Bomb Iran

[Colleen Thomas]

Well Colly I was simply trying to answer someone who likened nuclear weaponry to handguns.

Fundamentalist Islamics is a loaded term I refuse to deal with. You could just as easily say fundamentalist capitalists and show as much useful knowledge of either.

I have my own views about the state of Isreal and the methods by which it was raised. I won't share them here for the obvious reasons.

As for all Arabs hate Jews, this is the reasoning which provoked the phrase 'grow up'. (I admit you didn't actually say that but it is what I read)

As gullilble as I am I believe there are other ways than diplomacy with which to prevent nuclear proliferation which do not include bombing people.

The mightiest power in the world was made to unshackle a nation by the simple expedient of non-cooperation. Excuse me for being pacifist.



The West put only as much value on life as benefits the stockbrokers, the Soviets were being pushed into survival. (personal histories have different perspectives) Propoganda is alive and well.

Gauche

First off, let me be clear, I never said, nor do I believe all arabs hate jews or vice versa. The refusal of Arab countries to recognize Isreal's right to exist is a political statement by them. I could be wrong, but I think Egypt is the only arab nation who has recognized their right to exist. I have seen various peace plans put forward by the arab league where they offer to recognize this fundamental right as part of the deal.

I do not think of fundamentalist Islamic as a loaded term, any more than fundamentalist christian is a loaded term. Both refer to sects on the very edge of their religion with a very repressive and narrow interpretation (misinterpretation) of the religion's holy book and dogma. When I use the terms, I use them to reffer to these sects, not the religion as a whole, nor even those with a conservative dogma within the religion.

Diplomacy is always the preferred method of dealing with problems between countries. Diplomacy only works if the government you are dealing with is willing to discuss things. Some governments are not, the taliban blowing up senturies old statues in the face of huge international outcry is an example.

If diplomacy can succeed, that's a victory for people acting in a civilized manner. Most good diplomatic actions require good statesmen, I don't see too many on the world stage at this point in history. There is a point of demarcation however in diplomatic negotiation.

If diplomacy fails, which I have every reason to believe it will, then you are left with a narrow range of options. When it comes to the ability to wipe out hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people in a single cataclysmic event, I believe the stakes are to high to be a pacifist.

You personally, may not possess the requisite mindset to kill on a grand scale, history has shown there are people who do. If by small scale conventional military action, we can prevent the means to kill on a godlike scale, I believe that action is a far better option than allowing the weapons to be built and having faith in the better nature of those who would possess it.

-Colly