Iran More Committed To Non-Proliferation Than Israel: British Journalist

[Purveyor]

The fact that Iran has signed the NPT shows it is more committed to non-proliferation than the three nuclear weapons states that have refused to sign the NPT, says British journalist Matt Kennard.

In an exclusive interview with the Tehran Times, Mr. Kennard stated that it is sheer hypocrisy when sanctions are placed on Iran while the United States ignores the nuclear weapons programs of certain countries and has even recognized India as a legitimate nuclear power.

Following is an excerpt of the interview with Mr. Kennard, who also runs the global news and comment site The Comment Factory:

Q: The U.S. vetoed three rounds of UN Security Council resolutions against Israel but supported the imposition of UN economic sanctions on Iran for its peaceful nuclear energy program. What do you make of that?

A: Well your question really highlights the hypocrisy of the UN. It is basically a clearinghouse for U.S. foreign policy and when it shows any principled demurral, the U.S. goes forward anyway, like they did in Iraq and the war on Serbia in 1999, illegally both times.

MORE...

Tehran Times: http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=188131

[Idealism]

1. The Israeli's should really google "fatwa" sometime

But then again, they would most likely welcome out and out war with Iran. Good for their military, good for US companies that sell them their equipment...

[Chulanowa]

2. But but but they're MOOZLEMS! MOOZLEMS are crazy!

Haven't you heard?!

[davidinalameda]

3. when Israel starts killing people for being gay

and people for committing adultery and the such then Iran can claim the moral high ground

until then, anyone who defends the murderous theocrats in Iran has no place posting on a progressive website such as DU

[Idealism]

5. So I guess by your logic several of our allies shouldn't be welcome either?

Namely the murderous, torturing innocent civilians, martial law-ruling thug of a dictator Mubarak? Or what about the Saudi's? They have a great human rights record, as well.

I guess because they have different religious beliefs than you, it is good enough to start World War III with them?

Maybe you don't have any business posting on a progressive website if you cheer for war and violence, as you have in the past.

[davidinalameda]

6. when was the last time that Israeli government killed anyone for committing adultry

it's not against the law there

being gay? not against the law there

being a different religion?

not against the law either

Israel is a democracy; Iran-not so much

you have a small group of religious leaders who can veto any legislation

I have no problem with Israel and other countries defending themselves against terrorists like Hamas and Hezbullah and Islamic Jihad

maybe if Israel takes the fight to Iran, the Iranian people will demand a change in the way their leaders support these terrorists whose goal is to destroy the state of Israel

I don't think that we should be as closely allied with Egypt and the Saudis as we are

is that going to change? No

does Egypt support terrorism like Iran?

no

the Saudis-not the same level

anyone who defends the Iranian government should think about moving and see how they like it there with no freedom of speech; freedom of religion, freedom of assembly like we have here and like there is in Israel

you have to fight to preserve those freedoms from those who would take them away from you

[Idealism]

7. Iran "executes" people of different religions?

What hate site have you been reading?

I don't personally like Sharia law, but it is a part of someone else's religion, who am I to tell them what they can and can't believe?

Most Iranians are Muslims; 90% belong to the Shi'a branch of Islam, the official state religion, and about 8% belong to the Sunni branch, mainly Kurds and Iran's Balochi Sunni. The remaining 2% are non-Muslim religious minorities, including Bahá'ís, Mandeans, Hindus, Sikhs, Yezidis, Yarsanis, Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians. The latter three minority religions are officially recognized and protected, and have reserved seats in the Parliament.


Bahá'ís have been denied civil liberties and rights from time to time, and there have been a few executions in the past usually done by militant groups, but in no way have the over 350,000 Bahá'ís's been put to death...

[davidinalameda]

8. Bahai's are targeted in Iran

they like to charge them with treason and other trumped up crap like that

http://iran.bahai.us/

and Jews may have one seat in parliament but I wonder what would happen if the representative voted against the current Iranian policy towards Israel

and any Iranians who convert from Islam to another faith are persecuted as well-apostasy is illegal

[Idealism]

10. Interesting website link

"More than 200 Baha’is were killed in Iran between 1978 and 1998, the majority by execution, and thousands more were imprisoned. "

Not stopping to point out that most of these executions were perpetrated by militant groups, or that this website needs to be factually updated (it claims there are only 300,000 living in Iran Bahá'ís- there are tens of thousands more), 200 dead does not compare to the thousands of Palestinians that have been killed by Israel in an equal amount of time, nor to the tens of thousands that Israel has imprisoned in that time for similarly suspicious crimes. Thanks to Martial Law being declared in the West Bank, and over 1500 Military Orders pertaining to the WB that dictate how Palestinians must live, they can legally imprison whomever they want- including children for up to 20 years for the felonious act of "tossing stones." There is no comparison in the plight of the Bahá'ís to the Palestinians, though they both have been persecuted by one nation in particular, but Palestinians are equally shunned even by their Arab neighbors, where Bahá'ís are free to go wherever they please. There are an estimated 6 million Bahá'ís world wide spanning 200 countries where they have the same rights as citizens of other religious backgrounds do (although I concede that Iran has in the past sought ways to legally persecute them- Compared to Israel sometimes illegally persecuting Palestinians)

[davidinalameda]

11. and how many Israelis have been killed over the decades by Palestinian terrorists

and the armies of the various Arab nations who have tried over the decades to destroy Israel

how many?

and who do you think allows those militant groups to operate in Iran?

you think that the Iranian government is trying to stop them?

as for imprisoning children-please provide a link

and how about Palestinians killing other Palestinians?

how many have died by the hands of their own people as opposed to Israelis killing other Israelis

[Idealism]

12. Nothing comparable

If you look at casualties from Israeli and Palestinian numbers, roughly 10 Palestinians are killed for every 1 Israeli for the last 70 years. In recent years (since the first intifada) it has been even more lopsided (although the Second Intifada killed roughly 4500 Palestinians and 1100 Israeli's). Operation Hot Winter, a mission launched early in 2008 to "stop the rocket fire" ended up killing 112 Palestinians (over half being civilians) and killing 3 Israeli's (1 being a civilian). Operation Cast Lead, a second mission to "stop the rockets" , 1300+ Palestinians (disputes about civilian figures) to 13 Israeli's (4 of which were friendly-fire). Operation Rainbow in 2004 had a stated goal of "clearing terrorist infrastructure," the attack killed 53 Palestinians while the Israeli forces lost 0.

Here is a statistics table from B'Tselem, it documents all children held by Israeli Security fores. Note "Administrative Detention" numbers. Administrative Detention is a policy the U.S. employs in Guantanamo Bay that let BushCo indefinitely retain anyone for any reason. Those detained are denied due process and never sent to trial, usually for lack of evidence, and often times not allowed legal representation. They are jailed on suspicion, if that, but usually for political reasons. There are 546 people in total being held by Israel in this manner as of December 2008, some of which are children.

http://www.btselem.org/english/Statistics/Minors_in_Custody.asp

Detention of Political Opponents: Israel administratively detains Palestinians for their political opinions and non-violent political activity. Following the signing of the Oslo Accords, Israel also administratively detained Palestinians who opposed the peace process. In this way, the authorities expand greatly the meaning of danger to "security of the area" by flagrantly violating freedom of expression and opinion, which are guaranteed under international law.

Extending Administrative Detention: Military commanders are authorized to detain persons for up to six months. However, the commander can extend the detention for additional six-month periods indefinitely. From the time of the signing of the Declaration of Principles in September 1993 to the middle of 1998, military commanders repeatedly extended the period of administrative detention. Some Palestinians were administratively detained for years. The use of administrative detention has fallen sharply recently, but the law remains in effect, and Israel may theoretically return to its earlier policy.

Here is a report from Defense for Children International about Martial Law in the West Bank. In the report, it states there are 1500 Military Orders governing the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank. Other sources put that number at 1300, but the difference matters not: it is martial law.

Notice Military order 378 -Article 52(A3)-

"The maximum sentence that can be imposed on a Palestinian, including a child, for throwing stones is 20 years."

http://www.dci-pal.org/english/publ/research/2008/PCPReport.pdf

[grassfed]

14. Israel recruits 'army of bloggers' to combat anti-Zionist Web sites - Haaretz

Israel recruits 'army of bloggers' to combat anti-Zionist Web sites

The Immigrant Absorption Ministry announced on Sunday it was setting up an "army of bloggers," to be made up of Israelis who speak a second language, to represent Israel in "anti-Zionist blogs" in English, French, Spanish and German.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1056648.html

[grassfed]

13. Menachem Begin used anti-homosexuality to forge fundie Christian/Israel alliance

... which started Christian Zionism. Begin awarded Falwell the Jabotinsky medal. Begin was a terrorist.

[peacetalksforall]

4. We should compare Iran's Non-Proliferaton to Israel's Non-Expansionism..

I think Iran is ahead.

Someone is lying. Or both are lying. One more than the other.

The UN is more critical of Israel compared to Iran at this moment.

Israel is not honoring anyone's wishes. Full speed massacre and more eyes for an eye.

We'll see how well each of them reacts to moves from the U.S. for peace. Assumed.

Right now my money would be on Iran being fore receptive to normalacy of relations everywhere. Not Israel. Is Palestinian fixed up yet? All the aie is getting in.

Are reportets, UN, and Red Cross/Crescent back in and helping as of today?

Yep, I'm trusting Iran more. Israel Ambassador give speech, talks about the upcoming problem with Iran, then asks for the cameras to be turned off. Didn't thing ahead, I guess. Why did the cameras have to be turned off?

[Behind the Aegis]

9. This "article" is so...

...:rofl:! Filled with false conclusions and propaganda, it is amazing anyone would find this tripe useful, I mean other than an example of rancid propaganda.

[Prometheus Bound]

15. IAEA defends Iran against misinformation

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:33:59 GMT
Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed ElBaradei says the world should not hype the issue of Iran's nuclear enrichment.

In an interview with CNN on Monday, ElBaradei ruled out the contention that Iranian nuclear activities pose an immediate threat to stability, saying, "There is ample time to engage the country."

"There is a concern, but don't hype the concern," ElBaradei said, referring mainly to US and Israeli warnings against Iran over its nuclear program.

Citing Japan, Brazil and Argentina, ElBaradei said, "Many other countries are enriching uranium and the world is not making a fuss about it. So why are we making a fuss about Iran and its nuclear enrichment."

He added that concerns surrounding Iranian nuclear activities stem from claims that Tehran is dangerous, suggesting that such contentions are not based in reality.

"They (the Iranians) have been called 'Axis of Evil', there has been money allocated for regime change in the country, they are surrounded by nuclear-armed countries and American troops. So put yourself in their shoes," he explained.

...The director-general of the Vienna-based UN body ruled out suggestions that Iran may be able to develop a nuclear weapon in the near future, arguing that Tehran would have to first drive IAEA inspectors out of the country, leave the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), reconfigure production to refine uranium to the high degree needed for bomb fuel and fit the material into a warhead before the country could ever have a nuclear bomb.

Washington has long confronted Tehran over its nuclear enrichment program, claiming that it has accumulated enough enriched material "for a bomb".

Tehran insists, however, that it only pursues the civilian applications of the technology.

The UN nuclear watchdog conceded in its November report that Iran has managed to enrich uranium-235 to a level "less than 5 percent" -- a rate consistent with the development of a nuclear power plant.

Nuclear arms production requires an enrichment level of above 90 percent....
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=84515§ionid=351020104


Enough time to address Iran bomb concern: IAEA head

..."There is a concern, but don't hype the concern," ElBaradei, alluding mainly to U.S. and Israeli warnings, said in a CNN interview broadcast late Sunday. "There is ample time to engage (Iran) and reverse the concern and to move into more engagement rather than more isolation."

ElBaradei said that for Iran to have weapons capacity, it would have to eject IAEA inspectors, leave the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), reconfigure production to refine uranium to the high degree needed for bomb fuel and fit the material into a warhead:

"Even if I go by the CIA and other U.S. intelligence, the estimations (are) that if even if they go through all these scenarios, we're still talking about two to five years from now."...
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5111S520090202

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304662659&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jcVh5-Khqd37AJm4IF2vdfK-kCUA