Professor, it's still a surprise to me, though perhaps it ought not be, that the American public isn't more vocal. When I was a volunteer for the Obama campaign, we Dems had high hopes for an expedient withdrawal.. Having settled in Pakistan, I can tell you first hand of the near daily increase in anti-Americanism here.. Winning hearts and minds is a pipe dream for an Administration that is seen as propping up a corrupt gang in office here..
...and this is in stark contrast to the Gulf Arab countries, where abortions are categorically outlawed unless there's a risk of harm to the mother. Most people don't realize how progressive Iran really is..
Thanks for the clarification, but what about Saudi? By actively lobbying countries to buy oil from them instead of Iran and increasing output to offset Iranian oil, isn't in effect the same on Iranian oil sales?
I know Pakistan is trying to ink a gas pipeline deal with Iran, and is currently in talks to barter wheat and rice to Iran in exchange for iron ore and other Iranian products in order to bypass the difficulty caused by the sanctions against Iran's Central Bank.
This map can't be accurate. Saudi Arabia and UAE are green, yet both are supporting sanctions. Saudi is raising oil output to offset less Iranian oil in the market.
It's all about bullying others into submission, then occupying them when they refuse to bow down.. Expanding NATO eastward and tempering the rise of China and Russia.
This is precisely one of the reasons the folks in the mountains near Afghanistan here continue putting up a fight. We saw it happen to the USSR, and we're expecting the same from the U.S.
Salaam.. Congratulations to you if you're able to complete your national project. When my country was pursuing its nuclear program, for weapons not just medical grade, our people were largely for it. We had resolved that we would follow through even if we had to eat grass. Insha'Allah Iranians are able to withstand the pressure the same way, even if not for the same ends.
If you think a country is hellbent on destroying your nation and society, what would you chant/say? More to the point, what have all of the establishment politicians been saying in the U.S.? They've been reiterating how they would bomb Iran. Is that really any different than their chanting? We're the only ones actually capable of following through on our rhetoric.
The IAEA is a puppet organization and is about as trustworthy about Iran as Israel or the US. This is well established by numerous leaks of American cables regarding Yukio Amano's appointment to the head position at the IAEA due to his pro-American bias. You want honesty, look to El Baradei's comments and the reports published during his tenure. In a nutshell, there is absolutely no reason to suspect there is any weaponization program in Iran.
Do you mean to tell me that the U.S. takes issue with "a strong and independent Iraq"? Part of being independent, is being able to make the decisions that are in your best interest.
Precisely my belief as well. As a Muslim, my belief and faith is solid. It makes no difference that anyone "insult" my God or Prophet through their own ignorance of true Islam. Frankly, I can't blame many of the talking heads for their views about Islam... the blame falls on the sad excuses for Muslims who are committing unIslamic acts daily and employing violence and extremism to advance their agendas.
You're totally spot on... but put it in context. These parties have to cow tow to the religious parties to some extent to stay in power. It's no different than Republicans and Democrats espousing their religiosity or competing to be the staunchest of the pro-Israel cabal.
Jim, this is what Pakistan has unfortunately evolved into... but that is hardly inline with the vision of the founders. Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted a country that was religiously tolerant, and not exclusivist. He was Muslim and his wife was not. The hardliners have turned Pakistan into this monstrosity. As a Pakistani-American and a staunch Muslim (of the Sufi variety), I hold out hope that the people, most of whom really are tolerant when "religious leaders" aren't stoking the flames of intolerance, will revolt against the current political parties (religious and secular...they're all corrupt), and put a real representative gov't in place.
It only makes you a fundamentalist if you believe that violence ought to be employed to oppress those that do not reject saints and shrines. Islam is a tolerant, peaceful and flexible religion. There is no one "right" way to practice it...
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Professor, it's still a surprise to me, though perhaps it ought not be, that the American public isn't more vocal. When I was a volunteer for the Obama campaign, we Dems had high hopes for an expedient withdrawal.. Having settled in Pakistan, I can tell you first hand of the near daily increase in anti-Americanism here.. Winning hearts and minds is a pipe dream for an Administration that is seen as propping up a corrupt gang in office here..
...and this is in stark contrast to the Gulf Arab countries, where abortions are categorically outlawed unless there's a risk of harm to the mother. Most people don't realize how progressive Iran really is..
Thanks for the clarification, but what about Saudi? By actively lobbying countries to buy oil from them instead of Iran and increasing output to offset Iranian oil, isn't in effect the same on Iranian oil sales?
I know Pakistan is trying to ink a gas pipeline deal with Iran, and is currently in talks to barter wheat and rice to Iran in exchange for iron ore and other Iranian products in order to bypass the difficulty caused by the sanctions against Iran's Central Bank.
Edit: just realized Saudi is white and only UAE is green, but my point still stands. They should be red.
This map can't be accurate. Saudi Arabia and UAE are green, yet both are supporting sanctions. Saudi is raising oil output to offset less Iranian oil in the market.
It's all about bullying others into submission, then occupying them when they refuse to bow down.. Expanding NATO eastward and tempering the rise of China and Russia.
This is precisely one of the reasons the folks in the mountains near Afghanistan here continue putting up a fight. We saw it happen to the USSR, and we're expecting the same from the U.S.
Salaam.. Congratulations to you if you're able to complete your national project. When my country was pursuing its nuclear program, for weapons not just medical grade, our people were largely for it. We had resolved that we would follow through even if we had to eat grass. Insha'Allah Iranians are able to withstand the pressure the same way, even if not for the same ends.
Khuda hafez doost.
If you think a country is hellbent on destroying your nation and society, what would you chant/say? More to the point, what have all of the establishment politicians been saying in the U.S.? They've been reiterating how they would bomb Iran. Is that really any different than their chanting? We're the only ones actually capable of following through on our rhetoric.
Tell that to the victims of the Hyderabad riots several years back.. Anyone can be a terrorist.
OIL
The IAEA is a puppet organization and is about as trustworthy about Iran as Israel or the US. This is well established by numerous leaks of American cables regarding Yukio Amano's appointment to the head position at the IAEA due to his pro-American bias. You want honesty, look to El Baradei's comments and the reports published during his tenure. In a nutshell, there is absolutely no reason to suspect there is any weaponization program in Iran.
Do you mean to tell me that the U.S. takes issue with "a strong and independent Iraq"? Part of being independent, is being able to make the decisions that are in your best interest.
Precisely my belief as well. As a Muslim, my belief and faith is solid. It makes no difference that anyone "insult" my God or Prophet through their own ignorance of true Islam. Frankly, I can't blame many of the talking heads for their views about Islam... the blame falls on the sad excuses for Muslims who are committing unIslamic acts daily and employing violence and extremism to advance their agendas.
You're totally spot on... but put it in context. These parties have to cow tow to the religious parties to some extent to stay in power. It's no different than Republicans and Democrats espousing their religiosity or competing to be the staunchest of the pro-Israel cabal.
Well said. Pakistan was intended to be the latter, and yes... "they" have failed miserably.
Jim, this is what Pakistan has unfortunately evolved into... but that is hardly inline with the vision of the founders. Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted a country that was religiously tolerant, and not exclusivist. He was Muslim and his wife was not. The hardliners have turned Pakistan into this monstrosity. As a Pakistani-American and a staunch Muslim (of the Sufi variety), I hold out hope that the people, most of whom really are tolerant when "religious leaders" aren't stoking the flames of intolerance, will revolt against the current political parties (religious and secular...they're all corrupt), and put a real representative gov't in place.
These laws were enacted by a militant dictator (Zia ul Haq). He is arguably the worst thing that ever happened to Pakistan.
It only makes you a fundamentalist if you believe that violence ought to be employed to oppress those that do not reject saints and shrines. Islam is a tolerant, peaceful and flexible religion. There is no one "right" way to practice it...