Hard Rock Moslem
I'm your brother
They were friends before and can always be friends again.
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The Iran crisis has benefited politicians in the US and Israel by defocusing public anger from the ongoing economic crisis in both nations, and by almost totally obscuring the Palestinian quest for recognition and statehood. Little wars are famously beneficial to politicians.
Both Barack Obama and Netanyahu expect to reap dividends from “getting tough” on the latest miscreant in a long line of Muslim bogeymen. Think back to the western powers’ demonisation of Gamal abdel-Nasser, whom Anthony Eden called “Hitler on the Nile”; to “arch terrorist” Yasser Arafat; to “mad dog of the Mideast” Muammar Ghaddafi; to “Butcher of Baghdad” Saddam Hussein; “Mr 9/11” Osama bin Laden; and now “the new Hitler” Ahmadinejad.
Here we go again. These targets of western wrath and vilification actually seem to enjoy their starring roles as villains and hate figures. Any publicity is better than no publicity.
Lost amid all the threats is another simple question. Why are Iran and Israel at scimitars drawn? After all, under the late, unlamented Shah, Israel and Iran used to be bosom buddies. Even under the late Ayatollah Khomeini – a big hate figure in the Jewish world – Israel secretly sold some US$5 billion (RM15.3 billion) worth of US arms and spare parts to Iran during its long, bloody 1980s war with Iraq.
The main reason is that Islamic Iran has become the primary champion of the Palestinians now that the Arab states – and notably Syria – are on the ropes. Iraq, formerly a leading champion of the Palestinians, was crushed by the US. Iran is next on the chopping block if the US American-Israel Public Affairs Committee has its way.
A fair Israel-Palestinian deal would end the crisis between Israel and Iran. So would a Mideast nuclear-free zone. But no one dares pose this simple solution.
Eric S. Margolis is an award-winning, internationally syndicated columnist, writing mainly about the Middle East and South Asia.
Pls read the full report here:
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/295118
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The Iran crisis has benefited politicians in the US and Israel by defocusing public anger from the ongoing economic crisis in both nations, and by almost totally obscuring the Palestinian quest for recognition and statehood. Little wars are famously beneficial to politicians.
Both Barack Obama and Netanyahu expect to reap dividends from “getting tough” on the latest miscreant in a long line of Muslim bogeymen. Think back to the western powers’ demonisation of Gamal abdel-Nasser, whom Anthony Eden called “Hitler on the Nile”; to “arch terrorist” Yasser Arafat; to “mad dog of the Mideast” Muammar Ghaddafi; to “Butcher of Baghdad” Saddam Hussein; “Mr 9/11” Osama bin Laden; and now “the new Hitler” Ahmadinejad.
Here we go again. These targets of western wrath and vilification actually seem to enjoy their starring roles as villains and hate figures. Any publicity is better than no publicity.
Lost amid all the threats is another simple question. Why are Iran and Israel at scimitars drawn? After all, under the late, unlamented Shah, Israel and Iran used to be bosom buddies. Even under the late Ayatollah Khomeini – a big hate figure in the Jewish world – Israel secretly sold some US$5 billion (RM15.3 billion) worth of US arms and spare parts to Iran during its long, bloody 1980s war with Iraq.
The main reason is that Islamic Iran has become the primary champion of the Palestinians now that the Arab states – and notably Syria – are on the ropes. Iraq, formerly a leading champion of the Palestinians, was crushed by the US. Iran is next on the chopping block if the US American-Israel Public Affairs Committee has its way.
A fair Israel-Palestinian deal would end the crisis between Israel and Iran. So would a Mideast nuclear-free zone. But no one dares pose this simple solution.
Eric S. Margolis is an award-winning, internationally syndicated columnist, writing mainly about the Middle East and South Asia.
Pls read the full report here:
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/295118