Do you perceive Iran to be an enemy?
If so, why or why not?
And if not, how do you perceive Iran?
I perceive it as a nation filled with a generation that does not agree with its leader. I perceive that it will probably fix itself if left untouched.
If the current president (whose name I will not bother attempting to spell) declares himself dictator for life before or after he is voted out of office by a large majority, THEN we have to some issues to deal with their.
Al Quaeda is the true enemy, in the military sense of the word. Al Quaeda is in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and a small piece in Iraq.
Iran is not really our enemy, and certainly not an enemy that should keep us up at night. It’s a third-world country with dwindling oil reserves, huge demographic issues, and a host of other problems. They may be able to get nuclear weapons a few years down the line, but all that does is protect them from American attack, like North Korea. It’s virtually no threat to us.
Iran’s run by a theocracy that is anti-American, and has been for almost thirty years, but the people are some of the youngest and most pro-Western in the region. Iran will sort itself out. We should be worried about Sunni fundamentalism, i.e. Al Qaeda, not some third-rate country that will never be a real threat to us.
Disregard the neo-con scaremongers; as Russell Kirk said not too long ago, some of them don’t seem to realize that America’s capital is in Washington, not Tel Aviv.
I’m trying to stimulate conversation on the topic because, I’m writing a piece for my political science class right now on the subject.
[quote]Sikkario wrote:
Do you perceive Iran to be an enemy? [/quote]
Only an American would ask such a question.
Let me elaborate: I doubt Sikkario is from Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Armenia, Afghanistan, Turkey or Turkmenistan. The only countries which might potentially have to worry about Iran.
Now, knowing that Pakistan is nuclear, Iraq and Afghanistan are practically under US control, Turkey is in NATO, I don’t think any of them are losing sleep over Iran or perceiving it as an enemy.
Iran is a democratic country. An unconventional one, but democratic nonetheless. They generally mind their own business and stay well within their natural sphere of influence (which expanded thanks to Bush’s war on Iraq).
Iranians have plenty of reasons to view the US as an enemy. America has been bombing and invading countries all over the world with impunity and no apparent sign of remorse.
Moreover, the USA is actively pushing for sanctions to isolate Iran for pursuing their right to enrich uranium; sanctions that end up strengthening the hardliners and hinders progress.
If anyone is militarily attacked tomorrow (or decades from now for that matter), it’ll be the Iranians not the Americans.
Of course they are an enemy. They fill the streets chanting Death to America and are building nukes and missiles.
They are still weak but that doesn’t mean we should ignore them until they are strong.
[quote]lixy wrote:
…
Iran is a democratic country. An unconventional one, but democratic nonetheless. They generally mind their own business and stay well within their natural sphere of influence (which expanded thanks to Bush’s war on Iraq).
…[/quote]
The mullahs disqualify 99% of candidates and then they hold sham elections. This is not democracy.
They do not mind their own business. They fund and direct global terrorism from the middle east to Argentina and god knows where else.
[quote]lixy wrote:
Sikkario wrote:
Do you perceive Iran to be an enemy?
Only an American would ask such a question.
Let me elaborate: I doubt Sikkario is from Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Armenia, Afghanistan, Turkey or Turkmenistan. The only countries which might potentially have to worry about Iran. [/quote]
Did you intend to leave out Israel?
Iran is most certainly not our friend. Not now. Not with the dick head they have running the country. It is a terrorist/roach breeding ground that is hell bent on obtaining nukes.
I don’t know that I would call them our enemy, although their president dick head has certainly made the US one of Iran’s.
If I am Israel - they are my enemy.
I’m from the USA, I’m Bolivian American, and I am playing devil’s advocate here. I don’t perceive Iran as a threat and am arguing the perception that it is is a gross exaggeration and shows the fundamentally flawed thinking of the American public in foreign policy. Which is why I’m writing this peice. However, I am very very interested in see the opinions people have on this board on the subject especially those who truly feel threatened by the Islamic Republic.
[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
The mullahs disqualify 99% of candidates and then they hold sham elections. [/quote]
They have pretty tough conditions, but the majority of people qualify.
It’s a heck of a lot better than having a tyrannical puppet Washington decided to put in place. So if anyone should be pissed at anyone else, it’s the Iranians because the Islamic revolution was a direct consequence to US meddling in their affairs.
They at least have sovereignty over their soil and can determine their own fate now. But, of course, they must pay for having the balls to refuse bending over to the rulers of the known universe.
Ya-da, ya-da…WMDs, Saddam was behind 9/11, mushroom cloud, boogeyman will get you in your sleep…
We’ve heard it all before.
[quote]rainjack wrote:
Did you intend to leave out Israel? [/quote]
No. Israel has no border with Iran. Not yet, at least. The country’s been known for its expansionism during all of its existence.
See, that’s your problem.
If you’re not with us, you’re with the terrorists.
Rings a bell?
To be fair, the dickhead running your country is making the whole world hate your guts.
Good thing they’ll both be gone shortly.
Let’s break it down once and for all. What terrorists are you talking about?
Are you?
http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3470611,00.html
[quote]lixy wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
The mullahs disqualify 99% of candidates and then they hold sham elections.
They have pretty tough conditions, but the majority of people qualify.
This is not democracy.
It’s a heck of a lot better than having a tyrannical puppet Washington decided to put in place. So if anyone should be pissed at anyone else, it’s the Iranians because the Islamic revolution was a direct consequence to US meddling in their affairs.
They at least have sovereignty over their soil and can determine their own fate now. But, of course, they must pay for having the balls to refuse bending over to the rulers of the known universe.
They do not mind their own business. They fund and direct global terrorism from the middle east to Argentina and god knows where else.
Ya-da, ya-da…WMDs, Saddam was behind 9/11, mushroom cloud, boogeyman will get you in your sleep…
We’ve heard it all before.[/quote]
I think you’re a smart guy Lixy and agree with your opinion on the subject. But you’re jumping to inflammation a little to quick, try building a base more if you want to actually present that Iran isn’t a threat.
I mean, what are these conditions for being a candidate in the Islamic Republic, you speak of. Why are they not outlandish, I’m really interested in this.
Also, to the opposition, how does Iran sponsor terror exactly?
Also as far as those say Iran is a threat to the JEWS in Israel, note I say Jews because they have no intent on ridding the Middle East of the Palestinians, thus the fabled nuclear strike of Iran to Israel is false.
Iran has Jewish politicans in their country and the second largest Jewish population in the Middle East. Who are vocal and represented in their own country, and not subject to any sort of pogroms or governmnet instituted discrimination. Unlike in the state of Israel, where Muslims, are not extended full citizenship.
[quote]lixy wrote:
A bunch of typical lixy bullshit[/quote]
Read the topic of the thread. Then read what the OP was asking for.
No they are not our friend. The asshole that is running Iran has called for the destruction of Israel, and believe it or not - Iran is a terrorist haven.
You are worse than a child. You get your dainty little bitch-ass soundly kiked by someone who obviously knows a shit ton more about your beautiful religion of death than you do, and you can’t handle it.
And if it will make you shut the fuck up - you are a fucking liar.
[quote]Sikkario wrote:
Also as far as those say Iran is a threat to the JEWS in Israel, note I say Jews because they have no intent on ridding the Middle East of the Palestinians, thus the fabled nuclear strike of Iran to Israel is false.
Iran has Jewish politicans in their country and the second largest Jewish population in the Middle East. Who are vocal and represented in their own country, and not subject to any sort of pogroms or governmnet instituted discrimination. Unlike in the state of Israel, where Muslims, are not extended full citizenship.[/quote]
Slice it up and call it pizza if you want to. It doesn’t change the fact that Iran - as well as the rest of the ME followers of death - want Israel gone. Israel is synonymous with Jew.
I agree that Israel is synonymous with Jew. That is the gripe the Iranians and other’s have with them. They are a Zionist created entity and have alienated the MOST RECENT native people in their own lands. Before Israel was founded, actual Middle Eastern Jews were only about 10^% of the populace of the region. The schemings of International Jewry (this is before, the Holocaust, and one of the reasons for the Holocaust) were intending to create some sort of world wide Jewish nation at some location. The earliest Israelis, came there with this intention and were not antagonized until their national ambitions, were seen by the Arabs who had traditionally occupied the region, alongside the 10% native jew population, began to realize, the Jews had the support of large funds and were not friendly to the original inhabitants. History went on, holocaust, brutal war, and the Jews effectively antagonized, alienated, exterminated and expelled the Palestinian Arabs, or the Israeli Arabs you might call them who were originally friendly to them.
This is the gripe the other countries in the region hold against Israel. Most Iranian Jews are not supportive of Israel and have rejected offers for their repratration for this reason. They see the creation of the state as unjust and insulting to the Jewish character.
http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/Research/wpaper.nsf/rwp/RWP06-011/$File/rwp_06_011_walt.pdf
Read this. It’s a strong case against Israel out of the Political Science department of University of Chicago and Harvard, on the subject of US relations with Israel.
Yes they are.
This mighty nation with 2% of the US GDP and around 8% of the US population will bring you down to your knees, mandatory Ramadan and all.
The 2/3 of the population that is under 30, listening to your music, watching your films and trying to study in the US if they possibly can may not hate you yet, but it is time that a new generation learns why they call you Big Satan.
Do not despair, the Decider still has some months left.
Let me draw a parallel. Let’s say, the Sikhs as an age old people have been spread throughout the world, and as a religion and ethnic group, they believe they have the right to their own homeland. They hold high poistions of relative wealth in clout in all the nations they are from, and decide, they are going to return to their traditional homeland, where their ancient text says they are from. Let’s say for whatever reason this is Washington DC. They move in and begin their nation building efforts despite the fact American Christians already live here, continue their campaign and then garner International Support to create a Sikh state in Washington DC.
Add relevant comparison and parrallels, yadda yadda, get my point?
It has less to do with Sikh religion and more to do with how it was carried out.
If the Jews had repatriated to the Middle East, it would have been one thing, but when they endeavored to create a Jew nation state, they openly antagonized those already living there.
These Sikhs, have pushed the American Christians into Virginia and Maryland, and have brought about condemnation from the rest of these American Christian states (despite the fact there is a strong variety of people’s and religions within them.) Unified them, because they all just gained their independence from Britain, and then Britain has gone and supported the creation of this invasive state in the region with no regard for the traditional American Christians who lived there.
On the basis that Indians are in American, and these Sikhs are descended from Indians…wrong Indians but it doesn’t matter! It’s their ANCESTRAL LAND.
So is this thread about Iran, like the title says, or a soapbox for the Nazi’s/pro-terrorists?