>> ^quantumushroom:

A perfect example of why this man cannot be President. Does he really think of the Iranian government (militant nutball-run theocracy) as merely the shortest kid on the softball team, intimidated because everyone else is taller? The kookiness is mixed in with the common sensical good things he says like rat droppings in rice.


TBH, as long as they just nuke their neighbors, who cares! We could sell the glass and solve the energy crisis.

> Does he really think of the Iranian government
> (militant nutball-run theocracy)

Fox News says what?

A perfect example of why this man cannot be President. Does he really think of the Iranian government (militant nutball-run theocracy) as merely the shortest kid on the softball team, intimidated because everyone else is taller? The kookiness is mixed in with the common sensical good things he says like rat droppings in rice.

PressTV is whole paid for by the Iranian regime, I would take this interview with a grain of salt. It would be like watching Fox news and expecting to learn the truth about Iran. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cam4hzbKpa0

@theali

I appreciate the response, but I didn't really post a bunch of links to have a debate about it. I don't mind being called out if I write a check that I can't cash. But you have to connect your own dots.

You're fooling yourself if you think the protests in Iran following the 2009 elections weren't a soft coup attempt. I was mistaken that a leaked State Department cable confirmed it.

Did you read the "Which Path to Persia" manual? Why didn't you respond to the "Bush sanctions 'black ops' against Iran" article. Those 2 are the smoking guns. Did you watch the "The Revolution Business - World" video? They briefly mention Iran at @5:12 Green "fist logo" (same logo as the other staged revolutions), @17:00 "revolution trainer" who "instructs the opposition movements in Iran", @22:42 clip from Iranian propaganda video depicting Gene Sharp, author of the revolution handbook being used. Iran is barely mentioned in the video because the operation was such a huge failure. And you're response to the Kissinger video is hilarious. How is sanctions working from the inside (opposed to working from the outside) to achieve regime change?

@marbles

Thanks for sharing your sources with us, I have not followed details of Syria's events, but I can respond to the articles about Iran.

Re: US trains activists to evade security forces
Offering tools that circumvent government censorship firewalls, is not instigation. Iran's government has strict rules for ISPs to share information with the government, much like the warrantless wiretapping in US. If HTTPS circumvents the wiretapping, then is IETF instigating revolution in US?

Re: 'US trains Jundullah members'
Jundullah is a terrorist group, has nothing to do with peaceful protests and civil movements in Iran.

Re: 'has intelligence agents working in Iran'
Duh, of course and Iran has intelligence working in US. Is the Wisconsin labour movement instigated by Iran? http://www.presstv.com/detail/168937.html

Re: Kissinger threatens regime change in Iran if coup fails
Kissinger said that if the government is NOT democratic, then US would work for regime change. US is doing that right now with the global sanctions on Iran. You can't take his words and say that the millions that protested after the election were all tricked by US propaganda and spies!

Re: Proof: Israeli Effort to Destabilize Iran Via Twitter #IranElection
Online activities such as twitter and facebook are reports of what's going on, not the actual events. People went to the streets and protested, they were shot, killed and prisoned. You need to look at the number of people that risked their lives to measure their force and influence, not twittes!

Re: Iranian Unrest: Evidence Of Western Intelligence Meddling
"CIA/Mossad flooding Iranians with contradicting SMS messages"
I never hear of any broadcast SMS messages in support of the protestors. Government did send threatening SMS messages to discourage people from going to protests. People SMSed each other, but that way you know the person that SMSed you. If I get a SMS from a number I don't recognize, I would just ignore it, but if my friend tells me something, then I would listen!

This is exactly how it happen (eye witness report), after they announced that Ahmadinejad won the election, it was late in the evening, people were in disbelieve, they walked out of their houses and talked with neighbors, once they saw that all around them were Mousavi supporters and no one that was cheering Ahmadinejad's victory. If Ahmadinejad has majority support in their riding, as the polling stations had reported, then where are those supporters? After that evening people knew that they has cheated, from talking to neighbors face to face, and NOT from a twitter fed for god's sake. The west learned about it from twitter, not people inside Iran!

Re: Iran busts another CIA network
Iran's government labels any dissenters as US backed agents or drug dealers. Are the people working to free Bradley Manning agents of foreign governments? Now the hard liners in Iran are accusing Ahmadinejad of initiating negotiations with US and are calling for his impeachment. US is the boogyman used to justify any action that the regime wants to take. Like the "terrorist" threat in america, used to take away people's freedoms, its not REAL!

Re: Soros, the CIA, Mossad and the new media destabilization of Iran
This article is a rehash of the previous ones, no new points here.

Just because governments are spreading propaganda against each other, it doesn't mean that the civil movements inside those countries are made up of manipulated and instigated people!
US caught off-guard by Iran sanctions
Iran to sue US over human rights abuse

@theali @dannym3141 @RedSky

U.S. secretly backed Syrian opposition: report
U.S. secretly backed Syrian opposition groups
U.S. Groups Helped Nurture Arab Uprisings
U.S. funding tech firms that help Mideast dissidents evade government censors
It's Official: "Arab Spring" Subversion is US Funded
US trains activists to evade security forces
Google's Revolution Factory - Alliance of Youth Movements: Color Revolution 2.0
Former CIA agent tells: How US infiltrates "civil society" to overthrow governments
The Revolution Business - World
'US trains Jundullah members'
US 'has intelligence agents working in Iran' - 24 June 09
Kissinger threatens regime change in Iran if coup fails
Proof: Israeli Effort to Destabilize Iran Via Twitter #IranElection
Bush sanctions 'black ops' against Iran
Iranian Unrest: Evidence Of Western Intelligence Meddling
Iran busts another CIA network
Soros, the CIA, Mossad and the new media destabilization of Iran
Brookings' "Which Path to Persia?"
"Stolen Elections" Battle Cry of the Color Revolution

I speak farsi. I shall translate what he says, roughly:

"This sign that you see here marks the exit to the Imamzadeh Hashem Shrine, which you can see is presently covered up. Precisely by this sign, in front of this exit, there's a warning sign which reads 'Risk of Death.' This exit is the freeway interchange between Qazvin and Rasht (two cities).

"Now allow us to show you the continuation of this exit so you can see why exactly they've posted a 'Risk of Death' warning. If you look along this path you can see, for example that car there, it enters and turns, and turns and then enters along this overpass we're standing upon. It continues on, and of course with these signs here it must follow this path, bending right, it continues, and then goes straight, straight, and then it goes down, and, it would appear, goes basically right along side oncoming traffic.

"Now, perhaps I've made a mistake in trying to figure this out, let's take a look at the reverse path. If the oncoming cars enter this interchange here, disregarding all the signs which must be wrong because they're pointing the opposite way, they come along, they go down, they pass right by that 'Risk of Death' sign, and then are again right along side the reverse oncoming traffic. I can't make heads or tails of it. I don't understand this whole setup, how this turns this way, this turns that way... Just, thank God I didn't study engineering because then of course people's lives would have been at risk (I detect sarcasm).

"Well you can see these cars here, and how much trouble they get into ahead. they're all stuck behind each other, thinking they'll easily get on the freeway and continue on their way to Rasht. But of course, they come across a 'Risk of Death' sign, and then have to merge, multiple cars, signalling to get on.

•••••

Interview of Iranian driver:

"Hello, sir. Where are you going?"

"I have no idea. I'm trying to make a u-turn."

"Do you realize what happens if you go this way?"

"No."

"If you continue this path here, you'll go straight and keep going and then return coming in the opposing direction of traffic coming from Qazvin headed for Rasht. You'll get crushed! And if you go back this way, you'll come off the interchange going directly opposed to traffic coming from Rasht headed for Qazvin. How did you get on this interchange?"

"They made this thing, how is it supposed to work?"

"I don't know how it's supposed to work, how do you think it was supposed to work?"

"I have no idea. <Unintelligible>"

"What do you have to say to the engineer of this overpass, regarding all this metal and cement and labor and resources that were used on this, what do you want to ask them?"

"Why did they make this overpass? what were they thinking?"

•••••

End:

"And now, our question of the engineers is this: at the time they were building this overpass, with thought to how much this cost to make in money and resources, why/how this overpass ended up like this? While they were building this thing, didn't any engineer, any construction worker, anyone who was working on it oversee this and ask 'what's the deal with this thing? where does the entrance go? where does the exit?' Really, that's what we ask our viewers. How?"

@hpqp

Thanks for the heads-up about the post. And thanks for clearly detailing your position on the matter. If I may, I’d like to explain my opinion on the topic.

Is it wrong to “criticize Islam?” In a civilized society that values free speech, clearly the answer is no. But free speech is a two-way street. If it is acceptable to criticize Islam, then clearly it is just as acceptable that such criticism be open to criticism in return. In short, just because a person thinks their opinion on a particular matter is correct doesn’t make it so. And if a person can’t handle someone disagreeing with their opinion… well we all know the adage about people who live in glass houses.

My major objection to people like Sam Harris is not that I believe religion or in particular Islam is some off-limit topic of criticism. No. My major objection to Sam Harris is that rather than criticize Islam he instead tries to inspire fear of it—and, by association, Muslims as well (i.e. No one lies awake at night worrying about the Amish—but those Muslims on the other hand…). Many of his arguments seem to be based on fear, misunderstanding, exaggeration, oversimplification, and in of some cases apparent intentional misrepresentation of not only Islam but other religions such as Jainism as well. They often lack any sort of evidence (i.e. Islam is the religion causing the greatest amount of suffering in the world) yet we are expected to swallow their truth without doubt. And when someone raises these criticisms of his supposed criticism? Rather than actually defend his claims and provide solid evidence in support of them he instead insinuates we’re just too “liberal”—too culturally relativistic— to see the danger that he sees.

Sam Harris is free to criticize Islam. In fact, I’m eagerly looking forward to the day when he actually starts doing so (in the dictionary sense of the term). In the meantime, I dismiss his arguments as both unsupported and intended to intentionally stir up both fear and prejudice against Islam and its followers.

Next, I’d like to address the issue of Islamophobia—prejudice against, hatred, or fear of Islam and Muslims. Islamophobia doesn’t exist? I think the 200,000 Muslims killed and 50,000 Muslim women raped during the Bosnian Genocide would disagree with that statement. So would Iranian-American Zohreh Assemik, who was sliced with a boxcutter, kicked, had her hand smashed with a hammer, and had anti-Muslim slurs written on the mirrors of her nail and facial salon. So would pretty much anyone who played Muslim Massacre: The Game of Modern Religious Genocide in which you get to kill not only terrorists but Muslim civilians as well.

Frankly, @hpqp, I’m surprised. All of our conversations on the Sift have been reasonable, if a bit passionate at times. I think you would be just as shocked if I were to suddenly proclaim there is no such thing as Antisemitism as I was to read your statement in this thread. Islamophobia (as defined above) is quite real. No, claims of Islamophobia should not be used to shut down criticism of Islam (any more than claims of Antisemitism should be used to squelch criticism of Israeli policies). But that’s a far cry from claiming Islamophobia doesn’t exist, isn’t it?

You seem like a reasonable guy. I know you’ve tried your best to explain it to me but I still don’t understand why you believe so strongly that Islam itself—and not particular interpretations of Islam—are such a threat. So let's do something different. I’ve asked you this before, but you didn’t reply, so I’ll ask you again—what do you/Harris hope to achieve with all of this vitriol? What’s the goal? What do you hope to see happen? What’s the endgame? I ask these questions because I think the answers will really help me see where you are coming from and to understand your point of view.

Those last few comments were unamazing.

It's unfortunately apt that the Iranian IL-76 was named Simorgh. The Simorgh was a mythical Iranian bird that burst into flames.

Iran Confirms Arrest of 1500 Protesters

The Iranian judiciary today announced the names of 1,500 people arrested in yesterday's demonstrations and transferred to Evin Prison, the Human Rights Reporters Committee reports.

http://www.payvand.com/news/11/feb/1145.html

Much more of an Australian or European kind of thing than something that would happen in the US.

Muslim immigrants to the US have substantially been skilled immigrants, like scientists, whereas Muslim immigrants to Europe and Australia have generally been less educated immigrants.

That's why Iranian-Americans on average earn substantially more than White Americans.

>> ^bobknight33:

Nice interview..
This whole smear campaign sounds like it came from the Will Smith Movie "Enemy of The State"


Ya I know...we think those movies are just ridiculous, but the reality sometimes is incredibly stupid.

Take Condoleezza Rice for example, her statement about Iraq and supposed Iranian fighters moving into it and causing problems. She said we need to Halt Flow of Arms and Foreign Fighters to Iraq...and nobody in the press just burst out laughing.

Read more: http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/April/20070429181019attocnich0.7474176.html#ixzz18ug9uUPL

When abroad, I'm an American. When someone asks me stateside what I am, I'm Irish/Italian. It's just a matter of context.

When an American asks an American "what are you?", you would draw a rather queer glance if you replied "American." "What are you" means "what's your heritage" when working under the presumption that you're both American.>> ^kronosposeidon:

Yes, at least in America there are. There are some people who might have one great great grandfather from County Kerry, but when asked what they are they'll say "I'm Irish!" It's just the way some Americans are. Ask a lot of 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. generation Americans what they are (not what their ethnic heritage is, but who they themselves are) and they'll say "I'm Irish/Italian/Chinese/Iranian/Polish/Bengali...." That's probably why that reporter specified "real" Irishman.
My dad's parents were right off the boat from Ireland, which makes me about as Irish as Ravi Shankar. So I'll tell you now, the colleens enjoy a wee dram before tantra. More floothered = more kundalini. I learned that from Guru McGillicuddy. >> ^dannym3141:
What on earth does he mean "a real irishman"? Are there fake ones?

>> ^kronosposeidon:

Yes, at least in America there are. There are some people who might have one great great grandfather from County Kerry, but when asked what they are they'll say "I'm Irish!" It's just the way some Americans are. Ask a lot of 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. generation Americans what they are (not what their ethnic heritage is, but who they themselves are) and they'll say "I'm Irish/Italian/Chinese/Iranian/Polish/Bengali...." That's probably why that reporter specified "real" Irishman.
My dad's parents were right off the boat from Ireland, which makes me about as Irish as Ravi Shankar. So I'll tell you now, the colleens enjoy a wee dram before tantra. More floothered = more kundalini. I learned that from Guru McGillicuddy. >> ^dannym3141:
What on earth does he mean "a real irishman"? Are there fake ones?



Ahhh, i wondered why half the americans i'd ever met/seen on tv/anything said "oh i'm irish/italian/whatever."

I remember one guy telling me he was irish, i said you don't sound it, he said "oh i hide it - don't make me use my irish accent as proof" and then immediately jumped into a passable scottish accent without irony or sarcasm.