usual dislike of the democratic principles of the West, or rabid hatred of Israel, or venting their death culture against the great Satan, etc., but may in fact go right to the heart of their main issue: the Sunni -Shia divide, placing it front and center for their nuclear ambitions as well. So the posturing, denials, delays, endlessly fruitless negotiations over nuclear issues on the part of Iran may have a deeper cause, which is to institute a Hezbollah like presence in Iraq as proxy for its Mid East policy, a religiously inspired policy, or Shia-Iran secterian dominance. From the article: Have they overplayed their secterian hand, I wonder, with their nuclear card as well? Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://content.msn.co.in/News/International/InternationalPTI_210207_1018.htm === London: Iran has mastered crucial nuclear technology since August and could be as little as six months away from being able to enrich uranium on an industrial scale, the United Nations' chief nuclear watchdog has warned. ... ElBaradei said Iran had now acquired important technical know-how from running its pilot nuclear programme, and that there was no going back. "You cannot bomb knowledge," he said. === It is wrong to assume that 'knowledge cannot be bombed.' What happened in Iraq? What happened to the 'nuclear experts of Baghdad?' Under a war, one could target the educated as well. The Iranian educated elite have a risk to their lives and they would be better off by pressing for the suspension of enrichment now. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.nysun.com/article/48978 === February 21, 2007 The head of the ground forces of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Nur Ali Shushkari, told Iranian government news agencies earlier this week that one of its commando units had engraved its emblem into the side panel of an American warship stationed in the Persian Gulf. The point of Mr. Shushkari's bold statement was to make it clear that the Iranian military is watching every move made by American troops in the region. === Is this a counter poser? | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Iran controls – sort of – the Strait of Hormuz. She can block the strait and cause an oil shock. However that oil shock would hurt her alone as discussed below. United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, and Bahrain depend on the Strait of Hormuz to export their oil. The oil reserves of these countries are reported below. For Qatar, we take the value of 15.2 billion bbl from https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/print/qa.html . Iraq reserves are 112.5 billion bbl from https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/print/iz.html . The reserves for UAE from http://www.uae.gov.ae/Government/oil_gas.htm are 98.2 billion barrels. https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/print/ku.html gives the oil reserves of Kuwait at 96.5 billion bbl. Bahrain has a reserve of 0.121 billion bbl. The total oil reserves is 322.52 billion bbl. All of these could be transported by surface across Saudi Arabia. At the worst the oil could be transported by road in oil tankers as Iraq did before the invasion. Any oil crisis would only accelerate the extraction of oil from the tar sands of Canada and make the Middle East oil worthless in future. Thus a closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran would possibly result in a temporary oil crisis which could be overcome without much harm to the rest of the world. All that it would achieve is push Iran into object poverty. We hope the Iranian government would not hurt itself. | ||
| Ivan |
Viewpoint: Iranians speak out http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/6377021.stm This is a rather frank reportage from Iran, though a very small sample. It's hard to know how much they know inside Iran, since news is strictly censored, and outside access via internet or satellite is blocked for the average person. However, there is a divergent point of view here, where some support the Ahmed government, while others clearly oppose it, something dangerous to do in a dictatorship. One commentator said: While another: Right thinking, give better access to information. Those who have reason and can think will be supported. But those whose ideology is frozen in some ancient time, it will make no difference. For them, use of force is all they will respect, not reason. 21 Feb is come and gone, so now what? Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
21 Feb is come and gone, so now what? Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 12:00 am: Ivan http://english.people.com.cn/200702/22/eng20070222_351758.html === "In the current setting, the use of talks as a way of resolving the problem has no reasonable alternative. Russia is against the use of any force," Lavrov told the Arab weekly Al-Watan Al-Arabi in an interview, the transcript of which was posted on the Foreign Ministry's website. Although the Iranian nuclear issue is complicated, "it is not hopeless," Lavrov said. "Therefore, a pause must be taken in Iran's uranium enrichment program in exchange for a freeze on UN Security Council Resolution 1737," he said. === http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-236/0702227995114908.htm === During a meeting with an Iranian parliamentary delegation headed by Majlis Foreign Policy and National Security Commission Chairman Alaeddin Boroujerdi, he acknowledged the Islamic Republic of Iran's legal right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Describing the current atmosphere surrounding Iran's nuclear case as "sensitive," he called for continued efforts to settle the dispute through negotiation. He said Madrid was opposed to any confrontational approach to the Iran nuclear issue. === http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070301faessay86202/ray-takeyh/time-for-detente-w ith-iran.html === An offer by the United States to normalize relations and start talks on all outstanding issues between the two states would give Iran a chance to choose whether it wants to be a nation defending legitimate imperatives or one guided by self-defeating delusions. And for the first time in decades, there is an indication that Iran may opt for the former. === The last quote is the concluding part of an article published in Foreign Affairs, a journal of the Council of Foreign Relations. It is generally believed that the President listens to the Council of Foreign Relations. Just because an article gets published in Foreign Affairs does not imply that the Council of Foreign Relations supports the conclusions. Yet we could hope that the Council of Foreign Relations would opt for normalization with Iran. After all it is well known that China is a competitor in International arena. However the economic link between USA and China indeed moderates China. The same could happen with Iran. | ||
| Ivan |
Laser warfare on horizon? Record power for military laser, BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6380789.stm "The Solid State Heat Capacity Laser (SSHCL) has achieved 67 kilowatts (kW) of average power in the laboratory. It could take only a further six to eight months to break the "magic" 100kW mark required for the battlefield, the project's chief scientist told the BBC. Potentially, lasers could destroy rockets, mortars or roadside bombs." This technology applied on the battlefield is still sci-fi, but perhaps not for long? What else don't we know about hi-tech warfare? Ivan | ||
| Anon |
Straying From the Script A U.S. briefer overstates Iran's meddling in Iraq, setting off a Washington tempest. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17265231/site/newsweek/ A good article about the inability of the Intelligence Corps to penetrate Iran's nuclear program or get hard intelligence out of Iran. I note that beside penetrating the secrecy of the indightment of Scooter Libby, and the President's and Putins travel plans the Alliance of Patriots working with Allies has penetrated Iran and gotten classified documents out and posted by a news agency run and managed by members of the Old French Resistance from WW II. As such we are engaged with our allies in getting the information on conditions in Iran out for the world to see. I recently recieved a message via the internet from internal Iranian opposition members that rejects the current aims and goals of the Iranian government and seeks to overthrough it from within peacefully. More will follow as I get the information. Ed | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
2019235%2C00.html,http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,,2019235,00.html === One of the "outstanding issues" listed in yesterday's report involves a 15-page document that appears to have been handed to IAEA inspectors by mistake with a batch of unrelated paperwork in October 2005. That document roughly describes how to make hemispheres of enriched uranium, for which the only known use is in nuclear warheads. Iran has yet to present a satisfactory explanation of how and why it has the document. === First of all making hemispheres of uranium does not imply that the Iranians are bent on making nuclear bombs. A hemisphere is bomb material only if a single hemisphere is subcritical and a sphere when two hemispheres are joined becomes super critical. An important parameter that decides the above property is the radius. A hemisphere of smaller radius might result in sub critical spheres only. These sub critical spheres could be joined or separated to control the power of a nuclear power plant. We should always give the benefit of doubt and draw the conclusion that the Iranians are bent on producing nuclear bombs only when no other explanation is possible. [I do not understand why the URL gets garbled. To access the web page cut and paste the part starting with http to the right only.] | ||
| Ivan |
This is from the Guardian article referenced above, thanks to Mohideen. It appears the 'credibility factor' for Iran is damaged, over a very long period of time, with violations of past agreements. What are the mullah's regime's true intentions? Do we know? More importantly, do they know? War is handicapped reason, especially if trust is broken and agreements are meaningless, or unreasonable. This will be a major test for Iran, whether or not the West will trust its leadership and clerics. So far, nothing happened... but this could change momentarily. Ivan | ||
| Anon |
The following letter was forwarded to me from inside Iran via the Internet. It is from the Iranian Student underground. It comes from the heart of Iran and was posted in Tehran from Tehran University. Ed http://www.ishallvote.org/eDefault.asp Impeach the president At this point, the leadership, the Majless, pragmatic and traditional conservatives, fundamentalist hard liners, the Grand Ayatollahs, reformists, and the whole country agree that the current course of international policies implemented by Mr. Ahmadinejad has put the country in an extremely dangerous position. We and many others warned that Mr. Ahmadinejad to be more diplomatic, to look after our national interests in these difficult times, and to fulfill his promises of fighting poverty, improving the economy, and provide more employment opportunities. Yet he continues to promote his aggressive and extreme views without realizing the cost to the nation as whole. Our large banks are being boycotted and our assets are being frozen. The EU which once offered highly beneficial market and technology opportunities is now helping to toughen U.N. sanction against us. Instead of acknowledging the hardships these place on Iranian citizens, the president’s team is speaking of and taking yet harder measures as if they do not have any idea about political negotiation and diplomacy. Lawmakers in the conservative-dominated parliament assailed Ahmadinejad on January 21 over signs of runaway inflation. One lawmaker cited a threefold increase in the price of fruit, vegetables and food staples, prompting the president to tell him to "come and do your shopping in my neighborhood" rather than patronize "expensive places." Isn’t this a good indication of the fact that he is not aware of what it means to be a president of a nation? His pattern of denial seems to be present all of the time as he directs the blame, after two years, on the previous administration and is asking for their prosecution as if there is no shame and everyone is ignorant of the reality and the irresponsible direction that he has set. Here and now we praise the noble and responsible actions of legislative lawmakers for initiating impeachment proceedings against the president before it is too late. We ask the nation to rise to the occasion and to ask your representative and the country leadership to remove this irresponsible man from a position that requires far more thoughtfulness than he is capable of. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One step forward We would like to congratulate the entire voting population that did make the difference and showed the rest of the world we are not about extreme views. Our Vote counts and we will place people closer to our way of life. Which reflects our national economic prosperity, justice and freedom? Now it is time to get ready for the presidential election. Let’s hope the early election bill will be passed by “Majless”. Let’s hope there will be a greater realization that people we elect do make a difference. A simple view of the current administration extreme views, empty economic promises and interferences with our social freedom is a good proof of such a fact. Nobody is going to save us but ourselves. The situation requires a step by step move forward, no matter how little or how slow. We took many steps backward by boycotting the pervious election and allowing the current administration to be elected. Yet this one step forward is great indication of wonderful future ahead. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iranian government censorship purge Thousands of books from different writers with different agendas and purposes have been banned from publishing. These include writers such as Shadegg Hedayat that are the foundation of contemporary Iranian literature and are a part of contemporary international community literature. It reminded me of an earlier time when in many massive campaigns, Arab intruders burned any book that they could have put their hands on. It also reminded me of the time at the beginning of revolution where the fundamentalist gang questioned Ferdousi’s contribution to the Iranian nation as whole. What are we without the Persian literature and exposure to international literature We told you the kind of change they will bring to our lives. Ever since the new administrations took over, overwhelming numbers of illegal arrests have taken place. From all sides of life, teachers, students, the lawyers of political prisoner, bus drivers and similar innocent individual have been arrested. Political prisoners are dying for lack of proper medical care. Newspapers and magazines are being shut down. We told you about their empty promises to fight against poverty and corruption. No other Islamic republic’s elected government has awarded billion of dollars in contracts or has replaced more high income earning employees with their associates than the current government. Please wake up out of this nightmare, go and vote this December, prepare everyone for the next presidential election. Having some one better than them does make a difference. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- President population control plan. The current government policies are pointing to disasters in all directions. It seems they are outside of the world view of things. Population control is an essential part of any national planning, whether economically advanced or, like Iran, in economic struggle. While shortages of roads, schools, hospitals, and other basic services, as well as other significant issues like high unemployment, are unsolved for the present population, the current President proposed population increases. Does he have any idea about economic planning and availability of resources? Does he know anything about Iranian family’s economic circumstances? Almost everyone beside the Iran-economic-Mafia is struggling economically. It is being said Mr. Ahmadinejad's latest stance was just a way of grabbing the headlines and distracting attention from his government's economic failures. BBC: The UN Family Planning Association describes Iran's population control program as a textbook example of how fertility rates can be reduced if the environment is right. With the help of high literacy rates, rural health clinics, counseling before marriage and free family planning services, Iran has achieved what some call a population control revolution. BBC: But President Ahmadinejad is questioning that achievement. He says he is against the idea that two children are enough. His view is that Western countries are just scared about Iran's population growing and overtaking theirs. We told you these people will cause us nothing but problems. As long as we can remember, every elected Iranian government tried to avoid the international boycott, yet this one is walking all of us to it. Everyone is trying to build faster and more advanced informational infrastructures, this one is reducing the technology capabilities of its own people. This is another rare and backward policy undoing years of internal success and rising international regard. What is next? Please use all means you have to show your opposition to the current administration. Go and vote this December, elect people that do not belong to this camp. Remember, we have to keep all possible fronts open in order to succeed in this struggle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iran cuts Internet speeds At a time when literally every one in the rest of the world is trying to improve the speed of information delivery, the current government of Iran has decided to reduce the internet speed for all Iranian households. Before the election we pointed to the backwards mentality of the fundamentalist gang and their never ending dogmatic solutions. This one is so rare, though, that we have to recognize them for the single most backwards act, without contest. They do not have to run our country, we do have some choice. Although it is not extremely effective, every ocean begins with a few drops of a rain. Please prepare yourself to vote in this December election. There are reformist and other caring and qualified candidates that you can vote for, it would also be enough not to let fundamentalist candidates be elected. http://news.com.com/Iran+cuts+Internet+speeds+to+homes,+cafes/2100-1034_3-612707 7.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Time to make our move When the opposition to the current government boycotted the pervious presidential election we, by all possible means, pointed to the advantage that this action gave to the fundamentalists. Now they are making their next move, by taking control over Municipal and Assembly of Experts elections. The president has appointed Hashemi Samareh as the deputy interior minister for political affairs. Few men are closer to the president than Hashemi Samareh. This is a tactical move that underlines the importance of the December 15 municipal and Assembly of Experts elections. The evolutionary process of gaining some choice was a product of electing the better of the two evils, which brought us some social and political freedom. That allowed us to breathe for a while. If the current administration and fundamentalist body gain greater representation in the “Assembly of Experts” and municipal offices our social and economic rights will be compromised. Note that the current administration failed to fulfill their campaign promises to fight poverty and gave false promises to provide economic opportunity. The only noticeable economic act of this administration was to replace many thousands of high paying (income) positions at many governmental levels with their allies and close associates. The majority of them have neither the educational background nor the necessary experience in the field. Lavish contracts valued at billions of dollars have been directed toward their partners, while unemployment and poverty are rising. This occurs at a time when Iran brings in a record income from its oil revenues. If this is not corruption, what is? Ever since the new administrations took over, overwhelming numbers of illegal arrests have taken place. From all sides of life, teachers, students, the lawyers of political prisoner, bus drivers and similar innocent individual have been arrested. Political prisoners are dying for lack of proper medical care. Newspapers and magazines are being shut down. It is time to show that our vote counts by electing individuals who are more moderate, ones that do not belong to the current administration camp. The peacefulness and receptiveness of the ground that we stand on does make a difference in our political, social and economical struggle. By participating in this election and choosing people who are more moderate and do not belong to the current administration camp we can let this administration know that they will not be elected for the next term. We have to employ all appropriate means to change. Nothing is more powerful then the right to vote. Denying it will benefit the oppressing fundamentalist camp. Life is a voyage in which we choose neither the vessel nor the weather, but much can be done in the management of the sails and the guidance of the helm. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We are against nuclear weapons, no matter which nation owns them. The United States, Russia , China and most European states, even with their advance knowledge in nuclear technology, have slowed down the process of implementing nuclear energy-based electric plants, because they recognize that nuclear energy manipulation is a potentially dangerous technology. While Iranian-owed Russian and Ukrainian-built air planes are crashing more then usual for lack of proper maintenance and safety precautions, we continue to try to buy and create the fuel for running a nuclear energy plant. Moreover we have rejected the European offer for a more advanced and safer, heavy water technology. For a nation that turned the management of a chemical train accident in Neyshabur into a disaster, assuming the responsibility of running a nuclear plant is alarming. The lack of awareness and know-how in diplomacy and negotiations on the part of the current Iranian government under President Ahamadi Nejad puts the country at great risk. While we have greater national issues and agendas, the government is using propaganda to redirect the nation's focus from more significant problems. The Iranian people have a right to economic growth and prosperity. Yet the current administration is critically endangering the nation's economic well being by allowing its case to go to the United Nations security consul and ignoring the danger of a U. N. economic boycott. The current government diplomatic strategies fail to recognize others involved in the negotiations. This is bi-product of a fundamentalist mentality that is oblivious to the rights of others, including our own citizens. Our oil and gas reserves are among the richest in the world. Yet we are importing 40 percent of our processed fuel. Our national and economic agenda must focus on investing in more oil refineries and other petrochemical industries that offer unlimited economic possibilities, employment and growth. We are in need of greater communication infrastructure and business incentives to become self-sufficient in a number of areas. We are importers of modern technology rather than manufacturers and exporters. Moreover, we are in desperate need of roads and highways throughout the country. Our roads are among the most dangerous in the world and thousands of Iranians are dying every year of automobile accidents. While the Iranian stock market value has dropped substantially, money is leaving the country, unemployment is sky rocketing, there are many clear areas where the high oil revenue could be well spent and provide job and economic growth, the current government has forgotten its promises to fight poverty and corruption and its propaganda machine has blindfolded the nation to the reality of their intentions. Any kind of economic boycott will cause such a devastating result that anybody in their right mind would want to prevent rather then encourage it. The government's strategy has clearly have put us in the current compromising state. The rest of the world is in a state of fear, asking the Iranian government to be more responsible; meanwhile, the government nonsense propaganda machine proposes nuclear technology transfer to the Sudan criminal government that was the safe haven for Al Qaeda; while their daily tactics mock the United Nations, other international organizations and countries. It is time to have them hear our voice. It is time to ask them to become more responsible toward our nation's economic well being. It is time to become wiser and use this event as an opportunity for gaining international market presence, special business privileges, a safe nuclear technology and the world respect. It is time to change direction. The rights we seek are achievable in the right time with the right people that portray a responsible image, language and policies, not only to their own citizens, but also to the world. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What a surprise. We may have insulted some of you by calling Dr. AhamdiNejad a disaster. We are all human beings and do have opinions. We are not after all a bunch of imitator baboons. Our God given gift gives us the power of distinction, compassion and logic to have choices and position with regard and respect to others. Please go to the email removal at the end of this page and remove your name if you do not wish to receive our emails any more. Or send us an email. We however think of you as a dear citizen of our beautiful land. You may want to learn more about diversity of opinions and gain tolerance against opposing views. The next four years are going to be crucial to Iran’s economic future and movement towards democracy. The means and choices we make will determine future events. Extremes have never provided balance. They have no such capabilities. In today’s economic and world affairs, having stability and certainty in the social and economical environment is of outmost importance. We do not think Dr. AhamdiNejad's gang has such a recognition. We can only hope his war against corruption and poverty is real, yet we do not believe so. His few years as mayor of Tehran are a great indication of his intentions. All he did was to reorganize the city hall toward having direct benefit to his power gang, like many other power broker and corrupt politicians in the current system. We do not want to point to his dark side because we do not know how to describe it. There are so many more indications of darkness. Dr. Ahamdnjad's gang cheated to a great extent more in our online voting system then any other candidates. In the next four years the people of Iran will see the true picture of the newly elected president. We know any action will cause an opposite reaction with equal magnitude, and reverse direction that will naturally bring equilibrium. This might be a shot in the arm for all of us to see how organized and deceiving the fundamentalist and extremes are. We may gain some sense that this was a wrong time and strategy for boycott. But we will prevail since righteousness is on our side. This is just the beginning. We are claiming this as a significant beginning toward our movement. Hence in a few weeks “IShallvote” will be pointing to a new site called “nonviolentmovement.org”. We will watch Dr. AhmadiNejad's every move. We hope he realizes the diversity of thoughts and beliefs are all the work of God, like infinite possibilities of forms and verities. We hope God to be with him, since this is the only way he may save himself and us from stormy disasters ahead of us. http://www.ishallvote.org/Remove.asp | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Here and now we praise the noble and responsible actions of legislative lawmakers for initiating impeachment proceedings against the president before it is too late. Ed Posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 05:19 am: Anon Here is external confirmation. http://www.resourceinvestor.com/pebble.asp?relid=29093 === Before Ahmadinejad returned from a visit to Latin America in January, the political atmosphere in Iran had shifted abruptly. Khamenei abandoned him and unleashed a chorus of criticism. The parliament began impeachment proceedings against four of Ahmadinejad’s ministers for incompetence and is moving to impeach the president. The Supreme Leader charged him with endangering the very survival of the Islamic Republic. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the president of stirring up international conflict by turning the nuclear issue into his personal cause that could result in war or severe sanctions. === | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Hence in a few weeks “IShallvote” will be pointing to a new site called “nonviolentmovement.org”. Posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 05:19 am: Anon http://www.justdropped.com/drops/032806org.html http://www.bizprolink-internet.com/0603/060328-2.htm The domain name nonviolentmovement.org got dropped on 28 March 2006 as per the links given above. Was this domain reactivated? | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
We need more energy to bring peace! http://www.resourceinvestor.com/pebble.asp?relid=29093 === Whether Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stays in office or is removed, the problems that plague the society will remain. … The long-term solution is to diversify the economy and to construct additional refining facilities, but it has been the failure of the government to invest in the petroleum industry that is at the core of economic stagnation. Over the thirty years of the Islamic Republic, oil production has declined from 6.1 million bpd to the current 3.7 million bpd. According to a study by Roger Stern of the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering at John Hopkins’s University, the production will fall by half again in five years. Only through a massive infusion of capital will the process be reversed, but the Iranian constitution poses an obstacle to development by prohibiting foreign ownership of natural resources or production sharing. At best, foreign investors can arrange buy-back agreements with fixed rates of return. The system discourages foreign investment; and the Iranians lack the domestic capital or technology to develop the resource without foreign assistance. === This is bad news all around. The oil companies need to increase their proven reserves to attract capital. The only route is to get more areas for exploration. Even though Iran has more oil to be tapped, the current constitution does not encourage oil companies. So the constitution has to be changed! Here Iraq is the right model. We have Ahmadinejad under threat of impeachment. Of course once Iran is under attack all such democratic moves would be shelved. He has a willing counter part in Bush. Bush is under threat of impeachment. So it would suit both the leaders to launch a war. Would they succeed? Inaction on the part of Congress would let Bush launch the war any time. As regards Iran in view of the above oil situation it just does not matter whether Ahmadinejad survives or falls by the wayside. So where are we to put our efforts? Looks like USA needs more of our energy. How I wish the powers that be would permit the sealed nuclear power plants to be made available for public instead of just nuclear submarines alone. I agree the sealed nuclear power plant might be costlier than the conventional one. But giving sealed nuclear power plants to all countries would roll back the ‘global warming’ without any risk of nuclear bombs. Can the oil cartel that talks about solar power be persuaded to get the sealed nuclear power plants into the market? We the peace lovers have to work with one more lobby – the oil lobby. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21279082-5005961,00.html === He has endorsed Republican senator John McCain's proposition that the only thing worse than a military confrontation with Iran would be a nuclear-armed Iran. === A nuclear armed Iran is years away. Do we then understand that Sen. John McCain recommends patience for a few years? It would be great to get a confirmation from the Senator. Incidentally in a few years all our boys and girls should be out of Iraq. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Iraqi sovereignty in totters! http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=19736 === An Israeli officer involved in the military planning told The Daily Telegraph: "One of the last issues we have to sort out is how we actually get to the targets in Iran. The only way to do this is to fly through US-controlled air space in Iraq." === Notice the “US-controlled air space in Iraq.” If Iraq is sovereign the air space is controlled by Iraq ably assisted by US and not “US-controlled.” http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/829673.html === Israel is negotiating with the United States over permission for an "air corridor" over Iraq should an attack on that country's nuclear facilities become necessary, the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday. Military authorities would need permission from the U.S. Department of Defense for any such operation, the report said. Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh (Labor) denied Saturday that Israel was in negotiations with U.S. authorities on the issue. === The above is an act of ‘constructive ambiguity.’ At the operational level the permission is sought and granted: the Commander-in-Chief does not micro manage the Iraq war and thus the US Generals in Iraq could decide the operational details. However the politicians issue the denial as they have not – they need not – contact Bush. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-02/24/content_5767597.htm === The UK's Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday morning that Israel is negotiating with the United States for permission to fly over Iraq, in case the Jewish nation is to conduct surgical air strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. The newspaper quoted a senior Israeli defense official as saying that "the only way to do this is to fly through U.S.-controlled air space." Meanwhile, the official said that negotiations were underway between the two countries. However, Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh denied the report on Saturday, saying that any talk of an Israeli offensive against Iran was speculative only, the Yedioth Ahronoth daily said. Sneh said that the report apparently came from sources that did not want to take responsibility for diplomatic inaction regarding Iran's possible nuclear armament. === Observe the insinuation: diplomatic inaction. How could Sneh comment on diplomatic inaction even before a meeting of the UN Security Council? Is there no other way to reach Iran but to fly over Iraq? Look at the world map there are at least two ways – one north of Iraq and another south of Iraq. | ||
| Ivan |
More Power to the Valiant Young Men and Women for Progressive Change in Iran! Thanks Ed, for that excellent letter by the progressive voice of reason and freedom for a new government in the choleric fundamentalist regime of Iran. May the Student underground find the strength and wisdom to lead their call for freedom and justice to victory. Their current Ahmadinejad led government is violently and unjustly purging their opposition by all means possible, arrests and imprisonment, torture and intimidation, restricted access to information and the outside world, and fear and coercions, such as had been practiced by the Arab led campaigns of history against the great civilization of Persia. From the letter: This is a typical Stalinist-Hitleric tactic against any reasonable opposition, to shut down and punish reason. The ayatollah's government is guilty here as well. Failure of reason leads to regressive government policies, those which hinder human development and burden families with economic failures. When the world is already over populated for sustainable resources, the call for more children per family is insane. As Mohideen pointed out in a post above, Iran has immense resources potential in energy, and doubtless in other fields, including intellectual property, but these are being neglected. Why? And since when is the U.N. the enemy, as per Mr. A's comments in response to the U.N. imposed sanctions against Iran's nuclear defiance, from the BBC: (bold mine)... since when is the consortium of a world body of nations the 'enemy'? Iran's Mr. A. is badly out of step with reality. Iran has isolated itself from the rest of humanity's advancements towards economic and social progress, and from freedoms enjoyed by all rational beings, in their repressive tyrannical power structure based upon some ancient war-politic theocratic ideology no longer applicable to the sensibilities of the modern world. If their 'God' is dictating this to them, then they should perhaps consult this 'god' a little more intensely, to understand why they are failing on every front, and why they are courting serious disasters for themselves. Perhaps their 'god' will give them an answer of reason: "Set your people free." Victory goes to the valiant. More power to the students of Iran. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/IraqCoverage/story?id=2901692&page=2 === ABC News: Being a religious and political symbol, do you think that what happened is an infringement and a violation of Iraqi sovereignty? Al-Hakim: No doubt about that — when there is no sanctity to any Iraqi figure, and when a U.S. soldier on the ground is allowed to treat everyone the way they like regardless of controls or limitations. This humiliation lasted 11 hours, and then I was told, "Go; the matter is over." Certainly this kind of conduct is a violation of the Iraqi border rules. How can we say that we have an Iraqi government? What does it mean that there are Iraqi authorities overseeing the process? What does it mean that there are respectable Iraqi national figures pursuing their work legally? All these matters are being damaged — which means that the national sovereignty is at stake. === We understand the nervousness of an American soldier without the company of an Iraqi in attacking an Iraqi without knowing the ID of the other person. However to arrest a person allowed to enter Iraq by the Iraqi guards indicates provocation. The American soldiers involved need to be investigated. May be they are desparate to leave Iraq and hope to precipitate a crisis between the US and Iraqi authorities so that the mission could be wound up. The Commander-in-Chief would be wise to withdraw the US forces as contemplated by the US Congress from activities unrelated to their own safety. | ||
| Ivan |
Al-Hakim issue, "'Humiliation' at U.S. Hands", posted above by Mohideen: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/IraqCoverage/story?id=2901692&page=1 where he posts: "We understand the nervousness of an American soldier without the company of an Iraqi in attacking an Iraqi without knowing the ID of the other person. However to arrest a person allowed to enter Iraq by the Iraqi guards indicates provocation. The American soldiers involved need to be investigated." The article starts with: Are you refering here to the fact that this man detained was a 'religious figure'? Does this allow him to be treated in any special way different from all other human beings involved here, held at the border? Are we talkiing special privilege here? Why should the soldiers be investigated for doing their duty in a dangerous war zone? Tough luck on the poor chap for being caught up where perhaps he should not have been. His treatment by American soldiers was no doubt more coddly than by his fellow Iraqis, though I digress. The real issue is 'special treatment' for a 'religious figure'. There are no grounds for this. Your other suggestion of some alterior motive for the soldier doing their duty is demeaning to their professionalism in military service to their country. They are not some mujahedeen rabble, but professionals. For you to suggest otherwise is misplaced here, and should be condemnable. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
For you to suggest otherwise is misplaced here, and should be condemnable. Posted on Sunday, February 25, 2007 - 10:36 am: Ivan I touched upon a human behavior possibility. Under stress people do act in ways other than normal. It does not reflect on any individuals commitment or patriotism. I never meant to demean any individual. If inadvertantly I ended up doing that I apologize. I saw the above post just now after returning home. Sorry for any offence taken; it was not intended. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Are you refering here to the fact that this man detained was a 'religious figure'? Posted on Sunday, February 25, 2007 - 10:36 am: Ivan The question is that of joint responsibility. When the Iraqi guards allow a person to enter their country the accompanying US soldier should have no authority to stop such persons who are permitted by Iraqis. There is no special treatment expected. Indeed in Islam every person gets the same respect. | ||
| Ivan |
Understood, Mohideen, and not offense meant in return either. I never wish to assume disparaging things against any commentary here, but thought it important enough to point out obvious error, that the soldiers are not to be assumed deviant in their line of duty. Surely, if there was deviation from their orders, they would be called to answer. But that is their affair, not ours. Ivan | ||
| NAive |
As an insight taken from the posts above, I believe citizens of disputing countries should engage in this kind of dialogue before leadership is given any authority to declare states of war. Ah, imagine how that would rankle the powers that be. Naive | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Are the Iraqis friends of America? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070226/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq === The U.S. military has said elite Iranian corps are funneling EFPs to Shiite militias in Iraq for use against American troops. === How can the Iraqi government run by the Shiites allow such a thing? Are the Shiites friends or are they enemies in waiting? Don't forget that as with smuggling, for every weapon cache that gets located there could be ten more in hiding. | ||
| Ivan |
Good question, Mohideen. Fighting war coercions is never a clean business, and fighting unsolicited coercion is the nature of all resistance. Every human being has in the soul the will to be free of unsolicited coercions, as do all living things. But resistance can be as complex as the coercions faced, such as proves in Iraq. In Iran, there is a fear that freedom, that which is in the human soul universally, will undermine the powers that coerce the people into pure submission. This is a much greater conflict, spilling over into Iraq's 'great game' for the region, authored by America's involvement in 'nation building', but seized as opportunity by those who would oppse and fear our natural freedoms. So when caches of weapons get smuggled from Iran to Iraq, it is a natural process of power resisting freedom, with no clean and easy solution. Sometimes, it just takes brute force to stop coercion. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,468963,00.html === The details of the attack bespeak a new, hitherto unknown logistical skill on the part of the Taliban. Cheney's visit was shrouded in secrecy from the beginning with reporters travelling with him being asked to observe embargoes on revealing the Vice President's whereabouts. The fact that Cheney had to cancel a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai -- originally scheduled for Monday evening -- because of strong snowfall and spend the night in Bagram only became known on Monday evening. Observers see a clear sign that the Taliban now dispose of a well-organized information network that allows them to track the movements of prominent political decision-makers like Cheney. "Of course plenty of information is available via the Internet," the NATO officer said, "but you need to be able to use that tool." This was apparently what happened in the case of the attack on Bagram Air Base, the officer added, claiming there is no other way of "explaining the exact timing." It's hardly appropriate to continue characterizing the Taliban as simple guerrilla soldiers, in the officer's view. === Are we to believe that the fact that VP stayed overnight at the airbase could be deduced from the Internet? The obvious source of leak should be found in the persons who knew of the cancellation of the meeting with President of Afghanistan. The leak must be located in the Afghan side of the security equation. | ||
| Alliance of Patriots |
A very good posting Mohideen, As the Alliance of Patriots has proven, use of the Internet as an intelligence and offensive information warfare weapon is a reality. In the hands of a master intelligence officer such as Major Edward A. Chesky Jr, it is capable of penetrating the most secure of environments such as Tehran University. Al Qeada and the Taliban have progressed to the point of fusing intelligence data from sources around the globe via the internet into a coherent picture of the movements of key personnel. This capability was demonstrated by our Chief of Intelligence, Major Edward A. Chesky Jr, from his home computer. This decentralized Alliance of Patriots was born out of discrimination by the President of the United States against those that spoke out at his violations of our most cherished beliefs reguarding human rights, the right to be free of torture and the right to due process before the law. To combat this we made use of the Internet for intelligence development and information warfare to peacefully bring down the Bush Administration's control of government. Our success at this application of the internet has now been replicated by Al Qeada and added to their capabilites. In this battle against the forces of terrorism, Al Qeada has risen to a new level of capability. Only one man was able to match this organization in terms of predictive intelligence skill and he currently serves as our Chief of Intelligence and Information Warfare. That man honored by some of the most powerful military men and women on the face of the earth was thrown to the wolves by the Bush Administration. He went on via the internet to bring it down with nothing but his mind and access to the Internet. Such is the nature of the man that George Bush decided to throw out and what he is capable of doing. We the Alliance of Patriots honor him and his work. As to Al Qeada, only one man locked out of government service is capable of matching them and predicting their actions. We hope the Federal Government of George Bush will one day find a way to employ him and use him to his full potential once again in this war we face. But until that day we respect and back his right to fight this war on terror his own way. Alliance of Patriots | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
We hope the Federal Government of George Bush will one day find a way to employ him and use him to his full potential once again in this war we face. Posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 03:17 pm: Alliance of Patriots A slight modification: We hope the Federal Government takes advantage of persons of the calibre of Ed. Given the nature of democracy and given the demand for impeachment I do not desire to hope on a single individual sitting at the top today. My hope is with the people of America and a responsive federal government, not necessarily the current one. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
How stupid could we become? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070227/afghan-explosion === The guerrillas, according to NATO officials, have the flexibility to organize an attack quickly and may have been able to plan a bombing at the base while Cheney was there after hearing news reports on Monday that he was delayed by bad weather. === Was not the visit supposed to be a surprise visit? Since when do we have news reports about delays in surprise visits? | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
In an earlier post we were informed that the Iranian Mullahs were having many sex-slaves otherwise called temporary wives. As it is a complex issue it took time to analyze the institution of temporary marriage. We have posted our analysis in http://deentech.com/MI_IC_No_Sex_Slaves_Now.aspx Some highlights are: === The relaxation that a man and woman could marry secretly leads to confusion in society. This could be misused by a prostitute. We believe no society agrees to the plying of the trade of prostitution. A prostitute when challenged has to simply state that the man had married her secretly. … If the woman entering a ‘temporary marriage’ may not employ the formula ‘I have rented to you’ how does she become a rented woman? If she is not a rented woman the notion of a specific period for the marriage does not apply. The Shi’i need to clarify this basic incompatibility between the formula of one pillar and another pillar of ‘temporary marriage’ as instituted by them. … In which case it seems the institution of ‘temporary marriage’ exploits destitute women: either divorcees, widows, or from destitute families. The Shi’i need to look into the acceptability of such exploitation. In particular, the Shi’i women should evaluate the institution of ‘temporary marriage’ in that light. … It is possible that a substantial part of the society would look upon a woman contracting temporary marriage as a potential prostitute. Should women degrade themselves unless they cannot avoid such a fate? … One could ask: If Islam allows ‘sex slaves’ why not consider a ‘temporary wife’ as a sex slave? When a man has to look after 50 women he would naturally select the most pious 4 as his wives and the rest would be his sex slaves by necessity. In the case of a temporary wife there is no such necessity at least from the part of the women as she could as well become a permanent wife. In conclusion, we state that sex slaves are allowed sometime in the future when the Y-chromosome becomes so weak that for every 50 female children just one male child is born. We are nowhere near that situation and thus ‘temporary marriage’ has no place in contemporary society. === | ||
| Ivan |
Taliban official: Bin Laden is alive http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070301/ap_on_re_eu/britain_bin_laden_2 This is an 'on again, off again' piece of news from AQ on OBL, in the battle of 'war is deceit' camp. The article says: Well, where is he? Why no video, only audio? Is he in so bad shape, too hideous for camera? Or has he fled the 'martyrs' who died for him, and disappeared? It says further: This is beginning to look an awful lot like the myth of the 12th Imam, the one hiding in a well for a thousand years. Maybe in one more 1000 years, Ossama bin Laden too will make his magical reappearance? But in the end, deceit is deceit, no matter what. He's dead. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
This is beginning to look an awful lot like the myth of the 12th Imam, the one hiding in a well for a thousand years. Maybe in one more 1000 years, Ossama bin Laden too will make his magical reappearance? But in the end, deceit is deceit, no matter what. He's dead. Posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 10:58 pm: Ivan Who benefits? As regards the 12th Imam the benefit is to the Shias. As long as the Mullahs would benefit, the 12th Imam is alive and would appear soon. Is the Taliban in need of a living OBL? Or is it the CIA? Why is it that the CIA is silent? If we agree that OBL is dead we have to locate a master strategist who planned the recent attempted attack on Cheney. To have OBL in limbo benefits many. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/02/europe/EU-GEN-EU-Missile-Defense.php === The U.S. has formally requested to place a radar base in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland as part of its plans for a missile defense shield that Washington says would protect against a potential threat from Iran or North Korea. === By this post I might be broadcasting my ignorance. The very first objects to be attacked in Iraq were the radars. If Iran or North Korea or any other enemy is determined to attack us, is it not logical that the radar base in the Czech Republic is destroyed or inactivated first? Once that radar is taken off the 10 interceptor missiles are just show pieces. To defend the radar in the Czech Republic from missile attack we need an early warning system for the Czech Republic. Where would we place that early warning system? Would that be land based or satellite based? If it is land based we need to protect that site. If it is satellite based why do we need the Czech Republic based radar at all? The best defense from enemies is not to have any enemy at all. Let there be no coercion from our end; then it is up to God to protect us. Eventually there would be no coercion and thus we do not need any war industry. That is where the rub lies? Would the war industry agree to be replaced by a peace industry? I am sure the workers of the war industry would not object to getting re-employed by the peace industry. What about the owners? | ||
| Ivan |
Very good point, Mohideen. Who benefits indeed? Not all hands come clean on this one, from all sides. In philosophy you can't prove a negative proposition; in real life you can't bring back the dead. As long as the dead body is hidden, the myths of OBL will continue to fuel in death what he began in life: more killing. What a legacy! Ivan | ||
| Ivan |
Can Mandaeans survive war torn modern Iraq? They are a small population, only 5 thousand left in their original homeland of Iraq, from the days of John the Baptist, but their numbers are shrinking rapidly due to persecution. BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6412453.stm About the Mandaeans: "Beliefs and prophets: Mandaean Sabians believe in God and His Monotheism. God is called in their holy book and other religious sources, The Great Life or The Eternal Life. Also, they believe that Adam (God bless his name) was their first prophet and teacher. Their second prophet was sheet who is named "shetel" in Mandaiac; followed by Sam bin Noah and Yahya bin Zekaria (God bless their names)" This will be a test for modern Iraq, if it is to be modern with religious tolerance and freedom. If not, why the sacrifice of lives and treasure, what was it all for? How can a small peaceful religious group survive in war? Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
They are a small population, only 5 thousand left in their original homeland of Iraq, from the days of John the Baptist, but their numbers are shrinking rapidly due to persecution. … Mandaean Sabians believe in God and His Monotheism. … This will be a test for modern Iraq, if it is to be modern with religious tolerance and freedom. Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 10:47 am: Ivan If the Sabians vanish it is not modern Iraq that failed but humanity itself. These ‘endangered species’ must be granted asylum in different countries of the world so that they survive. It is not necessary for them to live inside an unsafe Iraq. The following Verses are noteworthy. http://www.searchtruth.com/search.php?keyword=sabians+righteousness&chapter=&tra nslator=2&search=1&start=&records_display=10&search_word=all [2:62, and 5:69] http://www.searchtruth.com/search.php?keyword=oppressed+men+evil&chapter=&transl ator=2&search=1&start=&records_display=10&search_word=all === When angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls, they say: "In what (plight) Were ye?" They reply: "Weak and oppressed Were we in the earth." They say: "Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to move yourselves away (From evil)?" Such men will find their abode in Hell,- What an evil refuge! - ( An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #97) === In the current circumstances when every inch of the world is under the control of a government, people under oppression have indeed no space to move on their own free will. http://www.searchtruth.com/search.php?keyword=oppressed+men+except&chapter=&tran slator=2&search=1&start=&records_display=10&search_word=all === except those who are (really) weak and oppressed - men, women, and children - who have no means in their power, nor (a guide-post) to their way. ( An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #98) === By 4:98 by denying immigration to these Sabians we of course give them refuge from Hell. In the process the whole of mankind – at least the rulers of the nations – would be held accountable for not having permitted them to move away from evil. Whether the UN and all the nations would save these Sabians is the question not whether an emerging Iraq would protect them. So in my opinion the whole of mankind is under test. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Let us seal the Bushehr reactor under IAEA control so that the fuel rods stay inside. http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/publications/briefings/wouldairstrikeswork .pdf === The Bushehr reactor will use low enriched uranium (about 3.5% in uranium-235) as fuel. The core of the reactor will hold about 103 tonnes of uranium contained in 193 fuel assemblies. If operated to generate electricity, the Bushehr reactor will produce about 250 kg of plutonium per year. If diverted for military use, this amount of plutonium would be enough to build between 40 and 50 nuclear weapons a year. There would be enough plutonium in four irradiated fuel assemblies to produce a nuclear weapon. === The nuclear fuel has 3.5% of uranium-235 and the rest is possibly uranium-238. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutonium we get: === Pu-239 Main article: Plutonium 239 Plutonium-239 is one of the three fissile materials used for the production of nuclear weapons and in some nuclear reactors as a source of energy. The other fissile materials are uranium-235 and uranium-233. Plutonium-239 is virtually nonexistent in nature. It is made by bombarding uranium-238 with neutrons in a nuclear reactor. Uranium-238 is present in quantity in most reactor fuel; hence plutonium-239 is continuously made in these reactors. Since plutonium-239 can itself be split by neutrons to release energy, plutonium-239 provides a portion of the energy generation in a nuclear reactor. Pu-238 Main article: Plutonium-238 There are small amounts of Pu-238 in the plutonium of usual plutonium-producing reactors. However, isotopic separation would be quite expensive compared to another method: when a U-235 atom captures a neutron, it is converted to an excited state of U-236. Some of the excited U-236 nuclei undergo fission, but some decay to the ground state of U-236 by emitting gamma radiation. Further neutron capture creates U-237 which has a half-life of 7 days and thus quickly decays to Np-237. Since nearly all neptunium is produced in this way or consists of isotopes which decay quickly, one gets nearly pure Np-237 by chemical separation of neptunium. After this chemical separation, Np-237 is again irradiated by reactor neutrons to be converted to Np-238 which decays to Pu-238 with a half-life of 2 days. === From the above we infer that the nuclear power plant does not lose uranium-235 in operation but converts the uranium-238 to plutonium-239 which is bomb material. Of course plutonium-239 could as well be used as nuclear fuel. What happens if the Bushehr plant’s nuclear fuel rods are not reprocessed? The core has 3.5% of useful material at the start. There are 103,000 kg of fuel with 3,605 kg of U-235 and 99,395 kg of U-238. In one year 250 kg of U-238 becomes Pu-239. Ignoring second order effects, in 14 years and 5 months this reactor would have produced 3,605 kg of Pu-239. Now the concentration is 7.0%. We retrieve the fuel rods and make two fuel rods from one by adding U-238 of equal weight. That is, by sealing the Bushehr reactor for 14 years and 5 months, we create one more Bushehr reactor at the end of 14 years and 5 months. We need not extract the Pu-239 but just dilute the same with more U-238. We can have enough energy and no bombs by doubling nuclear power every 15 years. Further we could convert 50 nuclear bombs to one Bushehr power plant by diluting the bomb material. Do we seek a memorandum to eliminate all Pu-239 extraction plants and create dilution plants? Looks like mankind need not vanish in a mushroom cloud! | ||
| Anon Anon |
U.S. confirms possible poisoning of Americans Embassy in Moscow says pair hospitalized for possible thallium ingestion http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17502067/ It appears that poisoning of Americans and Russians that oppose the KGB and its operatives is now back in vogue. Ex-KGB types settling scores with those that helped bring them down during the Cold War and again oppose them as they take control of Russian industry and Russia's economy. With this spread of poisoning no one is safe. Know we know why Ed returned home and his family with its money and connections with state and local police are protecting him since the federal government threw him out. One wonders what the Feds think of a descendent of the founding families that has the backing of local EMS, Police and current and retired National Guard Troops protecting him. Kind of like a stand off between the state and federal government. With a descendent of the founding families with a network of contacts that reaches into the White House and a founding family with a serious grudge against a White House Administration. Connecticut was ground zero during the elections that decided control of the Senate. One would say some of the founding familes flexed a little muscle and put the current occupant of the White House on notice that when it comes to playing dirty, a street fighter backed by the founding families and 24 years of intellgience training is nothing to laugh at and is capable of bring down a government using dirty tricks, disclosure of dirty secrets and pyschological warfare to make a point. Anon Anon | ||
| Ivan |
Towards a Safer World with Nuclear Energy, not Bombs. Mohideen, in yours: If only it were so. It seems appealing at first sight, but the technology behind your proposal may not agree with the laws of physics. The IAEA Director General Dr. Mohammed ElBaradei writes in "Towards a Safer World": "In Too Many HandsHowever, the technology behind extracting plutonium, PU239, for electricity production has not yet been done. The science behind it, though math shows it can be done in theory, has not yet produced this power generating use of PU239 because of the extreme conditions necessary to contain its highly toxic radioactive conditions. As of now, per Dr. W. F. Libby's statement: " In a speech on the tasks of chemists and metallurgists in atomic energy, he claimed that “no country has yet developed the technology of ‘burning’ plutonium.”"There is a scientific reason for this, which I will pursue further, later. At the moment, heading out the door. (This discussion continues on Global Warming Paradigm thread, for the science part of 'burning' plutonium.) However, the real problem is further complicated by politics, where the Iranian Mullahs want to develop nuclear weapons, of which there is no doubt. Such mega weapons in their hands is suicidal, more for them than for us, so like bad children who are not allowed to play with guns, they may not have them under any circumstances. Dr. ElBaradei is well aware of this as well, and the Russian built Bushehr plant is especially suspect. Even if they could contain the plutonium in the nuclear reactions, which is doubtful, they would only succeed in breeding far greater quantities for their bombs, which is unacceptable. What we do not want, Mohideen, in applying any future plutonium 'burn' technology is to generate even far greater amounts of this highly poisonous material for more bombs, especially in the hands of those irresponsible rogue states, like Iran. Ivan | ||
| Anon |
Thanks Anon Anon As to my poisoning, well its now a matter of international knowledge. As to my accurate predictions, they are also a matter of international knowledge that spans the globe. The fact that the current administration threw me out to the wolves and left me to die is known around the globe from this site and its readers to sites visited by Mohideen Ibramsha. The names of those in the federal government that failed to follow-up on my predictions, and the corporations that abused and exploited me are also known to the world. That is the power of a distributed network. A posting here and a posting there linked to predictions and geometric work passed from one site to another and it spans the globe. Like ripples in a pond driven by search engines the truth keeps spreading across the worldwide web in ever greater circles. This was a lesson I wanted to teach the federal government in how one man could use the power of the internet to circle the globe and reach into the inner most circles of power. Crippled and left for dead, I wanted to prove what could be done. I did and a government fell. As an aside I just got back the results of my liver tests and blood work-ups. With low doses of medication, improved diet and increased exercise my levels are all within normal limits. Save for spinal damage and mild secondary nerve damge I am fine. My GPA is 3.48 in masters level classes and I will complete a masters degree and another bachelor degree within 20 months. That added to one bachelor degree I already have and 90 percent completion of a masters degree in education will give me 190 credit hours of college education. Within 24 months I will have completed two masters degrees and will hold two bachelor degrees with a GPA average of well over 3.0. At work I created an entire sustainment and refresher training program from scratch for the security staff of a fortune 500 company within 3 months. With minimal support and assistance I have just integrated a web-based training and testing program in into the refresher training program I developed and will have it up and completely operational within 60 days of installation of the software on our computer systems. I did all of this while working 60 plus hours a week, taking a concurent masters and bachelor degree program, recovering from poisoning, a rupured spinal cord and rebuilding a 110 year old home. This is in addition to predicting earthquakes, huricane katrina's damage, trisecting the angle and solving the billiard problem with compass and ruler. Some people laughed at me and the federal government threatened me. I decided to teach the federal government a lesson it would never forget. If I wanted to I could plan a nuclear strike that would leave this nation broken, cities smashed, and leadership wiped from the face of the earth. I could do the same to China, Russia or Iran. That is what the government of the United States trained me to do for over 24 years. Now consider what capabilites in war, terrorism and guerilla warfare I have with 24 years of service it I can achieve the above despite being 80% disabled. The federal government should be thankful I found Christ and put down the sword. Edward A, Chesky Jr Major, United States Army RET | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
The federal government should be thankful I found Christ and put down the sword. Edward A, Chesky Jr Posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 - 08:18 pm: Anon Governments change. Please do take the sword to eliminate war. Coercion can be used to fight coercion. It might sound impossible to hurt the war-monger and not the innocent among whom he / she mingles. Hopefully remote sensing (of intentions which are sensed today under PET scan)and self-delivery ammunition might indeed help attacking the war-mongers alone even if they are in a crowd. Why not start thinking on these lines? | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
What we do not want, Mohideen, in applying any future plutonium 'burn' technology ... I am not even agreeing to extraction of the Pu-239. There is no question of burning Pu-239. IAEA has the authority to ensure that a sealed nuclear power plant remains sealed. I am not suggesting that we work within the existing standards. I am seeking an international agreement that there would be no enrichment but just dilution so that more power plants are generated and no bomb whatsoever. Look upon the sealed operation of Bushehr plant as a separate option to the current Iran problem. We might yet succeed in a peaceful regime change there. We hope the new regime would eshew weapons; we hope! | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article1496223.ece === Inspired by the legendary leader, key Washington adviser David Kilcullen tells Christina Lamb how he is reshaping strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq === On the basis of the above statement we believe David Kilcullen approves of – if not initiated – the troop surge of Commander-in-Chief Bush. Quoting from the above URL again, we get: === His 28 principles start with “diagnose the problem”. === An earlier version of these 28 principles are found in http://www.smallwarsjournal.com/documents/28articles.pdf === 1. Know your turf. Know the people, the topography, economy, history, religion and culture. Know every village, road, field, population group, tribal leader and ancient grievance. Your task is to become the world expert on your district. If you don’t know precisely where you will be operating, study the general area. Read the map like a book: study it every night before sleep, and re-draw it from memory every morning, until you understand its patterns intuitively. Develop a mental model of your area - a framework in which to fit every new piece of knowledge you acquire. Study handover notes from predecessors; better still, get in touch with the unit in theater and pick their brains. In an ideal world, intelligence officers and area experts would brief you. This rarely happens: and even if it does, there is no substitute for personal mastery. Understand the broader area of influence: this can be a wide area, particularly when insurgents draw on global grievances. Share out aspects of the operational area among platoon leaders and non-commissioned officers: have each individual develop a personal specialization and brief the others. Neglect this knowledge, and it will kill you. === This first article is crucial for success. Since these 28 articles are inspired by the experience of “Lawrence of Arabia” let us look at his case. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._E._Lawrence === Subsequently, in the summer of 1909, he set out alone on a three month walking tour of crusader castles in Syria during which he traveled 1,000 miles on foot. The knowledge he gained of the local peoples, their language, and customs was to serve him well when he returned to this area later as an archaeologist and soldier. On completing his degree in 1910, he commenced postgraduate research in medieval pottery with a Senior Demy at Magdalen College, Oxford, which he abandoned after he was offered the opportunity to become a practising archaeologist in the Middle East. In December 1910, he sailed for Beirut, and on arrival, went to Jbail (Byblos), where he studied Arabic. He then went to work on the excavations at Carchemish, near Jerablus in northern Syria, where he worked under D.G. Hogarth and R. Campbell-Thompson of the British Museum. He would later state that everything that he had accomplished, he owed to Hogarth. While excavating ancient Mesopotamian sites, Lawrence met Gertrude Bell, who was to influence him for much of his time in the Middle East. In late summer 1911, Lawrence returned for a brief sojourn to England. By November, he was en route to Beirut for a second season at Carchemish, where he was to work with Leonard Woolley. Prior to resuming work there, however, he briefly worked with William Flinders Petrie at Kafr Ammar, in Egypt. Lawrence continued making trips to the Middle East as a field archaeologist until the outbreak of World War I. His extensive travels through Arabia, his excursions, often on foot, living with the Arabs, wearing their clothes, learning their culture, language and local dialects, were to prove invaluable in the coming war. In January 1914, Woolley and Lawrence were co-opted by the British military as an archaeological smokescreen for a British military survey of the Negev Desert. === From the above we notice that the legendary Lawrence of Arabia has virtually lived among the Arabs from 1909 till 1914 when he joined the army. He was an accepted member of the Arabic community. Let us consider the Iraq war. We started the war after imposing sanctions on the population from 1991; we antagonized Saddam who was the darling of the population after the first Gulf war. Thus we had none who could be accepted as a member of the group in Iraq. From 2003 we had adapted a course of action against article 25 which includes: === Instead, attack the enemy’s strategy: if he is seeking to recapture the allegiance of a segment of the local population, then co-opt them against him. === Did we go after the enemy’s strategy? We went after storming the houses and antagonized the population. Now we have gone so far down the wrong road, it would be impossible to win the population. Any amount of troop surge would not result in ‘winning the hearts and minds’ of the population. What should we do? Possibly beyond our control, Iraq is sliding into a civil war. As we do not know which side would emerge the winner, it would be prudent to stay out of the civil war and reengage once there is stability in Iraq. We know there are ‘oil interests.’ Should we stay until our companies get permission for oil exploration from the current government? That is risky. If the current government succeeds then we have done well. If the current government fails, getting the contracts under this government wouldn’t be worth the paper on which it is signed. It would be better to negotiate with the next government. Would the next government negotiate? With the oil infrastructure in shambles, which ever government emerges needs to get finance and thus they of necessity would invite foreign companies. Instead of buying the crude cheap and refining it elsewhere and reaping windfall profits, the next government would be very happy to have the oil extraction and refinement done on their soil provided the profits are shared 50/50 between the private companies and the Iraqi government. We state this because ‘share cropping’ is approved in Islam and thus equal share for the Iraqi population in the profits of the operation would be agreed to by a future government whatever be its composition. Under the above proposal, we should withdraw our boys and girls from Iraq and let the Iraqis settle their internal disputes. Troop surge would be counter productive. Congress and the Senate need to reverse gear (of the misguided Commander-in-Chief) and get our children out of Iraq soon. Getting them out of Iraq now is helping them, not sanctioning funds to retain them there to suffer in the crossfire between different Iraq groups battling for supremacy. | ||
| Ivan |
We must not lose sight of the fact that Lawrence lived in a different time. Back then Islam was not vying for political supremacy with a neo-jjhad ambition, such as witnessed in the 21st century. When I traveled in Sudan, mid 1980s, it was a different world from today's highly charged atmosphere of Islamic fundamentalism. Though I traveled with the common people across the desert from Khartoum to Egypt, I did not sense hostility, except of the banditry kind, but not religious hostility. Today, that would not be the same, as many foreginers are kidnapped and held for ransom, or killed, in similar circumstances, only two decades later. So Lawrence traveled during a 'calm' time of Islamic Jihad, not the same today. To win the hearts and minds of Iraqi people means for them to transcend their religious hostility to outsiders. This is a common problem whenever approaching an inbred insular group of people who are more tribal than worldly, even if they are only mountain clans in Appalachia, where one must approach them with great caution. In Afghanistan this would be magnified by centuries of hostility towards the outside world. So winning their hearts and minds must be seen through that prism of innate hostility. Had the Taleban, a strict fundamentalism Islamic tradition, not taken over the country, and had Al Qaeda not attacked the United States of America, both 1993 and 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, both of which had casualties but the latter was horriffic, then we would have never entered Afghannistan. But they did attack us, so they were invaded, the Taleban stripped of power, and Al Qaeda is still being hunted down, and killed. That is war. And until the mission is won, there is no winning of hearts and minds, because in their lexicon, they are not to be subdued, but to subdue us. It will not happen, so their aggressions against us will be subdued, and they subdued in turn. We do not have to feel obligated in any manner towards the aggressors, nor to pay them any special tax of appeasement, nor to bow to their threats and violence. Once Afghanistan stands solid as a nation that is able to control its neo-jihadic fundamentalists, then we can call it a day, and leave. For Iraq, that is more complicated because of the Sunni-Shia secterian, medieval religious wars that go back centuries. Once we deposed Saddam Hussein and a government of the Iraqi people is found functioning, so that it does not slide into a Somalia, then troops should be out. The other option is to get out now, leave it to the pursuant blood bath and let them fight it out like dogs. Our humanitarian side balks at the latter, though it may in the end be the better solution. History will judge. I am quite certain that Lawrence, knowing well the Arab mind, would have agreed. We live in different, and far more dangerous to us, times than a hundred years ago. Force against Muslim fundamentalism-jihad must be used now, as it was many centuries ago, until the Gates of Vienna, when it was turned back. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Our humanitarian side balks at the latter, though it may in the end be the better solution. Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - 10:07 am: Ivan We do risk our lives in saving another life. But that happens in situations where we perceive and feel the possibility of success. This is an extreme example. Supposing a person has fallen inside a burning volcano, do we attempt to retrieve from the magma? The answer would be no. Coming to Iraq, we were fed motivated and false intelligence by some of expatriats of Iraq and we believed them, went in and destroyed Saddam. Yes we made a mistake, and the population is in uproar. Do we have the army in such a strength to not only subdue the insurgents but also to stay put and carry out the reconstruction? I believe the answer is no. Under the circumstances leaving our sons and daughters inside Iraq where their blood is shed is unwise. Even if history would blame us for having launched a war on faulty intelligence, persisting in the folly and sacrificing more and more young Americans would induce history to call us stupid as well. It is hoped that Congress and the Senate display the required magnonimity to own up our mistakes and take corrective actions by withdrawing our sons and daughters. As regards Shia - Sunni tussles as they are historical, we do not have to feel that we facilitated the civil war. We liberated the Shia and if they do not know how to use liberation and commit foolish acts, we don't have to shed blood there. | ||
| C.c. |
Release Daniele Mastrogiacomo, international petition to Free him.  "We kindly ask you to sign our appeal for Mastrogiacomo's release. We also ask for your help to make this appeal known to as many people as possible. You may help us by sending Daniele's picture, together with the message, to your friends and acquaintances all over the world, and also to public authorities, government and international media." Please sign the petition at: http://www.repubblica.it/speciale/2007/appelli/mastrogiacomo/index.html Thank you, grazie | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070315.wterrconfess0315/BNS tory/International/home === Khalid Sheikh Mohammed cemented his position as al-Qaeda's most ambitious operational planner when he confessed in a U.S. military tribunal to planning and supporting 31 terrorist attacks, topped by 9/11, that killed thousands since the early 1990s. === Now we know why there was no attack on the US soil after 9/11. After all the only 'attack-planner' KSM was behind the bars! That also explains why innumerable planned attacks were foiled by the authorities. Poor KSM has not trained anyone else in the art of planning successful attacks! As a corollary can we assume that withdrawing our boys and girls from Iraq before pacifying that wretched land would not cause the war on terror to visit our land? After all the enemy has no master mind to plan successful attacks!!! So we repeat our appeal to Congress and the Senate to forthwith force the fumbling C-in-C to withdraw our boys and girls from Iraq immediately. | ||
| Ivan |
Continued on Taliban kidnap, from above: This is the video released by the Taliban on captured Italian journalist Mastrogiacomo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqwB1-C4AOE&feature=RecentlyWatched&page=1&t=t&f= b What do they hope to achieve? We are dealing with medieval barbarians here, nothing to do with religion or war, just cheap bandits. Safe face, let the journalist go. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Could the stock market fail us in the 'war on terror?' What happens if our economy collapses? Should we continue with our current policies in the mortgage industry? Are the fears expressed in http://www.humancafe.com/discus/messages/88/221.html?1174005855#POST3439 and the subsequent posts realistic? Should we look into this aspect at all? | ||
| Naive |
The U.S. will bleed the world dry before letting its economy collapse. Look at the self-protective, and self-servingly corrupt record of previous administrations. When terror groups seek to wage an economic war with our government, these groups are in reality cutting their own wrists. We invented this cold war tactic, and our government knows how to use the media to agitate the populace. The rest is simply procedure. I think Ivan is right. These are cheap bandits, who like to feel powerful by showing their buddies what a nuisance they can be to the world. They should be ignored by the media worldwide! Then how impotent they would feel. Our media gives them a forum to feel powerful. Since our policy is one of non-negotiation, we should apply this to the exposure we give them in the media as well. Naive | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
They should be ignored by the media worldwide! Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 01:12 am: Naive It is a very good suggestion. Whose media are we talking about? Would Al Jazeera ignore them? | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
2036446%2C00.html,http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2036446,00.html === A failed state is one that can no longer provide security and social requirements for its citizens; that has descended into factionalism and warlordism; that cannot guarantee the integrity of its own borders, and lacks the ability to sustain itself. All of which perfectly describes large areas of today's Iraq. === (To access the article copy the part of the URL after the ',' to the browser.) Who caused this failure? Did we or the expat Iraqis who took charge of the country? It is our opinion that the expat Iraqis are mostly responsible. After the last elections there were calls for a national unity government. What got formed was a national unity government in form and not in spirit. If there would be a true national unity government, surely the population would not support the insurgents. Can there be a true national unity government? Possibly! If we put pressure on the Iraqis with a conditional phase-out they might see the light of the day. We could devise a metric to decide whether a locality inside Iraq is worth pacifying. Our sons and daughters would be moved out of those localities decided by our metric to be beyond redemption. We would keep only those many of our children in those localities - pacifyable localities - required for the major reconstruction efforts to be carried out of course under due protection by our troops. Rest of our children would be brought home. By such a move we are not abandoning our expat Iraqi friends, we just want them to perform. We are not withdrawing support to our troops. We are not giving any specific timetable to the enemy. We are specifying a blue print for recovering Iraq and let true democracy bloom there. In my opinion as long as those who deserted Iraq for decades when the common person suffered under Saddam could not aspire to the highest offices of the land. That has failed. It is time for the expat Iraqis to take second tier positions and those Iraqis who remained in Iraq all through to take the leadership. We hope there would be bipartisan agreement in both Congress and Senate to formulate a 'improvement-cum-exit' strategy. | ||
| Anonym |
The other St. Petersburg Declaration: http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/INTRO/130?OpenDocument Anoym | ||
| Ivan |
From Guardian on Iraq:
The Iraq solution can be summed up as simply as this: Will a small sectarian violent population beat the much larger democratic majority of Iraqis into submission?The answer lies with the people, the Iraqi people, and not with us, not our troops. As Mohideen suggests above, begin a 'conditional phase-out' to pressure the Iraqi people's government to take over the hard job of fighting those hardened criminals. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
The answer lies with the people, the Iraqi people, and not with us, not our troops. Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 09:43 am: Ivan What do the Iraqi people feel? http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PAR942558.htm === In Baghdad, the epicentre of violence, 100 percent said U.S. and other foreign forces had done a bad job in Iraq, opposed the presence of U.S.-led forces and said the presence of U.S. forces was making security in the country worse. === It looks like 'troop surge' is simply a waste of the lives of our sons and daughters. As the Iraqis themselves feel that the presence of US troops makes their security worse we need not feel any remorse in withdrawing from Iraq. The earlier this misadventure is wound up the better for all. | ||
| Ivan |
Good news on Afghanistan's kidnap victim from BBC News: "Italian reporter 'will be freed'" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6465773.stm Thank God, that it be so. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
"Italian reporter 'will be freed'" Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 09:59 am: Ivan Let us hope so. He seems to be still vulnerable. http://www.bruneitimes.com.bn/details.php?shape_ID=24340 === KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan's Taliban yesterday said they had handed an Italian journalist captured two weeks ago to tribal elders after two Taliban members were freed, but would take him back if a third was not released. The Italian news agency Ansa reported that veteran correspondent Daniele Mastrogiacomo, 52, had been freed but his employer, Rome-based La Repubblica newspaper, said it did not have confirmation. Italian and Afghan officials also could not confirm the report. "We'll consider him free when he's safely in Italian hands," an Italian foreign ministry spokesman in Rome said. The ambassador in Kabul, Ettore Francesco Sequi, also said he had no evidence of his release. Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told AFP that Mastrogiacomo and his Afghan translator were handed to elders in Helmand province after the government freed two members of the group, Latif Hakimi and Ustad Yasar. === We do not know about the release of the third member demanded by the Taliban. Until and unless the journalist is on Italian soil, I would keep my fingers crossed. Our prayers for his release need to be continued. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/03/19/italy.afghan/ === He was taken to an Italian-run hospital and has been in touch with Italy's ambassador to Afghanistan, according to the ministry and the newspaper. === Yes, one step closer to freedom. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/13/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Oil.php?page=1 The above offers interesting possibilities, in particular the following: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/13/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Oil.php?page=2 === Al-Maliki is committed to meeting the deadline because he is convinced he would not survive in power without U.S. support," one of the associates said. But standing in the way of forward movement is a recalcitrant Cabinet which al-Maliki has promised to reshuffle by the end of this week. So far, however, he is at loggerheads with the political groupings in parliament which are threatening to withdraw their support for the prime minister if he does not allow the blocs to name replacements for Cabinet positions. The impasse amounts effectively to a threat to bring down the government if it does what the Americans reportedly are telling al-Maliki he must do to win continued U.S. backing. === | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=51&ItemID=12374 === Right now, the common refrain is that cutting funds for the war is abandoning the troops. The Democrats must proclaim, loudly and clearly, that the best way to support the troops is get them out of harm’s way and back into the arms of their loved ones. As a group of military families and veterans wrote in an open letter to Congress, “Voting more funds for this war would be abandoning our troops. It would leave them with the possibility of joining the over 3,160 who have died, or the tens of thousands who have been wounded, physically, psychologically, or both.” === | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/21/news/mideast.php === ... a senior U.S. official said the cut would amount to about $36 million, leaving only $50 million of the original package. ... Also Wednesday, the United States and its three partners in Middle East peace efforts — the United Nations, the European Union and Russia — called on all parties in the Palestinian government to commit fully to peace. The group endorsed a three-month extension of a system that allows European nations to send money to the Palestinians without benefiting Hamas. === Put in other words, the international community is opening its purse for the Palestinians. True the mechanisms developed to deny money to Hamas would work. However this does not mean the Palestinians would move away from Hamas. No Muslim would eat well while his neighbor starves; they do share their meagre food. If in the past the Hamas member helped his Fatah neighbor, now a Fatah member would help his Hamas neighbor. There is bound to be mutual help among the families. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.amin.org/look/amin/en.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=7&NrArticle=3976 2&NrIssue=1&NrSection=3 === There are already many in Iran talking loudly about advantages of an agreement with the US. But this can only come about if all sides are willing to sit, negotiate and compromise. Today the best way out for the Middle East is a negotiated settlement between US and Iran. If that doesn’t take place, then war is inevitable. === Let us hope that there is a negotiated settlement between the US and Iran, if necessary after a peaceful regime change in Iran. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.humancafe.com/discus/messages/88/90.html?1174515498#POST3482 === Of course, but how can a movie set in ancient history 2 1/2 millennia ago make anybody bomb anybody else? === I talk about the motivation for releasing such a movie now. Let us not forget that after 9/11 the media has behaved more as a partner than a watchdog of the current US administration. Now the apprehension I state below could be ridiculed but could not be ruled out. We know that subliminal messages were used by the current occupants of the White House. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/americas/2000/us_elections/election_news/921 830.stm === The Republican presidential candidate, George W Bush, has denied that his team planted the word "Rats" as a subliminal message in a television advertisement criticising his Democrat opponent Al Gore. Mr Gore's aides seized on the 30-second ad, giving a slowed-down version of it to the New York Times. They said a Democrat in Seattle had spotted the apparently subliminal message after a close inspection. === Are we sure that the movie does not carry a subliminal message? A subliminal message could be slipped in just a single frame anywhere in the movie and that would do the trick. I have responded here to the point made in the evolution track as this topic connected with Iran might divert that topic away from evolution. I hope others agree. | ||
| Ivan |
Of course, no human being should feel comfortable eating while another is starving, not just a Muslim thing. God made no distinction between human beings, except in the Muslim mind. As far as your "Are we sure that the movie does not carry a subliminal message? A subliminal message could be slipped in just a single frame anywhere in the movie and that would do the trick" is concerned, that is one more conspiracy paranoia for which you had better give proof, or you are accusing the makers of "300" of illegal activities. Cease and desist, unless you want to condemn with proof, not sly off hand remarks. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/20030 === More recently, it was among the pressure groups that prevailed upon the Democratic House leadership to drop the requirement that the President obtain congressional approval before taking military action against Iran. === If the above statement is true, it is truly unfortunate. We hope that Congress and the Senate stop further unjustified exposure of our sons and daughters to harm by this administration. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Cease and desist, unless you want to condemn with proof Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 09:27 am: Ivan I hope someone with the necessary equipment would perform the verification and either 'condemn with proof' or exonerate. I do not have the required equipment. I searched for a DVD version and am confused about this information. http://www.bestprices.com/cgi-bin/vlink/024543115557 === 300 Spartans New DVD Movie - ... 20 In Stock! Release: 05/11/2004 === If the DVD version of the movie was released on May 11, 2004 why the sudden outcry now? | ||
| Ivan |
You present an accusation, your provide the proof: Remember in our western culture we have something called "innocent until proven guilty", so any presumption of "condemn with proof or exonerate" is entirely on your shoulders. You accuse, you are responsible, no one else. Ivan | ||
| Ivan |
Is it time for war against 'political' Islam? The issues we discussed above have more to do with Iran and Iraq, or the Palestinian jihad, not against Islam. But here is an author who feels differently, that it is a war against 'political' Islam. That this is what colors all conflicts today, or most of them around the world, and that we need a "Mind of War" mentality to fight this resurfacing scourge against humanity and its modern freedoms. I for one do not think this a primary issue, since today is very different from what happend a thousand years ago. We are in the 21st century, not the 11th century where Islam dominated through warfare and conquest all of the Middle East and North Africa, slaving all over Africa, slaving in southern Europe and Asia. Times are different now. We have communications, travel, tecchnology, legal precedents, and philosophical developments absent during the Byzantine Empire times. In fact, I am comforted to have Muslims living in the West for two reasons: we can better observe them, and we can learn from them. In fact, I think they are just where they should be, not as an enemy within, but as a potential tool for further reformations of Islam towards peace rather than their historical recidivism towards war. The Gates of Vienna shut down modern imperialism for 'political' Islamic jihad. It's over, they cannot win. There is something today called Freedom and the rights of the individual, for the first time in history. That is far more durable than the 'dualistic' philosophy of ancient Islam, or any of their threats against our western culture. Rather, I am quite certain what we are witnessing today is in fact the 'death throes' of ancient Islam as it is forced into adapting for the modern age of Freedom. So we will win, not a problem at all. "War is deceit" cannot win against "our inalienable right to be free", which is the power behind our modern Truth. Here is the article by Bill Warner: Thge Dhimmi Revolution http://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage.cfm?frm=5794&sec_id=5794 On another issue, can there ever be a truthful dialogue with 'political' Islam? That is a topic for another thread, on religious dialogue, on which I have some thoughts. To be continued... Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
If the DVD version of the movie was released on May 11, 2004 why the sudden outcry now? I continue from my earlier post. A movie that was released during 2004 when there was no talk of any trouble with Iran was not even mentioned. Now that movie has become a point of debate. At the least the resurrection of that movie implies an attempt at 'perception management.' Why manage perception now? Is it because all the options continue to remain on the table? | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Remember in our western culture we have something called "innocent until proven guilty", ... Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 06:15 pm: Ivan Where did that 'innocent until proven guilty' go when the Iraq war was launched? | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
So we will win, not a problem at all. Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 06:33 pm: Ivan True, the real Islam of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and the first four Caliphs, Allah be pleased with them would surely win and establish Chapter 109 of the Holy Quran: to you your faith and to me my faith. Unfortunately wars do interfere in that process of the 'peaceful Islam' nudging out the 'global conquest' of some misguided Muslims. From that perspective as well we need a peaceful change in regime in Iran than a war that might simply strengthen the hands of the war mongers. | ||
| Ivan |
The Romans had a saying: "In war the law ends." Mohideen, are we to presume you harbor a secret love for Saddam Hussein and lament his departure? For that matter, why did we go into Somalia, Kosovo, or Afghanistan? Why do we have wars? Why were we attacked on 9/11? Why are they still plotting today, though with less success, such as the transantlantic flights foiled bombings, or foiled Morocco tourism bombings, or the German train bombings, all foiled by security investigations and quick arrests. It must be so frustrating to be plotting, even wearing a suicide belt in the internet cafe in Morocco, only to be foiled, once again. That fellow blew himself up. How ridiculously infantile, stupid and what a waste of humanity. Now Iran wants to be the big boy with the bomb, so they swerve and stall, and talk and deceive, like slippery eels, and cry and claim they are victimized by the world community, the UN, IEAE, 'death to America and Israel' speeches, and what have we got? A prospect for peace in Iran? Hmmm? Peace? Think about it. Yeah, Saddam is gone, and good riddence to human garbage. Why, you want to cry for him? He was a wholesale murderer. No WMDs found? How do you know? What about the chlorine gas bombs used by jihadists in Iraq now? What about declassified info showing they did find WMDs, but were classified top secret. Why do you think the military will tell you, or me , or the press, everything? Think about it. It's a war. Don't lament for the losers. "Innocent until proven guilty" in war? Go tell it to the people of Darfur. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Here is the article by Bill Warner: The Dhimmi Revolution Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 06:33 pm: Ivan Thanks for the link. I enjoyed reading the article. The Dhimmi Revolution is sure to benefit mankind. The meaning of Verse 256 of Chapter 2 of the Holy Quran would become clear during the Dhimmi Revolution. If the doctrine of Islam is good, it would win. If it is bad it would lose. After all that is what God wants: His prescriptions for His creation is to be read by His creation. That is all. Whether you read the Quran as a believing Muslim or as a non-believing non-Muslim it is enough if you read it. I welcome the Dhimmi revolution. The architects of the Dhimmi revolution are welcome to post their questions to me. Simply visit my web - http://www.deentech.com/ and use the email facility in the home page. I hope to contribute my little part. I do not believe in history: his story. I believe in the Holy Quran and the authentic Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. So any question regarding the so called historic aspects would be ignored. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
"Innocent until proven guilty" in war? Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 10:04 pm: Ivan What about the period when a population is 'perception managed' in preparation for the next war? Should we treat this period also as a 'period of war?' | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070323/ap_on_re_eu/british_seized_iran === Iran nabs British sailors in Iraq waters === The above is the headline of the news item. === LONDON - Iranian naval vessels seized 15 British sailors who had boarded a ship suspected of smuggling cars in the Persian Gulf off the Iraqi coast on Friday, officials said. === The above is the first sentence. === "Two boats, each with a crew of six to eight multinational forces, were searching Iraqi and Iranian boats Friday morning in Ras al-Beesha area in the northern entrance of the Arab Gulf, but big Iranian boats came and took the two boats with their crews to the Iranian waters." === Either the British entered the Iranian waters to check the Iranian boat or the Iranian boats were in Iraqi waters. It would be difficult to know as there are no marked boundaries in water. === In June 2004, six British marines and two sailors were seized by Iran in the Shatt al-Arab between Iran and Iraq. They were presented blindfolded on Iranian television and admitted entering Iranian waters illegally, then released unharmed after three days. === Is history repeating? Or is this a ploy to increase the temperature so that on Saturday the Security Council gives unanimous support to the second resolution on Iran? | ||
| Ivan |
Probe in Darfur slavery -- is this 'his' story in the making? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6468097.stm Denial of wrongs committed by one group against another does not dismiss them. History is a real event that took place, and Muslim history is violently bloody and full of slavery and war booty, rape, torture, ransom, etc. A very ugly history. So, to deny it is to dismiss the wrongs done, which is inexcusable, no matter what your prophet said. In fact, the opinion of most Koranic experts is that Mohammed dictated such behavior for his god. Cash for past slavery? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6476675.stm How about cashing in on all the Arab Muslim slavery for 1400 years? ' His' story? No, it's 'our' story as the human race, and history cannot be forgotten, nor denied. Do NOT DENY others' sufferings caused by your history of Islam. Ivan Ps: Forget films, Mohideen, talking about 'perception management' from your point of view, is to ignore and deny history! What hipocricy! We don't care what you claim to believe, if you act the hypocrite. What 'takkya' hypocrisy! Come clean, man. | ||
| Ivan |
Is Iran's president 'turning tail' on the UN? Iran president cancels UN visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6489293.stm This is hard on the heels of: UK sailors captured by Iran at gunpoint http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6484279.stm What is Iran doing here? Anybody in control? Or is this out of control? Looks ugly, not optomistic. | ||
| Ivan |
History may be repeating again, same as the capture of Israeli soldiers by Hamas and Hezbollah, or the Gulf of Tonkin. I hope the Iranians heard of something called GPS. Mine in my car is accurate within a couple of meters anywhere, even over water. So much for tech solutions to international affairs. Bah, Iran made a mistake, once again, and once again will live in denial... 1979 all over again? Hostage taking seems to be their forte. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
History is a real event that took place, and Muslim history is violently bloody and full of slavery and war booty, rape, torture, ransom, etc. Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 10:23 am: Ivan I might have stated this earlier. Let me repeat it. History is normally written by the winner and the events and justifications of the loser are either destroyed or left to decay. As a Tamil, I have interacted with two groups inside Tamilnadu: one claiming that Lord Rama was right and another claiming that Lord Ravana is right. The more popular version - the Ramayana - blames Ravana as a womanizer for having abducted Sita, Rama's wife. The other version goes a little back in the events. Ravana's sister proposed marriage to Rama and instead of simply refusing the proposal Rama cut off her nose. This humiliation was revenged by Ravana by abducting Sita. Don't forget that Ravana did not even attempt to molest Sita; he simply improisoned her in his land. Which story are we to believe? Muslims had ruled large parts of the earth. There is a quite a clamor that Islam came to India through the sword. The fact is otherwise. The king of Cherans - the area currently known as the State of Kerala - visited Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and became a Muslim. They built the first Masjid on the Indian soil after the reversion of their king. A picture of that Masjid adorns my PC during 'screen saving.' What are we to believe? The existing hard evidence of the Masjid or a story that Islam came to India through the sword? After the destruction of the Ottaman Empire the literature was presdominantly controlled by the Christian and Jewish victors. Even in the second world war, the victors were Christians and Jews. Yes, Jews notwithstanding the Holocast. In the second world war the Jews in Europe suffered but the Jews in America succeeded. After the second world war the Muslim lands were either occupied or were put under the control of the lackeys of the winners. During the first Gulf War Arabic literature claiming that about 20,000 American soldiers would be captured by Muslims were systematically seized and burnt inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. So what history that my generation has is history conditioned by the winners. That to me is a one sided version. Hence history for me is 'his story.' I do not practice deception. I don't need to. I strongly believe that God being all powerful nothing happens unless it is sanctioned by Him. Whether an event is seen as good or bad is just our perception. The Muslim believers look at an event as either good or 'apparent bad.' An event is 'apparent bad' if it seems to be bad from a world perspective to the people of that time, but it might be perceived as good by people of later times. In later times Muslims include the life in Hereafter. I agree that a section of the Muslim population does practice deception. I do not belong to them. I re-iterate: I respect the Holy Quran and the authentic Traditions. The Islamic history of plunder and conquest of the Muslims after the fourth Caliph, Ali, Allah be pleased with him, is not sanctioned in Islam. Why should a Muslim defend the actions of some criminals? At least I don't intend to. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
I hope the Iranians heard of something called GPS. Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 09:35 pm: Ivan What if their GPS showed that they captured the British on the Iranian waters? | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/nationworld/articles/6671187.html === "The stakes in Iraq are too high and the sacrifices made by our military personnel and their families too great to be content with anything but success," said Republican Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo. === Let us see what is the opinion of DefSec Gates? http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N22393622.htm === WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates cautioned on Thursday the Army would face problems without emergency funds but insisted U.S. forces could fight a third war despite being stretched in Iraq and Afghanistan. === In the same URL with the statement of DefSec we also find: === Also, in another signal of stress, the military said on Thursday that 1,200 Marines and sailors would stay in Okinawa, Japan, for an additional five months so other Marines scheduled to move into Iraq can stay home and train for the mission. That allows the Marine Corps to maintain its target for "dwell time" -- the time a Marine is home between deployments. === To me at least withdrawing from Iraq and making the Iraqis fight their civil war makes sense. To claim that the sacrifices already made calls for continued exposure of our sons and daughters in a hostile land to die in crossfire in the war between Sunnis and Shiites of Iraq does not portray wisdom. Those who voted to demand that the C-in-C who invaded Iraq and lost the momentum in the 'War on Terror' at least now stop the misadventure in Iraq so that our resources could be concentrated on the more important 'War on Terror' had shown courage and true love for our sons and daughters. We hope the Senate has more than 60 true lovers of our children. | ||
| Ivan |
Right you are Mohideen, that you should not need to defend the past crimes against humanity of Islamic history. My point is that to deny them is to injure humanity further with falsehood. No matter who writes the history, the atrocities against conquered peoples did happen, with slave booty prominent as injury for those not killed. Those were barbaric times, and the barbarism must be acknowledged if we are not to further ourselves into a deception, that somehow the reality of 'political' Islam was, and still is, not barbaric. To paint the picture any other way than truthfully is then 'perception management', or in a less glamarous term, propaganda. As you know, jihad type propaganda is not allowed here. Ivan | ||
| Ivan |
Iran is put on notice. UN backs fresh sanctions on Iran http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6492139.stm This is the strongest worded resolution yet, and it was approved unanimously. Iran is now officially on notice. Taking 15 British sailors as 'human shields' will not help them now. This is the whole world talking, telling them to cease and desist. Ivan | ||
| Ivan |
Iran seizure unjustified - Blair http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6493391.stm And they will do what? This is modern day 'piracy' on the high seas. Held for ransom? Bargaining chips for exchange of prisoners? Neo-Barbary coast pirates? Jefferson had a firm response two centuries ago. What will Blair do? Iran is pushing the envelope to shreds. Piracy on the high seas with hostage taking is an international crime. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
No matter who writes the history, the atrocities against conquered peoples did happen, with slave booty prominent as injury for those not killed. Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 10:24 am: Ivan Agreed. Who should pay for a crime: the criminal or his descendant? How about cashing in on all the Arab Muslim slavery for 1400 years? Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 10:23 am: Ivan I am scared of even accepting the above as a proposition. It was not too long that the neocon cashed on the 'sex abuse' issue and brought shame on the Catholics and - I believe - indirectly used it to gain in politics and further caused indirectly economic hardships on the Catholic masses. From the link given in the above post by Ivan, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6476675.stm === "Slavery was one of the greatest crimes that ever happened in history. It was far worse than what happened in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s." Mr Pennant said there was a moral duty to make reparations. He said: "Morally there is a debt, but practically on economic lines, you can't do it because so many generations have gone by." === There are two persons involved in the debate quoted: Clarendon Mayor Milton Brown and Douglas Pennant a descendant of Richard Pennant. It is wrong on Brown to demand 'some form of restoration' by the descendants. It is magnonimous on the part of Douglas Pennant to have formed a charitable society and to have offered to help in education. This exchange cannot be - indeed should not be - a precedent. A crime must be paid for by the criminal and not his or her descendants. Further to open up the issue of 'global conquest' by the wrongly exploiting Muslim rulers now is to associate or attempt to associate a 'guilt-complex' on the current Muslim population, which is wrong. I agree the misguided 'global conquest' by some war-mongers among Muslims needs to be fought. I would like to fight it without creating any complexes, in particular without creating a 'guilt-complex.' Indeed one of the major achievements of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was to abolish the notion of revenge across generations that was prevalent in his time. I do not wish to be a part of a process of reviving that tribalism now. So any misdeed done by an earlier generation is not part of my current efforts, nor of our current intellectual pursuits. Let us look forward to a brighter future rather than wasting time on 'pointing fingers' on a bad past. By this statement I do not approve of slavery today. As regards Darfur and the current information about slavery in Darfur I attach very little credibility about the reports we receive in the mainstream media after the WMD fiasco. These reports could have a hidden agenda. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Piracy on the high seas with hostage taking is an international crime. Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 12:04 pm: Ivan http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6491577.stm === Royal Navy personnel seized at gunpoint by Iran in the Gulf have admitted being in the country's waters, an Iranian general has claimed. Gen Ali Reza Afshar told Iranian media the 15 personnel were being interrogated, but were in good health. === Now that the sailors have 'admitted' to being in Iranian waters, all that Iran has done is to capture unlawful entrants and it is not piracy. | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
What if the Iraqi boat entered the Iranian waters while under inspection? The above possibility needs to be considered. In that case Iran is justified in its action. After all the British sailors were in Iranian waters when they exited the Iraqi boat. England is also justified in her claim that the sailors did not cross into Iranian territory. The sailors were in Iraqi territory when they boarded the Iraqi boat but might have exited the boat in Iranian territory. Could we claim that the British boats which followed the Iraqi boat under inspection should not have crossed into Iranian waters but have stayed behind in Iraqi waters abandoning the personnel who were conducting the inspection? Don't forget that some believe Blair withdrew the British troops from Iraq not because Basrah is peaceful but because of the inability of the British troops to pacify that region. It is normal that an Iraqi boat operating from Basrah would have Shite sailors. What if those sailors decided to teach the British a lesson by allowing the inspection team to board in Iraqi waters but let them off in Iranian waters? Has Iran confisticated the Iraqi boat? No. I have written the above just to show that the legal issues are extremely complex. This complexity could be used to strengthen diplomacy or could as well be misused for military action. If the Mullahs need military action by the West against Iran it would be wise on the part of the West to resort to diplomacy only. Let the Mullah regime collapse of its internal conflict. | ||
| Ivan |
Then why not an explanation, an 'apology' for misunderstanding, and then RETURN the 15 sailors? That's how it's done if there is NO agenda. Iran has one, obviously, since they moved the hostages to 'undisclosed' positions, possibly to Tehran. They lie, as their mullahs believe they are supposed to lie, per their 'war is deceit'. I say their action is an international crime of piracy, so response must be with force. Jefferson understood it, Thatcher understood it, so why is Blair having a problem here? Cut and dry case, they took hostages on the high seas, so Iran's action is piracy, and their mullahs criminials. The only acceptable confession here is the Iranian mullahs admit they are wrong, and return the 14 British sailors and 1 woman to their units and loved ones. There is no conversation here. I think this is clear enough provocation by Iran to warrant military response, same as Israel responded to Hezbollah/Hamas capture of their soldiers. Clear and cut, and fire on command. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
I think this is clear enough provocation by Iran to warrant military response ... Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 09:35 am: Ivan Even if there is evidence of provocation, military action is not advisable. Just because a thief stole and then brags about that we - civilians - do not enter his house and retrieve our property. We lodge a complaint with the authorities and we regain our property after due process of law. With the UN as guard of all nations the right course of action would be to convene an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and decide the future course of action. The Mullahs seem to want a military attack to divert attention from their failures. Launching a military action would result in untold misery all around while the Mullahs would make merry. We recommend patience. Once military action is initiated by Blair it is possible that there would be extensive avoidable loss of life. Without military action but with appropriate diplomacy, the 15 UK citizens could be freed. Yes diplomacy does cause inconvenience to the 15 UK citizens. We hope mankind would consider the inconvenience to 15 UK citizens the lesser evil than the expected loss of life that would ensue with a military strike. With the following news item the world conflict landscape has changed. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6494121.stm === Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers have carried out their first aerial attack, bombing a military base by the international airport north of the capital, Colombo. Three air force personnel were killed, officials say, and 16 people injured when the bombs hit a parking area for planes and helicopter gunships. === The above development is scary. Let us not forget that suicide bombings were carried out first by the Tamil Tigers. Diplomacy, we believe, reduces tension and hopefully avoids war. | ||
| Ivan |
Alas, your good intentions Mohideen would reward the Iranian mullahs for their acts of piracy and hostage taking. Tsk tsk, but such fragrant international crimes cannot go unanswered, whether through diplomacy or force. There is no room for bargaining here. The world must hold these mullahs to account, and Briatin has everyright to use force to rescue the hostages, if that is what it takes, even extreme force. The guilty party here is Iran. OTOH, it is surprising that the actual coordinates of where this hostage taking took place had not been released by either Iran or the UK authorities. So for now, it is their word against each other. Until this is clarified, there remains a standoff. I pray it is resolved peaceably, but if not, the use of force is the right course. Here is one article adressing this issue, as to how Britain will handle this: Seized Britons face prosecution after Iran claims 'confession'. How will they handle it indeed... Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Alas, your good intentions Mohideen would reward the Iranian mullahs for their acts of piracy and hostage taking. Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 06:11 pm: Ivan No, military action would reward the Mullahs, not diplomacy. From the link given by Ivan, http://joshuapundit.blogspot.com/2007/03/seized-britons-face-prosecution-after.h tml === theres an eyewitness account from an Iraqi fisherman who told Reuters that he saw the capture of the servicemen, and that they were taken captive on the Iraqi side of the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab waterway. === This eye witness confirms that the British Navy personnel had moved out of the area of operations of the HMS Cornwall as found from the map given in http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6491577.stm cited by me in my above post. The Shatt Al-Arab waterway is outside the dotted red boundary shown in the map. Further, we support the analysis given in http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/03/27/do2702.xml === Blair said last week how he now admired Mrs Thatcher's policy during the Falklands conflict. ... But that war, like so many, constituted a depressing failure of diplomacy, and it is that part of the equation that Blair should heed. ... The important thing is to get those sailors out of Iran, and for Britain to remain similarly out of Iran for good. === | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Now the Senate could go ahead with the Iraq vote. Here is indirect indication: 2043635%2C00.html,http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2043635,00.html === The outgoing US ambassador to Iraq yesterday delivered a blunt farewell message to Iraq's leadership, saying the Bush administration's patience was wearing thin and urging them to stem the bloodshed. === [to access the article copy the URL and paste ignoring all until the ',' and before.] Since a open warning is already given, the GOP could as well join the Democrats in sponsoring the bill suggesting a set of conditions - not timetable - which would trigger the withdrawal from Iraq if they are not met. Withdrawal from Iraq need not be partisan it could as well be bi-partisan. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/4664029.html === WASHINGTON — An upcoming Senate vote on the Iraq war could come down to just one or two votes, testing Democratic unity on a proposal to begin bringing combat troops home. Democratic Sens. Mark Pryor and Ben Nelson are expected to deliver the critical votes this week, when members decide whether to uphold legislation that orders some troops home right away, with the goal of ending combat missions by March 31, 2008. === It would be a wire-vote as a partisan vote. As a bi-partisan measure - without the dates - it could as well be unanimous! | ||
| Ivan |
Diplomatic failure with the Iranian mullahs is a given. There can be no conversation with piracy and hostage taking. British servicemen and women are professionals who know the risks in their duty to country and Queen. They were not released when asked, so they are now held hostage, an illegal act and an international crime. I find your insistence to support this criminal act by the mullahs and their Revolutionary Guard puzzling, and supportive of their piracy. I do not understand where this is coming from, certainly not in the interest of peace to support piracy at sea. I don't have an easy solution for this problem either, but if I were Blair, I'd be consulting with my military experts and all the allies, including Washington, to come up with a plan of action. The UN is another avenue, though the mullahs have demostrated over and over again they do not respect this world body, nor public opinion at large, except perhaps Arab Street and their religious jihad sympathizers. Iran will be taught a lesson here, unlike under Carter's 1979 hostage circus, and made to pay for their coercive actions. I expect there will be action if the hostages are not released promptly. The English are slow to anger, but once action is begun, it will be seriously carried out. i agree with the Telegraph's assessement of the Iran hostage taking situation, there is no conversation here: Return the British servicemen or else face the consequences. Ivan | ||
| Ivan |
'War is deceit' per Iranian response. UK reveals GPS data http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6501555.stm
 For greater detailed map of events, go here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6502805.stm Once they were shown wrong, Iran quickly changed their story. For God's sake, just release the hostages and stop being such inernational assholes. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
I find your insistence to support this criminal act by the mullahs and their Revolutionary Guard puzzling, and supportive of their piracy. Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - 09:23 am: Ivan I don't support any misdeed. However when there are more than one interpretation of the events, I like to look at the different possibilities and come to the conclusion regarding guilt only when there is no other possible explanation. Even if there is one possibility that the event could be explained without evil intent, I like to take that position as the desirable explanation. In that spirit, without taking any side, I give the following analysis. From the picture of the Shatt Al-Arab in http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/basrah_2003.jpg we estimate the width of the Shatt Al-Arab to be about 14 miles. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatt_al-Arab_(Arvandrud) === Conflicting territorial claims and disputes over navigation rights between Iran and Iraq were among the main factors for the Iraq-Iran War that lasted from 1980 to 1988, when the pre-1980 status quo was restored. === The water boundary between Iraq and Iran has shifted as reported in the UK papers from Saturday 24 March 2007 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6491577.stm ) to Wednesday 28 March 2007 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6501555.stm - map given by Ivan and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6502805.stm - link given by Ivan ) by a couple of miles at least. The shift increases the area under Iraqi boundary. Without this expansion of the Iraqi boundary the positions could be in different countries: the point claimed to be inside Iraqi waters could fall under Iranian waters. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6502805.stm === The Ministry of Defence says the merchant ship boarded by a crew from HMS Cornwall on 23 March was 1.7 nautical miles (3.1km) inside Iraqi territorial waters. It says the master of the vessel has confirmed this. … When the UK pointed out to the Iranians that the location they had given was within Iraqi waters, the Iranians provided a "corrected" location, nearly 1 nautical mile away (1.9km) from its first position but within Iranian waters. … HMS Cornwall's Lynx helicopter had been monitoring the initial stages of the boarding of the Indian-flagged merchant ship, at 0739 local time on 23 March. … Communications with the boarding team were lost at the time the boarding ended - at 0910. === There is no dispute that the Indian ship has moved from 0739 hours to 0910 hours. The issue is how much could that movement be? If the Indian ship was trying to run away from Iraqi waters it is natural that the captain would have steered the vessel towards Iranian coast rather than away into the sea. The two positions given by Iran could be due to plotting the movement in a wrong direction first and in the right direction after the error was pointed by UK. There is no statement about whether the Indian ship floated or was anchored at the time of the capture of the British personnel. Chances are the ship was moving towards Iran. After the capture, the ship could have resumed its normal movement towards Iraq. The position is at best confusing. We do not question the fact that the Indian ship was in the Iraqi waters when boarded. The dispute is regarding the position of the ship when the British left the ship. It is crucial that the actual location of the Indian ship when the British left that ship be decided without any ambiguity. As it turns out both UK and Iran claim different positions supporting their own versions. Under the circumstances, it would be right to give the benefit of doubt to both the parties: UK and Iran. Let us agree that there was no hostile intent from Iran which simply responded to a call for help by the Indian ship. There is no hostile intent on the part of the British personnel. May we suggest that both UK and Iran agree that mistakes were done by personnel of both the countries and that the British personnel are returned to freedom immediately without casting any aspersions on Iran for her conduct in this episode? Let me repeat avoiding military action would hurt the Mullahs most. | ||
| Ivan |
DEBKAfile reports on Iran hostage situation, and military maneuvres in the area. I'm not really sure of this, since in the past their 'predictions' often proved wrong, but it is noteworthy that the Russians are evacuating their personnel out of Iran. The 'intelligence' report seems to indicate a concerted airstrike against Iran on April 6th, 0400 hr, for a 12 hour period. Here's the DEBKA report, FYI, though I have my doubts: http://www.debka.com/headline_print.php?hid=3980 Mohideen, in your comment above, I understand what you're saying, but the level of 'credibility' here rests more with Britain than with Iran, by a very wide margin. So giving equal fair treatment to both is sheer nonsense. Nor do I agree a military strike on Iran would help the mullahs, or a lack of response would hurt them. In the Faulkland response, the Argentinian government was toppled by their failure. I expect the same to happen to Iran's mullah government. Matt Frei reporting from Iran thinks so too, that there is a resistance building up: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6501459.stm . So why do you keep excusing the mullahs there? Would it be some sort of 'bias' on your part? I'm genuinely puzzled. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
We receive – in Washington, DC – CNN as part of the Comcast Digital Cable service. I was alarmed to see an advertisement of a book recommending the division of Pakistan into a number of smaller countries. On investigation we found the following. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1755706.cms === WASHINGTON: CNN has disowned an advertisement that calls for disintegration of Pakistan into several smaller countries being shown in the Washington DC area saying ''some local cable operators may have accepted the advert to run in their own airtime.'' === The book – ‘Divide Pakistan to Eliminate Terrorism’ by Syed Jamaluddin – sells for $15.95 as per the URL http://www.amazon.com/Divide-Pakistan-Eliminate-Syed-Jamaluddin/dp/0595417663/re f=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-7331154-6159019?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174913136&sr=1-1 One poster has commented as below: http://www.teeth.com.pk/blog/2007/03/12/divide-pakistan-tv-commercial-on-cnn/ === The promo is for a book being sold on Amazon for $15.95 called Divide Pakistan to Eliminate Terrorism, the surprising thing is this unknown author has the spare change to run an advertisement which can run upwards of US$20,000 per slot, surely not spare change for any, let alone an unknown author. === Does it cost $20,000 per slot to run this advertisement in Comcast? From http://www.metrokc.gov/PROCUREMENT/rfpdocs/2006/October/Consultants/157-06/157-0 6_ad1.pdf we get: === … $16,500 for 400 15- and 30- second ads on Comcast cable TV. === Since we do not have the break between 15- and 30- second slots, let us – to be safe – treat all as 15- second slots. The cost per slot is $41.25. Can the author whose details are found in http://www.dividepakistan.blogspot.com/ spend $41.25 per 15- second slot to promote his book? It depends on the number of copies sold due to the advertisement. Assuming that the author has a net profit of $5 per copy, the author benefits even if 9 copies are sold per exposure of the advertisement. Or could there be some other reason? One of the sticking points between Pakistan and USA was the permission to perform ‘hot pursuit’ of the Taliban from Afghanistan into Waziristan. The Pakistan government has denied such permission. Still the Afghan government accuses Pakistan of facilitating the Taliban to have a safehaven inside Pakistan. A map of Waziristan in http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/com mons/thumb/8/8f/Pakistan_Dive.png/400px-Pakistan_Dive.png&imgrefurl=http://en.wi kipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Emirate_of_Waziristan&h=334&w=400&sz=78&hl=en&start=5&t bnid=y0C0h7g8jCVI3M:&tbnh=104&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwaziristan%26svnum%3D1 0%26hl%3Den indicates the possibility that with the break-up of Pakistan the small states that emerge might agree to cooperate with the Afghan government. Could there be a possibility that a part of the secret funds of the CIA is used to finance the advertisements? | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Mohideen, in your comment above, I understand what you're saying, but the level of 'credibility' here rests more with Britain than with Iran, by a very wide margin. Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 05:54 pm: Ivan The issue of credibility depends on the audience. For the West Britain has more credibility, while the East would have different perceptions. From the Debka file, http://www.debka.com/headline_print.php?hid=3980 we have: === Intelligence sources in Moscow claim to have information that a US strike against Iranian nuclear installations has been scheduled for April 6 at 0040 hours. The Russian sources say the US operation, code-named “Bite,” will last no more than 12 hours and consist of missile and aerial strikes devastating enough to set Tehran’s nuclear program several years back. === The above statement could be a very clever psychological ploy from Debka. However it looks as though both Iran and Britain believe the above intel. Britain possibly demands consular access so that the 15 do not become human sheilds; and Iran might have captured them just for that purpose. Matt Frei reporting from Iran thinks so too ... Ivan It does not look so to me. He is advocating what I do. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6501459.stm === I am saying that Iran is far less monolithic than many in Washington like to think. The trick is to sweat out the differences. === Once a bomb falls on the Iranian soil there would be no chance to sweat out the differences. That is possible only under diplomacy wherein the Mullahs are isolated and the Iranians start feeling that the stupidity of the Mullahs is making their life unbearable. So I think the correct reading is - no military action; let the Iranian government collapse due to internal conflicts; just encourage the different groups to settle their scores. I hope I am right. | ||
| Ivan |
Mohideen, is there a double standard for TRUTH in your thinking? One truth for the West, another for the East? That is sheer stupidity! For God's sake man, you have no credibility here. Either the Iranians are telling the truth or they are lying. I say they lie, their mullahs lie, and their whole bloody hostage taking and piracy is based on lies. You want to believe this 'eastern' biased lying? Fine, but then you are not credible as a rational and intelligent person on this board. I am sorry, but I have no respect for either liars, or believers of lies. Obviously, the stupid cupidity of those medievally backwards Iranian mullahs has not had the positive effect on Iran's population, has it? They still believe in their ignorant mullahs. There is only one way out of this Iranian ativistic mess. Get rid of that damned mullah ayatollah religious theocracy, and then maybe they might have a chance. Reading your responses to this Iran hostage piracy deal makes me lean towards the ideas expressed here on 'Islam needs to reform', where there really is no hope for it to do so. Think about it. Either Islam reforms into a private and personal faith, or it gets chewed up in its own demise as a political faith. You choose. Ivan | ||
| Ivan |
Religious 'dualism' in Iran hostage taking and the reality of truth? In Mohideen's explanations above, where he tactfully takes the position "Even if there is one possibility that the event could be explained without evil intent, I like to take that position as the desirable explanation." So his explanation that is desirable to him without "evil intent" is apparently this one:
However, nowhere did I say that Iraq-Iran border moved "by a couple of miles at least", nor did it ever say that in the Wiki article he linked, nor in the BBC articles linked. So as far as I can tell, this is simply Mohideen's opinion on the matter, not a real fact. Given that his intellectual orientation had proven in the past to favor religious dualism to reality and hard facts, I suppose we might have to excuse this 'misrepresentation' of facts by Mo' because it is part of his belief system, though he is not necessarily exercising his right to 'war is deceit' at this time. On the other hand, this misrepresentation of the truth then means that his mind, and he expects same of us, must accept that both borders are right for the Iraq-Iran conflict, and for Iran's right to take hostages in disputed waters. But this does not absolve Iran of the fact that they are taking hostages, have committed piracy on the high seas, and refused to return the British personnel taken hostage. So where is the truth in this religious 'dualism' scenario? How can there be any truth when denying the law of contradiction? I never said, nor anyone ever said, the boundaries shifted by two miles. This is plain stupidity, once again. His aim for peace ends up with what we see most of all in the Muslim world, more violence and war. Mohideen, you might reconsider how you explain things in a non-dualistic manner, and try not to sleeze through with calm sounding explanations when they in fact offend reason and truth, and reward lies. Try harder become a modern man in your thinking. Stop being a 'political' Muslim, if you want to continue to report your ideas here. The only supportable idea on Human Cafe, in support of world peace, is that Iran let the hostages go. Your religious 'dualism' is handicapped reason, and it does not lead to peace, but to war. Ivan | ||
| Ivan |
Here is how religious 'dualism' by the Iranian mullahs obfuscates the truth:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6502947.stm So a 'confession' by any of the captured hostages is supposed to override the truth of their location? This is pure stupidity. The GPS data is the truth, the 'confessions' under duress is meaningless. The propaganda 'war' is sure to escalate further if Iran keeps obscuscating the truth. They have placed themselves on target with their lies, and inexcusable hostage taking. Britain and its allies will know the right response here, and it will not look good for the mullahs. Ivan | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/washington/29cnd-congress.html?_r=1&pagewanted =2&hp&oref=slogin === “We have a constitutional republic that says the commander in chief of our forces is the president,” said Senator Mel Martinez, the Florida Republican who is also chairman of the Republican National Committee. “It gives the power of the purse to Congress; it doesn’t give the power of moving troops around to Congress.” === Come again, please. The Constitution says that the democratically elected President who shares the Governance with the Congress, Senate and the Judiciary is the Commander-in-Chief and not the other way. Are we to accept that if there is a coup - God forbid - tomorrow and someone declares himself the Commander-in-Chief he or she becomes President? Are we making a Pakistan out of America? | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
The GPS data is the truth ... Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 09:46 am: Ivan http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=a73Ym2vC0MrE&refer=uk === The U.K. government has said the British crew's two boats were 1.7 nautical miles (3.1 kilometers) inside Iraqi waters at the time of the seizure. Iran says the boats were half a kilometer inside its territorial waters. Iran said the Britons entered its waters at six different points before they were detained, Agence France-Presse reported, citing the official Islamic Republic News Agency. An Iranian army officer, identified as General Setareh, commander of coastal border controls in the Shatt al-Arab waterway, later appeared on state TV. Setareh used maritime charts and a GPS device, which he said was seized from the Britons, to demonstrate the six violations, AFP said. === | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
So as far as I can tell, this is simply Mohideen's opinion on the matter, not a real fact. Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 09:25 am: Ivan It is not Mohideen's opinion; it is his deduction. Please see the dotted red lines in the different pictures. In one the line is a continuation of the land line; in the other two released later, the red line is shifted away from the land line. I am constrained by my inability to post pictures on this forum. (My ignorance!) Kindly give instructions to post pictures and I could show the calculations and establish the shift in the border between the different pictures we are talking about. I do not use deception; I believe what I say. | ||
| Ivan, Humancafe |
Taqiyya on taqiyya? ... not on HumanCafe. Please be advised that lying or otherwise twisting facts to cover up for lies will not be tolerated on these boards. The Iranian mullahs's Revolutionary Guard stole 15 British subjects from Iraqi waters and are refusing to return their human booty. This is then covered up with lying about their position where captured. This lying is further supported on these boards with additional twisting of the truth to justify what is in fact an act of piracy on the high seas, an international crime. Such cover up of the truth will NOT be tolerated here. So BE WARNED here, that henceforth any further support of this international theft of human beings on the high seas, until they are returned safely and unharmed, will be forbidden, as it represent a type of psychological 'jihad' - which is not allowed here. The answer from HumanCafe will be an automatic DELETE. Deceit has no place on a philosophy forum dedicated to raising human consciousness with human truths. Ivan, Editors, Humancafe | ||
| Mohideen Ibramsha |
Taqiyya on taqiyya? ... not on HumanCafe. Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 09:29 pm: Ivan, Humancafe I fully agree with Dr. Robert Spencer. Aren't our forces trained to evade or even give incorrect information under captivity? Am I under any such situation? Context is important. I am free and I don't need to deceive. Well, if I have no freedom to present the opinion from the otherside on this specific issue of '15 British Personnel' well I accept and there would be no more posts from me on this episode. But remember one sided reporting is not good to uncover truth. I leave it to God. This forum is after all under your control and I must abide by your rules. I agree and abide. | ||
| Anon |
To Ivan and the Editors of the Human Cafe. A very good decision posting information on the situation regarding the captured UK nationals. Iran likely captured them in an effort to use them to force the release of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard members taken into American custody in Iraq. That the capture of the UK personnel was driv |
