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What Do These Beautiful People Have In Common?
They're Iranians.
(They also happen to live in a stunningly beautiful country).
Why am I - an American - sharing flattering pictures of Iranian people?
Well-known American travel writer Rick Steves - who normally focuses on Europe - visited Iran to find out what the people are really like. (Steve's did a very balanced television special on his trip to Iran.)
As Steves says in a 10-minute C-span video, it is common to demonize the enemy to try to justify war, but we should "get to know people before we decide to bomb them".
While the hard-liners in Iran are problematic, I - like Steves - am simply trying to show other sides of Iran than normally shown in the war-loving American media, especially given that:
- The top American defense officials say that - despite its heated rhetoric - Iran is a "rational actor". For example, in 2011, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testified before Congress that “we continue to judge Iran’s nuclear decision-making is guided by a cost-benefit approach.” In February 2012, General Ron Burgess, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, told Congress that “the agency assesses Iran is unlikely to initiate or provoke a conflict.” Also in February, General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said: “We are of the opinion that Iran is a rational actor”
- Top American and Israeli military and intelligence officials say that Iran has not decided to build a nuclear bomb
- Top American and Israeli military and intelligence officials say that - even if Iran did build a nuclear bomb - it would not be that dangerous, because Israel and America have so many more nukes. And see this
- Top American and Israeli defense and intelligence bosses say that attacking Iran would only speed up its development of nuclear weapons, empower its hardliners, and undermine the chance for democratic reform
- While Iran's president may be a loose cannon verbally, his words have often been mistranslated by the press, and so it is hard to tell what he's actually saying. Moreover, experienced diplomats know that things said for internal political consumption should not be taken as serious threats. And Iran has not attacked another country in hundreds of years
- Security experts – including both hawks and doves – agree that waging war in the Middle East weakens national security and increases terrorism. See this, this, this, this, this, this, this and this
- 25 nations are sending cruisers, aircraft carriers and minesweepers to Iran's doorstep: the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. alone has sent 3 US Nimitz class carrier groups, each of which has more aircraft than the entire complement of the Iranian air force. The carriers are supported by at least 12 battleships, including ballistic missile cruisers, frigates, destroyers and assault ships carrying thousands of US Marines and special forces.
- Israel is permanently stationing a submarine carrying nuclear cruise missiles in the Persian Gulf
- Well-known economist Nouriel Roubini says that attacking Iran would lead to global recession. The IMF says that Iran cutting off oil supplies could raise crude prices 30%. War with Iran would kill the American economy. And see this and this
- China and Russia have warned that attacking Iran could lead to World War III
- The people pushing for war against Iran are the same people who pushed for war against Iraq, and said it would be a "cakewalk". See this and this
- Hotheads within the U.S. have been claiming for more than 30 years that Iran was on the verge of nuclear capability
- Iran has one of the largest Jewish populations in the world, and the second-largest in the Middle East behind Israel
- Jews are protected by the Iranian constitution, and are guaranteed seats in the Iranian parliament. And see this
- It was the ancient Iranian king Cyrus who freed the Jews from captivity by the Babylonians
- According to Stanley Weiss, Iranian diplomats in Europe saved thousands of Jews from the Holocaust and Iran served as an escape route for Iraqi Jews fleeing to Israel after the 1948 war for Israeli independence. Weiss also says that Iran was one of the first Muslim countries to establish diplomatic and trade relations with the state of Israel
- The CIA admits that the U.S. overthrew the moderate, suit-and-tie-wearing, Democratically-elected prime minister of Iran in 1953. He was overthrown because he had nationalized Iran's oil, which had previously been controlled by BP and other Western oil companies. As part of that action, the CIA admits that it hired Iranians to pose as Communists and stage bombings in Iran in order to turn the country against its prime minister
- If the U.S. hadn't overthrown the moderate Iranian government, the fundamentalist Mullahs would have never taken over. (Moreover, the U.S. has had a large hand in strengthening radical Islam in the Middle East by supporting radicals to fight the Soviets and others)
- The U.S. armed and supported Iraq after it invaded Iran and engaged in a long, bloody war which included the use of chemical weapons. Here is former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld meeting with Saddam Hussein in the 1980's, several months after Saddam had used chemical weapons in a massacre:
- The U.S. helped fund Iran's nuclear program
- The U.S. has been actively planning regime change in Iran - and throughout the oil-rich Middle East and North Africa - for 20 years
- The decision to threaten to bomb Iran was made before 9/11
- America and Israel both support a group designated by the U.S. as a terrorist organization which is trying to overthrow the Iranian government - the same group Bush focused on when he accused Saddam Hussein of harboring terrorists.
- Indeed, the U.S. is supporting Islamic terrorists who are killing Christians and Jews (these are the same idiots who are now attacking our embassies)
- We have nothing to fear but fear itself ... and the fear of terrorism is destroying America.
Finally, I am against any religion being unfairly blamed for terrorism. For example, Christianity is not responsible for terrorism, even though the Norwegian shooter claimed to be a devout Christian, millions of the most radical types of evangelical Christians want to start WWIII to speed the “second coming”, rogue U.S. military leaders want to start a nuclear war to wipe out Islam, a FEMA trainer implies that Christians are crazy radicals prone to terrorism, and polls show that Christians are more prone to use violence than Muslims.
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Looks like you all are gearing up for war with Iran. I do not know if it is warmongers or government propaganda populating the commentary of this blog. All I know for certain is that I am glad to be out of the U.S. and in a place that is energy independent. For the U.S. to go to war with Iran is madness. The price of gasoline in the U.S. will result in massive civil unrest and severe economic depression before the Straits can be opened. You all best think about geo-strategic reality more than your rabid desire to reform other people's religions and tell them how they should live in their lands. All the best... U.S. ...
GW Americans love war and killing people, it's part of the new national character. Really because the US hasn't ever had the experience the full horror of war, the closest being the Civil War, and even then virtually all of the atrocities were committed in one geographic region. Americans will continue to beat their chests and talk about how tough they are until it is forced to undergo the true horror of war. I doubt America will deal with the suffering in the same stoic manner as the Chinese or Russians have historically.
Great point. We should learn to be more stoic, should we have to suffer. We have so much to learn about being good losers.
I'm not advocating suffering, I'd love to avoid it! America has through whatever reason you want to put on it (luck, divine providence, political skill) not really had to fight a major war on it's own soil in a really long time. Barring the self inflicted one, nothing since the rise of the total war concept. Russia on the other hand has been drug into many wars and bleed viciously, likewise other nations as well. It scars a people that kind of horror. I would much rather America abandon it's imperial goals, war is not a fun happy thing. When people are forced to face the reality of what war really is I don't think they will have the mental strength to deal with it.
In WW2 the US lost about 400,000 military men. The UK lost almost as many with 1/3 the population, Yugoslavia lost more than the Us with 1/10 the population. Germany lost over 5 million and the Soviet Union over 8 million, and the US didn't take significant civilian losses. Can you imagine the public if the the US had to suffer losses comparable to many of the nations in WW2? In the US people call 911 if McDonalds runs out of chicken mcnuggets!
Is it possible that Iran simply just does not have a Rothschild controlled central bank - Like Libya?
They seem to be able to sell oil to China on their own terms. I would guess that this situation is just not acceptable to TPTB.
Also Obarmy seems to need a reason to declare a state of national emergency and marshall law in the event of losing - or looking like losing some pending election - thereby cancelling or declaring null and void said election.
He got in by hook and crook - He will stay in by hook or by crook! He is now your Ghadaffi - Only not as nice.
Just a thinkin' (a little sideways!)
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/
You are a moron. QED
Sure it's a pretty country. Terrible thing that they have those maniacs that like to saw peoples heads off with blunt blades to prolong the agony. Don't worry about their leadership actively trying to hasten the return of the 12th Imam and the end of the world so they can rule over their world wide caliphate. No worries there GW, none at all!
What better way is there to block out western influence and weaken the greatest threat to your rule (the people) than to get the west to introduce sanctions against you? Throw some threats around and make noises about nyooks and you will cement your rule against the now isolated populace for at least another generation or two. Even if we aren't all that free here in the U.S. anymore, the aura of freedom and prosperity we once represented inspires others. Since freedom isn't popular with governments like the ones in Iran, if I were a despot dictator, I would reduce the exposure my citizens had to those kinds of ideals any way I could. Amerika is the great satan! They eat babies and drink the blood of virgins! Bitchezzz.
So we should accept the Iranian theocrats stated goal of Israel's destruction and a global jihad as nonsense?
Nice job of humanizing, George. A real winner.
Still, I think I could take some purty pics in New Joisy, if I could keep Snooki out of the frame.
I'm not for war with Iran but I'm sorry - what does physical beauty have to do with deserving more understanding and respect? I mean what if they really were the stereotypes that people sometimes imagine? Not so pretty, ugly landscape, poor infrastructure, living in another century - they deserve to be bombed? Help me out here. I'm not getting all this they are super-model beautiful therefore don't bomb them. They should be left alone because they are no threat to us - period. Not because their land is pretty and their women are beautiful. Com'on.
The Only irrational actors in this day and age are the US, Israel and Britain. Everyone else, when you take a step back (or several) and look at complex situations objectively you'll see that everyone else is quite sane, especially Russia, China and Iran (though maybe not NoKo).
Yep, everyone thought Hitler was a "rational actor" too. They simply decided not to believe what he said over and over until he followed through.
Neda was attractive. Very attractive. The Iranian snipers picked her up easily in a crowded street protest.
http://internationalpost.wordpress.com/2009/06/20/iranian-girl-neda-kill...
What do these beautiful people have in common? Likely, from the extent they seem to have embraced western culture, a disdain for Ahmadinejad and the mullahs sucking up good air for no good reason. My guess is that none of those pictured above are the ones in the street screaming "Down down USA!" Oh, well, anytime such blatant, undistilled propaganda rears its head, we've got this George Washington fellow who rides onto the scene to... oh... nevermind then.
The beautiful blue-eyed European-looking people are descended from those stolen during the 1400 years of Muslim raids into Europe. We want them back now or we will bomb you.
Cute on a certain level, but the Persians are Aryans as are many tribes in India.
Worked with 2 Iranians throughout my career and knew one that my parents sponsored as an exchange student. The Iranian my parents sponsored (mid to late 70's) his father was a close associate of the Shah of Iran and extremely wealthy. His son, whom my parents sponsored, was a complete and utter asshole, smart as a whip, but total creep. Treated my parents horribly, I can only hope karma and the Iranian revolution turned the tide for him and his rotten to core attitude. Of course, the Shah was the one the US considered 'their own'.
The 2 Iranians I worked with in engineering, Arizona and then in Oregon, were some of the nicest and personable people I've worked with. Very smart, open and friendly (hello Merdad (Motorola MPO) if you're reading this) ... they explained and showed many pictures of how beautiful Iran is, how nice the people there are (they talked often about how nice Iranians were to Americans and other foreigners IN Iran), how beautiful the women were, and it was obvious they missed their home country. They looked forward to going back to go skiing .. among other things. Most foreign workers I've worked with, and I have worked with several hundred over the years, only a few expressed interest in, wanting to return to and raved about their home country and those were Iranians and some europeans.
Another good one GW. Keep it up.
Germans int he 1930s were very, very nice people.
GW, check the just released record describing how these people described they had fun and joy rouding up and murdering thousands of non-germans. Every day. For weeks and month. Check UK press, because USA media didn't report the release of new records.
These "nice people" are a very easily controlled mod that does whatever its leader tells them to do.
=> Zerohedge has been infected by warmongers.
=> Zerohedge has been infected by Uncle Scam's Information Warefare units.
that's hardly a representative picture of iran's population.
it's like saying that hollywood cat walk babes and models are representative of the average obese, ugly, imbecile ameerikan whose only interest is american idol, idolizing their masters in israel and bombing the fuck out of any country that is inconvenient for zionist israeli overlords.
As GW feels the need to talk about beautiful people to amuse us and fill us with nostalgia;
in the same vein, here is an interesting article written by a "bootiful person" who has the merit of writing well. Well worth a read!
Alec Baldwin: Can America Be Great Again?
Getting lame, George. I will write your next article for you...."Will someone please think of the children!". There, done.
There are beautiful people in every country, but that is beside the point. What policies do these beautiful people advocate and support, what values do they hold dear? Those values are expressed by the politicians a country's people choose to support, or at least to no sufficiently oppose.
Does the leader of Iran speak for these beautiful people when he yearns to destroy Israel and is enriching uranium day and night in quantities far beyond what is needed to run the few reactors in the country?
Neither one of the jokers trying to be president represents me. Please do tell how I'm suppose to oppose them. I'd hope the Iranian people would take that into consideration if the tables were turned.
"What Do These Beautiful People Have In Common? "
What is your point George Washington ?
Do you want to say Iranians are whites like us ? You find as many, if not more, beautiful people from all the 192 or so countries of the world.
Hey George, I'm sure that 1930's Germany had some real hotties in their fashion pages as well. Not that your points about demonization aren't valid, but your; "look, see how pretty and normal they are" argument is nonsensical.
In the past 2 years I worked in every Persian Gulf country. The Iranians were by far the easiest to work with.
First, "blessed are the peacemakers". God bless you for militating for peace.
But your last comments show a deliberate ignorance of the historical facts. Islam spreads through conquest and history shows their successes and, thankfully, their failures. Today they are on a roll, and its not just the "radicals". Orthodox Islam demands the submission of the kafir. Judaism does not - one follows the way of the Jew for reasons of one's own conscience, not because of the sword. Jesus commands His followers to make disciples, which is a process of presenting the Gospel and offering the respondent a seat at the table voluntarily, otherwise, there are no Christians. Christianity commands nothing with regard to the unbelievers except to love them, send missionaries to feed their poor and patch their sick asking nothing at all in return, and so far as is possible live at peace with all men. That is "orthodox" Christianity.
The USA is dead wrong on Syria and on Iran, as Obama proves himself to be the most loyal, and most bloody, Neocon president yet elected. His mercenaries in Syria are they who snipe-down unarmed non-combatant journalists, and his mercenaries fly the Black Flag. God help us, we are a muderous nation.
Read my book Sidi Kafir and you'll find out it was not just a muslim trait but also of christian Templar. Jihad and Crusade; same mindset!
Amazon.com: sidi kafir
This guy was my premonitory reply to our current Templar Anders Breivik; of similar origin to that of my novel hero.
I wrote the book before he emulated the Crusader zeal in sad, current times; when "blessed are the peacemakers" seems a receding horizon of new twilight zone.
I root for Iran ! When my country went into trouble due to politics and revolution, Iran was one of the first to start to pay their debt owed to us. Even in small bits or barter.
George Washington Blog gets worse and worse. The other day it posted some of the same photos and said they were from Saudi Arabia. Pathetic.
Thanks GW.
Any you fuckheads ever been to Iran? They are perhaps the most down to earth, generous, kind people on the planet. I'm so sick of the kike inspired bullshit that has filled american cattle heads. These people are our natural allies. We should be taking out Israel.
We shouldn't be taking anyone out.
War is only bad if it's not solving the Israel Problem, finishing what Hitler started. Hatred for the USA worldwide follows the revelation that without a USA there'd be no Israel. That's just how it is.
you, apparently, don't know how to read.
And you are stupid.
They're photogenic?
hirstute?
I flew helicopters in Vietnam and saw some of the most magnificent country in the world, until the NVA 51 cal.’s (12.7×108 mm) would open up. I had a whore in Thailand; stunningly beautiful, an incredible woman, till she pulled her pants down and the stink almost made me puke. My friend was not as <I>sensitive</I> and he got gonorrhea.
no one says it, so I will: both were fucked by americans.
I realize that the blurb ZH uses about survival rates may have mislead yu, but http://www.sofmag.com/wp/soldier-of-fortune-magazine/ is over there...
Same story, different day. The politicians, banksters, and crony capitalists, along with some high ranking members of the military, believe that through a combination of arms dealing and subversion, the USA must impose its sanctimonious model to all those who really don't want anything to do with our corruption. They're just hoping the complicit media keeps playing along; because when they're exposed as self enriching opportunists, anything may happen. Prison, bankruptcy, exile, a visit to The Hague for a war crimes trial, etc...
Some assholes believe killing Bin Laden is foreign policy. Some assholes believed killing Saddam was foreign policy.
What if some foreign actor believes assasinating our leadership is foreign policy?
What if some domestic actor believes in assassinating our leadership is domestic policy? LBJ and the CIA did away with JFK.
I, for one, would not mind at all if the heads of governments around the world went after each other and left the common folks alone and unaffected. Let's have a Putin vs. Obama Pay-per-view special. Or how about Hillary vs. Ahmadinejad? Much more entertaining, IMO, than 'Dancing with the Stars'. We could call it 'Survivor, Head of State'.
awesome idea. let's give em blunt weapons.
Just a good old fashioned bare knuckles fight like in the Frankie Goes To Hollywood video Two Tribes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6-2b_3Dmxw
What do they have in common? They're goyim, obviously. And cannon fodder.
I like GW's research and articles, but the political/banker elite cannot be reached through logic or appeals to common humanity. The rabbit hole is deep and dark.
I fear you're correct.
Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u2lVB067GI
Personally, I think they're overplaying their hand right now. I have no proof of that, it's a hunch.