Mehdi Hasan

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The myth behind Israel's attack on Osiraq

Iran Watch, part 5 - a response to some nonsense from Guido Fawkes.

By Mehdi Hasan Published 13 March 2012 13:35

Iran Watch, part 5 - a response to some nonsense from Guido Fawkes.

In a tweet to me this morning, libertarian blogger and Iran-war-agitator Paul Staines (aka "Guido Fawkes") claimed:

@ns_mehdihasan Israel bombed Saddam's nuclear reactor and ended his nuclear ambitions. Thank God.

I once told Staines that he should stick to blogging about bond markets and deficits and stay away from foreign affairs and, in particular, the Middle East. I wish he'd taken my advice.

"Ended his nuclear ambitions", eh? Staines is referring to the Israeli bombing of Saddam Hussein's Osiraq nuclear reactor in 1981 - codenamed "Operation Babylon". He couldn't be more wrong about the fallout from that now-notorious "preventive" attack on Iraq - and the lessons that we should learn from it now, three decades on, in relation to Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

Professor Richard Betts of Columbia University is one of America's leading experts on nuclear weapons and proliferation. He is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a former adviser to the CIA and the National Security Council. Here he is writing in the National Interest in 2006:

Contrary to prevalent mythology, there is no evidence that Israel's destruction of Osirak delayed Iraq's nuclear weapons program. The attack may actually have accelerated it.

...Obliterating the Osirak reactor did not put the brakes on Saddam's nuclear weapons program because the reactor that was destroyed could not have produced a bomb on its own and was not even necessary for producing a bomb. Nine years after Israel's attack on Osirak, Iraq was very close to producing a nuclear weapon.

Here's Malfrid Braut-Hegghammer, a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard's Kennedy School and an expert on weapons of mass destruction, writing in the Huffington Post in May 2010:

The Israeli attack triggered Iraq's determined pursuit of nuclear weapons. In September 1981, three months after the strike, Iraq established a well-funded clandestine nuclear weapons program. This had a separate organization, staff, ample funding and a clear mandate from Saddam Hussein. As the nuclear weapons program went underground the international community lost sight of these activities and had no influence on the Iraqi nuclear calculus.

And here's Emory University's Dan Reiter, an expert on national security and international conflict, writing in The Nonproliferation Review in July 2005:

Paradoxically, the Osiraq attack may have actually stimulated rather than inhibited the Iraqi nuclear program. The attack itself may have persuaded Saddam to accelerate Iraqi efforts to become a nuclear weapons power. . . Following Osiraq, the entire Iraqi nuclear effort moved underground, as Saddam simultaneously ordered a secret weapons program that focused on uranium separation as a path to building a bomb.

. . . In short, before the Osiraq attack, both the French and the IAEA opposed the weaponization of Iraq's nuclear research program, and had a number of instruments to constrain weaponization, including control over, including control over reactor fuel supply and multiple and continuous inspections. After the Osiraq attack, the program became secret, Saddam's personal and material commitment to the program grew, and the non-proliferation tools available to the international community became ineffective.

[Hat-tip: MediaMatters]

Then there's the Duelfer Report, released by the Iraq Survey Group in 2004 (and praised by the neoconservatives!), which admitted that

Israel's bombing of Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor spurred Saddam to build up Iraq's military to confront Israel in the early 1980s.

Oh, and there's also the well-informed Bob Woodward, who wrote in his book State of Denial:

Israeli intelligence were convinced that their strike in 1981 on the Osirak nuclear reactor about 10 miles outside Baghdad had ended Saddam's program. Instead [it initiated] covert funding for a nuclear program code-named 'PC3' involving 5.000 people testing and building ingredients for a nuclear bomb.

So the clear lesson from Osiraq is the exact opposite of what Staines and others on the pro-Israeli, bomb-Iran, chickenhawk right want us to believe: bombing Iran's nuclear facilities is likely to increase, not decrease, the prospect of an illicit Iranian nuclear weapons programme. So far, there is no evidence of such a programme - see the IAEA's last report - but an illegal Israeli or American air attack on Iranian nuclear facilities would give the Iranian government the perfect excuse to take its nuclear programme underground, out of sight and out of reach. Don't take my word for it - here's the former CIA director Michael Hayden speaking in January:

When we talked about this in the government, the consensus was that [attacking Iran] would guarantee that which we are trying to prevent -- an Iran that will spare nothing to build a nuclear weapon and that would build it in secret.

On a related note, the Osiraq attack was followed, as I noted in an earlier blogpost, by a UN Security Council Resolution which condemned the Israeli government and called upon it "urgently to place its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards" - something Messrs Netanyahu and Barak continue to refuse to do. Why don't we ever talk about this particular aspect of the 1981 raid?

On an unrelated note, Staines and co continue to try and label opponents of military action as "friends of Ahmadinejad" - despite the fact that these include, among others, the afore-mentioned former director of the CIA as well as the ex-head of Mossad. It's a cheap, smear tactic to try and close down debate on this all-important, life-and-death issue and is a perfect reflection of how poor and weak the hawks' arguments are.

Finally, if you haven't read it yet, please read and share Harvard University professor Stephen Walt's excellent and informed blogpost on the "top ten media failures in the Iran war debate" and Israeli novelist David Grossman's Guardian column on how "an attack on Iran will bring certain disaster, to forestall one that might never come".

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Tags: Iran Watch Israel Nuclear Iran

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283 comments

Wed, 2012-04-04 15:51 — nav (not verified)

Does dating websites work?
http://navneetjha.hubpages.com/hub/MatchMakers-Internet-Dating-Sites-Blu...

Wed, 2012-04-04 10:06 — Frank Adam (not verified)

As usual a lot of the comments are off the subject or not so near misses of the problem set by Iranian intentions to use nuclear weapons to obliterate a UN member; BUT the article as a whole does torpedo the argument that Iraq had no "WMD" and so the whole Iraq war was an impropper and illegal hunt for non- existent black cats in a blacked out room as cover for an attempt to requisition Iraqi oil reserves.
Meanwhile could those with bees in their bonnets about Israeli pecadillos explain why the pursuit of Israeli legitimacy , but not of Germany nor Japan which behaved infinitely worse; and why is the maximal Arab fatality list of 20 000 in their vendetta with Israel so morally apalling but the over two million Arab and Iranian dead - and the Sudanese millions - in intra Arab intra Moslem wars since 1945 is never more than an incidentall statistic ?

Tue, 2012-03-13 19:16 — Uncle Sam (not verified)

Good, I'm glad you accept the point then that, Saddam and the CIA had contacts and involvement with each other back in 1959, and you see the connection to the clandestine project to develop a nuclear weapon. I'm so happy for you that you are making all thee connections, jsut wondering what your conclusion could possibly be....

Wed, 2012-03-14 15:26 — Mariella (not verified)

@ Alexander.

It is interesting to note that whenever I provide information which runs counter to your ideological agenda that you come back with the accusation of personal abuse. You simply cannot abide the fact that Israel has a case to answer and must put right the terrible injustice they have inflicted on the Palestinians. As per usual, you are having none of it. COpy and pasting lengthy pieces from Pro Zionist websites is doing yoour beloved cause no favours. You claim extensive knowledge of the Jewish community in Iran. Did you know for example what the leader of the Jewish community in Iran said and I quote: The Jewish community in Iran published a statement Wednesday, slamming the disrespect shown to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his recent visit to the United States. The Iranian president visited the US earlier this week, where he attended a forum at Columbia University and addressed the United Nation's General Assembly. The statement was signed by Morris Mottaned, the Jewish delegate to the Iranian parliament and by the heads of the Iranian Jewish communities.

Displaying your ignorance yet again, you still think you are in a position to dictate the terms of the debate. Let me enlighten you. The Palestinian case is inextricably linked to the ongoing debacle with Iran. Faced with a dwindling population, the demography of Israel dicatates it must gather the Jewish diaspora from wherever they are settled outisde of Israel. Indeed Israel is not content with subjugating the Palestinians, it now wants to extend that subjugation to Iran, Like the Palestinians, Iran has resisted.

Keep digging!!!!

Wed, 2012-03-14 15:29 — Alexander (not verified)

Rape and torture is the price of having a political opinion in Iran: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/i-raped-tortured-iranian-regime-artic...

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:03 — Julia Harris (not verified)

Mariella is back in a number of different guises, well done for ruining the thread...

People talking about Brevik...there are Breviks in the Islamic world every day...Like talking about the weather...

2012.03.19 (Mogadishu, Somalia) - A one-year-old baby is among a family of six obliterated by an al-Shabaab mortar.
2012.03.18 (Suleja, Nigeria) - A church is firebombed during a service.
2012.03.18 (Pattani, Thailand) - A grocery shop owner dies of bullet injuries from a Muslim 'insurgent' drive-by on his shop.
2012.03.18 (Taiz, Yemen) - al-Qaeda gunmen murder an American teacher accused of being a 'Christian proselytizer'.
2012.03.17 (Mundi Kas, Pakistan) - Three women are torn apart by roadside bombers.
2012.03.17 (Damascus, Syria) - series of vicious suicide car bomb blasts leave nearly thirty people dead and over a hundred more in agony.

Wed, 2012-03-14 15:38 — Alexander (not verified)

Mariella, your letter speaks for itself. And, incidentally, I did not accuse you of personal abuse, but of verbal abuse. No matter how much you are trying to accuse the mythical "Zionist lobby", the materials that I have adduced show that the Iranian government presents a menace not only to Israel and the West, but also to its own people whose freedom it represses ruthlessly. Such a regime can never be entrusted with nuclear weapons. Incidentally, it is not only Israel and the West that oppose Iran's nuclear weapons but also such normal obstructions as Russia, for example. And India, which could hardly be accused of being run by Zionists and which has a relatively friendly relationship with Iran, also does not want it to have nuclear weapons. As for such countries as Saudi Arabia, for example, its opposition to it is well known. So, it is not the simplistic Iran vs. the West, or, even more narrowly, Iran vs. Israel, it is more like Iran vs. the rest of the world.

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:07 — Julia Harris (not verified)

Hattie - you would read this Drivel, and get annoyed, luv it. :)

20 March 2012 at 09:53
Young and energetic. Twisted, venemous and full of spite more like. To whom do I refer??? A writer in her dreams. Who would read this drivel

Tue, 2012-03-20 19:02 — Hattie (not verified)

So you write elsewhere do you. A lot fo what you post is in the A level category. Have you not moved on from there. I was waiting for jealously to rear its head. Let me get thsi straight, you comment on Mehdi's article who is the lead journalist for NS and he is jealous of you. Am I missing something here. There you go again with your racist claptrp about Muslims. If Israel was the last place on earth I would rather stay at home. Unlike you my loyalties are with Quenn and COuntry not some far off distant land you call home.

Wed, 2012-03-14 16:10 — Mariella (not verified)

@Alexander

I seem to remember that the Israeli President was convicted of multiple sexual offences and rape. As for the article you link from the New York Times, I feel sure NS readers will find this article compelling. It must be true because the New York Times said so. I think the world community is intelligent enough to realise that it is the western allies, namely the US, UK, France, Israel etc who are shouting the loudest about the need for war. Everytime Israel get closed ot being forced to get round the peace table, out comes another imagined enemy.

There you go again, peddling another falsehood that Israel and India enjoy close relations. Take a guess as to what the nature is of the trade relationship between the two countries@ export of military weaponry. Indeed it was pointed out in the Asia Times that the India /Israel relationship is fraught with tension. Israel has bore down heavily on India for signing the massive trillion trade agreements with Iran, not to mention the fact that India has refused to bow to Israeli pressure to stop buying Iranian oil. On the issue of nuclear weapons this is what was said by India:The spokesperson at the Indian Embassy, Virander Paul, released a stiffly worded statement on March 6 in response to the AJC letter. The statement did not mention the AJC, but it caviled at "recent media reports" that "presented a distorted picture". It did not say what those distortions were, nor did it lay out the logic of the trade deals. What Paul did say was significant on two fronts. He noted that Iran has the "right to peaceful use of nuclear energy" as long as it fulfilled its treaty obligations to the International Atomic Energy Agency. This is against the grain of the US position, which seeks to block Iran from enrichment of uranium regardless of its uses or intentions. The second point that Paul made was that India "firmly believes that the situation concerning Iran should not be allowed to escalate into a conflict, the disastrous consequences of which will be in nobody's interest". This point goes against the tenor of the war-talk from Tel Aviv, and in the US from the Republican Party and from sections of the Democratic Party (where the use of the phrase "all available options are on the table" only has military implications).

TIME AND TIME AGAIN I EXPOSE THE FALSEHOODS ON WHICH YOUR POSTS ARE BASED AND STILL YOU COME BACK WITH MORE PROPAGANDA.

KEEP DIGGING!!!!!!

Fri, 2012-03-16 12:31 — Alexander (not verified)

I absolutely agree with Lox about Nelson Mandela. Indeed, he has shown great character in his imprisonment and subsequently. However, this does not mind a great authority on the Palestinian issue, for instance. I find his position on this issue to be grossly imbalanced and unfair. His achievements in the fight against apartheid have nothing to do with that.

To give a parallel from the world of religion, for Catholics Pope's pronouncements on religious subjects are infalliable, in general. However, this does not mean that they cannot criticize him on other issues. I have a friend who is a Catholic and reveres the previous Pope and yet takes hin to task for what he considers to be his political myopia in some respects. Let us not be into hagiography, Mariella.

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:17 — Hattie (not verified)

SO you know who you are then. I can't say I have heard of your work

Wed, 2012-03-14 16:14 — Alexander (not verified)

Your reference to the Israeli President shows how desperate you are. What does his sexual abuse have to do with the subject matter? None whatsoever. And, apparently, these are all Zionists, too:UN monitor highlights failure of Iran's justice system
14 March 2012
GENEVA — The United Nations investigator into human rights in Iran has sharply criticized the country's system of justice and human rights record.

UN Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed told a meeting of the Human Rights Council here that he had received testimony from more than 141 witnesses which highlighted "multifarious and systematic deficits in the Government's capacity to ensure respect for human rights."

And in his formal written report to the Council, Dr. Shaheed focused to an extent not previously seen in UN investigations of Iran on the overall failure of the country's justice system. Violations of due process were chronic, he said, and "vaguely defined security provisions" are applied in ways that "unduly limit freedom of expression, association and assembly."

"In many cases, witnesses reported that they were arrested for activities protected by international law, and that they were detained in solitary confinement for prolonged periods with no access to legal counsel or family members, and in the absence of formal charges," Dr. Shaheed told the meeting.

The Special Rapporteur reported a dramatic increase in the number of executions carried out in the Islamic Republic – more than 600 during the year 2011, many for crimes not considered serious under international law. Iranian authorities have also stepped up their detention of journalists and lawyers, he said, and continued their persecution of ethnic and religious minorities.

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Country and NGO representatives at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, participating in an interactive dialog with the Special Rapporteur on the… »Enlarge (3 images)
Baha'is continue to be arbitrarily arrested and detained for their beliefs, noted Dr. Shaheed, in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Baha'is are also subjected to "severe socio-economic pressure," facing deprivations of "property, employment and education."

Monday's session offered an interactive dialogue between the Special Rapporteur and Human Rights Council members. His concerns were promptly echoed by a majority of the nations addressing the session. Some 15 countries specifically highlighted the situation of Iran's Baha'is.

Brazil's delegate – João Genésio de Almeida Filho – said his government had a "particular concern" about "allegations of the systematic persecution of members of unrecognized religious communities, particularly the Baha'i community."

Referring to Iran's state-sponsored campaign of demonizing Baha'is in the media, Veronika Stromsikova – delegate of the Czech Republic – said her country concurred with Dr. Shaheed's observation that "the government's tolerance of an intensive defamation campaign against members of the Baha'i community incites discrimination" in breach of international treaties.

Bani Dugal – the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations – reported that Baha'is in Iran today face "multiple violations, across the entire spectrum of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights" running "literally from kindergarten to the grave."

"We also agree with your presentation of the underlying obstacles," she told Dr. Shaheed, "including elements of the legal framework and lack of adherence to the rule of law – none of which are being addressed by the government."

"As you clearly state, impunity continues to prevail in Iran, and certain individuals are exempted from laws and regulations meant to restrain the abuse of power," said Ms. Dugal.

Baha'i World News Service coverage of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran

A Special Section includes detailed information about Iran's campaign to deny higher education to Baha'is. Another Special Report offers articles about the seven Iranian Baha'i leaders – their lives, their imprisonment, trial and sentencing.

The International Reaction page is regularly updated with responses from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent individuals, to actions taken against the Baha'is of Iran. The Media Reports page presents a digest of media coverage from around the world.

Human Rights Council 19th session
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
The Baha'is of Iran
BWNS Iran Update
"Closed Doors: Iran's Campaign to Deny Higher Education to Baha'is" - Special Section
"Inciting Hatred: Iran's Media Campaign to Demonize Baha'is" - Special Report
"The Trial of the Seven Baha'i Leaders" - Special Report
List of BWNS articles
Recent Baha'i World News Service stories
Forum at UN discusses role of rural women farmers
Annual Commission on the Status of Women explores role of rural women in poverty and hunger eradication.

Government launches "Year of Service" initiative at national Baha'i center
UK government-sponsored project encourages people of all beliefs to improve neighborhoods.

In Morocco, symposium explores religion, spirituality and education
Educators, academics and theologians discuss how young people can better address contemporary issues.

Recent headlines View all »
UN monitor highlights failure of Iran's justice system
Forum at UN discusses role of rural women farmers
Government launches "Year of Service" initiative at national Baha'i center
In Morocco, symposium explores religion, spirituality and education
Amnesty International report condemns Iran's human rights abuses
News Service Home >

Tue, 2012-03-13 19:40 — willoyen

@Bolshevik 'the murder of 400,000 Black people and ethnic cleansing of hundreds of thousands from Islamist Sudan.
This is another distortion, aka lie, promoted by the NY Holocaust museum and the Jerusalem Post. and often parroted by you. Read 'The Politics of Naming' by Mahmood Mamdani, of Columbia which details the complexity of the sitution in Darfur and shows the hollowness of US-Israeli and Jewish discrediting of the 'official enemy'.

Wed, 2012-03-14 16:15 — Mariella (not verified)

See www.haretz.com for Russia's position on Iran

Russia: UN report on Iran nuclear programme is biased, unprofessional

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:19 — parsie (not verified)

How leftists pushed Muslims into ghettoes

It is ironic that people who emphasise Difference and Otherness (terms filtered down from Continental philosophy) within society, should bring about,‭ ‬intentionally or unintentionally,‭ ‬a multicultural ethic and agenda which denies Difference and Otherness‭ ‬within‭ ‬cultures or communities.‭ ‬Thus Muslims became nothing but Muslims.‭ ‬Being a Muslim became the full and complete identity of Muslims.‭ ‬For example,‭ ‬not many British Christians go around calling themselves‭ ‘‬Christians‭’ ‬or defining themselves exclusively in terms of their faith.

Wed, 2012-03-14 16:17 — Mariella (not verified)

Rape and torture is the price of having a political opinion in Iran: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/i-raped-tortured-iranian- is what you posted Alexander. I responded to your claim by giving you a real example of the President Of Israel being convicted of rape.

Fri, 2012-03-16 12:34 — Alexander (not verified)

Sorry, I meant to say: "This does not make him a great authority, etc..."

Wed, 2012-03-14 16:19 — Mariella (not verified)

@ Alexander

Keep digging!!! We are waiting for the truth!!!!!

Fri, 2012-03-16 12:36 — JJ (not verified)

@Mariella@10.12: You are an epic fail at fact checking. I stand by what I wrote to Sir Michael and the point was utterly lost on you, but you are wrong when you say that it was a direct response to him.

Go back and you will see that it wasn't.

Mariella, if you are going to bring the ex-Jew and antisemite Atzmon as a source for your views then you can expect to be held to account on this forum.

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:21 — grumpy (not verified)

For all you racists out is this a sign of things to come in the UK? In twenty years? Ten years? Five?... Today even? This is Norway, where unadulterated political correctness has ruled the roost, with sharp talons, for decades. And the Islamist situation in Norway is mild compared to the Islamohell in Sweden next door. This is what happens after years of Community Cohesion and Embraced Diversity - Islamohell on European soil. Do you really want the same here?

Fri, 2012-03-16 12:37 — JJ (not verified)

Further to my previous post, it is Atzmon who is on the record as claiming he is an 'exJew'.

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:26 — anthony (not verified)

For those who hate Israel and support Islamists, the following is now PC dogma. I am concerned that some sections of British Jewry are being conned by it and others are just being intimidated. Of course, it is quite clever and unfortunately many Jews are too foolish or too cowardly to expose it.

Wed, 2012-03-14 16:23 — Alexander (not verified)

Mariella, you cannot be so naive, can you? The point I was making was that the Iranian authorities use rape and torture against political opponents and get away with it. Unlike this, the Israeli President's sexual abuse had nothing to do with any kind of political dissent, but simply the result of his libido. Moreover, he did not get away with that, but was punished. Do you not see the difference?

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:27 — Alexander (not verified)

The anti-Israel brigade seems to be full of vigour today, maybe, indeed, they are young and energetic... And we are in awe of their wisdom. They still practice the time-honored device of guilt by association. As though Israel were responsible for Breivik's support of it. And highly relevant comments about Churchill's female underwear fantasies. Indeed, indispensable information for a debate on the Iran nuclear debate, and, tangentially, Palestine. By the way, for anybody who cares to hear, Churchill wrote some very anti-Semitic things in his younger years, this is well known. Anyway, I can only repeat my previous words about this method of conducting a debate - "this is how they operate".

Wed, 2012-03-14 16:29 — Arminius (not verified)

JJ - The so called Battle of Cable Street was mainly about Communists (Jewish and non-Jewish) attacking the Police. The BUF march did not proceed that day but took place elsewhere in London a week later without any opposition (mainly due to the fact that the Communist opposition had dispersed back to where they came from i.e. elsewhere in the UK). It was the Public Order Act and the onset of war which finished off the BUF as a political force but it still retained a measure of support in areas of East London.
I was under the inpression that the British Empire fought Germany rather than just England. A war in which Britain bankrupted itself, lost hundreds of thousands of dead and injured, which lead to the break up of the Empire and left the USA and the Soviet Union as the superpowers controlling Europe. Job well done.

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:27 — hassan (not verified)

In 2007, MPAC complained to the BBC and successfully got a retraction when they said Jerusalem was the capital and historic soul of Israel

Tue, 2012-03-13 20:03 — FA

Mehdi Hasan

If the Israelis cannot eliminate an Iranian nuclear programme, is that an argument for the United States itself to attack Iran with massive air strikes? After all, the Americans CAN eliminate an Iranian nuclear programme which you (presumably) think is a bad thing ?!?

Wed, 2012-03-14 16:32 — Alexander (not verified)

Katzav will serve 7 years in jail. How many Iranian abusers were convicted for imprisonment? The difference is that, unlike Iran, Israel is a true democracy, where nobody is above the law!

Wed, 2012-03-14 16:33 — Alexander (not verified)

Sorry, of course, I meant to say, convicted and sentence to imprisonment.

Sun, 2012-03-18 17:51 — Khosrow (not verified)

A) I posted the following comment on 13.3.2012, in order to demonstrate what many critics, including Mearsheimer and Watt (2007), have identified as one of the Israel lobby’s “most powerful weapons: the charge of anti-Semitism”:
Khosrow
13 March 2012 at 19:45
HOLOCAUST DENIER? So what? There are many people who are Holocaust deniers, some of my university professors were Holocaust deniers in America, in Britain, in Germany and France. People are entitled to their opinions, just as is with the belief in God. You Zionist cannot make it obligatory. There are parts of Chinese history that never touched Europe, so Chinese should one day force Europeans to believe in what the Chinese believe or Europe should be attacked! Who the hell do you think you are? Furthermore, by denying the Holocaust the historical documents would not vanish – there are so many Holocaust Museums all over America, Europe and in Israel, there are 10s of 1000s of survivors’ testimonies!
The Holocaust did not touch Iran because Iran is not part of Europe; though Iran suffered for over 4 years because of being occupied in the north by the Russians and in the South by the ruthless English who ransacked the countries human and natural resources causing misery and hunger; Churchill called Iran ‘Bridge of Victory’ since the occupation facilitated the transfer of forces to conflict zones, but not one documentary has ever been shown in Britain about the English atrocities and illegal occupation of Iran. Iranians had nothing to do with the Holocaust, in fact as documents have shown the Iranian Embassy in France did help many Jews to escape to safety. So stop this Holocaust denial as if it is the ten commandment (which the Jews don’t even give a damn to: the ‘thou shall not murder’ has since 1948 been ‘thou shall murder, man, woman and children’, in particular in order to wipe the Palestinians out off the map – just look at the map of Palestine in 1948 and look at it in 2012 very little of the land belonging to the Palestinians is left! How many Palestinians have been murdered and how many been made refugees? But you even ‘DENY’ this obvious fact that is right before your eyes!!
A close study of the Nazi and Israeli tactics can demonstrate that the Nazi anti-Semitic propaganda has proved plausible that ‘the Jews are Masters of Propaganda’; the Zionist have been copying every tactic used by the Nazi propagandists; just look at the killing of the Palestinian people and look at the rubbish the Zionists have been pouring all over the media globally and the silence of the world. And look at the Israeli army’s atrocities and the Nazi army’s – all that are missing are gas chambers and crematorium - but the Israelis can’t even realise this shocking fact because of their post Holocaust trauma, paranoia and persecution complex and propaganda that has blinded them.
IRAN AND NUCLEAR BOMB AND ISRAEL TO BE WIPED OUT OFF THE MAP? Iran has already got the bomb? Kidding! And is already on its way to attack Israel! You liked this interpretation! It suits your post Holocaust paranoia, you can’t help it, so take it as it suites you, you need it to help your sense of victimhood and historical persecution complex, and the Israeli politicians also love this headlines.
PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE? You got the balls to attack? then go ahead: why for years you have been talking about it? You respecting the world opinion or need permission before the attack? Must be kidding! You have been murdering Palestinians and surviving through lies, lies and lies, you need no permission! You think you will be bombing some sites that is all and return from holiday: easy to attack and escape but you know you will soon lose face, that is why like a coward you have been begging American President to back you when you have to escape leaving behind carnage and masses of civilian casualties. You think Iranians will simply watch you come attack and return. You haven’t got the courage to show your real face, then shut up and respect the international community.
ISRAEL ATTACKED IRAQ AND SURVIVED, SO WILL SURVIVE ATTACKING IRAN: just because Iraq was already at war against Iran and despite having an army and being backed by the Saudi, Kuwaiti and Emirati money and western military and intelligence, it failed, so how could it fight 2 countries at the same time, otherwise Israel would not have balls to do that. Iran is not Iraq and the Zionists know it well but have been overestimating their own lies because of their post Holocaust trauma and paranoia that allow self delusion. Israel has become like a spoiled child who has been given a loaded handgun for his 6th birthday and can aim the gun at anyone in a paranoiac frenzy while crying for more chocolate.
Maybe it is time, maybe it is God’s will that these murderers of the oppressed Palestinians cross the line and attack Iran to pay for their 6 decades of Genocide. Maybe it is time for a fundamental change in Israel and the Middle East.
B) I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES, ACCUSING ME OF ANTI-SEMITISM:
Lox
13 March 2012 at 20:15
Khosrow, you're an anti-semitic imbecile.
"A close study of the Nazi and Israeli tactics can demonstrate that the Nazi anti-Semitic propaganda has proved plausible that ‘the Jews are Masters of Propaganda"
Do you realise what a nasty, bigoted prick you appear to be? When did NS become a platform for nazi sympathisers? You fucking moron.
Bolshevik
13 March 2012 at 20:16
@Khosrow
You are a repulsive islamoNazi Holocaust denying scum.
You complement the racist Islamist Jew-hating garbage that pollutes this site. You complement Mehdi Hasan's Israel-hating rants.
Have you ever thought of returning to your native apartheid Pakistan where the bulk of the miserable impoverished population share your offensive views? Try stoning some of your women - islamists find it quite relaxing.
JJ
13 March 2012 at 21:29
@Khosrow, what brings someone like you to such sickening outbursts of insane white hot rage? This self-consuming antisemitism of yours where you come across as utterly deranged.
Seek help before you harm yourself.
C): THIS WAS A USEFUL EXPERIMENT: as the readers can see, in my comment I have made myself absolutely clear from the very beginning where I am referring to the Nazis: “the Nazi anti-Semitic propaganda”. The adjective ‘anti-Semitic’ and ‘propaganda’ show my position. The ‘Jews’ in ‘the Jews are Masters of Propaganda’ is not mine, it is a quotation. The sentence continues with “the Zionists”, not with the Jews. I am also referring to “the Israeli army’s atrocities”, which is, given its history and ideological basis, totally different from a racist comment that refers to the Jews as a ‘race’. Furthermore, if I were an anti-Semitic or Holocaust denier I would not have said “by denying the Holocaust the historical documents would not vanish”; I would not have acknowledged “gas chambers and crematorium”; I would not have acknowledged “many Holocaust Museums all over America, Europe and in Israel”, or “10s of 1000s of [Holocaust] survivors’ testimonies”.
The Zionists readers failed to understand my clear comment because people who suffer from paranoia read criticism levelled at their conduct with horror and write it in their heads as they wish it to conform to their paranoia; the reactionary responses confirm Mearsheimer and Watt’s analysis.
I may know more about the Holocaust and the immense literature (massive audio visual documents, artefacts, books, academic research and so forth) on the suffering of the Jews than you could ever guess; one reason being that my best friend is an Iranian Jew, and this is exactly the point we were arguing and I was looking for: the blind reactions that confirm the Zionists simply cannot critically reflect on their own conduct or stand any comment that would condemn their massacre of the Palestinians; because the Zionists have been conditioned to see themselves as in the 1930s and 40s: are still trapped, ‘mentally’, in the insecure world of those years; hence the first word that they can think of is ‘anti-Semitism’, being ‘annihilated’ or ‘wipe out off the map’, as though the whole world has plotted to destroy them; they demand that the whole world should conform to their expectations and persist in demanding a recognition of their victimhood, only theirs not their victims, and this is exactly what pathologically violent paranoia is like, especially when the patient is strong enough to harm others. This is no place to open a deep discussion on this critical subject.
The foul language and charges of “anti-semitic imbecile”/“islamoNazi Holocaust denying scum”/“insane white hot rage… self-consuming antisemitism”, by LOX, BOLSHEVIK and JJ, demonstrate the Zionists’ most effective means of silencing their critics, hence avoid accountability, the ‘charge’ Mearsheimer and Watt (The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy) have called “the great silencer”. Many ‘Jewish’ intellectuals, artists and activists who have publically distanced themselves from the Israeli regime by condemning the Zionist atrocities have also been labelled ‘anti-Semitist’.

THANK YOU again for taking part in my EXPERIMENT and being part of my DEMONSTRATION.

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:31 — rosalind (not verified)

FIRST THE BACON BAGEL, now a Jewish neo-Nazi movement straight out of Mill Hill! Could the Messiah be any further away? Will he arrive on jet skis? Will an ‘ooo the fuck is alla?!!?!’ brigade help usher in the biblical era of peace?

Yes says a real-life surfer rabbi from California, who’ll be joining the Jewish division of Britain’s new fascist movement, the English Defence League, on a show of love outside the Israeli embassy this Sunday.

Since the far-right finally realised that voting for an enormous blabbering kishke was sooo 2009, the trend-setters went all retro, shaved their heads, dug out the ol’ jackboots and set up the the EDL. This isn’t just a new street look: these boys in red and white face-paint rock ‘Street A.R.M.Y.’. Only this time they’ve decided they like Jews… or, well, Israelis… no… make that the Israeli state. When it’s feeling all anxy in particular. And maybe some are ok with the existence of gays and women, if they’re into pasty skin. BUT definitely NOT MUSLIMS.

We call on Jews, non-Jews and especially anyone who knows what going “goofy foot” means to protest against the EDL and the Malibu Beach Surfer Rabbi – aka Rabbi Nachum Shifren, a rabbi whose declaration of “war to the death against multiculturalism” surely ranks amongst the more masochistic urges of recent Jewish thought.

The EDL are blatantly using certain minorities as sticks to beat others with. First it’s the Muslims they’re after, under the cover of fighting for women’s or gay rights, next us all. Their support for Israel is clearly based on its relationship with Muslims and Arabs, which, lets face it, is hardly jovial, and is not something which should sanely be mimicked in the UK.

Yidn, regardless of our different opinions on That Country Over There, (Birobidizhan, where else?) Friday nights in this country over here aren’t going to be too cushty for any of us shtetl-Jews if the British far right grow in strength and racial tensions increase. It’s really high time we start putting some darity on the end a Sollys falafel and stood up in solidarity (get it?) with the Muslim community.

Our fate in the diaspora is inextricably linked with other so called ‘Semites’. If we just leave it to our hapless ‘leadership’ to stand up against the shmendriks of society, well, we’ll all be kishkes sooner or later
Jews for Justice

Mon, 2012-03-19 15:15 — Khosrow (not verified)

@ jankaas

Thank you for posting this interesting link about a group of Rabbis' antiwar statement that proves not all Rabbis are pro-Zionist politicians.

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:32 — peter (not verified)

The increasingly cosy relationship between the extremist, racist EDL movement and the ultra-racist Zionist movement in the UK is becoming more and more visible with each passing demonstration that they attend. It is now a common sight to see a mass of Israeli flags at an EDL rally and a mob of EDL members at a pro-Israel rally. This is an association which is at once revealing as to the true nature of the Zionist movement whilst also a source, one would assume, of much distress and embarrassment to right minded Jews who would blanch at such a self-defeating and counter-productive association.

For their part, the EDL clearly scrape the bottom of the barrel for members. It is hardly a thinking man's organisation. Typically comprised of thugs and louts it is scarcely a group that any sane individual would be proud to be a member of; and yet hundreds of Zionists have signed up to be a part of the new EDL "Jewish Division". This includes individuals such as Roberta Moore, who makes a habit of inciting hatred against Muslims while running around with an Israeli flag tied around her neck like a cape. Exposing her ignorance with statements such as "Islam is not a religion but a cult" she does seem to fit the EDL's low criteria for membership. The foul vitriol she spewed at one recent EDL rally not only betrayed her ignorance of Islam but her desire to incite hatred against more than 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide.

This is nothing knew and many have been forced recently to openly recant their spurious statements about Islam and Muslim organisations. Take for instance, the apology issued by The Spectator last week following Stephen Pollard's grossly absurd statement that Islam Expo is a racist, fascist and genocidal organisation! When challenged in court he claimed the remark was unintentional. Justice was served in this instance and Islam Expo won their case against The Spectator including an apology, legal costs and damages.

Wed, 2012-03-14 16:40 — Alexander (not verified)

Yes, of course, the alternative - the world dominated by Nazi Germany - would have been much preferable. I understand.

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:35 — william (not verified)

The House of Lords amendments
•The House of Lords amendments deleted the most troublesome parts of the offence. They removed the words “abusive” or “insulting” and removed the “likely” test, so that only threatening conduct intended to incite religious hatred is covered.
• The House of Lords also introduced a sweeping free speech defence that protects:

“…discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents, or of any other belief system or the beliefs or practices of its adherents, or proselytising or urging adherents of a different religion or belief system to cease practising their religion or belief system.”1

•The Government told the House of Commons on 31 January that if the Lords amendments were passed “…it would be virtually impossible to bring a successful prosecution.”2

Biblical arguments

Christians are to pray for those in authority and for the state to provide freedom for the gospel to be preached and for men to live “quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). (See Christian Freedoms and Heritage.)

Jesus’ final command to his followers before his ascension was that they should “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15) and “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Telling others about Christ and his teachings is central to the Christian life (1 Peter 3:15-16). Christians must therefore oppose any law which could prevent the preaching of the Gospel.

Key arguments
• The Government argued the proposed offence was needed for two reasons:3
◦To combat activities of extremists who stir up hatred against people because of their religious beliefs.
◦To close a loophole that exists under the current incitement to racial hatred laws, whereby mono-ethnic faith groups such as Jews or Sikhs are protected from those who stir up hatred against them, but multi-ethnic faith groups are not.

•However, there was already a criminal offence to incite a crime against another person, whether or not religion is the cause. In addition, the ‘religiously aggravated’ offences (passed in 2001) could also be used.
•‘Religious belief’ is not like race. Religious belief and atheism are about ideas on which people can change their minds and have vigorous debate. However, no-one can choose their race.
•The race laws only protect Jews and Sikhs as a race. The law does not protect their religion as a religion but as a sign of their race. The proposed offence could see courts adjudicating on the fundamental beliefs of Jews and Sikhs, as well as Muslims and Christians, in an unprecedented way.
•Some cults are litigious. They will be able to hold the threat of litigation over any one who criticises them.
•Even if prosecutions against ordinary religious debate are unsuccessful, the threat of prosecution may cause many to keep quiet. This will have a chilling effect on freedom of speech.
•In a recent case under a similar law in Australia a pastor was found guilty of “religious vilification” for highlighting the dangers of fundamentalist Islam and Sharia law.
•Attempts have already been made in the UK to stop responsible evangelism to Muslims. In 2002 police visited a member of a church near Rochdale, Lancashire and told him he had committed a serious racial offence by distributing Christian literature to Muslims. The church member took legal advice which confirmed the church had not broken any law and the police had acted wrongly. This was subsequently confirmed by the police. But a new religious incitement offence would have made the situation substantially worse and could have resulted in a prosecution.
http://www.christian.org.uk/resources/theology/apologetics/christian-fre...

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:37 — henri (not verified)

Israel: Losing the Battle of Psychological Warfare

http://frontpagemag.com/2011/01/06/israel-losing-the-battle-of-psycholog...

Pourqois

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:38 — Alexander (not verified)

We keep hearing the same from the anti-Israel brigade. This is already boring. Maybe, something new, for a change? Well, at least information about Churchill's underwear fantasies was entertaining.

Thu, 2012-03-15 18:59 — Mariella (not verified)

Some information on the nature of the Israeli military sales programme. Israel does not have an ethical arms policy and was even involved in selling arms to Iran: Information courtesy of CATT. International arms trading is an important source of income for the Israeli economy. Military exports in 2000 reached a new high of over $2.49bn. (Export statistics for 1997 were greater but this included a contract for a Phalcon spy plane to the Chinese Air Force, which was cancelled due to pressure from the US.41) In 2000, The US Congressional Research Service ranked Israel as 10th biggest arms exporter in the world.42 In 2001, according to the Israeli defence ministry, Israel supplied 10 per cent of total world military exports. That year, Israel's military production reached $3.6bn of which only $900m-worth of equipment was bought by Israel's defence ministry for the IDF. In other words, Israel exported 75 per cent of the total production of its military industries.

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:39 — lol (not verified)

The single greatest reason for the endless continuation of the Middle East impasse is that Britain, Europe and America have continuously rewarded the aggressor and either attacked the victim or left it twisting in the wind.

That’s what needs to be said by Israel and its defenders. But Israel and its defenders themselves have been crippled or cowed by the false analysis of the enemy’s narrative.
http://frontpagemag.com/2011/01/06/israel-losing-the-battle-of-psycholog...

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:40 — Jay (not verified)

Jericho to the Cross – Part 1 of 4

Matthew 20:29-21:46

by Paul George

Jesus and the disciples left Jericho, their destination, Jerusalem, and a large crowd followed them. From the time, Jesus began His ministry multitudes followed Him, some for love, some for curiosity, and some in expectation of the establishing of Israel as a world super-power. Two blind men hearing that Jesus was passing by cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David” (Matthew 20:30). The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet but they cried out, even louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us” (Matthew 20:31).

Here is an example of persistence in prayer. These men earnestly cried out for mercy. They cried out as men in a desperate situation without hope of surviving. They cast themselves upon the altar of mercy. They confessed that Jesus is Lord and therefore had the authority to deliver them from their blindness.

Like the blind men, we must expect to meet with hindrances and discouragements from within and from without, something or other that tries to silence our pleas when we earnestly seek mercy. The permitting of attempts to silence us tests our faith, patience, and perseverance. Sincere and serious seekers of mercy will always encounter the worst rebukes from those that follow Jesus. When opposition from the pretender and hypocritical place an obstacle in our path we must cry louder for mercy form the Giver of mercy.

The multitude rebuked the blind, but Jesus encouraged them. The blind would be in a sad situation if the Giver of mercy were not more loving and passionate than the crowd following Jesus. Unlike the crowd of followers, Jesus poured out His love and favor upon the blind who received rebukes and contempt from the crowd. In the hour of rebuke and contempt from man, we must never lose sight of the fact Jesus will not permit our supplicants to fall by the wayside. He will hear our cries and answer them. He is never too busy to respond to our cries. Jesus was going to Jerusalem to complete the mission the Father sent Him to earth to do and He interrupted what He was doing in order to respond to the cries of two blind men

Wed, 2012-03-14 16:59 — Mariella (not verified)

@ Alex
I feel sure that many people believe you when you say Israel is a true democracy. Tell that two the 3.5 million Palestinians living under brute military rule.

As for Israel being a democracy, could you explain why corruption is endemic and rampant in the Israeli political system. This is what the BBC said: Israel faces corruption 'epidemic'
Ehud Olmert's tenure as PM has been overshadowed by controversy
The latest scandals to hit the Israeli political establishment are just two examples in a long line that have recently rocked Israeli political and public life. The Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, is to face a police investigation into a house purchase in which he is alleged to have bought a house in Jerusalem at a price that was significantly below the true market value. Separately he also faces allegations over the sale of Leumi bank in 2005 and the head of the Israeli Tax Authority, a top aide to Mr Olmert, and several others were arrested as part of a police investigation into possible bribery. Meanwhile, Israel's ex-President Moshe Katsav struck a plea bargain with the attorney general to avoid rape charges. Under the bargain, he is due to be charged with lesser sexual offences and faces a suspended sentence. Corruption scandals are part of the fabric of Israeli political history. One factor in the Labour Party losing the election in 1977, after almost 30 years in power, was the feeling among the population that it was corrupt. Famously, the party's leader, Yitzhak Rabin, resigned the same year after it was discovered that his wife held an illegal bank account. New heights . More recently, Israeli prime ministers such as Benjamin Netanyahu, Ehud Barak, and Ariel Sharon have faced investigations, although none of them were ever charged with wrongdoing. Mr Olmert has been implicated in an alleged real estate scandal .The allegations, however, tarnished their premierships.

To add to this list we can include the Lieberman who faces his own corruption charges.

SO NOBOODY IS ABOVE THE LAW IN ISRAEL. IT SEEMS THAT YOU CAN BREAK THE LAW IN ISRAEL AND STILL END UP BEING PRIME MINISTER.

Wed, 2012-03-14 17:02 — Mariella (not verified)

There you go again Alex, peddling yet another one of your profound truths: the alternative - the world dominated by Nazi Germany - would have been much preferable.

So we must be grateful for the existence of Israel. Is that what you are saying.

Tue, 2012-03-20 12:43 — hassan (not verified)

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2006/03/151186_comment.php

View article without comments
The problem with Israel.
by Digery Cohen Friday, Mar. 24, 2006 at 4:41 AM
digerycohen@yahoo.co.uk

Its problems are becoming our problems

Tue, 2012-03-13 20:45 — Khosrow (not verified)

HOLOCAUST DENIER? So what? There are many people who are Holocaust deniers, some of my university professors were Holocaust deniers in America, in Britain, in Germany and France? People are entitled to their opinions, just as is with the belief in God. You Zionist cannot make it obligatory. There are parts of Chinese history that never touched Europe, so Chinese should one day force Europeans to believe in what the Chinese believe or Europe should be attacked! Who the hell do you think you are? Furthermore, by denying the Holocaust the historical documents would not vanish – there are so many Holocaust Museums all over America, Europe and in Israel, there are 10s of 1000s of survivors’ testimonies!
The Holocaust did not touch Iran because Iran is not part of Europe; though Iran suffered for over 4 years because of being occupied in the north by the Russians and in the South by the ruthless English who ransacked the countries human and natural resources causing misery and hunger; Churchill called Iran ‘Bridge of Victory’ since the occupation facilitated the transfer of forces to conflict zones, but not one documentary has ever been shown in Britain about the English atrocities and illegal occupation of Iran. Iranians had nothing to do with the Holocaust, in fact as documents have shown the Iranian Embassy in France did help many Jews to escape to safety. So stop this Holocaust denial as if it is the ten commandment (which the Jews don’t even give a damn to: the ‘thou shall not murder’ has since 1948 been ‘thou shall murder, man, woman and children’, in particular in order to wipe the Palestinians out off the map – just look at the map of Palestine in 1948 and look at it in 2012 very little of the land belonging to the Palestinians is left! How many Palestinians have been murdered and how many been made refugees? But you even ‘DENY’ this obvious fact that is right before your eyes!!
A close study of the Nazi and Israeli tactics can demonstrate that the Nazi anti-Semitic propaganda has proved plausible that ‘the Jews are Masters of Propaganda’; the Zionist have been copying every tactic used by the Nazi propagandists; just look at the killing of the Palestinian people and look at the rubbish the Zionists have been pouring all over the media globally and the silence of the world. And look at the Israeli army’s atrocities and the Nazi army’s – all that are missing are gas chambers and crematorium - but the Israelis can’t even realise this shocking fact because of their post Holocaust trauma, paranoia and persecution complex and propaganda that has blinded them.
IRAN AND NUCLEAR BOMB AND ISRAEL TO BE WIPED OUT OFF THE MAP? Iran has already got the bomb? Kidding! And is already on its way to attack Israel! You liked this interpretation! It suits your post Holocaust paranoia, you can’t help it, so take it as it suites you, you need it to help your sense of victimhood and historical persecution complex, and the Israeli politicians also love this headlines.
PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE? You got the balls to attack? then go ahead: why for years you have been talking about it? You respecting the world opinion or need permission before the attack? Must be kidding! You have been murdering Palestinians and surviving through lies, lies and lies, you need no permission! You think you will be bombing some sites that is all and return from holiday: easy to attack and escape but you know you will soon lose face, that is why like a coward you have been begging American President to back you when you have to escape leaving behind carnage and masses of civilian casualties. You think Iranians will simply watch you come attack and return. You haven’t got the courage to show your real face, then shut up and respect the international community.
ISRAEL ATTACKED IRAQ AND SURVIVED, SO WILL SURVIVE ATTACKING IRAN: just because Iraq was already at war against Iran and despite having an army and being backed by the Saudi, Kuwaiti and Emirati money and western military and intelligence, it failed, so how could it fight 2 countries at the same time, otherwise Israel would not have balls to do that. Iran is not Iraq and the Zionists know it well but have been overestimating their own lies because of their post Holocaust trauma and paranoia that allow self delusion. Israel has become like a spoiled child who has been given a loaded handgun for his 6th birthday and can aim the gun at anyone in a paranoiac frenzy while crying for more chocolate.
Maybe it is time, maybe it is God’s will that these murderers of the oppressed Palestinians cross the line and attack Iran to pay for their 6 decades of Genocide. Maybe it is time for a fundamental change in Israel and the Middle East.

Wed, 2012-03-14 17:04 — Mariella (not verified)

@ Alex

I am assuming from your polemics posturing as truth that the Iranian regime equals Nazism.

Wed, 2012-03-14 17:10 — Alexander (not verified)

You undermine your own position. Indeed, corruption is, unfortunately, present in Israel, but Israel is not unique in that, it is also present in other countries, including the ones whose democratic credentials nobody questions. Unfortunately, to be corrupt is part of human nature, and so, we see the examples everywhere. By the way, just in case you thought otherwise, corruption is rampant in Iran.

BUT- people who are engaged in corruption in Israel do not get away with that. With respect to plea bargain, unless you are totally ignorant of the legal process, it is a ubiquitous feature of the penal system in the West. Also, other people whom you mentioned in Israel, as you stated, either face investigations in the future or has already paid some kind of penalty. Which is more than we can say about the Middle East, including Iran, where, in the overwhelming majority of the cases, officials engage in corruption with complete immunity. And, of course, it is not the regimes' fault - it is always Israel's fault.

Your previous quite embarrassing, I must say, inability to distinguish between Katzav's private sexual escapades and the Iranian regime's use of sexual abuse against political prisoners shows that you, really, are not very good at logical thinking, I am sorry to say.

Fri, 2012-03-16 13:31 — Mariella (not verified)

SO there you have it Alexander the Great imparts his great wisdom and makes plain his objection to Mandela:
Indeed, he has shown great character in his imprisonment and subsequently. However, this does not mind a great authority on the Palestinian issue, for instance. I find his position on this issue to be grossly imbalanced and unfair. His achievements in the fight against apartheid have nothing to do with that.

So the fact the Mandela widely regarded as an iconic 21st century freedom figure who name is synonmous with human rights, freedom and dignity has been grossly imbalanced and unfair on the question of Palestine.

MANDELA MUST BE WRONG AND DEAR OLD ALEXANDER MUST BE RIGHT!!!! BRING BACK THE CRUSADES! KNIGHTS OF THE REALM TO THE RESCUE!!!

Go on Alexander, do another search. Keep digging!!!!!

Mon, 2012-03-19 15:30 — Alexander (not verified)

Iran approaching the "zone of immunity"> This is the real issue!

http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=262463

Wed, 2012-03-14 17:13 — Alexander (not verified)

Mariella, are you capable of understanding irony? Arminius was lamenting the British participation in World War II, leading to some undesirable results, in his opinion, and then I ironically said that the alternative to this participation and these results would have been the domination of Nazi Germany, which would have been preferable. This was meant to be IRONIC, for God's sake!