(Updated: Originally published November 20, 2006)
"Envisioning U.S. Talks With Iran and Syria" by MICHAEL SLACKMAN
Iran and Syria have seemed to do everything they can to provoke the United States. But Iran’s and Syria’s leaders still share a paramount fear that their regimes are vulnerable to the unequaled economic and military might of the United States, strained as it is.
How exactly have they provoked us?
What concrete action have they taken that is provocative?
Taking our rendered prisoners? Providing information on "Al-CIA-Duh?"
Locking them up? Disobeying us on their legitimate and legal rights?
As for their fears of regime change, I simply CAN'T IMAGINE WHY they would feel that way.
The fears have a basis in history. Iran could not defeat Saddam Hussein’s army in eight years of war, then watched twice as American tanks rolled up Iraq’s forces in short campaigns. The post-conquest American difficulties there may have emboldened Iran’s leaders, but the two invasions remain a lesson. Now Iran fears the prospect of painful economic sanctions, at American urging, because it will not halt its nuclear program.
Syria’s leaders are said to worry that an international investigation of the assassination of a top Lebanese politician will reach high into the Syrian government and shake the regime.
Look at how matter-of-factly Slackman skates over the legitimate fears of the Syrian and Iranian governments.
And if I were Syria, I would not be worried about the UN investigation (more on that later).
While Iran’s leaders have shown no sign of dropping their antagonism toward the United States and Israel, they have hinted at willingness to help stabilize Iraq, and perhaps Afghanistan. After all, preventing a complete disintegration of Iraq would allay Iranian concern that anarchy could one day cross the border and, perhaps, incite Iran’s own ethnic minorities (Kurds, for example). Similarly, holding back Afghanistan’s Taliban would block the re-emergence of an old Sunni enemy that considers Shiites apostates.
WTF?! Iran's antagonism? Sorry, but those shoes don't fit.
The antagonism comes from the left and right feet of USrael!
And how can the Taliban be an enemy of the Shiites when Con Coughlin told me that Iran and "Al-CIA-Duh" are partnering up to get a nuke?
Which is it, anyway?
Are Shia and Sunni at each others throats, viewing the other as apostates (even though millions of Muslims have inter-married), or are they all in cahoots, or is the WHOLE PREMISE ONE BIG 'EFFIN' ISRAELI LIE?
In exchange for cooperation in Afghanistan, of course, the Iranians might expect the United States to abandon what they see as efforts to interfere in their domestic affairs. Those include American projects that aim to promote Iranian democracy (but that Iranian officials say foster instability), as well as the prospect of sanctions as punishment for Iran’s nuclear program.
The interference in Iranian affairs goes far beyond the benignly put " promote Iranian democracy."
The US version of "promoting democracy" in Iran includes ceaseless monitoring and violations of air space with our Unmanned Predator Drones; naval ships threateningly perched just outside Iran's territorial waters; support of cross-border terror attacks against Iran that have been carried out either by the British or the M.E.K. (an anti-Iranian group that was given sanctuary by Saddam Hussein, and a designated terrorist group by the U.S. State Dept.-- hey, Saddam did harbor terrorists -- that are now being employed by the U.S.
So WE are harboring terrorists, too! In Iraq, and in Washington D.C.
And I did not even mention the 1953 coup, the imposition of the murderous Shah for 26 years, the siccing of Saddam on them, the shooting down of an Iranian airliner by the USS Vincennes, and all the other dirty shit we ahve done to Iran.
Syria feels more vulnerable than Iran now, due to both domestic and international politics and the reality that its slim reserves of oil will soon run dry. President Bashar al-Assad has drawn closer to Iran since being isolated by Washington and its Arab allies. But Syria does not want its confrontation with the West to bring it more isolation and humiliation, or a loss of legitimacy at home.
This could happen as a result of a continuing investigation into the murder nearly two years ago of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri. A United Nations investigation has implicated Syrian officials, and the Security Council has moved to form a tribunal. That scares the Syrians, and they are eager to block its inception.
The Syrians should not be afraid because:
"October 24, 2006 -- A senior French DGSE -- Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure -- intelligence officer has told WMR that Lebanon's ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in a car bombing arranged by Israel's Mossad. The revelation from French intelligence is significant as the French government of Jacques Chirac joined the Bush administration and the neo-con policy establishments in Washington and Israel in blaming Syria for the attack. According to the DGSE officer, Israel and its American backers wanted to blame Syria for the assassination of the popular Lebanese leader in order to blame Syria for the attack thus forcing the popular Lebanese revolt that saw the withdrawal of Syrian forces. That left Lebanon defenseless for the "Clean Break" attack launched by Israel, with US support, against Hezbollah and Lebanon's infrastructure. WMR was one of the first to report Israeli and American involvement in the assassination of Hariri, as well as those of Elie Hobeika, George Hawi, and other Lebanese politicians."
If I did not know better, I'd say the Zionists control the UN, but...
Nevertheless, diplomatic analysts in Lebanon suggest that this is a good time to recognize that differences between Iran’s and Syria’s positions that could, perhaps, be played off against each other.
Yeah, if we talk to them maybe we can pit them against each other.
Is this just sick, or what? It honestly makes me nauseous!
WE ARE FUCKING ASSHOLES IN THIS WORLD!
CERTAINLY NOT ABOUT PEACE!
ALL ABOUT FOMENTING STRIFE, DIVISION, and CONFLICT!
SO TYPICAL FOR THE "GREAT DIVIDER!"
HELL, VIOLENCE IS OUR CHIEF EXPORT!
If I were the Iranians or Syrians and I read this, and then the Anti-Christ Administration wanted to talk to me, I'd flip 'em the fucking bird!
One factor is Iran’s reluctance to compromise on ideological issues. Its leaders define Iran’s revolutionary character largely as anti-American and anti-Israeli, while the United States is seeking to slow the spread of revolutionary Islam.
Iran's reluctance to compromise?
Has Slackman bothered to apply his acumen to his masters in D.C.?
No?
As for the alleged anti-American, anti-Israel feelings, if nothing else, it puts Iran in good stead with the rest of the world.
They are anti-TERRORIST!
You know, I'm tired of my government's DISINGENUOUS LIES and DUPLICITY!
Good Night!
And that was a year ago, folks!
I've noticed I'm even angrier after a year or more of these damn lies.
Have you noticed, reader?
I think it's because the coverage and situation have gotten much worse!
