Iran's Pattern of Behavior

[JerrySeinfeld]

A good Mark Steyn column, relating to Iran's decade's-old pattern of behavior here.

An excerpt:

In America, public opinion is in no mood for war with Iran. In Washington, Congress is focused on finding the most politically advantageous way to lose in Iraq. In Europe, they've already psychologically accepted the Iranian nuclear umbrella. In the western world, where talks are not the means to the end but an end in themselves, we find it hard despite the evidence of 30 years to accept that Iran talks the talk and walks the walk. Once it goes nuclear, do you think there will be fewer fatwas on writers, stonings of homosexuals, kidnappings in international waters, forced confessions of American hostages, and bankrolling of terror groups worldwide? These latest hostages are part of a decades-old pattern of behavior. The longer it goes without being stopped, the worse it will be.

Input?

[sharkman]

Iran definitely has a problem, and will be a problem in the future. They are informing the world by their actions that another evil empire is on the rise:

It's only a few months since they seized a bunch of Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines in international waters (an illegal act) and paraded them all over Iranian TV (in breach of the Geneva Conventions) and dressed up the female sailor in Islamic garb (another breach).

[scribblet]

Is there anyone who doesn't really believe that Iran, or any of the more radical Islamists would hesitate to use nukes on Israel and the west if they got the chance.

I just watched a program tonite called Radical Islam, actual footage of how they brainwash martyrs, interviews with mothers happy that their kids have been martyred and hope the next one will go too. Some of the crap they teach their kids about Jews (and Christians too) is scary, those children don't stand a chance of having a normal life.

The moderate Muslims are really irrelavent even if they are the majority, they have no voice or say against the extremists.

[capricorn]

Iran has a very youthful population. Their president did not endear himself to the common Iranian when he recently rationed petrol in that country. All because he concentrated on building nuclear facilities and not oil refining capabilities. Elections are coming soon. The president is looking for re-election. I don't think he will do anything too rash until after the elections, if he wins. I have a feeling the solution to Iran's problems lies internally.

[buffycat]

Is there anyone who doesn't really believe that Iran, or any of the more radical Islamists would hesitate to use nukes on Israel and the west if they got the chance.

I just watched a program tonite called Radical Islam, actual footage of how they brainwash martyrs, interviews with mothers happy that their kids have been martyred and hope the next one will go too. Some of the crap they teach their kids about Jews (and Christians too) is scary, those children don't stand a chance of having a normal life.

The moderate Muslims are really irrelavent even if they are the majority, they have no voice or say against the extremists.

Scribblet, Iran is not going to nuke Israel - even IF she does manage to aquire nuclear weapons - it would be suicide for the entire nation. (not to mention that SHE hasn't any nukes and won't for at least another 5 - 10 years, then there is the problem with deploying them - but hey don't let facts get in the way of your virulant hatred of all things Muslim).

Funny also that you bring up the Jews (as always eh?) while Iran has one of the most populus Jewish enclaves in the ME - yep - 20,000 of them with their own member of Parliament.

Further, the mess in Iran can be clearly traced back to UK/US interference in that country - which drove the stampede to the fundamentalist regime now ruling Persia.

WRT your tv show - there are fundamentalists in all religious groups - best not to judge all by the actions of a few nutcases (ie Soldiers for Jesus, the Radical Settler movements inspired by Kahane to name just two). But heck - since they are not the 'group' of the day why mention them huh?

Your hatred blinds you.

[scribblet]

Iran has a very youthful population. Their president did not endear himself to the common Iranian when he recently rationed petrol in that country. All because he concentrated on building nuclear facilities and not oil refining capabilities. Elections are coming soon. The president is looking for re-election. I don't think he will do anything too rash until after the elections, if he wins. I have a feeling the solution to Iran's problems lies internally.

Possibly, lets hope so and more reasonable heads prevail.