Democracy's Sirens

One of the first articles I wrote - first published by Payvand* in 2005.  Amateurish, but accurate.  It is just as applicable today.

One can easily change "Iran" with all the other countries the US is destroying under the banner of 'democracy' and 'human rights' (here I have Venezuela in mind).   And it continues as we have become keyboard warriors instead of  protestors.  How well they have managed to silence our voices by having it confined to cyberspace!  And we share the guilt.


Democracy’s Sirens



In Greek mythology, the SIRENS had maidens' features, but from the thighs down they had the forms of birds. One of them played the lyre, another sang, and another played the flute. By these means, and by clever, knavish, and deceitful words, they persuaded passing mariners to linger, thus causing their destruction.   The SIRENS are thought to be three, but the names given are more: Aglaope, Leucosia 2, Parthenope 3, Pisinoe 1, Thelxiepia.



Our ‘Sirens’, bearing the maiden features of Lady Liberty, seduce potential victims with sweet whispers of democracy, human rights, etc.. So much so that war drums are tuned out in the songs, coups are disguised as lyrics.  seduce potential victims with the sweet words of ‘democracy’ even though the lyrics and songs are taken to the intended victims in tune with war drums, their space intruded upon. Whispers and words so seductive that the intended victims don’t see the claws of the bird of prey, nor do they smell the stench of death of over a million dead in Iraq, untold number of Afghanis killed.  They are deaf to the wailing of the Palestinians –they don’t remember that it was ‘Siren’ that brought dictatorship to Iran at the cost of democracy – devouring those in Iran who sought freedom and autonomy.   



Once again, our  ‘democracy’ seeks to commit genocide in Iran while the Siren deceptively whispers  ‘democracy and human rights’.   It demands $75 million dollars to promote ‘democracy’ and ‘human rights’ in Iran, yet it stops humanitarian aid to the victims of one of the worst earthquakes in recent history  - the beautiful and historic city of Bam with a reported death toll of 70,000 – 80,000 people.   The World Bank, caught up in the Bush administration's campaign against Iran, has had to suspend  $5.4 million in payments for four projects involving earthquake relief, water and sanitation, environment management and urban housing for earthquake relief, sanitation and other projects in Iran in response to new American sanctions on leading Iranian banks[i].  



As America continues its strangulation of Iranians, it chides China and Russia for their reluctance to further punish Iran for  having the audacity to exercise its right under the NPT[ii].   Yet the United States, home to the Siren, to independence, forgets that she lost her credibility long ago – when in 1971 Congress voted to flout UN sanctions and import key minerals from Indonesia.   



“[T]he imposition of economic sanctions against the state of Rhodesia by the U.S. and other countries at the instigation of the United Nations constituted nothing less than bare-faced aggression, unprovoked and unjustified by a single legal or moral principle.”[iii]



Following the above speech made by Dean Acheson in 1968, the Byrd Amendment of 1971 allowed the U.S. to purchase high-grade chrome from Rhodesia. 



Today, America forgets her past and wants only to rule, ruthlessly.  

* I no longer post for Payvand.   I spoke out against the 2009 failed color revolution in Iran which by all indications, they fully supported.

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[i] http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/04/africa/sanctions.php

[ii] http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071102/wl_mideast_afp/usiransanctionsrussiachina_071102195359

[iii] http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/remembering_rhodesia.htm

IRI at 40 - Feminists Still Asleep

So some are claiming Iranian women are "oppressed". Seems to these misinformed people (put as politely as I could), I have to say this:

Iranian women are free from shackles, free to pursue their dreams and hopes. Look at this country and remember that laws were passed in the US to end discrimination. It was a law many did not like, but it was a law that benefitted the nation. In America the law forbids discrimination based on color, race, religion, etc. This opened doors for the less privileged. Blacks, white, and brown - and all in between could pursue education and careers not previously possible. In Iran, the imposition of hijab (which comes in many ways depending on your preference - a thin scarf covering hair -- which by the way, Europeans wore/wear -- to long black chador or not black chador, is akin to non-discrimination. In the old days, as I explain in my article, your religious and social belief reflected by hijab was an impediment to progress. No longer. If you want to look at the issue historically world-over, the veil/hijab was always worn by the affluent, the peasants and the prostitutes wore loose clothing. The peasants because they needed to dress freely to carry on with manual labor, and the other workers to attract clients. Then the West decided to reverse things. And this was really pushed and promoted by Hollywood and media. Half-way naked women were 'modern', 'emancipated' (even as they sold their nakedness for money) and the elite of society, and those who cover up are the opposite. We may all have our preferences as to which we prefer, but we do not have the right to impose our values on anyone.

So if you think hijab is oppression, I suggest you get educated. I do not defend hijab, just the truth and facts.

Odd that after 40 years, the misinformed and the propagandists are still going after women's headscarves in Iran. 

Discovering Iran

Trump: Impeding Impeachment?

Trump may be more clever than we give him credit for.

There is zero doubt that Jewish money (Adelson primarily) and Evangelicals brought him into power.   Israel has been the number one agenda for this President as well as with past presidents.   Trump actually confessed to this!

Trump was so eager to serve Israel that they actually made a coin of him on one side and Cyrus the Great on the other. 

The occupation is moving ahead full speed.  Israel even demanded that US acknowledge Israel ownership of Syria's Golan.   At the UN, America voted against censuring Israel for its occupation of the Golan Heights.

There is no doubt that Israeli-base think tanks planned the interference in Syria.  "Assad must go" not for the Syrians but for the Zionists. 

Having lost the House to a 'blue wave', Trump knows full well he is facing charges, and possibly impeachment. 

US presence in Syria and Afghanistan is hugely unpopular.  Obama refused to attack Syria and undermined himself by not 'honoring' the red line he had set because such a move would have been hugely unpopular.

Although Trump has been in Washington long enough to know who the boss is, there is little doubt that he is a master showman.

By announcing troop withdrawal from Syria (after discussions with Turkey and no doubt, Netanyahu),  he amassed huge support from the liberal, progressive, anti-war Americans.  With his Wall, he is holding onto his base while increasing support among his detractors.   NATO member Turkey was left in charge, as well as giving a green light to Israel to "defend itself".  A win win for all.

He will use this card (anti-war) to appeal to the public should they want to impeach him.

Mercenaries take over!

When in unanimous move, Congress voted to withdraw support for the Yemen war, it did so under the '1973 war powers act'.  This weakened Trump, but also was a positive move for US propaganda, showing a 'humanitarian' side!

The mercenaries (Blackwater) had been working in the region both under Obama and Trump, working alongside UAE.

Troops will leave, but mercenaries will replace them. 

Syria Troop Withdrawal?

By his own admission, not to mention empirical evidence, Trump/US serves Israel's interest by being in the Middle East.

Trump was selected by Israeli-firsters, the Jewish casino man Adelson and the Evangelicals.

Trump was lobbying for Netanyahu in 2013.

Jerusalem was recognized as "Israel'" capital.

Less than a month ago, in November, US vetoed UN resolution condemning "Israeli" occupation of Syria Golan.  As Congress in April 2018 demanded that US formally recognize "Israeli" occupation of the Golan.

US is in Syria for Israel's sake.

So why the announcement that US announced it would withdraw troops - after it guaranteed  Turkey with arms to hold off Iran


http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/turkey-patriot-missile-system-and-related-support-and-equipment

Turkey is preparing for an all out assault on Syria.

"Israel" says it feels threatened by the US troop pull out and may even start an assault - one on Syria and one on Lebanon (tunnels being the excuse).

I fear very unfortunate times are coming.

Yellow Vest, Yellow Jackets ...

.

Manage


https://theintercept.com/2015/02/26/long-march-yellow/

I believe their first trial of this was the 2009 Iran elections.

The Mysterious Case of Khashoggi

The media is focused 24/7 on the mysterious disappearance of Khashoggi – and his death, a death without a corps.    The world is demanding action. The intense focus on the Saudi journalist has obfuscated a stream of facts that need to be brought to the forefront and determine cui bono?

This is in no way a defense of the Saudi Kingdom, its immoral policies or its radical ideology.  It’s an attempt to understand all other factors that may or may not have a direct bearing on the events.

The media cycle and US officials reaction to Khashoggi’s fate is ironic given its track record.   Putting aside the fact that the arrest of Mathew Hedges, a British citizen five months ago, charged for spying has had no media traction.  Nor has there been an outcry from the British and American officials.  The UAE enjoys immunity from criticism.

But the feigned importance given to journalists is laughable given America’s record.  Regrettably, journalism has always been a hazardous profession, not least because for decades the United States (and no doubt other countries) used, and continue to use journalists as spies.  This places a target on every journalist, and it is a travesty.  

America has been complicit in killing journalists.  Following the Iraq invasion, on October 30, 2003, al-Jazeera accused US-led forces in Iraq of harassment, after one of its journalists was detained.  Their cameraman, Samer Hamza was freed after two days in custody.   American soldiers fired at the Palestine hotel, the base for almost all the foreign media crews in Baghdad.  Their fire killed a Spanish TV network crew member and a Ukrainian camera man working for Reuters.  In June 2005, American troops opened fire on and killed an Iraqi television journalist - Ahmed Wael Bakri. American soldiers also shot and wounded Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena as she was headed for Baghdad airport in April 2005.  There was a great deal of controversy surrounding this shooting – still unresolved, I believe.

The Obama Justice Department’s secret directive targeting journalists received little condemnation in spite of its grave consequences. In  2017 journalist filed lawsuits against Trump over Obama’s “Kills List”! "Former Al Jazeera Islamabad bureau chief Ahmad Zaidan and freelance journalist Bilal Kareem filed a lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court in Washington, contending that they were erroneously placed on the "kill list" during the Obama administration and that Trump has illegally maintained that designation https://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2017/03/journalists-sue-trump-kill-list-236738

The suit also alleged that Trump has loosened some of the safeguards the previous administration placed on the program.”    

But what of the Washington Post journalist, Khashoggi?

I was immediately reminded of another Washington Post journalist – Jason Rezaian, who had been arrested in Iran and freed by the Rohani government.  Rezaian  was complicit in the allegations for fraud in the 2009 Iran elections.  Rezaian was to have reported the results of the Iran elections from Iran to Tehran Bureau, while the IP address of Tehran Bureau was registered to Jason Rezaian.  It was Tehran Bureau that first came out with the false case of a fatwa alleging that elections had to be rigged. The lies took off from there.   This narrative became the headlines 24/7 and the lie lives on to this day. This comprehensive investigative article by Jeremy Hammond is a MUST READ for anyone seeking the truth: https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2009/07/21/the-case-of-the-fatwa-to-rig-irans-election/view-all/

But who would benefit from Khashoggi’s disappearance?  Already American senators are calling for a ‘change of heads” in Saudi Arabia, in other words, replace MbS (Muhammad bin Salman) (https://www.axios.com/lindsey-graham-says-toxic-mohammed-bin-salman-has-to-go-f06be364-b6fc-4e8d-8f0d-681469990c1f.html

But what else has happened concurrently?

All the reporting thus far has come from Turkey.  After the foiled/failed “coup” Erdogan played footsies with Putin and got his green light to invade Syria under various guises.  America could not be happier.

At the same time that Turkey returned the jailed pastor, Andrew Brunson to the United States, it gave the middle finger to Russia (to the delight of America and the West) when the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Istanbul revoked a part of its Synodical Issue Letter of 1686, in which the Patriarchate of Moscow was granted the right to appoint the bishop of Kiev. A slap in the face of Russians as Kiev was recognized as a new Patriarchate in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

How will Trump fare?

Trump publicly humiliated the Saudis and announced they would be gone in two weeks without  US protection.

Trump also demanded that Saudi Arabia  assist him in blocking Iran’s oil on November 4^th by increasing production and making up for the loss of Iran’s oil in the international market.  Saudi Arabia complied, but was told by the US that it needed more!  

One can be forgiven for thinking that Trump may have been in on some dark plan and has made the Saudis reliant on his decision to make the Khashoggi case go away in exchange for more oil production.   But what seems to be obvious often deceives.

Trump will not come out of this a winner.  If he works with the Saudis, he is damned by the public outcry , and if he doesn’t, oil prices will skyrocket and Republicans will lose mid-term and Trump 2020.

But how can the United States and its allies walk back the insults and anger directed at Saudi Arabia?  Exile Saudi prince, Prince Khaled bin Farhan who resides in Germany has been calling for regime change, stating that the US and Europe would have to ‘foot the bill” https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/transcript-interview-Prince-Khaled-bin-Farhan-Saudi-Arabia-726162742

Regime change may do the trick.  Which again, would not fare well for Trump or his son-in-Law, MbS buddy Jared Kushner.    And perhaps Trump understands this.

America has always regarded Saudi Arabia as being dispensable.  In 2012, US military officers were being taught to starve Saudis, bomb Mecca and Medina.  For the Saudis to think that they could secure themselves by acting as America’s gas station as well as its gladiators, was, and continues to be, foolish.

Moreover, it has been calculated that Saudi Arabia could become a net importer of oil by 2030 https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Saudi-Arabia-Could-Become-a-Net-Oil-Importer-by-2030.html so their utility is fast running out.

Are we witnessing a confluence of interests/plans? 

Who stands to gain and who loses?