[Changleen]

I find it amusing, sad and extremely telling that this story:

http://news.google.co.nz/nwshp?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wn&ncl=1111891545

Is getting next to no time in the mainstream US press. In the places it is being covered the Arab Muslim states who are after the technology are being referred to as 'Gulf states'.

From Bloomberg:

Mark Regev, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, declined to comment on today's announcement. Hossein Entezami, a spokesman for Iran's National Security Council, wasn't immediately available for comment.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Joanne Moore said she had no comment on the initiative. The White House press office didn't immediately respond to a request for a response.

No comment, no news?

 

[dan-o]

The story, as shown in your link, was run in the NYT and Seattle Post with virtually the same content as other international papers. It was also mentioned in the boston globe. It's not even news, just an announcement that they are considering a civilian nuclear plan. BFD.

 

[Changleen]

(Sorry, forgot about this thread)

So, It's OK for the country that most of the 9/11 terrorists came from to develop nuclear technology, but not Iran?

 

[LordOpie]

So, It's OK for the country that most of the 9/11 terrorists came from to develop nuclear technology, but not Iran?

that's "officially" not true.

politicians suck

 

[Kihaji]

(Sorry, forgot about this thread)

So, It's OK for the country that most of the 9/11 terrorists came from to develop nuclear technology, but not Iran?

Last I checked, the head of Saudi Arabia hasn't called for the "eradication of the Jewish state of Israel".

 

[skinny mike]

Last I checked, the head of Saudi Arabia hasn't called for the "eradication of the Jewish state of Israel".

and last i checked, they weren't all for supporting israel either.

 

[Silver]

Last I checked, the head of Saudi Arabia hasn't called for the "eradication of the Jewish state of Israel".

Last time I checked, the President of Iran wasn't running the country. He's a useful idiot.

Of course, the people running the country aren't any better than our glorious friends and allies who populate the House of Saud...

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

(Sorry, forgot about this thread)

So, It's OK for the country that most of the 9/11 terrorists came from to develop nuclear technology, but not Iran?

its about trust i think.

not saying its ok (probably the US doesnt like that, but they definately dont show the same alarm as with the iranians), nor that the saudis are dependable or worthy of trust or anything, just stating thats the relative perseption the US has of them.

 

[Changleen]

its about trust i think.

not saying its ok (probably the US doesnt like that, but they definately dont show the same alarm as with the iranians), nor that the saudis are dependable or worthy of trust or anything, just stating thats the relative perseption the US has of them.

Exactly. That's the problem I have. These 'relative perceptions' are for the most part utter bullsh1t when the sunlight of reality is turned on them.

 

[rooftest]

So, It's OK for the country that most of the 9/11 terrorists came from to develop nuclear technology, but not Iran?

I thought you believed that was all the work of the US government.

 

[Changleen]

I thought you believed that was all the work of the US government.

Not quite, but close enough.

In this case it doesn't matter what I think, it matters what the 'official' story is.

The official story is that most of the hijackers were Saudis, but we seem to have no problem with the Saudis pursuing nuclear technology.

Having a problem with Iran doing this but not with Saudi seems deeply hypocritical from a logical POV, and simply goes to show that for all the hyperbole our leaders like to talk about freedom and democracy, in the end this comes down to $$$, friendships between the rich and powerful and maintaining the status quo, no matter how abusive or totalitarian they are.

 

[LordOpie]

...in the end this comes down to $$$, friendships between the rich and powerful and maintaining the status quo, no matter how abusive or totalitarian they are.

you say that like this is new info to you?

 

[Changleen]

Of course not. I'm just pointing it out again as a lot of people still don't seem to get it, and think the admin really gives a sh1t about them.

 

[Reactor]

Nobody should have the bomb. With the current leadership of the US I'm not even sure we should have it.

 

[JRogers]

Not quite, but close enough.

In this case it doesn't matter what I think, it matters what the 'official' story is.

The official story is that most of the hijackers were Saudis, but we seem to have no problem with the Saudis pursuing nuclear technology.

Having a problem with Iran doing this but not with Saudi seems deeply hypocritical from a logical POV, and simply goes to show that for all the hyperbole our leaders like to talk about freedom and democracy, in the end this comes down to $$$, friendships between the rich and powerful and maintaining the status quo, no matter how abusive or totalitarian they are.

Not that I think US policy is totally consistent, particularly with respect to Iran- but your point is not "logical" at all.

The US has a problem with the state of Iran, not a small group of individuals in it. The US has no huge issue with the state of Israel. Did the Saudis sponsor these terrorists? Did they assist the 9/11 hijackers?

On the other hand, US suspicions of Iran's involvment in Iraq and Lebanon are high- state action against US policy interests.

Not that $$$ and handshakes have nothing to do with policy (on the contrary...), but claiming that US policy is logically inconsistent because hijackers came from Saudi Arabia makes no sense.

 

[Changleen]

Not that I think US policy is totally consistent, particularly with respect to Iran- but your point is not "logical" at all.

The US has a problem with the state of Iran, not a small group of individuals in it.

Err, are you sure?

The US has no huge issue with the state of Israel. Did the Saudis sponsor these terrorists? Did they assist the 9/11 hijackers?

Israel? What are you talking about? Did the Saudis sponsor the terrorists? Well they sure as hell didn't stop them, and there has been a lot of speculation about where money for 9/11 might have come from - Remember where the Bin Ladens are from and who they are. Many people suspect that Saudi, Pakistani and even Israeli intelligence might have had a hand in 9/11, but since the US government is determined not to investigate it I guess we'll never know.

On the other hand, US suspicions of Iran's involvment in Iraq and Lebanon are high- state action against US policy interests.

Isn't spreading freedom and democracy a stated US policy too? Just not to some people apparently.

 

[Silver]

Did the Saudis sponsor these terrorists? Did they assist the 9/11 hijackers?

Yes. Yes.

Officially, no...but remember how the Saudis look at terror incidents that happen outside of the kingdom. They consider it a "relief valve". Where do you think all the money comes from?

 

[kidwoo]

Where do you think all the money comes from?

It comes from this 15 year old chick who smokes weed. She bought the joint from terrorists. I saw it on the tee veee.

She must buy a lot of weed.

 

[Changleen]

Did the Saudis sponsor these terrorists? Did they assist the 9/11 hijackers?

As Silver said, plus even into the future they still want to help support Sunni extremists (OBL and AQ are Sunni):

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia has told the Bush administration that it might provide financial backing to Iraqi Sunnis in any war against Iraq's Shiites if the United States pulls its troops out of Iraq, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

 

[JRogers]

As Silver said, plus even into the future they still want to help support Sunni extremists (OBL and AQ are Sunni):

I don't know why I typed "Israel" above...I have no idea what I was trying to say there.

In any case, the quote you pulled here does not really follow to your stated conclusions. Support of Sunnis does not equal support of Sunni extremists- that would depend on the type and extent of the conflict they are talking about.

As far as my previous comments on the issue of SA's support of 9/11...there does appear to be some evidence to support that claim. There is probably no way that we will ever know for sure, but it is a valid point.