The Extremely Brave Protesters in Iran

I am overwhelmed with empathy and admiration for those in Iran who are protesting for their freedom. There are reports now that many of the members of security forces don't speak Farsi, the national language of the country. In other words, they're thugs brought in from other countries.

We here in the West sooooooooooo take our democracy for granted. Take a look at the photos at this link. This gentleman is providing constant feeds on Twitter. There are many more photos here.

Democracy Erupts in Iran

It appears that the people of Iran are fed up with what clearly appears to be a stolen election. But do they have the means to effect the democracy they're seeking?

Here is video from Tehran:

Michael Totten has full coverage.

An Upcoming Split Between Israel & America?

I enjoy reading news sources from around the world, including this one from Israel.

Here's a snippet:

Obama's Washington believes America can live with a nuclear-armed Iran – a decision probably taken first under the Bush presidency. But Israel cannot, and may have no option but to part ways with the Obama administration on this point. As a nuclear power, Iran will be able to bend Jerusalem to the will of its enemies, make it unconditionally give Syria the Golan plus extra pieces of territory, tamely accept a Hamas-dominated Palestinian West Bank louring over its heartland and let the Lebanese Hizballah terrorize Galilee in the north at will. All three would make hay under Iran's nuclear shield, while Tehran lords it over the region in the role of regional power conferred by Obama's grace and favor.

Personal Reflections

Because of my family history, with my father born in Germany in 1931, I cannot help but make comparisons between 1944-45 Europe and 2008 Gaza. Different times, different wars, different people but striking resemblances indeed there are.

Every time I hear a condemnation of Israel, I think about whether it would have also been applied to the Allied Forces. Every time I hear a moral equivalency argument made about Israel and the Palestinians, I think about whether it would have been made about the Allied Forces and Nazi Germany. Every time I hear about innocent civilians being hurt or killed - I am naturally saddened and feel grief for the Palestinian families - but then I also wonder if calls were made to stop the advance of the Allied Armies toward Berlin.

To think that some people making such ludicrous arguments back then didn't exist would be naive. To think that so many today have learned NOTHING from history both saddens and appalls me. Just like the people of my father's homeland made a terrible mistake, which had to be stopped in its tracks, so must Hamas & Iran as well. For the leaders of these two tyrannies I will shed no tears.

John Batchelor on Iran's Role in Gaza

Interesting tidbit: Batchelor's mother is of Iranian descent.
Related audio can be heard in the first 9 minutes of this audio file (15.5MB).

US Intelligence: Iran will be able to build first nuclear bomb by February 2009

Perhaps this is what Joe Biden was recently referring to? God help the people of Israel if this is what transpires. Who in their right mind believes that Barack Obama will be able to stand up to the Iranian leaders ... no matter how many times he says that "Nuclear weapons in Iran are unacceptable"?

Dangerous, dangerous times.

The Speech Sarah Palin Never Gave

Here's a fascinating article in the liberal Israeli newspaper, Ha'aretz, about the speech that Sarah Palin was to give at an anti-Ahmadinejad rally at the UN in New York. Unfortunately Hillary Clinton and the Democrat party ensured that this speech was never delivered. Sadder than sad.

More important graphics here.

Charles Krauthammer on Obamanation

You can read Krauthammer's article here. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

The UN: Leave Your Principles at the Door

Rwanda. Bosnia. Zimbabwe. East Timor. Darfur. Tibet. Burma. These are but a few in the long list of abysmal failures of the UN. Yet do you see the legions of Bush-haters counting up the bodies and human rights violations in these places? Nope. It's much easier to pick on the American government for actually trying to make a positive difference in the world.

Now the talking heads at the Dis-United Nations Convening Everyday (DUNCE) have once again raised their liberal flag and declared that Israel and Iran are no better or no worse than each other. Moral equivalency at all cost - just gotta love it!

Jonathan Kay provides an excellent summary of the completely useless institution that the United Nations has become.

The NY Times says Forget the People of Iraq

It has long been said that today's views of the New York Times become tomorrow's talking points of the American Democrat party. They're almost always indistinguishable. This recent editorial is no exception. In it they feign concern for the Iraqi people but clearly they're just trying to invent a wedge issue to help their kids, Clinton and Obama.

Let's take a look at where things now stand in Iraq. Nothing is perfect but the very fact that there's so little news out of there these days is a testament to how well things are going. 30,000,000 Muslims have been freed from the clutches of a horrific, murderous tyrant. Democracy now exists in another place in the Middle East besides Israel. This is something we should end?!

I realize that many reading the words above will think I'm off my meds and am some kind of right-wing war monger. If so, they'd be wrong.

Can we all agree that each person's views of the world are shaped by the experiences they've had to that point in their life? Mine involve being born into a family where my father & his siblings were little kids on the German side during WW2. He was vehemently against Hitler but was powerless to do anything about it. After the war he lived in refugee camps and then at a young age had to move far away from the family, picking potatoes 14 hours a day in order to send a little money back to them.

But what emerged from the tragedy that was Nazi Germany was a vibrant country, a true democracy, and big positive to Europe and the world.

So shall the same emerge in Iraq, given enough time and commitment. If many of you get your wish and the Americans pull out, Iran's tentacles will surely reach into Iraq and turn it into a bloodbath for a time and then a satellite state. In case you're not aware, the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas is directly funded by Iran. They're the ones who send suicide bombers into Israel to kill innocent civilians.

War is messy. The aftermath of war is often worse. But patience is the only course of action if you want a people to have the same liberty and democracy that you've enjoyed since birth; that you were given for doing absolutely nothing in return. And things that we're given with no expectations in return are almost always taken for granted, aren't they?!

Is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad The Next Adolf Hitler?

This article makes one wonder what the near future holds. Me thinks "scary"!

Of course, many in the West think it inconceivable that Iran would attack Israel with nuclear weapons. The forefathers of these same people were convinced that Hitler would never attack the other countries in Europe. Where the truth lies, only the future knows . . . .

It's Critical That We Not Forget The Past

I received this from fellow blogger, Nachtwache:

Please click on the little cartoon and read carefully. It's powerful. Then read the comments at the end. We cannot, we must not, ever forget what happened in Europe over 60 years ago, because it could happen again. Anyone, any group, could be the target. It has been said that those who refuse to study history are doomed to repeat it. In this case, those who are attempting to rewrite history are probably planning to repeat it! The hatred is already there, in place, taught to the children from infancy, with promises of glory and honor to those who carry out the plans. Forewarned is forearmed!

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This cartoon was written in memory of the 6 million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated while the German and Russian people looked the other way.

Now, more than ever, with Iran, among others, claiming the Holocaust to be "a myth", it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets.

PelaLusa: Sadly, I have little doubt that in this new age of "moral equivalency", such a message will have little effect on many people reading this. For these people, America is the great evil in the world, with Israel not far behind. Certainly not every American or Israeli is a good person and not every Muslim is a bad person. The problem lies with the leadership in all cases. It just galls me though how certain leaders are blamed for everything and others are given a "pass" on everything they do.

Mark Steyn on the Iranian Hostage Taking

Further to what I just wrote about the CBC human rights discussion, Mark Steyn writes a brilliant article supporting exactly what I said. Yes, of course give peace & negotiations a chance. But the Iranians know that Britain, the EU, and the UN are unlikely to do anything more than mildly protest what's going on. What a pathetic way for Tony Blair to finish up his term as prime minister.

Also, could someone please send me links to articles on how the left-wing press, so quick to condemn the U.S. for everything, is condemning Iran for this? Their silence speaks volumes.

Update: Another interesting perspective from Victor Davis Hanson.

On Mark Levin's Show!

After listening to him for many years, I finally appeared on-air on Mark Levin's show. He broadcasts out of New York City to stations all over the United States, plus on the Internet. I've listened to him for years. He's much further right wing than I am but I do respect his views very much.

He was discussing the terrible abduction of the British sailors by the Iranian government and how they're illegally being put on television and coerced by Iranian officials to voice propaganda.

I clearly hope that negotiations get them released but if the murder of Canadian photographer, Zahra Kazemi, in 2003 or the hostage taking of 52+ Americans in Tehran in 1979 is any example, then a show of force will eventually be needed.

I spoke of the following two words being surgically removed from the memories of the Democrat leaders in the United States: Neville Chamberlain. If you're not familiar with what he did (or didn't do) then please click on his name to read about the dangers of appeasement.

To learn more about Levin, do visit his terrific fan website.