Ok, maybe my title is a little bit of an over sell, but probably not much. I have no problem with Americans sending there money/support for these poor bastards that have been affected by the earthquakes in Iran, but I have a HUGE problem with the US government sending aid (my money) to these pricks.
Iran Plays Down Political Impact of U.S. Quake Help
Dec 30, 9:41 AM (ET)
By Parisa Hafezi
KERMAN, Iran (Reuters) - President Mohammad Khatami said Tuesday U.S. aid to earthquake victims in Iran, while welcome, would not alter the state of relations between the two arch foes who broke off ties nearly a quarter century ago.
"I don't think this incident will change our relations with the United States," Khatami told a news conference in the capital of southeastern Kerman province where officials say up to 50,000 people were killed in a quake that struck Friday.
Secretary of State Colin Powell said in an interview with the Washington Post published Tuesday that Washington was open to restoring a dialogue with Iran after "encouraging" moves by the Islamic Republic in recent months.
Powell referred to Iran's willingness to accept U.S. aid for the earthquake relief effort, paving the way for the first U.S. military planes to land in Iran in over 20 years.
"There are things happening and therefore we should keep open the possibility of dialogue at an appropriate point in the future," Powell said.
But Khatami, who is viewed as a foreign policy moderate in Iran, played down the importance of the U.S. assistance.
"In incidents like this governments normally do not consider their differences," he said. "But this has got nothing to do with political issues. The problems in Iran-U.S. relations are rooted in history."
"Nevertheless, I thank all...those who helped us and showed sympathy despite our different viewpoints," Khatami said.
Washington broke ties with Iran shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution when radical students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and held 52 hostages for 444 days.
President Bush last year included Iran along with North Korea and Iraq under Saddam Hussein in an "axis of evil" developing nuclear and chemical weapons and supporting terrorist groups.
U.S. and Iranian officials held talks over Afghanistan and Iraq in Geneva earlier this year. But Washington halted those meetings after accusing Iran of harboring al-Qaeda members linked to suicide bomb attacks in Saudi Arabia in May.
Khatami said that for Iran to restore ties with Washington it would "have to see a change in its methods ... to create a kind of hole in the wall of mistrust between the two countries."
However, he pointed out that humanitarian aid from nongovernmental organizations in the United States "shows there is no enmity between the people of Iran and the American nation."
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That sounds like the Iranian President is being cautious about inflaming the anti-American muslims in his country yet still giving the U.S. a good word. Remember, that Iranian President still has to deal with Iranian muslim clerics who could have him arrested and executed. I don't get the "piss off" message from this. And we all know there must be a lot of behind the scenes communication so each side knows exactly what is going on. I see this press release as being hopeful.
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Jesus Christ--The reason for the season!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.
If you're certain you know everything, there's little opportunity to learn anything.
but I have a HUGE problem with the US government sending aid (my money) to these pricks.
OH you kids nowadays.
Lets review a little history, shall we?
What happens to a country ravaged by warfare and or natural disaster that has a grudge against another country? - THEY RETAILIATE LIKE DOGS. The U.S. learned this lessen after WWI.
why do you think that the Germans came back in WWII so incredibly vehemently, because they viewed the Treaty of Versailles and the lack of infrastructure as a direct assault on themselves. All they were doing in WWI was upholding allliances, now *we* starve them out. We learned after that.
Look what was done in post WWII germany, ***an or later in S. Korea or Vietnam. don't p*ss people off too much or they WILL get your head on a pike is the lesson.
the middle east has hated us for decades, they view us as interlopers in their way of life and in some cases as non-muslims we are viewed as lower than pigs.
So we "kill them with kindness". You may not agree with the stance but it does work. I for one do not want to get involved with taking on the most popular/populous religion on the face of the earth at this point.
Technology don't mean schit when I can plant a home made bomb in your toilet and take you out toot sweet.
So we "kill them with kindness". You may not agree with the stance but it does work. I for one do not want to get involved with taking on the most popular/populous religion on the face of the earth at this point.
I find it hard to believe that the iranian people will ever fall for the "kindness" routine. The next time that the USA has some type of terrorist attack against us the iranian people will be dancing in the streets that were repaved by US taxpayers dollars. It has nothing to do with there religious beliefs as far as I'm concerned, it has every thing to do giving money to someone who doesn't deserve our help.
It's bad enough that people who live in this country think they can live on my dollar, but now people who are my "enemy" can live on my dollar too. Friggen great!
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I find it hard to believe that the iranian people will ever fall for the "kindness" routine.
I happen to know a guy from Iran - what you hear from the popular spin isn't true. The average Iranian is fed dogmatic schit from their government all the time. Any U.S. presence in their minds that doesn't "kill their children and poison their family" would be deemed as somewhat strange and worthy of being looked into.
Your probably right about that Fng, doesn't change my mind though that the US government should be spending my money in terrorist countries on humanitarian aid. Maybe France can help them out.
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I agree with Jorgy. Now I see the South Koreans hate us, including their soldiers standing next to ours facing the DMZ. I am sick and tired of being expected to finance and help out the entire world, while at the same time being hated fiercely. Hate us all you want, but we shouldn't be the "go to" country of the world for money and help. What other nation has $7 trillion in debt? Our kids already have a bleak future when this debt burden catches up to us. As far as I'm concerned, we have no liberty if we're held hostage to pay for the world and help out every time something happens. I realize some of the payments can be construed as pacifying terrorists who might otherwise be inclined to attack us more often, but GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH! FNG, you're saying it's ok to fork over the lunch money to the class bully because if we don't, he might beat us up (and he can really put a hurting on us). I say it's time to put our foot down...
I find it hard to believe that the iranian people will ever fall for the "kindness" routine. The next time that the USA has some type of terrorist attack against us the iranian people will be dancing in the streets that were repaved by US taxpayers dollars.
It's wrong to assume that the Iranian majority follow the religious fanaticism of the conservative government clerics. Most Iranians are political and religious moderates who really don't appreciate being held down by Islamic fundamentalists. Every country has it's maniacs, be it Iran or the US. I guess you missed the public show of support in the streets of Tehran, Isfahan, and other major Iranian cities after 9/11.
I guess you missed the public show of support in the streets of Tehran, Isfahan, and other major Iranian cities after 9/11.
Your right, I missed it, but I don't watch CNN either. The fact is, I don't give a rats ass about any of that. My/our money shouldn't be used to help rebuild this piece of crap country. I don't care if it's Iran our Norway for that matter. It's OUR money. I wonder if you or anyone else for that matter would feel differnet if a man in a dark suit rang your door bell, and when you answered the door he reached into your back pocket and took your money. If you or anyone else feel like you want to give to charity, go ahead like I do and take it out of your checking account. The USA government was not set up to solve the worlds problems.
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I agree--I want our tax dollars to stay here. But don't blame the Iranian people for their government's ill will towards the US. Personally I think they should revolt if they really want democracy, but even if they sit and take it, that doesn't mean they hate us. They just need to get their priorities straight and stand up for what they believe.
Incidentally, I don't watch CNN either. I don't have cable, and don't watch much TV (I do have a thing for COPS ). Iranians didn't bother rallying in support because the liberal media happened to be there; they did it because they believe in it.
Iran says thanks for the aid, but piss off
). Iranians didn't bother rallying in support because the liberal media happened to be there; they did it because they believe in it.
