One day after Libby’s indictment, the [NY Times], which played a key role in promoting the administration’s lies and its drive for war against Iraq, published an editorial on Iran that stated—as a matter of fact— “the trouble is that Iran has a nuclear weapons program...”
This claim, which has been rejected by the International Atomic Energy Agency and for which not a shred of evidence has been produced, serves the same function in preparing for military action against Iran as the WMD fabrications about Iraq. [1]
A Demagogue in Iran NY Times Editorial [2]
Published: October 29, 2005
"As the imam said, Israel must be wiped off the map." Thus spake Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, president of Iran, to 4,000 students gathered for a conference on "The World Without Zionism." The imam he was citing, of course, was the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Then Mr. Ahmadinejad added his own words: "Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury."
Such vicious blather against Israel is still prevalent, alas, across much of the Islamic world. But for some time now, it has been largely restricted to Islamic radicals and terrorists. Most Muslim leaders, even those openly hostile to Israel, have come to understand that openly calling for the obliteration of a nation is unacceptable in international discourse, not to mention dangerous, stupid and despicable. But not Mr. Ahmadinejad, the handpicked president of Iran's ruling clerics. At the United Nations last month, he spouted much the same kind of bile, establishing himself firmly as a demagogue.
The trouble is that Iran has a nuclear weapons program that the combined efforts of the United States, Britain, France, Germany and the International Atomic Energy Agency have failed to halt. Mr. Ahmadinejad, moreover, has every reason to think that everything's going his way. Iran is riding high on soaring oil prices, the United States has neutered Iran's greatest enemy, Iraq, and both Russia and China are prepared to block any serious move toward sanctions in the U.N. Security Council. So why not indulge in some real vitriol?
Perhaps no one can now pretend that Iran has no hostile motives for its nuclear program. Britain, France and Germany were right to call their ambassadors back from Tehran (Washington doesn't have one there). Tough diplomacy must continue to curb Iran's nuclear aspirations, but there must be no illusions about the ideologue presiding in Iran.
http://iranandworld.com/showarticle.asp?id=1627
[ 1 ] The political implications of the Libby indictment
by Barry Grey, 31 October 2005
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/oct2005/libb-o31.shtml
[ 2 ] The New York Times Editorial Board GAIL COLLINS, Editor
Gail Collins, the editorial page editor, is responsible for the two opinion pages The Times publishes every day. Her department includes the editorial board, as well as the Op-Ed and Letters departments. The editorial department of the paper is completely separate from the news operations and Ms. Collins answers directly to the publisher, Arthur Sulzberger Jr. She is assisted by Andrew Rosenthal, deputy editor, David Shipley, the editor of the Op-Ed page, and Thomas Feyer, the Letters editor.
Under her direction, the 16 members of the board prepare the paper's editorials. The board holds regular meetings to discuss current issues. The editorials are written by individual board members in consultation with their colleagues, and are edited by Ms. Collins and Mr. Rosenthal. •••
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/opinion/editorial-board.html
Informant: John Calvert
