Welcome scribbler.I totally agree.The NAM conference in Tehran has shaken the Western war mongering Oligarchs to the core.120 countries went there and Hillary Clinton is beside herself with rage.

We the ordinary citizens of the West are oppesssed by their scamming financial system and this is the major reason why they seek war with Russian and China.http://www.globalresearch.ca/

Thanks,you saved me posting a discussion on the very same topic.

Belly,

While there is little doubt that the Iranian regime is harsh, cruel and dictatorial, I don’t understand how this equates, in terms of the current situation, to your argument that “Iran holds much more of the blame than Israel”.

Do we support Israel rather than Iran because of historical ties, because it is perceived to be a more western and democratic country, because we align ourselves more with Judaism than Islam, because we are committed to remembering the Holocaust, or all of the above?

Emotional, religious and political ties are not sufficient in this case. Have we learned nothing from the Iraq war?

There is little doubt that Iran is enriching uranium – it has admitted to this, and intelligence has confirmed it. What Iran has said, categorically, is that it is not doing so to build a nuclear weapon. The question is, can they be believed?

They are asking for unilateral nuclear disarmament across the Middle East – bad news for Israel. They have issued religious decrees condemning the use of nuclear weapons – for a nation built upon and governed by religious zealots, this is no small thing.

Does Iran hate Israel – yes, clearly it does. Has it threatened Israel? Yes, many times. But Israel is hardly blameless and its continued supplication to the US and, later this month, to the UN to attack Iranian nuclear plants because they MAY lead to nuclear armament, is not proof of intent. The US is reluctant to repeat the Iraqi debacle.

Following is an article, dated yesterday, in which an alternative theory is espoused. In light of Iran’s adamant insistence that it is not seeking nuclear armament, this theory (so far) makes the most sense.

http://www.newsday.com/news/world/ap-analysis-iran-may-be-pushing-to-nuke-threshold-1.3944504

Please note, I am not trying to excuse the actions or rhetoric of Iran – I am simply saying that we have been down this road before with Iraq and we have all paid a very dear price. The west and Israel has to have absolute proof of Iran’s intent before a strike is made, otherwise they nothing more than warmongers.

Arjay,

Happy to oblige.

What I find incredible is the lack of press coverage in this country about the Middle East situation.

Apart from a single article in one of the Herald papers (can’t remember which one) about Australia sending two delegates to the NAM conference (although there was no follow-up) and the obligatory reporting of the latest IAEA findings, there has been remarkably little said about escalating tensions, Israel’s bid to influence the US election by openly supporting Romney, and implications for Australia should America decide on a tactical strike – which will (like Iraq) lead to a long, protracted and painful war.

I cannot believe that Australia is so insular as to not take seriously what is happening in that volatile region.

In light of the deaths of the Australian soldiers in Afghanistan this week and the renewed calls for Australia’s withdrawal, I would have expected more.

There's lack of coverage in this about ANYTHING worth while. Our media is a sad joke. And when people go looking for information you end up with those like Arjay.

I find the whole idea of a conference of "non-aligned" countries quite fascinating.

Are they not, by definition, aligning themselves with each other?

I suspect a more accurate description of their meeting would be "the anti-American conference". Or the "anti-Israel conference". More honest, at least.

The attendance of Ban Ki-moon was interesting. Listening to the anti-UN rhetoric must have been more than a little painful for him. I'd be inclined to tell them that they were no longer welcome in Manhatten, if they did not support his organization. To do otherwise would be hypocritical, he could explain to them.

My own view is that all of these gatherings have more to to with hyperactive PR and spin-doctoring, than anything particularly sinister. Mutually Assured Destruction, which enabled the world to survive the Cold War, is still a fairly effective deterrent.

PR is what it is, Iran now has a technology sharing agreement with North Korea.