Iranian “Supreme Leader” has Earthly passions, defector reports.
http://bit.ly/6uqH2v

Story here from Fox News. (H/T Hot Air)

Excerpt:

At least 15 people were killed during massive anti-government protests in Tehran when opposition supporters clashed with security forces in the streets, Iranian state television reported Monday.

The report said 10 people killed during Sunday’s fierce clashes in the Iranian capital were members of “anti-revolutionary terrorist” groups, apparently referring to opposition supporters.

The other five who died were killed by “terrorist groups” in a “suspicious act,” the report said, without elaborating.

Iranian security forces stormed a series of opposition offices on Monday, rounding up at least seven prominent anti-government activists in a new crackdown against the country’s reformist movement, opposition Web sites and activists reported.

And in the UK Telegraph:

In the six months that have followed, Barack Obama’s high-risk engagement strategy has simply encouraged more repression from the Mullahs, as well as ever greater levels of defiance over Iran’s nuclear weapons programme. As Con Coughlin noted in an excellent piece for The Wall Street Journal last month, Obama’s Iran diplomacy isn’t working:

“Iranian human-rights groups say that since the government crackdown began in late June, at least 400 demonstrators have been killed while another 56 are unaccounted, which is several times higher than the official figures. The regime has established a chain of unofficial, makeshift prisons to deal with the protesters, where torture and rape are said to be commonplace. In Tehran alone, 37 young Iranian men and women are reported to have been raped by their captors.”

Now once again huge street protests have flared up on the streets of Tehran and a number of other major cities, with several protesters shot dead this weekend by the security forces and Revolutionary Guards, reportedly including the nephew of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, and dozens seriously injured. And again there is deafening silence from the Commander-in-Chief as well as his Secretary of State. And where is the president? On vacation in Hawaii, no doubt recuperating from his exertions driving forward the monstrous health care reform bill against the overwhelming will of the American public and without a shred of bipartisan support.

Iran is also attempting to import 1350 tons of uranium – enough to make many weapons of mass destruction. (H/T ECM)

Excerpt:

Iran is close to clinching a deal to clandestinely import 1,350 tons of purified uranium ore from Kazakhstan, according to an intelligence report obtained by the Associated Press on Tuesday. Diplomats said the assessment was heightening international concern about Tehran’s nuclear activities.

And as Muddling Towards Maturity notes, Iraq’s Christians are facing persecution.

Excerpt:

…Iraq’s dwindling Christian communities are still being targeted on the basis of their faith. That is especially the case in Mosul, long the most lawless and violent place in Iraq. By an unhappy coincidence, Mosul is also located in the ancestral heartland of Iraqi Christianity, and is thus the last refuge (short of exile) for Christians fleeing targeted violence in Baghdad, Basra, and other places.

Mosul is therefore a target-rich environment. In December alone, at least seven churches, convents, and schools have been bombed, claiming dozens of lives, including the latest holy innocent, an eight-day-old baby girl. Iraq’s central government deserves credit for dispatching some 3,000 additional police after a similar spate of bombings and attacks in October, but their presence has brought little improvement as Christians continue to flee Mosul for overcrowded and underdeveloped villages such as Qaraqosh in the adjacent Nineveh plain. Meanwhile, the situation around Kirkuk, also in northern Iraq, remains nearly as dire for Christians caught up in the Arab-Kurdish struggle for control of the area’s oil fields.

While the Iraqi government has belatedly taken some modest steps to ease the suffering of Iraqi Christians, the U.S. government’s consistent policy of studied and shameful indifference forms rare common ground between the Bush and Obama administrations. It is an indelible stain on American honor that two administrations did nothing to assist, much less protect, a beleaguered religious minority.

It’s a dangerous world. This is not the time for playing golf in Hawaii.

  Exclusive Interview with Ayatollah Montazeri, 2004

In 2004, Muslim Peace Fellowship produced a special issue of Fellowship magazine, the publication of our ally organization the Fellowship of Reconciliation, devoted to transformative currents in the Muslim world. Among the many important stories in that landmark issue, the interview granted us by Ayatollah Montazeri, whose recent death has reignited the ongoing democratic protest in Iran, was the crown jewel. We are happy to make it available to a wider audience at this time. The arranger and conductor of this interview (and then board member of MPF) was Hossein Alizadeh.

Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri is perhaps the highest-ranking Shi’i cleric alive. Born in 1922 in the city of Najaf Abad, Iran, he achieved the highest scholarly degree available to Shi’is at the astonishingly youthful age of twenty-four. Since then he has published nineteen books. One of them, Religious Foundations of an Islamic Government, revolutionized Shi’i political discourse by challenging age-old principles of political inactivity and seclusion. His convictions turned him into a political activist who spent years in jail and in exile under the pro-Western regime of the Shah. Religious Foundations became the inspiration of the 1979 Iranian revolution, and Montazeri was the assigned successor to Ayatollah Khomeini, the powerful leader of Iran.

However Montazeri’s uncompromising criticism of the government’s performance (particularly the eight-year war with Iraq and the 1988 massacre of political prisoners) led to his forced resignation in the spring of 1989. The man once referred to as “the future of the revolution” was now “the puppet of antirevolutionary forces” and “the idiot shaykh.” Although Khomeini’s political successor, Ayatollah Khamenei, was formerly one of Montazeri’s students, he has shown little mercy to his professor since he came to power. Over eight years, every time Montazeri questioned the government, thugs attacked his residence, destroyed his furniture, set his library on fire, and even tried to kill him. Finally, after a famous speech in 1997 in which Montazeri accused Khamenei of dictatorship, Khamenei put him under house arrest and imprisoned members of his family and staff.

Although the house arrest finally ended in 2003, Montazeri still remains a symbol of political oppression and resistance in Iran. Ironically, the very person who laid the theoretical foundation of the current Islamic regime in Iran is today one of its victims.

We would like to thank Mojtaba Lotfi, the head ofAyatollah Montazeri’s public relations office. Mr. Lotfi was arrested soon after this interview on unspecified charges and has not been released as of today.

MPF: You are one of the founding fathers of the velayat al-faqih (“government by religious jurist”) theory, which basically argues for an Islamic theocracy where high-ranking Muslim clerics are in charge of the political system. In practice, however, the experience of Islamic theocracies in Iran and Afghanistan in the past two decades has been quite similar to the Catholic Church’s tyranny during the Dark Ages in Europe. In both cases, religious leaders used religion to justify immorality, corruption, and mismanagement that are by any standard against the very spirit of the religion. Considering the failure of politicized religion in creating an ideal society, what do you think should be the role of faith in society?

Montazeri: I have always advocated the governance of religious jurists because I truly believe that according to Islamic teachings, only a fair-minded and pragmatic legal expert with proven managerial skills is qualified for the leadership of an Islamic country. I should point out the fact that Islam, apart from its moral rules and rituals, has a comprehensive set of social, political, and economic guidelines. Whoever runs an Islamic country should be well-versed in the Islamic literature so that he can run the country efficiently. As a result, I am of the opinion that an Islamic legal scholar who is also qualified as a politician is preferable to other candidates.

What I am trying to say is that if people want to live their lives according to a religious value system, it only makes sense to have knowledgeable experts monitoring different branches of the government so that the officials don’t go off track. In an Islamic society, a knowledgeable legal expert is known as a faqih and the system is referred to as velayat al-faqih. So if you examine this theory more closely, you see that when we talk about the government of the legal expert (or faqih), what we really mean is the government of law (or fiqh). Now, if a religious legal scholar demonstrates good political judgment, obviously people will choose him to be in charge. Otherwise, his role would be strictly limited to that of a monitor.

In this context, the faqih works within a democratic framework of checks and balances, has a limited term of office, and under no circumstances may enjoy endless authority. A governing faqih should not be seen as above and beyond the law, and both he and his staff are accountable to their constituency.

MPF: There are some Muslim clerics who question the universality of the values of human rights and dismiss them as being tailored to Western civilization. For them, some of the most controversial issues include freedom of expression, equality of citizens before the law (regardless of their ethnicity, belief, or sexuality), and gender equality. As a prominent Islamic scholar, what is your take on that? Do you believe that human rights principles are only applicable to the West and are incompatible with Islam, or do you belong to the other school of thought that considers human rights as universal values which Muslim societies should also abide by?

Montazeri: Since its inception, Islam has always attached high importance to human dignity and respect for individuals’ rights. In the Noble Qur’an, Almighty God describes humanity as His representative on earth, the best of His creation and even better than angels – to the extent that angels were ordered to bow to them. In the Noble Qur’an, chapter 17, verse 70, the Lord says, “Verily we have honored the children of Adam….and have preferred them above many of those whom We created with a marked preferment.” In this sense, God has honored and preferred every single member of the human race, and no one is created better or worse than others. Our Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, says, “People are all equal, like the teeth of a comb” – that is, they all enjoy equal political and natural rights before the law. In a famous letter to Malik al-Ashtar, the appointed governor of Egypt, the Holy Prophet’s successor, Imam ‘Ali, instructed the governor in how to respect people’s rights. “Treat the people [of Egypt] with respect, kindness and mercy,” he said. “Don’t be ruthless with them. Keep in mind that they are either fellow Muslims who are your brothers and sisters in God, or human beings just like you who have been created by the same Creator.”

MPF: In the past few years the Western media have conveyed a very negative picture of Islam, to the extent that they have almost made the word “Muslim” synonymous with “murderer” and “terrorist.” Unfortunately, the acts of violence committed by of a group of radical Muslims – from blowing up the World Trade Center to bombing buses filled with passengers to attacking tourists and setting churches on fire – have strengthened the anti-Islamic stereotype among Westerners, who have come to perceive Islam as the religion of violence, murder, and intolerance. How do you think Muslims and non-Muslim intellectuals should respond to the crimes committed in the name of Islam?

Montazeri: Violence and murder, anywhere and under any name, are morally wrong and religiously unjustifiable. Islam is a logical religion and it is clearly against violence and bloodshed. Killing innocent people is not only taking away the God-given gift of life from individuals; it also jeopardizes the social order and creates chaos and a sense of insecurity for others. The 10th century Shi’i saint, Imam Sadeq, is recorded as saying, “The Holy Prophet was against assassination and terrorism, because Islam and terrorism are not compatible with each other.” Regrettably, the deeds of a bunch of misguided and zealous Muslims, the reactionary and narrow-minded interpretation of Islamic law by religious fanatics, and the policies of a number of governments have led many Muslims and non- Muslims to believe that Islam is a violent and frightening religion.

The best we can do to counter this negative image is to fully study and understand Islam and then try both to educate others in it and to follow it in our own lives. Also, in order to implement religious guidance, we need to be mindful of the dynamics of our societies, the public interest, and societal ills. In short, Muslims have to be aware of priorities. And if they find a conflict between paradigms, they have to give up less significant values for the sake of the greater good.

MPF: In the West, people of conscience are truly concerned with the social and political oppression in Islamic societies, including your own house arrest and the Iranian government’s crackdown on people’s liberty. This group of Western citizens genuinely would like to reach out to Muslims and help them improve their social and political situation. Unfortunately, a number of Western leaders, including US President George W Bush, take advantage of their citizens’ good intentions and have sold the military invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan as the “liberation” of those nations. How do you think the American public should help the Islamic nations in their struggle for civil rights?

Montazeri: If members of a society are neither willing to protect their freedom nor want to find out about their basic rights, there is little the outside world can do to give them democracy and freedom. If we want to address the root of this problem, we should increase public awareness about civil rights. As Almighty God says in the Qur’an, God does not change the destiny of any society as long as people don’t want to create the change among themselves. Also the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, says, “You are ruled in the way you deserve.”

Although no one can deny the negative impact of centuries of [Western] imperialism and colonialism on Islamic societies, we should not underestimate the role of home-grown tyrants and their dysfunctional and corrupt systems in creating despotism and dictatorship in Islamic societies. As long as our societies either tolerate or accept any form of internal or external oppression, we can’t expect others to come and offer us the gift of freedom.

It falls upon the intellectuals and the elites to shoulder the challenging responsibility of enlightenment, public awareness, and opposition to injustice. There is nothing more appalling than the indifference of intellectuals toward dictatorships. According to the teachings of Islam, those who choose to remain oppressed are as guilty as the dictators and oppressors themselves.

In light of what I mentioned, those concerned in the West can help the oppressed people of Islamic countries through cultural interaction, dialogue, and offering support to raise public awareness on social and political issues.

In regard to the situation of Iraq, I should say I am thrilled that the regime of Saddam Hussein (whose danger to humanity was greater than any kind of weapon of mass destruction) is no longer in power. However, I think the United States should leave that country as soon as the situation on the ground is stabilized enough to allow a free referendum under UN supervision. It is painful for me to see that on a regular basis American and international soldiers are killed in Iraq. I believe the US military occupation serves no one’s interests.

MPF: Throughout history, Shi’is have been systematically persecuted by majority Sunni rulers. Currently, historically oppressed Shi’i clerics control the political establishment in Iran. In this theocracy, how much freedom do you think the followers of other religions (both ancient traditions and the recently-emerged faiths such as Sikhism and Baha’i faith) should be allowed?

Montazeri: From the Islamic point of view, an individual’s faith is a private matter that cannot be imposed or determined by others. The Qur’anic verse “Let there be no compulsion in religion” well demonstrates Islam’s commitment to freedom of conscience. People should be given the right to practice their religion as long as they don’t abuse their freedom by insulting, attacking, ridiculing, or dismissing others’ belief systems. Nor should freedom of religion be used as an excuse to confuse and mislead the followers of other religions.

If a religion is truly interested in proving its superiority and gaining popularity, the best way is through scholarly debate and pressure-free dialogue with other religions. Historically, that is how religions succeeded in spreading and flourishing. The Holy Prophet of Islam and his successors (peace be upon them) gave complete freedom to the followers of other religions. They never looked down upon or made fun of others’ beliefs, nor did they allow their followers to do so. And the deep involvement of the greatest Shi’i saints in interfaith dialogue is both inspiring and amazing.

MPF: For more than half a century, Palestinians and Israelis have been engaged in endless bloodshed. Innocent people from both sides lose their lives to this conflict on an almost daily basis. Although the Israeli government’s aggressive policies (the occupation of Palestinian territory and the humiliation of the Palestinian population) are mainly responsible for this violence, many Israeli citizens genuinely want to see an end to the military confrontation. A significant segment of Israeli citizens are Jewish people who were forced by anti-Semitism to leave their home countries and come to Israel. Now they hope to live in peace and harmony with their Palestinian and other Arab neighbors. Do you support the two-state solution and the efforts of Palestinians and Israelis to create a peaceful region? What do you think about the rhetoric of some Muslim leaders who have wanted to “throw the Jews into the sea” and “wipe out the Jewish state?”

Montazeri: As you rightly mentioned, the root cause of war and violence in the Near East is the occupation of Palestine in 1948. The Jewish population was urged by Western powers to immigrate to Palestine and occupy the land. The occupation of Palestine made the indigenous population, both Muslims and non-Muslims, the victims of a colonial conspiracy. Prior to the occupation of Palestine, the followers of all Abrahamic traditions used to live in peace and friendship. Unfortunately, US backing for the occupation of Palestine has only made the matter worse. Washington’s whole-hearted support for the Zionists (who only represent a small percentage of the Jewish population) gives the green light to the Israelis to put more pressure on the oppressed people of Palestine. The formation of a Palestinian state to accommodate all the Palestinians and their refugees, and the return of the Occupied Territories as is demanded by the international community, is the least that can be done to relieve the pain and the suffering of the Palestinians. On the other hand, the citizens of the Jewish state should not tolerate what their extremist leaders are doing to other human beings.

MPF: How do you think the religious leaders of the Abrahamic traditions can collaborate to make our planet a more peaceful and safer place for all members of human race?

Montazeri: The best approach to creating a constructive atmosphere for interfaith dialogue and interaction among leaders of the monotheistic traditions is through emphasis on the unity of God, working for justice, and opposition to human idols. Religious scholars should focus on their commonalities and try to bridge the gap between their followers. In the Noble Qur’an (Surah Al ‘Imran, 64), Almighty God asks His Prophet, “O Prophet, tell the People of the Scripture, `Come to what is in agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but God, that we shall ascribe no partners unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for Lords beside God.” I strongly believe that by following this divine formula we can achieve a united front representative of all monotheistic religions.

We can also use the existing international organizations such as the UN and the Security Council to accomplish more practical solutions. If we include representatives of all religions in these organizations, one might hope that their decisions would be enforced with greater authority.

My last wish is for Americans to live in peace with other nations, other religions, and other ethnic groups. I pray to God for the success of your organization in promoting cross-cultural understanding, interfaith dialogue, and social justice for all humanity. God bless you.

Iranian Americans of Washington, DC and the rest of the world are cautiously happy and getting ready for the good News to be confirmed

According to Radio Netherlands, A Dutch Radio News, Shahrzad News (in Farsi), an Iranian News site, and a brief coverage of it on Huffington Post, Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei could flee to Russia should the situation in his country continue to spiral out of control.

If the News turns out to be true, it will be a fantastic News for the people of Iran living in and out of the country. For sure, it will be a good News for the region and the rest of the world.

Since the death of the previous supreme leader, Khamenei has become the new Shah — hated by so many that it seems implausible that Iranian elites will ever be able to operate without much distrust and fear of each other. If Khamenei does depart the country, it would be another deja vu for Iranians old enough to remember the historic event in Iranian history: Jan. 16, 1979, when the Iranian Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi fled Iran following an increase in violent protests. The anniversary of that event is coming up soon.

I wonder who will take over? Mir Hossein Mousavi or Ali Akbar Rafsanjani post Khamenei ?

Will keep you posted of the parties in DC if this is true.

Iranian Americans of Washington, DC are cheering up and getting ready for the good News to be confirmed.

According to Radio Netherlands and an Iranian News site, Shahrzad News (in Farsi), and a brief coverage of it on Huffington Post, Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei could flee to Russia should the situation in his country continue to spiral out of control.

If this turns out to be true, it will be a fantastic News for the people of Iran living in and out of the country. For sure, it will be a good News for the region and the rest of the world.

Since the death of the previous supreme leader, Khamenei has become the new Shah — hated by so many that it seems implausible that Iranian elites will ever be able to operate without much distrust and fear of each other. If Khamenei does depart the country, it would be another deja vu for Iranians old enough to remember the historic event in Iranian history: Jan. 16, 1979, when the Iranian Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi fled Iran following an increase in violent protests. The anniversary of that event is coming up soon.

I wonder who will take over? Mir Hossein Mousavi or Ali Akbar Rafsanjani?

Will keep you posted of the parties in DC if this is true.

Iranian Americans of Washington, DC are cheering up and getting ready for the good News to be confirmed.

According to Radio Netherlands and an Iranian News site, Shahrzad News (in Farsi), and a brief coverage of it on Huffington Post, Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei could flee to Russia should the situation in his country continue to spiral out of control.

If this turns out to be true, it will be a fantastic News for the people of Iran living in and out of the country. For sure, it will be a good News for the region and the rest of the world.

Since the death of the previous supreme leader, Khamenei has become the new Shah — hated by so many that it seems implausible that Iranian elites will ever be able to operate without much distrust and fear of each other. If Khamenei does depart the country, it would be another deja vu for Iranians old enough to remember the historic event in Iranian history: Jan. 16, 1979, when the Iranian Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi fled Iran following an increase in violent protests. The anniversary of that event is coming up soon.

I wonder who will take over? Mir Hossein Mousavi or Ali Akbar Rafsanjani?

Will keep you posted of the parties in DC if this is true.

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

The Council of Shia Muslim Scholars in North America mourns the Muslims for the departure of

His Eminence Grand Ayatollah
Sheikh Mohammed Hussain Ali Montathari
(may Allah bless his soul)

who passed away Saturday night in the Holy City of Qom.

For about 90 years the late Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Montathari, lived a life full of piety and hard work towards pleasing God and seeking the knowledge of Ahl-ul-Bayt peace be upon them.

He joined the Islamic Seminary in Isfahan while he was 12 yrs old, and was working hard in earning the Islamic sciences until he became a well known teacher before the age of 19. From there he departed to the Holy City of Qum and continued his advanced studies under the tutelage of several scholars:

-          Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadre el-Deen al-Sadr

-          Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Rooho Allah al-Khomeini

-          Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Hojat Kohmkari

-          Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammed al-Yazdi

-          Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Hussain al-Burujrdi

Up until he became amongst the most prominent jurists in the Islamic Seminary of the Holy City of Qum.

Under his scholarly supervision several jurists and scholars graduated, such as:

-          Sayyid Mostafa al-Khomeini

-          Sheikh Imami Kashani

-          Sheikh Mohammed al-Kilani

-          Sayyid Hassan Tahiri Khorram Abadi

-          Sheikh Rafsanjani

-          Sheikh Mahdi Karrobi

-          Sheikh Youssif Sanei

-          Sheikh Mohasin Qarati

In addition, his eminence has over 20 published books, amongst some: Studies in the  Authority of the Jurist and the Laws of the Islamic Government, Discourses in Osool al-Kafi, Discourses in Verdicts pertaining to Medical Issues, Discourses in Prohibited Earnings, Explanation on the Sermon of Lady Zahra peace be upon her, and other books…

At the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars in North America, we pay our condolences to our 12th Holy Imam peace be upon him, to prolong the lives of our living jurists, and we ask Allah the almighty to bless Grand Ayatullah Montathari and shower him with His Mercy.

The Council of Shia Muslim Scholars in North America

Images from the funeral of Iran’s dissident cleric, Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri, held in the city of Qom…. From BBC News. Full story

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Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani (born in 1920) is an Iranian Twelver Shi’a Marja. He was born in Golpaygan, Iran. He has studied in seminaries of Najaf, Iraq under Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi. He currently resides and teaches in the Seminary of Qom, Iran.

He is known for his progressive ideas especially about the participation of the youth. He is a supporter of the Islamic revolution in Iran.

Reacting to remarks by Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar in the holy city of Qom, Golpaygani said on October 15, 2009, that “God Anger” would be unleashed if Iran appoints women as governors of some provinces. “If some people want to change the principles and values of the revolution without considering the views of clerics, they will face the fury of God and of the people,” the Grand Ayatollah said on his website. “They come to Qom, the centre of Shiite Islam, and announce that they will appoint women as governors of some provinces. Do you want to fight with the Quran and the Prophet with such talks that go against sharia?“

Source : Wikipedia

Current Issues

Wahhabies Crime’s Worse Than Zionists – Ayatollah al-Uzma Saafi Golpayegani

According to IRNA correspondent at Qom Seminary, the source of jurisprudence made the comment at his high level jurisprudence course before beginning his lesson, adding, “This sect, with the endless and brutal massacres it has begun launching, has ashamed the Muslims and gained dignity for the Zionists.”

He stressed, “It makes no difference whether they call themselves Al-Qaeda, Taliban, or any other name, but they have gone so far that the Muslims in both Islamic lands, and in non-Islamic world do not dare to declare their Islamic identity. They have (unjustly) defamed Islam and the Muslims.”

Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani referred to the treacherous acts of that corrupt sect, such as destroying the sacred Islamic sites in Holy Mecca and Media, which equals destroying the evidence on Islamic history, reiterating, “Relying on their money and their schools they have spread insecurity everywhere and this is not restricted to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

This jurisprudence source analyzing the roots of observing so much enmity against the Iraqi nation, said, “Since they could not tolerate the existence of any Shi’a government in the Arab world, they began expressing their objections against the establishment of a Shi’a political system in Iraq, followed by physical confrontations and plotting sabotage there.”

Pointing out that in most societies the rule of the majority is observed, he said, “Although it is not mentioned in the Constitution of Iraq that the political system should be in the hands of the Shi’a Muslims, keeping in mind that the Shi’as comprise the majority of the population there, the majority of the ruling class, too, are Shi’a Muslims, and that is what the enemies of Shi’ism cannot tolerate.”

Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani condoled with the Imam of the Time, the 12th Imam, may Almighty Allah hasten his glorious reappearance, the bereaved families of the recent terrorist explosions’ victims, and the entire Muslims on the sad incidents, prayed to God for the victory of Islam and particularly the Shi’a Muslims, and for the misery and annihilation of those who plot for the annihilation of Islam and Shi’a school of thought.

Source : Jafaria News

Thousands of Iranian opposition supporters are in the holy city of Qom for the funeral of dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Montazeri…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: city hall. For a different topic see dumpling recipe. The blog is also related to: top ten city.

Iranian government braced for fresh protests as thousands gather in holy city for funeral of pro-opposition ayatollah…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: biggest cities. The blog is also related to: city search.

Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, Iran’s most senior dissident cleric, has died.

I’d like to discuss the situation related to the Iran nuclear situation, because the nuclear issue is important, and it is often in the headlines.  It is one of several issues related to Iran, which are difficult in some cases to disentangle.  The relationship between Iran and the US, for example, is closely related to the nuclear issue.

I’d like to start off by saying that I look at the situation from the interest of the international citizen, or the average person in the world.  What I pose is, what is their interest in this?  In other words, I consider not the interest of the Iranian citizen, or the US citizen, or the Israeli citizen, but the interest of the citizens of  countries which are not really involved, such as in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Sub Saharan Africa, etc.   After all, these people number far more than the involved parties.

I would propose that their interest is to avoid having a nuclear confrontation.  The possible spillover effects of a nuclear bomb explosion, and the potential for such a conflict to spread, the destabilizing effects politically that such an event could have- all are strong reasons why a nuclear bomb episode would be negative in general for the people of the world.

Further, I posit that the more states that have nuclear technology, the more likely it is that one will be used.  Using a simple law of probability, if there is a standard probability for any nation to use a nuclear weapon in a war, it follows that more countries equal a higher likelihood of the use of a nuclear bomb.  For example, let’s say in any year there is a one in one thousand chance (0.1%) that any particular country will use a nuclear bomb to attack a country.  Currently in the world there are 8 countries which possess nuclear bombs, plus North Korea.  That’s a 0.8-0.9% chance of a nuclear bomb being used.

But if it is 20 countries which possess nuclear bombs, then the likelihood of a nuclear attack increases to 2.0% in one year.  So by this logic, an increase in the number of countries which possess nuclear bombs, means an increase in the likelihood of their use.

For this reason, I think that in the general interest of people in the world, it is better if nuclear weapons are not more common, more numerous, and possessed by a larger number of states.  On that grounds, I would look at an Iranian nuclear weapons program with apprehension.  It would be better if the Iranian government did not pursue nuclear weapons development.  I am not basing this argument on any particular bias against the Iranian regime (that would be a different argument), it is simply posing that an increase in the number of nuclear armed nations means an increase in the likelihood of the use of a nuclear bomb in an attack.

Looking at It From Different Perspectives

Having said that, its important to also understand why some people think that Iran should be able to have nuclear energy, or even nuclear weapons.  Many in the English speaking world tend to see it from the perspective of the European countries and the US, and are coaxed along somewhat in this position by the media.  But there is another main perspective, or group of perspectives, which is sympathetic to Iran, and sees the US as an aggressive state.  In other words, the opposite position of the first viewpoint.

For example, try to look at it from the perspective of the Iranian state- when the USA invaded Iraq, this was their next door neighbor.  The US also invaded Afghanistan, another neighbor of Iran.   So for them, the possibility of an invasion from the United States is probably a possibility.  In addition the US is the only world power ever to use a nuclear bomb in wartime.  I would think this justifies and motivates the nuclear deterrent in their mind.  Another of Iran’s enemies, Israel, also has nuclear capability.   Additionally, Iran could reasonably argue that “Other states have nuclear weapons, why do we not have the right to have them?”  Ultimately, in the nuclear order, how can one justify only a select group of states having these weapons?

To take the argument a step further from the Iranian government side, they claim that they do not want nuclear weapons, they say they only want to make nuclear power.  If one believes this, it undercuts concerns over their nuclear program even more.  Whether one believes this claim or not, depends on one’s sympathies, amount of knowledge and information, etc.  Personally I don’t feel I know enough to say what the Iranian government’s real objective is.

Many people in Iran and other countries of the world may hold a variant of this view on the issue.   The perspective of Iranian people is also important because it could influence the Iranian government.  This view, in the context of politics and nationalism, will be considered next.

Politics and Nationalism

Of course, this is not all happening in a vacuum, the pursuit of a nuclear program takes place in the context of Iran’s political situation.  Over the past few years, according to what I observed, it seems that the Ahmadinejad administration has successfully used the nuclear issue to drum up nationalism in Iran.  Nationalism ultimately helps this regime, because it builds up a feeling of togetherness (under their regime), strength, assertiveness, which can then be directed toward an external entity, such as the US, etc.   Strong nationalism can divert attention away from very real issues and concerns at home, such as the legitimacy of a quasi- democratically elected government, with major positions completely unelected, such as the Ayatollah.

Now jump to 2009, when there was the election crisis and demonstrations which challenged the current regime, and has led to deep questioning even within the Iranian establishment.  The question now would be whether the election crisis, and the challenge it poses to Ahmadinejad’s second term, will affect Iran’s position on the nuclear issue?

My guess is this will probably not make the Iranian government more willing to compromise on the nuclear issue.  My guess is that the government’s strategy will be to continue along, slowly and methodically crushing any lingering opposition from this summer.  Meanwhile, they will continue to agitate about the nuclear program, and pursue an aggressive line, hoping and/or knowing that it will lead to an upsurge of nationalism again.  Fast forward two years:  the opposition is no where in sight, the media is daily blaring news about the nuclear conflict… are people going to take a stance against their regime?  Its difficult to imagine much domestic opposition when, to my knowledge, the media in Iran is somewhat manipulated by the government.  In situations like this, it would seem that tolerance of diversity of opinion would be limited.

This is a common tactic of governments, a tactic similar to those of other countries, including for example the Bush government, to try to whip up public support.  It ultimately is to the ruling group’s advantage to use some external enemy, such as the US, the Western powers, etc. to deflect attention away from their own deficits.  Unfortunately, it often also works quite effectively.

My question is, what kind of policy would a truly elected government of Iran, which genuinely reflected the wishes of the Iranian people on the subject, pursue vis a vis the nuclear energy/ weapons issue?  If there were more freedom in the media in Iran, how would that affect public opinion on the issue?

So to conclude without wandering into the many related issues, it would be regrettable and unfortunate for the people of the world if more and more states acquire nuclear weapons.  It would be better if Iran did not pursue nuclear weapons, but from here it seems that they are determined, at least, to pursue nuclear power, and it is in the Iranian regime’s interest politically to do so.  The desire and ability of the Iranian people to question this policy is probably limited, so the only real opposition the regime will face will be at the international level.  Whether those other countries will be able to influence the regime remains to be seen.

I would invite any comments or thoughts.  Do readers think that the Iranian regime should be allowed to have nuclear weapons?  Is it possible to stop them?  Do you have any direct experience with Iranian people which would provide insight into what they think about it?  I look forward to any comments…

Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani (Arabic: السيد علي الحسيني السيستاني‎ Persian: سید علی حسینی سیستانی, born August 4, 1930) is the current highest-ranking Shi’a Muslim religious scholar in Iraq who leads the Hawza of Najaf. He is

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani

a Grand Ayatollah and Twelver Shia marja’ born in Iran and residing in Iraq since 1951. He is currently the preeminent Shia cleric for Shia in Iraq and around the world ^[1] as well as an important political figure in post-invasion Iraq.

Early life

Sistani was born in Mashhad, Iran, to a family of religious scholars. His grandfather, for whom he was named, was a famous scholar who had studied in Najaf. Sistani’s family originally comes from Isfahan. During the Safavid period, his forefather Sayyid Mohammad, was appointed as Sheikh ul-Islam (Leading Authority of Islam) by King Hussain in the Sistan province. He traveled to Sistan where he and his children settled, which accounts for the title “al-Sistani” in his great grandson’s name today. Sistani began his religious education as a child, beginning in Mashhad, and moving on to study at the Shia holy city of Qom in central Iran in 1949. After spending a few years there, in 1951 he went to Iraq to study in Najaf under the late Grand Ayatollah Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei. Sistani rose in religious rank to be named a Marja in 1960 under the military dictatorship of Iraqi president Abd al-Karim Qasim. At the unusually young age of 31 (1961) Ayatollah Sistani reached the senior level of accomplishment called Ijtihad, which entitled him to pass his own judgments on religious questions.

Grand Ayatollah

The top marja of Najaf Hawzah: (from left to right) Mohammad Ishaq al-Fayyad, Ali al-Sistani, Mohammad Saeed Al-Hakim and Bashir al-Najafi.

When Khoei died in 1992, Sistani ascended to the rank of Grand Ayatollah by the traditional method — through peer recognition of his scholarship. His role as successor to Khoei was symbolically cemented when he led the funeral prayers of his widely esteemed teacher and he would go on to inherit Khoei’s network and following. With the death of other leading ayatollahs in Iraq including Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr, Sistani emerged as the preeminent Shia cleric in Iraq. As the leading Ayatollah in Najaf, Sistani oversees sums amounting to millions of dollars. Sistani’s followers offer him a fixed part of their earnings, which he spends for educational and charitable purposes. Sistani’s office reports that he supports 35,000 students in Qom, 10,000 in Mashhad, and 4,000 in Isfahan. He also oversees a network of representatives (wakil) “who promote his views in large and small ways in neighborhoods, mosques, bazaars, and seminaries from Kirkuk” to Basra.

He has a substantial following among Shia’s all over the world, as he is the current Nayb-i Imam (Preeminent Marja) of the Twelver Sect, of Shia Muslims. In Iran as a result of the post-invasion opening of the Iraqi shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala to Iranians, including “great popularity and influence among” the bazaari of the city of Qom. Many Iranians are said to return from pilgrimage in Iraq followers of Sistani.

Al Jazeera’s insults against Sistani

In May 2007, hundreds of angry Shias demonstrated in Basra and Najaf against what they considered to be insults against Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani by TV presenter Ahmed Mansour and Qatari Al Jazeera television. In the TV show, “Without Borders,” or Bela Hodod, Ahmed Mansour had sounded skeptical of al-Sistani’s leadership credentials, and adopted a dismissive tone while directing questions about the Iranian-born cleric to his guest, Shi’i cleric Jawad al-Khalsi.

Ahmed Mansour suggested that Sistani, who is in his late 70s, was not aware of what’s happening in Iraq and that his edicts were written and released by his aides. At another point, he asked whether the United States was using Iraqi politicians as well as al-Sistani to promote its own interests in Iraq.

Hacking Sistani’s website

On September 18, 2008, hackers attacked hundreds of Shi’a websites including Shia Islam’s most popular site of Sistani. The hackers from Group-XP, based in the Kuwait, are linked to Salafi Muslims who follow a strict form of Sunni Islam. They have attacked 300 Shia internet sites including Al-Beit foundation of Ayatollah Sistani, the biggest Shia website in the world. This was the “largest Wahhabi hacker attack” in recent years.

Visitors to the targeted site saw a banner bearing the slogan “group-xp” in red with a message in Arabic denouncing Shi’a beliefs and officials. They replaced a video of Sistani’s advice to Muslims with one of comedian Bill Maher making fun of Sistani and his advice to the Shia.

However, this event has led to the hacking of more than 900 Wahhabi and Salafi websites by Shi’a hackers. In addition, on October 3, 2008, a Shia hacker from the United Arab Emirates, nicknamed ShiaZone, uploaded a video on YouTube showing his screen while signing in to group-xp’s hacked email accounts. The emails were Hotmail, Gmail and Yahoo! accounts. The hacked email accounts were group-xp’s contact information that was posted on the hacked Shi’a websites.

Sumber : Wikipedia

In 1953, the CIA and British Intelligence overthrew Mohammed Mossadegh, Iran’s first popularly elected leader. Even though, for the better part of the 20th century the US has been a strong advocate for the right of the people to elect a leader, we participated in a coup destroying that elementary right, for fear that the new government would favor the Russians. Instead of democracy, the Shah returned to power, bringing back the oppression and cruelty of before the original revolution. Since then, America has taken a hypocritical approach to foreign policy involving Iran, mostly in order to avoid an alliance between Iran and Russia. Yet now, Because Russia is so dependent upon Iran for their non-domestic oil, if NATO were to attack Iran, Russia would be dragged into the battle, emulating the Chinese involvement in the Korean War.

In 1975, National Geographic published an article about Iran expressing hope for its future, discussing Iran’s oil money and enginuitive spirit. Three years before the start of the Islamic Revolution, Iran was a rising tourist destination for Americans. But as violence began to erupt, eventually provoking the flee of the Shah, America became cold to Iran. Under Ahmedinejad, Iran began to pursue nuclear capabilities, and Bush became wary. America mildly threatened use of military power against Iran, but even then, they knew the consequences. Then, in June, Ahmedinejad and the Ayatollah, Iran’s supreme religious leader, rigged the election in Ahmedinejad’s favor. When the followers of Moussavi, the opposition candidate, began to protest, America stated that it didn’t care in order to preserve diplomacy, even though Moussavi is far more aligned with American ideals.

When Iran is involved, America is hypocritical and painstakingly cautious with everything we say and do. Why does Iran mean so much? Russia. As stated before, Russia is dependent upon Iran, and is therefore motivated to involve themselves in any military campaign of Iran’s, and a conflict with Russia could easily end in nuclear war. But is the delicacy paying off? Not really. The majority of Ahmedinejad supporters still have death-wishes for America, the Ayatollah still dislikes us, and the US friendly candidate lost by election fraud. Essentially, this two-faced, coded message isn’t working. It’s time to give Iran what everyone deserves: straight talk.

Ovatko silmät sielun peili?

Lähde: Homma/Make M

     Some of the chirping birds have left the Enduring nest of infidels to lecture in a Green glen. This Triple Alliance with American culture seems a puzzle, but we are alert to this Axis of Greenies, and…
     We will not be outmaneuvered. I told Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to get a translation of Saul Alinsky’s “Rules For Radicals” to see what the Great-Satan-President Obama’s Reverend Ayatollahs in the holy city of Chicago have taught him to use as strategy. But Mahmoud got involved with custom’s agents confiscating copies of a DVD, “Best of Abbott and Costello.”
     The Minister of Culture and Propaganda and poor Mahmoud are having a problem understanding the coded messages in the DVD. The hardest one, about a horse race has been, “Every Mudder must eat its fodder.” Costello, speaking a regional dialect, seems to hear it as “Every Mother must eat its Father.” Abbott says a “Mudder” is a horse that runs well on muddy race tracks, and fodder is food for horses. “Rules for Radicals” seems to be fodder for mudslinging. The West is devious and incoherent.
     Our rules are clear, God willing. But as necessity dictates, for every exigency there is a fatwah, for every rose a thorn, and for every hypocrisy a grand fatwah will transform it into justice. The West has their silly rules for radicals, but we have our magnificence of being right.
     The Revolutionary Guards are tracking down all the references. They have found some sites that will be banned from the univerisities:
   Abbott and Costello biography
Abbott and Costello Website

A Mother Speaks Out by “Amy”*

* “Amy” is fictitious, used just to establish a female narrator for the poem
— by Douglas Gilbert

Books by Douglas Gilbert

And to this day, we still haven’t properly thanked Iran for this act of war.

Every year on the anniversary of the Iranian seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, where 53 Americans were held hostage for 444 days, the Iranian regime sponsors mass rallies to mark the event, with bused in pro-regime crowds burning U.S. flags and chanting “death to America” for the cameras. This year, something different happened, anti-regime protesters risked their lives to take to the streets and shout “death to the dictators’, while trying to stay one step ahead of the regime police, military, and paramilitary security forces using everything up to and including reports of live ammunition to try and stop them.

Iran protesters take to streets as regime marks 30th anniversary of US Embassy seizure

Iranian security forces used clubs, teargas and paintball guns to disperse thousands of antigovernment protesters in Tehran on Wednesday who took to the streets as thousands of regime loyalists marked the 30th anniversary of the US Embassy takeover in 1979.

While a pro-government crowd chanted anti-American slogans and burned US flags at the walls of the former embassy compound — still often called the “den of spies” – antigovernment demonstrators were caught in sometimes vicious confrontations at other locations in central Tehran in the first mass protests for six weeks.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the embassy takeover anniversary has been an important event for rallying regime support, so the scale and boldness of the opposition turnout – after weeks of warnings from security officials that any attempt to gather would be harshly confronted—was seen as a test of opposition strength.

“Greens [won] by far. They proved that no longer can the government assemble people without any incident, and [the regime] has based everything since the beginning on [large] public assemblies,” said one witness who, like others quoted in this story, asked not be named for security reasons. “Also, if you bring out [security] guards in such numbers, you know you are in deep trouble. The government as expected was scared.”

And while the Islamic Republic revitalizes the anti-American pillar of its revolution with a celebration, many of the radical students who took control of the embassy have since become reformist critics.

And the pro-democracy protesters had a message for Obama.

Opposition demonstrators, meanwhile, chanted “Obama, Obama, are you with us, or against us?” Many opposition activists have been critical of Mr. Obama for negotiating with the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whom they say was re-elected in June as a result of fraud and vote-rigging.

So, it’s the 30th anniversary of one of the most humiliating episodes in American history, an act of war that Iran still hasn’t paid any price for, and Obama decides to issue a statement to mark the event. Does he lend U.S. support to the brave pro-democracy factions, risking their lives to bring freedom to the Iranian people? Hell no, he “reaches out” again to the belligerent Iranian regime that consistently spurns U.S. diplomatic overtures on a weekly basis.

Obama calls for new relationship with Iran on anniversay of embassy takeover

President Obama today called for a new relationship with Iran in a statement that marked the 30th anniversary of the takeover by Iranian militants of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

The seizure of the embassy by radical students marked the beginning of Iran’s turn to hard-line policies. Fifty-two Americans were held hostage for 444 days.

“This event helped set the United States and Iran on a path of sustained suspicion, mistrust and confrontation,” Obama said in his statement. “I have made it clear that the United States of America wants to move beyond this past, and seeks a relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran based upon mutual interests and mutual respect.”

Of course, Obama’s endless all carrot, no stick apologies have become something of a running joke in international circles, his weakness is palpable. Like clockwork, the Iranians rebuked Obama’s groveling with the same response they’ve used ever since Obama took office.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Rejects Engagement With U.S.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday rejected any direct engagement with the United States, stressing that the Islamic Republic will not be deceived by Washington’s “apparent re-conciliatory behavior.”

“We do not want any negotiations whose results are predefined by the U.S.,” Khamenei said Tuesday. “Iran will not be deceived by Washington’s apparent re-conciliatory behavior.”

Oh, and if Obama somehow thinks the Iranian regime is kidding when they keep telling him in no uncertain words that they have no intention of cooperating with the United States or the West, all he has to do is take a look at what Israel found today.

Israel: Commandos seize huge Iranian arms shipment

Open crates from a cargo ship seized Wednesday by Israel revealed dark green missiles inside. Containers from the vessel bore writing in English that said “I.R. Iranian Shipping Lines Group.”

Israel alleged that the shipment of hundreds of tons of rockets, missiles, mortars, grenades and anti-tank weapons — the largest it ever seized — was headed for Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

Israel stopped the ship, named the Francop, off the coast of Cyprus and towed it to the port of Ashdod. It carried orange, red, white and blue containers piled three deep on its deck.

Rows of crates from the vessel were displayed on the dock, and inside were rockets, hand grenades, mortars and ammunition. At least 3,000 missiles were on board, the Israeli military said.

The seizure spotlighted the dangerous tensions between Israel and Iran. Israel considers Iran a strategic threat because of its nuclear program and long-range missile development, dismissing Iranian denials that it is building nuclear weapons.

Among the weaponry displayed were Katyusha rockets. One of the long skinny missiles sat atop a pile of storage boxes the military had labeled in Hebrew “rocket 122 mm.” The 122 mm Katyusha was the main weapon used against Israel by Hezbollah in a monthlong war in 2006. During that war, about 1,200 people were killed in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and about 160 people were killed in Israel.

See also:
Iran Protests Against U.S. and Regime on Hostage Anniversary
Iran protesters hijack 30th anniversary of US embassy seizure
Protests erupt on 30th anniversary of U.S. embassy seizure
Iranian opposition and police in fresh clashes
Iranians hold anti-U.S. rallies to mark 30th anniversary of embassy takeover
Iranians Mark 30th Anniversary Of U.S. Embassy Siege, Anti-Government Protesters Dispersed
Clashes in Iran on Embassy Takeover Anniversary
Relationship With Iran Should Be Based On Mutual Interests: Obama
Obama calls for new relationship with Iran
Obama: Iran must decide what its focus is
The President Snubs Iran’s Democrats
Iran’s Courageous Dissidents Need Our Support
‘Obama Are You with Iran or with Us?’
Dialogue with Obama a trick, says Khamenei
Supreme Leader Ridicules Obama, Condemns U.S.
Iran warns US against influencing talks
Strong oil prices give confidence to Iran amid sea of troubles
Iran Boosts Output of Uranium Mine, Satellite Images Show
Israel says seized ship contained Iranian arms
Analysis: Seized arms evidence of Iran’s investment of Israel’s borders
Israel Seizes Ship Loaded With Weapons
Former Embassy Hostages Recall Anniversary of Iran Takeover
Iran hostage crisis
The Hostage Crisis in Iran
Iran Hostage Crisis
30 Years Later: Iran Hostage Crisis

/how many time does the Iranian regime have to kick Obama in the nuts before he feels the pain and humiliation, man’s up to the in your face hostility, and fights back in defense of the United States’ honor and national security?

Sullivan/The Newest Deal formidler en fascinerende nyhetssak fra Iran:

In a stunning move, Mahmoud Vahidnia (pictured right), a student from the prestigious Sharif university and winner of the International Math Olympics, directly confronted Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the question-and-answer portion of a conference that was being held [last Wednesday]. When Khamenei asked if the audience had any questions, Vahidnia stood up and answered, “Yes, I have some words with you.”

What followed was a 20 minute critique of both Khamenei and the Islamic Republic, coupled with interruptions by some of the Basij students supportive of the regime. Vahidnia criticized the propagandist nature of state media, the security climate stifling the country, censorship of the free press, the power structure of the Islamic Republic, and the very inability to criticize the Supreme Leader himself.

Persian2English provides a summarized translation of the encounter:

“Why can’t anyone in this country criticize you? Isn’t that ignorant? Do you think that you make no mistakes? Why have they made an idol out of you that is so unreachable and that nobody can challenge? I have never read an article about your performance in any newspaper because you have shut down all the media that is against you in the country. Why does national TV show all the events untruthfully? For example all the events after the election: why do you support them [national TV shows], when everyone knows they are lying? Since the president of national television is directly selected by you, you are thus responsible for all this.”

Khamenei dodged the questions and instead called Vahidnia dishonest. He claimed that he receives (and is receptive to) criticism every day, and that he always adjusts his behavior to account for errors. Soon thereafter, Khamenei departed behind a curtain before first receiving praise from a Basiji student in attendance. The prayer that Khamenei was scheduled to lead at the end of the ceremony did not occur amid his hasty departure. Vahidnia was reportedly detained by security officials soon after the event.

Rektoren ved universitetet hevdet at Khamenei hadde gitt studenten tillatelse til å snakke. I følge Mowjcamp ble studenten arrestert.

Etter den harde undertrykkelsen av protestene i sommer, er regimet i Teheran strippet for legitimitet – dersom man aksepterer at det foreligger en kontrakt mellom et folk og personene som styrer dem. Mer om den teoretiske bakgrunnen for dette i siste Dyadenummer – om opplysningstidens rolle i samtiden.

I tillegg utga Dyade et fullt temanummer viet Iran i 2003. Nummeret er mer aktuelt enn noen gang.

Her finner du Dyadebloggens samlede poster om Iran.

A very interesting and incisive take on what has transpired in our modern-day history. You will not see or hear this in the news……………

In order  to understand  what is happening today  you need to know your history.

Andrea

J. D. Pendry, Retired Sergeant Major, USMC: On Your Hands

Jimmy Carter, you are the father of the Islamic Nazi movement. You threw the Shah under the bus, welcomed the Ayatollah home, and then lacked the spine to confront the terrorists when they took our embassy and our people hostage. You’re the runner-in-chief.

Bill Clinton, you played ring around the Lewinsky while the terrorists were at war with us. You got us into a fight with them in Somalia and then you ran from it. Your weak-willed responses to the USS Cole and the First Trade Center Bombing and Our Embassy Bombings emboldened the killers. Each time you failed to respond adequately, they grew bolder, until 9/11/2001.

John Kerry, dishonesty is your most prominent attribute. You lied about American Soldiers in Vietnam . Your military service, like your life, is more
fiction than fact. You’ve accused our military of terrorizing women and children in Iraq . You called Iraq the wrong war, wrong place, wrong time, and the same words you used to describe Vietnam . You’re a fake! You want to run from Iraq and abandon the Iraqis to murderers just as you did to the Vietnamese. Iraq , like Vietnam , is another war that you were for, before you were against it.

John Murtha, you said our military was broken. You said we can’t win militarily in Iraq . You accused United States Marines of cold-blooded murder without proof and said we should redeploy to Okinawa . Okinawa, John? And the Democrats call you their military expert! Are you sure you didn’t suffer a traumatic brain injury while you were off building your war hero resume? You’re a sad, pitiable, corrupt, and washed up old fool. You’re not a Marine, sir. You wouldn’t amount to a good pimple on a real Marine’s ass. You’re a phony and a disgrace. Run away, John.

Dick Durbin, you accused our Soldiers at Guantanamo of being Nazis, tenders of Soviet style gulags and as bad as the regime of Pol Pot, who murdered two million of his own people after your party abandoned Southeast Asia to the Communists. Now you want to abandon the Iraqis to the same fate. History was not a good teacher for you, was it? Lord help us! See Dick run.

Ted Kennedy, for days on end you held poster-sized pictures from Abu Ghraib in front of any available television camera. Al Jazeera quoted you saying that Iraqi’s torture chambers were open under new management. Did you see the news, Teddy? The Islamic Nazis demonstrated another beheading for you. If you truly supported our troops, you’d show the world poster-sized pictures of that atrocity and demand the annihilation of it. Your legislation stripping support from the South Vietnamese led to a communist victory there. You’re a bloated, drunken, useless old fool bent on repeating the same historical blunder that turned freedom-seeking people over to homicidal, genocidal maniacs. To paraphrase John Murtha, all while sitting on your fat, gin-soaked ass in Washington

Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Carl Levine, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein, Russ Feingold, Pat Leahy, Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, the Hollywood Leftist morons, et al, ad nauseam: Every time you stand in front of television cameras and broadcast to the Islamic Nazis that we went to war because our President lied, that the war is wrong and our Soldiers are torturers, that we should leave Iraq, you give the Islamic butchers – the same ones that tortured and mutilated American Soldiers – cause to think that we’ll run away again, and all they have to do is hang on a little longer. It is inevitable that we, the infidels, will have to defeat the Islamic jihadists. Better to do it now on their turf, than later on ours after they have gained both strength and momentum.

American news media, the New York Times particularly: Each time you publish stories about national defense secrets and our intelligence gathering methods, you become one united with the sub-human pieces of camel dung that torture and mutilate the bodies of American Soldiers. You can’t strike up the courage to publish cartoons, but you can help Al Qaeda destroy my country. Actually, you are more dangerous to us than Al Qaeda is. Think about that each time you face Mecca to admire your Pulitzer..

You are America ’s ‘AXIS OF IDIOTS.’ Your Collective Stupidity will destroy us. Self-serving politics and terrorist-abetting news scoops are more important to you than our national security or the lives of innocent civilians and Soldiers. It bothers you that defending ourselves gets in the way of your elitist sport of politics and your ignorant editorializing. There is as much blood on your hands as is on the hands of murdering terrorists. Don’t ever doubt that. Your frolics will only serve to extend this war as they extended Vietnam . If you want our Soldiers home as you claim, knock off the crap and try supporting your country ahead of supporting your silly political aims and aiding our enemies.

Yes, I’m questioning your patriotism. Your loyalty ends with self. I’m also questioning why you’re stealing air that decent Americans could be breathing. You don’t deserve the protection of our men and women in uniform. You need to run away from this war, this country. Leave the war to the people who have the will to see it through and the country to people who are willing to defend it.

Our country has two enemies: Those who want to destroy us from the outside and those who attempt it from within.

Semper Fi,
J. D. Pendry – Sergeant Major, USMC, Retired