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| Stalinist Mullahs |
| 2004-02-19 |
| Ledeen - EFL Iran is now racing, literally hell-bent toward two dramatic confrontations: one within the country, between forces of tyranny and forces of democracy and/or reform. The other rages outside the country, a desperate war against the United States, its Coalition allies, and the Iraqis who support us. Unreported in the American press and apparently unnoted by the leaders of the Bush administration, the regime is in open battle with its own people. In late January the regime’s thugs murdered four workers, injured more than 40 others, and arrested nearly 100 more in Shahr-e Babak and the small village of Khatoonabad, prompting an official protest from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. (Would that the American trade-union movement had leaders worthy of the name, capable of expressing such outrage). Demonstrations five days ago in the western city of Marivan were so potent that the regime sent helicopter gunships to shoot down protestors, and there are reports that members of the regular armed forces joined the demonstrators. Meanwhile, the regime is placing terrorists in parliament. Loyal members of the security forces are now candidates in the upcoming elections from Teheran and other metropolitan center. For example, 30 candidates running under the banner of Abadegarane Irane Eslami (The Builders of an Islamic Iran) are members of the security forces and are being managed by the father-in-law of Khamenei’s daughter Mr. Hadad Adel. Nice list of terrorists follows... [Th]e regime is now removing the "reformist" mask from all Iranian institutions. Henceforth we will see Stalinist Shiites alone. And we may see them with atomic bombs. Oddly, just as the foreign minister was announcing Iran’s intention to sell enriched uranium to interested parties — thereby spitting in the eye of the French, German, and English diplomats who sang love songs to themselves just a few short months ago, proclaiming they had negotiated an end to the Iranian nuclear program — two smugglers were arrested in Iraq, near Mosul, with what an Iraqi general described as a barrel of uranium. Here is what General Hikmat Mahmoud Mohammed had to say about the event: "This material is in the category of weapons of mass destruction, which is why the investigation is secret. The two suspects were transferred to American forces, who are in charge of the inquiry." Read the whole thing. Ledeen has written before about enriched uranium in Iraq, but in this column he’s shooting fission the barrel, no? |
| Posted by:The Kid |
| #15 wuzzalib, the internet is made for Not proud of my "show some spine" comment though. It was rude and uncalled for. Sorry LH. |
| Posted by: Anonymouse 2004-2-19 11:51:42 PM |
| #14 Eternal liberty or eternal puberty...your choice Great line, Anonymouse! May I steal it? |
| Posted by: wuzzalib 2004-2-19 8:46:31 PM |
| #13 The way I see things Bush has the next election locked. Now they are just fighting to see if its close, or a landslide victory. When the dust settles the War on Terror is the only issue and Kerry comes up very short. People will hold their noses and vote for another 4 years figuring the thing can be mostly completed by then. In 2008 things get interesting because Cheney has stated he's stopping at VP and his heart means he's lose the election. Bush's misguided loyalties have him keeping Cheney on the ticket even through he's become a target for those that hate him (Haliburton!). I like Cheney but Bush seriously needs to consider a replacement and preferable pretty soon so they don't lose the incumbant advantage. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2004-2-19 8:46:18 PM |
| #12 Show some spine, LH. It may not be cool to speak up for GW, but it is far less cool not to stand tall against the wind. The sixties are over. Your grandchildren won't understand why you voted against liberty anymore than we understand why Germans voted for Hitler. Eternal liberty or eternal puberty...your choice. |
| Posted by: Anonymouse 2004-2-19 6:51:07 PM |
| #11 It's very simple, LH. The message we send in November is whether or not it's open season on Americans again. EOS. Either we are at war or we're not. Vote accordingly. If women can make abortion a 1-issue vote, I can, too. It's my litmus test. My retirement v. Western Civilization and the Judeo-Christian philosphy. No contest. It's only 4 years. We survived Carter, we can survive W. |
| Posted by: Anonymous2U 2004-2-19 5:46:15 PM |
| #10 I'm still nervous he'd like to cut and run from Iraq You gotta be freakin KIDDING me. Name another person on the planet more committed. His position of illegals is pure pandering Only partially - his proposal was set to be announced September 2001. Got interrupted. His idea may not be the best but it's more than the NOTHING offered by anyone else. and his spending is totally irresponsible 1. Congress writes the checks. 2. There are two wars going on. 3. The economy was kicked in the nards by the Internet bubble bursting. 4. The economy was then kicked in the throat by 9/11. 5. Old people are demanding their medicine and they vote their asses off. 6. Now is clearly the WRONG TIME to rein in spending. The debt is still an insignificant % of GDP. |
| Posted by: Puh-LEEEZ 2004-2-19 4:44:26 PM |
| #9 I'm not a big Bush fan - but I fail to see what's so tough about this decision. Hmmm...let's see. If we vote for Kerry - he's already made clear that he won't solve any of the problems you've identified above. He's already told us that he will cut and run, spend less resources and that his idea of "nation building" will be to allow the UN to gobble up all resources for their lunch money. So, despite Bush's flaws, how hard is this really?? In the history of mankind, there has never been a greater period of prosperity and freedom than we have witnessed here in the United States. Billions of Muslims are joining forces at the highest levels to turn back all that we stand for. I fail to see the big dilemma. A somewhat flawed fight by Bush for civiliation v/s a lying self-interested blowhard who has yet to put forth a single piece of legislation. Hmmm...tough choice. |
| Posted by: B 2004-2-19 3:29:17 PM |
| #8 AP--I'm right there with you. I feel the same way, only you described it much purtier than I could! |
| Posted by: Dar 2004-2-19 2:58:11 PM |
| #7 liberalhawk---I feel your pain™. Actually I'm not kidding. Bush could have the country behind him if he would lead just like he has done on the WoT. Bush is getting bad advice from his political advisors (Karl Rove?) and he is going with it. His position of illegals is pure pandering, and his spending is totally irresponsible. I'm pissed about that. IMHO, the WoT is the biggest threat to our existance. I do not see any dems giving that a priority, Bush is. So we back Bush to save our country and put the heat on Bush, the Republicans, and Dems to get their asses in gear and be responsible about spending and illegals. California gave the message to Gray Davis. The trick is the follow through, with serious and I mean SERIOUS HEAT put on these crooked politicians to get their acts together or they are out on their asses. The choices aren't good, but like Chesty Puller said at Chosen: "This is a lousy war, but it's the only one we've got." |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-2-19 2:40:12 PM |
| #6 Im undecided. I cant stomach bush's domestic policies - and Im not 100% confident in him on foreign policy (he seems still a tad hesitant on nation building, commiting enough resources to the GWOT, - Hes given some better speeches on democracy promotion lately, but im still nervous hed like to cut and run from Iraq) OTOH theres Kerry, whose wavering on Iraq is obscene, and who has yet to publicly acknowledge the GWOT is a war, or to say what he would actually do NOW about iraq, or about democracy promotion. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2004-2-19 1:18:29 PM |
| #5 Is it even POSSIBLE to be an undecided voter now? You either know Bush is your guy or not. Dem vs Rep, the two haven't been this far apart in decades. |
| Posted by: KerryIsSoVery 2004-2-19 12:29:54 PM |
| #4 Well we had better hope that the electorate sees what Bush is doing is good for the country in the fall election. It appears the economy is more important than terror. AFLCIO going with John Fonda Kerry. Unreal...short term memories. |
| Posted by: dataman1 2004-2-19 10:03:04 AM |
| #3 I'm not itching for a war with Tehran but I can see a scenario emerging where they oblige us. And you know, one cruise missile hitting the "Guardians" Council when it's in session might be all it takes, |
| Posted by: Hiryu 2004-2-19 9:34:12 AM |
| #2 As if we need further proof that campaign slogan of "Bush lied" and the whole "where are the WMD's" issue is going to make a laughing stock out of those who embrace it. I find it interesting that the Bush Administration just sits back, with a nice cool glass of lemonaide and watches as their opponents make a big production of crafting a huge, fancy, dunce caps for themselves - offering them encouragement all along the way..."nice wizards caps you're making there". Yet, one only need step back from the blitz of hype to realize that EVERY SINGLE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY IN THE WORLD ..as well as the Clinton Administration told them that Sadaam was involved in making WMDs. He tested them on his on people for heaven sake. And despite the fact that no one in the administration has ever told them they haven't found wmd's...they are so eager to blame him for something, anything ... that they throw away their common sense and proudly don their dunce caps for all to see. I almost feel sorry for them....so I'll point out this little quote for those whose hatred of Bush isn't sooo overwhelming that perhaps they can still manage to make out large shapes through their blinded haze. "This material is in the category of weapons of mass destruction, which is why the investigation is secret. The two suspects were transferred to American forces, who are in charge of the inquiry." |
| Posted by: B 2004-2-19 9:26:03 AM |
| #1 Can we skip all this 'Syria is next' crap and move on to the pricks in Iran? Time to re-start the good ol' Iran-Iraq war. This time with a more decisive outcome. |
| Posted by: KerryIsSoVery 2004-2-19 9:08:27 AM |