Osama's Message to America!

[Dave]

You would think that a normal leader would not risk sanctions and stop enriching beyond that needed for power plants. They wouldn't have to send a letter to DELAY these sanctions.

[winkle]

Winkle, I don't despise Mitch at all and I can't say that I'd like him to leave. I just think his rhetorical circles have become closed and boring. If he hasn't anything more interesting to say, then so be it. But I think it IS boring of him to make the same points over and over again like some pre-programmed robot with a bad ROM. Perhaps I just expect too much.

that statement could almost be in this fashion

Winkle, I don't despise PPM at all and I can't say that I'd like him to leave. I just think his rhetorical circles have become closed and boring. If he hasn't anything more interesting to say, then so be it. But I think it IS boring of him to make the same points over and over again like some pre-programmed robot with a bad ROM. Perhaps I just expect too much

perhaps

[ovyyus]

Winkle, I have no idea what you're talking about.

[winkle]

this part

make the same points over and over again like some pre-programmed robot with a bad ROM.

[ovyyus]

Winkle, that doesn't make sense either. The only difference between what I said and what you copied and pasted is the term "PPM" in place of the word "Mitch" - what does PPM mean?

[winkle]

pardon me

pm

perpetual motion

[ovyyus]

What? You're a fool - LOL

[winkle]

that may be true but it's not very important

[ken_behrendt]

Well, I have been unable to find the full text of the Iranian letter to Bush, but Associated Press did have the full text and released these selected portions of it.

As can be seen, it is a long rambling castigation of the US on various issues and, ultimately, does not address the concerns of the West about Iran's potential to acquire nuclear weapons and further destablize the Middle East.

However, I would say that since this is the first such letter from Iran received by the White House in decades, that it probably shows great concern on the part of the ayatollahs who now control Iran. They realize that if they get into a military conflict with the West, that this could literally tear their regime apart. So, this letter is probably intended to try to demonstrate to the world that the Iranian government is really a peaceful one and that they, at least, want to begin a dialogue to, eventually, resolve the standoff that is now in the process of proceeding to military action. Are they sincere...or, is this just another delaying tactic to derail the deliberations now going on in the closed UN Security Council meetings over this matter?

I suspect that the latter is the case...


Here's some out takes from the letter Bush received:

ON THE WAR IN IRAQ

"Under the pretext of the existence of WMDs, this great tragedy came to engulf both the peoples of the occupied and the occupying country. Later it was revealed that no WMDs existed to begin with.


ISRAEL AND THE HOLOCAUST

"After the war, they claimed that six million Jews had been killed. Again, let us assume that these events are true. Does that logically translate into the establishment of the state of Israel in the Middle East or support for such a state? How can this phenomenon be rationalised or explained?"


THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERS

"The people will scrutinise our presidencies. Did we manage to bring peace, security and prosperity for the people or insecurity and unemployment? Did we defend the rights of all people around the world or imposed wars on them, interfered illegally in their affairs, established hellish prisons and incarcerated some of them? Did we bring the world peace and security or raised the spectre of intimidation and threats?


THE NUCLEAR DOSSIER AND THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL

"The people of the world are not happy with the status quo and pay little heed to the promises and comments made by a number of influential world leaders. Many people around the world feel insecure and oppose the spreading of insecurity and war and do not approve of and accept dubious policies.

"Why is it that any technological and scientific achievement reached in the Middle East region is translated into and portrayed as a threat to the Zionist regime? Is not scientific R&D one of the basic rights of nations?


ON RELIGION

"We believe a return to the teachings of the divine prophets is the only road leading to salvation. I have been told that Your Excellence follows the teachings of Jesus (Peace be upon Him) and believes in the divine promise of the rule of the righteous on Earth. Will you not accept this invitation? That is, a genuine return to the teachings of prophets, to monotheism and justice, to preserve human dignity and obedience to the Almighty and His prophets? "Undoubtedly through faith in God and the teachings of the prophets, the people will conquer their problems."


SADDAM HUSSEIN

"Of course Saddam was a murderous dictator. But the war was not waged to topple him, the announced goal of the war was to find and destroy weapons of mass destruction. He was toppled along the way towards another goal; nevertheless the people of the region are happy about it. I point out that throughout the many years of the imposed war on Iran, Saddam was supported by the West."


THE TRUTH ABOUT LYING

"Lies were told in the Iraqi matter. What was the result? I have no doubt that telling lies is reprehensible in any culture, and you do not like to be lied to."


THE WORLD IN GENERAL

"How much longer will the blood of the innocent men, women and children be spilled on the streets, and peopleÂ’s houses destroyed over their heads? Are you pleased with the current condition of the world? Do you think present policies can continue?"


THE END OF DEMOCRACY

"Liberalism and Western-style democracy have not been able to help realise the ideals of humanity. Today these two concepts have failed. Those with insight can already hear the sounds of the shattering and fall of the ideology and thoughts of the liberal democratic systems."

ken

[digitaljez]

Ken, it is apparent you have already made up your mind that Iran is a up to no good. I can not determine from a few selected paragraphs if this is 'a long rambling castigation of the US on various issues'. You seem to be trying to devalue it with that description.
I would say that they do address the concerns of the west when they say :

"Why is it that any technological and scientific achievement reached in the Middle East region is translated into and portrayed as a threat to the Zionist regime? Is not scientific R&D one of the basic rights of nations?"

The statements made, appear to me, to be the generally accepted state of affairs, even in the West. Do you have issue with any of those statements ? If not, and a list of facts reads as a castigation of the US, what does that really tell us ?
What leads you to suspect that it is a delaying tactic ? How is it going to derail the deliberations of the UN ?
What answer would have satisfied you ? Must every nation conform to the whims of America ? Are nations now only nations by name and in reality ultimately governed by the threats from America's war machine ? Is not the right to self determination, supposedly, a keystone in the republican ideal ? Or are the values held so dear by Americans not extended to Johnny Foreigner ? Is this a symptom of

the fall of the ideology and thoughts of the liberal democratic systems

[Dave]

DJ
What was said in Iran letter said nothing. What do you think Iran is doing?
Going for nuclear weapons or more electricity to heat and cook?
What is your solution for terriorism? Didn't they threat to wipe Israel off the map? Any Christian day suicide bombers reported today?
As you can see questions are easy, good answers are not!

[digitaljez]

Dave
Even from the snippets supplied by Ken it is clear that it says a great many things - presumably you can explain how you can dismiss it as saying nothing.

It has been reported by the UN nuclear watchdog that Iran has enriched uranium to a level close to the maximum compatible with civilian use in power stations. This is not weapon grade material so the only use it does have is for electricity and cooking.

Tehran said it would act against Israel if America acted against Iran. They are situated between two countries that have recently been attacked by the only nation ever to have used nuclear weapons on densely populated cities, killing millions of innocent civilians. It does look as if Iran is next on Bush's agenda, so it is hardly surprising they made a defensive threat. It is not as if they just went out and attacked another nation based on unfounded suspicions.

Terrorism has got nothing to do with this, nor have suicide bombers. Try and keep focused.

The questions in my previous post were rhetorical. A linguistic subtlety that seems to have gone right over your head. Your post certainly proves that good answers are not easy, but also shows that asking good questions is also tricky for some.

I don't think anyone should have nuclear weapons and am doubtful about nuclear power. I am not a muslim or a christian. I am not iranian or american. I am worried by religious fanaticism and all propaganda and try to maintain a healthy scepticism concerning any of it.

However, there are some values that I hold to be self evident. For example, for some reason, the right to self determination and innocence unless proven guilty spring to mind.

[Dave]

Dj
I said good answers.
What did the letter say about the issues at hand? Why do they hide the facilities? Are you that naive? What will you say when one of these non-exsistant nukes hits Tel-Avi or Washington? Are you willing to take that chance? I am not for war. Read Chamberlain response to Germany in 1938, sounds the same here. What is your plan against terrorism?

[ovyyus]

Dave, IMO your answers amount to fear mongering and serve no purpose other than to polarize opinions at the expense of reason.

[Dave]

Strange I didn't give any answers only questions!!