Iran helping out in Iraq.

[Error]

I think if the Irani clerics are sincere in their efforts to help bring some peace to the region then great. But I don't believe it. The government in Iran is still far too hardline. I thought maybe they were changing their tune in the past few years but this last election crisis (where the reformists were essentially forced to fall on their swords in protest of the decision by the ruling clerics to forbid certain citizens from running for their parliment) has me totally confused about Iran. I could see them becoming great friends to the new Iraq and to the west but I can also see them manipulating the situation in Iraq for their own gain, possibly by filling a power vacuum should the new Iraqi government collapse once the United States leaves.
I think that earthquake and the aid that came from everywhere in the west including the United States convinced more than a few Iranians that maybe Americans really aren't that bad. But even this might not be enough if they don't force the religious clerics out of that position of power. In my opinion no country ruled by one religion only can be viewed as anything other than a threat to world peace.

[Almaci]

Error what about Israel then?

Do you understand the implications of what you just said?

[Abobo]

OK...since I believe I'm the resident vocal Iranian here..let me throw in my two cents. First of all, I just came back from Iran. The last time I was there was in 1984, I was 11. Let's just say that after 20 years...ALOT has changed.

Two things you need to know about Iran. One, Iranian Gov't is evil and will never change. Two, Iranian people HATE their gov't and LOVE America and Americans. With that....Almaci, Iran is out for it's own interests. That guy Al-Sadr..the nutjob cleric who is inciting all these riots, who do you think he is getting his orders from? All these clerics that you hear about now in Iraq...where do you think they were during Saddams reign? All these people are being controlled by the Iranian gov't, they are just puppets on a string. Hell, it is common knowledge that Al-Sadr gets his money and orders from Iran. And that so called "moderate" cleric, Al-Sistani....he is Iranian!!!! If you have payed any attention to the news, take a look at the crowds, they are all holding pictures....you will see pictures of the Ayatollah Khomeini and Irans current "Spiritual Leader" AKA dictator Ali Khamenei. So to put it bluntly....Iran isn't helping...they are the ones causing all the problems!!! They don't give two shits about what the international community thinks. Why should they? On one hand Europe and the US critize them for making Nukes, and then on the other hand the European Unions signs big trade deals with them. They don't care, it's all about the money. Those mullahs are evil and all they care about is the money. They are raping and selling all of Irans precious resources to line their wallets with cash.

Now...Error...you made a statement about Iranians not thinking Americans are bad. Well, let me tell you...Iranians LOVE America and Americans...sometimes to a fault. I have never seen a country so enamoured and in love with another country. Iranians hate their gov't. When I say hate, I'm not talking about how some Americans hate George Bush, I mean DESPISE. I saw with my own eyes, taxi's driving up to a cleric standing on the street corner for a cab, and as the guy went to open the door..they would drive away. I heard with my own ears people cursing at them while they were walking in the streets. It has gotten so bad that they don't even go out in their regualr clerical attire anymore, they dress as regular people just not to get harrased.

The sad thing is Iran is NOTHING like it is portrayed in the US media. Iran is not like Iraq or any other Arab country. It is a country rich with it's own Persian culture that was hijacked by a Religion. Yes, the people there are Muslim, but they are Persians and Iranians first, and there is a BIG difference. Muslims and Arabs are one in the same, they culture and religion is totally intertwined. Iranians are so different culturally.

It really is a shame how Americans see Iran. The one thing that everyone told me while I was there, was "Please tell everyone we are not the evil barbarians they think we are". Iranians are just like you and me. There is no difference. While I was there, I went to parties, got drunk, stayed out late. There were no women covered head to toe in a sheet, no crazy groups of screaming men with machine guns yelling death to america. The girls were hot as hell and the guys looked just like normal guys. Iranians are some of the most well educated people in the region. They are extremely loyal to thier culture and want nothing else than these disgusting evil mullas out of their country.

The one thing I asked everyone was if they hate the gov't so much why don't they overthrow it. First, they told me that since I did not live in Iran, I could not see what the implications of that would be. And second, they said...if they overthrew this gov't, another one worse than this one would take it's place. They want gradual change, that is the only way that true democracy will occur. I totally agree with them. There are signs of it already happening, there are freedoms now in Iran that did not exist 5 years ago. Once that freedom is there, there is no way to take it back. Change has to happen like it did in the Soviet Union, not like in Iraq. You cannot force democracy on people, they have to want it them selves. So ask me any question you want about Iran. I'll be more than happy to answer it. All I ask is that for you guys to let everyone know...Iranians are not evil, they deserve the free worlds support.

[Almaci]

Urm All Sadr is considered too extreme even by Irani hardliner clerics, he is seen as a threat by them.
Time has an intresting article online that shows where All sadr gets his money from(hint its not Iran) and the guy was INSIDE IRAQ during the Saddam years(older brothers and his dad were killed by Saddams secret police in 1999 BTW).
All Sadr has little if annything to do with Iran, sistani yes but even by the Americans Sistani is seen as a moderate so your point is quite mute there.

[Abobo]

Sorry man, but that is what you are led to believe. They are all Iranian puppets. Al-Sadr gets his orders directly from Iranian top brass. Sistani may be a moderate in the eyes of the US. But a wolf in sheeps clothing is still a wolf.

[Almaci]

Right so I am led to believe things and your wild acusations wich cant be verified by anyone is supposed to be truth?

[Error]

Thank you for your insights Abobo. I know the people of Iran aren't barbarians, no country chooses to live in fear of repriasals from anything they do. Their goverment on the other had, are very much barbarians.

And Almaci, I am no fan of Israel, but from what I understand the people there are free to worship whomever they want, without interference. Just because the country is dominated by a religion doesn't mean that religion is controlling the government. Although Israel is a state set up for Jewish refugees I don't think they've gone out of their way to crush all other religions. At the very least I'm pretty sure they haven't sent out death squads to kill authors who besmirch the Torah like some Iranian ayatollahs have.

[Almaci]

Urm it is stated that Israel first and foremost is a JEWISH state and should remain so.

[Stone]

And Almaci, I am no fan of Israel, but from what I understand the people there are free to worship whomever they want, without interference. Just because the country is dominated by a religion doesn't mean that religion is controlling the government. Although Israel is a state set up for Jewish refugees I don't think they've gone out of their way to crush all other religions. At the very least I'm pretty sure they haven't sent out death squads to kill authors who besmirch the Torah like some Iranian ayatollahs have.

Yes, they are free to worship whomever they want, and, no, they haven't sent out death squads to kill authors who have besmirched the Torah.

[Damian79]

But a wolf in sheeps clothing is still a wolf.

Theay are all in sheeps clothing, it is the animal inside that is hard to fgure out.