You know how we're always being reminded that we have to read things in context. So here's some context that may have been in Ahmadinejad's mind when he referred to "torn paper" -- since by all accounts he is a pious believer: at one point the Muslim prophet Muhammad wrote a series of letters to the rulers of the great nations surrounding Arabia, calling them to his new faith. To Heraclius, the Eastern Roman Emperor in Constantinople, he wrote: "I invite you to Islam, and if you become a Muslim you will be safe..." (Bukhari 1.1.6) He wrote a similar letter to Khosrau (Chosroes), ruler of the Persians. But after reading it, Khosrau contemptuously tore it to pieces. When news of this reached Muhammad, he called upon Allah to tear the Persian emperor and his followers to pieces (Bukhari 5.59.708): "Khosrau will be ruined," Muhammad declared, "and there will be no Khosrau after him, and Caesar will surely be ruined and there will be no Caesar after him, and you will spend their treasures in Allah's Cause" (Bukhari 4.52.267).
Of course, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, but in this case "torn paper" may not just be something worthless that the Thug-In-Chief is disregarding. It is a provocation. If the UN is "issuing" torn pieces of paper, he may be suggesting that it is behaving contemptuously toward him, and will ultimately pay for that contempt.
From Reuters, with thanks to Sr. Soph:
TEHERAN - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday dismissed any new UN sanctions resolution as “a torn piece of paper” that would not stop Teheran’s nuclear work, a local news agency reported.“Issuing such torn pieces of paper ... will not have an impact on Iranian nation’s will (to obtain nuclear technology),” the semi-official Mehr news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as telling a rally in central Iran.
I think we are about a week away from Iran going off the dollar and onto the euro for trading oil, their days are numbered .
This Iranian Sanction Agreement from the Security Council is an absolute joke. Lest we all forget - one of the main reasons for the Iraq invasion was because Russia, China, Germany and France had been bought off by Saddem through payoffs from the UN Oil For Food Program.
Again the US is allowing these countries to delay and obstruct sanctions against Iran.
THE REALITY IS THE US DOES NOT NEED CHINA OR RUSSIA TO INPOSE SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN. THE US CAN IMPOSE DEVASTATING RECIPROCAL SANCTIONS AND SMASH THE IRANIAN ECONOMY
TOUGH LOVE AND IRAN
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Supreme ruling Alloyatolls see the 21st century not as the century of the rise of China or India but as the century of the Great Shite Revival – the Rise of the Shites. After 1400 years of Sunni domination and oppression, they see Sunni dominance not only in the Middle East but over Islam itself coming to an end.
Ahamadinejad wants to establish a Great Shite Persian Empire stretching from Tehran to the Red Sea and from the Mediterranean Sea to the Caucasus regions of Russia, to the very borders of China - incorporating all the Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, under the direct control or controlled as vassal states by Iran. This empire would directly control 80% of the entire world oil supply. Iran is a mortal threat not only to Israel but to all the Sunni Arab States. Only the might of the United States stands in the way of this Great Imperial Dream.
There is the saying “When times get tough – the tough get going.” Unfortunately at this moment - with the total lack of any kind of Western Leadership, this saying has been replaced by “When times get tough – the tough get talking and talking and talking.” In the West talking has become a form of appeasement – a way to show that action is being taken - that the tough Western dudes are beating up on Ahmadinejad, when in reality we’re getting our clocks cleaned. Ahmadinejad is going for the Great World Political Poker Championship jackpot with a pair of deuces. Everyone sitting at the game knows that all he has to play is a pair of twos and nobody is calling his hand. Its time to stop playing pocket polo. Its time to call his bluff with our 8 pairs of aces.
Just as the CIA, MI5, French Secret Service, the KGB, all the world’s secret services, even Iraqi generals thought that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction when we now know he had none - grossly overestimated Iraq’s nuclear capabilities to say the least, so too with regard to Iran - all these agencies could be grossly underestimating the Iranian Nuclear Program. The United States does not want to be placed in a position of Iran being months away from going nuclear and forced to face the very harsh reality of attacking Iran. Where force is the only option left. A Tough Love Sanctions Regime must be immediately imposed on Iran. Time for talking at the UN is over. Its time for Tough Love Iranian Style.
TOUGH LOVE IRANIAN SANCTIONS
The United States with or without EU support immediately imposes economic and political sanctions against Iran. The sanction regime is divided into 4 parts – Defcom 1 to Defcom 4 with each phase commencing every 30 days and staying in effect until the crisis is resolved. Within the space of 4 months Iran will be under total world wide devastating economic sanctions. ANY INDIVIDUAL, CORPORATION, COUNTRY THAT DISOBEYS ANY PART OF THE SANCTION REGIME - THEN THE TOTALITY OF THE ENTIRE SANCTION REGIME IMMEDIATELY APPLIES TO THEM.
DEFCON 1 SANCTIONS
Under Defcon 1 sanctions Iran is immediately hit with the following measures:
1. The cutting off of all military and nuclear technology, materials, training, building including the Bushehr nuclear power plant being built by the Russians.
2. The suspension of all flights - both private and commercial aircraft in or out of Iran.
3. The worldwide banning of all Iranian passports.
4. Severing all banking relationships between all Iranian Government agencies/officials/organizations, banks, companies, front companies with the entire world banking community.
5. The freezing of all Iranian assets throughout the world including all assets of Iranian Government, Iranian companies, front companies, government officials/organizations.
DEFCON 2
In 30 days, if Iran refuses to stop all uranium enrichment and sit down at the table in good faith then the imposition of the following Defcon 2 Sanctions:
1. The immediate stoppage of all forms of transportation coming in or out of Iran including, buses, automobiles, boats. Only oil tankers would be exempt.
2. Cutting off of all satellite signals, phone lines, internet connections, electricity etc.
3. The complete closure of all border crossings to Iran.
4. The complete shutting down of all economic activity/trade with the outside world except for the importation of gasoline into Iran and the export of oil and gas out of Iran.
DEFCON 3
Thirty days after the imposition of Defcon 2 sanctions, the start of Defcon 3:
1. The importation of gasoline into Iran to be ceased by all countries, companies and individuals.
DEFCON 4
120 days after the start of the first sanction regime - Defcon 4 – the stoppage of all payments for Iranian oil and gas exports – NOT THE STOPPAGE OF THE EXPORT OF IRANIAN OIL AND GAS. JUST THE PAYMENTS FOR THESE PRODUCTS.
Iran can export oil and gas to China etc but the Chinese and other countries can not send money or any other financial instruments to Iran. In short - the oil/gas flows out but no money flows in. If Iran decides to stop the export of oil to certain countries but not to others like China, then under this sanction regime all countries including China must help the affected country or countries. In short, share the pain of oil shortages. If any country refuses to cooperate then the totality of these sanctions will be imposed immediately on them
DEFCON 5
The bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities.
DEFCON 6
The invasion of Iran.
Any force against Iran must be as a last resort. This includes any naval blockade. These are measures to be used only if and when Iran is on the verge of getting a bomb.
Again, if any country, company, or individual chooses to disobey these sanctions then THE TOTALITY OF THE SANCTIONS IMMEDIATELY APPLIES TO THEM. For example, if China decides to continue trading with Iran then all trade between China and ALL countries, companies, individuals immediately ceases. All Chinese container ships on their way to the US or any other country must be turned back. All international flights in or out of China cease. All Chinese passports to be null and void etc. If any country decides to continue to trade with China then the totality of the sanctions immediately applies to them. And so on.
This sanction regime is absolutely devastating. Having these sanctions apply to any country who decides to ignore them will totally devastate that countries economy. THIS LINKAGE GIVES THESE SANCTIONS TOUGH LOVE FERIOUS TEETH.
The smile/smirk on Ahmadinejad’s face will be wiped clean. Most important - the flow of oil does not stop unless Iran chooses to stop it. Only the money flow stops. By not cutting off the oil/gas flow Iran is faced with a dilemma. If it decides to stop the export of these commodities then Iran will definitely lose the support of its two closest allies - Russia/China. These reciprocal sanctions give cover to the EU, Russia and China who can claim to Iran that this situation not their fault – they have no choice – it is the big, bad USA. The oil gets shipped and the buyer countries send the payments for Iran to a UN trust account until an agreement has been reached. If however Iran resorts to acts of force/ terrorism etc or actually builds a nuclear device then all accumulated monies are immediately forfeited.
Before these sanctions are imposed as a last ditch effort Condoleezza Rice travels to Tehran to speak directly to the Iranian people in a nation wide TV address. This address would be a direct response to the letter Ahmadinejad sent to President Bush months ago. In this speech, she lays it all on the table. The fact that the US does not oppose a peaceful nuclear program. That Ahmadinejad and the Alloyatolls desperately want nuclear weapons. They dream of a Persian Empire. That the acquiring of these weapons will lead to economic chaos for Iran, the destabilization of the entire Middle East, a devastating Sunni/Shite war and a nuclear war in the Middle East with the complete destruction of Iran. Their cities destroyed. Their families killed. The end of all Iranian history forever. Ms Rice will offer them a different vision of their future. A Security alliance with guarantees backed by their Arab neighbors (and the United States.) The termination of all sanctions. Investments for economic development. A vision of the peaceful rise of Iran as a true partner of the Middle East nations (and the West.) The creation with Iran as the most prominent member of a NAFA style Middle East Free Trade Zone stretching from Tehran to Algeria leading to an economic renaissance for the entire Middle East. A 21st century version of the rise of China and India. Eventually joining this Free Trade Zone to the EU and NAFTA – a 3 billion market. Such a rise will give back to Middle Easterners their historical pride. And finally bring peace to their troubled countries.
Written By,
Larry Houle
E-mail: intermedusa@yahoo.com
Now this is the kind of analysis that the major media channels need to provide. I just don't feel that journalists are really anything more than transcribers. Objective and detailed analysis is critical if we are going to truly understand and defeat this enemy. It's sad, but I feel as though the only thing the aware will be able to say after something calamitous happens is "We told you so. We tried to make you listen, but you only cared about peace at all costs."
Well, thank you at least for making me aware of what's really going on.
With Russia not giving Iran nuclear fuel and investing any more in Iran due to Iran's lack of money, Uranium bars disappearing and showing up in Iran, the UN Sanctions, the Olmert Cabal signing off in public for America to strike Iran, Bush cleaning up North Korea, the Saudi's implementing the trip wire which sent Ahmadinejad scrambling........
My sources are telling me that by midsummer the United States will initiate Global Strike on Iran which will cause a hell storm dust up which will probably have a peace deal invoked by end September on the Jewish New Year.
Russia has milked Iran for all it can and their pulling back indicates the Iranian order of battle is locked and loaded.
"The Truth About Muhammad" was a very good book. It gave some good historical context on this reference... Good stuff!
Larry, This all sounds so fine and dandy, but you know as well as the rest of us that NONE of this is EVER going to happen in this world in this lifetime. We are always too PC and weak and appeasing. And every country in the world would be on OUR backs. We need to elect STRONG leaders for our country in this next election, but neither party will be putting anybody's name on the ballot that will have a strong nationalistic world view, so we will just be left with voting for the lesser of two evils again, as in the past half a dozen or so elections. And we will still be playing pattycake with Iran and North Korea, or caving in to them. And we will still be electing pols that are so tied up with oil and the countries that hold us over the barrel that they won't or can't think straight. My sign-in name, alas, gives my attitude.
I asked an Iranian blogger about this.
Vince P Says:
March 15th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Can you folks with better knowledge of Islam and Iran help answer my question. Ahmadinejad made reference to “torn paper” regarding the UN.
quote:
TEHERAN - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday dismissed any new UN sanctions resolution as “a torn piece of paper” that would not stop Teheran’s nuclear work, a local news agency reported.
“Issuing such torn pieces of paper … will not have an impact on Iranian nation’s will (to obtain nuclear technology),” the semi-official Mehr news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as telling a rally in central Iran.
unquote.
Torn Pieces of Paper is a phrase that has significance in Islamic history. Why is he using that phrase?
The Muslim prophet Muhammad of Islam wrote a series of letters to the rulers of the great nations surrounding Arabia, calling them to his new faith. To Heraclius, the Eastern Roman Emperor in Constantinople, he wrote: “I invite you to Islam, and if you become a Muslim you will be safe…” (Bukhari 1.1.6)
He wrote a similar letter to Khosrau (Chosroes), ruler of the Persians. But after reading it, Khosrau contemptuously tore it to pieces.
When news of this reached Muhammad, he called upon Allah to tear the Persian emperor and his followers to pieces (Bukhari 5.59.708): “Khosrau will be ruined,” Muhammad declared, “and there will be no Khosrau after him, and Caesar will surely be ruined and there will be no Caesar after him, and you will spend their treasures in Allah’s Cause” (Bukhari 4.52.267).
and he replied with:
xxx Says:
March 15th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Vince P,
I should confess that I am amazed how much you know about Iran and Islam, but, the expression “torn-paper” is a one-word name in Persian implying a useless piece of paper.