Extreme Timing

Good article. The Media is a whore that feasts on misfortune and destruction. Media created the controversy and now it is feeding upon the very frenzy that it has created.

The organized reactions are on both sides

Gazelle,

War is certainly slinking in. There will be the smell of blood in the air. The regime in Iran is serious about attacking us in Israel - whether with missiles in south Lebanon, Gaza, Syria or elswhere. They are also serious about attacking elswhere if they can pull it off. And it doesn't have to be with a nuclear weapon either. Could this be a move to ultimately rouse Europeans against Moslems?

But events may not come out as those who plan them expect...

I think the move will ultimately backfire.

conspiracy theories aside...

do freedoms exist in a vacuum?

is there a cost attached to freedoms?

How do you value (or price) freedom?

with responsibility

(we're all born free...!)

Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains (rousseau)

Freedoms (and rights) are figments of the imagination which need to be nurtured, because the chains are there. they are meaningless by themselves.

chains? no!

it (freedom) is mostly a voluntary trade-off...

a free man trades-off some of his freedom to:

* the state
* society
* family

in return for which he (seemingly) extracts a promise to live in harmony

all human needs regulations,restrictness...if freedom are practice this world is not a safe place to human kind...freedom unleash evil

I'm curious - how is the Western media "promoting Bin Laden's agenda of extremism"?

Also, the issue originating in Europe, I fail to understand why the anti-war European press would punish Europe over non-participation in the Iraq war, or try to garner Islamic fundamentalist attention toward its own people.

Pt. 7 - how are these liberal, progressive nations destroying this internationalism, or even "rationality" you talk of?

Conspiracy theories apart, we can trash the media all we like, in the name of secularism and sensitivity, but it doesn't take away the fact that Muslims are over-reacting to what was a mere piece of satire. Nothing more, nothing less.

Cow tse tung - how is the Western media promoting Bin Laden's agenda?

By joining his bookclub ;)

temporal:

yes, chains is a harsh word. but practically it comes to the same thing - that you are suggesting - the social contract and how to sustain and value on its own. this give and take is the basis of good human relations.

cow tse tung:

>Western media "promoting Bin Laden's agenda of extremism"?

+The power of nightmares documentary [bbc] -(see cd at amazon above) in 3 parts - it is long but worth watching.

Link - bbc [menu on right]
Part I: Baby It's Cold Outside
Part II: The Phantom Victory
Part III: The Shadows in the Cave

[Link]: or if you prefer WMV format

Interesting link, thanks. Just finished reading the piece - I'll get the 3 part series at night. Don't know if you're into David Icke, but he's got some pretty warped insights into world affairs too.

see my recent post:

Passion For Freedom, Or Freedom Of Passion?

about the paradoxes in the Danish Cartoon Controversy of course.

Gazelle, why is there a "perceived" US hand in something that happened in Denmark and had nothing of any sort to do with the US? Any facts you can link us to?

You are right. No facts that i have, point to the denmark-US connection.

still:

the images are the stealthbomber approaching and a satellite img of an irani nuclear facility under scrutiny. at this time it suits the US to have european public opinion mobilized to support attacks in iran. diplomatically it will be easier to attack without european opposition, whether in the security council, in a coalition or as a unilateral move - which might not then be needed.

Even if there is no attack the relations between islamic regimes in the region and european ones are under some strain for a short while, and public opinion in the islamic countries is anti-europe, putting pressure on the govts there. this puts the europeans in a double dilemma to take tough decisions once again, as they had to do with iraq.

only speculating.

Hmmm...let me see - It sure also helps the Iranian Mullahs and Ahmedijenad to deflect attention from their nuclear aspirations that most of Europe (especially France) has been stridently against. It helps the rulers in Syria to focus their people's anger at their misery into hatred towards the West. It helps the Bin Ladenist cause of attracting more Muslim followers by trying to make it appear as if the West is at war with all Muslims. It helps Hamas to stop letting people talk about their blood-lusty ways.

I hope you remember it was France blustering about nuclear attacks on Iran if required and not the US. There really is no US bogeyman under every bed.

just the last bit:

the iraqi nuclear reactor was made by france (i think) and bombed by israel in '73. the US has been anti iran since the rev in 79, after the shah. thats why rums went to meet saddam to help him fight iran in the 80s.

prior to ahmedinejad relations between the troika (UK, FR, Ger) were good enough. the current US policy is between regime change in iran and just bombing a few sites, unless a deal is reached on the nuc matter.

Fr (chirac) issued one anti-iran statement most recently because ahmedinejad issued anti-israeli statements, and the iaea issue was heating up. they trusted the previous khatami govt relatively well.

did u see syriana, the movie? who knows whats going on.

will the iranis and russians come up with an allnighter last minute deal? or are we going to see a milder version of the iraq war again? what do u think the US will want to achieve this time?

best

Shanti, check out the links in #14 above, its 3 bbc documentaries. let me know what u think? best

Gazelle, I believe there isn't going to be an invasion of Iran - atleast not from the US. This administration for sure is not going all-out against Iran. Iran is pretty isolated now with not too many allies supporting them. I don't think America sees a need to step in and do something. This is exactly what they are doing with North Korea - stepping back and let China deal with the bully in the backyard.