Deutsche Version am Ende des Beitrags
(Translation by Scott Hanson. Scott's blog. BTW: If you have a job for a sysadmin in the Hamburg area: he needs one. Let him know it.)
We all know how difficult it is for the leftist media in Germany to condemn the barbaric terrorist acts of Islamic fundamentalists. They are after all fighting against a common enemy: George W. Bush, the devil incarnate on earth.
The Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) follows this line of sympathy for the barbaric version of Islam with the article "A less cruel execution" by Katajun Amirpur. The article reports as a success of the "European-Iranian human rights dialog" that a 16-year-old girl will not be stoned to death, but rather hanged. Her "crime": pre-marital sex. With unmistakable pride, Amirpur writes that "the official age of marriage... after delicate negotiations between reformers and conservatives, was raised from 9 to 10 years".
Henryk Broder wrote a wonderful satire (in German) in response to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung article:
"If some US court had sentenced a 16-year-old murderer to death, German newspapers would be beside themselves with indignation, Amnesty International would protest and Claudia Roth, the Federal Commissioner for Human Rights, would cancel her Weight Watchers meeting to travel personally to the USA to demand an appeal of the verdict. (...)Sometimes the SZ is worth reading. Where else is such a calm, balanced, and understanding explanation of the cultural basis for a murder? A commentary on livestock transport in India would have been written with more passion. However, in this case it is important to respect the cultural differences and to avoid the appearance of haughtiness. It tells us not only how the mullahs think, but also how the liberals tick as they sip their lattes and get excited about Guantanamo.
(...) As an afterthough, we learn that the the official age of marriage 'after delicate negotiations between reformers and conservatives, was raised from 9 to 10 years,' also a step in the direction of more human rights and nearly a feminist revolution. One has to realize that the term 'official age of marriage' is merely a cheerful description of what the Americans call 'fuckability'. Or, to put it in terms that everyone who has a 'Heart for Children' and donates to UNICEF can understand: in Iran there seems to be two types of child fuckers. The traditionalists want to start with the 9-year-olds, while the reformers are not in such a hurry and prefer the riper 10-year-olds. Wine lovers also know that older vintages can taste better. If a girl can be fucked at 10, she can be hanged at 16; then she is at least spared the knowledge that her husband has left her for a younger girl. And if the miniumum age for executions is raised to 18 years, then the European-Iranian human rights dialog will really have been successful.
That's what the SZ is trying say between the lines, subtly, unobtrusively, and considerately. We only have to continue this line of thinking a little: Soon the terrorists will no longer behead their hostages with dull kitchen knives, but will use solid axes with blades of Solinger stainless steel for their 'excections'. Human rights are for everyone!" (our translation)
Here's more on the German media's biased reporting on terrorists.
Deutsche Version
Dialog mit Mördern funktioniert (nach der Süddeutschen Zeitung)
Wir alle wissen, wie schwer sich linke Medien in Deutschland tun, die barbarischen Terrorakte islamistischer Fundamentalisten zu verurteilen - kämpft man doch gegen den gleichen Gegner: George W. Bush, die Inkarnation des Teufels auf Erden.
Ganz auf der Linie des Verständnisses für die barbarische Version des Islam bewegt sich die Süddeutsche Zeitung am 26. 8. 2004 mit dem Artikel "Eine Hinrichtung, die weniger grausam sein soll" von Katajun Amirpur. Der Artikel vermeldet als Erfolg des "europäisch-iranischen Menschenrechtsdialogs", daß ein 16-jähriges Mädchen nicht gesteinigt, sondern - aufgehängt wurde. Ihr "Verbrechen": vorehelicher Geschlechtsverkehr. Mit unverkennbarem Stolz berichtet Amirpur ferner, daß "das offizielle Heiratsalter ... erst vor kurzem, nach zähem Ringen zwischen Reformern und Konservativen, von neun auf zehn Jahre erhöht worden" ist.
Henryk Broder hat zu dem Artikel der Süddeutschen Zeitung eine wunderbare Satire geschrieben:
Hätte irgendein US-Gericht einen 16jährigen Mörder zum Tode verurteilt, würden sich alle deutschen Zeitungen vor Empörung überschlagen. amnesty international würde protestieren und Claudia Roth, die Beauftragte für Menschenrechte der Bundesregierung, eine Sitzung bei den Weight Watchers abbrechen, um eigenfüßig in die USA zu eilen und eine Revision des Verfahrens zu fordern. (...)Manchmal lohnt es sich doch, die SZ zu lesen. Wo sonst wird einem auf eine so ruhige, ausgewogene, gelassene und verständnisvolle Weise die kulturelle Grundlage für einen Mord erklärt. Jeder Kommentar über Tiertransporte in Indien oder die Zustände auf einer holländischen Hühnerfarm wäre mit mehr Herzblut geschrieben worden. Nur: In diesem Falle geht es darum, die kulturellen Unterschiede zu respektieren und auch nur den Anschein zu vermeiden, man würde von oben herab urteilen. Deswegen ist der Artikel so informativ. Er sagt uns nicht nur, wie die Mullahs denken, sondern auch wie Liberale ticken, wenn sie ihren Cafe latte schlürfen und sich über Guantanamo aufregen.
(...) Nebenbei erfahren wir auch, dass das offizielle Heiratsalter »nach zähem Ringen zwischen Reformern und Konservativen, von neun auf zehn Jahre erhöht« wurde, auch dies ein weiterer Schritt in Richtung auf mehr Menschenrechte, beinah schon eine Revolution im Frauenhaus. Man muss freilich bedenken, dass der Begriff »offizielles Heiratsalter« eine freundliche Umschreibung für das ist, was die Amerikaner auf ihre herzige Art »fuckability« nennen. Oder um es so auszudrücken, dass es jeder versteht, der ein »Herz für Kinder« hat und für UNICEF spendet: Es gibt im Iran offenbar zwei Fraktionen von Kinderfickern. Die Traditionalisten wollen schon an die Neunjährigen dran, die Reformer haben es nicht so eilig und präferieren reife Zehnjährige. Auch Weinkenner wissen, dass ältere Jahrgänge besser munden. Wenn ein Mädchen mit zehn gefickt werden darf, dann kann es mit sechzehn gehängt werden, so bleibt es ihr wenigstens erspart mitzuerleben, wie sich ihr Mann eine Jüngere nimmt. Und wenn demnächst auch das Mindestalter für die Todesstrafe auf 18 Jahre angehoben wird, hat sich der europäisch-iranische Menschenrechtsdialog wirklich gelohnt.
Das ist es, wann uns die SZ zwischen den Zeilen sagen will. Subtil, unaufdringlich und rücksichtsvoll. Wir müssen den Gedanken nur noch ein wenig fortspinnen: Bald werden die Terroristen im Irak ihre Geiseln nicht mehr mit stumpfen Küchenmessern enthaupten, sondern ordentliche Fallbeile aus Solinger Edelstahl für die »Exekutionen« benutzen. Menschenrechte sind für alle da!
Unbefreaking believable. Do these chuckle heads have any idea how vile a way to die being hanged is? And marrying off 10 year olds? Just...bleah. I guess I am being terribly judgemental. Of course everyone seems very comfortable judging America.
This is just so nuts. It makes me depressed. I'm sorry, I know this doesn't add to anything. But, sheesh.
Posted by: lost one | September 10, 2004 at 12:17 AM
was wäre denn die alternative zum dialog? mittels geheimdienstaktivitäten irgend einen schweinehund, hauptsache er ist unser schweinehund, an die macht bringen? ein bißchen bombardieren? eine kleine invasion? das gleiche chaos wie in falludscha? un-sanktionen, die schon anderswo keine wirkung gezeigt haben?
Posted by: no comment | September 10, 2004 at 01:04 AM
Henryk Broder clearly isn't being as tolerant of other cultures as he should be. I bet he even has a problem with good old "throw acid in the face of women to forever disfigure them" practice too. Here's an easy guide to cultural tolerance:
1. Anything is acceptable in non-Judeo/Christian value based cultures, there is no such thing as "wrong/bad", only different.
2. See #1
Posted by: | September 10, 2004 at 01:08 AM
'fuckability'? He actually WROTE that? And it got published? Oh my god! Good for him. I thnk back sometimes to Ms. Meinhoff. She died in prison and I know there are questions about whether it was suicide or 'convenient'. It disturbs me, as a woman, that no one - and I mean no one - questions the status of women within Muslim cultures. They could stop killing babies today but women would still be slaves. So, I wonder what Meinhoff would have done. But I think I know. Fucking 10 year old girls is acceptable collateral damage as long as capitalism is defeated. The idea trumps the human every time. As long as the idea validates the intellectual vanity of the person who holds the idea above the human.
She would have pimped her own daughter.
Posted by: Pamela | September 10, 2004 at 05:59 AM
bryan
I've had experience with your ilk over at LGF. It wasn't tolerated there and I will fight for it to not be tolerated here. Go crawl back into your hole.
Posted by: Pamela | September 10, 2004 at 06:09 AM
bryan
I've had experience with your ilk over at LGF. It wasn't tolerated there and I will fight for it to not be tolerated here. Go crawl back into your hole.
Posted by: | September 10, 2004 at 06:13 AM
i like henryk broder. he gets really to the point.
@pamela: he just posted it on his site from my understanding. i couldn't imagine a magazine/newspaper publishing it. and thats NOT because of the word"fuckability" :-(
Posted by: Ted | September 10, 2004 at 06:16 AM
I'm going to go balls up here because bryan's post was so vile - and so familiar. I don't know who bryan is. But there was a poster on LGF that went by the nic of bigel. bigel's schtick is that the whole world is united by Jew hatred. I don't know if bryan is bigel. But I know the dynamic. bigel was poison on LGF and last week got - finally - shamed by a German with a tatoo on his body from the Nazi regime and retired in disgrace. And now I see the exact same vomit here. I would not stand for it there and I will not stand for it here. I have posted a notice on LGF (but I'm not sure it will get alot of notice - everyone is over the moon about the forgeries) and have done my best to notify people by other means.
So, I am sorry for the rant. But this site is one I cherish. I will not see it polluted without a fight.
Ted, you made me laugh! Thank you.
Posted by: Pamela | September 10, 2004 at 06:51 AM
Ah, Niko. Sometimes I am so weary.
But other times I AM REALLY PISSED!
Those are the good times. Thanks for being here.
Posted by: Pamela | September 10, 2004 at 07:22 AM
Oh, it is so easy to be righteous ....
And of course we know that the Germans can never the be trusted ...
But seriously, it is interesting to see that the U.S. conservatives have embraced "political correctness": The "failure" to immediately condemn the Iranian acts of barbarism obviously are "proof" that Germans approve of it. Well, well, ...
Better to be morally pure and ineffective than pragmatic and having to make "dirty" compromises.
Remember: It is not all "black" and "white" in this world and instead of demonizing an action one cannot understand we do well to entertain the possibility of good will.
Posted by: joon | September 10, 2004 at 08:59 AM
Niko:
I am just interested, so could please elaborate on the story you are alluding to with the bomb in the disco? I know about the mullahs' attack in the students dorm in Mainz, the "Mykonos" assassinations - but which disco do you mean? Was there a connection from "La Belle" also to Teheran?
Posted by: | September 10, 2004 at 10:20 AM
Just now on the ARD Mittagsmagazin: Jihad is now "Holy Resistance" instaed of "Holy War". Interesting...
Posted by: Wired | September 10, 2004 at 01:19 PM
@ no comment
"was wäre denn die alternative zum dialog? mittels geheimdienstaktivitäten irgend einen schweinehund, hauptsache er ist unser schweinehund, an die macht bringen? ein bißchen bombardieren? eine kleine invasion? das gleiche chaos wie in falludscha? un-sanktionen, die schon anderswo keine wirkung gezeigt haben?"
Kurz geantwortet, no comment, nein.
Als nächstes wird no comment für uns die Stellung beschreiben, die Representaten von unbewaffnete Staaten annehmen sollen in "Dialogen," etwa mit Nazis oder den Kindermördern von Beslan, und zwar, auf den Knien mit Arsch hoch in die Luft gehoben in die unter Affen bekannte "Anbieterposition."
Posted by: Helian | September 10, 2004 at 01:23 PM
@ helian "Kurz geantwortet, no comment, nein."
sondern?
den rest deines postings kommentiere ich nicht.
Posted by: no comment | September 10, 2004 at 02:19 PM
Dass die Süddeutsche Zeitung in diesen Tagen wieder ganz besonders auffällig ist, verwundert mich kaum. Ich will gar nicht erst wissen, was in radikal linken Blättern wie der "taz" vorzufinden ist. Ein Nachbar von mir sprach kürzlich bei dem Terroranschlag in Beslan von einer "Gegenreaktion". Das ist das Vokabular von jemandem, der solchen Taten eine gewisse Legimitimität zuspricht - und das ist keineswegs bloß ein Einzelfall hierzulande. Zur Abwechslung:
Die Terroristen-Versteher
Von Henryk M. Broder
Drei Jahre nach den Anschlägen vom 11. September hat der Terror nichts von seiner Virulenz, aber viel von seinem Schrecken verloren. Hilflos unterstellen wir den Tätern ehrenwerte Motive und deuten deren Willkür als politische Verzweiflung. Doch was ist, wenn es ihnen nur um die Lust am Töten und den Spaß am Sterben geht?
http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/0,1518,druck-317426,00.html
Posted by: Downer | September 10, 2004 at 02:26 PM
@ downer
..."Gegenreaktion". Das ist das Vokabular von jemandem, der solchen Taten eine gewisse Legimitimität zuspricht...
bloedsinn. gegenbeispiel: ich halte den angriff auf den irak auch fuer eine gegenreaktion auf den 11.9., fuer legitim halte ich ihn deswegen noch lange nicht.
Posted by: no comment | September 10, 2004 at 02:31 PM
@joon,
In what respects have the German government been 'pragmatic'?
Posted by: Don | September 10, 2004 at 02:33 PM
Assailants (Angreifer) – National Public Radio
Attackers (Angreifer) – Economist
Bombers (Bomber) – Guardian
Captors (Entführer, Geiselnehmer) – Associated Press
Commandos (Spezialeinsatzkräfte) – Agence France Presse
Criminals (Kriminelle) – Times (London)
Extremists (Extremisten) – United Press International
Fighters (Kämpfer) – Washington Post
Group (Gruppe) – Australian
Guerrillas – ein Kommentar in der New York Post
Gunmen (Bewaffnete) – Reuters
Hostage-takers (Geiselnehmer) – Los Angeles Times
Insurgents (Eindringlinge) – eine Schlagzeile der New York Times
Kidnappers – Observer (London)
Militants (Militante) – Chicago Tribune
Perpetrators (Gewalttäter) – New York Times
Radicals (Radikale) – BBC
Rebels (Rebellen) – eine Schlagzeile des Sydney Morning Herald
Separatists (Separatisten) – Daily Telegraph
Und mein Lieblingswort:
Activists (Aktivisten) – Pakistan Times
http://de.danielpipes.org/article/2067
Doch was sind sie wirklich? Nichts weiter als Terroristen, die das Leben verachten, doch den Tod lieben. Um was handelt es sich in Beslan? Nicht um eine "Gegenreaktion", und schon ganz gewiss nicht um eine "nachvollziehbare Handlung, die nur wegen Russland in Tschetschenien zu Stande gekommen ist", sondern um einen mörderischen, kaltblütigen, verachtenswerten, grausamen T e r r o r a n s c h l a g. Man sollte die Dinge ehrlicherweise auch so nennen, wie sie nun einmal sind - ohne Ausflüchte, ohne Moralisierungen - und vor allem: ohne Es-gibt-für-alles-eine-vernünftige-Erklärung-Blabla.
Posted by: Downer | September 10, 2004 at 03:13 PM
@ no comment
helian: "Kurz geantwortet, no comment, nein."
no comment: "sondern?"
Zuerst müssen wir im klaren sein über Deine Haltung darüber, no comment. Von Deinem Post können wir wohl annehmen das Du ausser:
"mittels geheimdienstaktivitäten irgend einen schweinehund, hauptsache er ist unser schweinehund, an die macht bringen? ein bißchen bombardieren? eine kleine invasion? das gleiche chaos wie in falludscha? un-sanktionen, die schon anderswo keine wirkung gezeigt haben?"
Dir gar keine andere Alternativen als die oben beschriebenen zu einem "Dialog" vorstellen kannst. Stimmt das? Oder stimmt das nicht, und Du stellst Dich vor das ich Dir irgendwelche Dir noch unbekannte Alternativen beibringen kann, also das ich Dir etwa als Lehrer bedienen kann, und fähig bin, Dir mit ganz neuen Perspektiven aufzuklären? Im zweiten Fall muss ich Dir leider mitteilen, das ich als Lehrer immer ein Gebühr verlange.
Posted by: helian | September 10, 2004 at 03:29 PM
He's taking that approach because it seems the only one to him, and you're right:
Dialog with whom? Who would they represent? Some of the insurgent groups? Themselves? The whole thing opens it up to double-crossing, working moles in, and so forth.
Both parties in a negociation have to have something to offer. AQ and affiliates have nothing to offer - at ALL. They cant even promise that some faction won't act in their lieu, which was the game the IRA played for a few years.
Posted by: Joe N. | September 10, 2004 at 03:48 PM
Helian:
He's taking that approach because it seems the only one to him. It is the only thing that they are capable of imagining at this point. He's wrong, and you're right:
Dialog with whom? Who would they represent? Some of the insurgent groups? Themselves? The whole thing opens it up to double-crossing, working moles in, and so forth.
Both parties in a negociation have to have something to offer. AQ and affiliates have nothing to offer - at ALL. They cant even promise that some faction won't act in their lieu, which was the game the IRA played for a few years in an attempt to keep their victims off balance.
Posted by: Joe N. | September 10, 2004 at 03:50 PM
@ helian ...Dir gar keine andere Alternativen als die oben beschriebenen zu einem "Dialog" vorstellen kannst.
ich habe lediglich auf einige "methoden" hingewiesen, die sich als ungeeignet erwiesen haben, einfluss auf eine regierung zu nehmen. die reaktionen zeigen, dass auch die hier so aktive hau-drauf-fraktion ziemlich ratlos ist.
eine "gebuehrenpflichtige belehrung" brauche ich nicht. poste oder lass es...
Posted by: no comment | September 10, 2004 at 03:54 PM
A couple of thoughts crossed my mind in trying to digest this deplorable act of murder.
First, this blog is more interested in condemning the so-called "liberal" German media than the murder of a 16 year old girl by hanging for having premarital sex.
Second, could it be that this blog missed the entire point of the article? Who on earth could sympathize with the people who murdered this girl. In fact, the translation of the title, if my German isn't too rusty, is "An exection, that is supposed to be less gruesome" with the implication that it's not. The angle of the story is the role that the dialog played in lessening the girl's punishment. If anything, the newspaper should be criticized for a propagandish praising of the German government, but not for appeasement of terrorists.
I just wonder when some people are going to stop with the empty criticism of left-wingers befriending terrorists.
Posted by: pedro | September 10, 2004 at 03:54 PM
Pedro wrote:
>> The angle of the story is the role that the dialog played in lessening the girl's punishment.
She's still dead.
Asshole.
Note from David: Thanks, Pamela. We get some strange left-wing comments lately...
Posted by: Pamela | September 10, 2004 at 04:02 PM
I see that freedom of speech is alive and well in Germany. I see that you have deleted my honest question to Pamela about her source to verify the lfg poster true german ally. As to where is her source?
I expect this one will be deleted too.
By the way pamela, I post at lgf too.
Note: Hmm... my initial impression was that there was an antisemitic slur involved. That's why I deleted the comment. Apologies, if I was misled.
Posted by: | September 10, 2004 at 04:52 PM
As deeply disinvolved as they are, why would they think that anyone would listen to their complaints about 'methods'? They love to use the the Balkan wars as an example, but again - they underinvolved themselves because of expense, even though they got the United States to fight a war for them. A war inspired to Europe less by a need to contain chaos, but to keep immigrants out.
We should stop waiting and hoping for 'wake up calls' on their view of the world. Europe at the moment is looking like a lost cause.
Posted by: Joe N. | September 10, 2004 at 04:55 PM
The request to provide the True German Ally link was deleted before I saw it.
Here it is.
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=12449#c0071
This is comment 71 but you might want to read the entire thread. I think it will go down as one of the more famous LGF Friday night drinking threads.
And David and Ray: No, guys, thank YOU!
Posted by: Pamela | September 10, 2004 at 05:04 PM
I just noticed something. I never named the German LGF poster. It was indeed True German Ally, but I never disclosed that bit of info. Did I miss something?
Posted by: Pamela | September 10, 2004 at 05:29 PM
@ no comment
"ich habe lediglich auf einige "methoden" hingewiesen, die sich als ungeeignet erwiesen haben, einfluss auf eine regierung zu nehmen."
Du hast viel eher diese Blog misbraucht, um einige linke Propaganda Schlager zu Posten, die, sollen wir sagen, eine etwas übersimplifizierte Version von einer komplizierten Realität darstellen, die deswegen wertlos sind als Information, aber trotzdem immer wieder ausgenützt werden, um die linke Hasskampagne gegen Amerika zu stützen. Ist das was Du Dir vorstellst unter "fördern" von einem gegenseitig nützlichen Dialog zwischen Amerika und Europa?
Posted by: helian | September 10, 2004 at 05:41 PM
Well to any discussion given the attitudes of the elites in German.......I have to admend what I have been saying.....
ROOT CAUSES
DUCT TAPE
They are going to spend a lot of time discussing the first and more euro's buying the latter.
Posted by: Joe | September 10, 2004 at 06:19 PM
Stuff it, joooooon, we're still waiting for Germans on 9/11.
Posted by: Sandy P | September 10, 2004 at 06:35 PM
del.
Notiz von David: Ich bin relativ humorlos gegenüber Kommentaren, die diesen Blog und seine Besucher diffamieren.
Posted by: no comment | September 10, 2004 at 06:41 PM
I am posting anon because I am a regular at lgf.
I was in presence at the Friday night meme that caused bigel to leave. Funny Pamela, I guess like so many others, you did not accept bigel's sincere apology.
He's had the grace to not post anymore at lgf. So, what's your excuse? Why is it you can't let it lie?
You have no proof the poster that was deleted here is bigel. Just as you have no proof to verify true german ally's claims. You should know by now that we all can be anything we desire on the internet.
And, you've not yet answered my honest question. Where is your sources of verification? I really would like to see this information, so that I can make a legit decision in believing tga posts.
Posted by: | September 10, 2004 at 06:52 PM
Hey anon. What I can't let lie is people spewing hate. What I WON'T let lie is people coming on this blog telling Germans that the whole world hates them because they are Jew-haters. I have no truck with anti-Americanism and I have no truck with anti-Germanism. America and Germany both have made priceless contributions to western civilization. It is part of our responsibilty as heirs to those contributions to confront the faults, the damages, and the horrors wherever we find them.
TGA's authenticity is not the issue. You are absolutely correct that any of us can be anything we want on the internet. The issue is that hate and bitterness were shamed. When bigel says "I am sorry", I will accept the apology. Gladly and with joy. It hasn't happened.
Now back on topic: How does one negotiate with nihilism? How does one negotiate with an abyss?
Islam worships the extermination of The Other.
The only possible negotiation with this is its utter defeat.
Posted by: Pamela | September 10, 2004 at 07:33 PM
Another thing, "anon". You can't possibly know what I did or did not post on LGF in response to bigel. I user another nic there.
Posted by: Pamela | September 10, 2004 at 09:15 PM
BTW, 'fuckable' is not generally accepted US english. It's more the kind of language one might hear in a bar after a lot of beer has been drunk. 'Marriageable' is archaic but closer to the mark.
Usually we discuss this in terms of a crime known as 'statutory rape' with the minor 'being under the age of consent'. Of course this doesn't really cover it either, since the Iranians are changing the minimum age for marriage.....
Posted by: Don | September 10, 2004 at 10:30 PM
Don posted
>>BTW, 'fuckable' is not generally accepted US english. It's more the kind of language one might hear in a bar after a lot of beer has been drunk. 'Marriageable' is archaic but closer to the mark.
Talk. About. Missing. The. Point.
Posted by: Pamela | September 10, 2004 at 11:43 PM
Dear Sandy P,
come on, you got to be a little bit more creative than telling me to "shut up". Did I touch a raw nerve there ? Besides, 9/11 did not give the Bush administration and their supporters a monopoly on the truth and the appropriate response.
Dear Don,
counter-question: In what respect has the German government not been pragmatic ?
Posted by: joon | September 11, 2004 at 01:45 AM
Gee, I have been away for a little over 24 hours and here is Jooon, making some rather naive and provoking comment.
Did I miss a change in the policy position of the US? If memory serves me correctly, and yes, I did check the US State Department website, the position of the US toward Iran has not changed. It is still considered to be part of the Axis of Evil. Just what do you think the Axis of Evil is? It is obvious you have a much different definition than the rest of us.
Jooon, it is not necessary for the US to comment on every single thing Iran does. It is evil in its present form. What do you want the State Department to do? Do you want them to open each press conference with some silly statement about Iran and North Korea remains members of the Axis of Evil?
I for one do not understand why anyone else would bother even replying to your posts. You seem not to live in the real world.
It shows not only your lack of analytical skills but also your overall ignorance of US policy. I have to assume you are some leftist liberal who is part of the blame America first crowd.
Posted by: Joe | September 11, 2004 at 06:13 AM
Jooon,
You sound very much like a
ROOT CAUSES.......person
Might I suggest you invest in some duct tape if you are in Europe.
If you are in the US, might I suggest you migrate to Canada. You would like it there as you would find a lot of people who also blame America first.
Things for you to consider........*g*
Posted by: | September 11, 2004 at 07:01 AM
>>If you are in the US, might I suggest you migrate to Canada
LOL! From an American observing the anniversary of Sept 11, thank you for the laugh. It was truly a gift.
Posted by: Pamela | September 11, 2004 at 01:24 PM
@TED
I kid you not. Some 20 years ago a German comedian, Rudi Carrell, back then a giant, made some fun of Ayatollah Khomenei by showing a staged scene where veiled Iranian women threw bras on a stage where Khomenei was standing. The scene, 10 seconds long, caused such an outrage in Iran that Carrell had to step down, his show was closed, and Germany had to apologize officially.
However, some years later there was this bomb blast in a German discotheque. A German court found clear evidence that Iranian secret service was involved, and rumor has it that the judges prepared a public statement to point that out.
First Rudi Carell is a dutch comedian, living in germany! Second his show wasnt closed! Third he didnt step back (he still do shows)! Fourth the german government never apologized because of that, only carell did!
If you talk about the bomb blast at the berlin dicotheque "La Belle" in berlin, as long as I know was the connection to Lybia (ghadafi) and not Iran!
Posted by: | September 11, 2004 at 03:11 PM
Dear Joe,
I agree with you - the U.S. government doesn't need to comment on Iran all the time. My comments where about how people misconstrue the failure of the GERMAN government to comment as a sign that the GERMAN government and the GERMAN people approve of what's going on in Iran. I thought that was clear when reading my earlier post, but I guess not.
Otherwise, I repeat what I wrote earlier: Come on, you've got to be a little bit more creative in your criticism then warming up those old stereotypes of "leftist", "America-hater" and "unrealistic". Just because I do not happen to agree with the State Dept. doesn't make me either, unless of course you believe that the State Dept. is the ultimate arbiter of truth.
Posted by: joon | September 11, 2004 at 05:37 PM
to the asshole who called me an asshole. like you care that she's dead. you're just happy you have another reason to lambast the "liberal media."
this blog still missed the point of the article. the writer has blinders on.
if this is sueddeutsche's only report of the murder then i would question the paper's integrity. are we sure there's no other story in the paper reporting the girl's hanging?
Posted by: pedro | September 11, 2004 at 05:50 PM
Dear *g*,
thanks for the suggestions - I'll keep them in mind. However, why do you assume I always want to with people that agree with me all the time ? Wouldn't that be kind of boring ?
As for your "blame America first" assumption: I am curious; where exactly did I blame the U.S. government and blame for what ? Was it something in the "monopoly on truth" comment or the U.S. conservatives comment ?
Now, one suggestion for you: How about countering my arguments and statements in some interesting fashion, rather than commenting on what I might or might not like ? That's not too much to ask for, is it ?
Posted by: joon | September 11, 2004 at 05:52 PM
"was wäre denn die alternative zum dialog"
What's the alternative? To topple a police state more cruel and oppressive than the East German state ever was. At least the Stasi (or whatever the secret police were called back then) had the human decency(?!?) to f***ing shoot their 16-year-olds, and thus grant CHILDREN quick and clean deaths.
Pacifists are -- in general -- morons.
Posted by: | September 12, 2004 at 12:35 AM
Dear "was wäre denn die alternative zum dialog",
blanket statements such as "pacifist are -- in general -- morons" may make you feel better but don't really help the discussion.
As for your "wonderful" alternative: Do you watch the news (i.e. Iraq) and see what happens if you just randomly topple totalitarian regimes without much of a plan or international support ?
Again, maybe having gotten rid of the regime may make you feel good about yourself, but there are less pretty consequences (creating hostile populations, chaos, disorder, potential recruits for terrorists etc.) too. Sure, sometimes the benefits outweigh the costs, but it is not often so clear-cut as you may think.
Posted by: joon | September 12, 2004 at 02:54 AM
So the leftists saved some rocks from serious injury, hay . Does there need be any more evidence on how these idiots work, Germany has not cornered the market with these types, They ought to be hanging and stoning of the leftist idiots, not a 16 year old Girl. But thats the world we live in hay, It stinks,and if it was not so serious, It would read as a sick joke, skary part ,it is'nt. Thanks leftist for making a safer world, One step closer to the Dhimmi, again
Posted by: | September 12, 2004 at 10:38 AM
Der Krieg gegen den Terror hat damit begonnen, daß Präsident Bush den Namen der Feinde der USA offen ausgesprochen hat.
Jetzt, drei Jahre danach, wäre es an der Zeit, die Namen der falschen Freunde der USA offen auszusprechen.
Posted by: fmj | September 12, 2004 at 11:06 AM
@ fmj
meine güte, jetzt haben wir aber angst! wie wär's damit: jetzt, nach drei jahren wäre es mal an der zeit, den usa vorzuhalten, was sie alles in den letzten drei jahren verbockt haben! hör doch auf mit diesem pathetischen "wer-nicht-für-uns-ist-ist-gegen-uns"-gequatsche!
Posted by: no comment | September 12, 2004 at 09:34 PM