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So does the Iranophobia make us safer?
Vince Dhimos We at NSS are always pleased to receive comments in our forums. Recently we had a visit from blogger Dr. Rich Swier, who disagrees with our premise in our article Trump sells vacuum cleaners to Warsaw (though without defending his view), but gave us a link to his fascinating article on Poland, including the history of how the Hussars helped free Vienna from the Ottomans. Sensible Westerners, both Europeans and Americans alike, are concerned about the rampant immigration from cultures that do not fit in well with ours. They are mostly just ordinary citizens concerned for the safety of their families, not a bunch of rednecks. Trump, during his campaign, said magic words that made many people think he would tackle this problem. Obviously, the only sound approach would be to make every effort to stop the emigration flow from its source and, additionally, screen visa applicants from terror exporting countries with greater care. The most sensible and efficient way this could be done is to reverse the failed effort to remove Assad from power and actually team up with the Syria-Russia-Iran axis that is doing most of the fighting against ISIS, instead of pretending that they are just as bad as the terrorists they are fighting. It’s a tough sell but Trump is salesman of the year and Americans are willing buyers. Unfortunately, Trump and his team have taken an ambiguous approach right from the start, even during his campaign, when Trump railed against Iran, claiming that it was the “biggest state supporter of terrorism in the world.” But then later, the Trump officials said that Assad need not go, but then still later that he must go, or that he has no “role in Syria” after his army defeats the terrorists that the US, along with its Saudi pals, trained and armed. We anxiously await the next flip-flop. But back on planet earth, as a Shiite-majority nation with a solidly Shiite government, the Iranians could no sooner aid and abet ISIS than a Methodist minister could preside over a Catholic mass. Shiites joining a US-backed Sunni organization like ISIS is a theological impossibility. The only reason Americans don’t realize this is that the media and political class refuse to mention cultural facts about the Middle East and actively prevent this vital information from being bruited about. The reflexive effort to undo everything Obama ever did – without a serious evaluation of the pros and cons – also clouds American thinking, making this particular generation more anti than pro-active. Trump’s magic words called for a ban on Muslim immigration to the US. This ban targeted citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. But what about Saudi Arabia, Mr. Trump? Why do they of all people get a pass? And can you explain to us why you think banning Iranians from the US makes Americans safer? For those who have been living in a cave or just woke up from a 10-year coma, you can find a pretty good wrap-up of the Saudi role in the major terror organizations here. On the other hand, if you do an internet search for “Iranian terror attacks Europe,” or “Iranian terror attacks USA,” you will find only statements by US officials accusing Iran of various things but no mention of any actual terror attack in Europe or the US in recent decades. The media and political and judicial agents have gone out of their way to demonize Iran and its protégé Hezbollah. Case in point: A Wikipedia article on “Iranian terror” contains this quote from a list of attacks attributed by Western writers to Hezbollah: “The 1994 AC Flight 901 attack, killing 21 people, in Panama. Hezbollah claimed responsibility.[34]” Now get this. When we click on the link in this very article (go ahead and see for yourself), we see in another article specifically describing the downing of that flight, the following: “Soon after Flight 00901 crashed, an organization using the name Ansar Allah, or ‘Followers of God’, issued a statement expressing support for the bombing, and claiming that the attack was a suicide operation by a person with an Arab name. Later, it was determined the organization did not exist. Panamanian authorities have made no arrests in connection with the bombing; The case remains officially unsolved.” If you are a normal reader, you will simply accept that the case is unsolved. After all, who has more motive to find and convict a criminal who has killed Panamanians and destroyed Panamanian property than the Panamanian authorities? Why would they say they did not identify the culprit unless they didn’t? And if Hezbollah had indeed claimed responsibility, why would the cited article not mention this? But if you are a US official or judge or a member of the press, you will dutifully report the former version. After all, the two closest US clients and allies in the Middle East are Israel and Saudi Arabia, and for decades, the US elites have been catering to the governments of these 2 countries in matters related to Iran. The truth filters through only very slowly, often after it is too late (as it did in Iraq). We need to warn sensitive readers that the next comment concerns the Pope and a recent statement of his that relates to this issue. If you are hypersensitive to criticism of the pope, you may either stop reading now or read on and then add your criticism, as you see fit, in our forum, in which case we welcome your response. We are always happy to read feedback (as long as it is reasonably polite). Positive feedback is, of course, welcome, but negative feedback either points out our shortcomings or helps us prepare to respond and supplement our existing arsenal of facts, logic and arguments. So be our guest. To continue, click here for the Opinion page
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