to janab-e-ali: The reports I had read all said Ahmedinejad was making statements threatening to wipe Israel of the map. If he didn't say that and only 'hoped', yes it is a little less alarming indeed.
However somebody not liking some country and mentally cursing them is different from the leader of large country under Islamic clerical rule making even that "hoping" statement must be very alarming to particularly people living in Israel. It is not the same as some common man in Lahore cussing Israel.
Leaders should exercise restraint and not behave like street thugs.
To: shardmanny:
ofcourse cease to exist means not in the current form - you cannot turn a landmass into space or vacuum.
The exact quote is:
Imam goft een rezhim-e-ishghal-e-qods bayad az safeh-ye-ruzgar mahv shavad
Which, based on the Farsi I know literally translates to:
The Imam [Khomeni] said, the regieme occupying Jerusalem should disappear from the pages of history.
Again, no military threat.
The issue isn’t whether his statement was eloquent and diplomatic…it’s whether it constitutes a direct threat against Israel. Such undiplomatic statements are fairly common…whether its Rahul Gandhi gloating about how his family is personally responsible for the Civil War and subsequent break-up of Pakistan, or Hugo Chavez babbling about how humankind has no future if American hegemony continues unchecked. These are statements of empty rhetoric, meant to rile up crowds and win public support among the asses of the masses. They generally are not construed as direct military threats, and certainly can not be used as justification for any sort of direct intervention.
But while we’re on the topic of direct military threats, it seems as though Israel already has developed plans for nuclear strikes against Iran: Revealed: Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran - Times Online
That to me seems like a much more imminent threat than quoting Khomeni in some speech.
my country whose soldiers say Allah o'akbar when they fire are ready, prepared and willing to obliterate yours. hows that for alarming?
the reports you read dont care about you and your people. the least you can do is be fair when looking upon the palestine/israel conflict
actually they are not. they are all fully engaged in protecting Pakistanis from other Pakistanis, which is by itself an improvement based on prior episodes of laying down arms and joining the taleban and the like.
I am fair in my outlook towards Palestine but that has no effect on condemning crackpots such as ahmedinejad threatening existence of Israel.
why is it so difficult for you to see the lunacy of his statements (assuming translations are in the ball park)?
^Most pre-election polls conducted by western journalist showed that ahmadinejaad was ahead 2-1 right across iran. US intelligence also expected ahmadinejaad to win. And that sbecause Mousavi's supporters were mainly based in northern tehran, and other rich cities, a more vocal base, but in no means the majority.
Hence it seems a majority of the iranians do want ahmadinejaad as thier leader and mousavi supporters seem like real sore losers...like some spolit rich brats who dont know how to lose, so they throw they dummy out of the pram.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad—Holocaust denier, nuclear aspirant and the West’s favorite bugbear—may soon become the ex-president of Iran. According to recent government-funded polls seen by NEWSWEEK, some 16 million to 18 million Iranians say they plan to vote for his main rival, Mir Hossein Mousavi, on June 12—compared with just 6 million to 8 million for Ahmadinejad. If the polls prove correct, that will sweep Mousavi to victory in the first round of voting. This is a tidal shift from just four weeks ago, when public polls showed Ahmadinejad ahead by 50 percent, and the turnaround has shocked the country’s political elite.
Perhaps they shouldn’t be so surprised. Ahmadinejad’s recent antics have dismayed Iranians from all walks of life. His government has responded to the global recession by hiking salaries for state employees and doling out cash to those who attend his speeches, fueling inflation and creating resentment. Meanwhile, the political theatrics that made Ahmadinejad a household name worldwide now seem to be working against him. Many of Mousavi’s supporters are first-time voters who have avoided politics till now—but plan to show up on June 12 to vote against Ahmadinejad, whom they’ve come to regard as reckless and endangering their country’s international standing.
Even Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and members of the country’s vast intelligence apparatus seem to have come around to this position: a large majority of them also plan to vote for Mousavi, according to the government poll. The older members of this cadre remember Mousavi’s time as prime minister during the savage 1980–88 conflict with Iraq, when he successfully managed the wartime economy. In interviews, military and intelligence officials also complain that Ahmadinejad’s erratic economic and foreign policies have made the country less secure.
Alarmed by the poll, Ahmadinejad has gone into a crouch. Though his allies still insist he’ll win, in the past few weeks the president’s campaign has become secretive and withdrawn. His usually media-friendly advisers have turned off their cell phones and barred staffers from talking to reporters. Ahmadinejad has resorted to personal attacks on his rivals, even questioning the authenticity of Mousavi’s wife’s Ph.D. An adviser close to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—long Ahmadinejad’s most stalwart ally—says that even Khamenei has begun to distance himself from the president. Last Thursday, Khamenei took the unusual step of chastising candidates who engage in dirty politics. The target of his comments was clearly Ahmadinejad, who had the night before accused Mousavi’s allies of corruption.
Mousavi, for his part, has tried to emphasize his politesse and maturity. When Ahmadinejad questioned his wife’s credentials, Mousavi merely smiled and said, “Mr. Ahmadinejad’s comments are so odd that one doesn’t know how to react.” He may not, but if the polls are right, then voters do.
Are you sure the Iranians are sick of the Ayatollah regime? I don't think they are sick of the Ayatollah, they are just sick of Ahmedinejad. The protesters are supporters of Mir Hossen Musavi and I'm sure he is a supporter of the regime itself otherwise he would not have been able to run in the elections.
Mausavi was a favourite of the late Ayatollah Khomenei, but has clashed with Khomenei's distant cousin Khamenei over economic issues when he was Prime minister.
Everyone seems to be jumping on the bandwagon, especially the Western media, in support of Mausavi assuming that just because it is a reformist, he is anti - iranian revoluntionist. Which is pretty dumb and ignorant because he was a student of the iranian revolution.
The bottomline is that, like in casinos - the house always wins, in Iran - the ayatollah always wins.
Oh? Is that why Khamenei felt the need for a speech today? Because a few hundred protesters? You would think if it were a few hundred protesters as you stated then Khamenei wouldn’t have broken his tradition of only speaking in public at the end of Ramadan and the anniversary of the Iranian revolution. So, why has Iran banned the media from covering the protests, because a few hundred protesters? Why are the dictators trying to cut off the internet to stop those on the ground in Iran from reporting what is going on, because a few hundred protesters?
The question isn’t how gullible people are, but how blind people can be even when faced with the facts I’ve stated above.
2 photos taken June 17th in Iran of protesters marching against the election fraud.
If anyone think mousavi will be a different entity than ahmedinejad then take a look on change of Bush with Obama.
the both countries have static decision maker only puppet changes.
:)
Iranians are so wise.
by myself, I like Ahmedinejad as being a perfect person. every muslim country needs him, as far as the election problem concerns don't forget the malaysian dream leader Mahattir Muhammad who admits of interference in election in the betterment of malaysia but everyone is very happy of his foresighting :)
Inshallah everything will be fine and the zionist supporters will be with zionist very soon.
O Please leave Iran alone. Let Iranians decide their own fate.
I'm really glad at Obama's stand on this situation deciding not to intervene the situation. Despite all the pressure from Jewish lobby in US who are desperate to use this as an opportunity to thwart Iranian regime and put some puppet over there like Ahmed Kerzai of Afghanistan.
I alwaz claim that no one can know better about a situation than those who are actually living in it.
So Burqa, If you live in Iran, you sure can say wutever but otherwise, get a life plz!
yup! Iran needs to be left alone. The US had in the past influenced many a democracies in the region, usually when the democracy results in decisions they dont like. Usually any such outside interference b outside forces is not good for any country, and when its he us interfering then its usually self-serving.
Iran is a nation capable of a revolution, they will find their way fine.
if anything the protests are a testament to the fact that there is very much a live thriving democracy in Iran contrary to popular opinion!
my only hope is that they dont create so much hate and propoganda in Iran that it becomes the next Iraq.
Brutal oppression by the Iranian state after a muddied election is a clear indication that religion must be kept separate from state.
Contrary to common misconception, separation of Mullah and state, is more for the protection of religion and less for the protection of the state.
I wish the holy himself Ayatullah sahiban had kept themselves out of the mess that is called politics. That way Nejat and Mossavi would be two ordinary politicians and not some sent-from-heaven God incarnates or appointees of God incarnates.
Iranians made a massive mistake when they went for Ayatullah run regime after so bloodily getting rid of Shah run regime. This was like out of frying pan and into the fire.
Shah was brutal, but his pro-global views meant that Iranian economy was one of the bestest in the region.
Ayataullah run regime is equally oppressive and brutal, but the economy is in the sewer. Thus clearly a lose lose option for the ordinary Iranian.
I hope Nejat steps down and stops the oppression of pro-Mossavi protestors. This is not good for Iran, and certainly not good for the region. We don't want to see another wave of Iranian refugees running to Pakistan, just like what happened after 1979 revulsive revolution.
For those who want to blame the West, or find conspiracies in this mess, quit living in dream world.
Mossavi is no angel, and talking about this holy-mess is by no means supporting mossavi.
It is just that Iranian people or Swatis, no one in the world deserves to be oppressed and brutalized by the dimwit Mullahs. That's all.
yes incomaprison to ahmadinjaad supporters, they are a minorty, mainly based in northern tehran, and dont seem know how to lose. they sore losers to the core.
Iran has banned media because the western medis particualr is actually distorting things flaming it more than neccessary. It may not be the best way, but it is what they are known/expected to do inorder to deal with sensitive issues.
Mousavi want a re-election - khamenie has ordered a recount. As for the rioters, they need to understand, that burnign buildings, cars and attacking innocent poeple is not the way to go to reinsatate thier leader. There is a legal way to settle this, and hooliganism is not it.. it is not accepted in any country, including UK and the US.
Iran has banned media because the western medis particualr is actually distorting things flaming it more than neccessary. It may not be the best way, but it is what they are known/expected to do inorder to deal with sensitive issues.
Sad. You justify stripping freedom of speech. You should be ashamed of your comments as post freely on the internet.
