http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/23202.page Public Action http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1438826 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1438826 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1423015 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1423015 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1421445 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1421445 GMT
Iran has never attacked the United States, and Iranian support of outlying groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas is no different than United States sponsorship of similar groups in many countries (El Salvador, Nicaragua, Cuba, Chile). The United States is simply continuing its imperialistic policies, and seeking strategic hegemony in the middle east, which the United States should NOT be allowed.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1421224 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1421224 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1419229 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1419229 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1416013 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1416013 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1414236 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1414236 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1319832 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1319832 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1216620 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1216620 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1245816 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1245816 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1215624 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1215624 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1198833 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1198833 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1193211 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1193211 GMT http://mrx...government

Watch "The Power of Nightmares" http://vid...5727&hl=en

Watch "Century of Self" http://mrx...ry-of-self

There is a reason the U.S. is hated in the Middle East, and assaulting Iran will be one more reason.

This is a hyped threat.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1193017 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1193017 GMT Iran is not a threat to the U.S., unfortunately, the U.S. is a threat to them. Incidentally, I am no fan of Ahmadinajad, but he did not say "Israel must be wiped off of the map", as President Bush likes to bring up time and again as some sort of justification to preeminently attack Iran. The full quote of what Iran's President actually said was, "the Imam, (Khomeini), said this regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time." He was comparing that to how the old regime of the Soviet Union has vanashed. (Source: www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16218.htm).

By the way, plenty of controversial Israeli speech has been made, such as:

"We possess several hundred atomic warheads and rockets and can launch them at
targets in all directions, perhaps even at Rome. Most European capitals are targets for
our air force. ... Let me quote General Moshe Dayan: "Israel must be like a mad dog,
too dangerous to bother." I consider it all hopeless at this point. We shall have to try to
prevent things from coming to that, if at all possible. Our armed forces, however, are
not the thirtieth strongest in the world, but rather the second or third. We have the
capability to take the world down with us. And I can assure you that that will happen,
before Israel goes under."
(Martin van Creveld, 2003)

"There is a huge gap between us (Jews) and our enemies not just in ability but in morality, culture, sanctity of life, and conscience. They are our neighbors here, but it seems as if at a distance of a few hundred meters away, there are people who do not belong to our continent, to our world, but actually belong to a different galaxy." Israeli president Moshe Katsav. The Jerusalem Post, May 10, 2001

Every time we do something you tell me America will do this and will do that . . . I
want to tell you something very clear: Don't worry about American pressure on Israel.
We, the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it." - Israeli Prime
Minister, Ariel Sharon, October 3, 2001, to Shimon Peres, as reported on Kol Yisrael
radio.

"We declare openly that the Arabs have no right to settle on even one centimeter
of Eretz Israel... Force is all they do or ever will understand. We shall use the ultimate
force until the Palestinians come crawling to us on all fours." Rafael Eitan, Chief of
Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces - Gad Becker, Yediot Ahronot 13 April 1983, New
York Times 14 April 1983.
"We should prepare to go over to the offensive. Our aim is to smash Lebanon,
Trans-Jordan, and Syria. The weak point is Lebanon, for the Moslem regime is
artificial and easy for us to undermine. We shall establish a Christian state there, and
then we will smash the Arab Legion, eliminate Trans-Jordan; Syria will fall to us. We
then bomb and move on and take Port Said, Alexandria and Sinai." David Ben-
Gurion, May 1948, to the General Staff. From Ben-Gurion, A Biography, by Michael
Ben-Zohar, Delacorte, New York 1978.

With this kind of a historical Israeli mind-set, combined with the Bush administration's willingness to go along with them, Iran is the country that should be fearful of an unprovoked attack by Israel and/or the U.S.
The U.S. needs to sit down with the Iranians and work out our differences. Hopefully, Obama can become our President and we can do just that.

There is a lot of good information on these topics to be found at Counterpunch.org.



]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1183415 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1183415 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1179419 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1179419 GMT
Iran is trading oil and natural gas with whoever she wants, despite imposed sanctions and US mandates that the rest of the world hault all trade with Iran. It is also building a new natural gas version of OPEC with Russia, Qatar and Venezuela, which certainly further irks Washington's economic wishes. The global stakes for energy have never been higher for all actors on the planet, yet Iran is acting completely autonomously in trying to re-orient the economic mores of global energy exchange. Nations seeing things similarly include Russia, India, Pakistan and many/most other non-aligned nations. Energy is the trump card.

The nuclear weapon issue is thus a convenient ruse.

Subsequently, any US/Israeli attack on Iran will surely escalate into presumably pulling in said Asian, and potentially South American, actors, thus harming the global economy and environment further, if not resulting in a full out world war. It would be a war for preserving the current dollar-superior arrangement in global energy pricing/trading, with petrodollars coming back to New York to continue propping up US deficits. The rest of the world (aside from recently sycophantic leaders in Europe) are moving on from this 35 year old arrangement.

For said details, which are all out there, you'd have to turn to foreign press or books on the energy sector, as there's a black-out on said details being given out to the US public.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1179415 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1179415 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1179414 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1179414 GMT a financial one.

Iran is trading oil and natural gas with whoever she wants, despite imposed sanctions and US mandates that the rest of the world hault all trade with Iran. It is also building a new natural gas version of OPEC with Russia, Qatar and Venezuela, which certainly further irks Washington's economic wishes. The global stakes for energy have never been higher for all actors on the planet, yet Iran is acting completely autonomously in trying to reorient the economic mores of global energy exchange. Nations seeing things similarly include Russia, India, Pakistan and many/most other non-aligned nations. Energy is the trump card.

The nuclear weapon issue is thus a convenient ruse.

Subsequently, any US/Israeli attack on Iran will surely escalate into presumably pulling in said Asian, and potentially South American, actors, thus harming the global economy and environment further, if not resulting in a full out world war. It would be a war for preserving the current dollar-superior arrangement in global energy pricing/trading, with petrodollars coming back to New York to continue propping up US deficits. The rest of the world (aside from recently sycophantic leaders in Europe) are moving on from this 35 year old arrangement.

Too bad NPR/PRI doesn't report on the energy, economic and geopolitical details behind the rising tensions between the US and Iran, preferring to rather parrot what the mainstream corporate press already issues. It figures, as private foundation money is just as effective in muzzling viable perspectives on global affairs as are corporate influences (Exxon/Chevron/BP/GE), and all are beholden to the government's wishes at this critical moment.

For these latter, viable perspectives, one must turn to foreign press (it's in English!) online, as well as to purposefully hard-to-find history books.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1179413 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1179413 GMT
But the ACTUAL threat to the United States is very small. I would argue that George Bush, Condoleezza Rice et. al. are like gargantuan infants, bathing in the Persian Gulf, throwing their toys about in a fit of tantrum. It is clear the acts of international aggression on the part of the current US administration constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and grievous disregard to International Law, and I personally believe many individuals at the highest levels should be held accountable by the International Court. Throw in the circumvention of the US constitution and I believe you can bake a case for treason, and heads should roll.

OK so I digress. The point is that there are tremendously negative forces being applied to the region by the United States and the faster the US stops meddling in the middle east the faster any ill will toward this country will subside. Iran included.

I wish the US would have spent the 4 Trillion dollars already spent on this blood bath in Iraq on agressive upgrading of our national energy infrastructure and associated move to renewable and sustainable sources of energy and then we could BE DONE WITH IMPERIALISTIC EXPLOITS IN THE MIDDLE EAST FOREVER.

Then maybe we can each enjoy each other's cultures and humanity.

]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1179213 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1179213 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1179018 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1179018 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1149013 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1149013 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1130631 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1130631 GMT Someone surreptitiously sneaks in a nuclear bomb... Wait, that was a movie.

Iran under sanctions will simply befriend China or Russia. Wait, Russia has oil too. Ok, a powerful country without oil. Japan? So many ex-villains and and present villains. Theater of the absurd perhaps. Someone must wear the villain cap!
Any volunteers?]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1120016 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1120016 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1023632 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1023632 GMT
Iran is also much larger and more stable than many of its neighbors – with some exception in oil bearing Gulf States – this makes Iran somewhat intimidating. Many Gulf States have been somewhat anti-Iranian, because Iran represents a threat to the hegemony and stability of these autocratic societies. For these reasons, we are concerned about Iran and what it plans to do in relation to other nations in the region. Having stability in the region has become an increasingly important goal in the midst of the US addiction to oil, especially with the increased competition for resources with China, India, Russia and other growing economies.

As an oil exporter (important to the US) and having large natural gas fields (important to the EU), the decision to release Iran from sanction may taken away be sheer need for resources. Whether or not Iran is reintroduced into the world market, the US and EU fear the consequences of supporting an Iranian regime that harbors a lot of corruption, keeping the wealth earned from oil among the elites. Even if sanctions are removed, I expect that there will not be great change from its own autocratic rule, much in the way communism protected itself during its hey-day.

You could argue that international competition may put pressure on social structures like that seen in China, which daily faces international criticism. On the other hand, if the UN decides to keep economic pressure on Iran, there might end up being a second Cuba that fights for survival in the face of opposition, creating a lifetime of segregation. Let’s not forget that Iran has helped us, militarily, in Afghanistan.

As to what role the US should play, it is important to know that most of what the global population dislikes about American international relations stems from colonial style meddling. The international community recognizes that Americans are good people who mean well. They simply wish that the government better reflected that nature. I do no feel like I have to apologize for my government, because people in the world know that I and my fellow Americans hope for better.

While Bush has represented everything that is unpopular in local and international relations, it is a fallacy to blame on man for all the troubles the world. In fact, Bush has done a lot in certain areas; as reported by the Washington Post, December 2006, “Bush has increased direct development and humanitarian aid to Africa to more than $4 billion a year from $1.4 billion in 2001, according to the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. And four African nations -- Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt and Uganda -- rank among the world's top 10 recipients in aid from the United States.”

So while people exercise their right to complain, let’s take a moment to think about resolving problems. Today, a video was reported to have been posted on YouTube, by cheerleaders who were beating a girl badly enough to put her in the hospital. The victim lost partial hearing and sight on the left side of her face. This tragedy makes me think that all the energy spent on hating Bush and the government could be put to better use…

- Robert, Apple Valley, CA]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1023415 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1023415 GMT So Who is the threat to who? If I were Iran I’d be building nukes too.


GWW]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1012285 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1012285 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#990243 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#990243 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1098628 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#1098628 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#967052 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#967052 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#934232 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#934232 GMT
Paragraph 2) Huh?

Paragraph 3) The NIE is the consensus report of something like seventeen intelligence agencies that are part of the Bush Administration. The NIE is not a "liberal" media conspiracy, no matter how much you want it to be.
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While there seem to be plenty of Americans who uncritically buy such shoddy reasoning, thank goodness the correspondents in this forum have keener minds and higher standards.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#839222 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#839222 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#828817 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#828817 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#827220 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#827220 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#826698 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#826698 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#826696 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#826696 GMT
The US, on the other hand, is a major threat to Iran's security: we've helped depose their first elected leader (Mossadegh in 1952) and we supported Saddam Hussein when he launched his war against Iran in the early 80's. ]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#824315 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#824315 GMT I don't think Iran, by itself, is a threat to the United States, or anyone else. Iran is a threat because of our bullying, self-righteous and domineering foreign policy. We are creating enemies, not friends, and this really needs to turn around.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#802040 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#802040 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#800458 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#800458 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#800243 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#800243 GMT
-- Wyse

P.S. We gave Iran an advantage by (1) overthrowing their number one enemy -- Saddam Hussein; and (2) mishandling the Iraqi war so as to lose international respect and trust.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#800225 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#800225 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#800033 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#800033 GMT * Less democracy, as they circle the wagons to repel the U.S. threat
* An accelerated nuclear program
* More likelihood that nuclear materials will come out of Iran
* Less influence of American businesses in Iran, more for corporations from other countries

It's a lose-lose situation Cheney has scripted.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#792639 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#792639 GMT However, as a means of suicide they are very effective.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#788834 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#788834 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#788431 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#788431 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#788428 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/theworld/posts/list/611811.page#788428 GMT