Iran makes five-point proposal to world powers in Baghdad nuclear talks

SovereignMan · 2012-05-23T21:49:26.269593+00:00

There is nothing Iran could do, short of inviting an American governor in to rule them, that will remove American enmity from them.

America will not allow another power to threaten their hegemony in the gulf. Iran has the potential to do just that. Saudi, an American client, is terrified of Iran. Israel too fears Iran. the potential of a unified Islamic Arab block lead by Iran is a nightmare to the US and Israel.

LettersFromTheSky · 2012-05-23T13:59:05.728680-07:00

they did not cause the world to hate us.

Why do you think the world hated the US?

LettersFromTheSky · 2012-05-23T20:05:05.013649+00:00

It wasn't the decision. it was in incompetence.

LettersFromTheSky · 2012-05-23T18:08:42.405707+00:00

Here's some facts for you. That war, which was a war of choice undertaken for dubious reasons, was a fucked by the poor post invasion planning. I'd have some sympathy for you if you could of said, "America did not know, no one warned us that we were letting a tiger out of the cage", but that is not the case.

The Bush admin was told what would happen in the post war power vacuum and it would take $BB + 500,000 troops to secure post war Iraq. They did not want to hear that. They retired, or moved on or ignored the messengers, and there were many authoritative and accurate warnings, such as the $5 million study entitled the Future of Iraq Project, which the U.S. State Department compiled They ignored it carried on regardless hoping for the best.

They knew they couldn't convince the public to go to war if they told them the truth, that is was likely to be a very expense war, so they hoped for the best and didn't plan for the worse, or rather ignored any plans or costs for the worst. They tried to do it on the cheap and have created a pro Iranian Iraq. Total fuckup.

LettersFromTheSky · 2012-05-23T16:58:37.221768+00:00

Just to nitpick americans only killed around 15,000 people most iraqis died in the civil war you mentioned.

If someone said to you "I only killed a few zoo keepers and let the tiger out the cage at the mall. Those the tiger killed have nothing to do with me." you'd roll your eyes.

davidreiss666 · 1 day

Turkey is seeking a leadership position among the Arabs, having had the cold shoulder from Europe for so long.

As Iran knows, a good way to get this position is to bash Israel. Arabs in Saudi, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Egypt (before the spring) wonder why their leaders don't speak up and take action in support of Palestinians look to Turkey/Iran for answers and direction. They don't speak up for they are US client nations and dare not rock the boat for fear of the US asking for democratic reforms and them getting the heave-ho.

LettersFromTheSky · 1 day

Many dictators in the M.E. were/are supported by the US. (Saudi Kuwait and formally Saddam) the US planned a new strong man in Iraq and a counsel of tribal leaders. It was only when Sadr, the leader of the Shi'a said he would have his people join the Sunni insurgency if they did not have full participation that Iraq got democracy.

Which is why they have a Pro-iranian, "America out" P.M. who incidentally America wanted removed from the ballot but got a big "how about some respect for democracy?" from Iraqi's.

BigPharmaIsEvil · 1 day

The film Koyaanisqatsi. In fact ask this question of film buffs, ask for the most visually appealing. I'd add the Samsara A stunning treat for the eyes set in the majestic landscape of Ladakh, Himalayas.

An art gallery.

Venice if your budget stretches to it.

A mountain range.

BigPharmaIsEvil · 1 day

The Prado and the Riena Sophia in Madrid.

London, Rome, Madrid.

Adamas_Mustache · 1 day

BlackAdder the 4th. They all charge out of the trench to glory., fades to a field of poppies

waggawagga · 1 day

Well done indeed, that was the name I tried in vain to get to and was going to add it into my comment.

waggawagga · 1 day

Before Blair there had been 4 conservative administrations in a row.

The labour party was considered unelectable. He moved them to the center ground and made them electable. He also ushered in peace in N ireland and revived the NHS after a long lean period under the conservatives

waggawagga · 2 days

I said "revered by his party for all time, like Thatcher". I know labour and libs are never going to revere Thatcher

waggawagga · 2 days

True enough but he went all out. Contrast his rah rahing for war to that of Gordon Brown's. He could of stopped this war had he used his considerable gifts to do that but he made the cynical calculation that British interests where best served going along with this war.

I could forgive him it if the Americans had pulled it off and transformed Iraq into a fully functioning democracy. But they didn't. they tried to do it on the cheap and fucked the place over at enormous costs. That's what really gets up my nose, the staggering incompetence of the post war plan.

waggawagga · 2 days

there isn't much a closest ally can do in those circumstances.

There is, we could of joined France and Germany in the "sorry, but no" Or just said "yeah George good idea you go right ahead" and added some logistic aid but he didn't, he jumped in up to his neck and went out to bat for them.

waggawagga · 2 days

I remember it well. That was the first date of the the book tour in Europe after a triumphant tour of the US. They soon found out he's persona non grata over here. Tony Blair met by a hail of shoes and eggs in Dublin.

waggawagga · 2 days

I'm a humanist. I pity all who fall so far from the tenets of basic decency.

tassysurfer · 2 days

I've actually started writing my autobiography..The first paragraph

Nobody knows about the Spaniard who’s head I caved in with a shovel, not since Peggs passed. It was all his idea anyway. I don’t look or act violent. From the behind you can see my bald spot and grey hair. I’m not tall either. 5′ 8″. 20 years ago I lost my foot, or rather had it lost for me. Broken in 5 places along with my hand. They saved my hand but the foot and ankle got cut off. As a consequence I have a splaying gait, kicking out my left foot to get it to land properly. It looks odd. So from behind I look a bit like a handicapped gorilla, big chest, no neck, and odd walk. That’s how my wife has described me. From the front you can see my scarred face. I have some small ones but a beaut runs from my forehead across the bridge of the nose, down my eyelid and ends on my cheek. I lost that eye. I used to amuse my children with heroic tales on how I lost it, but the truth is it was in a drunken argument over a snooker score in Buenos Aires. Raul did it with a bottle. I was a fool going there so soon after all what happened. That bottling was not proportionate for a snooker score alone. I had a metallic false lens made for my blind eye so it looked like I had a metal eye. I carried a steel ball bearing around in my pocket. I would terrify my sons by palming it up to my eye and pretend to pluck the steel eyeball out from the socket, screwing the eyelid shut, and threatening to throw it at them. Its a handy face in a tight spot. It’s caused a sergeant of the marines to pause for thought and to decline any actions before getting into it. It frightens most.

waggawagga · 2 days

I hear he is fairly well respected by both sides.

You hear wrong. His appointment as a peace envoy shows the depth of disrespect the west has for Arabs.

As for his time in government I thought he was great.

He could of been a great i suppose but his defining moment was the war.

All of these leaders now will be primary remembered for their lax immigration policy allowing the destruction of British culture, they will all be look down upon after the inevitably ethnic conflict that will take place in the UK as the economy gets tougher and tougher. Oh I don't support the anti-immigrant view but it's clear to see that it's a problem waiting to erupt.

You started off so well but seem to have devolved into lunacy.

waggawagga · 2 days

You think I feel this unjust? For I don't. I'd like to see him officially stripped of all honours and sent into exile.

Mystery78748 · 2 days

You're just reaching your prime.

waggawagga · 2 days

Poor old Tony Blair. He thought he'd be remembered in a Churchillian light, revered by his party for all time, like Thatcher or a British Reagan but this bloody war keeps cropping up. Endless inquiry's that drag on and on.
He keeps being asked the same question. No matter what the subject of the interview is about, the Euro, the economy, good holiday destinations, at some point he'll be asked, "Why?" and he drags out the same answer. "WMD, freedom, terrorism" and not be believed. The interviewer will sit there and look at the camera while sadly shaking his head as if to say "He's still trying to convince us people, it's a sad case"
That's the punishment he has to live with, always asked and never believed, like a man pushing a boulder up an endless hill and with each inquiry the hill gets steeper.

He's a pariah in the UK. Never seen in public, even his book signing tour cancelled for fear of riots. A sad case.

Lard_Baron · 3 days

I should have used this photo. I think this would sell given an Apple logo. It's a lovely looking thing.

Lard_Baron

TROPHY CASE

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