Talking About Iran

<img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/1/bunkerbuster2.png" alt="bunkercloud" border="1" align="left" style="padding:2px;" /> We need to have our facts lined up when talking to people about why we think it would be an atrocity to invade Iran. Most people educated by the mainstream news are seriously misinformed about Iran. Here are some little known facts about Iran with links to primary sources. <br /> <br /> • Ayatollah Khameini, Khomeini's successor, supports Arab League plan for Palestinian independence. This is a plan that Israel rejects, but it does recognize Israel as a significant entity. [<a href="http://twentysixh.wordpress.com/tag/khamenei/">1</a>]<br /> • Arab League absolutely opposes any attack on Iran. When you are told that the Saudis and United Arab Emirates (UAE) would like to see Iran "contained", they don't mean "destroyed". They have said that they will not support a US attack on Iran. [<a href="http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1173879198114&amp;pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull">2</a>]<br /> • Iran was not in violation of standard International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rules until the Security Council changed the rules on their behalf. Nor did Iran block inspections. It has withdrawn from an agreement made with EU a couple of years ago because US rejected this agreement. Iran also rejects the Security Council demand for total suspension of nuclear activities. Though this is not the normal standard for signers of the Nonproliferation Treaty like Iran, there is an expectation that the IAEA will monitor and enforce the new elevated standard for Iran. This is why they can say that Iran in not in compliance with the IAEA rules. [<a href="http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Focus/IaeaIran/index.shtml">3</a>] It is clear that Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the IAEA, is uncomfortable with this action. He has repeatedly suggested that there must be incentives as well as sanctions to deal successfully with Iran's situation, that Iran should be treated with respect, and that there is no immediate evidence that Iran is a threat. [<a href="http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Transcripts/2007/ft190207.html">4</a>]<br /> • Iran supports the Shiite Government in Iraq and they have consistently done so. [<a href="http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/070501/2007050102.html">5</a>] [<a href="http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/060704/2006070401.html">6</a>]<br /> • Use of a Nuclear Bunker Buster to take out underground bunkers would be counterproductive and create much bigger problems than it resolves. [<a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/global_security/nuclear_weapons/nuclear-bunker-buster-rnep-animation.html">7</a>]

<p><img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/1/bunkerbuster2.png" alt="bunkercloud" border="1" align="left" style="padding:2px;" /> We need to have our facts lined up when talking to people about why we think it would be an atrocity to invade Iran. Most people educated by the mainstream news are seriously misinformed about Iran. Here are some little known facts about Iran with links to primary sources. </p> <p> • Ayatollah Khameini, Khomeini's successor, supports Arab League plan for Palestinian independence. This is a plan that Israel rejects, but it does recognize Israel as a significant entity. [<a href="http://twentysixh.wordpress.com/tag/khamenei/">1</a>]<br /> • Arab League absolutely opposes any attack on Iran. When you are told that the Saudis and United Arab Emirates (UAE) would like to see Iran "contained", they don't mean "destroyed". They have said that they will not support a US attack on Iran. [<a href="http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1173879198114&amp;pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull">2</a>]<br /> • Iran was not in violation of standard International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rules until the Security Council changed the rules on their behalf. Nor did Iran block inspections. It has withdrawn from an agreement made with EU a couple of years ago because US rejected this agreement. Iran also rejects the Security Council demand for total suspension of nuclear activities. Though this is not the normal standard for signers of the Nonproliferation Treaty like Iran, there is an expectation that the IAEA will monitor and enforce the new elevated standard for Iran. This is why they can say that Iran in not in compliance with the IAEA rules. [<a href="http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Focus/IaeaIran/index.shtml">3</a>] It is clear that Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the IAEA, is uncomfortable with this action. He has repeatedly suggested that there must be incentives as well as sanctions to deal successfully with Iran's situation, that Iran should be treated with respect, and that there is no immediate evidence that Iran is a threat. [<a href="http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Transcripts/2007/ft190207.html">4</a>]<br /> • Iran supports the Shiite Government in Iraq and they have consistently done so. [<a href="http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/070501/2007050102.html">5</a>] [<a href="http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/060704/2006070401.html">6</a>]<br /> • Use of a Nuclear Bunker Buster to take out underground bunkers would be counterproductive and create much bigger problems than it resolves. [<a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/global_security/nuclear_weapons/nuclear-bunker-buster-rnep-animation.html">7</a>]</p>