Bin Laden still speaks from the Grave :)

[prisonchaplain]

Hmmm - talking about the Danish cartoons still? Such messages will usually include talk about current events to substantiate their claim that it's a recent message. Did this latest recording have any such substantiation?

Last I heard, we were thinking Bin Laden was dying of various ailments, but no confirmation of his actual death yet. Did I miss something?

LM

Don't know if B-L's dead or alive, but the cartoon issue is back in the news, as some EU countries have re-published them, as a backlash against Islamic hegemony into Western culture (efforts at censorship by force--or threat of rioting and violence).

[NeuroTypical]

Iran helped the US in the war against the Taliban and then the US government, probably doing the bidding of Israeli government leaders, turned on Iran and called them part of the "Axis of Evil".

Meh - we weren't doing anyone's bidding. The US was playing nasty global politics (I don't think there is any other kind.) The world has been operating for millenia with such temporary alliances. I don't particularly like it, but I see the consequences of not playing the game, and I'm at a loss to suggest another strategy.

Let's look at Iran's position.

...

how would we feel being non-nuclear with Cuba having nukes?

Do I understand correctly that you support nuclear proliferation? That you WANT Iran to have nukes? Could you tell me if there is anyone in the world that you do not want to be a nuclear power?

Or are you in favor of empathizing with Iran, but not allowing them to have nukes?

A little clarification, please.

LM

[Fiannan]

Meh - we weren't doing anyone's bidding. The US was playing nasty global politics (I don't think there is any other kind.) The world has been operating for millenia with such temporary alliances. I don't particularly like it, but I see the consequences of not playing the game, and I'm at a loss to suggest another strategy.

Do I understand correctly that you support nuclear proliferation? That you WANT Iran to have nukes? Could you tell me if there is anyone in the world that you do not want to be a nuclear power?

Or are you in favor of empathizing with Iran, but not allowing them to have nukes?

A little clarification, please.

LM

I'm not riping Israel but didn't Ariel Sharon once say that Israel controls America?

Also, I am merely pointing out that Iran is not on some crazy or evil quest to get nukes just for the sake of having nukes. Iran has Pakistan on one side, Israel on another and a United States that has shown it has no hesitation in breaking international law (Operation Stained Dress -- Clinton's bombing of Serbia in the '90s). If you were Iran would you not desire nukes for self defense?

[NeuroTypical]

I'm not riping Israel but didn't Ariel Sharon once say that Israel controls America?

With the number of Israelis who could care less what Sharon says, why should anyone in America care?

Also, I am merely pointing out that Iran is not on some crazy or evil quest to get nukes just for the sake of having nukes.

Fair enough. Yes, Iran is not run by insane or irrational people. They, and every other country on the face of the planet that doesn't already have them, would like nukes, because it betters their hand at the global geopolitical card game.

Now that we're all on the same page, can we get back to loudly proclaiming that planet earth has a vested self-interest in denying nukes to countries that don't have them?

LM

[a-train]

I think the considerations mentioned by President Ahmadinejad could actually be valid. His position is that nuclear weapons would be a waste of money. And, that they have not been particularly useful to many of the people possessing them over the last 50 years. I can't say I totally disagree.

Still, we have a greater issue to worry about than nuclear proliferation: the proliferation of global government.

Let sovereign nations stay that way. Let the Iranians have the policies both domestic and foreign that THEY choose.

-a-train

[kona0197]

Anyone who thinks we should let the Iranians have nuclear weapons is wrong. I don't think the current Iranian government is stable so they would use those weapons on other countries.

[a-train]

Anyone who thinks we should let the Iranians have nuclear weapons is wrong. I don't think the current Iranian government is stable so they would use those weapons on other countries.

What indicates to you that the Iranian Republic is unstable?

-a-train

[kona0197]

Ever read the news? Educate yourself. What's next? Are you going to tell me that there is nothing wrong with North Korea?

(And by the way why do you feel the need to sign each post? We already know who you are...)

[a-train]

Sheesh, sorry for asking ya big baby.

Really though, the news has not said anything about the Iranian Republic being unstable. I am not aware of any major civil unrest there.

-a-train

[kona0197]

Has nothing to do with civil unrest. It has to do with a leader that is a bit nuts.

I'll ask again - please quit signing your name to each post. We already know who you are we can see your name and avatar. This goes out to anyone who signs their name to a post. Very annoying.

[Fiannan]

Ever read the news? Educate yourself. What's next? Are you going to tell me that there is nothing wrong with North Korea?

(And by the way why do you feel the need to sign each post? We already know who you are...)

Ever consider how the news is doctored and manipulated? Prior to the invasion of Kuwait, Saddam was presented as a pro-western and enlightened leader -- afterwards, he was Hitler. In the 1990s Serbia was presented as the embodiment of evil -- such was not the case in reality. Now Iran is getting the treatment -- but with friends like China it's unlikely the US will violate internatinal law and bomb them.

[kona0197]

A-train: I didn't mean to scare you away...

[NeuroTypical]

Still, we have a greater issue to worry about than nuclear proliferation: the proliferation of global government.

There's no reason that we can't pay attention to more than one wrong at a time. It's offensive to reason to suggest that we shouldn't do anything about nuclear proliferation, just because there are other important matters on our plate.

LM

[Oh, and for the record, I don't think Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is insane, nor do I think the Iranian govt. particularly unstable. I do think he occasionally plays the part, when he feels it improves their hand at the global barganing table. And I do consider the possibility of an outside power taking effective action to destabalize Iran. I'm not expert enough to know if this would be a desirable thing or not.]