Wednesday, April 19, 2006

MYD Spring Gala



























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Busiest day so far31 March 2006

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Tuesday, April 18, 2006

The Unthinkable: Nuclear Weapons Are Not Made To Be Used


Bush refuses to rule out nuclear strikes ITV.com, UK
Bush refuses to rule out Iran strike RTE.ie, Ireland
US and Iran Take Tough Stances in Nuclear Standoff New York Times, United States
Bush: All options are on the table over Iran Iran Focus, Iran
Iran: Bush won't take military action off table Irish Examiner, Ireland
Bush keeps Iran military option BBC News, UK

Those who know me know I don't think too highly of Bush. But Bush just hit a new low with me. Nuclear weapons are not made to be used: end of story. But looks to me like a president extremely low in polls, about to lose a Congress to the American people, seeing desperation in his ranks is ready to pull yet another weapon for the rally around the flag effect. Let's face it, Bush got elected president only on 9/11.

He tried social security, it did not work. He even tried mission to Mars. This is a guy who knows nothing works like war. You declare war and suddenly you find yourself in the stratosphere politically.

Bush called Kim Jong Il a "pygmy" once. I don't think at all highly of Kim Jong Il. But there is a legitimate, proud group of people in Africa who call themselves that name. Could I call someone a Baptist and mean to insult him? Or a Texan?

African Tribes - Pygmies People
The Rainforest Foundation - Promoting pygmy peoples rights
Pygmy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Indigenous peoples lament exclusion: Pygmies in Central Africa ...

Recently when there were riots across the Muslim world in response to the hate speech in the form of cartoons in many Europeans newspapers, including in South Asia right before his trip that way, he gave a speech saying he was about to embark on a trip to a part of the world where people are a little on the sensitive side.

The Jyllands Posten Muhammad Cartoons Controversy
French Society: No Easy Solutions
Sick Sarkozy
Riots In France

And of course there is the famous example of Bush 2000 of having accused McCain of having black kids in the South Carolina primary.

Why am I bringing up these examples? I am suggesting Bush is a bigot. Threatening nuclear war on Iran is bigotry. It is irresponsible.

It would have been wrong of Iraq to have used weapons of mass destruction against America. It will be wrong for America to use weapons of mass destruction against Iran. Nuclear war is a no go territory, end of story.

Critiquing A Critique Of The Iraq War Critiques
Iraq Intel: The Spy Who Failed Me
Complicated Iraq

The mullahs of the Republican Party really got it wrong this time. If America were to declare war on Iran, Iraq will look like a picnic. And Iraq has been no picnic, we know that.

Issuing empty threats is bad political posture on several levels at once. I can now imagine terrorist groups redouble their efforts to try and let loose a dirty bomb in America, a fantassy they have harbored. The neocons might argue if they were already working on it, how is it possible these hawks will only hasten the process? It is possible.

Iran is not a monolithic. It is a large country. Much more so than pre-war Iraq, Iran has a vibrant progressive community that will some day oust the Irani mullahs out of power. Ways have to be found to hasten that process.

To launch a nuclear strike would be inhuman.

The threat is also symptomatic of Bush's lack of political skills. Clinton defused the nuclear crisis in North Korea. He did not do that by threatening nuclear war. Bush is a C student ashamed of his inadequacies. And so he wants to rush to war.

Dumb And Dumberer: Creationist Bush

Now it has become extra important for the Dems to take back both houses of Congress. A president desperately low in polls just might pull the trigger in desperation. We don't want that to happen. Now it has become extra important to try and impeach Bush.

Let me ask some unasked questions.
  1. Why is it okay for America to have nuclear weapons and constantly upgrade them, but not okay for Iran to even have them?
  2. Why is it okay for Israel to have nuclear weapons but not okay for Iran to have them?
  3. Is it because America and Israel are democracies and democracies are relatively more responsible as countries, less likely to use them? Is the idea of having them that you will not use them?
  4. Or if the idea is to use them, under what circumstances can they be used?
  5. Was America a democracy when it last used nuclear weapons? In Japan?
  6. Is it true Iran is years and years away from developing nuclear weapons, even if that is what it wanted?
  7. If a democracy is more responsible than a theocracy, can a democratic Iraq be allowed/encouraged to have/develop nuclear weapons?
  8. What does Iran mean by nuclear apartheid?
Don't get me wrong. I am not for Iran having nuclear weapons. I am for a dismantling of all nuclear weapons in the long run. But these questions have to be honestly dealth with to find a political solution to the Iran crisis. If it is between facing these hard political questions and nuclear war, I vote against nuclear war. Bush is like, I don't want to hold direct talk with Iran, I would rather declare a nuclear war.

The goal with Iran has to be to help Iran achieve its stated goal: nuclear energy.

I say, Impeach Bush. (The "I" Word: Monica And Saddam)

Report: Blair will not back Iran strike Christian Science Monitor, MA
Bush on Iran: All cards on table Ynetnews, Israel
Bush Says `All Options' on the Table for Dealing With Iran Bloomberg
Bush to raise Iran nuclear issue with Hu Washington Post, United States
Blair refuses to back Iran strike TMCnet
Hooman Majd: From Great Satan to Global Arrogance Yahoo! News
Bush ally breaks ranks Daily Telegraph, Australia
US urged to cool it and talk to Iran Australian, Australia
Push for Iran talks Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia
Senators push White House to talk to Iran Euronews.net, France
Senators push for US-Iran talks Detroit Free Press, United States
Two senators say US should pursue nuclear talks with Tehran Boston Globe, United States
GOP Senator Urges Direct US-Iran Talks Los Angeles Times, CA
Call for US negotiations with Iran RTE.ie, Ireland
Bush told to negotiate with Iran on nuclear programme Unison.ie, Ireland
Prominent lawmaker urges restraint in US action against Tehran Outlook (subscription), India
Republican Sen. backs direct US talks with Iran IranMania News, Iran
US nuclear talks with Iran urged BBC News, UK
Leading US senator urges direct US-Iran talks Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates
Senators Back Direct Talks With Iran Washington Post, United States

On The Web

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BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Q&A: Iran nuclear stand-off
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran nuclear stand-off escalates
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Clock Ticks in Iran Nuclear Standoff | Europe | Deutsche Welle ...
Iran News - Timeline of Iran nuclear standoff
TIME.com: Next Steps in the Iran Nuclear Standoff -- Page 1
israelinsider: security: Reports: Israel presses Russia over Iran ...
Interview: Israeli President Discusses Iran Nuclear Standoff ...
Iran changes tack in nuclear standoff | csmonitor.com
JURIST - Forum: The Iran Nuclear Standoff: Legal Issues

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In The News, June 6

Iran Open to Incentives on Nuclear Talks, With a Hedge New York Times, United States
US offers Iran nuclear technology: report CTV.ca, Canada
Iran deal includes approval of civilian nuke plant Jerusalem Post, Israel
German FM says Iranian nuclear crisis reaches "decisive phase" People's Daily Online, China
Iran to study EU incentive plan on nuclear issue Financial Times, UK
Bush welcomes possible Iran breakthrough ABC Online, Australia
Diplomacy Moves to the Fore Over Iranian Nuclear Issue Los Angeles Times, CA
Those Were the Days, When Reform Was in Flower New York Times, United States
US says Iran will be given time to consider nuclear package People's Daily Online, China
Bush welcomes Iran response The Australian, Australia
Iran regime split over west's latest offer Guardian Unlimited, UK
US not expected to directly aid Iran reactor project Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand
Iran tempted by deal to defuse nuclear crisis Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom
US promises break from sanctions for Iran to solve nuclear crisis Scotsman, United Kingdom
Roundup: Iran sees positive elements, ambiguities in new proposal People's Daily Online, China
Iranians studying package of incentives International Herald Tribune, France
Iran says B-6 proposals positive, but ambiguous Daily Times, Pakistan
Bush encouraged by Iran response BBC News, UK
EU offer to Iran gets positive reception CBC News, Canada
Iranian response offers hope of nuclear deal Independent, UK
Bush: Iran's Reaction to Nuclear Package Is Positive Voice of America
Clever footwork in diplomatic dance Times Online, UK
Iran reacts to nuclear proposal Reuters.uk, UK
US Patient as Iran Considers Nuclear Package Voice of America
Bush Calls Iran's Reaction to Atomic Offer `Positive' (Update1) Bloomberg
Iran considers nuclear proposals Bangkok Post, Thailand
Bush: Iran's Initial Response 'Positive' Forbes
Bush encouraged by Iran response to nuclear offer Reuters
White House encouraged Iran taking offer seriously Reuters
Iran sees positive signs in proposal Swissinfo, Switzerland