tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post2482756446363596877..comments2023-11-03T09:36:22.100-04:00Comments on In From the Cold: The Farce in IranGeorge Smileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07049707648660651119noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-33440580573134696982009-06-19T16:40:22.908-04:002009-06-19T16:40:22.908-04:00On another blog, a commenter, on a post about &quo...On another blog, a commenter, on a post about "Freedom in Iran", observed...<br /><br /><i>I have to say right now that we should be very cautious about depicting the Iranians as liberal-thinking Westerners who want total freedom. This is a mistake that we make all the time.</i><br /><br />Perhaps, but…<br /><br />How many times have we partnered with, or dealt “pragmatically” with, some oppressive regime, using the justification that their people weren’t “READY” for freedom (as if they were sub-human or something). I really think this is an EXCUSE for preserving status quo.<br /><br />Could it be possible, that after recent events, there could be some Iranians wondering, “If the Iraqis and Afghans can pull off genuine elections, WHY THE HELL CAN’T WE?!!!”<br /><br />(Just saw, over at Gateway Pundit, an Iranian protester holding a sign that translated into, “DON’T FORGET WHAT HAPPENED TO SADDAM!!!.)<br />-Paul Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16530815397182777195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-64174631583630897622009-06-17T15:15:18.228-04:002009-06-17T15:15:18.228-04:00The EU referendum blog writes that the West (Must ...The EU referendum blog writes that the West (Must be a better term to use) has been deluding itself into believing change was possible. <br /><br /><br />First, the Mullahs selected four candidates out of the 475 who wanted to run (how moderate could they be).<br /><br />Second. The large turnout!<br /><br />"In fact, it was all a sham. According to eyewitness reports from 25,000 polling stations across Iran, the real voter turnout was 7.5 million, and more than 85 percent of the 51.2 million eligible voters boycotted what was being described locally as "the mullahs' sham presidential election."davodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09272330967156237637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-14159824162078877792009-06-16T09:51:18.552-04:002009-06-16T09:51:18.552-04:00Here is a good start to another fictional novel ab...Here is a good start to another fictional novel about the quest for freedom in Iran:<br /><br /><b>Revolutionary Guards Arrested in Iran</b> <br /><br />http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/watercooler/2009/jun/15/revolutionary-guards-arrested-iran/<br /><br />That is if you actually believe this report.<br /><br />Papa Ray<br />West Texas<br />USAPapa Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11454201360366303944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-25317110742547062652009-06-16T09:40:57.055-04:002009-06-16T09:40:57.055-04:00Unless Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and h...Unless Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his co-conspirators all have a gun to their heads or otherwise convinced to let who ever wins the presidency run the show, <i>all this violence, despair and turmoil is pointless and nothing more than business as usual in Iran.</i><br /><br />I seem to recall in other countries in the past simular situations, but most made no difference or brought any different outcome than would have happened if good people had not died and bad people prevailed.<br /><br />Not to say that people who are under the thumb of a dictator or a religious thugocracy should not yearn for freedom and even try to attain it. <br /><br />But not in this manner, either president is not going to solve the problems nor feed the peoples of Iran. If true "hope and change" is wanted, weapons, training and careful planning is needed and that effort must have leaders, which Iran can't seem to produce.<br /><br />I'm hoping that there are some leaders in the Iranian Army, who may be able to put themselves and others into a position to make this revolution or one years from now a real revolution for freedom that actually has a chance of success.<br /><br />I read some fiction one time where American Special OPS assisted an uprising that included the Iranian Army and it's commander. But the twist to the story was that the Iranian Army Commander really just wanted power for himself and wanted to expand Iran's territory.<br /><br />Greed and lust for Power. Most can not resist those two human sins.<br /><br />Witness our present President and the state of our Republic.<br /><br />Papa Ray<br />West Texas<br />USAPapa Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11454201360366303944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-42976559053793318572009-06-15T15:48:32.474-04:002009-06-15T15:48:32.474-04:00Think - for a moment - about what would happen if ...Think - for a moment - about what would happen if we supported the revolution. Don't you believe that it's at least a little bit likely that our support would be seized by the Ahmedinejad gov't as "proof" that we are trying another 1979? ...and that our support would drive moderates to Ahmedinejad, possibly depriving the revolution of critical support from the people? ...and that it would empower those in Iran who are probably already lobbying for a violent crackdown? <br /><br />I think the White House hopes for talks with <i>whichever</i> Iranian government emerges the victor, but would prefer a Mousavi government that might recognize Israel and/or abandon its nuclear weapons program. But I don't know what the White House thinks, because they've been circumspect on the matter. Do you have the inside line, or are you speculating?<br /><br />If they want it badly enough, nothing short of a civil war will stop the Iranian people from taking back control of their government. We can't really do anything, though: our past bad behavior puts us in the uncomfortable position of not being able to help without hindering.J.R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13913599852443572486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-52360963934849508482009-06-15T15:36:55.702-04:002009-06-15T15:36:55.702-04:00SSDD.SSDD.gr8scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07301711756689943500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-59448030229098462922009-06-15T15:25:47.090-04:002009-06-15T15:25:47.090-04:00Makes the question of whether Iran has any nukes a...Makes the question of whether Iran has any nukes all the more pertinent . . . <br /><br />"This business will get out of control. It will get out of control, and we'll be lucky to live through it." -- Fred Thompson as Admiral Joshua Painter, "The Hunt for Red October."Ken Prescotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13779589712239613030noreply@blogger.com