An American's true feelings toward Iran and current US policy.

May 24, 2006

Russia and Iran Oil Burse

As a US citizen and most likely to suffer from a drop in the American dollar, I cannot urge Russia and Iran to start selling oil in Euros and Rubles as soon as possible.
It is an unfortunate fact of life that the US Government is so completely out of control in the world today. The current US Administration is so belligerent and disrespectful to other countries of the world that I feel a complete collapse of its economic system would be the jolt needed to begin the changes necessary to fix this country's broken democracy.

For months, I believed there was an energy crises, which was causing the current US Administration to behave so irrationally. First they destroy the World Trade Center Towers and attack the Pentagon to blame foreign terrorists to justify an attack, invasion, and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. Now Iran is in the cross hairs. To be sure the world is now at Peak Oil and oil reserves are now in decline. But there is no energy crises.

Many hard working entrepreneurial Americans have invented amazing devices to split water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas for combustion in an internal combustion engine. Their excitement to save their country from an energy crises has resulted in either their deaths or being paid to bury their devices. It's a crime beyond contempt.

Why?

Because the oil companies control the White house and US government policy. US government policy, the US military, and the public US treasury are at the disposal of the US oil companies to secure more oil rich areas of the world, which they can exploit for their personal gain.

The US government does not work for its people. Is not responsible to the American people. Does not care about the American people nor other people of the world.
The US Government only cares about ensuring that its benefactors the US oil companies continue to have a product to sell to earn billions of dollars, irregardless of the damage this product does to the environment.
(co2 gas and greenhouse warming)

This is the price of a capitalistic system, which is now severely broken. When a government does not have the best interests of its people and the world at heart it is time for that government to end its reign of destructive power.

There is no war on foreign terror in the United States, there never was, there is only a war on domestic terror. This war is currently being fought by the American people against their own federal government, to have it removed so a more responsible government body can be put into place.

A new US government body, which will embrace the welfare of the people and those of the world. A government that will immediately embrace the new water fuel technology and stop warring in the Middle East.

Democracy in the United States is only an illusion. There is no democracy at the top, only players manipulated by the oil companies to do their bidding.
The sooner the financial collapse of the United States occurs the better it will be for everyone concerned. The current US Administration is as much a danger to its own people as it is to the rest of the world, especially Iran.

I wish good luck to Russia and Iran on their new oil burses. I urge all countries of the world to trade in Euros and Rubles abandoning the American dollar.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is the current state of affairs in the United States government be it republican or democratic. Congress is likewise corrupted by oil money.

Why?

It's the way this capitalistic system works. And now it's broken beyond repair.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

There's a harsh and brutal rightist alignment slowly taking over all our countries. Complex issues, but taking Mussolini's equating corporatism with fascism, please don't discount the new, updated and improved face of this trend -- fascists persons were liquidated in WWII, their ideas certainly did not; giving it a 'kinder, gentler look' doesn't mask this phenomenon very well at all.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

You wanna make some interesting comparisons to the Nazis? Let's have a little gander at the Neo-Cons, shall we? The first rule of those hideous bastards was: Repeat the lie over and over and, in a matter of time, the public, stupid as they are, will believe it - Yes, Iraq had weopons of mass destruction. Yes, Saddam was directly involved in 9/11. No, John Kerry was never really wounded in Viet Nam. No, spying on US citizens without warrent is not illegal - I mean the list is endless. Do you really think that the government of a despicable half-wit named George W. Bush is really a force for good on this trubled planet? Are you that out of touch with reality that you still believe that this disgusting little piece of shit is a good and decent leader? (DISCLAIMER: Of course, it goes without saying that The overwhelming majority of AlterNet readers are very much in touch with reality. I really am preaching to the choir here, aren't I?)

Richard Clarke, in his eye-opening book, Against All Enemies, related the story that, within days of the attacks of September 11, 2001, Bush cornered him outside the cabinet meeting room and literally ordered him to find a connection to Iraq. They never had any intention of going after Osama bin Laden or whoever it was who was really behind the events of that horrible day (I'm starting to wonder). Their real and ONLY intention was to invade a sovereign nation that was a threat to no one but it self. Do you really think for one minute that had Iraq's main export been galvinized bicycle clamps these assholes would have even thought about invading it? If you do, I have a One thousand dollar stove made out of balsa wood that I'd just love to sell you!

Forgive me for sounding like a broken record but I'm not going to stop screaming about this until the day (or night - I'm open to suggestions) George W. Bush AND Dick Cheney are impeached, removed from power and hauled off to prison for the rest of their fucking lives for their crimes against humanity in general and the people of Iraq in particular.

Yes kiddies! George W. Bush will be remembered in history. primarily, as the first former chief executive of this once-great country to be sent to federal prison. Sound crazy? Stay tuned.

Pray for peace.

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Those in power, and Bush is only their front man, no longer have the strength, maturity or stature to confront the Big Boys: Russia, China, India but can take any Little Guy; Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea, and attempt to build the proverbial "molehill into a mountain." It is the Little Guy they are so good at picking on, just as any common bully in the school playground. And bullies are basicallly cowards who huff and puff just to cover up their own fears of impotence.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The propaganda in the world today that sounds the most like Nazis originates in the "brains?" of the worst of the Bushie neocons. Impeach all these total dipshits.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

A clear case of lies and deception. Compare Iran to the Third Reich to deflect attention to our own little budding Fourth Riech right here at home with the First Nazi as Der Fueher(I have mentioned before that Fuehrer translates to Leader). Since Gingrich's Storm Troopers took Washington in 95 each time a derogatory comment, albeit the truth, came out about the Rebubliscams, a lie was published about a "liberal" and the bad things went away.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Heartening to read so many comments from dissenting American citizens. It's valuable to have a forum to discuss these issues, if only to know that you're not alone in thinking this way. I wonder if it wouldn't be more valuable to write to the newspapers and let the rest of the country know how you're all feeling? Would they even print such letters?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

What do we make of recent public statements by this Iranian president, in which he denied that the Holocaust occurred and in another threatened to wipe Israel off the map? Regardless how one feels about the Israeli occupation in Palestine, the slaughter of six or seven million people- Jews and Arabs alike- in a nuclear attack on Israel by Iran would be the most horrific of moral tragedies. What terrifies me is not so much Ahmedinejad, who I agree does not have control of the country, but the hard line clerics who are really orchestrating the nuclear program with malicious intents. This is theocratic totalitarianism that frightens me. I find it interesting that progressives seem to ignore these basic facts about this regime. Please don't take me wrong; I am not a person who advocates our country pre-emptively attacking Iran. But, I do want to know what this community believes should be the disposition we have towards this Iranian dictatorship, their leaderships actual rhetoric, and their intents for nuclear technology development.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Take him seriously. The First Warlord stirred the Iran hornet's nest on 9 11 when in a 2-pronged attempt to deflect attention from his dereliction of duty and a blatant cave-in to StarWars proponents, the nuclear industry and the military-industrial complex Bush started ranting about axes of evil. Not defending Iran but what would any country do when pushed into a corner but push back by any means at their dispoasal. A bully at heart and a joke to everyone who knew him even his family, now that Bush has power he is the new age dictator. Bush is so stupid he has no idea how to use power except by Nazi tactics

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

It doesn't really even matter all that much whether it was true or not. As long as it got some play and got read by millions, it will have an effect. You that this tactic "failed". it did NOT fail! It worked as long as millions read it and only thousands read the rebuttal.

Your total disregard of this factor shows how little you urderstand marketing and propaganda. It amazes me how you so called political pundits get by with this.

PROPAGANDA IS A NUMBERS GAME. You want as many people as possible to read it. If lots of people read it, you WIN, even if it is later proved false.

And just showing something to be false doesn't even work that well. There will be a lasting aftereffect.

Go study psychology for a couple of years....

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

America spent more on it's military in the last couple of years than the next sixteen countries combined (maybe you felt the pinch?)
If any country attacked American interests with nuclear weapons they would be quickly NUKED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH by the USA. Everyone knows it. They also know that the only reason to have a nuke is to prevent America from threatening them (see the example of North Korea which openly taunted America with their nuclear capability while Bush was reducing Iraq to stone-age levels of sophistication and talking of 'diplomatic' solutions for N.Korea).
The Iranian president is performing for his domestic audience and muslims in general in the middle east, much like Saddam used to do. If he attempted a strike on Israel he knows that's the end for Iran).
I was in Iran during 9/11 and thousands of people thronged the streets holding candles for the victims of that atrocity. The news channels reported it as a terrible crime but knew it was related to American foreign policy. When I switched over to CNN I saw Bush claiming that the terrorist 'hated freedom'. The contrast between sympathetic yet intelligent comment and sheer childish propoganda was striking. Iranians respect America as a soverign nation and merely wish the same respect from the rest of the world, but realise that America and their clients are only interested in their oil. There'll always be nutters in Iran just as there'll always be nutters in America (Pat Robertson, anyone? Dick Cheney? Anne Coulter?) They scare me more than that little Iranian guy.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

While the Taliban were still in power, they announced that Afghan Jews (all three of them?) would be required to wear yellow badges. It was "for their own protection" since the Taliban simultaneously issued a decree that all Afghan Muslims had to wear distinctively "Islamic" clothing. That way, it was explained, the Jews would not be beaten up by the Taliban goons who patrolled the streets hoping to beat up women whose shoes squeaked, or Muslims whose attire was too western.

Normally the Taliban paid no attention whatever to worldwide public opinion (cf. the Buddha statues that they blasted into confetti) but this time the uproar was so vehement that they quickly rescinded their decree.

The bogus "yellow badges for Iran's Jews" story read as if it were lifted word-for-word from the stories years ago about the Taliban and the Afghan Jews.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Let's try and imagine the neocon conference on Iran -

"Let's get Teheri to write this fake article; we'll then plant in one of our private press outlets, maybe through Murdoch. Now we need to make sure this story is picked up and widely promoted. Who came up with this one? Nice work - the yellow stars are very evocative, and I like that you included both Jews and Christians.

Now, what else are we working on in this area? We need to portray Iran as an out-of-control nuclear lunatic state - what about that fake story about Iran having a bomb "in a matter of months"? Can we boost that one up on the media pole? Is it a bad idea to use the mushroom cloud / smoking gun image again?

Okay, now let's turn to covert operations currently being conducted in Iran - I assume everyone here has security clearance, chuckle chuckle. If we can get some populations to 'rise up' in the north, the Kurds maybe, we can paint them as repressing their own population - who is in charge of this?"

It looks like a carbon-copy replay of the Iraq war lead-in - except that the Iranians aren't playing along (I bet Bush and Rumsfeld hated the sight of that 18-page letter with a passion, Bush cause he might have had to read it, Rumsfeld because he knew it made Iran look more reasonable, less crazy).

Never forget Goebbels description of effective propaganda: First, he says, simplify all complex topics until a small child can understand them. Then, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat. If anyone dissents, label them as traitors who are threatening the security of the people and the state.

The neocons aren't Nazis; they are wannabe Nazis, smiling little proto-fascists - and if they could get away with more, you know they would leap at the chance.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I think all of you small minded lefties should wear little badges just so we know who you are when we right wing neocon fascists come lookin' for ya'. It will certainly make our searches easier with a quick recognition system in place. We members of the vast right wing conspiracy are still formulating plans for your eventual relocation and disposition so please do not ask at this time for the specifics of the grand plan. In the meantime please register with one of our web servers. Please include your name and address and your social security number and whether you need special accomodations upon relocation (i.e. homo bunking, hemmorhoid creams and or transgendered bathroom facilities for example). At the proper time you will be notified as to your place and time of embarkation. Failure to register will not be viewed favorably by the VRWC council or the NRA. Additional penalties could apply.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

nobody could accuse practitioners of the bahai faith of being warlike, imperialistic, or scheming to take over the world. but iran's treatment of this peaceful religious community has been consistently nasty. See this link:

http://info.bahai.org/persecution_iran.html

add to that the threats against israel and it's easy to see why some folks jumped at the "badges" story.

And, for the record, i don't believe for a moment the U.S. harbors any plans to attack Iran (after the debacle in Iraq).

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

It's a joke because this country has 100x more ties to Nazi Germany. This is the country where people will soon have to wear badges. It's just ok because everybody has to wear them. lol. Oh yeah and it's no big deal because you don't actually wear them on your arm like in Nazi Germany.

I'm talking about the national ID card btw... It's sad that one would have to suspect such a seemingly benign object as being so dangerous. But it is. It's as "Nazi" as anything could ever be. And it has little opposition. Hell, I still feel like a damn loon every time I bring this up.

I can imagine what those first few conscientious Germans must have felt when they heard the rumors that the jews were being exterminated, not relocated. What do you say when you find out it is true? What did they say? What could they say? ...Without sounding like a damn loon? Sooner or later everyone is going to have to find out the answer to that question if we want things to change for the better.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Nuh uh! Ahmadinejad is Hitler!

Nuh uh! Bush is Hitler!

Is not!

Is too!

.... grow up, people. And get a grip. Hitler is dead.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Terrorism, in one form or another, has been around for centuries.

Leaders, such as Bush and Ahmadinejad, have been around for centuries, too.

People who allow leaders to do their thinking for them have always made it possible for leaders like Bush and Ahmadinejad to flourish - throughout the centuries.

Unfortunately, we appear to be living in an era when we, the people, are content to let our leaders do just that. While we sit quietly on the sidelines, OUR leaders are turning OUR world into THEIR little battleground.

There is a solution: Start using that organ, the brain - be it gifted by evolution or God!

THINK!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

As someone who works in the media, to inform, we've seem to do better to mislead people today. And those who work at a Rupert Murdoch-owned company, those organizations function best when sending out propaganda.
C'mon, did we really believe that Iranian Jews would be subjected to such treatment? Ahmadinejad is no Hitler, nor Iran is a Arabic version of the Third Reich.
I don't remember seeing Iranian tanks plowing through Syria, Turkey, or wheeling madly toward Jerusalem. If so, then where are the concentration camps? The comparisons are absurd. Mein Gott!
So folks, don't always believe the news about Iran coming from the Murdoch camp. They want you to believe in a POINT OF VIEW. You'll never get the truth if you read or listen to false stories like this.
It is irresponsible journalism, awful reporting at its best.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The guy just wants all the Jews killed and Israel wiped off the map.

What's the big deal?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

this title is my garlic defense against extrajudicial rendition to Jordan field office of Shin Beth to be worked over by the same experts who had Mordechai Vanunu under their thumb when he dared speak about Israel's nuclear weaponry.
Now, a few facts: National Post used to be owned by Conrad Black, married to Barbara Amiel (feel free to peruse some of her articles on the subject), who also owned Jerusalem Post and had Richard Perle on the board of directors. Black sold National Post to Israel Asper, check his bio on Wikipedia: Izzy Asper.
One quote goes as follows: "While a Liberal in domestic Canadian politics his views in regard to Zionism coincided with the right wing Likud".
Just so you know where the above story of Mein Krap originated.
The worisome part is how quickly this bargain basement rant was picked up by the neocon echo chamber and now most people who have heard it never read the retraction in National Post.
By the way, Izzy Asper died and the torch of disinformation was passed to his son, Leonard.
I watched him on CBC (whom Nat Post had previously accused of antisemitism, naturally) last night harrumphing in righteous indignation: "It is absolutely preposterous that someone would consider this as a matter of editorial policy".
In other words, innocent until proven guilty for the thousandth time.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Looks like the Israel Lobby hasn't been doing so good lately. AIPAC's spies get arrested. The plan to gin up a war with Iran goes sour. And now they can't even float a cheesy Star of David story in the Canadian press. Boy oh boy. How the mighty have fallen.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

israel has never threatened iran with nukes, iranian leaders have made nuke threats to israel (rafsanjani, former prez and prez candidate in the "election" that "elected" ahmadinejad, specifically threatened to nuke Israel). In fact, since israel doesn't admit it has nukes, it's never threatened anybody with nukes.

Iran has threatened Israel continuously since 1979 when khomeini came to power. sorry that doesn't fit in with your worldview, it just happens to be true.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

here in our dwindling democracy are as persuasive as anything in the sphere of those who throw around the term "nazi." If the neo-cons don't figure out how pernicious is their agenda, they might find themselves dodging similar accusations.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Terrorists

Shock and Awe. . . The name given to the assault on Iraq was an act of terrorism that surpassed the attack on the twin towers and had been planned before the attack on New York City. It is three in the morning and an 85 year old WWII vet woke up this morning filled with anger at his daughter and granddaughter. His daughter had just E-mailed him photographs taken of her daughter and fiancé taken in Iraq. The granddaughter was a Captain on her third tour in the occupation of the cradle of civilization. It is as though the ghost of Heydrich the butcher of Czechoslovakia had visited me in a nightmare. The evident pride of my daughter in “Captain Lulu” contrasted with the sorrow of Cindy Sheehan brought back symptoms of the post traumatic stress syndrome that recurred when I was under anesthetic for a hip replacement. My surgeon said that it took three of them to hold me down.

This is terror and I have been terrorized but I am not under anesthesia. I simply ran to my typewriter and am pouring my anger on my word processor. Unlike Cindy I do not see our youth in Iraq as “our dear troops”. Being an officer Lulu has the option of resigning her commission; unlike the enlisted people she is a careerist leading the mercenaries who are rapidly losing their humanity in this never ending war on the behalf of Israel and Halliburton. Seven generals have resigned their commissions but we still allow the Bush administration to contemplate a war on Iran and have sent warships to the Caribbean to threaten Nicaragua. The American people are still a sleeping giant. They are slowly waking up but where is “the terrible resolve”. When are they going to turn on the fascist criminals in Washington?

Before going to sleep I watched the Jon Daly show that pillories the administration take a shot at the United Nations for including China and Cuba as members. His objection was that they were violators of human rights. The only human rights being violated in Cuba are the rights of the concentration camp prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Cuba has the best medical care in the world and China is faced with a population of over a billion people. Somehow watching decent people like Lulu and Jon accepting the lies of the corporation media is disturbing, but the knowledge that both houses of congress refuse to impeach the criminal gang that has taken over our country is horrifying.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

codingguy, I don't know who you are nor your real political leaning, but some things are obvious.
You write well, but your analysis are superficial, don't bring anything new to the discourse, and talk about being touchy!
-I am from Southamerica, and lived there during the Condor Plan years. That's the conspiracy generated by that CIA front man, Chilean Gen. Pinochet, who in cahoots with the the Argentine junta, the Uruguayan army's civilian prop Pres. Bordaberry, Paraguay's Pres. Gen. Stroessner, Brazil's many military heads of government during that period, and even Bolivian Pres. Gen. Banzer, eliminated as much as they could of the opposition -leftists, of course (remember, School of the Americas had trained a large numbers of the repressors)- who dared touch the local elites selling the growing economic wealth being looted from those countries. I had been in Europe and Canada just before the last coup in my country of birth, so luckily I was not bothered, but, for family reasons, I was stuck there while the 'totalitarian' -as Sen. Bentsen would have defined them- regimes where in control and their fascistic tactics were slowly getting more defined. It always starts slow at first. So my experience tells me, yes, as things are going on today, that seems to be whats in store for the US. You must agree at some level, since you moved to Canada.
-I know I started insulting you by calling you vapid, splenetic, and boring, but it's because you taunt in almost everyone of your posts. You are a bully who begins by hurling insults. Go back and read your posts in just this subject today, starting at 8:56 pm. Let the record speak by itself.
-With cold2touch you present yourself as if you are intellectually honest, but when I posted something from Jeffrey Blankfort about his understanding of how the AIPAC lobby wags the dog, and Israel bites the hand that feeds it, in your answer you called him, first, Blankfart (how old are you, really?) and then that he must be " a jew of... some kind " Why not be honest and call him what you wanted, "a self-hating jew"?
-This deserves to be clarified: Jeffrey Blankfort is a well know California radio personality, jewish, but not a Zionist. I completely feel that to you, if a Jew is not a diehard pro Israel no-matter-what, then "you are against us."
For those interested on reading the daring and sincere interview of J. Blankfort, April 18, 2006, The Chomsky/Blankfort Polemic (yeah, that Chomsky) this is the link:
www.sf.indymedia.org/news/2006/04/1727000.php
You know, you make things harder for everyone of us if a political entity such as a country, Israel in this case, cannot be criticized. It's absurd! After 60 years in a hot regions as the middle east, several wars, occupation, a brand-new apartheid wall, and AIPAC!, what do they expect, to be left alone?! No one, nowhere, is that clean. The Swiss thought they were, but... well, I'm sure you know the story. Things kept down under pressure tend to explode.
I get tired of writing in English and having to use so many arbitrary prepositions all the time. I tell this before you tell me to go back to my native land to learn English.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]