I just finished reading the compelling diary by
Juan Cole, a great post and an important read for all.
Juan is a smart guy, and I honestly believe that protest in great numbers is the only way to achieve peace, but standing against something is largely ineffective in protest, however protest works, at least historically, when people protest for something.
In his diary, Juan linked to the Persian version of the October 28th speech President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave to the Islamic Student Associations conference on "The World Without Zionism."
This is the English transcript. Juan is being misquoted, and I understand why he is frustrated by it, but what I don't understand is why he is so quick to simply dismiss the concerns regarding Iran. Yes, the "wipe Israel off the map" comment is a misquote, but Juan is being intentionally dishonest if he is suggesting the speech was actually nothing more than a benevolent pep rally.
Juan, a picture is worth 1000 words. The intention of producing incredibly expensive art for a college speech in a country with a struggling economy simply cannot be ignored.
Juan, you were misquoted, I understand completely how that can piss you off, but the presumption to misrepresent the facts is just as frustrating. The requirement of experts to rapidly form an opinion without supporting the process is part of the problem.
His argument is based on taking Iran at their word, well which time? Iran is all over the map with their words, with their threats, with their intentions, and oh btw, as a leading sponsor of worldwide terrorism, which is exactly what financially supporting Hezbella is, Iran isn't exactly providing a trustworthy track record.
Nobody wants war, but the rush to ignore potential disaster, dismiss anyone that points out a possible danger, and selectively judges based on statements they want to hear as opposed to what they don't want to hear is by definition insanity.
It is time for a rational discussion regarding Iran, because without speaking rational, Juan Cole's suggestion to protest, which I truly believe is the only peaceful solution, will not be effective.
The following is quoted from the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs testimony regarding Iran.
Such people are using words like `it's not possible'. They say how could we have a world without America and Zionism? But you know well that this slogan and goal can be achieved and can definitely be realized." (Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Middle East Media Reporting Institute, Special Dispatch Series - No. 1013 October 2005)
We have a strategy drawn up for the destruction of Anglo-Saxon civilization.... we must make use of everything we have at hand to strike at this front by means of our suicide operations or by means of our missiles. There are 29 sensitive sites in the U.S. and in the West. We have already spied on these sites, and we know how we are going to attack them." (Hassan Abbassi, Revolutionary Guards intelligence advisor to the President, reported by Steven Stalinsky. Taking Iran at its Word, The Jerusalem Post. August 30, 2004)
The world of Islam has been mobilized against America for the past 25 years. The peoples call, "death to America." Who used to say "death to America?" Who, besides the Islamic Republic and the Iranian people, used to say this? Today, everyone says this." (Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Middle East Media
Reporting Institute, Clip No. 136 - Transcript: 6/24/2004)
The Americans are convinced that they will easily win the war in Iraq. But they will not see that day. As the Imam [Khomeini] said, 'One day the U.S. too will be history." (Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, reported by Aftab-e Yazd, Jomhour-e Eslami (Iran). As translated by the Middle East Media Reporting Institute, May 20, 2004.)
Our dear Imam ordered that the occupying regime in Al-Qods [Jerusalem] be wiped off the face of the earth. This was a very wise statement." (Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Middle East Media Reporting Institute, Special Dispatch Series - No. 1013 October 28, 2005)
If one day, the world of Islam comes to possess the weapons currently in Israel's possession -- on that day this method of global arrogance would come to an end. This is because the use of a nuclear bomb in Israel will leave nothing on the ground, whereas it will only damage the world of Islam." (Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Former Iranian President, reported in Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Weekly Update: December 14, 2001)
Iran's stance has always been clear on this ugly phenomenon [i.e., Israel]. We have repeatedly said that this cancerous tumor of a state should be removed from the region." - (Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reported by CNN.com, Iran leader urges destruction of 'cancerous' Israel, December 15, 2000)
We are in the process of an historical war between the World of Arrogance [i.e. the West] and the Islamic world, and this war has been going on for hundreds of years." (Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Middle East Media Reporting Institute, Special Dispatch Series - No. 1013 October 28, 2005)
Anyone who would recognize this state [Israel] has put his signature under the defeat of the Islamic world." (Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Middle East Media Reporting Institute, Special Dispatch Series - No. 1013 October 28, 2005)
[Iran's] missiles are now ready to strike at their civilization, and as soon as the instructions arrive from Leader [Ali Khamenei], we will launch our missiles at their cities and installations." (Hassan Abbassi, Revolutionary Guards intelligence advisor to the President, reported by Steven Stalinsky. Taking Iran at its Word, The Jerusalem Post. August 30, 2004)
Every Muslim and every honorable man who is not a Muslim must stand against the Americans, English, and Israelis, and endanger their interests wherever they may be....They must not have security." (Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Secretary General, Guardian Council, reported by Steven Stalinsky. Taking Iran at its Word, The Jerusalem Post. August 30, 2004)
Some 10,000 people have registered their names to carry out martyrdom operations on our defined targets... Our targets are mainly the occupying American and British forces in the holy Iraqi cities, all the Zionists in Palestine, and Salman Rushdie." (Mohammad Ali Samadi, Spokesperson, Committee for the Commemoration of Martyrs of the Global Islamic Campaign, reported by Paul M. Rodriguez, 'Job application' online for suicide bombers, Insight Magazine. June 10, 2004)
The torment of the Iraqis, of the Palestinians, and even of the Americans are the direct outcome of liberal Western democracy, and this must serve as an important lesson to the rest of the world, [which must] open its eyes and understand that those who call themselves advocates of human rights and democracy are in fact the main supporters of crimes against humanity." (Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Middle East Media Reporting Institute, Special Dispatch
Series - No. 727, June 4, 2004)
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
While I think Juan Cole has deluded himself into believing that from Michigan, he is somehow able to guage the position of Iran better than the EU-3, the IAEA, and the UN is at best arragant.
However, as far as a solution goes, I believe Juan has it absolutely right.
Protesting is the answer, protest Iran's disregard for working with the IAEA. The US must send a clear message in support of diplomacy by supporting the only peace process options the world has. Protest in Support of the United Nations, the IAEA, and the European solutions. Protesting against war will fail, but protesting in support of a peace process can succeed.
Otherwise, we ignore the evidence as mounted by the international community against Iran, we insult the European Union by undermining their claims of non compliance by basing our presumption of Iran's good will on a perception the EU is nothing more than a token puppet of the US, and we send a clear message of division to Iran and supporters of Iran in China and Russia.
Progressive Power is in the people, if the people in the Progressive Movement Protest for the Peace Process, Protest Iran, and Protest in Support of the European Leadership in the EU-3, it gives common ground in America in a stance against Iran, and the wingers will stand with us in a united position that brings what I believe is the best chance for a peaceful solution.