Here is a picture of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaking at a podium. Note the banner, prominently displayed with the words “A World Without Zionism” translated loudly to English lest we not get the point.
As an American citizen I get concerned about Iran. As an American citizen some thirty years ago I was also very concerned about Iran. Then I was angered by the capture of American citizens from the American embassy in Iran and frustrated by America's lack of response to the whole matter. Back then there was a strange Ayatollah Khomeini in charge of that country. Today we have President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Oddly, there is a connection to the Ayatollah and Ahmadinejad. For it is rumored that Ahmadinejad was a young adolescent involved with the capture of our citizens during the Iran hostage crisis.
Ahmadinejad was hand-picked by the radical mullahs who run things in Iran. He was "elected" but only via a seriously rigged election system boycotted by most of Iran's populace. Ahmadinejad is, the kind would say, a bit radical. The unkind would call him a nut case.
Whatever the diagnosis, Ahmadinejad has certainly uttered some threatening words and strange beliefs. He's expressed his conviction that the Holocaust was fiction, that Europe should take the entire nation of Israel into its bosom, that Iran deserves nukes and Iran will get nukes.
Surely an oil-rich country like Iran doesn't need nuclear energy to run its machines. Iran is fooling no one with this assertion.
The country of Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. By going ahead with its nuclear program, Iran is essentially violating the treaty. Beyond that, the world is simply not a safe place once nuts and kooks get their hands on nukes and the means to deliver them.
Back when the Ayatollah kidnapped American citizens at least there was no worry that the mullahs would soon be lobbing nukes our way. Now we know Iran has the American army knocking at its back door in Iraq and a citizenry that despises the government under which they must live.
That's the odd thing about Iran. Its citizens are young, hip and love America. In my dewy eyed youth I was once engaged to an Iranian man, yes I was. Of course my experience is anecdotal but if he was any indicator, there is no populace on earth more in love with the United States than the citizens of Iran. I remember how Ali used to lecture me on how lucky I was to be born an American, to never have to worry about a knock on the door late into the night. I remember how he used to make his own yogurt and the meals we ate while sitting on the floor. I remember the thud that came over me when I realized that Ali wanted nothing more than a sweet American wife to take home to Persia as if a grand and wonderful prize.
Article comments
1 - RJ Elliott
Iran doesn't just want a "World Without Zionism." It wants a world without the US of A.
Please take a gander at this picture. Look closely, and tell me these people aren't a dangerous enemy...
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
Before any strike takes place, America must prepare itself by devising a rather catchy slogan like we had with "Ayatollah Assahola."
"Ahmadinejad Ahmadickehead?"
3 - lumpy
Don't hold your breath waiting for the UN to do something. Today Mohammed el Baredai of the EIDC basically blew off European requests for sanctions. Whose bright idea was it to put a moslem in charge anyway?
4 - Triniman
I think Iran could be ripe for another revolution. If the young people believe the leaders and mullahs are nuts, then it would be in their own best interest to change the government and re-join the rest of the world.
Easier said than done, of course.
5 - Dave Nalle
The young people are educated in Madrassas which barely teach them to read and spend recess chanting death to the USA and all their class time memorizing the Koran. They're not likely to get sensible any time soon with that kind of education.
Dave
6 - Triniman
You could be right, Dave. But, Iran has universities, and I would think to gain entry you'd need to know more than what a madrass would teach you. They must have modern high schools where sane, rational people can be found.
7 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Patfish writes,
"Which brings me to the fourth reason the Iranians in power are so vocal about their nuclear program.
That country could be trying to scare its own citizens."
BINGO!!
You hit the jackpot! Go get your prize. Take a look at One Man's Persian.
Unrest continues in Iran at a low to medium boil and there is an attitude of immense dislike toward the mullahs. Being in power has made the Shia religion stink in the nose of many Persians.
Bear in mind that if the mullahs were tossed out, the folks that replaced them would be just as nationalistic. But they want frienship with the west, not enmity. And unlike Arabs, Persians don't hate us Jews.
8 - Sara
Hey..what is this conversation really about?
Ps. I think it's stupid that women in Iran
should go out, dressed like they do!!
Pps. Im one ½ from Iran..
9 - Dave Nalle
Triniman - sane, rational teachers in Iran tend to lose their jobs.
Dave
10 - Andy Panda
The best the world could do is once for all reunite against these animals and finally do something about it.
Iran is a clear and present danger.
They must be treated seriously, because they mean every word they say on any topic (e.g. the extermination of Israel).
11 - tommyd
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my!!
Certain Americans have become such ignorant and arrogant bullies who want their government to bomb innocent people (from the comfort of their own armchairs, of course) without even comprehending that it will solve absolutely NOTHING. Because of this delusional thinking, anyone calling for nuking Iran is actually calling for the end of America.
When a nation and her people adopt the old, "if we only get rid of these people, our paradise will arrive at last" is always proceeded by cataclysmic death and destruction.
The choices are:
1) Talk to Iran. Not easy. Iranian leaders have made several overtures to talk, but American arrogance refuses to. Americans have shown that they are merciless. Regardless of the over the top rhetoric of Ahmadenijad, the real power in Iran is with the Mullahs and they're the ones who call the shots and they're the ones who want to talk.
2) Prepare for World War III, with a good possibility of mammoth losses of life and property on ALL sides in the conflict and an end to the convenient lifestyles that we've all become accustomed to, replaced with suffering, starvation, disease and total social disintegration.
You armchair generals are playing with fire.