Comment #41371 by Sleeper on 12/08 at 10:20 am

“I don’t consider myself to be an opponent or consider myself an idiot.  I think such blather is a waste of space that only clouds valid points.”

Sleeper,

I think you must be referring to my imaginary “idiot opponents” in Comment #41290 who like to bandy about the term “Islamofascism”. I certainly never meant to include you in that assemblage of dim bulbs, whoever they are. Actually you sound intelligent, and so far we have agreed about everything. Of course, if you do support the use of the term “Islamofascism”, say so, and we can argue about it.

“They don’t care about the dead.  They don’t care about the maimed.  All they care about is the money like the cheap whores they would like to make us all.”

Sleeper,

That says it all--politicians are “cheap whores” allowing war profiteers to make a bundle, by stealing U.S. tax dollars--those crooks, will stay in Iraq until the last drop of blood is squeezed from every Iraqi.

I don’t consider myself to be an opponent or consider myself an idiot.  I think such blather is a waste of space that only clouds valid points.

Beyond a true description of facism it is usually used much like the term Nazi to paint the ones it is attached to as evil.

“Grave and Deteriating” now that sounds serious rather it is applied to the situation in Iraq or to our Presidents ability to deal with reality or to our reverence to our own Constitution.

We have a President that is bound and determined to screw up every effort that truely moves forward on any front.  I truly believe that is his intention.  We have the most Impeachable President that has ever been.  His Vice is even more impeachable, yet our Congress has yet to pursue that course.  Why because if our involvement in Iraq ceases then the money stops flowing.  They don’t care about the dead.  They don’t care about the maimed.  All they care about is the money like the cheap whores they would like to make us all.

I think the battles in Iraq are less important then the battles that should be happening in our Congress.  We had a change in the power structure but will it change anything.  I think that depends on rather they both honor the same boss.  It sure isn’t the American people.

Reply to Comment #41254 by Polly Ester on 12/07 at 4:37 pm

“I think facism it more appropriately used in reference to our current administration.”

Sleeper,
I think you’re right.  Theistic fanaticism is a bit different than corporate fascism.
----------------------------------------------
It’s totally different. What is gained by calling bin Laden et al “fascists”? Nothing. It’s just a general term of oppobrium. So now when I say “bin Laden is not some sort of fascist” my idiot opponents say “Aha! He’s defending bin Laden”. Well, I hope we’re past that kind of Bush/McCarthyite stupidity on this blog. I think Sun Tzu says somewhere that he who knows both himself and his enemy will win every battle, but he who knows neither himself nor his enemy will lose every battle. “Islamofascism” neatly prevents either sort of knowledge. It even sounds stupid. How shall we deal with bin Laden? I will tell you the right way. We must first of all examine ourselves. That is what we must always do first of all. Those who adopt this principle are always called self-haters ("self-hating Americans”, “self-hating Jews” etc.) by warmongers whose unmistakable sign is the refusal to take any responsibility for human suffering and always blaming the other side. They all say that it is too bad innocent civilians have to suffer, but as soon as the enemy is eliminated, there will be peace and suffering will end. What happens to people who do not adopt this principle of self-examination first and formost is that they become equated with their own enemy. It’s a kind of mystical law of the universe or something. Read your Beatitudes. First remove the beam from thine own eye, and then thou wilt be able to see clearly to remove the mote from thy brother’s eye. Or some such words. But all the great religions have taught this. By the way, another one of my favore Sun Tzu sayings is that the very greatest generals win the war without firing a shot. That is the way I would conduct our campaign for peace. Bin Laden can and must be defeated only by peaceful means.

“I think facism it more appropriately used in reference to our current administration.”

Sleeper,
I think you’re right.  Theistic fanaticism is a bit different than corporate fascism.

I don’t really see how facism applies to Islam.  There may be a concentration of power, but it is not anything resembling corporatism.  I may not have a clear understanding of facism, but I thought facism is when corporations run the governmental policy usually through a dictator.

I don’t see that in Islam at all.  I see monarhy’s and I see tribal strongmen like Saddam or Religious leaders.  We have some powerful religious leaders and we have corporatist like Cheney and the Bush family who may arguably be serving a foreign monarchy more then his policies have been serving the American People. 

Our policy has no doubt been in favor of Corporations often Multinational Corporations.  Bush was supposedly elected but both elections smell of fraudulent munipulation.

I think facism it more appropriately used in reference to our current administration.

Reply to Comment #41146 by Frank on 12/07 at 5:23 am

“Tony, I am neither a zionist, nor a facist, nor a Republican, nor a Bush supporter. Your assumptions have failed you.”

Forgive me then. But I do strenuously object to the term “Islamic fascism” because I believe it paints a picture of Islamic extremism that is very distorting and just about as unhelpful as possible in promoting peace. Anybody who sees Ahmedinejad, for example, as a “fascist” is completely divorced from reality and should be put in a lunatic asylum so that sane people could have a reasonable conversation with the man. Bin laden is not any sort of a fascist either, and if you say that, your chances of understanding him (or defeating him) are zero.

Tony, I am neither a zionist, nor a facist, nor a Republican, nor a Bush supporter. Your assumptions have failed you.

“I haven’t heard anything very encouraging so far - except, of course from Jimmy Carter”

Tony,
You’re right, Carter is making more sense than the other politicians--30 years ago, he promoted energy independence; if only we had listened.

Reply to Comment #40744 by Polly Ester on 12/04 at 2:38 pm

Yup, PTSS. What can we do but try to calm their fears? In a forum like this it’s easy to let them rant and rave and then respond in a peaceful way that will tend to calm their fears so they may begin to listen to reason. I think that to do that really contributes to peace in the world. But imagine those poor Palestinians on the ground, what they have to endure! They must not resort to violence, but there are limits to human endurance. Will the Democrats understand this or will they continue to stumble around under the Zionist spell? I haven’t heard anything very encouraging so far - except, of course from Jimmy Carter, and he is being discounted as some irrelevant old geezer, it seems - even though he did bring about the only peace treaty between Israel and a Muslim country (maybe now Turkey also?) which has not been violated in thirty years, and is now saying Israel is in complete violation of the own Camp David accords which he brought about as President.

Here is an analogy:  The Polish Ghetto is to Jews; as Israeli domination of Palestine is to Arabs.

Continuued reply to Comment #40802 by Frank on 12/04 at 8:03 pm

I feel compelled to add this further comment, because I know the next thing you are going to do is accuse me of defending bin Laden - a typical Bush-Zionist tactic. I am a peace advocate. I hew undeviatingly to the position that if the end is peace, the means must be peaceful. I am therefore totally committed to nonviolence from beginning to end, and I urge all people to adopt this policy. In particular, I urge the Palestinians and their allies and sympathizers to adopt this policy, even in the face of the most brutal Israeli oppression which is now happening and getting worse every day. Only thus will the moral odiousness of their actions be fully exposed not only to the world, but what is more important, to the Israelis themselves. Because finally, they are not Nazis either. They are basically decent people who are deeply frightened. When they see such a genuine display of nonviolence by the Palestinians, that will calm their fears and they will begin to sympathize. Finally they will come to see that the idea of Jewish self-defense will not work, and that to share the Holy Land as a secular democracy is the right thing to do. Then, and only then, will they suddenly discover that the whole world is for them instead of against them.

Reply to Comment #40802 by Frank on 12/04 at 8:03 pm

Oh, please! If you want to see a fascist, take a look at that picture of Bush on your wall. Take a look in the mirror, for that matter. You will see something that looks a lot more like a fascist than bin Laden.

Reply to Comment #40543 by Inconvenient Truth on 12/02 at 5:57 pm

Yes, somehow Jews, Muslims and Christians (and maybe even large numbers of people just trying to farm an orchard or hold a job or run a business and feed the kids) lived in the Holy Land for thousands of years without benefit of being part of any nation state - until the Zionists came along, that is. Those people SHARED the land, while they practiced their respective religions and worshiped at their respective holy places. It was you Zionists that said it had to be all yours. Well, that’s where you were and are wrong. It isn’t yours, and it never will be.

“Islamofacism” is not hyperbole or anti-Islamic rhetoric.  It is short for Islamic Facism which refers to the co-opting of the faith of Islam as a basis for totalitarian ideology.  The term is correctly understood to draw a distinction between this movement and mainstream Islam, while recognizing the use of Islam by the movement as a key claim to legitimacy.

The Iranian Amil Imani calls the Iranian regime “vicious fascist killers” and describes Zarqawi, bin Laden and the Presidents of Iran as “Islamofascists”.

The Iranian Ali Sina says this is a fight against “Islamofascism” or “Islamic Fascism”.

The Egyptian Nonie Darwish calls the President of Iran an “Islamo-fascist”.

Are these people racist, neocons or Zionists, too?  They are simply describing what they see.

Bush actually consulted Fouad Adjami, a Shiite Muslim who chairs the Middle East Studies department at Johns Hopkins, before his first public use of the phrase “Islamic Facists”.  Adjami didn’t see any harm or offense in the term and told the White House so.

So why the furor over the term? The truth is that the world and this forum are full of people just waiting to be offended by something, eager to be offended.  Such offense seems to provide welcome justification for righteous ranting and political grandstanding, and even mob violence in some cases like the infamous Allah cartoons.

Of course, there are always politicians and partisan pundits waiting in the wings to tap into this wellspring of offense and exploit it for political purposes. Al Sharpton has built an entire career on this phenomenon.

“ They need treatment - lots of love - and don’t let them get you into a ranting contest.”

It’s called Post Traumatic Shock Syndrome--when a population lives in a constant state of siege, and Arabs start to look like Nazis.

Reply to Comment #40616 by golara hamzeh on 12/03 at 11:25 am

“if you can use a word like islamo-facsist, what can stop anyone to start using the term nazi-jew? If london is Londonistan, then new york can be called jew york. if anti islamic commentary is OK then anti semitism is perfectly ok. please apply equal opportunity to bigotry.”

Absolutely. That “islamo-fascist” concept is a perfect example of the Zionist neurosis. You totally dehumanize your opponent by calling him a Nazi or a fascist, and this is exactly the same as the dehumanization of Nazi antisemitism. We can all agree not to consider Nazis to be human beings; they are evil pieces of moral garbage fit only for disposal. One does not negotiate with Nazis. But that view closes out the possiblity of peace; from that point on it is war to extermination, like WWII. We weren’t going to stop until Hitler was dead or in a cage. If 1.3 billion Muslims are Nazis, Israel has a bigger problem than it can handle, even with 200 nuclear bombs. Zionists go around with a chip on their shoulders and see themselves surrounded by Nazis. They have foam trickling out the corners of their mouths. They need treatment - lots of love - and don’t let them get you into a ranting contest.

Thank You,
Tony Wicher

It was a long read, but the letter is very important.  I have more belief in the sincerity of that letter then I do in anything that comes out of Washington D.C. these days.

I don’t think we will go anywhere dealing with the Ayotollah’s anymore then I believe staying the course is a legitimate alternative. 

I do believe that we can have a diploymatic relationship with the President of Iran.  Let him deal with his Ayotollah’s and make our government come out of its cloud of secrecy. 

We must stand up to our own governments policy of spreading fear and war to hide the truth.  “We The People” can demand TRUTH.  We Must do so now.

INCONVENIENT TRUTH

Actually, if we want to assign a correct name to that piece of real estate, it should be called the Land of Caanan.  In about 5,000 BC Abraham or his progeny migrated south from Ur and settled in the Land of Caanan. 

That about does it for recorded history.  The thousands of years prior, who knows anything about the people who occupied it or what it was called.

Then of course later when a drought hit the land the Israelites fled to Egypt, to return later with Moses, or so the story goes, to the Land of Caanan. 

The point is, unless an individual has at least a 50,000 year old deed proving ownership of any piece of real estate, any piece of real estate can be legitimately claimed by anybody - if he can get away with it. Basing right of ownership on what a piece of land is called will never stand up in a court of law.

Reply to Comment #40601 by Spinoza on 12/03 at 8:48 am

(Continuation of full text of Ahmedinejad’s letter to Americans)

I recommend that in a demonstration of respect for the American people and for humanity, the right of Palestinians to live in their own homeland should be recognized so that millions of Palestinian refugees can return to their homes and the future of all of Palestine and its form of government be determined in a referendum. This will benefit everyone.
Now that Iraq has a Constitution and an independent Assembly and Government, would it not be more beneficial to bring the US officers and soldiers home, and to spend the astronomical US military expenditures in Iraq for the welfare and prosperity of the American people? As you know very well, many victims of Katrina continue to suffer, and countless Americans continue to live in poverty and homelessness.
I’d also like to say a word to the winners of the recent elections in the US:
The United States has had many administrations; some who have left a positive legacy, and others that are neither remembered fondly by the American people nor by other nations.
Now that you control an important branch of the US Government, you will also be held to account by the people and by history.
If the US Government meets the current domestic and external challenges with an approach based on truth and Justice, it can remedy some of the past afflictions and alleviate some of the global resentment and hatred of America. But if the approach remains the same, it would not be unexpected that the American people would similarly reject the new electoral winners, although the recent elections, rather than reflecting a victory, in reality point to the failure of the current administration’s policies. These issues had been extensively dealt with in my letter to President Bush earlier this year.
To sum up:
It is possible to govern based on an approach that is distinctly different from one of coercion, force and injustice.
It is possible to sincerely serve and promote common human values, and honesty and compassion.
It is possible to provide welfare and prosperity without tension, threats, imposition or war.
It is possible to lead the world towards the aspired perfection by adhering to unity, monotheism, morality and spirituality and drawing upon the teachings of the Divine Prophets.
Then, the American people, who are God-fearing and followers of Divine religions, will overcome every difficulty.
What I stated represents some of my anxieties and concerns.
I am confident that you, the American people, will play an instrumental role in the establishment of justice and spirituality throughout the world. The promises of the Almighty and His prophets will certainly be realized, Justice and Truth will prevail and all nations will live a true life in a climate replete with love, compassion and fraternity.
The US governing establishment, the authorities and the powerful should not choose irreversible paths. As all prophets have taught us, injustice and transgression will eventually bring about decline and demise. Today, the path of return to faith and spirituality is open and unimpeded.
We should all heed the Divine Word of the Holy Qur’an:
“But those who repent, have faith and do good may receive Salvation. Your Lord, alone, creates and chooses as He will, and others have no part in His choice; Glorified is God and Exalted above any partners they ascribe to Him.” (28:67-68)
I pray to the Almighty to bless the Iranian and American nations and indeed all nations of the world with dignity and success.Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
29 November 2006

Reply to Comment #40601 by Spinoza on 12/03 at 8:48 am

(Continuation of full text of Ahmedinehad’s letter to Americans)

Noble Americans,

You have heard that the US administration is kidnapping its presumed opponents from across the globe and arbitrarily holding them without trial or any international supervision in horrendous prisons that it has established in various parts of the world. God knows who these detainees actually are, and what terrible fate awaits them.
You have certainly heard the sad stories of the Guantanamo and Abu-Ghraib prisons. The US administration attempts to justify them through its proclaimed “war on terror.” But every one knows that such behavior, in fact, offends global public opinion, exacerbates resentment and thereby spreads terrorism, and tarnishes the US image and its credibility among nations.
The US administration’s illegal and immoral behavior is not even confined to outside its borders. You are witnessing daily that under the pretext of “the war on terror,” civil liberties in the United States are being increasingly curtailed. Even the privacy of individuals is fast losing its meaning. Judicial due process and fundamental rights are trampled upon. Private phones are tapped, suspects are arbitrarily arrested, sometimes beaten in the streets, or even shot to death.
I have no doubt that the American people do not approve of this behavior and indeed deplore it.
The US administration does not accept accountability before any organization, institution or council. The US administration has undermined the credibility of international organizations, particularly the United Nations and its Security Council. But, I do not intend to address all the challenges and calamities in this message.
The legitimacy, power and influence of a government do not emanate from its arsenals of tanks, fighter aircrafts, missiles or nuclear weapons. Legitimacy and influence reside in sound logic, quest for justice and compassion and empathy for all humanity. The global position of the United States is in all probability weakened because the administration has continued to resort to force, to conceal the truth, and to mislead the American people about its policies and practices.
Undoubtedly, the American people are not satisfied with this behavior and they showed their discontent in the recent elections. I hope that in the wake of the mid-term elections, the administration of President Bush will have heard and will heed the message of the American people.
My questions are the following:
Is there not a better approach to governance?
Is it not possible to put wealth and power in the service of peace, stability, prosperity and the happiness of all peoples through a commitment to justice and respect for the rights of all nations, instead of aggression and war?
We all condemn terrorism, because its victims are the innocent.
But, can terrorism be contained and eradicated through war, destruction and the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocents?
If that were possible, then why has the problem not been resolved?
The sad experience of invading Iraq is before us all.
What has blind support for the Zionists by the US administration brought for the American people? It is regrettable that for the US administration, the interests of these occupiers supersedes the interests of the American people and of the other nations of the world.
What have the Zionists done for the American people that the US administration considers itself obliged to blindly support these infamous aggressors? Is it not because they have imposed themselves on a substantial portion of the banking, financial, cultural and media sectors?

(continued in next post)

Reply to Comment #40601 by Spinoza on 12/03 at 8:48 am

(continued full text of Ahmedinejad’s letter)

Noble Americans,
Our nation has always extended its hand of friendship to all other nations of the world.
Hundreds of thousands of my Iranian compatriots are living amongst you in friendship and peace, and are contributing positively to your society. Our people have been in contact with you over the past many years and have maintained these contacts despite the unnecessary restrictions of US authorities.
As mentioned, we have common concerns, face similar challenges, and are pained by the sufferings and afflictions in the world.
We, like you, are aggrieved by the ever-worsening pain and misery of the Palestinian people. Persistent aggressions by the Zionists are making life more and more difficult for the rightful owners of the land of Palestine. In broad day-light, in front of cameras and before the eyes of the world, they are bombarding innocent defenseless civilians, bulldozing houses, firing machine guns at students in the streets and alleys, and subjecting their families to endless grief.
No day goes by without a new crime.
Palestinian mothers, just like Iranian and American mothers, love their children, and are painfully bereaved by the imprisonment, wounding and murder of their children. What mother wouldn’t?
For 60 years, the Zionist regime has driven millions of the inhabitants of Palestine out of their homes. Many of these refugees have died in the Diaspora and in refugee camps. Their children have spent their youth in these camps and are aging while still in the hope of returning to homeland.
You know well that the US administration has persistently provided blind and blanket support to the Zionist regime, has emboldened it to continue its crimes, and has prevented the UN Security Council from condemning it.
Who can deny such broken promises and grave injustices towards humanity by the US administration?
Governments are there to serve their own people. No people wants to side with or support any oppressors. But regrettably, the US administration disregards even its own public opinion and remains in the forefront of supporting the trampling of the rights of the Palestinian people.
Let’s take a look at Iraq. Since the commencement of the US military presence in Iraq, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, maimed or displaced. Terrorism in Iraq has grown exponentially. With the presence of the US military in Iraq, nothing has been done to rebuild the ruins, to restore the infrastructure or to alleviate poverty. The US Government used the pretext of the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but later it became clear that that was just a lie and a deception.
Although Saddam was overthrown and people are happy about his departure, the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people has persisted and has even been aggravated.
In Iraq, about one hundred and fifty thousand American soldiers, separated from their families and loved ones, are operating under the command of the current US administration. A substantial number of them have been killed or wounded and their presence in Iraq has tarnished the image of the American people and government.
Their mothers and relatives have, on numerous occasions, displayed their discontent with the presence of their sons and daughters in a land thousands of miles away from US shores. American soldiers often wonder why they have been sent to Iraq.
I consider it extremely unlikely that you, the American people, consent to the billions of dollars of annual expenditure from your treasury for this military misadventure.

(continued in next post)

Reply to Comment #40601 by Spinoza on 12/03 at 8:48 am

In case you haven’t read the letter below. I find most of it hard to disagree with. We don’t have a president worthy of the name who could put two words together, but I would like to see a progressive Democrat like Barbara Boxer write a public answer. 

Ayatollahs or not, Iran strikes me as being closer to a democracy than any other Muslim nation. The fact that it is still not one is the result of stupid U.S. policies since the 1950s, policies which I am afraid the Democrats are likely to continue. Still, Ahmedinejad strikes me as being a fair representative of Iranian public opinion – and a man that progressive Democrats could easily do business with, if they could get past their fixation on Israel. Why, oh why can we not have a dialog with this man? I think it’s clear that Ahmedinejad and the Iranians would support a “One Democratic State” solution. (Check it out at http://www.one-democratic-state.org/).  This could be part of a U.S. peace initiative toward Iran which would, incidentally, start to resolve the Iraq situation in a positive way. The stumbling-block now is the “two-state” solution to the conflict. Carter is almost there, but not quite. I’m getting ready to get in touch with the Carter center. 

Tony Wicher

Ahmadinejad’s letter to Americans

[Editor’s note: This is the full text of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s open letter to “the American People,” as supplied to CNN.]

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

O, Almighty God, bestow upon humanity the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers.
Noble Americans,
Were we not faced with the activities of the US administration in this part of the world and the negative ramifications of those activities on the daily lives of our peoples, coupled with the many wars and calamities caused by the US administration as well as the tragic consequences of US interference in other countries;
Were the American people not God-fearing, truth-loving, and justice-seeking, while the US administration actively conceals the truth and impedes any objective portrayal of current realities;
And if we did not share a common responsibility to promote and protect freedom and human dignity and integrity;
Then, there would have been little urgency to have a dialogue with you.
While Divine providence has placed Iran and the United States geographically far apart, we should be cognizant that human values and our common human spirit, which proclaim the dignity and exalted worth of all human beings, have brought our two great nations of Iran and the United States closer together.
Both our nations are God-fearing, truth-loving and justice-seeking, and both seek dignity, respect and perfection.
Both greatly value and readily embrace the promotion of human ideals such as compassion, empathy, respect for the rights of human beings, securing justice and equity, and defending the innocent and the weak against oppressors and bullies.
We are all inclined towards the good, and towards extending a helping hand to one another, particularly to those in need.
We all deplore injustice, the trampling of peoples’ rights and the intimidation and humiliation of human beings.
We all detest darkness, deceit, lies and distortion, and seek and admire salvation, enlightenment, sincerity and honesty.
The pure human essence of the two great nations of Iran and the United States testify to the veracity of these statements.

(continued in next post)

As I said earlier I copied an excerpt from a very indepth discussion about “Draft Muslim Nations to Deal with Us Exit From Iraq”.  The excerpt was preceeded by these two paragraphs:

Another statement you make here and have made often in previous writings is that Bush is an idiot with a failed policy.

I do not argue in behalf of Bush’s mental capacity. Therefore I assume he was picked and placed in office by an entity that wanted a malleable front man to execute their own agenda from the office of president.

The site with the maps has some more good reading.  This page containing the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” adds a viewpoint rarely publicized in a more commercialized media.

http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_con tent&task=view&id=107&Itemid=1

if you can use a word like islamo-facsist, what can stop anyone to start using the term nazi-jew? If london is Londonistan, then new york can be called jew york. if anti islamic commentary is OK then anti semitism is perfectly ok. please apply equal opportunity to bigotry. be fair. be universal. if we can bomb their cities with depleted uranium bombs, then then they can bomb our cities with dirty nuclear or biological bombs.

There is no need for a Jewish Homeland. The idea of a homeland is outmoded.  There is no reason why Jews and Arabs can’t live together in the same land.  The greatist evil is nationalism.  There is no justification for calling one group of people superior to another group of people. Smart people want to live in peace and cooperate with one another.  Everyone can learn from the other.  Racism is outmoded.

Work for peace and justice because it is the right thing. Fight all right wing ideologies.

..

Do you think that it was insulting, after the holocaust, for English colonialist to tell European Jewish refugees to settle in Palestine?

It’s similar to telling African-Americans to go back to Africa.  WWII survivors of Nazism should have been given land in Germany; reparations for property lost during the war, that would have made more sense.

“To enact the patriot act, curb freedom of travel, intercept electronic communications of citizens, arrest them with out warrant or legal resource, remove Union representation of government employees, strip the country of it’s manufacturing base, sell our Nation’s resources to private, often foreign corporations for a pittance, run up the National debt to choke future recovery and keep our children enslaved to interest payments instead of social reform”

Sleeper--that was perfect,

It is a failure for the “little group” behind the “secret curtain,” because by now they thought Iraq, Syria and Iran would be under U.S. control—-they only have two years left.

The truth is that Palestine is no more real than Never-Never Land. The first time the name was used was in 70 A.D. when the Romans committed genocide against the Jews, smashed the Temple and declared the land of Israel would be no more. From then on, the Romans promised, it would be known as Palestine. The name was derived from the Philistines, a Goliathian people conquered by the Jews centuries earlier. It was a way for the Romans to add insult to injury. They also tried to change the name of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina, but that had even less staying power.

Palestine has never existed—before or since—as an autonomous entity. It was ruled alternately by Rome, by Islamic and Christian crusaders, by the Ottoman Empire and, briefly, by the British after World War I. The British agreed to restore at least part of the land to the Jewish people as their homeland.

There is no language known as Palestinian. There is no distinct Palestinian culture. There has never been a land known as Palestine governed by Palestinians. Palestinians are Arabs, indistinguishable from Jordanians (another recent invention), Syrians, Lebanese, Iraqis, etc. Keep in mind that the Arabs control 99.9 percent of the Middle East lands. Israel represents one-tenth of 1 percent of the landmass.

But that’s too much for the Arabs. They want it all. And that is ultimately what the fighting in Israel is about today. Greed. Pride. Envy. Covetousness. No matter how many land concessions the Israelis make, it will never be enough.

The following is an excerpt from a discussion that puts forth a viewpoint concerning the G.W.Bush administration. 

I agree that he has accomplished exactly what was intended.  I would never think that his policy or actions are in the best interrest of the people of the United States.  He and many other politicians have stripped our Constitution of its civil rights and protections.

The discussion is “Draft Muslim Nations To Deal With US Exit from Iraq”:  http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rob_kall_06111 8_draft_muslim_nations.htm

I will continue holding my belief that the neo-con agenda has been a complete success until I am shown that Bush is not a moron. Until then he is a puppet acting out the speeches written for him by an entity I can not see. For me, or anyone to call the actions of a man in that situation a failure is to assume those actions were initiated with the same goal for an out come.

If, on the other hand, the entity behind the curtain that put the ‘moron’ Bush into the most powerful seat on the planet, directed him to use the implausible Arab attack on the Trade Towers to invade Iraq as a diversion to accomplish specific goals, such as;

To enact the patriot act, curb freedom of travel, intercept electronic communications of citizens, arrest them with out warrant or legal resource, remove Union representation of government employees, strip the country of it’s manufacturing base, sell our Nation’s resources to private, often foreign corporations for a pittance, run up the National debt to choke future recovery and keep our children enslaved to interest payments instead of social reform.

If all these restrictions were the goal from the outset,.....

Well then, I’m not willing to say that those actions this administration has made in the name of Us citizens has been a failure until I know who comprises the entity behind the curtain that was able to get this ‘ moron’ into the presidency of the US,even over the popular vote of citizens that voted in corrupted poling places by getting the Supreme Court to intercede,really wanted to accomplish.

I gave up believing that Bush cared about ‘The American People’ when he pushed his tax cuts for the 1% while advocating a missle defence and Mars human landing.

Another web site that contains maps of palistinian territories since WWII is:

http://www.wearewideawake.org/

These maps show how the Palistinian territories have been shredded.  Is it a wonder why they might be angry?

We need to investigate and procecute all our war criminals especially the War profiteers.

re:40378
I tend to think that world parents would readily convert to any religion that could guarantee they could raise their children in peace and security.  All religions probably hold that sacred.  Ironic, isn’t it, that they still continue, after thousands of years of blood-letting, to destroy families and lives.  How can anyone want anything to do with religion and its unbridled hypocrisy?

“It is hoped that old hands Baker and incoming Defense Secretary Robert Gates can make the best of a terrible situation, which can and likely will get much worse if we “stay the course.”

The “Iraq Study Group,” sounds like a bunch of high school kids reviewing for a social studies exam, unfortunately, it’s more like a selection of well-known mummified hacks, strategizing on how “Baby Bush” can save face internationally—-well, that’s going to require a “helluva” lot of study—-the only way Bush can recoup is presidency, is to hire a magician, perhaps, Merlin, Rasputin or Houdini could have been of help--a skillful prestidigitator, who can only create an “illusion” of success in the Middle East.

RE:  • Comment #40378 by CK  on  12/01  at  4:24 am — “Golara, the Islamofacists do not just want their own tiny state like Israel has. They want an Islamic planet. They are interested in global domination, not peaceful coexistence with other faiths and nations.”

>>>>> The Myth of Islamofascism

This myth has been carefully cultivated to replace the Myth of Monolithic Communism. The Axis of Evil is the new Evil Empire. Al Queda is Gladio for the Middle East and the War of Terror is the Strategy of Tension for the 21st Century. The goal is to destabilize and fail every state wherein the oligarchs wish to insert puppet regimes for the purpose of controlling markets and saving the collapsing perto/arms/drug-dollar. They have zero faith in free markets or ethnic/nationalist self determined states. Hegemony is all they believe in. These Straussian elitists must be taken down, and their most blatantly obvious crime to date is the best chance to do it.

Support 911Truth. Investigate, indict, prosecute and execute!

When Bush stole the first election, that was Fla. and Jeb, when Bush stole the election again, I say it was the fault of people, anyone could see that Bush was not smart enough to run this country, all people could see was a likable guy, Kerry was not personable, but he sure was smarter than Bush, number one he had some idea of how the mulitary operated, unlike bush who joined the National Guard, and could not even fly the latest planes then he went east to continue his education and then got out of the national guard, this country should realize the only option left is impeachment, remember there are still two years left of this Emperor with clothes.  If people think that congress is going to do anything, remember Bush’s sighning agreements, Bush is just going to hand on, this war is just another Viernam.

Margaret from Vancouver, Washington

Someone here said we have two more years of Bush, I say we do not need to have two more years of his inability to solve this problem, the problem is that our Comander in Chief knows beans about running a war, knows beans about how to be a leader, just because he was governor in Texas does not mean he can run a country, Texas does not deal with the same problems as a country, number one is foreign policy, which Bush just wants to sweep under the rug, good thing he has Condi Rice to help him out, she seems like the brightest bulb among the group, and she is not even perfect.

Margaret from Vancouver, Washington

Golara, the Islamofacists do not just want their own tiny state like Israel has. They want an Islamic planet. They are interested in global domination, not peaceful coexistence with other faiths and nations.

I’m sorry, but I just don’t see what lying to the Syrians and Iranis has to do with anything. We went there for the oil, we stay there to control the oil, and the ONLY conversation we ought to be having at this point is about what will happen if we leave the oil behind and give up our control of it.

The Bush administration can’t be faulted for lying about this or any other issue of the day for what else can they do? If they tell the truth about ANYTHING, Social Security, Health Care, Prescription Drugs, stem cell research, abortion, homosexuality and marriage for same, taxes, the economy, the environment, terrorism, oil prices, you name it, then there may be civil war right here in America, i.e. the people getting rid of one corrupt government and trying desperately to replace it with one which at least will tell the truth in its corruption.

We are ignoring the slaughter in Darfur and concentrate all our attention on the Arab-Israeli problem.  We dare not discourage the Muslim sponsored genocide in Africa and use Israel as our whipping boy.

When you speak of George HW Bush and intelligence, put it like “Intelligence” so that we don’t confuse it with smarts.

In the same way George W. Bush managed to turn Ariel Sharon, of Israel, into a prophet of peace in the Middle East.

Muslims don’t have A STATE?  Well, I suppose that is technically true since there are many Muslim states.

Golara, Fundamentalist (radical) Islam is much older than the state of Israel. It has it’s roots in 18th century Wahhabism, according to the Islamic Supreme Council of America:

http://www.islamicsupremecouncil.org/bin/site/wrappers /extremism_wahabroots.html

Excellent, excellent point Ms. Hamzeh.  It is Ms. correct?

For decades Muslims fought the islamists who wanted to create theocratic states against the wishes of the people. Until Bush came in to the picture, the Islamists were on the run or marginalized in North Africa, Palestine, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Pakistan. Now thanks to Bush, with his refusal to resolve the Palestinian issue, his over reaction to 9-11 by invading Iraq (when Afghanistan was enough, his support for the carnage in Lebanon, Islamism and Islamic nationalism has never been stronger. So I must ask this question-is Bush really a closet Islamist that he has done them this favor?

It makes me really wonder at times?

I wonder if the Ayatollahs can live with Biblical Christianity in thier face because Biblical Christianity will continue to spread, even into the Muslim world.

what all you fools call radical Islam is nothing but Islamic nationalism. radical Islam was inspired by the success of Zionism as Jewish nationalism. Be fair white people, if jews can have their land and govern it, Why shouldn’t Muslims? If Jews can have an exclusive Jewish state and curtail the rights of non jews, why shouldn’t muslims? You have nobody but your zionist worshipping politicians of the last 150 years to blame for the mess in the world. If you want to end the era of Islamic nationalism, end your support for jewish nationalism. Don’t argue that Jews are only 20 million world wide and Muslims are 1.5 billion. Maybe you should have thought about this before you planned the creation of the Zionist state.. this type of endangered species only backup your racist thought structure. People are people and if Jews can have Zionism, Muslims will have Political Islam.

I really love the way some folks blame the Iraqis for the carnage and chaos that is fracturing their nation. Perhaps these apologists for American aggression should remember that it was America that destroyed Iraq’s government and military structures. America’s plan for the post Saddam era was nonexistent. Ammo dumps were left unguarded, allowing the militias and other resistance groups to arm themselves to the teeth.
The same neocon rats that instigated the Iraq war are cooking up another far more dangerous adventure in Iran. Bomb Iran, they say, and the people will rise up against the Mullahs. Same lies, same liars, same level of planning.
Whatever Bush, Cheney and the Neos are smoking, they should pass some around to the American people. We will need it to get through the next 2 years of this amazingly incompetent President and his criminal handlers.

“...turn Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the ‘Supreme Leader’ of ‘Axis of Evil’ Iran, into a prophet of peace..?”

>>>>not hard at all...

if your own “intelligence operatives” are running an outfit like al Queda — all documented by the BBC, no less, in this 3-hour long but must-see documentary:

“The Power of Nightmares”
1. “Baby It’s Cold Outside”
2. “Phantom Vicotry”
3. “Shadows in the Cave”

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-1002626006461047517
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-7930933565201168
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=5174842828826959382

End War of Terror - Support 911Truth!

The US military may have been able to save Iraq from Saddam, but the US can’t save the Iraqi people from themselves.

The Iraqis have had three years since Saddams downfall to stand up, rebuild, and take responsibility for Iraq’s future, and they have failed miserably. They don’t know how to live in a democracy and they don’t understand tolerance (Sunni v Shiite).

The country is doomed to fracture and split into tribal states. If they want to kill each other over different brands of Islam, we should get out and leave them to it.  There is no point in continuing to sacrifice American lives there to give them an opportunity that they have not and will not take advantage of.

Q: How in the world did George W. Bush manage to turn Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the “Supreme Leader” of “Axis of Evil” Iran, into a prophet of peace in the Middle East?

A: SUPREME INCOMPETENCE

“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
-Plato

Hello impeachment! How can something this horrifically organized, managed, and sold be accepted?

May Allah bless America.
God couldn’t.

The last time the west tried this, they called it a Crusade; and they lost. This time they have named it “ A war on Terror” again they have lost. Perhaps they should try a new title: Peace, Tolerance, Understanding. War is Terror; just ask anybody who has been scared by it. Peace be c You

It’s probably too late to stabilize the region. What a fuckup! We can expect a decade of unrest in the Middle East without letup.

The only thing the US can really do to help the situation is to withdraw from Iraq. I hope the Democrats make this possible.

The best game plan I’ve seen is in an article in Harpers by George McGovern and James Polk.

http://www.harpers.org/TheWayOutOfWar.html

Bob,

Why it is always “radical Islam”, and never radical Zionism, radical Christianity, radical evangelism, radical Pope, radical dictators (working for non radical West)?
How many people have been killed by those radical Islamists, 10,000 , or 100,000, and how that compares to millions killed by US alone in last 50 years since WWII?
Hamas is radical, Hezbolah is radical, Iran is radical, but Egypt is not, nor it is Saudi Arabia, or Bahrein, or UAE, or Jordan ....  And US is democracy with ridiculous and corrupt electoral system, Israel is democracy where one general replaces another ...

You people need to wake up!

This is just the beginning, of a long struggle against radical Islam, in which Mr. Bush has galvanized the Islamic world against the West.
Billions of Moslems, now feel persecuted by the West, thanks to Mr. Bush. His bumbeling and foolish military stategy has made their cause stronger, and significantly weakened the Wests, ability to resist radical Islams incursions.

Mr. Bush has only weakened the our position by weakening the only thing we really have to offer, our freedoms. Mr. Bush is equivalent in the eyes of many to the tyrants, that for so many years terrorised their own people, and who were the impetus for radical Islams appeal.

Stop wasting time to teach King George “How To Live With....” because he only knows how to live with “phantom victory” made by his flatterers. Under his eyes there’s nothing worth but his ego and acting exactly a sick man who love to masturbate for his own pleasure.

Sorry for telling the truth !

Hello Bob and Peter....
Happy Birthday from Prague!

Great piece this week and a pleasure to find your stirring words out here in the Luftansa Lounge in Praha....

Love, Whitney