Israel has been making serious threats against Iran’s nuclear program in recent weeks. But one has to wonder: when Israel bombed Saddam’s power plant they didn’t make a huge public announcement - they just dropped the bombs.

Iran’s threat to cut of international oil supply with a naval blockade doesn’t strike me as very smart either. Why punish your customers when you yourself defied the international community.

When you think $140 for a barrel of oil was expensive - just wait … when these idiots start another war in the Middle East the price could easily double. Petrol and food prices will skyrocket and there will be even more starvation and food riots.

If this happens Iran and Israel can very proud of themselves.

Let’s hope the next winters will be warm and mild.

Watch, learn and weep.

The more I learn about western Imperialism, the angrier I get. Here are some more bit about American involvement in Iran.

BBC Essay: In search of a ‘humane’ execution

What do countries like the USA, China and Iran in common? They still believe in executing hardcore criminals - including youngsters

It is hard to believe that in our modern world people still get killed by their Governments. I am deeply against the death penalty - and it’s a good thing that the EU has abolished it.

The BBC has an interesting article (link above) that gives an insight into the search of Michael Portillo for an humane way of killing (no unnecessary pain, etc).

Since religious zealots are so en vogue these days here is a reminder of a good old tradition: stoning. A cruel punishment for the eager masses to participate. Since more and more people are calling for tougher punishments for all sort of crimes and even anti-social behavior they should remember WHY we developed a more human system of imprisonment and punishment in the west.

A legal system that is not based on religious rules, nor morals based on any Gods. And the notion was to regard criminals still as fellow citizens - and not as ‘bad apples’ that had to be destroyed or locked away forever.

I think the mob should do the dirty work themselves and have the images burned into their souls - so they never forget.

First dig a whole for your victim.

Call some friends, find some stones - and let’s begin …

It should be said, that stoning is a slow process - it takes some serious battering to kill someone - and watch their agony.

Stoning is still used in some countries.

More? video of an actual modern stoning (not recommended as family entertainment)

AP: Iran says it’s safe from US attack

Yeah, right. I think this must be a generational problem in Iran. All current political and military leaders have fought through the Iran-Iraq war, which was mostly a bloody ground war - almost all WWI style. This old (revolutionary) guard still clings onto their belief that they can hold their own against a US ground attack.

But the US won’t commit any ground troops. Like with Serbia it will bomb Iran back to the stone age. Sure - Iran has many missile defenses (bought from China and Russia). But the US has many missiles and bunker buster that thirst for war.

The US Army is certainly very busy and overstretched at the moment with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - but the US Airforce and the Navy felt a bit left out of loop and want some of the action too. This would be their chance to shine and show that all these supergimmicks they have bought in recent years are quite nice too.

The Iranian defense budget (2005 = 6 billion Dollar) is a joke compared to the American. Check out also the lists of Weapon systems of the Iranian Navy, Army and Airforce. Most stuff is actually American made and was bought by the Shah an totally outdated.

Some newer stuff is from Russia - but hardly in huge numbers or very sophisticated. It’s navy is hardly larger or as powerful as an American carrier group.

And the Americans have had a lot of practice the recent years …

Another excellent documentation from the PBS Frontline crew! It’s about the current Iran and USA situation - and how the current Shrub administration once again missed the chance for diplomacy.

You can watch the whole show online.

See also BBC News Iran vs USA timeline for some background.

So Mr Bush is threatening war again - against another ‘evil’ country. Iran is producing weapons of mass destruction and supporting terrorists. Deja vu anyone?

Yes, Iran is run by a theocratic upper class that suppresses democracy, woman’s rights and free speech. Yes, Iran’s economy is down on it’s knees - if it weren’t for all the oil money (thanks for the high prices to the Iraq war) the country would be unable to sustain itself. Yes, Iran supports terrorists and is working on nuclear weapons. But so many countries push ahead their strategic interests, allies and defences.

But NONE of these facts gives ANY other country right to invade it or threaten it with a military attack to take out some of it’s ‘evil’ assets.

Let’s look back in history: the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was supported both by the British and Americans and he supplanted a democratically elected president. It was the bad regime of the Shah that caused the people to raise up and kick his butt! Instead of supporting the people’s revolution the Americans fought it (more details here).

Once the mullahs were in charge the Americans supported their enemies like Saddam Hussein. During the VERY bloody Iraq vs Iran war the US supplied arms and military intelligence. The Iranians didn’t loose the war, because the used massive amounts of suicide bombers (mostly teenagers).

Anyone surprised that the people of Iran consider the US of A their biggest enemy?!

But the people of Iran suffered under the Shah and now under the followers of Ayatollah Khomeini. Maybe some day there will be a another revolution and maybe the people of Iran will get it right this time and find the right balance that suits their culture and needs.

But the Iranians should change their society - not someone else.

Wikipedia: Iran

BBC News: Iran president in NY campus clash

I am not a big fan of Mr Ahmadinejad, but I am also not a big fan of Hypocrisy. It takes some guts to follow an invitation to ‘discuss’ political issues with a crowd of people who are fiercely aggressive and hostile to you.

Can anyone imagine Mr Bush flying to Tehran and having the same talk with Persian students? Nope.

If the Head of a foreign nation comes to visit you - you should show him some manners and courtesy - even when you consider him an enemy. He was democratically elected. He has certainly very different and sometimes odd opinions about History and current affairs - like Bush. He of course pushes his countries agenda and supports his allies (like Hamas) - like Bush supports Israel and many other nations. He pays for some freedom fighters bombs and guns - just like the US does.

Yeah, I’ll give a foreign Head of State some shit …

The USA won’t impress him nor the world by insulting him and treating him without the courtesy his position demands. And you hardly score any points for being more civilized.

I also saw the 60 Minutes interview done by CBS - and it was rather insulting too. I wish they would interview their own President and politicians the same way.

I am all for speaking truth to power, but you have to do a bit smarter, otherwise it simply sounds like a simpletons whining and leashing out at complexity.

Foreign politics is a complicated subject. That is why diplomacy was invented. And it should always be done by smart people.

The US wants that Iran, North Korea and many other countries give up their atomic bombs. On the other side they recently started new programs to build such weapons of mass destruction (or even smaller tasks like bunker busting). Plus recent events have shown us, that the US adopted a new doctrine to strike first …

Anyone surprised that even more countries want nukes?!

BBC News: France warning of war with Iran

I was just happy that we got rid of Tony, the atomic Chirac and Silvio. Now Sarko comes along and does saber rattling a  la President Shrub. Maybe there is a case of Mad Cow in Paris?

Hello France?! Did you elect a little Napoleon that has to overcompensate something?! The Iranians are certainly nut cases, but threatening war is certainly not the way to win the hearts and minds of the Iranian people …