Posted on 01/15/2005 6:43:07 PM PST by freedom44
Please remember it isn't the Iranian people trying to "undermine the Iraqi's", it's the regime. The Iranian people would like to be free, too.
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Bump!
Great lead story Freedom44!
I think Iraqis killed enough Iranians in the 80s and that was enough!
Let me just mind you that freedom isn't free. And the Iraq that was at war with Iran 1980-88 is very much different from the Iraq of today. In a name, the difference is Saddam Hussein. In 1980, Saddam had just taken over the country by most undemocratic means. In 2005, Saddam spends his time in one of his presidential palaces, except that this time he isn't the boss. His greatest exploits have been limited to poetry writing and raising a garden. And hopefully sometime soon he will become acquainted with rope.
The White House says that major theme of Bush's inaugural address will be spreading freedom and democracy throughout the world. However, it'll only be about 15 minutes long, and he has a companion list of domestic items on his agenda, so don't expect too much. It won't be disappointed if I don't hear Syria or Iran mentioned by name.
The event that I'm really anticipating is the State of the Union address. Question: Does anyone know when the SOTU is supposed to be? Every year I can never find when it's supposed to be. Almost like nobody knows when it's happening 'till a week before. Which seems strange. I mean, it's basically one of the biggest political events of the year.
I'd like to see a new statement of the 'revised' Axis of Evil: Syria, Iran, and North Korea. The connection between Iran and Syria is obvious. North Korea is also a supplier for Iran for missles, as I recall. But another benefit of the War in Iraq is that we've scared Kim Jong-il. He went into hiding after March 2003, terrified that he was next. Looks like we're going to be resuming talks with North Korea. Waste of time, probably, but I guess it is just one of those things you need to do.
But back to Iran. "Peaceful" regime change could be imminent if Bush unconditionally backs the freedom-lovers in Iran, and says something to the effect of, Iran, change your habits and actions - we strongly recommend that you do. The important thing is for Bush to single out by name the dissidents in Iran, and say that we support your cause. I've seen several dissidents say that the only thing they need from the US is the president's solid backing. The Iranian people seem to have great trust in the US; they are unwilling to go out on a limb, if they can't be sure of American support.
But I think what he says in the next month will be highly suggestive of American foreign policy in 2005. I'll also be expecting some additional prime-time speeches by Bush throughout the year. Highly encouraging is Bush's statement that Sharansky's "The Case for Democracy" will be a model for the next four years of Bush foreign policy. That is one great book. If Bush follows the advice of the author, then he will truly become one of the greatest presidents in American history. Right now, I think he is comparable to Reagan, JFK, and FDR. If nothing else, Bush isn't president just to be president - he has a very ambitious agenda. I just hope his successor is of the same political mind. Unfortunately, in my mind, there are a lot of moderates looking forward to 2008 on the Republican side. Though you don't have to worry about McCain, except if he runs as a Democrat (and even then...). He'd never win the Republican primaries. I predict that a Republican will succeed Bush; but if he/she is a moderate, then I also predict that a Democrat will win in 2012. But that assumes that the Democratic Party doesn't go so far left that it walks off the edge of the cliff. Which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. But it ain't likely to happen; they aren't idiots.
But I digress...
My guess would be no.
5.56mm
They are the same people! No Difference to me!
no
OMG, they are destroying the youth of Iran by allowing those drugs to be distributed.
Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi meeting CEO of National Geographic regarding the using of wrong phrase"Arabian Gulf" instead of the true historical name of the Persian Gulf.
Meeting with Mr. John Fahey, President and CEO of the National Geographic Society on December 3rd, 2004
OMV discovers new oilfield in Iran
Mehr News Agency
Jan 15th, 05
TEHRAN, Jan. 15 (MNA) – Austria’s biggest oil and gas company OMV, announced on Saturday it has discovered a new oilfield in Iran.
The company finally discovered a new oilfield in Iran after four years of exploration, OMV spokesman Thomas Huemer told reporters in Vienna.
Huemer added that the company would start extraction activities this year.
The spokesman expressed pleasure over the expansion of Iran-Austria ties saying the OMV would also increase participation in Iran’s oil and gas sector.
He added that the OMV is attempting to attract new customers in Europe as well as expanding cooperation with Tehran.
OMV is one the biggest oil and gas companies in Europe and its total oil and gas reserves amount to 1 billion 400,000 barrels.
http://www.mehrnews.ir/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=148824
Now, THAT'S a beheading I could watch.
Ping
Brussels wants US to engage Iran
Sunday, January 16, 2005
©2004 IranMania.com
LONDON, Jan 16 (IranMania) - A senior European Union official yesterday urged the Bush administration to join the EU in adopting a policy of engagement with regard to Iran, a view that has received unusual endorsement from a Washington group of prominent hawks and neoconservatives, FT reported.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the new EU external relations commissioner, said she was asking the US to adopt a "complementary approach".
On a day of meetings in Washington, she said: "Mutual cooperation is essential."
Meanwhile, the European Union was pleased at the positive atmosphere seen at revived trade talks with Iran held this week, an EU official said Friday. But comments by a top Iranian official on the country's nuclear drive were less well received, the official said on condition of anonymity.
"The Iranians showed themselves to be very engaged, very interested, the tone was very good," she told AFP. "What was important for these two days was the tone, not the substance."
The discussions with a 12-person Iranian delegation headed by a senior Foreign Ministry official took place on Wednesday for trade and economic cooperation, and covered political questions on Thursday.
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=28750&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs
Kurdish journalist Shamzin Jihad sentenced in Iran
KNC
15/01/2005
The Kurdish National Congress of North America condemns the arrest, imprisonment, and sentencing of Shamzin Jihad, a Kurdish journalist in Iran.
The Iranian government continues its prosecution of Kurds who dare to express their ethnic identity. Amnesty International reports, “Judicial authorities curtailed freedoms of expression, opinion and association, including of ethnic minorities; scores of publications were closed, Internet sites were filtered and journalists were imprisoned.” In the same report, it is stated that most executions were carried out against the Kurdish minority, often in public. Numerous reports of this kind demonstrate that the Iranian congress continues to criminalize the most basic human rights and that the Iranian judicial system is completely lacking the desire and ability to apply the most basic human laws.
Shamzin Jihad’s sentencing in the city of Mahabat is an example of how the Iranian regime criminalizes any and all expressions of Kurdish identity. The government’s case is based on her declaration that she is a Kurd and that she refers to her place of birth as ‘Kurdistan’. In this age of free speech and human rights, Ms. Jihad’s commitment to her true identity should be celebrated and not punished. We are prepared to support her through this ordeal and to bring to the world’s attention the continued injustices the Iranian regime is committing against the Kurds.
The Kurdish National Congress calls on the Iranian government to immediately release the Kurdish journalist Shamzin Jihad, stop the unjust policies against the Kurdish people in Kurdistan of Iran, adhere to United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights respecting freedom of opinion and expression, and to commit to principles of the Charter of the United Nations, article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognizing that all peoples have the right of self-determination.
For more information please call: 949-583-1417
http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=6061
Freedom in Iran ~ Now!
Death To all Islamofascist terrorists ~ Bump!
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