I'd wager a year's pay that "he who shall not be named" will pipe in with his usual "hate everything American" drivel. He's so predicable.
Anti-war fringe group Code Pink recently used a time-honored tactic of war against a New York congressman: a naval blockade.
Clad in pink and chanting with bullhorns at an early hour, the "armada" of protesters in canoes and rafts amassed at a Washington, D.C., marina to protest at the house boat of Democratic Rep. Gary Ackerman.
Why? Because he's pro-war? No.
Because he's pro-sanctions, particularly with regard to the terrorist-supporting regime in Iran.
"This is what we're hoping for! No more sanctions, no more war!" they chanted.
Hey, we hope for that too. We also hope for a white Christmas, but we know the odds of that in good old Augusta, Ga.
The irony of all this, which is totally lost on the Code Pink crowd, is that sanctions are an attempt to prevent war. They are a peaceful means of averting a dangerous situation -- such as, oh, we don't know, like maybe Iran building nuclear weapons that are then used without provocation to wipe Israel off the map (which the Iranian president has promised will happen) and smuggled to terrorists for use on American soil (which you can pretty much count on).
As much as we all hope for no more sanctions and no more war and for snow on Dec. 25, it's more important to be realistic and actually work against war. One of the ways of doing that is to get like-minded souls in other countries to agree to join together and put diplomatic and economic pressure on a country like Iran to prevent it from seeking nuclear weapons.
Contrary to the mindless sing-songs of Code Pink, you have to do more than hope for the absence of war. You have to work toward peace. Sometimes, when the other side is unwilling to do so, you have to use peaceful diplomatic means to coerce cooperation out of them. This is one of those times.
These well-meaning ladies of the pink boa are hopelessly misguided if they think showing up early in the morning at a Washington marina to harass a mostly like-minded congressman is "waging peace." It's not. It's throwing a tantrum. And like most tantrums, it's irrational.
You don't wage peace by putting on pink and hoping for the best as you carol through the neighborhood. You wake up in the real world, you assess your adversary and you find whatever peaceful strategy you can to either settle a dispute or force a settlement. And you don't force it through cute slogans and bullhorns.
The world must drown out the babblings of the terminally naive and unite in strength to make it clear to Iran that its aggressions toward Israel will not be tolerated, and that it cannot be allowed to have nuclear weapons.
Unless our friends in pink want to jump straight to war, they ought to give sanctions a chance first.
Comments
I'd wager a year's pay that "he who shall not be named" will pipe in with his usual "hate everything American" drivel. He's so predicable.
As though there isn't already enough controversy in this country, the "pink ones" have to find something else to stir up. My guess is they have way too much time on their hands.
The word tactic is being disgraced and stupefied by the act of even labeling or giving these people time and space on a news channel or a newspaper...Code Pink please...Just give it up your a disgrace to yourselves as well as your country...
It is a fact that sanctions are seldom effective. Punitive sanctions are even less effective. Almost 50 years of sanctions against Cuba have not had their desired effect. Sanctions against the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq following the 1991 Gulf War did not succeed. Israeli sanctions against Hamas certainly have not succeeded. It is highly debatable that sanctions are a "peaceful" measure. Millions of Iraqi children died because of sanctions against Iraq. It is the most vulnerable members of a population who feel the effects of sanctions most acutely. Sanctions often have the counterproductive effect of radicalizing & alienating the civilian population they are supposed to be helping. Here is how to change Iran's behavior: President Bush should hold unconditional talks with the Iranian leaders. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has pledged to do so. No harm would come from face to face meetings & great benefits could ensue if both sides barter on a quid pro quo basis. United States must give something in order to get something. Pledging non-aggression against Iran & helping Iran open its trade to the west would go a long way toward entreating Iran to change. What have we got to lose by trying the negotiating route? Sanctions are not diplomatic measures IMO. Strong armed measures have failed. Try velvet diplomacy and the use of soft power to get what we want.
Those women are idiots.
Sister Abdullah: You win!
Cain you have lost your mind! You have done a 180. You argued that War in Iraq was unneccessary because the U,N. sanctions were keeping Saddam contained not that long ago. You argued let the IAEA do their job, blah,blah,blah,. Diplomacy is less effective than sanctions would be more accurate. Diplomacy has done little for the Middle East for 61 years. You are so lost in your agenda you will just say about anything anymore. You have lost credibility.
LOL..Cain...Yeah the non aggression treaties really worked against HITLER. I find it totally unbelievable that you have nothing but a desire to make peace with a "belief" that supports, slavery, anti female degradation and every...mark that EVERY thing the civil rights pimps oppose.
What does she win? Just like anyone else he has a right to comment. Okay I will play that game. Watch Jack, playlikethunder and John comment.
How about the Iranians taking non-aggressive stands rather than threatening Israel and promoting chaos which their President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said is his goal. How about they quit torturing. How about Iran become a secular state. Ahmadinejad stated: "In the world, there are deviations from the right path: Christianity and Judaism. Dollars have been devoted to the propagation of these deviations. There are also false claims that these [religions] will save mankind. But Islam is the only religion that [can] save mankind." From Wikipedia: In 2005, Khamenei responded to Ahmadinejad's alleged remark that Israel should be "wiped off the map" by saying that "the Islamic Republic has never threatened and will never threaten any country."[84] Moreover, Khamenei's main adviser in foreign policy, Ali Akbar Velayati, refused to take part in Ahmadinejad's Holocaust conference. In contrast to Ahmadinejad's remarks, Velayati said that the Holocaust was a genocide and a historical reality.[85] However, The 'Wipe Israel' phrase also appeared elsewhere: Iranian military parades in Ahmadinedjad's reign featured ballistic missiles adorned with slogans such as 'Israel must be uprooted and erased from history'.[86]
Both CNN and USA Today have reported on Ahmadinejad's calling for the dissolution of the state of Israel and its government, which he does not regard as legitimate or representative of the population (a view Cain shares). Five different sources responded to his comments concerning Israel be "wiped off the map". His denial of the Holocaust is just ridiculous. Why would anyone hold unconditional talks with a mad man. Sanctions are the only tool the U.N. has used with any efficacy.
Sanctions that are targeted & affect only the leadership are one thing, but general sanctions that hurt the economy & negatively impact ordinary Iranians' lives are counterproductive. Are you aware that U.S. exports to Iran have INCREASED during the Bush presidency, and Halliburton has or had ongoing business projects with the Iranian govt until very recently? From the AP: "The Associated Press reported Tuesday [July 8, 2008] that the value of U.S. exports to Iran has grown significantly during President Bush's years in office -- from about $8 million in 2001 to nearly $150 million last year. The exports, made under agricultural, medical & humanitarian exemptions to U.S. trade sanctions, included cigarettes, bull semen, corn, soybeans & medicine, among other goods."// There is no justification, humanitarian or otherwise, to sell tobacco to Iran. There is a highly respected Israeli expert who says that if you want peace in the Middle East give Iran 10 nuclear bombs. That would ensure that neither side would start a war. The fact is that Iran is not suicidal & will not attack Israel when it finally (and it will) develops a nuclear weapon. The only thing that will change is the balance of power in the region. Israel, United States & the world can and will learn to live with a nuclear Iran.
Well we can only take Ahmadinejad at his word, which is anti-semitic and anti-zionist. He would use a nuke on Iran in the blink of an eye, because it will precipitate Mahdi's return. "In a keynote speech on Wednesday to senior clerics, Ahmadinejad spoke of his strong belief in the second coming of Shi'ite Muslims' "hidden" 12th Imam. According to Shi'ite Muslim teaching, Abul-Qassem Mohammad, the 12th leader whom Shi'ites consider descended from the Prophet Mohammed, disappeared in 941 but will return at the end of time to lead an era of Islamic justice. "Our revolution's main mission is to pave the way for the reappearance of the 12th Imam, the Mahdi," Ahmadinejad said in the speech to Friday Prayers leaders from across the country. "Therefore, Iran should become a powerful, developed and model Islamic society." "Today, we should define our economic, cultural and political policies based on the policy of Imam Mahdi's return. We should avoid copying the West's policies and systems," he added, newspapers and local news agencies reported. Ahmadinejad refers to the return of the 12th Imam, also known as the Mahdi, in almost all his major speeches since he took office. This is from the Iranian Persian Journal. Cain knows this but he is an Arab-Islamic sympathizer wanting the destruction of Israel and supports all muslim nations and their goals over his own country. Of course he is ant-Zionist and not anti-semitic. LOL. He always defends the Palestinians no matter their actions and chastizes Israel. No balance because he is off balance. hee,hee,ee.Without regime change in Iran letting them go nuclear will likely precipitate global chaos. If they have a secular govt like Cain wishes for Israel then we should allow them to go nuclear, but not with a Islamic neocon in power.hee,hee,hee.
Cain/Sydiot, I agree that sanctions accomplish very little. SH/Iraq and Cuba are prime examples of it's failure. I Prefer B-2 bombers instead-sure got Khadafi's attention.
Cain's defeatist attitude that America is doomed, his Marixist sympathies as even PatriciaThomas notes, and his Islamic-Arab-Palestinian sympathies makes one question his partiotism and is he a terrorist sympathizer. Clearly his anti-war facade is applicable only to the U.S. and the destruction of the U.S. and Israel are acceptable by foreign powers. Of course isn't it great that in America Cain can promote such anti-America propaganda.
The federal statute on treason, 18 USC 2381, provides in relevant part: "Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States ... adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000."
IMO Cain's almost daily barrage against America qualifies him for treason.
I really wish someone had taken my bet this morning. Of course it WAS a sucker bet to begin with. And a year's pay would come in handy if Cain has his way, because the Government would want to confiscate it and redistribute it to those who didn't earn it anyway.
You know SisterX to be honest I once wondered why so much venom towards Cain, and perhaps you were too hard on Cain. But my apologies you are correct. He has an agenda that is to undermine the U.S. and sings praises of America's doom. Of course America has made mistakes (what country hasn't) but dang throw the baby out with the bath water. We need to make America better-not give up or be weak. We have to believe we are strong and have faith America will right itself. I can see hating injustice and wrong but it is self defeatist to hate America. Not unless you are unAmerica and your loyalites are elsewhere such as Cain's. He speaks out against Judaism and Christianity, but not Buddhism or Islam. I am really starting to believe he is an Islamic sympathizer trying to infiltrate our society with his propaganda, that or your run of mill Marxist. He definitely has an agenda lacking rhyme or reason so I thing something more insidious and sinister is what he is really about. I too speak out againt injustices and past errors, but I see that as cautionary tales and what not to do. He wants America defeated. I too am anti-war but if I was asked I would fight to preserve this country that allows me my freedom.
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