UPDATE II: Thanks to Juan Cole, who is an expert on Middle Eastern matters, for linking to this post. It helps people understand that on this side at least, we're after the truth and not just pumping up war propaganda, which seems all the wingnut war-o-sphere is all about (see note below for more).
NOTE: Also see IMPORTANT UPDATE to this story, which includes New York Post links on “Fourth Reich.”
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| Here we go again? |
Bush and the neocons want war in Iran, this is not news. Bush is weak, so war would rouse his base. Got it. So, obviously, the Iranian badge story plays right into their hands. So, we all have to take this story in our stride. Right now, it's my belief that we've got a p.r. campaign going to pump up the volume for war with Iran, because there is plenty of information out there that Bush is already planning to strike Iran. That said, the Iranian badge story could also be true, because the Simon Wiesenthal Center confirmed it to me today. Either that or their lying to anyone asking to aid the cause: a strike against Iran. We'll have to wait and see. But here's the letter they sent to Kofi Annan.
Via Raw Story, we get the following out of Canada, which says the story is
bunk.
But independent reporter Meir Javedanfar, an Israeli Middle East expert who was born and raised in Tehran, says the report is false.
“It's absolutely factually incorrect,” he told The New 940 Montreal.“Nowhere in the law is there any talk of Jews and Christians having to wear different colours. I've checked it with sources both inside Iran and outside.”
“The Iranian people would never stand for it. The Iranian government
wouldn't be stupid enough to do it.”
Sounds firm to me.
As I said, I spoke with Aaron Breitbart right before noon, a senior researcher for the Simon Weisenthal Center. Aaron said the story shooting across the web about Iranian badges is “absolutely true.” According to Aaron, Rabbi Hier has been on the phone for over four hours confirming the story, which they have now done. They consider this new Iranian law a “throwback” to
the bad old days of Hitler, which is an understandable reaction, given what they do at the Center. In confirming the story, Aaron said it's “very true” and “very scary.” He went further to say that Rabbi Hier has talked to experts in Iran who've confirmed his worst fears. No names were provided. Aaron also offered that “Iranian diplomats” who have been contacted about the story refuse to answer any questions at all. Obviously that's very vague and nothing further was given, so I have no way of helping you decipher if this is worth anything at all. However, Aaron said something else: “It's on Drudge.”
Stop everything.
I just received a fax from Aaron, which contained the original article that
was written by Iranian author and journalist Amir Taheri. It's a fax also asking a Rabbi Cooper for some information on the Iranian law, which has not gone into effect yet, but is definitely headed in that direction, according to them. Now let's talk about Amir Taheri for just a second. It didn't take long to find out he's part of Benador Associates. Guess who's also part of Benador? Charles Krauthammer and many other neocons.
Are you getting that feeling yet?
It's obvious from my conversation with Aaron Breitbart that the Simon Weisenthal Center takes this seriously. That's their business.
But you simply cannot come to this story without a sense of the politics involved either, to do so would be mingling naiveté with rank stupidity. So, I remind everyone of what you're likely aware: Iran and Israel are enemies; the U.S. and Israel are allied; plus the fact that Ahmadinejad and George W. Bush have opposing interests and similar solutions: war.
If you mix in this a very toxic political situation at home, with Bush on the ropes, you've got to wonder who's being played, or if war propaganda has just been started in earnest. I'll give you two guesses. But trust your first instincts on this, which will likely lead you back to Iraq.
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