Iraq is living a horrible tragedy. The main cause: Bush and Blair.
Bush and Blair should be prosecuted by their own people. Accountability is VERY important.
The US cannot hold Bush accountable for domestic issues only and completely unaccountable on the world stage. This is a disgrace to true democracy.
Justice must be GLOBAL too, not just free trade!
Spreading global capitalism without global justice is simply hypocritical. It unveils the true intent of imperialist America.
If the American people fail to punish their own leaders, terrorists do have a case!
Someone will be punished. Better be the president than the entire people.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Iraq
The US and UK armies should leave Iraq. Their presence is more destabilizing than stabilizing.
They should be replaced with a mixed force of Shiite and Sunnite.
Iran, Egypt and Pakistan can be contributors to this force, plus the Iraqi official army.
By including Iran, we show this nation that the international community is willing to trust it. By giving Iran responsibility we are encouraging it to behave more responsibly. It can be used as a leverage to ensure a nuclear free Middle East. The US must at the same time pressure Israel to dismantle its nuclear arsenal (this will be a tough one, but guarantees can be offered to Israel or economic sanctions imposed).
Iran must not try to annex certain parts of Iraq. This will need to be carefully monitored by the UN.
Iran will have the task to disarm the Shiite militias. Egypt and other Sunnite forces will have to curb Sunnite militias.
Democracy may be a source of civil war for the time being in Iraq. Each sect is "democratically" asking for more power! Hence, in the interim, a UN sponsored government can be put in place and whose task is to ensure that all sects are equitably served by a new constitution (in large part inspired from the current constitution). All sects should have their rights protected. The constitution will be democratically amended in a few decades, when democracy is ripe.
The UN sponsored government will essentially be designated by current Iraqi political entities as well as Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, etc.
Tough luck Iraq!
They should be replaced with a mixed force of Shiite and Sunnite.
Iran, Egypt and Pakistan can be contributors to this force, plus the Iraqi official army.
By including Iran, we show this nation that the international community is willing to trust it. By giving Iran responsibility we are encouraging it to behave more responsibly. It can be used as a leverage to ensure a nuclear free Middle East. The US must at the same time pressure Israel to dismantle its nuclear arsenal (this will be a tough one, but guarantees can be offered to Israel or economic sanctions imposed).
Iran must not try to annex certain parts of Iraq. This will need to be carefully monitored by the UN.
Iran will have the task to disarm the Shiite militias. Egypt and other Sunnite forces will have to curb Sunnite militias.
Democracy may be a source of civil war for the time being in Iraq. Each sect is "democratically" asking for more power! Hence, in the interim, a UN sponsored government can be put in place and whose task is to ensure that all sects are equitably served by a new constitution (in large part inspired from the current constitution). All sects should have their rights protected. The constitution will be democratically amended in a few decades, when democracy is ripe.
The UN sponsored government will essentially be designated by current Iraqi political entities as well as Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, etc.
Tough luck Iraq!
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Ignore Hezbollah, Fight Corruption
It is impossible to have a meaningful debate with Nasrallah. He wants to keep his weapons at any cost. So let it be since we can’t disarm him.
We are helpless against Israel and we are helpless against Hezbollah. So we’ll ignore both Israel and Hezbollah, and move on. It is futile to waste our energy cursing, ranting and whining. All we can try is to contain Israel and Hezbollah as much as possible to avoid tragedies such as the latest one. Both are irresponsible and criminal entities. But what can we do?
The best strategy for the time being is to fight corruption. It should be the number one priority. We have to start somewhere.
As time goes by, as Lebanon and other Arab nations improve their standard of living, slowly people will get disenchanted with armed militias who can provoke wars at any time. Who wants wars when they have a house, a job, a school and a clean hospital? Let the curse of the middle class fall upon all the sects of Lebanon! A curse and a cure.
Now Nasrallah wants to change the government. How arrogant. But a good strategy is to ignore him. Someone should tell him that he can sleep next to his RPG in the cave but please shut up.
Then comes Aoun. As if the circus can afford one more clown (the job market for clowns is oversaturated). He wants a national unity government but at the same time he thinks the national dialogue conference is not working. How can a government work if the dialogue is not? Go figure. Anyway, let’s please him with a bone: a brand new leather seat at the government’s table, and we’ll see what sort of dialogue he has in mind. I can see him already ironing his best suit in preparation for the next presidential campaign. A monkey in the president’s seat… but it’s not a premiere.
As for the international tribunal, we may have to drop this one. Syria assassinated Hariri. May his soul rest in peace. But we got Lebanon in return. We can’t ask for much more, I guess, while the country is heading to nowhere.
Let us forgive the killers of Hariri as we forgave and continue to forgive all those who participated in the previous wars and in the latest war. We forgive Israel, we forgive our neighbors and we forgive ourselves. If we don’t, the alternative is to die.
Eventually, brammertz will render his report public and it will be known who killed Hariri. We don’t need to punish them. The future will punish them. And if Bammertz retains his report secret, we can use it as a leverage to pressure Syria. More important for us than punishing Assad is to draw an official border and to stop Syrian interference in Lebanon. That report is our sword.
We are helpless against Israel and we are helpless against Hezbollah. So we’ll ignore both Israel and Hezbollah, and move on. It is futile to waste our energy cursing, ranting and whining. All we can try is to contain Israel and Hezbollah as much as possible to avoid tragedies such as the latest one. Both are irresponsible and criminal entities. But what can we do?
The best strategy for the time being is to fight corruption. It should be the number one priority. We have to start somewhere.
As time goes by, as Lebanon and other Arab nations improve their standard of living, slowly people will get disenchanted with armed militias who can provoke wars at any time. Who wants wars when they have a house, a job, a school and a clean hospital? Let the curse of the middle class fall upon all the sects of Lebanon! A curse and a cure.
Now Nasrallah wants to change the government. How arrogant. But a good strategy is to ignore him. Someone should tell him that he can sleep next to his RPG in the cave but please shut up.
Then comes Aoun. As if the circus can afford one more clown (the job market for clowns is oversaturated). He wants a national unity government but at the same time he thinks the national dialogue conference is not working. How can a government work if the dialogue is not? Go figure. Anyway, let’s please him with a bone: a brand new leather seat at the government’s table, and we’ll see what sort of dialogue he has in mind. I can see him already ironing his best suit in preparation for the next presidential campaign. A monkey in the president’s seat… but it’s not a premiere.
As for the international tribunal, we may have to drop this one. Syria assassinated Hariri. May his soul rest in peace. But we got Lebanon in return. We can’t ask for much more, I guess, while the country is heading to nowhere.
Let us forgive the killers of Hariri as we forgave and continue to forgive all those who participated in the previous wars and in the latest war. We forgive Israel, we forgive our neighbors and we forgive ourselves. If we don’t, the alternative is to die.
Eventually, brammertz will render his report public and it will be known who killed Hariri. We don’t need to punish them. The future will punish them. And if Bammertz retains his report secret, we can use it as a leverage to pressure Syria. More important for us than punishing Assad is to draw an official border and to stop Syrian interference in Lebanon. That report is our sword.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Modest Request From a Christian Militia
Dear Prime Minister of Lebanon, Mr. Fouad Siniora, aka Mr. Fouad Sanyourah,
This letter is to ask for your permission to buy arms and missiles for some Christian militia in Lebanon. We hope you understand the position of this militia and will give it your green light.
You see, there are other armed militias in Lebanon.
So it seems forming militias and carrying weapons in Lebanon is something legal.
Moreover, the Christians, a minority in Lebanon and the Middle East today, do feel threatened just like the Palestinians and other factions. The request to militarize is quite justified.
As long as there are other people carrying arms in Lebanon, we cannot accept any rejection of this modest request.
Please note that the Christian militia has plans to buy the most sophisticated missiles you can find on the market. No compromise on quality. The entire world will look in admiration at the display of weapons and power. Something to be proud of as a Lebanese, from any region and any sect.
Yours truly,
Happy Arab
This letter is to ask for your permission to buy arms and missiles for some Christian militia in Lebanon. We hope you understand the position of this militia and will give it your green light.
You see, there are other armed militias in Lebanon.
So it seems forming militias and carrying weapons in Lebanon is something legal.
Moreover, the Christians, a minority in Lebanon and the Middle East today, do feel threatened just like the Palestinians and other factions. The request to militarize is quite justified.
As long as there are other people carrying arms in Lebanon, we cannot accept any rejection of this modest request.
Please note that the Christian militia has plans to buy the most sophisticated missiles you can find on the market. No compromise on quality. The entire world will look in admiration at the display of weapons and power. Something to be proud of as a Lebanese, from any region and any sect.
Yours truly,
Happy Arab
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Lebanese Prisoners in Syria
Dear Hassan Nasrallah,
Would you please be kind enough to kidnap Syrian soldiers in order to exchange them with Lebanese prisoners in Syrian jails?
Best regards,
Happy Arab
PS: these prisoners are mainly Christians but I suppose you are defending the cause of all Lebanese people, Shiite, Sunnite and Christians alike.
Would you please be kind enough to kidnap Syrian soldiers in order to exchange them with Lebanese prisoners in Syrian jails?
Best regards,
Happy Arab
PS: these prisoners are mainly Christians but I suppose you are defending the cause of all Lebanese people, Shiite, Sunnite and Christians alike.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Hezbollah's Wrong Strategy
Why didn't Hezbollah open the access of their bunkers to the poor Shiite stuck in the middle of the fire?
How can Hezbollah plan and prepare for war by digging bunkers without thinking of the potential poor Shiite casualties?
What sort of perverted strategy is that?
Are the innocent Lebanese civilians considered collateral damage by Hezbollah in his valiant fight against Israel?
How can Hezbollah provoke Israel and shell it with Katyushas when they know that there will be a stronger retaliation and that while they will be hiding in bunkers, their cousins will be outside dying of bombs and hunger?
Israel did prepare for war by making sure that all Israeli civilians can be vacated from the North, and that Hezbollah is not capable of inflicting significant damage.
But Hezbollah didn't seem to care for their civilians. They didn't seem to ponder the possibility that if Hezbollah fighters can hide when warplanes come to bomb, the civilians have nowhere to hide or go. If Hezbollah has enough food and water for some weeks, the poor civilians won't have enough food and water.
The difference between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government is that the latter does not engage in wars without preparing and thinking about all its civilians. Just like the Israeli government.
Hassan Nasrallah considers the poor Lebanese of the South as acceptable collateral damage of his valiant wars and his greater cause. A cause that I fail to understand. What is he trying to achieve?
Israel technically defeated Hezbollah by hitting the weak spot: the Lebanese civilians that Hezbollah forgot to include in their planning and strategy. Not only Hezbollah forgot to plan for the safety of these civilians, but also forgot to plan for a potential sea and air blockade that can humiliate Lebanon, Hezbollah and the innocent people. A blockade that deprives Lebanon from essential needs and that Hezbollah is helpless against.
Wrong strategy!
How can Hezbollah plan and prepare for war by digging bunkers without thinking of the potential poor Shiite casualties?
What sort of perverted strategy is that?
Are the innocent Lebanese civilians considered collateral damage by Hezbollah in his valiant fight against Israel?
How can Hezbollah provoke Israel and shell it with Katyushas when they know that there will be a stronger retaliation and that while they will be hiding in bunkers, their cousins will be outside dying of bombs and hunger?
Israel did prepare for war by making sure that all Israeli civilians can be vacated from the North, and that Hezbollah is not capable of inflicting significant damage.
But Hezbollah didn't seem to care for their civilians. They didn't seem to ponder the possibility that if Hezbollah fighters can hide when warplanes come to bomb, the civilians have nowhere to hide or go. If Hezbollah has enough food and water for some weeks, the poor civilians won't have enough food and water.
The difference between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government is that the latter does not engage in wars without preparing and thinking about all its civilians. Just like the Israeli government.
Hassan Nasrallah considers the poor Lebanese of the South as acceptable collateral damage of his valiant wars and his greater cause. A cause that I fail to understand. What is he trying to achieve?
Israel technically defeated Hezbollah by hitting the weak spot: the Lebanese civilians that Hezbollah forgot to include in their planning and strategy. Not only Hezbollah forgot to plan for the safety of these civilians, but also forgot to plan for a potential sea and air blockade that can humiliate Lebanon, Hezbollah and the innocent people. A blockade that deprives Lebanon from essential needs and that Hezbollah is helpless against.
Wrong strategy!
A Militia in Cuba
Imagine a militia in Cuba, independent from Fidel Castro, starts occupying some region in the country and becomes heavily armed.
Chavez, for example, provides the militia with money and arms. The militia becomes a state within the state such that Cuba's government cannot intervene. The government is unhappy with the situation but unable to control it.
This militia's ideology is that the imperialist US has impoverished and harmed Cuba, and today is time for payback. So the militia starts bombing Miami sometimes, kidnapping American people other times, etc. And the militia keeps acquiring more and more powerful missiles. 1000 km range, 2000 km range, etc.
What would the response of the US be?
Even if we side with the militia and agree that they have a strong point (Cuba has been harmed by the US for decades), the response from the US can be expected to be very harsh. They will invade Cuba.
Indeed, in 1962 something similar occurred and nearly ignited WWIII.
And this is what Olmert did in Lebanon.
So our main problem in Lebanon, at the moment, is that the government has been pushed aside and a militia took over. Should Israel tolerate people armed with long range missiles, who obey no official authority, and sitting by the Israeli border?
If I were Israel I wouldn't tolerate it!
Moreover, these armed people will become even more armed in 2010: more powerful and longer range missiles that can reach Tel Aviv. And these armed people are disobeying all attempts by the Lebanese government to peacefully disarm and join the political life.
So what options is Israel left with?
I honestly believe that Israel is a terrorist state. But I can understand the Israeli reaction. You cannot pack long range missiles at their border and have no official authority behind the command of these missiles! There will be a response, a strong one.
Imagine further that one day Iran succeeds in developing an atom bomb. And then imagine Iran smuggling such a bomb to Hezbollah... The only option Israel has is to destroy Hezbollah or find a way to disarm it.
Hezbollah's armed existence is wrong in the modern world where human beings have reached a sufficiently advanced level to create nations governed by official entities. And these entities communicate with each other at the level of a state. Guerillas are understandable when the state is under siege or lost. But in Lebanon there exists a state and it is democratically elected. Why should Hezbollah carry arms?
The problems between Israel and Lebanon should be handled by the democratically elected Lebanese government. Israel's government is doing its job. Let the Lebanese government do its job. I don't see any Zionist militias in the North of Israel trying to deal with the issues with Lebanon.
Let us behave like the modern world if we don't want to look like a society of monkeys.
Chavez, for example, provides the militia with money and arms. The militia becomes a state within the state such that Cuba's government cannot intervene. The government is unhappy with the situation but unable to control it.
This militia's ideology is that the imperialist US has impoverished and harmed Cuba, and today is time for payback. So the militia starts bombing Miami sometimes, kidnapping American people other times, etc. And the militia keeps acquiring more and more powerful missiles. 1000 km range, 2000 km range, etc.
What would the response of the US be?
Even if we side with the militia and agree that they have a strong point (Cuba has been harmed by the US for decades), the response from the US can be expected to be very harsh. They will invade Cuba.
Indeed, in 1962 something similar occurred and nearly ignited WWIII.
And this is what Olmert did in Lebanon.
So our main problem in Lebanon, at the moment, is that the government has been pushed aside and a militia took over. Should Israel tolerate people armed with long range missiles, who obey no official authority, and sitting by the Israeli border?
If I were Israel I wouldn't tolerate it!
Moreover, these armed people will become even more armed in 2010: more powerful and longer range missiles that can reach Tel Aviv. And these armed people are disobeying all attempts by the Lebanese government to peacefully disarm and join the political life.
So what options is Israel left with?
I honestly believe that Israel is a terrorist state. But I can understand the Israeli reaction. You cannot pack long range missiles at their border and have no official authority behind the command of these missiles! There will be a response, a strong one.
Imagine further that one day Iran succeeds in developing an atom bomb. And then imagine Iran smuggling such a bomb to Hezbollah... The only option Israel has is to destroy Hezbollah or find a way to disarm it.
Hezbollah's armed existence is wrong in the modern world where human beings have reached a sufficiently advanced level to create nations governed by official entities. And these entities communicate with each other at the level of a state. Guerillas are understandable when the state is under siege or lost. But in Lebanon there exists a state and it is democratically elected. Why should Hezbollah carry arms?
The problems between Israel and Lebanon should be handled by the democratically elected Lebanese government. Israel's government is doing its job. Let the Lebanese government do its job. I don't see any Zionist militias in the North of Israel trying to deal with the issues with Lebanon.
Let us behave like the modern world if we don't want to look like a society of monkeys.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Ahmadinejad's Blogsite
What a mistake for Ahmadinejad to start his own blog! http://www.ahmadinejad.ir.
Before reading his blog, I was under the impression that he is an intelligent man. How disappointed I am to realize he is as fanatical and ignorant as Bush. We are living in dangerous times with these two men on top!
Ahmadinejad seems to put the entire blame of the misery of Iran exclusively on the West and especially the US. But here are some observations that he seemed to have missed:
South Korea and Japan are examples that the West does not necessarily abuse nations. The two nations are now economically stronger and richer than most Western nations. They also have some of the most advanced scientific research in the world.
West Germany was also occupied by the US. And Germany today is quite independent from the US and is one of the super economies of the world.
Iran was never occupied by the US.
How come Japan, South Korea and Germany who were occupied by the US managed to become super economies and super advanced nations while Iran, who wasn't occupied by the US remained behind?
Blaming the US is way too easy. I agree that the US and the West share a big part of the blame. But a bigger part of the blame lies in the hands of the Iranian people. It is childish to run away from your responsibilities, Ahmadinejad.
You could say that because of oil, the US treated Iran and the Arab world differently from Japan and Germany.
Or that the US may have tried to exert control over Japan and Germany but it failed because the two nations were already quite powerful and advanced. However, it succeeded with the weaker and less advanced Iran.
It's true to some extent.
But South Korea was a poor nation. Yet it managed to succeed brilliantly and the US doesn't control a thing in South Korea today.
And here's why the US never succeeded in controlling Germany and Japan: these two countries put the wars behind them, discarded nuclear energy (although many Germans were the fathers of the nuclear age), did not have any significant armies, and focused on CIVIL TECHNOLOGIES, SOCIAL PROGRAMS, SCIENCE and ART. Japan and Germany today focus on new technologies such as biotech, nanotech, robotics, hybrid car engines, etc. This is where the money is. Nuclear research is old stuff with little money to be made from. Universities in the US do not invest much in nuclear research compared to newer technologies.
What is Iran doing today? Rather than accepting the offer of the EU for more trade, for lifting all kinds of sanctions, and so on, Iran stands alone in defiance. Iran wants to focus on nuclear research and forgets the much more lucrative biotech and nanotech.
Had Germany and Japan in 1970 taken a similar stance to Iran today, defying the world, insisting on nuclear research and ignoring the more important technologies, Germany and Japan would have been wiped out, back to dark age.
Remember Iraq in 1990? Didn't you think at the time that Saddam is stupid? Rather than focusing on civil programs, Saddam went invading other nations. Whether it was his right or not, the world does not function by right and wrong. The world is a jungle where the smartest, strongest and fittest survive. All Saddam had to do was take it easy, and slowly and silently build Iraq's economical power (which is far more important than military power. Civil programs are far more productive than military programs).
So why is Iran, contrary to Germany, Japan and South Korea, going on a route that can lead it to bankruptcy at best? It is simply because Iran is not a democracy. Therefore, rather than bringing on top bright people who know what is the best for their nation, Iran brings on top some backward thinking religious fanatics who are clueless and who will end up doing more harm than good to Iran.
The main difference between South Korea and Iran is that the former is a democracy while Iran is a theocracy. This is the main reason why Iran is behind, Ahmadinejad, not because of the West. So South Korea, without any oil resources becomes an economic superpower while Iran is wasting time trying to get nuclear energy or weapons (whatever).
Who cares about nuclear weapons anyway?! They can't be used! If Iran blows one nuclear bomb, it will be wiped off the map, so what's the point? As a deterrent (or as an incitement)? Against what? Is anyone trying to invade Iran (unless Iran insists on nuclear programs)? What are nuclear weapons serving Pakistan and India? They just make them look like bad guys. Sweden does not have any such weapons, by the way. What is more prestigious today, Pakistan or Sweden?
In fact, there is a higher chance that a nuclear weapon or a nuclear site in Iran blows on its own (like Chernobyl) and kills Iranian people. And a much lower chance that an Iranian nuclear bomb ever kills an Israeli person. So is this nuclear program directed against Iranians? Masochistic Ahmadinejad!
In any case, Ahmadinejad is making a huge confusion. The West is not one person or one entity. It is a multitude of people, of countries, of ideas that are often opposed to each other: sometimes religious, sometimes atheist, sometimes capitalistic, sometimes communist, sometimes for war, sometimes for peace, sometimes for slavery, sometimes for human rights, etc.
The West too has struggled with all the kind of problems that the family of Ahmadinejad struggled with. Poverty, urbanization, suburbs, religions, wars, etc. By a historical accident, the West happened to have some decades of advance over the other civilizations. So the West experimented will all kinds of ideas and systems. Slowly it converged toward the model that we all know today. This model is far from perfect, most Westerners agree to that. It is a model that works to some extent, but also a model that is destroying nature. Westerners are realizing it and slowly tweaking the model to save the Earth, if possible. All civilizations have destroyed nature to the extent they were able to. The first people to reach Australia wiped all mammals out. We can't blame the Westerners for all the tragedies of this planet. They are one part of it.
My point being that rather than standing up like a cock and defying the West, we have to learn from their experience and then improve upon it. There is no point in repeating everything they went through. In 2006 we can study their past centuries and see what they did right and wrong and choose a decent path for Iran and the Arab world.
The most urgent change we need in Iran and in Arabia is to have democracies that on average elect smart people as leaders, and quickly correct bad choices by removing lousy leaders. This way we prevent the ignorant fanatics from leading us into the abyss.
See how America will push Bush aside and bring a better president next time. Will something like that ever happen in Iran???
Ahmadinejad, forget the nuclear weapons that can only bring death and poverty to your people (and to other people). Focus on biotech and nanotech. Believe me. You can overpass South Korea one day if you follow this advice. Otherwise, you will continue to be the slave of your religious beliefs. And stop blaming the West for your troubles. The answer to your problems lies in your hands.
Before reading his blog, I was under the impression that he is an intelligent man. How disappointed I am to realize he is as fanatical and ignorant as Bush. We are living in dangerous times with these two men on top!
Ahmadinejad seems to put the entire blame of the misery of Iran exclusively on the West and especially the US. But here are some observations that he seemed to have missed:
South Korea and Japan are examples that the West does not necessarily abuse nations. The two nations are now economically stronger and richer than most Western nations. They also have some of the most advanced scientific research in the world.
West Germany was also occupied by the US. And Germany today is quite independent from the US and is one of the super economies of the world.
Iran was never occupied by the US.
How come Japan, South Korea and Germany who were occupied by the US managed to become super economies and super advanced nations while Iran, who wasn't occupied by the US remained behind?
Blaming the US is way too easy. I agree that the US and the West share a big part of the blame. But a bigger part of the blame lies in the hands of the Iranian people. It is childish to run away from your responsibilities, Ahmadinejad.
You could say that because of oil, the US treated Iran and the Arab world differently from Japan and Germany.
Or that the US may have tried to exert control over Japan and Germany but it failed because the two nations were already quite powerful and advanced. However, it succeeded with the weaker and less advanced Iran.
It's true to some extent.
But South Korea was a poor nation. Yet it managed to succeed brilliantly and the US doesn't control a thing in South Korea today.
And here's why the US never succeeded in controlling Germany and Japan: these two countries put the wars behind them, discarded nuclear energy (although many Germans were the fathers of the nuclear age), did not have any significant armies, and focused on CIVIL TECHNOLOGIES, SOCIAL PROGRAMS, SCIENCE and ART. Japan and Germany today focus on new technologies such as biotech, nanotech, robotics, hybrid car engines, etc. This is where the money is. Nuclear research is old stuff with little money to be made from. Universities in the US do not invest much in nuclear research compared to newer technologies.
What is Iran doing today? Rather than accepting the offer of the EU for more trade, for lifting all kinds of sanctions, and so on, Iran stands alone in defiance. Iran wants to focus on nuclear research and forgets the much more lucrative biotech and nanotech.
Had Germany and Japan in 1970 taken a similar stance to Iran today, defying the world, insisting on nuclear research and ignoring the more important technologies, Germany and Japan would have been wiped out, back to dark age.
Remember Iraq in 1990? Didn't you think at the time that Saddam is stupid? Rather than focusing on civil programs, Saddam went invading other nations. Whether it was his right or not, the world does not function by right and wrong. The world is a jungle where the smartest, strongest and fittest survive. All Saddam had to do was take it easy, and slowly and silently build Iraq's economical power (which is far more important than military power. Civil programs are far more productive than military programs).
So why is Iran, contrary to Germany, Japan and South Korea, going on a route that can lead it to bankruptcy at best? It is simply because Iran is not a democracy. Therefore, rather than bringing on top bright people who know what is the best for their nation, Iran brings on top some backward thinking religious fanatics who are clueless and who will end up doing more harm than good to Iran.
The main difference between South Korea and Iran is that the former is a democracy while Iran is a theocracy. This is the main reason why Iran is behind, Ahmadinejad, not because of the West. So South Korea, without any oil resources becomes an economic superpower while Iran is wasting time trying to get nuclear energy or weapons (whatever).
Who cares about nuclear weapons anyway?! They can't be used! If Iran blows one nuclear bomb, it will be wiped off the map, so what's the point? As a deterrent (or as an incitement)? Against what? Is anyone trying to invade Iran (unless Iran insists on nuclear programs)? What are nuclear weapons serving Pakistan and India? They just make them look like bad guys. Sweden does not have any such weapons, by the way. What is more prestigious today, Pakistan or Sweden?
In fact, there is a higher chance that a nuclear weapon or a nuclear site in Iran blows on its own (like Chernobyl) and kills Iranian people. And a much lower chance that an Iranian nuclear bomb ever kills an Israeli person. So is this nuclear program directed against Iranians? Masochistic Ahmadinejad!
In any case, Ahmadinejad is making a huge confusion. The West is not one person or one entity. It is a multitude of people, of countries, of ideas that are often opposed to each other: sometimes religious, sometimes atheist, sometimes capitalistic, sometimes communist, sometimes for war, sometimes for peace, sometimes for slavery, sometimes for human rights, etc.
The West too has struggled with all the kind of problems that the family of Ahmadinejad struggled with. Poverty, urbanization, suburbs, religions, wars, etc. By a historical accident, the West happened to have some decades of advance over the other civilizations. So the West experimented will all kinds of ideas and systems. Slowly it converged toward the model that we all know today. This model is far from perfect, most Westerners agree to that. It is a model that works to some extent, but also a model that is destroying nature. Westerners are realizing it and slowly tweaking the model to save the Earth, if possible. All civilizations have destroyed nature to the extent they were able to. The first people to reach Australia wiped all mammals out. We can't blame the Westerners for all the tragedies of this planet. They are one part of it.
My point being that rather than standing up like a cock and defying the West, we have to learn from their experience and then improve upon it. There is no point in repeating everything they went through. In 2006 we can study their past centuries and see what they did right and wrong and choose a decent path for Iran and the Arab world.
The most urgent change we need in Iran and in Arabia is to have democracies that on average elect smart people as leaders, and quickly correct bad choices by removing lousy leaders. This way we prevent the ignorant fanatics from leading us into the abyss.
See how America will push Bush aside and bring a better president next time. Will something like that ever happen in Iran???
Ahmadinejad, forget the nuclear weapons that can only bring death and poverty to your people (and to other people). Focus on biotech and nanotech. Believe me. You can overpass South Korea one day if you follow this advice. Otherwise, you will continue to be the slave of your religious beliefs. And stop blaming the West for your troubles. The answer to your problems lies in your hands.
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