There was that little incident with the US Embassy in Iran. You look old enough to remember it, as I am. And funding and arming Hamas, Hezbollah and the delightful Assad. And blowing up Jews and others in Argentina. And declaring a Fatwah on Salman Rushdie. Maybe America should shrug its shoulders and ignore the non-Embassy stuff, but the hostage thing was pretty aggressive.So maybe you should talk to Americans as well as Iranians (most of whom appear to be entirely decent people with an unstable leadership).

Of course I remember the atrocities you refer to but i also remember the CIA arranged coup which installed and supported the Shah (1953) and Saddam Hussein in his conflict with Iran. The many exchanges between the two countries have been described as “acts of vengence and mutual incomprehension”. I’m sure the ordinary people of American and Iran would wish to be tolerant of each other and come to terms which would avoid any military activities. Peace always requires co-operation between the parties involved. I hope all avenues will be explored to resolve the difficulties peacefully. The people of America and iran deserve leadership which can bring about a peaceful agreement.

Tom McManus, It seems we have similar hopes for the future. If you knew about Iranian atrocities and of the Embassy situation, why did you say you couldn’t think of anything Iranian people had done to America?

I was speaking of those I regard as ordinary people. We could debate the chicken and egg scenario forever. If the American and Iranian people swallow the propaganda from their leaders and as a result war ensues, once again it will result in might being right. The lessons from the Irag and Afghanistan wars should teach us that points made by force do not endure. I think everybody should answer to themselves the following questions. If Iran was to be “conquered” would you be prepared to forefit your life? Were the deaths and injuries of so many people in Iraq and Afganistan worth the result achieved? Finally, I believe that sanctions and embargoes only serve as stimulants to aggression and revenge. Where are the leaders who would emulate Ghandi?

They aren’t the only ones failing to comply.. They have neighbours who won’t even sign those treaties.. And the only nation on the planet that’s ever used a nuclear weapon is the one trying to act as the authority..

Iran is not doing itself any favours by refusing the IAEA access to its nuclear facilities. It is very close to being in non-compliance with its NPT obligations. From a strictly legal perspective its neighbors, who have not signed the NPT (Israel and Pakistan), cannot be found to be in non-compliance because they are not party to the the Treaty. Iran freely entered into the legally binding NPT and is not living up to its commitments under international law.

I certainly don’t intend to defend US foreign policy but it is incorrect to say that it is the only State ‘trying to act as the authority’. China, Russia (both allies of Iran) and a number of Middle Eastern States have all raised concerns regarding the Iranian nuclear program. The US is certainly being the most bellicose but it is by no means alone in calling for transparency with regards to Iran’s nuclear program.

While I would agree that this outwardly does no favours, I’m also mindful of the fact that they have been willing to comply they just said they wanted to be treated impartially which, being mindful of the propaganda the US has been spewing, could not be achieved.
There’s two sides to the story, I don’t think that they should have nukes – but then again I don’t think the US, Israel, China, France, or anyone else should have them either..
But the thing is, they don’t have them, allege have is an accusation from a super power with a reputation for lying about other peoples weapons capabilities.. And I’m sorry, it’s just not enough to make me condemn them..

Allege? Damn autocorrect, all they have, thats some contraction..

But it has lots of lovely oil. Thats it in a nutshell.

Denying the Holocaust on a regular basis doesn’t exactly help Ahmedinejad’s image.

Ahmajinidad is a joke in Iran though, the Iranian people think of him as a moron with too much access to the worlds press.. Like Prince Philip (or Enda Kenny).
Seeing as the Iranian president has no actual power, it may be prudent to take his ramblings with a pinch of salt.. Portraying Iran – a predominantly secular nation like Israel – as a nation full of backwards religious nutters is sort of twisting things a bit.. there may well be some, but thats like saying all English people are like Jeremy Kyle guests.. The people aren’t happy with their leaders, much like we aren’t.. Would you like to be judged on the basis of Kenny? It’s all about how it’s portrayed.. And as Damsha rightly pointed out, we have been in this exact place before..

Remember the WMDs? Sounds a lot like this “we think they are going to make bombs”.. Iraq was a threat to the West and 9/11 was used as the pretext there too, the “wiping Israel off the map” statement was purely mistranslation – as there is no Arabic equivalent of that phrase.

People really do have short memories don’t they? Ahmadinijad said at least a year ago that Iran was happy to have UN inspectors in provided they weren’t American as they felt that America had a bias (I wonder where they get that idea from?). Had they sent in Norwegian, Canadian, Irish or any other nationality inspectors a year ago we would know for sure whether they were or weren’t, but for some reason that wasn’t explored..

Good post! totally agree…

Whatever about what Iran is or isnt doing…the US is ten times as bad

1. USA HAS a nuclear weapons program,
2. US is an extreme threat to the middle east, map above illustrates this, and constantly ignores international law, guantanamo bay etc.
3. US wants “to wipe Iran off the map”

My blood boils…

Shanti, you are exaggerating in the extreme by saying that Ahmedinejad is seen as a ‘joke’ by the Iranian people. Through personal experience I know that this is not the case. He is the elected President of Iran – to compare him to Prince Philip (unelected with NO power) is both inaccurate and verging on offensive to Iranian people.

To compare the situation with regards to WMDs in Iraq is also very inaccurate. The IAEA under ElBaradei categorically stated that it did not believe Iraq was producing nuclear weapons, though it did say the regime was not cooperating with its inspectors. The US invaded anyway.

The IAEA has not been able to give the same assurances with regards to Iran. On the contrary, it is concerned by the nature of Iran’s nuclear program and the persistent refusal of the Iranians to grant them access. This argument that Iran would allow inspectors in on condition that none of them are from the US is utter nonsense. The IAEA is a vast organization whose workers are made up of all member States (US and Iranian included).

At this point, it has become a question of prestige. Neither side wants to be seen as ‘weak’.

@ Chris – Yes the US does have nuclear weapons. It is one of the 5 nuclear-weapon States recognized by the UN. As unfair as it may seem, the NPT is made up of ‘nuclear haves’ and ‘nuclear have-nots’. Iran knew this was the case when they signed the NPT as a non-nuclear weapons State and have agreed NOT to develop nuclear weapons.

Of course they have the right to develop a peaceful civil nuclear energy program but they must allow IAEA inspectors access to ensure that the program is purely for peaceful purposes.

Not sure where you got the quote about the US wanting to “wipe Iran off the map”. Maybe you could give me the link?

Jamie, being in Ireland you should know that president does not equal power. Yes, Ahmadinijad is the elected president, but Michael D Higgins is ours and his powers are ceremonial too. Iran has several people superior to Ahmadinijad (8 at least), they are the countries leaders, not him. He can say whatever the hell he likes, he’s not making any decisions. Perhaps we should be more focused on what the Supreme Leader of Iran has to say?

The fact that their elected official is really kinda pointless is a situation that the Iranian people are unhappy with, they would prefer a proper democracy, but that is for THEM to strive for and not another country to implement by force.

As for America saying they wanted Iran to be wiped off the map – check out Damsha’s links there, I’m pretty sure I saw that referred to and links provided in there..

Damhsa Dmf, Congratulations on improving your grammar and spelling since our last encounter, or is that down to some copying and pasting from the useful idiots’ playbook? Have you any thoughts on the ongoing Fatwah on Salman Rushdie, or would you get indigestion trying to address that issue? I raised it myself a few days ago and got lots of red thumbs for my trouble (each one carried as a badge of pride). The love affair between you and your like and the leadership of the Islamic Republic (as opposed to the noble Persian people) is disgusting.

@Charles Mark, off you go again. The mention of the mighty Persian people as you say brings you crawling from the woodwork loaded with snide remarks and insults, how delightful. Are you only let out of your box to comment when the keywords pop up on your screen? Which may I ask was it this time? “Arsehole” or “Israel”?
Please go to your people and join its army to fight Iran with them if your so thirsty for war. I don’t wish to see hundreds of thousands of people murdered again over lies and bullshit power struggling.
Have non US inspectors in to inspect Iran’s facilities and lets hear honestly what is going on and confirm what Ahmadinejad is saying to be true or not. Then resume talks as they are bound by treaties to do.
If all is well and acceptable, the US can remove its war ships from the straits, bring home the thousands of soldiers recently deployed to Israel for training and remove any and all embargo’s and resolutions and we can have some bloody peace for a while without your mighty people threatening anyone else with preemptive nuclear attack. If the country with nukes backs off, then the other neighboring states will not be in any shape or strength to attack or remove Iran’s dominance in the area.

Damhsa Dmf, you posted a series of points all entirely defensive of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It looked to me as if you may have copied and pasted some material from other sources, you haven’t denied that.
You appear to see no fault in the Iranian regime, or at least you make no concession that it may have failings. I instanced Rushdie and you had no response. I might mention the treatment of homosexuals in Iran, perhaps you have a view on that to share with us.
You refer to “my people.” Who do you think are my people?(Here’s a clue. I’m Irish and proud of it).
You seem to think I want to see war on Iran. Absolutely not.It would be a complete fiasco, for Iran, the region,and all involved. I certainly don’t want Iran to have nuclear weapons. (where do you stand yourself on that?)
In the final sentence of your reply to my comment you seem to endorse the notion of Iranian dominance in the area? What area are you talking about and what do you mean by dominance?
I took the trouble to follow your links above.These are hardly independent sources, “One World” and all that.
As things stand you seem to be happy to propagandise for the Iranian regime and to link to paranoid conspiracy theories. Before you come roaring back that I’m a propagandist for Israel, there seem to be a few important distinctions. I am not connected to any group or organisation, or even political party. I accept Israel is not faultless, far from it. I have criticised it in other threads on Journal, though making clear my overall strong
support for Israel.
You must really love George Galloway?

They haven’t built any. They have been accused of building them by the one nation on the planet to have ever used them. This same nation may or may not have an interest in their resources, as they have used the threat of weapons of mass destruction excuse before, and it turned out to be a lie..

For some reason Irans request for inspectors who weren’t American to conduct the assessment was not upheld.. Does it really sound like the US are interested in facts?

Don’t think anyone thinks its a good idea for Iran to have nuclear weapons.. Just that most people heard all this rhetoric before (more than once) and would like to see some evidence of these nukes before we start assuming that what the US is alleging is in fact true..

Would an obliterated New York be enough evidence?

Did Iraq have WMDs? Did it matter?

It has already been pointed out to you above that Iraq and Iran are totally different situations. No one thought that Iraq had a nuclear weapons programs. We KNOW Iran has. Only a fool or a mad fellow terrorist would want Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Try and argue logically instead of making childish irrelevant comments.

“we know iran has” ??????

Why are they spending billions enriching Uranium then?

Sure. That’s why Israel keep executing their scientists.
Should the US be allowed to have nuclear weapons?

Are you seriously comparing a democratic US with fachist Iran where gay people and political oponents are executed?

It doesn’t seem very democratic to me…