It is really amazing how indifferent the international media and human rights organizations are to atrocities against helpless human beings done by Saudi Arabia and Yemen in Northern Yemen. These two countries have made close to 200,000 civilians homeless and all of them are forced to migrate. And Saudi Arabian Government with the help of their Yemeni counterparts are killing and injuring thousands more over there. WHY? Due to the sad fact these Houthis are a helpless & poor minority in Northern Yemen. Is there a difference between North Yemeni Genocides and those done by Hitler and Serbs in Europe and racists extremists in Rwanda? Certainly not but perhaps lack of interest by some countries would prevent them from stopping these outrageous atrocities against humanity. Lately Saudis have outdone themselves by dropping phosphorus bombs on civilians. Is there a difference between these cruel acts and those done by 911 terrorists? Certainly NOT! In both cases: 1-atrocities were done against innocent human beings; 2- They were not provoked by those innocent civilians; 3-and mostly Saudis and some Yemenis are involved; 4-these heinous acts were conducted by citizens of countries who call themselves allies of the US, with friends like these who needs enemies! 5-Not even one Shia or Iranian is involved in these types of aggressive and monstrous acts and those people are wrongfully branded enemies of the US?! Really with friendly and harmless foes like these who needs those types of hostile and harmful allies? Really which one is which? I am really confused now!
Those rich Arab princesses should learn from lessons of history. One of the lessons to be learnt is the fate of Sadam, as well as that of his grand son and his sons. During his time as a dictator, Sadam thought he was so powerful. He was so proud of his evil accomplishments such as causing so much death and destructions as well as many other sufferings for the people of Iran, Iraq and Kuwait… Then he had to witness both of his sons as well as a grand son blown up to pieces…Meanwhile he had to find a deep and covered hole slightly bigger than a grave to hide in. Afterwards he had to endure the humiliation of jail time and a trial…And finally he was hanged…And Sadam called himself the champion of the Arab world?! Now those rich Arab princesses who think they would be such good Arab fundamentalists by supporting Al-Qaeda and other forms of extremism should know that they are neither more powerful nor dearer than Sadam was during the 80s.
Since dialogue and negotiations are working with Iran, then why all those threats of sanctions? Some politicians are trying to look hawkish and tough on Iran and are saying: “If there were no threats of further sanctions, then Iranians would not be willing to compromise?!” To those types of exaggerated comments I would like to reply; that type of attitude is furthest from the truth. If threats could work against Iran, then 8 years of threats and a few sanctions would have worked on Iranians during the previous administration.
However, the only thing that has worked with Iranians is the positive attitude of President Obama as well as his Excellency’s mostly objective and visionary approach to international affairs. So if such a positive approach and vision for CHANGE works, then why ruin a good thing with threats? Just to look tough?! Please DO believe it, friendly is much more effective than tough with Iranians. I would like to reemphasize this previously made point; if tough talk and threats could work, then they would have worked in the past. President Abraham Lincoln: “Believing everybody is dangerous, but believing nobody is more dangerous”
US national interests go far beyond some network news propaganda games. If the US wanted to promote ties based on human rights, then it would NOT have a single Arab 30% ally in the Persian Gulf region... AND since a country can NOT play by double standards, then the US can not hold Iran to highest standards of human rights and ignore unlimited human rights atrocities and lack of democracy in some other Persian Gulf countries, also known as (A.K.A.) 30% allies.
On the other hand I would strongly recommend that a Certain International News Network would separate its News Division from the Propaganda and Advertising Division. Such a well known international news network should not let an advertiser dictate news policy! Because once a news network sells it sole which is independence and objective journalism, then it is no longer called a news network but a… who sells to the highest bidder.
But the language of threats and sanctions will never work as was the cased during the past 30 years. Let’s do a review of events during the past three decades. Western and some Eastern powers supported the Sadam invasion of Iran, and as a result Iranians became more anti Western. They supported armed Terrorist groups such as MKO and Jundollah against the Iranian people and then Iranians grew more distant towards the West. Though sanctions were imposed against the Iranian people and as a result they became more economically independent. They tried to do a regime change in Iran and they did succeed… So the new US administration changed its approach towards Iran and they succeeded. So those Republican Extremists Conservatives who would want all of past mistakes to be repeated this US Administration:
1- Either do NOT know Iranians;
2- or never learn any thing from history;
3- or do NOT have the best strategic interests of the US in mind;
4- or just want to play dirty politics at any costs and make sure this administration does not succeed so they would have a chance in 2010 and 2012;
5- or since they have always failed in their dealings with Iran, they do NOT know any other way and they certainly DO NOT KNOW how to succeed.
However, this wise, calculating and visionary US President and his Administration know how to deal with others and they surely know how to succeed. GOD Bless you all & THANK YOU President Obama!
Some Republicans who know nothing but failures would like the US President to fail as well on every issue, even if it would mean a lack of success for the US as a whole. Their latest failure wish was for him NOT to go to Copenhagen to attempt a bid for 2016 Olympics in Chicago. The President went and Chicago did NOT win, but the US policy as a whole did win, why? Due to following reasons which are beyond some Republicans comprehension:
1- Although it was crucial for US, President Obama, the First Lady and all Americans to have Chicago host the 2016 Olympics, yet the US President did not use any bullying tactics with the Olympics Committee and the US Government did not throw its weight around during decision time. This Administration abided by FAIR PLAY rules of game and did not try to influence the come. An A for honesty.
2- President Obama was the first to congratulate the people of Brazil for such a first time accomplishment in South America. He mentioned that he was happy such and event was conducted in AMERICAS thus sharing common interests and participating in Brazilian people’s joy for this unprecedented event. At the same time he sincerely showed that the US really cares for others as well.
3- By doing so with such an important South American country the instrument of anti US propaganda is taken away from some people. Henceforth the US strategic interests are further secured in that very important part of the world.
4- The US has now a better chance of securing 2020 Olympics and could really count on the help of its 2016 host as well as many other Latin American countries.
5- By not securing the 2016 bid, this country could save about 10 Billion US$ in expenses for such an event. Such savings could be helpful during present economic times. Of course there could be Tourism income resulting from such an important event but as was the case in Australia, Athens and Montréal, where such incomes never materialized and expenses remained, one can never be too sure of the revenue!
However, international policy wise the US President & other Americans are winners again. So for the 2020 Olympics bid, the US President with his 2020 Policy vision will surely be the front runner.
Let’s see the glass 80% full and NOT 20% empty. Are all US allies 80% reliable or even 70%? Past 911 facts have proven that some so-called US Persian Gulf Allies are NOT even 30% allies. So having an 80% ally is very important in US war efforts against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. One can not have a 100% ally because each country has its own strategic interests and a 100% ally is called a puppet or a colony and not an ally. So having an 80% ally is very good. If the West does not threaten Iran and deal with that country on the basis of mutual respect, then one could really count on its help in the region. In the past 200 years Iran has not attacked another country and it does not intend to do so now or in the future. Yet it has defended its territorial integrity very well against foreign aggressions such as Sadam’s without yielding a square foot of its land and will do so again. So the choice is clear, either we continue accusing Iran of all sorts of exaggerated issues and use that country as an excuse to sell arms to a few 30% so called allies in the region and continue our half way efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Or we could count on Iran as a reliable and strong POTENTIAL NATO PARTNER or as a part of another Treaty Organization such as CENTO. In the case of such a strong partnership with Iran and when that country remains strong, then those 30% regional allies would be also be willing to buy more arms. There are many other treaty choices for Iran as well, such as becoming a full member of Shanghai Treaty or Starting another Asian Alliance called Asia Treaty Organization (ATO) compromised of China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and some Central Asian Republics, etc. However, Iran being part of NATO or CENTO would benefit the West a lot and especially at this point in time.
specially at this point in time.
Banality of Town Hall Protesters
Who gets hurt by sanctions? Iranian people, so people who promote such actions against their own people are neither human nor will they ever vote for a Democrat! So dear Democrats, please do not count on their support whatsoever. However, you could bet the house that during any election, they would fully support all kinds of Palin like candidates. Let’s do a poll and ask those pro- sanctions-against-their-own-people exiles who they voted in 08 Presidential elections. Without a doubt, the majority of honest ones would say McCain/Palin.
There two ways of endangering civilians and commercial air travelers’ lives:
A-Through the ULTIMATE TERRORIST act of passenger aircraft hijacking;
B-Through Sanctions and NOT selling Modern Aircrafts and Parts to a specific country! Even modern warfare has rules and conventions such as the Geneva Convention which would very much protect civilian lives!
One can rest assured, the harder it becomes for Iranian people, the tougher they become. This too will pass, but SAD memories will remain for ever.
For state and local governments, the flood of federal recovery money lifted total revenues by 7.5%, overcoming an 8% drop in state and local tax collections. The stimulus funds let states avoid cuts, rather than increase spending.
Since the stimulus served to bail states out of 30 to 40% of their local & state budget deficits, it's hard to imagine how dire the conditions would be. Perhaps the "vacationing" congress members will get the key question: "How would it be for our state if the stimulus wasn't implemented?" Let's see the Republicans sputter around that question.
Stimulus cash lifts states, localities
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-08-02-stimulus_N.htm
