The President of Iran in the U.S.

A fascinating interview online with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is online at NPR.org. Listening to it on All Things Considered this morning, I was again amazed at the Amero-centric worldview we have in the U.S. Steve Inskeep did a wonderful job verbally combating Ahmadinejad, who according to Inskeep, never stopped smiling, but I have to admit, I agree with Ahmadinejad when he asks “Why do you assume that your system is better than everybody else’s?”

I would love to simply call the Iranian President a modern-day Hitler, but can’t. He’s no dummy. He’s very intelligent, and despite staying calm as Inskeep called him to task about everything from his alleged desire to “wipe Israel off the map” to, if I heard correctly, charges he was one of the students who took American hostages in the 70s. He responded to it all calmly and intelligently.

But what made the biggest impression on my was his question to Inskeep, when asked about the Iranian system’s freedom of expression and freedom to run for office even if you don’t agree with the Mullahs. Ahmadinejad responded “I ask you, can anyone in fact become a president without the support of either of the two parties here in the United States?”

Oooh. Good point.

I don’t know, ask Ron Paul.

Don’t you just hate it when they do that? You’re in the middle of a perfectly good finger-pointing attack and the guy turns it around by holding up a mirror?

I only hope when Inskeep saw his reflection he was wearing a nicer jacket than the Iranian President was.

The Iranian EMP Threat – Redux

Once again, as elements in our nation lobby for war, a story from NewsMax discusses the intelligence that suggests Iran is preparing an EMP attack on the U.S. Is this a credible threat?

Possibly.

More likely though, is that this story helps beat the war drum to hit Iran with this same type of attack. Much like an enormous amount of intelligence surfaced immediately after 9/11 about who attacked us and why, if there were a semi-successful attack on territory and resources not closely tied to the survival of the United States, I have a feeling we’d be served up hard evidence that Iran was behind it, and that they are, in fact, ahead of where we thought they were in their quest for nuclear weapons. That would justify the end of Iran’s participation in the 21st century (and 20th century as well). I don’t believe we would “turn their major cities to glass” as many call for, I just think we would detonate 4 or 5 EMP weapons ourselves, turning a very modern nation with a very backward religious-based authoritarian government into a 19th century society.

If that happens, there will be those in the government who will actually suggest we did them a favor by ending their conflict between the old world and the new. There will be those who say “be careful what you wish for.” Want the kind of male-dominated medieval society the Shiites seem to advocate? Here you go.

Personally, I don’t believe that Iran could pull this off. I think their President likes to talk a big game, but I don’t think the country collectively has the desire to end the modern era. But what’s most important, is what the people who run the United States believe and want, and what the Iranian government gives our leaders the excuse to do.

Attacking Iran “Madness?” Think again

Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham said on Saturday that any attacks against the Islamic republic would be an “act of stupidity.” Quotes a report from China Net. Reuters quotes Elham as saying again that should Israel attack, Iran will crush them.

Both reports talk about the “madness” and “stupidity” of attacking Iran. What the Iranian mouthpiece fails to mention is the necessity, some say is playing a major part in the possible future attack on the country’s nuclear facilities, and of course leadership and infrastructure. With a deepening housing crisis in the U.S. and financial troubles that look bleaker every day (the second biggest bank failure in U.S. history – IndyMac’s assets were seized yesterday), record high oil prices and a weakening dollar, the thought that our leadership might go once again to the well of war to create economic recovery is not as much conspiracy theory as it was a few months ago.

Many talk about the fiscal (not to mention moral) fiasco the Iraq war has become, but looked at from a larger perspective, it has put the U.S. and our allies within easy striking distance of the only remaining oil-rich enemy, as the reports of Israeli jets practicing for an Iranian raid and using U.S. airbases in Iraq in the operations show. And though we seemed to be getting along through the 1990s, clearly the 444 days the Iranians held Americans hostages during the end of the Carter administration has not been forgiven by many of us. Should we commit to a clash of arms, I think there will be more American support for that action than many expect. A clue that an attack is near may well be a PR barrage that brings those memories back to the forefront. Watch for the mainstream media to begin replaying that footage, in an effort to reignite anti-Iranian feelings.

It’s a dangerous time. Watch carefully for the clues, be prepared and keep your family safe.

More Likely

It’s pretty conclusive that the Iranians photoshopped their “4 missiles launching” picture.

Well, Photoshop isn’t anything that exotic, these days.

More likely:

Nuking Iran? Congress takes a step closer

According to former Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul, anyway:

“I hear members of Congress saying ‘if we could only nuke them’,” said the congressman Thursday.

The House of Representatives is preparing to approve House Resolution 362, which instructs the President to virtually cut Iran off from the rest of the world. In effect, a blockade would be thrown up, something Iran will almost certainly consider an act of war.

Again, Representative Paul:

This resolution,” Paul said, “Is a virtual War resolution. It is a declaration of tremendous sanctions and boycotts, and embargos on the Iranians – very, very severe…This is unbelievable. This is closing down Iran. Where do we have this authority? Where do we get the moral authority? Where do we get the international legality for this? Where do we get the Constitutional authority for this? This is what we did for 10 years before we went into Iraq: we starved children – 50,000 individuals, it was admitted, probably died because of the sanctions on the Iraqis.

What can possibly be next, other than war?