Tuesday, February 28, 2006


Cloak-Tonic-Fig Leaf




"Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don't want war neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." - Hermann Goering

That was the 1930's. Has anything changed? People's Daily carries an article titled "The Evolving Us Anti-Terror Strategy" It is stolen and reproduced in entirety here.

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recently signed a new confidential anti-terror document. Judging from what's already known, the US anti-terror strategy hasn't changed much, only for the first time recognized the possible negative impacts of military operations in this regard and asked for more understanding of local culture and religion. This reflects the US embarrassment in its anti-terror strategy.

More than 30 new al-Qaeda branches have appeared ever since the "September 11", the Pentagon says. According to a recent report by Swedish paper Svenska Dagbladet, the black list the US distributed to its airport security staff for checking terror suspects has lengthened from 16 names before the "September 11" to today's 80,000, a stunning growth that fully testifies the "more anti-terror, more terror" theory.

A review of the different versions of US anti-terror strategy published shows nothing wise apart from the habitual reliance on hi-tech weapons and military force. The significance of fighting terrorism, however, seems lying in more on pressing forward the US global strategy and in domestic political strife. In fact, the Bush administration has not only put terror combat a long-term strategic goal and arduous task, but cultivated it into so huge a political capital as to create a subject called "anti-terror politics".

Terror fight has become a golden signboard or a "cloak" under which the Bush administration seeks for strategic advantages globally. It is obviously the top option to rally domestic support and beat off international criticism whether for launching wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, building new overseas military bases and reshuffling global military deployment, or promoting US-style democracy in other countries or even for handling the escalating Iranian nuclear crisis.

Terror combat, for the Bush administration, is also the best political "tonic" when it comes to party strife and public support.

A high approval rating is simply easy as long as one talks glibly about terrorist dangers. This was brought into full play in the presidential campaign at the end of 2004, when George W. Bush won his second term by holding high the anti-terror banner and beat back all kinds of attempts by the Democrats.

What's more, anti-terror efforts naturally served as a fig leaf when the government was dogged by scandals including "fabricated information" in launching the Iraqi war, the "leakage of CIA worker identity", the "abuse of detainees", the "secret prisons on foreign land" and the "eavesdropping" on international phone calls. Bush claimed in early February that al-Qaeda once schemed in October 2001 to attack a building of Bank of America in Los Angeles, but America successfully frustrated the plan.

Bush's dishing out of the terrorist attempt four years later, some media analyzed, is simply out of two considerations. First, to quash strong doubts stirred up by the "eavesdropping" scandal and justify government behavior; second, to guide public opinion so as to fish for political capital for his Republican Party at the mid-term elections in this November.

What else would be left for the US, on top of embarrassment, when the country has reduced its anti-terror strategy into a "cloak", "tonic" and "fig leaf"?


Monday, February 27, 2006


Quiet War In Africa

Is sub Saharan Africa to be western imperialism's next conquest? Or, is that one already over but just seldom mentioned to home folk? Though it may be quiet for them, it is hardly so where it rages.

Redwine's blog, which is linked here, leads off today with an in depth article on Dutch Shell Oil's essential ownership of and oppressive control of the Nigerian people and their government. It is well worth reading in entirety. Since about 40% of our Forum readers are from the USA, they, along with those of Europe, might make particular note of the letter on Redwine's post that was written by Ken Wiwa and directed to those of the US regarding their interest and culpability in the matter.

The move of the US into the region is also discussed well in a People's Daily article titled U.S. Steps Up Military Infiltration Into Africa.

"...To ensure the oil supply, the U.S. government has taken many measures of infiltration such as selling weapons to oil producing countries including Nigeria. ... U.S. military presence in Africa has two obvious tendencies: one is to deepen military cooperation in North Africa and the Horn of Africa for anti-terrorism purpose; and the other is to cooperate with West Africa for oil security. From strategic perspective, Washington's Africa policy has combined anti-terrorism, oil and garrisoning."


Sunday, February 26, 2006


Sinking Ship

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*
Setting sail away
from America:
The world finds it's too hard to do
business with the United States
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Sinking Ship
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"Lucrative opportunities taken away on a political whim; the danger of being locked up by an over-mighty government agency; the brick wall of protectionism - the business community expects to do battle with all these things in an emerging market."
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"Any businessman with any connection with the US, however tenuous, should think very carefully about the potential peril they face. Right here, right now, I would not advise even to engage in a business relationship with the US."
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Across the world, friends and free traders are concerned about the course set by the US. They say that while its motives are diverse - national security, energy supply concerns, the protection of investors - there is a single conclusion: it has become riskier, costlier and harder to do business with the US and, unless that changes, fewer people will want to.




Friday, February 24, 2006


Samarra Bombing

Mark From Ireland translated many remarks from Islamic web sites after the Samarra mosque bombing. His results are linked below. Those personally close seem to have an entirely different slant on significance of resulting events than will be seen in so called "legitimate" news.

I left this comment on Mark's blog "I didn’t see one mention of the C.I.A. on this page. Tendency of history repetition and mathematics of probability beckon me to include it".

Mark's response here included the following. ... Many thanks for visiting and commenting on my posting "Reaction to the Samarra Bombing" actually every single one of those comments I quoted was a reference to the CIA and would be understood to be such by the readers in those fora....".

Mark frequently comments on Nur's blog linked under our User Sites. Both are worth following.


Thursday, February 23, 2006


Boring to Ignorant

The GMI international marketing company completed a poll of 25,000 people from 35 countries to see how they ranked the world's nations with regard to culture, people, and appeal as a place to visit, invest in, or migrate to.

The ranking of the top 10 in order of desirability were 1) UK, 2) Switzerland, 3) Canada, 4) Italy, 5) Sweden, 6) Germany, 7) Japan, 8) France, 9) Australia, and 10) United States.

While UK citizens were considered to be the most polite and best educated, they were also rated the most boring. The French were seen as the "rudest". Americans were viewed as the most "ignorant".

No mention was made of "most war like", but that is rather obvious.


Not Made in China

"...gave us almost no margin for profit, and since then, the cost of plastic has sky-rocketed. So we really can't afford to make any more until we find a more cost-effective means of getting the pyramids manufactured. This leads us to the question of going to China..."

Not Made in China

And.

"Not made in China".


Wednesday, February 22, 2006


Hearts Don't Twist

An email from a US student requested information I am posting here. He wrote: ".... I'm working on thesis exploring the migration of former lefties...to the right. There seems to be a number of people who have made a huge leap from the extreme left to the extreme right. If you know of any prominent people who have made such a leap in their lives, .... "

The answer is a simple "No, I know of none and doubt if any exist".

Filling that out depends on probable differing definitions, those assigned to "extreme", "left", "right", and "prominent".

Does "prominent" refer to those noted by public media, audio, visual or written? If so, I doubt we give it the same significance. Media pundits by nature of position cannot conceive of a leaderless movement more dedicated to cause than person. So, they create what they need. It is usually someone of willing acceptance for the wrong reasons, who fits erroneous media concept, and whose value lies in making believable but off the mark stories for media devotees.

The US is a nation of many subcultures mostly unaware of the others except in negative connotation. Media employees are usually from and always controlled by those of the dominant one. Most activists I've known shunned approaches by the media like the plague and let those who accepted media leadership crowns to do their thing just as long as they didn't get in the way, which they almost always did.

We probably also diverge on meaning of "extreme". People of the dominant US culture are easily characterized by extreme stupidity of wilful ignorance. All one has to do is consider knowledge they lack, how they act, what they allow, and what they are. Most of them would probably consider as extreme anyone advocating and advancing overthrow of that government by any means necessary. That such should be categorized as extreme is far from a universally held view.

Concepts of "left" and "right" are vaguely defined and vary between societies. The United States, champion land of propagandized dolts, is hardly the arbiter of labeling propriety. Here in Mexico for example, Ronald Reagan might be called "liberal" and Osama bin Laden "conservative". One would have to get beyond US borders to understand why, but it has to do with literal meaning rather than US distortion. My own view of such words are probably best illustrated by posts on this Forum, material in the Further Left Library, and in particular there, its section titled Radical Activism.

We have a saying in Mexico: "Hay mucho trecho entre dicho y hecho". It is recognition of a long distance between saying and doing. It applies to those who talk a big game of what is thought left and right while remaining in personal security high on the hill tops while expounding on the wounded in battles below. Most of those involved in what I considered "left" paid little attention to such word smiths. Immersion in activity prevented wasting concern talking about it to those who didn't matter.

It is thought by some who never were that the movement is a thing of the past. Not so. It existed long before us and will continue long after. Activity teaches it is not enough to understand the beast fought, to write and yell about it, raise temporary hell in the streets, disrupt establishment meetings, picket businesses, organize in bars and churches, leaflet on sidewalks and front doors, or even fight in fields. There is realization the price of change is devotion of lives to what is espoused. Many I've known determined to direct personal skills more intimately to that end throughout the time they had left. Strategies and tactics shifted in tune with time, situations, and individuals but never did they make the 180 degree turn postulated in the question at hand. Hearts don't twist.

There were some who weaseled into the system to subvert from inside. Others migrated to employment where they’d be more in touch with people most hurting.

Several workers I’d known with SNCC and SCLC rose to begrudging US national prominence and still fight for beliefs while occupying positions as large city mayors and councilmen, members of congress, international emissaries, and even a presidential candidate. Those might be called "prominent" for position but not out of understanding their base dedication.

Though residing in Mexico, I maintain contact with US friends of old still as involved as before with issues of the day. From those I can offer examples. A minister in the civil rights movement becomes an attorney, retires after heading a poverty law center, and now organizes neighborhoods to oppose bank discriminatory lending practices. A publisher of an underground newspaper goes to school after serving prison time, becomes an attorney, heads a large state ACLU office, and vacations in Latin America monitoring rightist response to guerilla struggles. He last visited us in Mexico after escaping as a prisoner of a right wing private army. A professor of English retires to write articles supporting social action and publishes a book to that end.

A NAACP past president once arrested for being a black Santa Claus still fights discriminatory hiring. An SDS militant becomes a nationally known drug rehabilitation consultant. A college student moves to union organizer and now sits on a city council. Another is a social worker who works fighting his bosses rather than clients, knowing the struggle is about power of the people. A black activist and organizer becomes a physician and presses for socialized medicine. Another couple become peace corp volunteers dancing with its CIA sponsor on company time and agitating revolution between the lines. My own twist was to apply a technical background toward agitating in what became computer communication.

The Further Left Chat Room is visited by several from around the world who have and still risk themselves regularly in dedication to the cause of its purpose. You won't hear much about that though. Those who talk are often by nature not those who do and those who do are often by necessity not those who talk.

But come around anyhow and enjoy the company. We'll do our best to help you move toward what is best done away from a computer or a thesis.


Monday, February 20, 2006


It's No Secret

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The Educational System Was Designed to
Keep Them Uneducated and Docile

Here is some of the History of America that shows why their school children do not show an interest in their constitution or their rights.

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"We believe that education is one of the principal causes of discontent of late years manifesting itself among the laboring classes."

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"Every teacher should realize he is a social servant set apart for the maintenance of the proper social order and the securing of the right social growth."

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"Schools should be factories in which raw products, children, are to be shaped and formed into finished products, manufactured like nails, and the specifications for manufacturing will come from government and industry."



Freedom, Who Cares?

"The way many high school students see it, government censorship of newspapers may not be a bad thing, and flag burning is hardly protected free speech.

It turns out the First Amendment is a second-rate issue to many of those nearing their own adult independence, according to a study of high school attitudes released Monday.

"The original amendment to the Constitution is the cornerstone of the way of life in the United States, promising citizens the freedoms of religion, speech, press and assembly.", according to a recent article in MSNBC.com.

It's not just highschool kids though. For example - ask any of your friends what the fourth amendment is.

Here is a refresher: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Although there have been a lot of news on this topic (GITMO, extraordinary renditions, NSA spying, Patriot Act, FISA Courts...), the fourth amendment hardly ever gets mentioned. Kids learn by watching mindless TV. But if it's never talked about, how can they learn? How can they understand what this dictatorship is trying to take away?


Finally Honest TV



Sunday, February 19, 2006


Help Stop Iran War

Alexandros sent this link for signing a petition to US officials intended to stop their planned war in Iran before it begins. Take the time to read through its list of sponsors to note the illustrious company you will join on signing.


Thursday, February 16, 2006


I'm One. So Are You.


Britain passed a law delineating statements which glorify terrorists as criteria for listing as same. The US terrorist list has grown to over 325,000. Stating that London and 9/11 were deserved response to histories of colonialism and aggression might cause inclusion. I said it. Count me in!

Not content with taking land and life, Zatikia's post below tells how Usukers now consider the internet itself as enemy to be conquered. You are here. You are a terrorist too!

A differing definition of terrorist, one to which I lean, and that acknowledged through much of the world, might be no more than having Usuk citizenship. Given such view, my terrorist list could be compiled by census count. The CIA gives populations of the US and UK as 295,734,134 and 50,441,457 respectively. Those add to 346,175,591 Usuker terrorists.

Ha! My list is a thousand times bigger than theirs. I win! And, I believe there is more truth to that than not.

If it weren't for destruction, death, and ruined lives brought by machinations of the list makers, the short sighted arrogance behind their attempts born of dreams concocted from yesterday's world would be considered silly and laughable. What they don't seem to have completely grasped is the full implication of very recent, profound, and unescapable changes that have effected all societies. Advances in transportation and communication have altered the slant of fields of action between old perpetrators of misery and previously yearning victims who now rise to read the rules of conquest backwards.

Technological shrinkage allows Usukers to rapidly send death dealing bombs, boats, bullies, and bullshit anywhere. No matter the speed or target, it also creates today an appropriate reception which might be properly accompanied with the blues line "You better treat me right or let me be, 'cause I can beat you doing what you're doing to me".



Wednesday, February 15, 2006


Net War

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Full Spectrum Dominance
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The Pentagon’s
War on the Internet
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Alternet Press Review
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"The internet is the last bastion of American democracy; a virtual world where reliable information moves instantly from person to person without passing through the corporate filter."
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"The Pentagon has developed a comprehensive strategy for taking over the internet and controlling the free flow of information. The plan appears in a recently declassified document, “The Information Operations Roadmap” , which was provided under the Freedom of Information Act and revealed in an article by the BBC."
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"The Pentagon sees the internet in terms of a military adversary that poses a vital threat to its stated mission of global domination. This explains the confrontational language in the document which speaks of “fighting the net”; implying that the internet is the equivalent of “an enemy weapons system."
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"Information-warfare is used to create an impenetrable cloud around the activities of government so that decisions can be made without dissent. The smokescreen of deception that encompasses the Bush administration has less to do with prevaricating politicians than it does with a clearly articulated policy of obfuscation. “The Information Operations Roadmap” is solely intended to undermine the principle of an informed citizenry."
*
You better watch out!!




Sunday, February 12, 2006


So Needy

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Nation Facing Intensifying
Drug Violence
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El Universal
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This violence here in Mexico is directly the fault of American peoples craving for drugs and Americas outlawing of them. Just like their need for cheap labor attracts the migrant, and at the same time they outlaw him too. There is more power and profit to be made with needs made illegal.


Saturday, February 11, 2006


US-Mex Border Crash

20 injured in chase near U.S.-Mexico border


Left Behind

INTELLIDUNCE BRIEFING

This poem is constructed entirely of actual quotations of George W. Bush, the champion of American education who touted a program better renamed "No One Child Left Behind".

I think we all agree, the past is over.
This is still a dangerous world.
It is a world of madmen and uncertainty.
And potential mental losses.

Rarely is the question asked.
Is our children learning?
Will the highways of the Internet.
Become more few?

How many hands have I shaked?
They misunderestimate me.
I am a pitbull on the pantleg of opportunity.

I know that the human being.
And the fish can coexist.
Families is where our nation finds hope.
Where our wings take dream.

Put food on your family!
Knock down the tollbooth!
Vulcanize society!
Make the pie higher!


Thursday, February 09, 2006


Overstepping

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*
Not only are American politics corrupt but even their show of manners have become more so continuously, as they no longer bother to hide what they really are. A nation with no respect for anything. They have kicked out a Cuban delegation staying at one of their hotels in Mexico. Just behind the fact they are Cuban. And the fact that fear of what Cuba represents has caused a hatred for them that is acted out for financial gain and power. Such prejudice reflects the whole of the nation and why there is constant turmoil with all the conflicting races and types gathered in it, and is a tool of their wars to gain support for government. There are countries that think they can mock and disrespect and abuse those they feel their inferiors, but these countries will pay for it, dearly.
*
Two more articles today from El Universal in Mexico City, on their front page: Gov´t Examining Options and Protestors block Entrance to Sheraton . "Mexico City Mayor Alejandro Encinas told reporters Tuesday the incident was "a clear case of discrimination that we can´t accept." "Jesus Escamilla, of the Mexican Movement in Solidarity with Cuba, said the Mexican people will "defend their nation´s sovereignty, and impede the application of U.S. laws in Mexican territory. The only laws that apply in Mexican territory are Mexican and we will decide who we receive and who we don´t."
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Granma International from Cuba has a revealing article about it also: "Marcela Gonzalez Salas, president of the Chamber of Deputies, affirmed last night that evicting the Cubans on the basis of a U.S. law is totally shameful and asked for the Sheraton to be sanctioned. "I believe that this business of having U.S. legislation in Mexico and applying extraterritorial law is absolutely inconceivable and unacceptable," she stressed. "In Mexico we have to do something because this cannot go unpunished. Just think what we are coming to when a U.S. company can tell us who we can receive and not receive in our country."
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From Prensa Latina this article: "Members of the Mexican Movement of Solidarity with Cuba appeared in front of the building and closed it symbolically for two hours, during a protest. Closed down, for being servile to the US imperialism and hurt the national sovereignty, read one of the banners. "
*
A very interesting view of what is behind the reason for Americas actions from the Taipei Times: "Some of the largest US oil companies, including Exxon Mobil and Valero Energy, were meeting with Cuban officials on what was thought to be neutral ground in the cradle of Mexican capitalism, a short stroll on Paseo de la Reforma from a Starbucks, the US embassy and Mexico's stock exchange. The oil-importing Port of Corpus Christi and US shipping and oilfield equipment companies also sent representatives. Cuba's proven oil reserves of 750 million barrels exceed those of Sudan, an African nation that has lured large non-American investments to its oil industry despite US economic sanctions in place since 1997."



Monday, February 06, 2006


Looking South

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*

The century that will mark the end of US imperialism, says Hugo Chavez of our future, as he accepted The Jose Marti Award from Castro. I read this Cuban article in Granma International this morning with a feeling of hope. Better leaders, better heroes, better people.

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"Chavez, who recalled the 200-plus years of attempts on the part of U.S. imperialism to swallow up Our America, once again thanked the Cuban Revolution and people".

*

Looking at America looks bleak, like all that is good about mankind could be swallowed up for a profit. But looking away from America, the US of A, to the real Americas, I see such a better view.

*
And here in todays news from Mexico city, El Universal , I read of a program called the "Swap Your Guns for Coupons". A way to thin down the illegal guns in Mexico flowing across the border due to the escalating American war on drugs and migrants. No legal questions are asked. Coupons are good in grocery and department stores. A small positive solution to a massive negative problem. But little by little, or poco a poco as they say here.

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"Buying a weapon legally is extremely difficult in Mexico. The Secretary of Defense issues all gun licenses after a wait of one year or more, and they cost about US$1,900. Licenses must be renewed every two years, and there are fewer than 2,500 registered gun owners in the entire country".

*
How good it would be if Mexico did not have this constant problem of having a border with a country like Untied States. It is hard to find a balance neighboring with a nation that out of control and so very dangerous and greedy.

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The last thing I read is about another type of exchange, brought on by Americas actions and needs also. It seems that no matter where you look, there it is, evidence that America is a world plague, all it touches it taints, if not just all out spoils and kills.

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Fraud Aid reports on "A system by which drug money profits are laundered through the use of international trade and blocked currency accounts". A telling of how "The drug money has thus been moved into the banking system, the broker has his new peso accounts, making money from all sides in the process, the drug dealers have their pesos, the Columbian importer has his foreign products to sell at a cheaper price, and everyone has made out like a bandit."

*

Americas drug policies and their drug needs are a weapon for spreading oppression and domination, and of course, their ever present goal, profit.

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So I end my news reading for this session, too much of America too early is not good for the heart and soul. There is a better world out there, I hope it wins.



Saturday, February 04, 2006


Cows with guns


Now for a brief intermission. Watch the short film Cows with guns to understand why cows and chickens have to stick together.


Friday, February 03, 2006


Shit Heads

A new brand of toilet paper called “Political” will soon appear in Russian and Ukrainian shops featuring the pictures of appropiate politicians including Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President George W. Bush, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.


Wednesday, February 01, 2006


Iran Says No

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*

It is absurd for the United States of America to claim its own leadership to the world and to say only the leader can do these things. The rest of you are followers and do as you are told. This is not leadership, but oppression and abuse. There is no equality or respect in this at all. Just a bully attempt to control. Thug mentality.

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If it is one countries right, than it is anothers, just like the human race, we all have the same rights. America must be taken out of the position where it thinks it can decide who has these rights, if there is to be any sort of balance that can maintain peace in our world.

From Aljeezera: Iran Vows to Resist Western Pressures

"Iran's president has labeled the US a "hollow superpower" and declared his country would defy Western pressure and complete its nuclear programme".

"Ahmadinejad said that the US is "tainted with the blood of nations" and led by a man who became president through a court ruling".



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