By Manifesto Joe
First, don't get me wrong. I think war with Iran would be a mistake that would make war with Iraq look like a trivial error in comparison. I know about the history of the U.S. and Iran, the 1953 CIA-sponsored coup, the 25-year imposition of the nasty American-backed dictatorship of the Shah, the subsequent "blowback," and so on. I am not ignorant or naive about any of this in the least. Containment -- like we didn't do with Saddam Hussein -- would be the rational response to any future conflict with Iran.
But it's time to say this: The current leader of Iran is either appallingly disingenuous, or a moron. I didn't think it possible that anyone could make Bush look even halfway shrewd in comparison. This cretin does.
He knowingly walked into a Western intellectual ambush at Columbia University on Monday. I won't even get into the issues about his imbecilic questioning of the Holocaust.
This guy actually said, among other things, and with a straight face, that there are no homosexuals in Iran. I understand that the response was derisive laughter.
I can't imagine that he didn't know what to expect. Here's what The New York Times reported:
He said that there were no homosexuals in Iran — not one — and that the Nazi slaughter of six million Jews should not be treated as fact, but theory, and therefore open to debate and more research.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, aired those and other bewildering thoughts in a two-hour verbal contest at Columbia University yesterday, providing some ammunition to people who said there was no point in inviting him to speak. Yet his appearance also offered evidence of why he is widely admired in the developing world for his defiance toward Western, especially American, power.
Well, most certainly the Bush presidency has seriously undermined any American claim to moral authority on the world stage. And when Ahmadinejad talks -- in many parts of the world, people listen.
But, to the bottom line: Even Il Doofus isn't this fucking stupid. At least not publicly. I can't think of any other world leader who could be. If I'm wrong, in terms of pure public ignorance, send me names.
The Associated Press reported:
He provoked derisive laughter by responding to a question about Iran's execution of homosexuals by saying: "In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country ... I don't know who's told you that we have this."
No, stupidity isn't grounds for a declaration of war. If this were so, we should declare war on ourselves, based on policy of the last several years. And, one thing to consider: If Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson had been given the opportunity to have this much power here, would they have been much different?
But, this is a man here and now, with plenty of convoluted brown matter between his ears. And he has a lot of power. His ideas are silly, but a person in this position in the world can't really be dismissed with such a word. He is yet one more reason to be very, very afraid.
Manifesto Joe Is An Underground Writer Living In Texas.
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9 comments:
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I never thought I'd find myself going to bat for Ahmadinejad. But I'd like to point out a couple of things:
1. Ahmadinejad has indeed said some stupid things. But you can view a compilation of idiotic statements made by Bush over the years that not only shows him to be stupid, but dangerously stupid. Recall how Bush didn't even know the difference between Sunnis and Shiites (or even that there were two branches of Islam) before he launched the Iraq War.
2. Although Ahmadinejad has said some stupid things, he has also been misquoted by the Western media. He did not ever say that "Israel should be wiped off the map" or that Israel should be destroyed. (In other words, his most infamous statement turned out to be a fabrication by a lazy Western media). This site takes a close look at Ahmadinejad's original quote, word-by-word in the Persian language. And if that quote turned out to be a fabrication, it makes me wonder what else has been fabricated by the U.S. corporate propaganda/media machine. The fact is, the U.S. corporate media has a hard-on for war (WAR=higher ratings and higher profits), so it is eager to demonize Ahmadinejad and build him up into the new Hitler, (just like it did with Saddam).
3. As far as what Ahmadinejad said about gays: OK, it was foolish. However, I do not think the U.S. has a leg to stand on on the topic of tolerance for gays. Despite our nation's perception of itself as this shining beacon of tolerance and equality for everyone, the fact is gays are still persecuted and murdered in this country every year for no other reason that they are gay.
4. Yes, Ahmadinejad said some stupid things. But as the Western media corporate machine gears up to demonize him, I'd just like to ask one thing: how many nations has Ahmadinejad invaded? Remember, it's the U.S. that goes around the world invading other nations and overthrowing democratic governments. In Iraq alone, Bush has the blood of over one million men, women and children on his hands.
(Right-wingers will counter that Ahmadinejad is supposedly secretly tied in to all kinds of terrorist networks, according to the CIA---and we all know that the CIA and U.S. intelligence agencies are NEVER wrong about anything, right?)
Maybe I'm alone in this viewpoint, but I believe Bush is more evil and a greater menace to the world than Ahmadinejad is.
I would say that Bush has simply had much more opportunity to do harm than Ahmadinejad has. If the latter had similar opportunities, I fear that the possibilities might be limitless.
But anyway, don't get me wrong here. In my eyes, Bush has long been No. 1 in the conference where foolishness is concerned. At least temporarily, he now seems to be No. 2.
"And he has a lot of power."
Not to be too nit-picky, but this seemed pretty important. This nutjob is not as powerful as most American's believe. The real seat of power in Iran is held by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who controls that countries religious, political, and military policy. The only reason Ahmadinejad is perceived as this terrifying boogeyman is because the Right here in America (see: White House, MSM) are constantly demonizing this obviously looney, and not so obviously impotent, figurehead of the Iranian gov.
What Dean said. From what I understand, Ahmadinejad is only a stooge; the mullahs have all the power. America is screwing up because we take their village idiot at his word while refusing to deal with the men who hold the power.
Valid points -- I have heard and read that this guy basically holds office at the pleasure of the mullahs, and that they could easily replace him. But he still seems a bit too powerful for comfort.
What I want to know is what the hell is wrong with the citizens of Iran and the United States that we would elect such bafoons to such important jobs? My god, it dumbfounds me.
I am neither a supporter nor apologist for Ahmadinejad, but he has been the subject of undue ridicule by the MSM. Marc makes some excellent points. Ahmadinejad is constantly being mistranslated by the MSM. They consistantly use Neo-consevative and Zionist translations, which are sloppy and misleading. Start searching out and reading some Persian translations and you will see what I mean.
In regards to the 'no homosexuals in Iran' statement, they left off the last part of his statement '...like you have here'. The translator during the speech used the word, 'phenomenon'.
http://ofrevelation.blogspot.com/2007/09/freedom-of-speech.html
Again, good points of rebuttal by all. There is division among progressives about Ahmadinejad.
But, although the MSM has distorted some, and perhaps much, of what he has said: Judging from what I've seen from multiple sources, they didn't have to distort it very much. The AP did quote him pretty completely about homosexuals, and it was kind of hard to interpret any other way.
cwilcox,
(funny)I said nearly that exact same thing to someone a few days ago. I also added that G.W is further proof that yes, millions of people CAN be wrong.
Ahmadinejad is just playing to his base and the main stream media helps him with his cause. When will they learn that the more attention you give this fuctard, the more power he and his statements gain.
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