US vs Iran bookmaker

[Banquo's Ghost]

What a mystical, wonderful world you must live in. President? Do you think he cares about "reformers" or the "poor" voters? Here's how it works: the ruling clerical elites select several candidates and say, "Here's the list of people we want in, you get to choose which one." I don't see how the poor, downtrodden, sensible, reform minded people of the world benefit from threat of war and the funding of terrorism. If people protest, they’ll just be beaten down like the recent women’s rights protest.

Well, my world, mystical or otherwise, doesn't require the blinkers that seem to be mandatory in yours. Your characterisation of the Iranian system has some elements of truth, but the will of the people actually does have some weight. For many years now, the Iranians were reforming towards a much more Western viewpoint. You are correct to assert that Ahmadinejad was selected by the mullahs to put a stop to this, but a large part of his election win was made possible by the excluded and the poor who the reformist movement had ignored. He promised employment for all, and they expect him to make good.

Most ordinary Iranians admire the US and loathe their new president's attitude. (Yes, I have worked there and visited and have both pro and anti- reform friends). However, they are also a very proud people, just like Americans, and don't like to be bullied. A sensible adminstration would know that Ahmadinejad and the mullahs can be isolated, not by threats but by careful diplomacy. The EU was trying that until the stakes were raised - yes, by the Iranians, but Ahmadinejad is a populist and full of hot air. They are a long way from a bomb.

You talk about a straw man, but this is exactly what the administration is hoisting - trying the same old fear tactics on its populace. Isn't the American people tired to exhaustion of being scared? Note the similarities to their rhetoric before the Iraq invasion. Why do you trust Rumsfeld's assertions on the immediate danger of Iran's bomb when he was proven to have faulty intelligence on Saddam's WMD?

You might want to look at British involvement in Iraq at the time of Saddam's ascension as they founded the previous Monarchy and were the dominant Western power in the region.

I agree. As an Irishman, I hold no brief for the British Empire. Iraq's problems are very largely a result of the old imperial game of 'draw a new map with straight lines'. It's just sad to see the US take up the imperial baton and compound the errors.

I seriously hope this is just a game between states and this 12th Imam Apocalyptic mantra, death to Israel, death to America, death to Denmark, death to the infidel, death to [fill in the blank] is just positioning.

It is just positioning. Even the mullahs know that.

Just remember they are developing nuclear capable missiles that are able to reach Europe and they have no problem killing Westerners.

You ought to work for Tony Blair. Don't worry, your tin-foil hat will protect you. Heck, if you believe that, I have a bridge I can sell ye.