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DexGor

Recent comments by this user

Iran Test-Fires Nine Missiles, Warns It Will Retaliate

Love for your country and blind allegiance to its policies are two very different things.

"Dissent is patriotic"
- Thomas Jefferson posted 07/09/2008 at 12:37:49

And Israel has been screaming about attacking Iran for years. What's your point? posted 07/09/2008 at 09:25:27

Interesting claim since Ahmadinejad just said, "'There is no need for any measures by the Iranian people' to bring about the end of the 'Zionist regime' in Israel." - via BBC. posted 07/09/2008 at 09:21:22

McCain Cracks Another Joke About Killing Iranians (VIDEO)

I'm sorry, did he just advocate for chemical warfare? posted 07/09/2008 at 09:35:30

Ahmadinejad: I'd Sit Down With Obama And McCain

That's not entirely true. Actually, they voted for him because he ran on a platform of fighting corruption and his opponent had a reputation for corruption. Problem was that he couldn't actually do anything good for Iran domestically, so he uses foreign issues as a way to rile up his base. posted 07/08/2008 at 14:18:15

That's not true. Even the more middle-of-the-road conservative politicians have been publicly bashing him for his outlandish statements and unnecessary antagonism. He foreign policy was a big part of the reason why his allies lost power in the parliament to Rafsanjani's allies. posted 07/08/2008 at 14:12:37

Hey Pentagon, How Are Nuclear Weapons Working Out for You?

Not that I agree with our handling of the situation, but Iran has signed the NPT, they have agreed not to develop nuclear weapons. While this may sound like a bit of an empty argument, the truth is that our treaties set limits on behavior and those limits define our interactions with each other (much as our domestic laws do). When nations violate the NPT or any other treaty, it throws such relationships on their ears.

The best evidence for this, ironically, is the world's support for Iraq's use of chemical weapons against Iran in the 80's. It was after this that Rafsanjani (then Speaker of the Parliament) said that such treaties are useless pieces of paper unless you are allied with the major powers. Hence part of Iran's desire to acquire nuclear weapons (and I think they are NOT trying to acquire a bomb, but rather the technology in case such a weapon is needed on short notice) is directly linked to our own violations of international treaties regarding WMDs. WE threw the relationship on its ear and this is exactly the type of reaction we should have expected. posted 07/08/2008 at 17:01:05

Hence negotiation. What do you think the START treaties were about?

That said, regardless of whether there is a use or not for nuclear weapons, it is a question of perception. Does the pentagon perceive a use? That's the real hurdle to overcome, people have a tendency to believe what they want regardless of the facts say. posted 07/08/2008 at 16:55:45

GOP Looks To Redistrict Itself Back Into Power

Theoretically you are correct. But in practice, that is the way things work because it is too difficult to prove intent. It's called gerrymandering and we've been doing it in this country for 2 centuries. posted 07/07/2008 at 09:19:22

Palestinian Goes On Rampage In Jerusalem

Umm...Arab citizens of East Jerusalem are NOT given Israeli citizenship. Don't yell are someone else for their stupidity when you yourself are the one who doesn't know what's going on. posted 07/02/2008 at 13:01:25

Primer Impacto: How Spanish-Language Ads Could Decide The Election

be nice. posted 06/30/2008 at 09:38:37

Seymour Hersh Exposes New US Covert Operations In Iran (VIDEO)

Really? how does destabilizing out economy help OPEC??

Oh, that's right...it lowers there revenues (destabilizing their own economies and thus their grip on power in their countries) and pushes us towards alternative energy sources. How stupid of me that I didn't see that.

OPEC learned in the 70's that using oil as a political weapon is counterproductive to their long term interests.

Truth is that most OPEC members at producing at capacity right now. There is nothing they could do to lower the price of oil. The only country that isn't at capacity is Saudi Arabia which likes to have a little wiggle room in case there is a major, short-term shock to supply. posted 06/30/2008 at 12:49:53

No, it's even simpler. The Iranian leadership, like all politicians, has one overriding goal - to stay in power. Committing mass suicide would be a really stupid way to do that.

It's a really big difference from a single suicide bomber. If you can't see that difference, than I know which of the categories you belong in. posted 06/30/2008 at 12:34:48

Top Republican VP Pick Jindal Lets Public Schools Teach Creationism

That could almost be true if:
1) there were actually any scientific evidence supporting "intelligent design" and
2) there weren't a century and half of scientific evidence supporting evolution.

But seeing as "intelligent design" is based solely on belief and evolution is based on fact, your argument has absolutely no merit. posted 06/27/2008 at 15:10:24

Memo to the Progressive Community on Iran

"by directing the oil and gas economy toward military and nuclear capabilities" Actually, despite the huge sums of money that the oil and gas economy are pouring into Iranian coffers, Iran still spends a much smaller percentage of its GDP on its military than most nations in the region.

"weakening others in the region" If you look at Iran's foreign policy, its not about weakening others in the region, rather it is about strengthening people who don't have a political voice equal to their population (ie, Shi'i in Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq, Palestinians).

"But opening talks is likely to be a matter of secrecy and surrogates, a lengthy exploration of how Iran can be made to walk back from its public posture." This I agree with. However, it's not just Iran but also us that need to walk back from our public posture (and Israel since it constantly threatens Iran). posted 06/27/2008 at 15:16:42

Supreme Court Strikes Down 'Millionaire's Amendment'

The Supreme Court equates campaign financing with free speech. In the Court's view, donating money to a campaign is the same as publicly advocating for that campaign (ie, free speech). That's a big part of the reason why it's been so difficult to pass any campaign finance reform. posted 06/26/2008 at 13:58:23

Dems Who Flipped On Telecom Immunity Got More Telecom Cash

Just want to brag that every single MA representative voted against this.

I'm so proud of my state. posted 06/25/2008 at 10:52:37

Can someone give me the bill number? posted 06/25/2008 at 10:30:31

Israel Pushing US To Strike Iran

The nice economy part is a bit of an exaggeration, but the rest I agree with. posted 06/25/2008 at 11:07:43

How Obama Can Reach Out To Muslims (Without Hurting His Campaign)

They do. It's just not news so you never hear about it. posted 06/24/2008 at 17:06:34

Justice Department Looked For Liberal "Buzz Words" On Resumes

your winnings sir. posted 06/24/2008 at 16:28:12

Mormon church enters Calif. gay marriage fight

Don't forget their even more recent acceptance of African-Americans into their congregations. posted 06/24/2008 at 10:53:42

Rockets fired at Israel from Gaza shake truce

You think Israel is a democracy that treats Arabs with equality??? Really??? You should read the late Israel Shahak some time and see how Israel really treats its Arab minority.

http://www.mepc.org/journal_shahak/shahakmain.asp posted 06/25/2008 at 10:36:25

How has Israel been one of "America's staunchest allies"? What exactly has Israel done for us other than attacking a US naval ship, using our weapons to kill civilians, trying to get us to go after Hezbollah for 9/11 (on 9/12 Israel said that they were responsible), using us as political cover for their gross violations of every principle of human rights, etc.? posted 06/25/2008 at 10:35:39

Please tell me that's sarcasm. posted 06/24/2008 at 15:29:47

The truce was between organizations (Israel and Palestinian groups), not between territories. How can a territory sign a truce? posted 06/24/2008 at 11:13:49

Surprise, surprise, surprise. Israel kills people and the West says that the Palestinians broke the ceasefire. This has been a constant refrain for the past 8 years.

It's interesting to note that an Israel university (I forget which one) did a study a few years ago that showed that Israeli attacks increased when Palestinians were least active. posted 06/24/2008 at 10:10:01

US Funds Anti-American Arab Broadcasts

Sounds like par for the course for this administration: Throw money at a problem without providing any oversight. posted 06/23/2008 at 11:34:59

After the Historical Race Speech, Obama Should Address Islam and the West

agreed. Obama was able to talk about race because it was relevant to his life. How is he supposed to talk about Islam when he is not a Muslim and it is not part of his life. It's like expecting McCain to talk about race relations in this country. posted 06/23/2008 at 14:18:01

Bill Clinton's Hurt Feelings: When Will He Endorse Obama?

Just because one of his supporters got the facts wrong, doesn't mean that the candidate himself is lying. Look at Obama's website and you will see that he isn't claiming that he graduated magna cum laude from anywhere. posted 06/23/2008 at 11:32:28

Major Israeli Military Exercise Seems Directed At Iran, US Says

How do you define acceptable? Which facilities are you talking about? Are civilian casualties acceptable if it is a civilian facility? Which military facilities should be hit? Are you sure there even are military facilities? The IAEA hasn't found any and they've been searching Iranian facilities for decades.

What happens if Israel strikes, kills hundreds of civilians, starts a war that stretches from Israel to Afghanistan, and then we find out that Iran didn't have a military program? posted 06/20/2008 at 16:49:50

????

Israel has (so far) never bombed Iran. You might be thinking of Israel's attack against and Iraqi reactor in the early 80's. posted 06/20/2008 at 15:02:43

1) Israel has been threatening Iran LONG before Ahmadinejad was around. And considering that the people in Israel who make the threats have the power to carry them out (unlike Ahmadinejad), I would say those threats are much more significant.

2) Israel is far from a democracy. Just read the late Israel Shahak and you will understand the degree of disenfranchisement in Israel.

3) Causality??? How about ethnic cleansing as causality - a coordinated effort to remove all Palestinians in 1948 (read Ilan Pappe or even Menachem Begin)? How about continually starting wars with your neighbors because, as Begin said after 1967, "we wanted the land"? How about developing nuclear weapons and then threatening your neighbors? There's your causality. posted 06/20/2008 at 09:22:41

Oh, Congress isn't so opposed to declaring war on Iran.

http://www.niacouncil.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1141&Itemid=2

YIKES!! posted 06/20/2008 at 09:15:45

Israel-Hamas Gaza Truce Goes Into Effect

Please, you need to learn what really happened (as told by Clinton aides).

Arafat only came to Camp David because Clinton promised (1) any offer made at Camp David would not be revoked after the meeting was over and (2) if Camp David failed, no blame would be assigned.

As for what actually happened at Camp David, Israel offered only rump Palestinian state where the West Bank would be divided into three parts with each part completely surrounded by Israeli territory. That ain't much of a state. Arafat didn't refuse the offer (which he should have), instead he asked for time to consider it. Clinton then broke both his promises to Arafat.

This is the story of Camp David as told by Palestinian officials at the time and confirmed by Clinton officials in 2001 (conveniently after he was out of office). posted 06/19/2008 at 15:12:10

The Guantanamization of Immigrant Detention

Allow me to correct myself. These are people who have only been ACCUSED of committing violations of civil law.

I've actually known kids with valid visas held in detention for years for no reason. posted 06/19/2008 at 15:54:21

For those of us who have been working on immigration issues since 9/11, this comes as no surprise. Even people without charges against them have been shackled and abused. It's horrific that people who have only committed a violation of civil law are treated worse than murderers and rapists. By definition, these people are NOT criminals! Why should we consistently treat them as something less than human?

For me, the worst part is meeting the people who commit these abuses. They think of themselves as the most patriotic people on the planet, doing their duty to protect their country. Protect it from what? A 12 year old? An old woman who washes floors to make a living? A middle aged man who is trying to buy food for his family and pay rent?

We need to seriously reevaluate our priorities as a nation. posted 06/19/2008 at 15:42:08

Israel-Hamas Truce To Begin Thursday: Report

I never said that was my point of view, I said it is the Palestinian point of view.

Technically, Hamas is part of the Palestinian Authority, holding the legal majority of the legislature. So no, they aren't the govt, but they do (legally) have a hand in the decision making.

No, I don't support keeping these innocent people in conditions of squalor. But I also don't see your point. posted 06/17/2008 at 17:57:34

"defensive wars"? Where did you learn your history.

1948 - Arab states only attack AFTER Israelis began slaughtering Palestinians by the town (the Dar Yassin massacre occurred a month before the Arabs attacked). Under international law, this is known as collective defense (yes, the same collective action we used against Iraq in 1991).

1956 - France and the UK encourage Israel to attack Egypt in order to stop the nationalization of the Suez Canal.

1967 - Israel launches a sneak attack against Egyptian airbases. Israel later violates its ceasefire with Syria to take the Golan Heights.

1973 - OK, this one the Arabs started.

1982 - Israel violates a 10 month ceasefire with the PLO to invade Lebanon. During the ceasefire, Israel launched almost daily airstrikes against civilian targets, killing thousands of Palestinians and Lebanese. The PLO, during that time, launched two attacks on Israel resulting in 1 fatality (an Israeli soldier).

So where do you get this idea of "defensive wars"? posted 06/17/2008 at 15:31:02

You need to understand this from the Palestinian viewpoint.

To recognize Israel is to say that Israel has the right to exist.

To say that Israel has the right to exist is to legitimize the ethnic cleansing of nearly 1 million Palestinians from modern day Israel.

Hamas can't recognize Israel until there is some form of resolution to the problem of Palestinian refugees. posted 06/17/2008 at 15:24:56

Politicians Line Up To Save Anheuser-Busch Shareholders From Profits, InBev

"Shareholders should resist choosing dollars over American jobs,"

I see, so capitalism is only a rallying cry when when it makes money for republicans? posted 06/12/2008 at 15:51:13

The Clinton Credibility Gap: More Nixon than Gore

Please, no. I've done advocacy work in NY for years and I've seen how little she actually cares about the people. The only way to get her office to call back is if you have something to offer her.

Get her out of NY PLEASE!! posted 03/25/2008 at 18:05:33