I, too, gripped he edge of my seat while cheering the good guys and wishing all sorts of torments onto the baddies.
But this author is right. It's propaganda, and, I suspect, an orchestrated move to ready the western world if an attack on Iran eventuates.
Not too sure why we feel the need to attack Iran. The nuclear bomb scare is just that - a scare. Perhaps it's really simple. Perhaps the one message coming out of our post-democratic western world is, "Kiss our arse, or we will destroy you."
And now it seems that after actually capturing a drone a year or two back, Iran may have recently knocked one out of the sky. Not much kissing going on - might be some destroying coming up.

Oh my...a movie that takes liberties with historical facts..never...I wonder if the author has a clear memory of the events of 1979. I do, I reported on them.

First, the radicals who took over the US embassy were not connected with the Iranian revolutionary government, but in the chaos following the revolution they were allowed to get away with it. Let's face it, storming another country's embassy and taking its staff hostage is not the act of rational human beings. These were difficult times in the capital and the rule of law had not been properly established.

Second, Whatever the new rulers in Teheran might have said in public, behind the secenes they were as desperate to get the hostages released and out of the country as the US because they knew full well that if the radicals had had their way, subjected the hostages to a kangaroo court and had them executed Teheran would have been turned into a radioactive ruin. I have spoken to people in the US closely associated with the US Administration at the time. That was the scenario.

Thirdly, Argo was certainly designed for Western audiences, and of course it contained a slanted Western view of events. It was propaganda, just as all the anti-Western documentaries and films churned out by the Iranians are propaganda. It's the way of the world. Live with it.

The author thought the film was a yawn. Not my view or that of the audience I was watching it with. General agreement was that while its historical accuracy was in doubt, it was still a ripping yarn.

Hollywood is merely another branch of the U.S. propaganda machine which fills the world with lies about America and its supposed enemies. The American MSM is another offshoot which complements Hollywood.

But, amazingly, in a world where many people are supposedly 'educated', a majority of people swallow this rubbish and never, never question it.

Our Parliament is filled with such non-thinking creatures who, one day, will rue their obedience to the Evil Empire run out of Washington.

David G why don't you move to Iran?

Another apologist for islam uses the freedoms of the West to brag about the superiority of islam where no such rights exist. Such irony.

Iran is a terrorist state which seeks to destroy Israel, the only functioning democracy in the Middle East cesspool, and spread its barbaric religion throughout the world.

I thought this by the author was particularly resonant:

"For instance, in one shot, morosely veiled Iranian women are shown to be in military uniforms, a falsity also depicted in an earlier anti-Iran movie titled "Not Without My Daughter (1991)". After the elapse of thirty-odd years, you may find Iranian women in uniforms but only in female garrisons let alone on the streets. So, the depiction of Iranian women in military uniforms is but a figment of the writer's imagination."

Is the author suggesting that the burqa is fine but female involvement in the military is not, or what?

Cohenite, you seem fond of inventing lies.

Where did I advocate the superiority of Islam? I have little truck with Islam and its Sharia Law but then I have little truck with American imperialism with its use of torture, rendition, massacres, rapes, caging of prisoners, use of depleted uranium and drones either!

If you could get beyond thinking in term of stereotypes, you might be able to join a conversation that goes somewhere. Israel is a supposed democracy but it is also a nation that engages in forms of cruelty and barbarity that makes America look almost virtuous!

Cheers.

"Cohenite, you seem fond of inventing lies."

BS!

You openly despise the US and by inference the West. You descend to the lowest point in the Islam/West 'debate', which is making an equivalence between Islam and the US.

I didn't say you advocated "the superiority of Islam"; there is none to advocate; it is an atavistic blight; but you clearly think the US is no better.

That is wrong.

I support the West, including the US, warts and all; I oppose Islam and its apologists.

What is your position

halduell, I deplore the day we let the do gooders push us into dropping the old "gun boat" diplomacy. The west, & the rest of the world was a safer & better place, for most peoples, when the mere threat kept the crazies in line.

You're not too sure why we feel threatened by Iran. Probably because we would be mad not to. As long as there are fights in school yards, there are going to be armed struggles between countries & ideologies.

Why should we attack amy country looking like a threat? Probably because it will be too late to do much, when a bomb goes off.

Not much use deciding we should have, just before you & yours are burned to a crisp, now is it? It will be ironic to hear those like you shouting, "why did they listen to me" as your last words.

My position is to oppose all those who see the world in black and white. My position is to challenge people to use what brains they have, to encourage them to question, to seek out the truth rather than to spout the insidious, divisive indoctrination of the West or the East.

My position is to oppose war and those who profit from it, who use it to bully other nations, to take resources from other nations and steal their land, or to impose their will upon the world as the U.S. clearly is trying to do.

I want to live in a peaceful world, cohenite, one where there is equality and harmony and freedom from the derangement that comes with religion.

You obviously don't!

Oh dear. Hasbeen by name - Hasbeen by nature.
Would you really prefer that we ramp it up and ramp it up and ramp it up until it finally blows up in our faces?
Then my last words could be, "Why didn't they listen to me?"
Gunboat diplomacy, or rule by bullies. Nice.
Keeping crazies in line. Even nicer.

Hasbeen, you may not have noticed that the reason to invade Afghanistan was manufactured, and the invasion of Iraq was illegal.

The reason we have "wars" is because of countries interfering in other countries business, commonly to gain that countries resources.
Western countries historically imposed their colonial will on Iraq and Iran, and it is still going on.

When we mind our own business, then peace will prevail

"When we mind our own business, then peace will prevail"

What a stupid statement; do you seriously believe islam has no expansionist ambitions?

Notice how few mention Israel in the nuke stakes.Mordechai Vanunu blew the whistle on Israel Nukes and paid a harsh price of 18 yrs gaol and is still being victimised.

It is hypocracy on the grandest scale that Israel has at least 200 serious nukes and Iran has has yet to develop one.Israel and the USA have attacked and invaded far more countries than Iran.The last war Iran had was to reject an invader called Iraq.It was true self defence.

Western War criminality is pushing this planet to WW3.Malcom Fraser and Paul Keating have echoed these warnings.

Yep a bully, that's me, but a happy one.

Better a live happy bully, than a slave, or a dead pacifist.

Anyone stupid enough not to look after themselves & their own first, last, & in the middle is bound to depend on others to do it for them, disgusting as that is, or end up someones slave.

Cohenite, have you not noticed that Israel is an expansionist state, funded by Zionist money from the USA to pay as has been mentioned to fund nuclear weapons.
You told David G to move to Iran, why do you not live in Israel, where if you are not of the jewish faith, you are a second class citizen.

Kipp says:

"You told David G to move to Iran, why do you not live in Israel,"

Unlike you malcontents I'm happy in Australia.

And no, I haven't noticed Israel is an expansionist state which has declared war on the West.

Kipp's comment is just another attempt to equivalise islam with the West; or at least the closest to the West in the middle east, Israel.

I have to say that people who defend islam are either useful idiots or quislings.

David G

"But, amazingly, in a world where many people are supposedly 'educated', a majority of people swallow this rubbish and never, never question it."

...and we actually pay for this lying propaganda.

Just another squalid campaign to neutralise Israel's rivals in the ME.

cohenite,

Israel is an expansionist state that has declared war on the Palestinians, and as to Israel's status as a democracy, so what, that doesn't give the Israeli warmongers a licence to do whatever they like.

The US, the "World's Greatest Democracy" has killed millions of innocent people since 1945, in the name of 'freedom' of course.

Yes, the pattern is clear.

The US was actively involved in overthrowing Iran's democratically elected government in the early 50's and installing the Shah.

Yet, they invade Iraq under the guise of delivering democracy, killing and maiming tens of thousands and causing a massive refugee exodus.

As mac notes, the "world's greatest democracy" has looked after "its own" interests well.

"Israel is an expansionist state that has declared war on the Palestinians"

That's a lie.

Israel recognises a Palestininian state; this is not reciprocated.

Poirot; picked out your burqa yet? I think you should go with one which has fairies on the inside; they will match the ones in your mind and you can look at them when you go to the shops with a male relative.

cohenite,

That's a paranoid response if I ever read one.

So are you implying that if we in the West quit invading, maiming and killing in oil rich Muslim countries, before long all the Poirots will be cloaked by burqas?

Interesting.....

Michael Moore made movies to deceive the gullible while making millions so why shouldn't others?

Deary me, runner, so much for fundamental ethics, eh.

"...so why shouldn't others?"

I think you already know the answer to that, and if you don't, well......

Cohenite is obiviously a Zionist.The Zionists are treating the Palistinians like Hitler treated the Jews.How do you Cohenite, obfuscate with such ambivalance?

Poirot,

Sacre bleu, mon ami, Poirot would never wear ze burqa, ze moustache would disappear, c'est impossible!

>>Sacre bleu, mon ami, Poirot would never wear ze burqa, ze moustache would disappear, c'est impossible!<<

Poirot sports a moustache? Is this a movember thing Poirot?

Cheers,

Tony

Tut, tut, mon amis...Poirot could grow such moustaches that he would not need the services of a burqa.

Tut, tut ! Mes amis... Surely?

<<Sacre bleu, mon ami>>

<<Tut, tut, mon amis>>.

<<Tut, tut ! Mes amis>>

Cor blimey! suck-up would 'ave sufficed.

cohenite,

Few people believe that Israel is in the front line defending the West from the Islamic hordes, it's fighting its own squalid little war against the Palestinians. Unfortunately the American political elites seem to have assimilated the "big lie" and are dragging their reluctant "allies" into the conflict on the side of the warmongers.

Poirot,

LOL.

Obama does not want to attack Iran and is not that friendly with the Israeli elites.Romney was willing to attack Iran and thus the powerful Jewish lobby sent a lot of money his way.The media machine was not behind Romney so here is evidence of some attitude change.

It does not mean that Obama will cease this aggression towards oil rich nations or those who won't fall in line with Western Imperialist agendas.I think we are seeing a definite movement away from pleasing Israel at any cost and the USA concentrating on their own enormous problems.

The Patraeus removal as CIA head is an interesting development.He is known to be ruthless and sneaky which most would think would be the right attributes for The CIA.

I really can't believe people can be as obtuse as you mac.

Israel is of course fighting for itself, it has no choice, the entire Arab world, & much of the Muslim world want to destroy it.

They can't afford to loose a single battle. Unlike them, there would be no cessation of fighting after an Israeli loss. The Arabs would push them into the sea, completely. You can see how good they are at waging war against women & children, when you look at them fighting each other.

It is a pity that so many of us no longer have the heart, or guts, to fight for our own women & children. If we did, we would not be letting our country be overrun by those who will seek to destroy us.

Hasbeen.Israel has at least 200 nukes and the means to deliver them.What Arab country would take them on? Israel has a history of interfering in the affairs of other nations.

Note 1967 when they attacked the US Liberty a clearly marked unarmed intelligence gathering vessal.The USA thought is was Egypt and they had launched planes ready to Nuke Egypt.Israel tried to sink it and kill all on board so there were no witnesses but over 30 yrs later the evidnece has come out.

Oil piplines now run from Iraq to Israel.They want to expand their empire since oil companies their elites have shares in,will benefit.Iran is their next big prize.Dwight Eisenhower in 1961 warned us about the absolute power by the Military Industrial Complex which potentially will remove our freedoms and destroy democracy.Well it is happening right now.It goes way beyond Israel and is now Global.

The ordinary people in Israel are just as oppressed as the Arabs and many people in the West feeling the austerity measures brought about by a financial system which continues to rob them blind.

After the Depression of the 1890's we had WW1.After the Depression of the 1930's we had WW2.Wars don't happen by accident.A few elites always benefit via money and power.

With the power of the internet perhaps we can avert WW3.

"Mes amis" - Quite so...

Actually, it was a clever ruse to flush out the undercover French grammar police lurking on OLO....(your cover's blown, WmTrevor)

Hasbeen,

(1) Anyone who wants to fight Israel's enemies is welcome to join the IDF.

(2) If the Israelis stopped the settler carpetbaggers from stealing Palestinian land and actually returned the stolen land to its rightful owners, there might be some prospect of resolving the conflict. That's not going to happen, of course, as long as the US continues to give uncritical support to the Zionist cause. I hope that Arjay is correct and at long last there's some signs of a more even handed policy from the US.

(3) You could also read the book "The Arabs" by Eugene Rogan, particularly the chapter "The PalestIne Disaster and its Consequences".

Poirot,

There's always at least one.

hasbeen says, " It is a pity that so many of us no longer have the heart or guts, to fight for our own women and children"

That truely is a misogynist comment, as it appears Hasbeen knows little of WII, as it was the women who kept the country going, caring for their children under stressful situations,and at the same time working in factories to make the armoury.
End of WII the women where then out of a job and income.

Arjay says:

"Cohenite is obiviously a Zionist.The Zionists are treating the Palistinians like Hitler treated the Jews.How do you Cohenite, obfuscate with such ambivalance?"

What a stupid thing to say; I am not a Zionist; and comparing Israel to Hitler is idiotic.

What I am against is the hegemonic intentions of islam; it astounds me that people living in the West, especially women, can support islam because islam's values are the antithesis of the West.

I also think people who critique the US in the Pilgerian manner are both cowardly and hypocritical; the US may not be perfect but to compare it with islam is the same as comparing someone who has a cold with a corpse.

Picked out your burqa yet Poirot?

cohenite,
You're obviously an apologist for the West and an avowed enemy of Islam but have you ever wondered who was actually responsible for the rise of militant Islam, particularly in Iran?

Their democratically elected government was deliberately overthrown so the Shah could be installed and he literally killed off all his moderate opposition, leaving a power vacuum when he was later overthrown - and guess who was there to fill it?

Now and again a sliver of truth manages to poke through the iron curtain of the media:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/08/us-iran-indonesia-ahmadinejad-idUSBRE8A713C20121108

Do you suppose Julia was allowed to attend that? Not likely, or we would be in danger of another regime change in Australia.

Meanwhile the drivelings of the wilfully deaf pour down these comment pages like the blood of all the innocents we have "liberated" over the last ten years.

These days, in moments of quiet reflection, I can't help but think that the rise and rise of the CULT of Zionism is quite the worst thing that has happened to people of the Jewish faith....

....and to all the rest of us for that matter.

Wobbles says islamic fanaticism [a tautology] was caused by the West.

This is straight out of the Pilger/Blowback handbook where every foreign military, economic, trade exercise by the US is motivated by the desire to establish an Empire and subjugate other nations when convenient to that empire quest.

Pilger blames Pol Pot, islamists of every form and variety and the mess in South America on US hegemony.

It wouldn't surprise me if the anti-US nutters blame Hitler and communism on the US.

The West and the US in particular is not responsible for islamic fundamentalism; this fanaticism existed before the overthrow of the Mossadegh government [by largely British oil interests] and it has bitten the West despite Western assistance in islamic disputes from Afghanistan to Syria.

The West did not make islam a fundamentalist ideology; blowback is a flawed theory and people who advocate it are simply anti-US and anti-West; at best they are fools, at worst traitors.