By Ameer Ali –
President Trump’s pre-election condemnation of the 2015 Obama-Iran deal and his subsequent resolve to scrap that deal and reimpose sanctions against Iran all of which was music to Israel has taken the operational phase after Iran’s latest missile test. Irrespective of whether that test contravened conditions set by the Obama deal or not unilateral sanctions imposed on companies and individuals who deem to have connections with Iran, and Iran’s determination to ignore President Trump’s threatening behaviour are retrogressive and dangerous moves especially in the context of raging political volatility in the Middle East.
To start with, Shiism that governs Iranian thinking is a religious ideology of protest. It is an Islamic sect born out of oppression and thrives under oppression. Iran’s revolution of 1979 was staged against the Shah’s oppressive regime and was unique in the history of Islam, which did not fail to inspire the Sunnis also. In spite of the sectarian violence, currently unleashed by the Saudi regime and its oil-rich Gulf allies, primarily to shift focus from their own failings of governance, the memory of the Iranian Revolution still reverberates among radical Sunni Islamists who would wish to repeat it against their own oppressors. To the ruling tyrants of the Sunni world the mullah-led Iranian Revolution sent shock waves and it was that shock and fear which again made them to rally behind provide active support to the military man Abdel Fatah El Sisi to topple the Morsi Presidency in Egypt after the Arab Spring.
The fact that Iran did not totally collapse economically and politically under pressures from over thirty years of economic embargo imposed by the US further demonstrates to the Islamists that the Islamic state project is achievable and sustainable. Trump’s anti-Muslim immigration policy has already angered the Islamists. His new sanctions and even readiness to resort to military option to implement his policy will only strengthen the Islamist resolve. An angered Iran will be only too willing to succour if that were to eventuate.
Secondly, Iran also has its Shia enclaves not only in Iraq and Bahrain where they are a majority but also in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan as significant minorities. Already, Iran’s successful involvement in the wars in Syria and Yemen has shown that the U.S ally Saudi Arabia with all its petrodollar wealth and U.S. supplied weapons is no match to Iran’s technological, diplomatic and fighting capabilities. Obama administration came to realise this fact rather belatedly and decided to soften its belligerency against Iran.
Moreover, Iran is situated strategically along the coast of Persian Gulf and the Straits of Hormuz through which 30% of world oil supply and 20% of U.S. oil consumption flows. If Trump were to take military action against Iran the above Shia enclaves will erupt, oil supply will be disrupted and the Middle East will become the main theatre of a wider conflict.
Thirdly, it may be that behind Trump’s policy of narrowing the U.S-Russia diplomatic and geopolitical gap on the one hand is an agenda to pull Russia away from its cosy relationship with Iran on the other. This will also not work because of the increasing economic ties that Russia and Iran have built over recent years. Russia needs Iran as much as Iran needs Russia.
Fourthly Iran’s strategic position in West Asia cannot be ignored by the U.S. if the latter wishes to exert some influence in the geopolitics of South Asia. To antagonise Iran is to jeopardise U.S. power in the South Asian region especially in the context of increasing influence of China in the Indian Ocean. The Trump regime must realise that the unipolar world is breaking down fast and indications of a re-emerging bipolar if not a tri-polar world are too obvious to ignore. In such a paradigmatic change the move by U.S. to downgrade its Iranian connection will become a costly liability. As one researcher concludes “if the international community, especially the US, wants peace and stability in the region, Iran has to be part of the peace building process, without which, it will be a futile exercise.”
Iran can be a trustworthy and profitable ally if the Trump administration stops jeopardising Obama’s carefully built US-Iran deal. Diplomatically, strategically and materially it will be too costly for the US to antagonize Iran in order to appease Israel. A US-friendly Iran can be a source of profit to Israel also if one can recall the Iran-Iraq war when Iran procured nearly 80 per cent of its weaponry at a cost of an estimated $500 million from Israel.
*Dr. Ameer Ali, School of Business and Governance, Murdoch University, Western Australia
punchinilame / February 9, 2017
TRUMP JOKES:-
Donald Trump on a field trip visiting a sausage factory:
The owner proudly explains the level of automation…..
“You need to push the pig inside. The machine does all the work..
Lo, you have the sausage come out”
Trump: “I want to make America Great Again! Is it possible to push the
sausage in, the pig comes out….?”
Factory Owner: “Yes it is possible. Your father tried it years ago, and he
succeeded…!”
Exactly 71 years ago!!!!!
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Leonard / February 10, 2017
Good one punchinlame I read Lokunilame tried the same thing 10 months before you arrived on the seen. By the way its a old joke been around in Sri Lanka couple of decades original recipients’ were John Keel and his son in Sri Lanka. One more thing can you name one major achievement in your life other than self appointed expert on TRIPE.
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lenonard / February 9, 2017
Sorry Doc US now have a leader with a backbone and tell it as is without PC rubbish to keep the snowflakes Hollywood super rich elites and hypocritical libies happy has evaporated.Obama doctoring of willingly & covertly Kowtowing to Islamic extremist and using of rhetoric comparing Christen Crusades gone as well.
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Native Vedda / February 11, 2017
Aiyo lenonard
Please tell us what exactly your leader with a backbone going to deliver in the next 4 years.
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jim softy / February 9, 2017
It is a Game. USA is harassing Iran since 1950 when that Mahomad ali or some one was the head. They tried to govern Iran friendlier to USA. but, USA never wanted it. Even now, secretly, Iran helps USA in many instances. but, USA it is the same. Iran is intelligent and they know how to manouever. They should be certain other things that we don’t know which happened after that taking over of the consulate.
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jim softy / February 9, 2017
I think the present talk about Iran and about Sanctions may be to divert the attention of Israel building new settlements in the west bank.
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Sipahisahabah / February 9, 2017
Ameer Ali you are ignorant of Islam. You are a paid servant of the Raafidha Shee’ee so you are a propagandist of the Iraninans. FYI Sheeaas can never be Muslims in the first instance as their core Aqeedah is flawed : Muslims scholars have condemned the Shia/Raafidha beliefs which is contrary to the Islamic Beliefs: So Ameer Ali politicians will eat even shit to earn dirty money by selling the religions. shia and their corrupted beliefs, their deceptive methods are very well known to the Muslims. So those who attempt to impose on us these corruptions, we are alert. Please see these videos to know the truth about shia/Raafidha and their corrupted ideology. Iranians war machines and high technology is of no use when natural disaster struck Iran they are all destroyed by the will of Allaah. So do not boast about Iranin rocket and other destructive elements as all these will perish. and you as well as your kambuthadi mowlowika ishak are all paid servants of Iranians dirty money, you bloody easterners even sell your mothers for money. So you being a shia is not a problem as you will be in the hellfire for ever,
These shias Raafidha is worst than the Jews as the shias have slandered the mother of believers Aisha (May Allaah be Pleased with her) and the slanders and lies poured upon the rightly guided leaders of Muslim, all of them are vouched for their righteousness by Allaah in the Quraan, but the Sheea/Raafidah reject the Quraan so r ejector of even one word of the Quraan render that person a Kaafir. Shias are not Muslim at all.
See the below video clip by Muslim scholars clarifying the shias are not Muslims but shayaatheens kuffars:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GACwaLSxXk8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYa0d0RB71s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syiuhWN77j0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq4BAAVDo9k
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Amarasiri / February 9, 2017
Sipahisahabah
Sipahisahabah you are ignorant of Islam. You and the Wahhabies, Salafies, Tauhidis, ISIS, Talibans, Bojo-Harams etc. have been misled by the cunning Satan, Shaitan, Iblis. The Wahhabis will end up in Hell-Fire on the Day of Judgment along with the Satan, Iblis, as per Islamic Theology.
Save yourself from Hell-Fire. Give up your Wahhabisn-Salafism tick of Iblis, Satan.
The Wahhabi-Salafi Satanic, Iblisic Ideology does not even belong to any of the Schools of Sunni Islam, like Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki and Hanbali, even according to Ibn Taymiah.
Abdul Wahhab was infected by Satan, Iblis. Abdul Wahhab’s brother, Sulaiman, was critical of Abdul Wahhab, and wrote a book about it. He was killed by the Satan Following Wahhabies.
References:
1. Hadith of Najd
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadith_of_Najd
2. Al Azhar Scholar: ‘Wahhabism/Salafism is a Satanic Faith, the Horns of Satan’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZOA3Ho9AUk&t=4s
3. L-AZHAR DEAN: WAHHABI/SALAFI ARE NOT SUNNI OR MUSLIM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc1LhnzDHRw
4. Al Azhar Sheikh shia are Muslims, Wahabi Salafi’s are Extremist, (Follow the Devil)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69z-PHiqOiU&t=43s
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Hasher / February 10, 2017
Marakkalamarasiri, It is not only Wahab, the whole story of Islam is Satan’s curse to the peaceful world.
The belief among idiots like you that anyone who doesn’t believe in the psychotic dreams of your ‘prophet’ Mohamed is an Infidel is a mythical belief. Your campaign to kill every one who does not believe in the same bullshit and establish a calipahte (of the ignorant) gives your similarly vicious enemy, the Jews the chance to spread chaos in the world, using human rights.
You should both end up in hell for the world to become peaceful again.
May your curse on Torture – ‘Those who have disbelieved in Our signs – We will burn them in fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We will exchange them for other skins so that they may taste the punishment… (Quraan 4:56) come back on your evil selves.
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Amarasiri / February 10, 2017
Hasher
No ad hominem’s. Stick to the subject, issue or debate, and provide credible references.
“It is not only Wahab, the whole story of Islam is Satan’s curse to the peaceful world. “
Satan, Iblis following Wahhabies and their Clones are agitated, because they will end up in Hell-Fire per Islamic Theology, based on the theology.
Devil (Islam)
In Islam, the devil is called Shayṭān, (Arabic: شيطان, plural: شياطين shayāṭīn) and refers to all evil forces under leadership of the archdevil known as Iblīs, who was cast out of heaven, after he refused to prostrate before Adam.
The primary characteristic of Iblis is hubris; not only did he deem himself a superior creation to Adam, he also demonstrated arrogance by challenging Allah’s judgment in commanding him to prostrate.His primary activity is to incite humans and jinn to commit evil through deception, which is referred to as “whispering into the hearts.” The Quran mentions that Satans are the assistants of those who disbelieve in God: “We have made the evil ones friends to those without faith.”
The Devil in Islamic theology[edit]
Iblis (picture link) refuses to prostrate before the newly created Adam.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_(Islam)#/media/File:Adam_honored.jpg
According to The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, shaytan in the singular and the plural shayatin are used in the Quran often interchangeably with Iblis, who is “considered to be a particular shaytan.” In Islamic theology, Iblis is a being created from fire who was allowed to mingle with Angels in the heavens until he rejected the command of God to bow before Adam. When God created Adam, the first human, He said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.”. The angels respond: “Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?”
God affirms and all the angels prostrate, but Iblis does not. Iblis justified his decision, because he claims to be better than a human: “I am better than he: Thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay.” Iblis requested trying to mislead the people to prove that he was right. Although God grants the request, he also warns Iblis that he would have no authority over his ‘ibād or “servants”. As for My servants, no authority shalt thou have over them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_(Islam)
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Dinuk / February 9, 2017
Right on Mr. Ameen. The US is fishing in troubled waters in Iran ane everywhere.
Here in Sri Lanka US economic hit men from the right with US govt. Millennium Challenge Corp. are leading Ranil and his team of Economic Hit men up the garden path with their demand for a Super Ministry to bypass local govt. institutions, checks and balances on corruption, to acquire land and displace people with impunity.
Today seems that: “United States has agreed to increase the financial contribution which was agreed to provide according to the agreements signed in 2011 with the Government of USA for implementing two programs.
The programs include ‘Strengthened Partnership for Domestic Reform & Social Integration’ and ‘Increased Equitable Economic Growth and Public Financial Management’.
Ranil should ask MCC and their team of Economic Hit men at Harvard to join with the IMF and track down all the looted funds from Sri Lanka by Mahinda Jarapassa family and cronies and Bond scam Mahendran and return it to pay off the massive national debt, so Sri Lanka can exit its DEBT TRAP.
USAID is part of the problem and not solution to corruption, DEBT inequality, social unrest and massive DEBT TRAP done with IMF! The Sri Lanka airlines sell off to a dubious Texas fund is also another covert op of MCC and their Harvard Economic Hit Men. All the USAID programs do is INCREASE CORRUPTION so that the likes of Trump who have not shown tax returns can benefit from off shore tax havens, corruption and capital flight from Global South..
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sekara / February 9, 2017
You are dead right.
I just received the following text that made interesting reading. (I have edited out parts to keep within the 300 word limit.)
McCarran-Walter Act Of 1952”
Here are the historic facts that would seem to indicate that many of the people we elect to work for us in Washington DC do NOT have the slightest idea of what laws already exist in OUR country.
… Donald Trump was severely, criticized for suggesting that the U.S. should limit or temporarily suspend the immigration of certain ethnic groups…. Congressmen and Senators swore that they would never allow such legislation, and our current President called such a prohibition on immigration “unconstitutional”.
…It seems that the selective immigration ban is already law and has been applied on several occasions.
Known as the McCarran-Walter Act, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 allows for the “…The President may, by proclamation, and for such a period as he shall deem necessary, may suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or non-immigrants or impose any restrictions on the entry of aliens he may deem to be appropriate.”
And who do you suppose last utilized this process? Why it was Democrat President Jimmy Carter…in 1979, to keep Iranians out of the United States.
…He made ALL Iranian students,already in the United States, check in with the government. And then he deported a bunch of them….
…
Additionally…the McCarran-Walter Act also requires that an “applicant for immigration must be…in agreement with the principles of our Constitution.”
…since the Quran forbids Muslims to swear allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, technically, ALL Muslims should be refused immigration….
Let there be no illusion that despite pretenses to the contrary the US has been a racist state since its founding.
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Native Vedda / February 10, 2017
sekara
Thanks.
Can you also please elucidate the importance of Ceylon Citizenship Act No. 18 of 1948 and SriMao-Shastri Pact of 1964?
Since the 1964 pact was signed by your Calendar Girl the weeping widow it must have been good deal for the upcountry hard working Tamils.
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sekara / February 10, 2017
NV
Great.
Box on.
I am having fun.
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Native Vedda / February 11, 2017
sekara
“I am having fun.”
I am happy for you.
Does memory of the weeping widow still make you happy?
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soma / February 11, 2017
NV
“Can you also please elucidate the importance of Ceylon Citizenship Act No. 18 of 1948 and SriMao-Shastri Pact of 1964?”
The importance is to provide them with an opportunity to live within their own cultural, religious and linguistic environment.
Before you write next
– read about the fantastic development of their motherland to the level of the next superpower
– Go see for yourself their pathetic life in the ‘Sinhala Buddhist ghetto’ in your own words.
Why are you jealous of them?
Soma
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Native Vedda / February 11, 2017
somaaaasss
In your haste you completely forgotten to state lucidly what you really thought (?) in your ghettoised mind.
Please take your own time and type once again so that our fellow forum sharers could understand how stupid the Sinhala/Buddhist ghetto builders have become.
somasss
Nothing personal.
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soma / February 13, 2017
NV,
Fellow forum sharers are recommending you to continue your stay at Angoda until some improvement is registered.
Soma
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Socrates / February 10, 2017
The civilizational responsibility of the West is to phase out Islam with least damage to the brainwashed innocents. As the West embarks on this project they have to be careful not to cross their own ethical standards and contain Muslims killing Muslims. Hence the process may take another 500 years. Slowly and surely it has begun with Trump.
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sekara / February 10, 2017
Remember the brainwashed population of the McCarthy era.
Remember the brainwashed population that justified the US war in Vietnam and the attack on Cuba and the string of evil deeds in the name of the people of America.
The Islamist evil doers are the creation of the USA. Trump’s US wants to shut out harmless Muslims but let its ‘Muslim’ partners in crime enter.
Trump may not last beyond his term. He certainly has put the decline and fall of the US on fast track.
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Native Vedda / February 11, 2017
sekara
“Remember the brainwashed population of the McCarthy era. Remember the brainwashed population that justified the US war in Vietnam and the attack on Cuba and the string of evil deeds in the name of the people of America.”
It is not just USA which Manufactured Consent among its own people but in this island too your calendar girl Siri Mao’s husband Banda manufactured consent among the people through Pancha Maha Balavegaya.
I am not sure whether you ever considered Pancha Maha Balavegaya as brain washing.
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ranjith(sprrw) / February 10, 2017
muslims talk and write article when muslim country is being effected by the action of non muslims country. but dubai and kuwait imposed same kind of travel restriction USA did for fellow islamic countries for same reasons. can see deep silence from local muslims community. why. no utterance of any single word against saudi arabia’s religious racism . but myanmar’s denial of citizenship for muslims always highlighted. why Mr. Amir Ali. do you think only the muslims have human rights as stated in your koran. all others are wild beasts.
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Nimal / February 15, 2017
To turn Iran to a secular country will ease the situation for Iran.We have seen religions have caused much destruction and to avoid religion in the state affairs will ease the hostility to Iran.
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