Nuclear Iran – are you crazy?

Why should Israel be the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons? Why not Iran, Lebanon, Syria, or in the future, Hamas?
Let’s start with Iran, a country ruled by religious anti-Semitic, anti-Western mullahs. Iran’s leadership, especially its president - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has on numerous occasions threatened to wipe Israel off the map. He periodically denounces Israel’s right to exist. His Holocaust denial rhetoric would also place him in the category of someone who is crazy, stupid, or both, and maybe not someone who you would trust to make a fair judgment or call as to any future use of nuclear armaments.

A democracy, as opposed to a theocracy – like Iran, is regarded as more stable and likely to show more restraint due to rational and open debate. Theocracies are nearly always more brutal, intolerant and persecute non-believers. Religious law will bring down God’s blessing on society. Religious leaders interpret religious law in their own peculiar manner, then anything goes. Democratic or secular governments, by definition, have more checks and balances, unlike theocracies whose rule is not negotiable. Theocracies will announce that their actions are a result of god’s will or a religious imperative and that they will of course blindly carry out God’s wishes. There is no appeal to rational thought; not when God intervenes. Martyrdom and a heavenly welcoming committee of 72 virgins will appeal to those blindly following religious teachings in the Koran.

You often hear the argument that this or that passage in the Koran is wrongly interpreted. Nevertheless, it is impossible to misinterpret some passages in the Koran. For many Muslims the Koran is pure in its original form and need not be modified. This is the dilemma that faces many Muslims, for to denounce those passages that promote violence and the subjugation of women is to denounce Islam. Not forgetting that renouncing Islam or apostasy is punishable by death. In his lifetime the Prophet Muhammad dealt with those who left Islam with death. These examples highlight the strict interpretation of religious leaders in theocracies.

Iran, being one of the strictest theocracies in the Middle East stringently enforces Sharia law. Where Sharia law and human rights come into conflict, then Sharia law prevails. This highlights the diminished importance the imams of Iran, and many other rulers of fundamental Islamic countries, place on human rights. There is genuine reason for concern when human rights are relegated to second place behind religious laws, which don’t necessarily have to have a morally sound argument to justify their end. Islam is a vicious ideology that does not share the same human rights as those in the western world.

Would you like to have a neighbour such as Iran that lacks moral integrity and denies basic human rights to its citizens, while simultaneously threatens to destroy you (Israel)? The answer is obviously no. How could you possibly justify or agree with Iran having the ability to do so? What makes us think that this is just a bluff and all talk? I don’t think it is worth the toss of the coin to find out. We in the west must take these threats seriously and act appropriately. There is no alternative to doing whatever it takes to bring its nuclear activities to a halt.

There are measures being taken by the U.S. to prevent Israel from making a preemptive strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. This would only allow more time for Iran to manufacture enough high grade uranium to manufacture a bomb. The next phase, after the present move to impose sanctions, is to shift to a policy of containment – accepting that the same methods that worked in the cold war with the USSR will work with Iran. A nuclear standoff based on the theory that there is a no-win solution to nuclear war. The difference between the USSR and Iran is that the USSR was not a theocracy ruled by religious fundamentalists.
There is no guarantee that fundamentalist Iran will not supply one of its allies, maybe Hamas, Hizbullah or an al-Qaida terrorist affiliate with a crude bomb or material for making one.

Iran’s overt hatred for Israel cannot be doubted. A nuclear Iran is an existential threat to Israel and must be stopped before it has the power to carry out its threat of annihilating the Jews and driving them into the sea.
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The following is evidence of Iran’s support and praise for suicide bombers; its moves toward regional and world domination; support for regional terrorist groups; denial of the Holocaust; and its crazed virulent condemnation of Israel.

Ahmadinejad's Holocaust Denial and Anti-Israel Rhetoric

• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad questions European support for Israel. On October 19, 2006, “Jerusalem Day,” an annual day in Iran of protest against Israel, he asked European Union leaders, “What benefit have you got in supporting this regime [Israel], except the hatred of the nations? We have advised the Europeans that the Americans are far away but you are the neighbours of the nations in this region.” Ahmadinejad further cautioned Europe that, “We [Iran] inform you that the nations are like an ocean that is welling up, and if a storm begins, the dimensions will not stay limited to Palestine, and you may get hurt.” [1]

• On Oct. 26, 2005 Ahmadinejad sponsored a conference in Teheran dubbed “The World without Zionism.” In a speech there he announced his desire to do away with the State of Israel: "The establishment of the Zionist regime was a move by the world oppressor against the Islamic world," he said. "As the Imam [the late Ayatollah Khomeini] said, 'Israel must be wiped off the map'… The Islamic world will not let its historic enemy live in its heartland." [2]

• In a December 14, 2005 speech, Ahmadinejad claimed the Nazi Holocaust of European Jewry never occurred. "They have invented a myth that Jews were massacred and place this above God, religions and the prophets…If somebody in their country questions God, nobody says anything, but if somebody denies the myth of the massacre of Jews, the Zionist loudspeakers and the governments in the pay of Zionism will start to scream." [3] At a speech in Zehedan, he deemed the Holocaust a “fairy tale.” [4]

• Iran is currently preparing to host a Holocaust denial symposium. [5]

• In response to publication cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed in Denmark and elsewhere, Ahmadinejad organised an international cartoon contest to vilify the Holocaust. [6] On November 1, 2006 Mohammed Hossein Saffar-Harandi, Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance who supports Ahmadinejad’s views on the Holocaust, presented the first prize of €9,444.00 to Abdellah Derkaoui, a Moroccan cartoonist. [7]

• In mid-2006 Ahmadinejad petitioned Israel to move away from the Middle East, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). “I advise them to pack up and move out of the region before being caught in the fire they have started in Lebanon,” said Ahmadinejad, who has repeatedly called for the Jewish state to be relocated elsewhere on the planet from Germany to Alaska. [8]

• At a symposium on Iraqi security, Ahmadinejad appealed to Muslims worldwide to support his call to eradicate Israel. “The basic problem in the Islamic world is the existence of the Zionist regime, and the Islamic world and the region must mobilise to remove this problem,” he said. [9] He stated that the destruction of Israel would be the real cure for the conflict” and “the way to peace in the Middle East.” [10]

Ahmadinejad repudiated the Holocaust and recommended Israel be moved to Europe. At a news conference in Mecca, he declared: “Some European countries insist on saying that Hitler killed millions of innocent Jews in furnaces, and they insist on it to the extent that if anyone proves something contrary to that, they condemn that person and throw them in jail.” He suggested that if European countries support “the occupiers of Jerusalem” because Hitler slaughtered innocent Jews, then, “If the Europeans are honest they should give some of their provinces—like in Germany, Austria or other countries—to the Zionists, and the Zionists can establish their state in Europe. You offer part of Europe and we will support it,” he added. [11] “Why do they insist on imposing themselves on other powers and creating a tumour so there is always tension and conflict?” [12]

References
[1] Beeston, Richard, “You could get hurt for backing Israel, Iran leader tells Europe,” The Times of London, Oct. 21, 2006.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2414307.html
[2] Butcher, Tim, “Wipe Israel off map, says Iran's president,” The Daily Telegraph, Oct. 27, 2005. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/10/27/wiran27.xml
[3] “Iranian leader denies Holocaust,” BBC, Dec. 14, 2005.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4527142.stm
[4] “Ahmadinedschad bezeichnet Holocaust als "Mythos," Stern, Dec. 14, 2005.
Antisemitismus: Ahmadinedschad bezeichnet Holocaust als 'Mythos' - stern.de
[5] Aly, Gotz, “Iran is making lunacy official policy,” Der Spiegel, Jan. 24, 2006.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/1,1518,396965,00.html
[6] Tait, Robert, “Iran cartoon show mocks Holocaust,” The Guardian, Aug. 20, 2006.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1854223,00.html
[7] Hafezi, Parisa, “Moroccan wins Iran’s cartoon contest,” Reuters, Nov. 1, 2006.
[8] “Iran's Ahmadinejad tells Israel to pack up and go,” Agence France Presse, July 23 2006, p. 54.
[9] “Iran's Ahmadinejad calls on Islamic countries to 'remove' Israel,” AFX, July 9, 2006, p. 61.
[10] Berger, Sebastien, and Bishop, Patrick, “‘Eliminate’ Israel to solve the crisis, says Iranian president," The Daily Telegraph, Aug. 4, 2006. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/08/04/wmid204.xml
[11] “Move Israel to Europe, Iran leader suggests,” Reuters, Dec. 9, 2005.
[12] Theodoulou, Michael, “Put tumour of Israel into Europe, says Iran's leader,” The Times of London, Dec. 9, 2005.

Ahmadinejad in His Own Words
by Simon Barrett
26 Sep, 2007
The following quotes by The Islamic Republic of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be of interest. For further information about Iran's well documented human rights abuses, its role as a major state sponsor of terrorism and its defiant stance on the international community's insistence that the nation suspends its uranium enrichment program go to www.realite-eu.org.


Religious extremism and martyrdom:
1. "We don't shy away from declaring that Islam is ready to rule the world." 1
2. "The wave of the Islamist revolution will soon reach the entire world." 2
3. "Our revolution's main mission is to pave the way for the reappearance of the Twelfth Imam, the Mahdi." 3
4. "Soon Islam will become the dominating force in the world, occupying first place in the number of followers amongst all other religions."4
5. "Is there a craft more beautiful, more sublime, more divine, than the craft of giving yourself to martyrdom and becoming holy? Do not doubt, Allah will prevail, and Islam will conquer mountain tops of the entire world." 5
6. "What is important is that they have shown the way to martyrdom which we must follow.'' 6 [President Ahmadinejad's comments on an aircraft crash in Tehran that killed 108 people in December 2005].
7. Ahmadinejad praises Iran for being able to recruit thousands of suicide bombers a day. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad praised his country's ability to recruit "hundreds of suicide bombers a day," saying "suicide is an invincible weapon. Suicide bombers in this land showed us the way, and they enlighten our future.“ Amadinejad said the will to commit suicide was "one of the best ways of life." 7
8. "This regime (Israel) will one day disappear."8
9. "The Zionist regime is a rotten, dried tree that will be eliminated by one storm.9
10. Israel is "a disgraceful stain on the Islamic world" 10
11. Israel is doomed to be "wiped from the map" in "a war of destiny." 11
12. Ahmadinejad said that "the countdown for the destruction of Israel" has begun. 12
13. Zionists are "the personification of Satan."13
14. "In the case of any unwise move by the fake regime of Israel, Iran's response will be so destructive and quick that this regime will regret its move for ever." 14
15. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared that the Holocaust is a "myth."15
16. "Them (the West) invented the myth of the massacre of the Jews and placed it above Allah, religions and prophets."16

Iran, its nuclear ambitions and sanctions:
1. "By the grace of Allah, we (will be) a nuclear power."17
2. Ahmadinejad fired off a fresh barrage of warnings to the United Nations, saying Iran did "not give a damn" about demands to freeze sensitive nuclear work. 18
3. "Iran does not give a damn about resolutions." 19
4. "The Islamic republic of Iran has the capacity to quickly become a world superpower. If we believe in ourselves... no other power can be compared to us." 20
5. "Iran's enemies know your courage, faith and commitment to Islam and the land of Iran has created a powerful army that can powerfully defend the political borders and the integrity of the Iranian nation and cut off the hand of any aggressor and place the sign of disgrace on their forehead." 21
6. "Our enemies should know that they are unable to even slightly hurt our nation and they cannot create the tiniest obstacle on its glorious and progressive way." 22
7. "In parallel to the official political war there is a hidden war going on and the Islamic states should benefit from their economic potential to cut off the hands of the enemies." 23

For more information, please see the following:
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran's Top Government Ministers
What Foreign Leaders are Saying About Iran
Iran's President Attempts to Crush Pro-Democracy Student Movement
Iran's 2006 Holocaust Denial Conference: A Gathering of Nazi Sympathizers & Racists
Human Rights Violations and Torture under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Regime
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: A Short Biography
Ahmadinejad's Holocaust Denial and Anti-Israel Rhetoric
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1 Naïm, Mouna, “Damas et Téhéran entendent "résister" ensemble,” Le Monde, January 21st, 2006
2 Pryce-Jones, David, “A Particular Madness—Understanding Iran’s Ahmadinejad,” National Review, May 8, 2006
3 Agence France Presse, April 28th, 2006
4 March 5th, 2006
5 MEMRI, July 29th, 2005
6 La Guardia, Anton, “’Divine mission’ driving Iran’s new leader Ahmadinejad’s confidence,” The Daily Telegraph, January 14th, 2006
7 Cohen, Dudi, “Iranian President lauds suicide bombers invincible,” YnetNews, April 1st, 2007
8 “Iran: Ahmadinejad annonce la «disparition» d'Israël,” Libération, May 11th, 2006
9 Baldwin, Tom, “The state of Israel will soon be history, says Iran’s President,” The Times, April 15th, 2006
10 Agence France Presse, April 28th, 2006
11 Agence France Presse, April 28th, 2006
12 “Ahmadinejad: Countdown to Israel’s destruction has begun,” YnetNews, June 3rd, 2007
13 “Satan in Person," Süddeutsche Zeitung Online, March 1st, 2007
14 Williams, Stuart, “Ahmadinejad says Iran ready for 'final nuclear step,” Agence France Presse, November 16th, 2006
15 Naïm, Mouna, “Damas et Téhéran entendent "résister" ensemble,” Le Monde, January 21st, 2006
16 Ghazi, Siavosh. “Ahmadinejad qualifie de "mythe" l'Holocauste, ne cède pas sur le nucléaire,” Agence France Presse, 14 December, 2005
17 “Les prix du pétrole reculent avec la dissipation des craintes sur l'essence,” Agence France Presse, April 27th, 2006.
18 Agence France Presse, April 28th, 2006
29 Agence France Presse, April 28th, 2006
20 Agence France Presse, April 28th, 2006
21 Agence France Presse, April 28th, 2006
22 Agence France Presse, April 28th, 2006
23 “Ahmadinejad threatens the Western world”, Süddeutsche Zeitung, January 22nd 2006

The following is from the website: TheReligionofPeace.com

Ten Obvious Reasons Why
Islam is NOT a Religion of Peace


#1 14,000 deadly terror attacks committed explicitly in the name of Islam in just the last eight years. (Other religions combined for perhaps a dozen or so).

#2 Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, had people killed for insulting him or criticizing his religion. This included women. Muslims are told to emulate the example of Muhammad.

#3 Muhammad said in many places that he has been "ordered by Allah to fight men until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger." In the last nine years of his life, he ordered no less than 65 military campaigns to do exactly that.
Muhammad inspired his men to war with the basest of motives, using captured loot, sex and a gluttonous paradise as incentives. He beheaded captives, enslaved children and raped women captured in battle. Again, Muslims are told to emulate the example of Muhammad.

#4 After Muhammad died, the people who lived with him, and knew his religion best, immediately fell into war with each other.
Muhammad's favorite daughter, Fatima, and her husband, Ali (the second convert to Islam, who was raised like a son to Muhammad) fought a war against an army raised by Aisha, Muhammad's favorite wife - and one whom he had said was the "perfect woman."
Not only was her husband, Ali, eventually murdered, but Fatima (who survived the early years at Mecca safe and sound) died of stress from the persecution of fellow Muslims only three months after her father died.
Three of the first four Muslim rulers (caliphs) were murdered. All of them were among Muhammad's closest companions. The third caliph was killed by the son of the first. The fourth caliph was killed by the fifth, who subsequently poisoned one of Muhammad's two favorite grandsons. Muhammad's other grandson was later beheaded by the sixth caliph.
Even these high profile killings barely do justice to the astonishing level of violence taking place at the time, in which tens of thousands of believers were slaughtered by Muhammad's companions and their children in the infighting and power struggles. Within 50 short years of Muhammad's death, even the Kaaba, which had stood for centuries under pagan religion, lay in ruins from internal Muslim war.
And that's just the fate of those within the house of Islam!

#5 Muhammad directed Muslims to wage war on other religions and bring them under submission to Islam. Within the first few decades following his death, his Arabian companions invaded and conquered Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist and Zoroastrian lands.
A mere 25 years after Muhammad's death, Muslim armies had captured land and people within the borders of over 28 modern countries outside of Saudi Arabia.

#6 Muslims continued their Jihad against other religions for 1400 years, checked only by the ability of non-Muslims to defend themselves. To this day, not a week goes by that Islamic fundamentalists do not attempt to kill Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists explicitly in the name of Allah.
None of these other religions are at war with each other.

#7 Islam is the only religion that has to retain its membership by threatening to kill anyone who leaves. This is according to the example set by Muhammad.

#8 Islam teaches that non-Muslims are less than fully human. Muhammad said that Muslims can be put to death for murder, but that a Muslim could never be put to death for killing a non-Muslim.

#9 The Qur'an never once speaks of Allah's love for non-Muslims, but it speaks of Allah's cruelty toward and hatred of non-Muslims more than 500 times.

#10 "Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!"
(The last words from the cockpit of Flight 93)

The following are the most recent news headlines that re-enforce the desire by many nations, including NATO countries, in preventing Iran getting their hands on or manufacturing nuclear weapons.
Iran 'building two new nuclear enrichment plants', Telegraph, 28.03.10
Iran Grasps for Regional Power, Wall Street Journal, 26.03.10
Iran's nuclear work brings fear of Mideast arms race, Deutsche Welle, 25.03.10
NATO urges missile defense pact, cites Iran threat, Reuters, 26.03.10
Iran Encourages Palestinian Reconciliation to Ignite a Third Intifada, Asharq Alawsat, 29.03.10
Iran Massively Rearming Hezbollah in Violation of UN Security Council Resolution, World Sentinel, 28.03.10