I think I get why Ahmedinejad threads get so heated up and frustrating:

It seems no one can have a discussion about him and have it kept just about him - it always delves into 'bush is worse', 'the US has done bad things too', 'Iran is none of our business' (Yeah, well I guess we should studies of history and leaders from our schools then eh, no point in discussing them...).

I don't get the need to constantly compare people when talking about one person. He's no hitler, he's no bush, blah blah blah - the guy stands on his own, runs his own country, and one talk about him without having to bring in anyone else to stand him up next to.

Not liking someone or pointing out their failings does not mean you endorse war with them or want them dead.

I see the same thing on other issues as well: Bring up a thread about Islam and someone will jump in with 'well, Christianity is just as bad' - and I say..uhhh, what was the topic? Was it comparative religion studies or talking about one issue and examining it based on it's merits and not the merits of another faith (or person as noted above).

Bring up leaders like castro or chavez and someone will pipe up 'don't bitch about em, bush is worse, so they can do evil until they catch up to bush - only criticize bush'

Ahmedinejad sucks, and I can bitch about him because I feel the people of Iran deserve better.

I can't wait until we have a Dem in office - then folks will say 'well Ahmedinejad is bad, but...uh wait...he's bad for his people and I hope they someday have a leader like ours and that the suffering that goes on there for the oppressed ceases'

:)

These people are so scared of a war against Iran they will defend the guy to take away from the war chorus. Someone posted a great picture of a protester today. He had signs that read "Don't make the same mistake again, Ahmedinejad is not Iran". I'm paraphrasing but I think that's dead on. There are a lot of great people in/from Iran, I know a couple of them personally.

Fear of a war with Iran and the government once again as they did with Iraq ie Saddam, same rhetoric, same fear tactics, way to similar to allow people to feel relaxed about how this is all playing out.

I can understand not liking him because of his personal views as well as his country's policies, but the leaders of Saudi Arabia are probably just as bad. Is it because the right is itching to start a war with Iran? Do we have proof that he's actually aiding insurgents in Iraq? Did he promise to wipe us off the map? What?

TlalocW

:shrug:

It's the oil.

the delay in releasing the hostages back in '79.

Or they THINK Iran has the goods.

Makes St Ronnie look bad.

my uncle has been itching for a war with Iran since the 70s.

Mosadeq was also a demon... why? How dare he nationalize the oil industry? Among many other things. Damn Commie, so we suported the Shah... who ran a shall we say... dictatorial system... but he was our bitch.

After the Iranian Revolution the Right in the US could not quite accuse them of being commies, still Western Oil companies were shown the door

And I will not defend some of their amazing police state means of control that they use... but our beef comes down to who controls the oil and at this point the threat to start trading in Euros

It is more complex than that, but this is the Cliff's notes

The Hate-Ahmadinejad campaign was launched this week specifically to accompany the ramp-up to an unprovoked attack on Iran that will probably be nuclear - a crime against humanity, a war of aggression.

And pretending to be clueless about this aspect of it ("but he really is bad!" duh!) is providing an assist.

After they pulled this shit with Saddam, you would think some people would have learned.

this is a coordinated rollout of a new product

but the reaction of many folks to this is almost predictable

As is... last week, or was it the week before... I posted that there will be war with Iran

I got the usual suspects coming out with the usual tripe

But as I said both of you are right

The OP is observing the common people's reactions, while you are noting the end result of this fear the iranians, quick under the bed campaign... that will end in a nuclear war

I have done all I can to stop it... but realize it will not stop

That said, I can say several things about the President of Iran. and the first is that he does not control his military the same way Junior does. Nor is he a nice guy... but that is a different matter.

And how it's used to promote war? "Saddam gasses his own people!" ring any bells?

Being suspicious of propaganda does not mean that one loves Ahmedinejad. Nor does it mean that one believes people can't not like him without wanting to invade his country. It's just that in the current climate, having a hategasm about him is pretty much what the media and war hawks want you to do.

It's true, I did take a few months off from this place and so maybe I missed all the anti-Ahmedinedjad threads posted before the media told Americans to hate him. But still, can't say I recall a lot of hate for the guy being expressed before now.

As for the other stuff - maybe it's just differences in personality. I like to compare things and make associations and to find and discuss the underlying patterns. Plus, I do kind of see criticizing someone else about stuff that your country or your leaders or your dominant religion does too as...what is the Christian phrase...trying to get a splinter out of your brother's eye when you've got a two by four in your own?

If david duke had done the same, there would have been threads about him and his speech there.

Cheney did not make him come here or say the things he did.

And on it being propaganda - No, it is simple folks like me and others on DU (not the national news each night, not in papers, etc) expressing our opinion about someone who is in the news this week.

His country has long been seen as part of an 'axis' of evil (even before he came to power) - by both dems and repubs. He is the leader of a country, came here and talked, said some odd things, and is therefore fair game.

Maybe some here want to bend what they discuss around bush and crew's desires, but I prefer not to let them dictate to me who I am going to post about or why.

Next week we will be talking about how a waiter at olive garden tasered someone for leaving without a receipt. this week Iran's prez is in the news :)