Talking With Mottaki

Fareed Zakaria just Iviewed Iran's Foreign Minister - the semi creepy (un) Honourable (?)Manouchehr Mottaki for his TV show "GPS" on some cable channel and it was a hoot!

Mottaki - as underground Persian Cat 'Rooz' reveals in a dossier is one of the mullahs most precious minions.

"Mottaki joined the Foreign Ministry at a time when members of the Islamic Students Association were rapidly replacing diplomats and even experts at the ministry. After completing his first assembly term, Mottaki joined the ministry and was appointed director of the ministry’s seventh bureau in 1984.

A year later, in 1985, Mottaki was appointed as Iran’s ambassador to
Turkey. At that time, Turkey was a desired destination for many Iranians who belonged to opposition groups and were fleeing either to Europe or Iraq through Turkey.

During Mottaki’s tenure, many of the Islamic Republic’s dissidents were killed across Turkey, prompting Turkish officials to accuse Mottaki of instigating instability and issuing him a persona non grata status, which meant he had to leave the country within 24 hours."

Fareed tried verbally fencing with the Fo Min and it was like watching a waltz or maybe a wrestling match. Subtle dances and feints that ultimately resolved little.
Here's a sample mix

ZAKARIA: Mr. Foreign Minister, one of the questions people have is really about Iranian intentions. What are your intentions in the region?

And one thing that gives a great deal of suspicion to people are the statements of your president with regard to Israel. Your president has said, "The occupying regime" -- meaning Israel -- "must be wiped off the map."

He has said, "This new wave started in Palestine. Eliminate this disgraceful stain from the world."And most recently, just a month or two ago, he said, "Israel will disappear from the geographic scene."What does he mean?

MOTTAKI: Our approach with regard to the Israeli regime is
clear. An event happened in Europe, a horrible war ensued. Tens of
millions of people were killed, and some were survivors. And it was said that these victims of war should be taken care of, restored in some way.

What we believe, what happened in World War II was a crime. We also have to ask ourselves: Who committed that crime?

So, Mr. Ahmadinejad's question is: If these victims are to be taken care of in terms of restoring some of what they lost, why should another place, another people pay from their own pocket the price for this crime?

For 60 years, this regime, as far as the public opinion of the region is
concerned, does not have legitimacy, and has not reached a point where it can be liked by the people.

Of course, we cannot force others to accept what we say. But we think that, in a democratic country we have the right to say what we think.

ZAKARIA: Are you, then, categorically saying, as the foreign minister of Iran, that you have no intention to attack Israel in any sense or in any way?

MOTTAKI: We will defend our own country in the case of any
attack or invasion, or any threat.

And the history of the past several years of our land, Iran, demonstrates
that our country has never initiated an invasion or an attack that was carried out by the Iranian people against another people in the region.

This is the nature of our people, of our history, of our system, as well,
in the past 30 years as the Islamic Republic of Iran.

ZAKARIA: You all have said recently that, were Israel to attack Iran, that it is possible that you would also attack not just Israeli targets, but also American targets.

And I want to be clear, why would you attack American targets, if there were an Israeli attack on Iran?

After all, the United States appears, at least in some ways, to be trying to move diplomatically, not militarily.

MOTTAKI: The Israeli regime is principally in no position to engage
in another adventure in the region -- militarily. We do not believe that Israel is in a position to engage in a military act in the region.

However, if this were to happen -- as much as I would still add,
the possibility of it almost very, very nonexistent -- but at the same time, if it were happen, it's quite possible that independent countries like Iran would see their first responsibility is to defend themselves.

ZAKARIA: Mr. Minister, you said recently that, in recent months, America's psychological warfare against Iran has increased exponentially. What exactly do you mean? Is it covert operations against Iran? Is it threats? What exactly are you referring to there?

MOTTAKI: But in the past two years, on certain cases, at different
time junctures -- I'd say about every six months -- it would become a hot topic, meaning the idea of the possibility of a military attack was raised at some points of time in the last two years. There would be people who actually came to us to inform us, saying that on specific dates there would be an attack on a specific location.

So, our analysis at that time -- including now -- is that these
measures are, in fact, sort of an attempt to add a spice to the political trends that have been going on from the past, but have never been serious ones.

So, our analysis is, in fact, that neither the region nor the
United States of America, nor anyone elsewhere in the world, has the capacity to witness another military attack in the region.

So, I believe it's time that the West changes its eyeglasses and
look at Iran through a different lens. By changing the eyeglasses, I would say they'd be able to see issues more clearly and better. Iran is committed to its constructive approach and the resolution of regional and international affairs and problems.

ZAKARIA: You know, when I listen to you, Mr. Foreign Minister, your words are different from before in some ways. Your tone is different.

I have met with President Ahmadinejad, and he speaks in a very different way

Now, what I am wondering is, is this part of an effort to confuse us? Is this what in America would be called a "good cop, bad cop" routine, where he says some things that are very fiery, and you say things that are very sweet? Or is there a genuine shift in Iran's attitude?

MOTTAKI: We hear new voices in America. We see new approaches. And we think that the rational thinkers in America can, based on these new approaches, see the reality as it is. We are ready to help them in this endeavor.

After the show hoes like Christiane Amanpour (CNN Internat'l Correspondant Babe), Vali Nasr (Tufts University) and Mikey Ware (CNN Baghdad's Palestine Hotel Balcony correspondant cat) gave up some fly and some not so fly analysis which ranged from informed to uninformed to highly suspect.

Great Satan's Sadr City Tour

One pic = 1K words!

Admiral Mike Mullen just toured Sadr City and partied with Great Satan's World Famous Regime Changers - the IVY Division (4th Infantry)

Silver Bullet

Prob the coolest tune ever (at least today!)

Silver Bullet has two versions - both incredibly powerful - and proof that this song is true art.

"Tonight we'll fly away... you know you shine so bright"

The Lyrics alone are worth the price of admission.

Declaration

"When forced, therefore, to resort to arms for redress, an appeal to the
tribunal of the world was deemed proper for our justification.

"This was the object of the Declaration of Independence. Not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before; but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independent stand we are compelled to take.

"Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion.

"All its authority rests then on the harmonizing sentiments of the day,
whether expressed in conversation, in letters, printed essays, or in the
elementary books of public right, as Aristotle, Cicero, Locke, Sidney,
&c. "

ThOmAs JeFfErSoN

Happy BDay Great Satan!

4 July 1776 fired off a crazy rocking rolling ride that hasn't stopped 'stirring things up' on a global scale.

Advancing arrogance into an art form with a remarkable relentless risque commitment to liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, and laissez-faire values.

America differs qualitatively from all other nations, because of her unique origins, nat'l credo, historical evolution, and distinctive political and religious institutions.

Great Satan is magically especial because she was a country of immigrants and the first modern democracy.

Loud, proud and rowdy - early America forecast future stuff with a provocative lingo that still fits today. "Don't Tread On Me!" "Liberty Or Death", "Live Free Or Die"

The belief in the superiority of the American model is reflected in the perception among Americans of America’s role in the world. That American foreign policy is based on moral principles is a consistent theme in the American discourse – a phenomenon recognized even by those who are skeptic of such an assessment.

This inclination to do right has been virtually unique among the nations of the world - and for this very reason - America has been totally misunderstood. How could a nation so rich, so successful actually, really be so unselfish and so caring?

Critics cry America must have darker motives! America must be seeking imperium - to dominate everyone else, suck up all the oil, to trade and rob blind for America's selfish purposes.

People from more grasping, less idealistic societies find it nigh impossible to accept that America honestly believes that giving everyone opportunity is the real roadmap for abundance and happiness everywhere - not merely in the magical Great Satan.

Americans honestly believe that securing other people's freedom is actually like the best guarantee that America can keep her own.

America does not want to dominate the world. Americans want to live in peace and hope other people will too.

America will go out into the world, redress errors, stop unacceptable behaviour, to first challenge then annihilate threats to our liberty.

Creative destruction is Great Satan's middle name. It is a natural function, for she is the one truly revolutionary country in the world for more than 2 centuries.

She does it automatically, and that is precisely why tyrants hate her guts, and are driven to attack her. An enormous advantage, tyrants fear her, and their oppressed peoples want what she offers: freedom.

Amazingly, some suspect states, illegit leaders and some people have not yet comprehended that America's primary intention is to preserve and keep our own land and liberty and all it's prosperity and that America will do anything and go anywhere to make it happen.

Great Satan built the modern world.

And She knows her way around.

Happy BDay America!

Escalation

Today, the Iranians and Israelis are issuing statements on precise military details, especially the latter, which signifies the strong likelihood of a military strike against Iran.

For example, recently, the former Mossad director told the ‘Sunday Telegraph’ that the worst possible scenario would be if Iran possessed nuclear weapons within a year because the time left for confrontation would become increasingly shorter.

With Israel intensifying its threats on Iran and with the escalation of the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, we find that instead of threatening Israel back, Iran is directing its threats on to the Gulf region and its states.

And instead of flexing its military might, Iran is brandishing its allies in the Arab world, particularly Lebanon and Palestine!

Substantiating the threat against the Gulf States, we find the Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad al Jaafari, stating in the Iranian daily ‘Jamejam’ that

“If there were a confrontation between us and an enemy from outside of the region, then the parameters of the confrontation will certainly include oil.”

And just like that with utmost candor – even if the attack was by Israel!

What Tehran is subjecting the Gulf States to can only be described as political blackmail. Iran wants the neighboring states to remain silent about its desire to possess nuclear weapons so that it may build a formidable military power that would enable it to impose control over the Arab and regional states – and it wants to achieve all that with the consent of and behind the cover of the Arabs themselves.

And in the event of the international community or Israel attempting to prevent this, Iran’s response is to directly threaten the Gulf States and their security and sources of stability.

As such, the gravity of maintaining a neutral position in the face of Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons has become the same as taking a stand against the Gulf countries and the Arab world.

All signs indicate Iran’s hostile attitude towards the Arab states – not to mention that it deals with them with a blatant superiority so that the Gulf and Arab countries have become playing cards or hostages to Tehran, and this is what we have repeatedly been warning of.

Even when Iran threatens Israel with retaliating on its territory; it does that through the Iranian Hezbollah in Lebanon and via Hamas – not through Tehran’s long-range missiles that it takes pride in.

The Iranian threat to use Hezbollah and Hamas are proof that Iran’s sole reason for investing in these movements was for its own security, contrary to the propaganda that has deceived many in the Arab world that upholds that Iran is keen to support the Palestinian cause and to liberate the Arab territories.

The Iranian statements reveal the truth behind Iran’s view of the Gulf States, in addition to the danger of its agents in our countries, since it has become clear that the battles fought by the movements affiliated to Iran in our countries are not our battles as some have been fooled into believing, but rather battles fought to defend Tehran’s ambitions and accounts.

submitted by TaRiQ

GsGf Notes:

Times Online UK updates Tariq's esssay with threats from Iran about using those precious missiles indeed.

"Major-General Mohammad Jafari, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, told a Tehran daily: “This country [Israel] is completely within the range of the Islamic Republic’s missiles. Our missile power and capability are such that the Zionist regime – despite all its abilities – cannot confront it.”

The editorial in one of the Regime's newspapers, Jomhouri Eslami, said: “Our response will hit right at their temple.”

"Ball Of Fire"

It's true. Just like those gigantical mechanical robots in Transformers, ME can xform too!

"A military strike would in my opinion be worse than anything else ... It
would transform the Middle East region into a ball of fire."

Scary scary vibes form UN's chief Nuke cat at the IAEA in a recent interview with Al Arabiya TV. While Dr El-Baradei's bona fides fronting International Agencies is well known - yet how authentic are his psychic abilities?


And exactly why is he transforming into a prophet? Shouldn't he be like proving beyond a shadow of a doubt whether Persia is oath breaking on International Treaties brokered in good faith?


If proving Iran is safe as milk why all the 'Fireball" jazz?


Even worse - if Iran is indeed oath breaking then why would such an august bearucrat suck up to an international outcast regime that are enrichenly industriously breaking oaths he is supposed to defend?


"Ball of Fire" is awful scary

"And who can predict with certitude how Iran would respond?

Would Iran attack Israel with rockets, inviting retaliation with Jericho
and cruise missiles from Israeli submarines? Would she close the Gulf with suicide-boat attacks on tankers and U.S. warships?

With oil at $135 a barrel, Israeli air strikes on Iran would seem to ensure a 2,000-point drop in the Dow and a world recession.

What would Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria do? All three are now in indirect negotiations with Israel. U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq could be made by Iran to pay a high price in blood that could force the United States to initiate its own air war in retaliation, and to finish a war Israel had begun."

That kind of quizing is a lot like easing into a hot bubble bath after a super fun day of horsebacking, swimming and a trek to the Mall. Old school gradual escalation thinking.


"Ball of Fire" is totally new school.


The ME stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean - about 25 diff nations, fiefdoms, kindoms and by happy chance - Great Satan's Central Command.


Would the Land of the Pure hop into "Ball of Fire"? Facing down Talibanistanis' on one side and checking for India over their shoulder - it could be said Pakistan is fully booked.


Or Algeria and Turkey? Outraged by Khomeinist Iran's suddenly rendered retarded nuke chicanery wise? A wicki smack on a regime that buddied up with T groups that tormented both for ages, really drive them batty?


Unsexy, unfree Basharopolis - totally secular - may decide to hold up on Operation "Ball of Fire" choosing to sit this one out. The regimes survival would be at stake including personal assets. Dead mullahs don't donate.


Same thing with HAMAS and the Mohammedist Brotherhood. While undoubtedly appreciative of all the nothing but luv love Tehran has sweetly contribed - survival; may actually be a surprising option for a freely elected suicide regime and semi outlaw jihadis in Pyramidland over allegiance to generous yet foreign ideology control freaks.


Hiz'B'Allah has a world wide reach - including sleepy sleepers in Great Satan even - tons of rockets and a carte blanche billion buck bling from Iran. HBA totally takes direction from Tehran and being a suicide body part collecting death cult/resistence movement might actually welcome a Gotterdammerung.


HBA may be at the height of prestige and control with virtual veto powers over any thing tiny tiny tormented Lebanon could devise.


Kinda iffy if the balloon goes up if HBA will throw it all away in a sha heed blaze or back off entirely if Persia is regime changed.


Maybe - too big an if. HBA makes a case by their Khomeineist creation for annihilation. Plus an especial blood debt owed to Great Satan that has no statue of limitations.


Or at least more pressing concerns like finding new funding amid a heavily armed, refreshingly emboldened ME that shares little sympathy for the mullahs 1st foreign creation.


As the IRGC laid out a while back - the options for retaliation would be like firing off "...fire balls." Revo Guard Deputy Commander Hejazi pointed out

"The era of hit-and-run is over. Possible beginners of any
threat against Iran should notice that Iran reserves the right to
determine the scale and scope of response to any threat.

"Enemies of Iran should know that they would face Iranians' Iron fist in
case of making any mistake against the country. Iranians would destroy
enemies' glass palace with their fire balls"

Options like shutting down Persian Gulf - a strategic economic plan to hold oil hostage from dependent nations. It would also have the unhappy effect of making Iran the real loser.


Nearly 80% of Iran's budget is driven by oil that would need the Gulf open to realise.

Strangling the straits would be more like self asphixiation. 40% of Iran's food stuff is imported - through the Gulf. And so is about 48% - almost half - of Iran's refined petrol.


Mining it shut - wouldn't mean very much any way. Great Satan could open it up again anytime.


"11K Missiles a minute" may not mean too much - even an immodest sweet petite air blitz by Little Satan would take out huge swathes of Iranian Air Defense Systems.


OTOH a desperate WMD witched up unlucky lucky shot at Gulf oil installations, densely populated capitalistic fiefdoms or even Little Satan may indeed transform into a "Fire Ball".


Especially for Tehran.


A Comprehensive Strike annihilating Iranian missile sites (your choice - mobile or permanent) entirely is entirely certain to be on the Target List.


Anti Surge Afghanistan and Iraq would certainly surge - for a while - Persian Invaders could ignite the Arab Street - draw attention (as Sharansky taught "Fear Societies" require external enemies to survive) from Little Satan as the raison d'retarde for all the ME's ills.


Plus Afghanistan and Iraq are chock full of the most high tech, humanitarian, experienced killers in history are in the house large and in charge, fully crunk liable to be reinforced fast and easy.


Anti Surge would be "Very short and very exciting"


Raise Cain in Turkey? Turkey actually deploys a real military and though Iran could surge for a short time would it really help the regime?


A surge for sweet little oiled up sweetie pies like the 'Stans, or Azerbaijan to disrupt or capture pipelines may usher in Russia who is suddenly rich and prob looking to redeem the ancient Red Army's spiritual sons damaged goods image after Afghanistan and the first two out of three Chechnya's.


A case could be made that a Comprehensive Strike that killed off the regime - or at the least wounded it to death could totally deploy the most awesome of all regime changes - from the inside out.

Iranians may not be such affectionados for self inflicted misery on behalf of a regime that fields a Fashion Posse, Secret Police and even voltigeur religious police. Most of the pop is actually quite young - 80% under 40 yo and are experts on how uncool, unfree Supreme Leaders and their tripod support fan club and co operating/competing clubs hang.

"Transform the Middle East into a Ball of Fire"

Maybe that should read "Transform the Mullahs Regime into a Ball of Fire.