Back the Truck Up (quote of the day 12/4)

"I view this report as a warning signal that they had the program, they halted the program. The reason why it's a warning signal is they could restart it."

- President Bush on yesterday's revelation that Iran disbanded its efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon four years ago.

This came as a shock to many, but perhaps it shouldn't have.

After all, we've been here before.

A few weeks ago, President Bush said that those "interested in avoiding World War III" should work to keep Iran from gaining nuclear capabilities. The country's president was ridiculed as an oppressive tyrant (which he may be). The war drums were beating when the Democratically- controlled Congress classified Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization (which it may be).

We nearly invaded a country again, this time to bomb uranium enriching sites. We nearly did it for an overblown threat, again. No weapons of mass destruction, no active nuclear weapons program.

Bombing Iran was probably not going to happen during this administration, not because they didn't want to, but because of limited public support and time.

Hopefully this will serve as another reminder question what we're being fed, and not succumb to the tempting and almost comforting fear that comes with splitting the world between good and evil.

Hopefully.

Quote of the Day 10/17

"We've got a leader in Iran who has announced that he wants to destroy Israel... So I've told people that, if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon."

- President George W. Bush in a strong statement against Iran's ongoing nuclear program. This comes one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his country's commitment to helping Iran build a nuclear power plant, and stated that an attack on one Caspian nation is an attack on all Caspian nations.

I feel like I've seen this movie before.

Bored? No? Read this...

Foreign Affairs has published an essay by Hillary Rodham Clinton, in which the Senator outlines the overall foreign policy strategy of her would-be administration.

As NBC reports, in it she talks about how she will end the war in Iraq, deal effectively with Iran, reinforce the military effort in Afghanistan, fight terrorism, strengthen America's relationship with our allies, rebuild the military, engage Russia and China, affirm human rights and work with other countries to address climate change, while placing a strong focus on diplomacy.

Clinton talks about the importance of engaging adversaries like Iran:

“Iran must conform to its nonproliferation obligations and must not be permitted to build or acquire nuclear weapons. If Iran does not comply with its own commitments and the will of the international community, all options must remain on the table. On the other hand, if Iran is in fact willing to end its nuclear weapons program, renounce sponsorship of terrorism, support Middle East peace, and play a constructive role in stabilizing Iraq, the United States should be prepared to offer Iran a carefully calibrated package of incentives. This will let the Iranian people know that our quarrel is not with them but with their government and show the world that the United States is prepared to pursue every diplomatic option.”

No! What I said was, we have no Maize... so I'd love to bring back some of that sweet corn!

Many of you will remember Iranian President Ahmadinejad's curious statement that there are no homosexuals in Iran. You can listen to it above, and remember it spawned a funny SNL video.

But now, a media adviser is "clarifying" his statement.

“What Ahmadinejad said was not a political answer. He said that, compared to American society, we don’t have many homosexuals,” Mohammad Kalhor said.

As silly as the statement and its cover-up are, this is no laughing matter. Consider Nazila Fathi's article in the New York Times.

(as quoted in a piece by blogger Mike Nizza)

Gays are punished by lashing or death if it is proved that they have had homosexual relations. Two gay teenagers were executed in 2005 in Mashad, a northeastern city.

Fear of persecution is so strong that some gay men and lesbians have sought and received asylum in Western countries.

The Iranian Student News Agency reported in 2005 that a lesbian had been killed in prison by other inmates whom, it was alleged, she had forced to have sex with her. Tehran’s chief prosecutor, Saeed Mortazavi, said in May in an interview on state-run television that the police were looking for men who dressed and looked like homosexuals.

A French Connection

USAToday.com is reporting that France has acknowledged Iranian nuclear efforts have brought the Shi'ite state to "run nearly 3,000 uranium centrifuges". This would give the Iranians the capability to build about a nuclear bomb per year. Diplomats based their revelation on an International Atomic Energy Agency's memorandum received in Paris. This all comes in a time, the report insists, when Paris is considering tougher measures against Tehran, quite possibly taking the issue up to the European Union.

At the United Nations opening of the General Assembly last week, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was adamant about not being weak with respect to Iran's defiance. Mr. Sarkozy said, "There will be no peace in the world if the international community falters in the face of nuclear arms proliferation," referring to the Security Council's attempts at curbing Iran's nuclear goals. His direct tone allowed President Bush to be less vigilant in his speech, instead giving the President some leeway to speak on global poverty and third-world development.

Although a war with Iran may seem imminent, it's obvious the European governments are much more willing to be involved in this measure than during the run-up to Iraq. Not only is there ample evidence of nuclear technological build-up, but Iranian rejection of the international community's demands begs for a committed diplomatic effort by leading powers to intervene. A nuclear Iran needs to be seen as a threat to the world's stability, not just U.S. interest and allies.

Warmongering always needs to be listened to carefully, yet taken with a grain of salt. If Iraq has taught us one thing, it's that vigilant rhetoric should never be substituted for the truth. However, Mr. Sarkozy has a point when he explains how the world can only live at peace when nefarious regimes, like that of Tehran, are pursuing peaceful ambitions, as opposed to trying to become a member of "the Club". A war with Iran would be costly, probably not quick, and require much more sacrifices than currently. Still, for the purpose of having a non-nuclear Iran, it would also be worth it.

You’ve Studied Yourself Retarded

I know this post is a bit late on the subject, however, I think its important to touch on a few points that no one has mentioned here in relation to Columbia’s invitiation to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Yes I know its very late, but so was every single paper I handed in high school and college. That being said, I now move on to my main point: Columbia University has studied itself retarded.

Columbia University’s invitation to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad represents everything that is wrong with the far left. There is a certain arrogance that the far left has, especially a university such as Columbia, that damages the image of Democratic party as a whole. It’s this smarter than you attitude that drives independents to vote for C minus candidates (also known as Morons) as opposed to left leaning Democrats, who get pinned with this image. At what point in your studies have you learned enough facts, solved enough math problems that you become so completely insensitive to reality and make decisions that are in the “quest for education”, yet serve no such purpose. At what point do you put youself so far above the “layman”, that you become just too intelligent for us to understand your reasoning. These people have become completely blinded by their intellect.

Supposedly, this invitation was for the purpose of education. What could they have possibly learned from Ahmadinejad’s presence. Maybe they thought that they could change his views, you know cause they're so smart, how could they not? Guess they failed to realize he is just a figurehead. In 1933 Adolf Hitler’s highest Ambassador, Hans Luther, came and spoke at Columbia, as several other Nazi Ambassadors were around the world giving similar speeches, about Hitler’s peaceful intentions. Millions of Europeans and Americans bought into these "pecaceful intentions" until it became obviously false in the late 1930's. Now we have to listen to another oppression dictator speak of peaceful intentions at Columbia University.

The more I think about it, the more I think this was just a shameful plug and a pathetic grab for attention by Columbia and now they’ve been used as complete tools. They’ve become propaganda for the Iranian government. After his question and answer at Columbia, the Islamic Republic News Agency posted the following article. http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-24/0709252616013529.htm

My personal favorite quote: “On second day of his entry in New York, and amid standing ovation of the audience that had attended the hall where the Iranian President was to give his lecture as of early hours of the day, Ahmadinejad said that Iran is not going to attack any country in the world. “

Lets forget the possibility that this man could possibly be providing Iraqi insurgents with tools to plant roadside bombs that are killing Americans. You’ve been used for propaganda. You've been used for "A standing ovation"…….