NUCLEAR

Sasha: Sanctions

Sanctions, being a form of "punishment" will not work all by themselves. There may be a place where punishment is required but using punishment as the only method is unworkable. Have you ever tried to get along with a child using only punishment?

I think the US government has very bad advisors. It acts like a paranoid who sees everything and anything as a sign of hostility and it is focused only on negativity and negative reactions. It needs to realize that postive encouragement has value too. And its value, I believe, is much higher than negetivity of punishment.

To 987

987, khar nabash.

Why is it that you insist upon labelling someone as Jewish? A person is a person is a person. Their religion is meaningless. It is the character of the person that matters. I am fully aware that AIPAC has rubbed many people the wrong way. I personally don't care for them either. But the idea that AIPAC has such an undue influence is exaggerated. If they did have as much pull as you like to believe, then Bin Laden would have been history with his head on a stick back in early 2002, and Hezbollah and Hamas would be a memory as well.

Jamshid many thanks :o)

 I will google South Africa and Sanctions.

solh

Natalia

Re: Sasha

It worked in South Africa.

It did not work in Iraq.

Question to all on this thread........

 Have sanctions imposed by the US on any country ever had a positive effect, meaning the freedom of any country from its current government?

solh

Natalia

Mehdi......I had completely forgotten.........

 That is correct. I had forgotten all about Cuba,  Castro, and Sanctions. You raised an interesting point. Hmmmmmm

 Mehdi: "Has it improved? Did it do anything to reduce Castro's suppressive rule?"

 Answer: No! and No! It is the reason Cubanos are still in their own Diaspora in Florida and other parts of the US. They have been waiting for Cuba's freedom to return to Cuba.

solh

Eyyy Baba, Enough (to nouraee)

Nouraee, Tanbal_NabAsh, read this (//www.nybooks.com/articles/20030) from George Soros, an independent thinking Jwish liberal. You will see not only many of us Iranians but also many Americans including Jewish Americans are unhappy about the undo influence of AIPAC on US foreign policy.
Let's hope Nour_be_fekrat_betAbad.

Re: Jamshid

For calling you a war monger I apologize. Regarding massoudA and Kashani see the article "allied invasion of Iran", ( //iranian.com/main/2007/allied-inavsion-iran). Not sure why Kashani thinks you are with them.
Thanks for correcting me.

Re: Anonym777

You do not need to bring yourself down to the level of an ignorant by using such insulting language.

You called me a war monger. I challenge you to find not three, not two, but only one, JUST ONE, direct or indirect pro-war statement in any of my posts.

Since I already know you can't meet this challenge, then what does that tell us about your opinion?

it seems you guys have recovered! (re: Kashsni)

Bah_bah, the whole war monger community (MmasoudA, Jamshid, Kashsni, Nouraeeie nourani) is here. Good to see that all of you have had your shrink visits after the recent depressing news and have recovered!
Kashsnijan, I am not as verbose (yAveh_goo) as you are, but let me enlighten you on one thing, your shrink might have said likes of you are majority for a good reason during your visit but don't get carried away with that!

Re: Farhad

I agree. In general, any front that is funded by petrodollars will have a more vocal voice. However, the opposition by being the majority DO have an equal advantage simply by vastly outnumbering these Islamist/Leftists by order of magnitudes.

But sometimes there are issues that are best discussed outside of a forum. So please register your ID, or provide an email address so you could be contacted by others.

Kaveh Nouraee, masouadA,

Kaveh Nouraee, masouadA, jamshid, 0^0, Alert, Parviz, Mehdi, and other true Iranian guys, there IRI supporters and their leftist allies are a minority, but very vocal and have hijacked the Iranian voice as you all can see from their posting on this website. We need to retake that voice and be as vocal and as active. Lets start something

Soraya, 1- Can you enlighten

Soraya, 1- Can you enlighten us and explain to us why would you and other leftist and IRI supporters consider Israel the biggest threat to Iran? Can you explain when did the animosity start and what cause it? When did the AIPAC animosity towards Iran start? Who initiated it? What does Israel has to gain from animosity with Iran? Please enlighten us! 2- Do you consider an animosity from a foreign government towards the Iranian government as animosity towards Iranian people as well? Now for the sake of our conversation, let s pretend Iran has a different form of government, either better or worse (Hard to imagine worse!) 3- Please enlighten us as far as why Iran, according to its own admission, hide its nuclear activity for the last 20 years? 4- Please enlighten us as far as why Iran is not abiding U.N Security Council resolutions to halt the enrichment of Uranium? 5- Please enlighten us and CLEARLY (Do not beat around the bush) explain if you believe in IRIs actions, and believe what it has done for the last 30 years was justified or not, and do you believe the IRI is a threat to world peace or not, 6-Please enlighten us and state where would you rank the IRI in the best and worst government list in our history, collective and overall speaking? 7- And finally, please enlighten us and explain if you believe that whether we are, as people, capable of making mistakes, sometimes catastrophic, (That’s a yes or no answer)?

Eyyy Baba, Enough

Zionist Nabashid......ahmaagh....you are blatantly ignorant and brain-damaged. You and everyone like you who are addicted to this phantom zionist conspiracy theory like it was tariak.

Can you PLEASE come up with something else besides this tired overplayed BS. I am so fed up with you narrow minded morons who think that everything is tied to some kind of nonexistent zionist doctrine.

Are you THAT stupid to think that a bunch of people are conspiring over a dinner of brisket and gefilte fish to take over the world?

Either come up with something intelligent or just shut the hell up.

time to punish the judge

The international community must put pressure on world leaders to tell the Americans to shut the hell up.

I think when a "world leader", self apointed they may be, makes these many mistakes and goofs up so bluntly, should have their rights taken away. America cannot vote for sanctions against any country, cannot speak ill of any nation, shall not be permitted to lead nor follow any dissiplinary actions against any one for at least a decade.

Enough is enough. It is time to tell the bully to stand in the corner of the class room and shut up for the remainder of the school year.

To Parviz

Parviz you said "...I am sure 99.994% would choose the latter", than you say "I repeat myself: the regime in Iran is barbaric and does not abide by international norms. They back off only if they are forced."

Where are you getting this number?
Repeating yourself this time and a number of other time below does not make it a fact?
You are full of exaggerations and trying to force your views into reality in a very crude way.

We are talking about two

We are talking about two different things.
You are talking about improving relations between the governments in Washington and Tehran and I am talking about getting rid of the regime in Tehran.


I strongly believe that if you asked an ordinary Iranian whether they wanted better relations with the US or see the back of the present regime, I am sure 99.994% would choose the latter (well since you started giving percentages I thought I might as well try it too! It looks more scientific).


I know the present sanctions would not do much to the regime but they make their life just that much harder which is better than nothing. Best would be an oil embargo. Would it effect the people in Iran? Hell of course it would but its a price that has to paid in order to get rid of IRI.


I repeat myself: the regime in Iran is barbaric and does not abide by international norms. They back off only if they are forced.

"But why the hell should the

"But why the hell should the sanctions be lifted?" (Parviz)
1. It's illegal.
2. It's immoral, and only helps with people becoming more bitter.
3. It's not in the interest of the United States.
4. Sanctions hurt the people the most and not governments in power.
5. With how sanctions were used in Iran in the past and it's image in the Iranian psyche, and other things in the past (even before the past 30 years), not a good idea. It's time for all people to try build bridges of understanding and cooperation.
5. It is safe to say that 99.99% of the people of any country in the world will not welcome and support a sugar coated attack and invasion and war towards them, even if they don't like (or hate) their government and those in power. Iranians and people of Iranian origin (the 99.99%) have expressed their opposing opinion to any attackes on Iran, and obviously are no exception.
6. Those who speak of increasing animosities and hope it to lead to war and for Iranians to be attacked and killed, are either just very innocent and don't know the outcome (until it's too late), or are actors in disguise and acting.
5. All of the above is common sense and per mankind's past and present experiences.

Alienating By Sanctions

Who say sanctions improve conditions in a country? Hasn't Cuba been under sanctions for God know how many years? Has it improved? Did it do anything to reduce Castro's suppressive rule? Isn't it currently the most feared country in the American continent? It is normal reaction to separate and isolate a person or country that acts agains social or agreed upon rules and laws but using ONLY isolation never works. Why doesn't the US government talk to Iran? Why don't they start a conversation? Why do they need to have conditions put on any possible talk? If you ask me, they just act like a dumb bully kid. Just pick up the damn phone and get off your high horses and call Ahmadinejad and say, "dude, what's up?" It works! Mullahs or Ahmadinejad are human too, believe it or not. They respond to friendly gestures. Try it sometime. Bullying ALL THE TIME is not sane!

to Sam Sedaei

If you are such a big supporter of law and order how come you do not mention the fact that the Iranian regime has broken and continues to break every single law (even those devised by its own organs) when it comes to treating Iranians?


This regime has broken the NPT by clandestinely trying to develop nuclear weapons. Until the international community is 100% sure that they have stopped for good they should put pressure on this regime and apply more sanctions. Islamic republic is a horrific catastrophe for Iranians and the region as it is, just imagine what it would be like if it possessed the bomb.


Any true Iranian should be pleased that this regime is put under pressure. This regime should not be recognized as the representative of Iran, its people or culture. To know why this regime should be sanctioned just look at the way women are treated in Iran, addiction, prostitution, corruption, executions and the list is endless.


Yes, you are right I do not like this regime and for the crimes it has committed against the Iranian people I think the international community should impose a harsh embargo on it so that it could not sell even a drop of oil. Without the oil money it's suppressive machinery will collapse in a very short time.


There might be many other countries that violate human rights and even get rewarded for it by the US, I am sorry for that but none of those countries is my place of birth. The destiny of Iran and its people are important to me and anybody who tries to hurt them is regarded as enemy by me (be it the Iranian regime or a foreign country threatening to attack and destroy my people's homes).


So you see that is why I am not too much bothered whether this regime is really being punished for trying to develop nuclear weapons or for some other reasons. This regime has committed so many crimes against the Iranian people that no amount of sanctions are enough. And if you as an Iranian who dislikes the Mullahs can not see or comprehend this then there is something wrong with you.

International law

To the educated the reason for the sanctions is the Islamic Republic's refusal to heed UN order ( international law) to stop nuclear works.

Re: I do not understand why some

This is a very ignorant response. We all know that Mullahs "can't be trusted" and are bad for Iran. But the sanctions have been imposed on Iran on the grounds that it was developing nuclear weapons. With the new NIE report, which came out and confirmed that Iran suspend its nuclear program in 2003, there is no longer any legal (or moral) justification for sanctions. The reason there is no moral justification is that there are tons of countries that are violating human rights, etc. (such as Pakistan and Israel), but they not only are not under U.S. sanctions, but they are U.S.'s closest allies.

It is a cheap and uneducated statement to call someone who is trying to point out to America's hypocritical foreign policy "Iran apologist." No one is apologizing for Iran or anything. But when it comes to international law, you cannot impose sanctions because you don't like someone, but because there are legal justifications for sanctions. There is none here.

What kind of a doctor are you?

Hey Fariborsm Maleknasri M.D., if you have nothing to say yourself and you want to repeat something, you probably not read yourself either, and bore us to death just giving a link to the article would be enough and those who want to can visit the site if they choose to do so.


I see you have given up your ridiculous signature you used to end your posts with. That was a very smart move because people might (god forbid) think you suffer from some sort of inferiority complex.

REPLY : 1. SYKOP & 2. I DONT UNDEWRSTAND

ad 1. :
The man who knew too little
Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:31:02
The recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iran saying Tehran does not have the intention of acquiring nuclear weapons questions the very essence of the hawkish US policies.

The tragedy in the US policies, which is gradually turning the world into a graveyard, is never based on facts but on probabilities and possibilities. It is a sure thing that the situation could have been different in Afghanistan and Iraq if the US government had relied more on facts in their calculations.

Is the new report going to mitigate the nuclear debate? Or is it pursuing some other objectives by the report? The US government has never been honest in their dealings with the Islamic Republic of Iran so they should never be trusted.

The NIE was actually meant to reexamine a 2005 NIE that accused Iran of trying to create a nuclear armament and assessing Iran's relatively current intentions and capabilities.

"We judge with high confidence that in fall 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program; we also assess with moderate-to-high confidence that Tehran at a minimum is keeping open the option to develop nuclear weapons," the US intelligence community (or IC) concludes.

"We judge with high confidence that the halt, and Tehran's announcement of its decision to suspend its declared uranium enrichment program and sign an Additional Protocol to its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement, was directed primarily in response to increasing international scrutiny and pressure resulting from exposure of Iran's previously undeclared nuclear work."

Then in concluding remarks, the report writers say “This NIE does not assume that Iran intends to acquire nuclear weapons."

Thank God everything is turning to the best interests of the Islamic Republic and the true face of hypocrisy is being put to shame. Yet, is it sufficient guarantee that the Bush administration will stop mounting economic pressure on the Islamic Republic for its peaceful nuclear program and avoid leveling ill-founded accusations in the vain hopes that they may convince the international community that Iran is after nuclear weapons, thereby legitimizing its possible attack as it did in Afghanistan and Iraq?

Never have the Iranian leaders said they have been seeking a nuclear weapons program; rather, they have kept saying the nuclear program is only geared for peaceful purposes. In fact, Bush once claimed the Iranian leaders had admitted to following a nuclear weapons program. He denied what he said later.

Let us not forget: A liar does not have a good memory.

It seems that there has been a drastic aversion to Bush's plan to attack Iran. The recent war rhetoric on Iran has faded. Admiral Fallon and other senior military commanders have expressed their displeasure over and opposition to going to war with Iran despite Bush's war rhetoric.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says the new US intelligence report confirms what the UN agency has been saying for years. A senior IAEA official said Tuesday in Vienna the report reinforces the agency statements that Iran is not pursuing any secret nuclear program, and that there is no imminent danger. Ergo, the talk of war is invalid.

However, there have been diverse reactions to the new US intelligence report.

Shrugging off the new report, Israeli War Minister Ehud Barak said Israel is confident that Iran is still trying to develop nuclear weapons.

The British government said it would stick to pressing for increased international pressure on Iran over its nuclear activities saying Iran had halted a nuclear weapons program.

"There's an international community approach to dealing with the Iranian problem," a spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown said.

"We will continue to argue for increased pressure on Iran through the (United Nations) Security Council and the EU (European Union)."

"We think the report's conclusions justify the actions already taken by the international community to both show the extent of and try to restrict Iran's nuclear program and to increase pressure on the regime to stop its enrichment and reprocessing activities," Brown's spokesman said.

Bitterly exasperated by the new US report, the western and Israeli warmongers will not remain silent but will do everything in their power to manipulate public opinion about Iran's nuclear program. But to their great chagrin, all their efforts will go waste in view of the constructive role of the report for Iran.

On the other hand, the report clearly shows that Bush does not have sources whom he can trust in his allegations against Iran.

Boiling with disillusionment and anger, Bush said in a press conference on Tuesday the international community must continue to maintain pressure on Iran because the Iranian government could restart development of a nuclear weapon at any time.

“Iran was dangerous, Iran is dangerous and Iran will be dangerous if they have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon. What's to say they could not start another covert nuclear weapons program.''

The National Intelligence Estimate belies previous US judgments of Iran's intentions. Bush warned in October that a failure to stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb would risk World War III.

Bush said the US knows that Iran is “still trying to learn how to enrich uranium. We know that enriching uranium is an important step'' in developing a weapon. They also are testing ballistic missiles, which could deliver an atomic bomb.

He said the report provides an opportunity for us to rally the international community' to continue to press Iran.

“If Iran develops a nuclear weapon, the world would be a very dangerous place. Diplomatic pressure has caused them to change their mind.''

The man who talks about being an instrument of God, prophesies future events in the manner of a prophet, speaks of World War III and the apocalypse and claims to be talking to God and sheds innocent blood should never be trusted.

Despite all this political and propagandistic brouhaha, Bush and his cronies will face a humiliating defeat in their efforts to smear the Islamic republic and push ahead with their expansionistic policies.

In the final analysis, the only people to be left in the arena to beat the drums of war, continue to level accusations and pile pressure on Iran will be Bush and his minions in the West and Israel.
ad 2. : I wounder how writting articles be helping defending or even SUPPORTIN IRI?She/he who waqnts to support IRI goes ther and asks politly if she/he can join the 20 Million Male/Female Armmy. In that case she/he gets regularry the answer: sorry my Sister/brother all the places are given away, no chance but may be on other time. you can ask any timeagain. the fact is IRI does not need to be backed to be upped or to be aided by poeple as me or as you or as she/he. The places are all given away. that is the reallity. better we see it and speak it out. this is the true reallity and not that reallity that the westernmedia - self called free world media - try to feed the western nations with it. IRI does not need assistance and no relief found. and if in the western world there are organisations that cry NO war against IRI they know why they do that. It is because no aggressor not even one would be able to leave the persian gulf on his own. not even her7his cadaver can be transported away. I think it is better for me to come to an end. Greeting

I do not understand why some

I do not understand why some people try to support the IRI by any means using any opportunity, including the writer of this article.


Well as far as this report making the chance of this administration starting a war with Iran less possible is indeed good news. But why the hell should the sanctions be lifted? REMEMBER THIS IS THE BARBARIC ISLAMIC REPUBLIC REGIME YOU ARE DEALING WITH! Does this report make this murderous regime a legitimate one? Does it make it more tolerable? Does it make it just? The answer to these, and many more questions like these, is a big NO.


The world knows that the mullahs in Iran can not be trusted and they are a constant source of danger to the peace in the region. Just remember this: the Islamic Regime does not represent the majority of Iranians and their wishes so the more pressure exerted on it the better a chance the people of Iran have of getting rid of it. The overthrow of this regime might not be important for the writer who for various reasons (such as personal profitable businesses she might have which require the lifting of sanctions) but millions of Iranians dream of it. This regime can not come clean even if washed with all the waters of the world, an insignificant article like yours can not help this regime either. This regime is not a civilized one so in dealings with it civilized means are out of the question. They only understand the language of force. I am not advocating war with Iran, I am simply stating a fact that this regime behaves whenever threatened with action against it's existence.


So for you IRI apologists if you can not say something intelligent just shut the hell up. Stop pretending to have the interests of the Iranian people at heart. You are simply, whether you want it or not, serving the Islamic regime in Iran.

Have the Zionists Infiltrated US Intel Agencies?

Based on this current NIE, it seems that US statesmen have gotten a bit smarter and have not "yet" allowed Israeli infiltration of their intelligence agencies. Lets hope it remains that way. Zionists will find their way to corrupt all US government agencies one way or another. That is their technique of domination. The day Zionists infiltrate ALL American agencies, will be the end of America. Mark my word!

what about?

Have you guys gone mad???Lift sanction???? Have you guys forgotten about human rights??? Killing and kidnapping specially the minorities. It's our ignorance that kept this regime alive for so many years. Not only they shouldn't back from their sanction against this regime but also they should put more pressure till this regime collapse.

Please sign this petition

We should sign this petition and send our letters to the American media. It is our chance to express our concerns about the war on Iran. Voila the link to the petition by Moveon: //pol.moveon.org/noiranwar/?rc=front Thanks, Azarin

Islamic "Republic" of of Iran is not a normal state

در رابطه با موضوع هسته اي دو نکته را بايد به خاطر سپرد.

اول اينکه، هرچند کشور ايران و مردمش، بعنوان عضوي مشروع از خانوادهً ملل، اين حق را دارند که از انرژي هسته اي بهره مند شوند، ولي مردم ايران و خانوادهً ملل نمي توانند و هر گز نبايد چنين حقي را به دولت فاشيستي- استبدادي و مذهبي حاکم بدهند. چرا که اين دولت نه تنها مردم ايران را نمايندگي نمي کند و با کودتاي انتخاباتي، و به زور سرکوب و اختناق و قتل و تجاوز بر مردم ايران حکومت مي کند بلکه در سوداي تشکيل امپراطوري مذهبي، به مداخله و توسعه طلبي در کشورهاي منطقه نيز رسماً اذعان مي کند؛ خواهان محو اسرائيل است، موازين بين المللي را برسميت نمي شناسد و در هيچ جبهه بندي قدرت هاي فرامنطقه اي نيز نمي گنجد که سبب مهاررفتار اين رژيم در برنامهً هسته ايش شود.

نکتهً دوم اينکه، با درک رابطهً بين نفت و استبداد در ايران، و از طرفي اتکا و نياز کشورهاي صنعتي به نفت خاورميانه، مي توان رابطهً علت و معلولي بين سياست هاي مماشات گرانه و منفعت جويانهً غرب با استمرار استبداد (شاه و شيخ) در ايران را بخوبي در يافت. به جرأت مي توان گفت تا زمانيکه غرب به سياست مماشات با رژيم ادامه دهد، نفت ايران را بخرد و هزينهً ماشين جنگ و بحران و سرکوب و استبداد رژيم را فراهم کند، نه رژيم خود را ملزم به تغيير رفتارش مي يابد، و نه اساساً از دست مردم ايران کاري ساخته است. اينست که بايد سرشاخ شدن رژيم با غرب و آمريکا، بر سر برنامهً هسته ايش، را به غايت غنيمت شمرد.

اگر در ايران، بقاي استبداد از هرنوع، بدون حمايت هاي کشورهاي صنعتي، بعلت سياست هاي نفتي شان، ممکن نيست، قطع اين سياست قطعاً به نفع مردم ايران و لازمهً گذار به دموکراسي و حقوق بشر است. بهمين دليل، مدافعين راستين دموکراسي و حقوق بشر بايد به هرقيمت از کوتاه آمدن و مماشات غرب بر سر برنامهً هسته اي رژيم مانع شده و ضمن درخواست فشار هرچه بيشتر و تحريم هاي هرچه گسترده تر و همه جانبه تر، اسباب تغيير رفتار و يا تماميت رژيم را، حتا الامکان بدون جنگ، فراهم سازند. نه جنگ، نه سازش، بلکه تحريم سياسي، نفتي و تسليحاتي رژيم از جانب شوراي امنيت، نه تنها دست رژيم را در ادامهً تبديل شدن به امپراطوري اتمي مي بندد، بلکه دست مردم ايران را براي تغيير رفتار، و يا تماميت رژيم باز تر مي کند. نه جنگ، نه سازش، بلکه فشارسياسي و تحريم (سياسي، نفتي و تسليحاتي) لازمهً استقرار صلح در منطقه، و نيز گذار به دموکراسي و حقوق بشر در ايران است.

//iranian.com/main/node/12973

Islamic barbaric Regime that violates all 30 articles of HR

Soraya, you say as "As citizens of the country we live in and as members of a global community, each one of us must be reminded of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” and act on it". Fine, I agree.
How about we act as citizen of the country we live in and as members of global community, and as Iranian each one of us reminded of the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights” and act in condemning also the Islamic barbaric Regime in Iran that violates all its 30 articles against its own citizens?

Why do you stop short of extending your preach against IRI?

We Iranians want all rights of “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. Register this.