Another monotheist playing with himself, careful more of it will drop off. Jews forced their way into the middle east, murdering everyone that opposed them after WW2.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Ted, Such short memories, the followers of god. You must enjoy constantly repeating yourselves over and over with war. Consider why the Egyptians confronted the jews back then. Wasn't it because jews had violently entrenched themselves in others land and then said it was theirs according to god. Another example of the violence of your beliefs.

You along with other god factions seem to revel in preaching both peace and war in the same breath. As the middle east is the birth place of monotheism, its understandable that it would be the place where god would be fully expressed in truth. Thats why the area's the most violent place on earth, its destined for a constant expression and example of gods ways.

When you consider the book you worship the OT, is a plagiarised violent work, the koran is a plagiarised violent work and the NT is a historically inept and unproven failed fallacies.

Is it any wonder you can only express your beliefs in god by violent means, to overcome the reality of what monotheistics is. Despotic in expression, application and outcome.

I doubt any would care two hoots what you do or believe, the problem is you and your god have this terrible habit of repeating yourselves over and over. Again thats fine, but you effect all of us. Still knowing how you people think, as long as you see yourself sitting on top of the pile of destruction that your god has handed out, you care nothing for anyone or anything.

Ted,

How can Iran pose a threat to Israel?

When was the last time Iran occupied 10% of one of its neighbours?

Does Iran receive the equivalent of 20% of all foeign aid of the world's last remaining superpower?

Can you name me an instance of Iran laying siege to and bombing one of its neighbours in the past 20 years?

Ted, if you are so keen to have Iran attacked, why are you lobbying us Aussies? Or do you want to deprive our farmers of export income?

And why lobby other Western nations? Why not tell your beloved Israel to fight its own battles?

You've fought in the Israeli army. Why not pack your bags and prepare for war? Why beat the drums of Middle Eastern conflict in my peaceful country?

Seriously, the more I read of your stuff, the more you are beginning to sound like one of those "thick sheiks" that keep rabbitting on about conspiracies and war.

Ifran:

"How can Iran pose a threat to Israel?"

You cannot be serious.

"When was the last time Iran occupied 10% of one of its neighbours?"

The American embassy was technically 100% of a neighbours territory.

"Does Iran receive the equivalent of 20% of all foeign aid of the world's last remaining superpower?"

This is relevant how? This talking point is some diffuse smear that misses any mark entirely. America gives Israel money so it is OK for Iran to nuke them. Sounds pretty convincing to me.

"Can you name me an instance of Iran laying siege to and bombing one of its neighbours in the past 20 years?"

Iraq perhaps? If you include proxies then Israel springs to mind. Iran currently resides in southern Lebanon, along with Hezbollah. You already know this. Why the cute memory lapses. Buenos Aires was another good example of Iran's benign intentions.

"And why lobby other Western nations? Why not tell your beloved Israel to fight its own battles?"

This comment conflates Ted Lapkin and Israel. I don't imagine they are the same thing. But anyway, why lobby, simple, that is the way that civilised nations behave.

"Why beat the drums of Middle Eastern conflict in my peaceful country?"

That is a bit underhanded don't you think? Totally irrelevant also.

"thick sheiks that keep rabbitting on about conspiracies and war. "

You mean Hilali right?

Mearsheimer & Walt's insightful and much-needed analysis of the power of the Israel lobby over US policy in the Middle East, in its discussion of the lobby's propaganda blitz for the Bushies to do something about Iran, is proving prophetic. Written a year ago, M & W said, "Op-eds and articles now warn of imminent dangers from a nuclear Iran, caution against any appeasement of a 'terrorist' regime, and hint darkly of preventive action should diplomacy fail. The Lobby is also pushing Congress to approve the Iran Freedom Support Act, which would expand existing sanctions on Iran. Israeli officials also warn they may take preemptive action should Iran continue down the nuclear road, hints partly intended to keep Washington focused on this issue." M & W also point out that "Iran's nuclear ambitions do not pose an existential threat to the US. If Washington could live with a nuclear Soviet Union, a nuclear China, or even a nuclear North Korea, then it can live with a nuclear Iran. And that is why the Lobby must keep constant pressure on US politicians to confront Tehran. Iran and the US would hardly be allies if the Lobby did not exist, but US policy would be more temperate and preventive war would not be a serious option." Well, the Iran Freedom Support Act has just been passed overwhelmingly by US congressmen against the wishes of the Bush administration. AIPAC, the spearhead of the Israel lobby, had been pushing for the bill to be passed and it looks like what M & W call its "stranglehold on the US Congress" has been instrumental in the passage of the bill, referred to by Rep. Kucinich as a "steppingstone to war". Big Ted is a key official of AIJAC, Australia's version of the American AIPAC. Ted's 'Brewing Calamity' should be seen in the context of M & W's analysis.

Ted, in the name of consistency I hope Mr Ahmadinajad has a nuclear weapon aimed at China. In 1949 didn't Eastern Turkistan with its 300 mosques and 18 madrasas get incorporated into Communist China? Why aren't the Iranians upset about that?

Mr Ahmadinajad's latest blague confirms his residence in the sad world of oneirataxia. Watching and reading his speeches creates the impression that the surreal mahdi has been transubstantiated into the Iranian president. The chimera he sells to his countrymen is that pushing the red button will deliver eudaemonia to the region and reinstall the Islamic imperium. He should know that the Israelis won't respond by calling a committee meeting. And after calling for Israel's destruction he segues into his role as a man of peace seeking to enliven the Tehran electricity grid with nuclear generated power.

Let's hope that the Iranian kakistocracy and the willing Israelis, both expert at indulging in the pudendous practice of saying one thing and doing the other, don't drag us into the maelstrom of ME machinations.

I note that Ted writes for the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council. Ted, please drop the Australia from that title as I don't see why we have to be dragged into the stupidity of ME politics. I wonder if we have said a big 'thank you' to these acidulent, rebarbative and anhedonic types for bringing their troubles and ancient feuds to our once peaceful country.

Parallels could be drawn between Iran and pre WW2 imperialist Japan - both have a divine mission to unify their respective regions under the total domination of a religious theocracy whilst promoting the cult of bushido "the way of the warrior" in the form of armed kamikaze jihadists.