The Axis of Evil
In response to Iran's truly reprehensible remarks about Israel:
"They have invented a myth that Jews were massacred and place this above God, religions and the prophets."Dubya is at it again with his "Axis of Evil" rhetoric:
"[I am] concerned about theocracy that has little transparency, a country whose president has declared the destruction of Israel as part of their foreign policy. I called it (Iran) part of the ‘axis of evil’ for a reason. It’s a real threat."While I am no fan of Iran's government, I think it is a bit pot-calling-the-kettle-black-ish to complain about lack of transparency in Iran's regime. Bush's reign has been the definition of opaque.
The article that inspired this post comes from Britain's Times.
But in keeping with Jesus, er Brian's commandment to always look on the bright side of life, if you have not heard of The Axis of Just as Evil, take a moment.
posted by Josh Glover @ 12/15/2005 12:16:00 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
There was an interesting piece about this in The Guardian UK too. Apparently this is one of a number of inflammatory (sp?) remarks Mr. Ahmadinejad has produced lately. Here's The Guardian's take: "Analysts in Tehran yesterday said the wave of rhetoric was calculated to increase Iran's international isolation, strengthening the president's radical camp against more pragmatic regime figures who have been critical of his performance since he took office four months ago." If that's really the case--that he's just saying this for effect--then that's just sickening. To make light of the cruel and senseless murder of millions of people for political gain? I must confess, I just don't understand the mindset.
Anyway... The Guardian article goes on to say that a lot of EU members are very angry at these latest statements, and are especially frustrated in light of the EU's ongoing nuclear proliferation talks with Iran. One member of the EU Parliament suggested the best way to censure Iran was to kick them out of the 2006 World Cup. (Apparently, soccer is huge in Iran and it would be quite a blow for them to be disinvited from the tournament.) Do you guys think that would be an appropriate step? Mixing sports with politics, that is? I suppose there's been a precendent established by the Olympics (i.e. excluding South Africa from the Games during apartheid, etc.) Do you think it would work in this case?
Football / soccer is huge everywhere but in the US. ;)
As for excluding Iran from the World Cup, I think that is a great tactic, as long as FIFA is explicit about why it is being done. Otherwise, that just pushes Iranians further into isolation.
If they understand that their radical fucking goverment is making them unliked, it could work.
Post a Comment
<< Home