Meanwhile dreadfully sane peace-loving America is responsible for 48% of the worlds armaments trade. It has over 700 foreign military bases and 12 nuclear carrier fleets.
But that doesnt have anything to do with terrorism!
We are dreadfully sane peace lovers!
The recent book by James Carroll titled House of war describes how the Pentagon death-machine came to dominate every aspect of USA "culture".
The "culture" of death literally rules.
This site 1. www.thirdworldtraveler.com gives a comprehensive picture of the world's largest terrorist state.

Ted Lapkin, the apologist for the biggest rogue state of them all, continues to see things through his own prism. So the Argentinian police say that TNT was smuggled in as a diplomatic parcel - well to borrow a phrase from Christine keeler; they would say that! Anything so that they can justify the TNT getting through their own porous borders.

As usual, members of the Jewish lobby in Australia are touting what they believe to be the interests of Israel before that of Australia, although they always try to claim that these are one and the same. A nuclear armed Iran is hardly likely to attack Israel any more than the Soviet Union was likely to attack the US. This is not because of the goodness of Iran or the USSR but because of the certain devastating retaliation.

Israel likes being the supreme power in the Middle East, just as the US likes being – despite Iraq – the supreme power in the world. Countries are no different from individual people in that it is human nature to seek power over others; they then have little need to compromise and consider the needs and feelings of others – and this is how Israel (and the US when it can) now acts.

A nuclear armed Iran would certainly be able to increase it power in the region; but a better balance of power in the region would most likely assist the pursuit of stability. While Lapkin has not mentioned Hitler in this article -- itself a surprise, because it is part and parcel of the usual fear campaign – it needs to be remembered that Hitler invaded France, Poland, Russia etc because he (and many of his generals) thought he could successfully do it. Indeed, this is why George Bush invaded Iraq and has not invaded North Korea.

Lapkin might read my book, “Dictatorial CEOs and their Lieutenants: Inside the Executive Suites of Napoleon, Stalin, Ataturk, Mussolini, Hitler and Mao”, to get a grip on reality. Click here:http://www.jeffschubert.com/

TNT..like a bugs bunny cartoon or something. ACME TNT and Anvils!

Ted,

You have written a most reasonable commentary on events that have been documented on the Internet. However, you will find if you choose to revisit the pages for blogs, that the usual suspects are out in force. For example, first cab off the rank was Ho-hum, who has lived up to his name and is no doubt secure in the ranks of the moral relativists who blame America for all the problems in the world. If he is Australian, he appears to forgotten that US power saved Australia during World War II (and please spare me the Russians did it all argument).

A couple of years ago Cambridge academic Christopher Andrew noted that our (Western) political culture is dominated by an unprecedented malady: Historical Attention Span Deficit Disorder or HASDD. Applying Occam's razor, it simply means that we have failed to heed the lessons of history. How true! Professor Andrew was greatly concerned with terrorism and political fanaticism. He said; "That remains a serious problem because of one fundamental, largely unnoticed continuity between the threats that faced us in the 20th century and those that face us in the 21st. One of the very few to draw attention to that continuity has been Elie Wiesel, Nobel laureate, holocaust survivor and human rights activist. Several years before 9/11 Wiesel said this: 'The principal challenge of the 21st century is going to be exactly the same as the principal challenge of the 20th century: How do we deal with fanaticism armed with power?'

To that we might rightly add how do we deal with fanaticism armed with nuclear capability? Ted, for your efforts you will be vilified for speaking out against Islamic fundamentalism, promoting the cause of "the Jewish lobby" (or conspiracy) and putting yourself in direct opposition to the "hate America first lobby." I wish you luck and encourage those that agree with you to back you up in print.

"Argentine investigators also found ample evidence to indicate orders for the bombing were signed, sealed and delivered from Tehran."

Evidence abounds. A shame Mr Lapkin can't be on the jury and hear the evidence tested in an open court. Will there be a trial which would meet our Australian standards of fairness, or is this just another circus side-show?

However brave the Argentinian were to attack the Falkland Islands, I doubt they would attempt extending their hegemony all the way to Iran. Is it perhaps that press releases and daring propaganda stunts don't require such an extended supply line?

Hmm... I usually tend to be one of those 'first cab off the ranks' to denounce Lapkin's pieces as far too one sided.
In most cases where he's extolling the virtues of the IDF while damning the palestians, he appears blind to the other side of the debate.

In this article however, I think he's being pretty reasonable. Granted, there is still the court findings to consider, though I don't think it's that far fetched to believe senior Iranians could have been behind this bombing.

Okay, yes, the US has much to answer for. I'm in total agreement.
But that isn't to say we can excuse atrocities committed by Iran, even if much of the middle east has been devastated by American policy.
You can only take apologism so far... I guess in my view, I step off that train somewhere before this point.

This article is about the possibility senior Iranians were responsible for the deaths of Argentinian civilians. If that is what has occurred, then I don't see how damning the US is relevant in this instance.

Even though Iran supports Hizbollah, the Iranian regime and Hizbollah should be dealt with separately by Western powers for the sake of preventing a conflict that would turn Iran into another Iraq or worse.

As loathesome as the Iranian regime is to the West and even the Iranian people, every effort to prevent the bloodshed besetting Iraq and Afghanistan spilling into Iran and becoming a regional phenomenon should be pursued. If the hostile and provocative rhetoric of Iran's leadership turns bloody, it should not be the result of another preemtive folly by Western powers. Let Iran be held accountable, but not for supporting Hizbolloh or threatening Israel or the West. It must be evident to the world and agreed by the UN Security Council that Iran has fired the first shot before any military action occurs.

"By deception, thou shalt do war."

Possums may be comforted by this interview with accomplished doco maker, Aaron Russo. Don't be put off by the title, pay close attention to the content:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1263677258215075609&hl=en-AU

Enjoy!

Amidini-Kong: The Eighth Wonder of the World.

Hark! What's that sound?

It's the jungle tom-toms throbbing the war pulse, calling for the destruction of Iran. Nowhere do they beat so loudly as on Skull Island, where one warlike tribe jealously guards it's mythology.

In the crepuscular light of the funeral pyres, the cluster-bomb-kills yield up their flaming oils with unearthly glow and fatty putrescence. Behind an ancient barricade erected by a forgotten civilisation, something hairy and menacing stirs. The flickering torches reveal Amidini-Kong - all 5'4" of him (but made-up to appear 50' tall by subcontractors, Mainstream Media Co).

Along the parapet, a Tribe nervously exchanges words of encouragement. "Nice headdress Dersho!" "Great nose-bone Olmo!" "Cool warpaint Netto!" "Teddo - yep - you look fine just as you are."

An exploratory party from the USS Clumsyfoot bursts into the clearing, having navigated a course to Skull Island with charts found in an old Energy Task Force sea chest. Teamleader Cheno, illusionist extraordinary, accompanied by his pet chimp Georgie Boy, heads up a team to heist the mighty Amidini-Kong, and restrain the behemoth with nuclear shackles if necessary.

Next week -

Will US dollars, treasury bonds and IOUs be sufficient to stuff a mattress for Kong on his long voyage to the Land Of The Free?

Will Kong escape and topple the Sears Tower? Did Silvo remember to renegotiate the insurance policy in time?

Don't miss the next nuclear powered episode! It'll be a buster - bunker that is.

Ted, TNT or ammonium nitrate?

Most articles on the AMIA bombing say it was an ammonium nitrate bomb (in fact I can't find a single one that says TNT). Likewise I am struggling to find any info suggesting the explosives came in via diplomatic bag. Can anyone find a link to Alberto Nisman's allegations? All I can find are press summaries such as http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6134066.stm Given the incompetence of the Argentinian police investigations, I suspect there is little chance of anything being proved in court. Thus the indictment of Rafsanjani et al looks supiciously like grandstanding.

Which brings us to the central question, ie is Hezbollah a terrorist organisation? The answer is obviously yes, but that doesn't get us very far. If Israel can't defeat Hezbollah (as they tried and failed to do in Lebanon) then peace depends on negotiating with them. Either that, or a wall and an ongoing low-level war.

Peace was achieved in Northern Ireland, but negotiations had to include the IRA and the UDA. Negotiate with terrorists? I suspect negotiation may be the lesser of two evils.

Further re the Argentine indictments.

In the Washington Times it was claimed that "Interpol may not be following standard procedures in its handling of arrest warrants issued by the government of Argentina for 11 Iranians and Shi'ite militia Hezbollah members implicated..." http://washtimes.com/national/20070114-121946-2351r.htm

Interpol replied that the Washington Times "misrepresents the facts regarding Interpol's involvement in assisting Argentinian authorities" http://www.interpol.int/Public/News/2007/RonaldNoble20070124.asp

Pretty strong stuff from Interpol, but I guess only to be expected if they're being accused of incompetence or corruption. I'm beginning to smell a rat.

Curiouser and curiouser....

Jeff Schubert,

You queried whether the interests of Israel were the same as those of Australia. I would remind you of two ancient adages:

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

The friend of my enemy is my enemy.

The forces attacking Israel are the same as those attacking Australia. Therefore, just as in WW2 Russia was our ally, in this struggle Israel is.

You also claim that a nuclear Iran would increase the stability of the Middle East. I would suggest that the current conflict is very different to the Cold War. During the Cold War we had stability because neither side wanted to die. Today we face an enemy who is very happy to die. None other than the current president of Iran is on record as saying that it might be a good idea if Iran were to be martyred.

plerdsus,

Such "adages" promote simplistic thinking -- or more precisely emotional responses. It is easy to forget that the "enemy" (being human) will have his good points and is not always wrong, and that the "friend" (also being human) will have his bad points. Getting a grip on reality means putting effort into understanding these. The Iranian leadership will not want to die any more than the Nazi leadership. And on this point, Ahmadinejad has no-where near the power that Hitler had -- perhaps you could explain to us why you think that he has (but please, with reason and logic and not simple adages).

Jeff Schubert

In response to Jeff Schubert, plerdsus wrote:
"You also claim that a nuclear Iran would increase the stability of the Middle East. I would suggest that the current conflict is very different to the Cold War. During the Cold War we had stability because neither side wanted to die. Today we face an enemy who is very happy to die. None other than the current president of Iran is on record as saying that it might be a good idea if Iran were to be martyred."

I'm not sure that too many Iranians, except for the radical muslim types, would be willing to be martyred. Forcible martyrdom, if you could really call that martyrdom, like the youth Khomeini conscripted on suicide missions might be the outcome. On the other hand, if Iran is attacked, I think even those who hate their own government would be willing to take up arms.

Jeff,

I agree completely. A nuclear armed Iran would do wonders for peace in the Middle East. Suddenly all those decisions which were 'too hard' and 'too painful' for Israel would become possible.

Israel has been able to ignore all attempts at peace and create facts on the ground precisely because it has had no real opposition. A nuclear armed Iran would see it a lot less hysterical and a lot more realistic. In short, the day Iran went nuclear would be a great day for peace.

On another note...
An interesting article in todays SMH.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/blairs-man-held-a-second-time-over-funds-row/2007/01/31/1169919402464.html

Tony Blair's chief fund raiser Lord Levy has been arrested for suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. His fate will be decided by the Attorney-General Lord Goldsmith.

I'm sure the A-G will act in good faith, however I can't help but think if only the Palestanians had a fraction of Jewish political power and wealth then there would have been peace a long time ago. Of course, Ted, not that there's any such thing as Jewish influence...

Terrorism - dumfarkistan style.
If the German government is acting, then it must mean something, eh?
I sure hope everyone gets a fair trial!

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2204079.ece
Arrest warrants issued for CIA 'kidnapping team'
By Tony Paterson in Berlin
Published: 01 February 2007

"Munich state prosecutors took the unprecedented step yesterday of issuing warrants for the arrest of 13 suspected CIA agents alleged to have kidnapped and beaten a German national who was abducted and held prisoner in Afghanistan under the extraordinary rendition programme.

"Khaled el Masri, a German of Lebanese descent, was bundled into an unmarked bus while on holiday in Macedonia in December 2003 and flown to a US jail in Afghanistan.He was released in May 2004.

"Mr Masri alleges that he was beaten and mistreated by US interrogators, even though it was clear he was innocent. He says that on his release he was "dumped like a piece of luggage" in Albania and told by his abductors that they "wanted to hear nothing more" about him.

"The US has refused to assist the German authorities over Mr Masri's case. In May last year, a judge dismissed a lawsuit he filed against the CIA, citing national security considerations."
(snip - more through the link)

According to Ted Lapkin "Argentine investigators also found ample evidence to indicate orders for the bombing were signed, sealed and delivered from Tehran". He then argues that Hezbollah operatives carried out the Iranian orders.

Sorry Ted, but while the Argentines believe they've solved the case, not too many others are convinced. Britain refused to extradite Hade Soleimanpour, the former Iranian ambassador to Argentina becaue there was "not enough prima facie evidence". http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3266011.stm

According to the Jamestown Institute (a conservative think-tank) "many observers believe the evidence implicating Iran and Hezbollah in these incidents is scant and, at best, circumstantial." http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2369844 The Argentine investigation of the bombing has been an absolute debacle, with bribery and corruption abounding. It seems highly likely that Interpol will reject Argentina's extradition request.

Ted, your article is a pile of assertions on top of a very shaky foundation.

JohnJ:

You are crafty, but not quite slick enough.

You neglect to mention that both articles cited by you were published long before the indictments were handed down by Argentine prosecutor Nisman in late 2006. How convenient.

Investigations of this sort are ongoing processes. The BBC piece ran in November 2003 and the Jamestown piece in late 2005. Thus neither article could conceivably reflect the additional evidence presented many months later that convinced the independent Argentine judiciary to grant the prosecution's request for arrest warrants.

I wonder who are these anonymous "observers" who Chris Zambelis cites in his Jamestown article. I have no way of knowing, nor do you. All we have is Zambelis' unsupported word for it. And that's a pretty thin reed upon which to predicate a rebuttal.

Crafty, you say, Ted?

You complain that the articles I referred to were written in 2003 and late 2005 and that "neither article could conceivably reflect the additional evidence presented many months later", in November 2006. This perhaps is meant to suggest that a smooth well-oiled police operation was painstakingly compiling evidence in the interim. The actual situation, as you should be aware, was that the Argentine court case against 20 Argentinians collapsed in a heap in September 2004. The court dismissed all charges and found that "most, if not everything, in the investigation was a deliberate sham" http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=846739&ct=1043987

I have finally found a link Alberto Nisman's November 2006 petition, which is here http://www.sofir.org/reports/2006-20-11-AMIA.html This is an attempt to have Interpol's 2005 cancellation of the Argentinian arrest warrants reversed. Interpol's original decision is documented here http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/PressReleases/PR2005/PR200541.asp For what it's worth, I can't see anything in the petition that wasn't already canvassed in the failed Argentinian trial.

This article http://www.forward.com/articles/us-urges-argentina-to-indict-iranians/ suggests that "as part of their campaign to isolate Iran, Congress and the Bush administration are pressing Argentine officials and prosecutors to issue a new indictment against Tehran’s Islamic regime for the 1994 bombing of the Jewish communal center in Buenos Aires." Certainly US authorities seem keen to have this matter pursued, hopeless as the case looks, perhaps aiming simply to discredit Iran.

The irony is that the only people ever likely to be prosecuted are the corrupt Argentinian officials who bungled the investigation. The real culprits (Iranian or otherwise) are never likely to be punished.

You still haven't substantiated your claims about smuggled TNT.