Comments on: Israel’s ‘Alliance of Evil’ http://www.theworld.org/2012/02/israels-alliance-of-evil/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=israels-alliance-of-evil Global Perspectives for an American Audience Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Anonymous http://www.theworld.org/2012/02/israels-alliance-of-evil/comment-page-1/#comment-23604 Anonymous Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:47:00 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=107686#comment-23604 Iran faces a delicate issue.  On the one hand it wants to show the world all its got and put it at ease, while on the other hand it fears that such show 'n tell will give its enemies a road map to bomb it.Saddam Hussein faced a similar dilemma ten years ago. Though he wanted the world to know he had nothing to hide, he also wanted to bluff his archenemy Iran into believing that Iraq still had WMD. Bluffing did not go well for Saddam, and it might not go well for Amadijan. But since the price tag for ridding Saddam proved so high, maybe we ought to reflect what we are asking of Iran now.  On the eve of a threat to attack it, we are asking it to take us to the depths of its arsenal and show us all it's got.  Such great expectations are a sign we have been talking to our friends too long and are in  need of a broader perspective. Exactly when was the last time we asked Pakistan, India, China or Russia to show us their arsenal?“But those countries are not advocating the destruction of Israel,” you say. True, but Israel is not a thorn on their side either.  Surely, however, we can see beyond Iran's hyperboles and figure out their underlying purpose.  Or have we forgotten that not all Iranians are thrilled with Amadijan?  He sure has not forgotten that he is not loved in Iran. Nor has he forgotten that that his countrymen hate Israel even more. So he tells them that Israel will be wiped from the face of the earth. Expectantly, this nonsense unites them against a common enemy. It even becomes a diversion from the misery and isolation brought on by the theocratic regime. Quite Clever work by Amadijan -- and not a rial spent or a bullet fired. So why are we letting this crazy talk about destroying Israel get us all worked-up -- and to the point of turning the world topsy-turvy again.Can we not see the desperate attempts of an unpopular regime simply trying to hold on to power? Iran faces a delicate issue.  On the one hand it wants to show the world all its got and put it at ease, while on the other hand it fears that such show ‘n tell will give its enemies a road map to bomb it.Saddam Hussein faced a similar dilemma ten years ago. Though he wanted the world to know he had nothing to hide, he also wanted to bluff his archenemy Iran into believing that Iraq still had WMD. Bluffing did not go well for Saddam, and it might not go well for Amadijan. But since the price tag for ridding Saddam proved so high, maybe we ought to reflect what we are asking of Iran now.  On the eve of a threat to attack it, we are asking it to take us to the depths of its arsenal and show us all it’s got.  Such great expectations are a sign we have been talking to our friends too long and are in  need of a broader perspective. Exactly when was the last time we asked Pakistan, India, China or Russia to show us their arsenal?“But those countries are not advocating the destruction of Israel,” you say. True, but Israel is not a thorn on their side either.  Surely, however, we can see beyond Iran’s hyperboles and figure out their underlying purpose.  Or have we forgotten that not all Iranians are thrilled with Amadijan?  He sure has not forgotten that he is not loved in Iran. Nor has he forgotten that that his countrymen hate Israel even more. So he tells them that Israel will be wiped from the face of the earth. Expectantly, this nonsense unites them against a common enemy. It even becomes a diversion from the misery and isolation brought on by the theocratic regime. Quite Clever work by Amadijan — and not a rial spent or a bullet fired. So why are we letting this crazy talk about destroying Israel get us all worked-up — and to the point of turning the world topsy-turvy again.Can we not see the desperate attempts of an unpopular regime simply trying to hold on to power?

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.theworld.org/2012/02/israels-alliance-of-evil/comment-page-1/#comment-23569 Jennifer Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:22:00 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=107686#comment-23569 What was so appalling in the two reports on The World this afternoon (Monday 20 February) was the omission of ANY reference to repeated Iranian threats to destroy Israel. Mullins, Bell, and the interviewees kept talking of the prospect or mechanics of an Israeli attack. They kept talking of Us warnings not to. There was not a single word of the repeated Iranian threats from many leaders, not just Pres. Ahmadinejad, that they will destroy Israel. There was not a single reference to the boast by Ayatollah Khamenei, and others, that just one bomb could do the job. There was not a single reference to Iranian support of Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which are sworn to Israel's destruction and the ethnic cleansing of all its Jews. There are real attacks on Israel, not hypothetical ones, that continue to take place. On Saturday, a Grad rocket hit Beersheba. There have been 30 rocket attacks so far this year. Yet none of this gets a mention as The World seeks to hype prospects of an Israeli attack, and to almost build up sympathy for the Iranian regime, while portraying Israel as feckless and aggressive. Israel would surely love a return to its formerly friendly relations with Iran. Israelis have no real conflict with the Iranian people, many of whom are suffering under the regime. However, Israel  cannot ignore public threats, nor attacks like the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentine, that killed nearly 90 civilians. The Argentine has sought the extradition of one of Iran's current defense ministers, Ahmed Vahidi, for his role in that attack. Why is this sort of balancing detail absent from your coverage? What was so appalling in the two reports on The World this afternoon
(Monday 20 February) was the omission of ANY reference to repeated
Iranian threats to destroy Israel. Mullins, Bell, and the interviewees
kept talking of the prospect or mechanics of an Israeli attack. They
kept talking of Us warnings not to.

There was not a single word of the repeated Iranian threats from many
leaders, not just Pres. Ahmadinejad, that they will destroy Israel.
There was not a single reference to the boast by Ayatollah Khamenei, and
others, that just one bomb could do the job. There was not a single
reference to Iranian support of Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which are
sworn to Israel’s destruction and the ethnic cleansing of all its Jews.

There are real attacks on Israel, not hypothetical ones, that continue
to take place. On Saturday, a Grad rocket hit Beersheba. There have been
30 rocket attacks so far this year. Yet none of this gets a mention as
The World seeks to hype prospects of an Israeli attack, and to almost
build up sympathy for the Iranian regime, while portraying Israel as
feckless and aggressive.

Israel would surely love a return to its formerly friendly relations
with Iran. Israelis have no real conflict with the Iranian people, many
of whom are suffering under the regime. However, Israel  cannot ignore
public threats, nor attacks like the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community
center in Buenos Aires, Argentine, that killed nearly 90 civilians. The
Argentine has sought the extradition of one of Iran’s current defense
ministers, Ahmed Vahidi, for his role in that attack. Why is this sort
of balancing detail absent from your coverage?

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