News

Dear Darius

As you can see, these people are too shameless for such allusions to deter them. Pathetic really.

dangerous typo!

It should read:

"It does NOT mean that we do NOT recongise acts of terrorism ..."

Had not proof read it, but this one really had to be explained, Just in case ... !

We are not under a siege in Gaza to 'dictate' our tastes

We are not in a position to give qualified support to a legitimate resistance movement. We do not have to be in agreement with everything they do. Hamas is an indigenous movement representing the population of Gaza, it does not have to please our sensibilities and tastes, in so far as it is a legitimate representative of those people, that Hamas is, whether or not we like its ideology, tactics, and religion, justice and humanity dictates that they have our support. To support Hamas does not require checking off their records on observation of human rights, on treatment of women and gays and whether or not we like their dress sense. It does not mean that we recognise acts terrorism against civilians as criminal and objectionable, but it does mean we need to know the circumstances under which a movement is driven to such mad or drastic moves, calls it desperate thrashing about, largely responses to intentional provocation. When a movement is fighting for its literal survival and for the survival of a society it is representing, in the background of a brutal occupation and daily killings of which we do not hear in the West, we are not in a position to qualify our support for their legitimate struggle. If the struggle is legitimate and the Resistance is a legitimate representative, support does not need qualification. We are not under a siege in Gaza, to 'dictate' our tastes and mores.

As for the Iranian students, I agree with Roxane, it makes a murky situation murkier and this is exactly what Israel is banking on ...

Thx for the links, A7. Part of the reason why Mammad

can be so forthright and fair (independent of his ethical nature) is that BECAUSE he is not ONLY a devout Muslim but also probably the ONLY regular blogger here (other than Dr. Malekasri, the exception who proves the rule..) who still believes in principle in an Islamic Republic (although NOT in the way it turned out...), he knows he is ALLOWED to say things that other people aren't "allowed" to...he can say whatever he wants about Hamas and NO ONE can say he's anti-Muslim or pro-Zionist or anything remotely like that.

Other people should be "allowed" to do that too. The only one who really doesn't allow it is themselves. Happens on both sides, all sides, any political argument, anywhere, not just here...and there's a word for it too. It is called "goose-stepping". And I guess you know where it comes from...surprise, surprise...

thx again for the links.

Teapot, Rosie

Here is the link where DW had some very good discussions on the issue (you need to scroll down):
//iranian.com/main/blog/khodadad-rezakhan...

Mammad had quite a few of them, the first one was in this article:
//iranian.com/main/news/2008/12/27/israel...

I did not see any debates between Mammad and DW on this. However I bet if such a debate had taken place, you would have found many agreements between them.

Thanks for the reply Anon7,

I don't mean to preach to anyone and I am glad we share some views. The whitewashing is no good at all. I do think you can understand that try though I might not to be I am overwrought about the whole ganze geschrei (as we say in Yiddush, the whole kit & caboodle of the ugly ugly situation). The rest of it is between you and DK, he can defend himself (or not) as he chooses about your perceptions of him.

As I said below I too would appreciate the link to the Mammad/DW debate. If you're not sure where it is, I thiiiiiiiink it might be on that iranian.com or gaza.com thread and I can look for it.

Thx  

anonym7: can you provide the

anonym7: can you provide the link for DW's and Mammad's debate? Thanks.

Easy. rosie!

You didn't understand what I was saying. I was referring to DK's comment "IRI APOLOGISTS AND HAMAS TEAR JERKERS HAPPY NOW". My point was not regarding the topic, my point was regarding 'I told you so'!
BTW, I disagree with Ahmadinejad's rhetoric/extremism and Hemas extremism much more than you think.... you don't need to preach me on that....
I don't like 'I told you so' because I saw many good debates from all sides and I respect those whom I agree with (DW, Mammad,..) and those whom I disagree with.

Why should he let go of it?

Lemme tell ya something. I support Hamas very much in this conflict, the Israeli attrocities are so attrocious I don't see how there can realistically be an argument against that stance and I don't understand the people who won't just give it up and keep defending them, even for STRATEGIC purposes that is stupid. What possible strategic value can there be in making yourself the most loathed and detested pariah nation in the world, fomenting world-wide anti-Semitism and giving Ahmadinejad the moral high ground in supporting Hamas when you CLAIM he is such a big threat to you?

Be that as it may. It is CREEPY for Ahmadinejad to be babbling again about exporting the "lively", vibrant Islamic Revolution just as it is CREEPY for Hamas to go and rally Irranians to join them in fighting during an (admittedly more than shakey) ceasefire.

Having national Holocaust cartoon contests is creepy,, and it's part and parcel of this whole discussion. Hamas was democratically elected, yes I know, IRI too, and so many devout Muslims want a Shariah regime--until it's THEIR daughter who gets hanged for adultery while the guy gets 60 lashes. Then sudddenly it's creepy. And if Hamas gets Iranian volunteers for their military, it will cause a more disastrous situation in the already volatile geopolitical situation. And if they don't, if they don't want to, if the speech was all for show, then it's sleazy. Why the need for such PR? Don't the facts on the ground in Gaza speak for themselves?

I didn't see the specific debate between Mammad and DW and I'm sorry I missed it --and I know Mammad is one of the only people onsite on the Left who refuses to whitewash Hamas, which SEEMS paradoxical at first given his unique ideology among the regular bloggers here, but scratching the surface makes perfect sense..Anyway yes I support Hamas--reluctantly, and okay, you found DW's arguments more "mature", but this is a NEWSFEED, what is wrong with it? Why should you have a problem with it? Why should he let it go? If Mammad fed it would it be more "mature" as a feed?

can you let go of it DK?

Pro Palestinians, pro Israelis, and those in the middle had many debates about this, .., some good debates from all side, including DW Dukes's, and Mammad's objective and informative discussions. Your childish comments in this regard, has added no value on the other hand.

Ahmadinejad made a statement celebrating

the anniversary of the Revolution that the Islamic Revolution was still "lively" and being exported worldwide. I am trying to imagine Venezuelan women in hijab.