Iran: Stop Calling Us 'Axis Of Evil'

Former Iranian President Urges Bush To Cease Strategic Namecalling

(AP)  Former Iran President Hashemi Rafsanjani on Friday urged the United States to exclude the Islamic country from its so-called "axis of evil" and warned Washington not to treat Iran the same way it has Iraq and Afghanistan.

President Bush "made a strategic mistake. He should exclude Iran from the circle (axis of evil) that he has made," Rafsanjani told the crowd in Tehran during Friday's prayer ceremony.

In 2002, President Bush branded Iran, North Korea and Iraq as the "axis of evil," claiming the three countries sponsored terrorism and sought weapons of mass destruction.

Rafsanjani also warned the U.S. not to consider military intervention in Iran, saying Washington's "iron fist policy" has failed.

"It will be dangerous if the U.S. thinks that it can behave toward Iran in the same way that it has treated Afghanistan and Iraq," he said.

"Any nation should respect rights of other nations. Today, negotiations, prudence and wisdom are the solution for the problems in the entire world," Rafsanjani added.

In Washington, the State Department sidestepped Rafsanjani's demand that Iran not be designated as one of the "axis of evil" countries, saying the Bush administration has not changed its policy regarding Tehran.

"The administration has been fairly clear about what it thinks is going on in Iran, about what Iran needs to do to draw itself more into the international community," said State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos.

Iran has said recently that it would be willing to talk to the United States about Iraq and other regional issues if the U.S. requested it. But the White House has said it would only talk to Iran if it first agrees to suspend its uranium enrichment activities, something Tehran has repeatedly refused.

The U.S. and its European allies are currently negotiating with Russia and China over a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that would penalize Iran for its refusal to respect an Aug. 31 deadline for halting enrichment.

Russia and China have extensive trade with Iran and are rejecting the harsh sanctions. But the United States and Europe are pressing for tough international sanctions on Iran, which they believe is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and has shrugged off threats of sanctions, insisting that the West eventually will have to agree to negotiate with it.

"In the nuclear case, a difficult encounter is ahead of us," said Rafsanjani. "It will be difficult for the U.S., too. The United States should not pin hope on its veto right in the U.N. Security Council. It is not an angel for them; it is only a temporary solution."

The former president downplayed the affect of the U.S. midterm elections on Iran. During the elections earlier this month, Democrats defeated Mr. Bush's Republican Party and gained control of the U.S. Congress.

"Democrats are a little bit softer, but they are not angels. Do not interpret the win of either parties as very significant," he said.

During his speech Friday, Rafsanjani did not mention an Argentinian judge's request for his arrest and the detention of eight other officials for the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires. The blast killed 85 people and wounded more than 200. Iran's charge d'affaires in Buenos Aires has said the judicial case was "fraught with irregularities" and politically motivated.

[sunshine_2]

The terrorist tactics are intended to cause public reaction, weaken political ties, toble governments or leaders and get impassioned people on their side. If the "first" attack does not do it, then the retaliation "showing many dead or wounded unarmed civilians" is a big plus for them.
It is very difficult to strategically hit a Terrorist targets hiding in schools, hospitals, and religious buildings and residential communities. So that is where the terrorist hide, in their on going attempt to "Kill Israel" as a Nation and as a people.

[sunshine_2]

On the Isreal Palistine Iran Issue:

Palestine's Militants and Iran have both Sworn to Remove Isreal Form the face of the earth. Most of Isreal's "Persecutions against Palestine" are in direct retalliation to another attack on Isreal. Though sometimes in an extreme and "hard handed nature", that I dont always agree with.
Can any of you imagine living in Isreal where your bombed almost every day, and you go to the supermarket or prayer knowing it could be your last time? Can you imagine a place where every man and woman "must" serve 2 years in the service, just to give your country a chance to survive?
On almost ever occasion that Isreal has conceded and negotiated territories and political acceptance of Palestine. Some Militant Organization in Palestine starts the war over again, as we saw this past year. Right after Isreal had almost completed the withdrawal for the occupied territories.
Even today, after the UN Resolution that brought a "reduction of fighting", Isreal is still being bombed from accross the border by factions of the militant groups seeking "Death of Isreal as a Nation and it's Jewish people." After each attack Isreal stricks back, accross the border, trying to "get the people" attacking them from "within civilian communities". The Palestinians Militants hope the News coverage of their suffering and dieing civilians will cause the World to lash out at Israel.

[sunshine_2]

"Any nation should respect rights of other nations. Today, negotiations, prudence and wisdom are the solution for the problems in the entire world," Rafsanjani added.

Weather we can trust Iran or not ...I do strongly Believe that We need to Give Diplomacy adnPeace a chance.
The Saber Ratteling and Cutting off of Diplomatic ties has never helped America settle and "Governemnt or Policy Issues". Name calling and labeling certainly does not help.
Did you know that Iran actually Hepled America in the Afganistan removal of the Taliban? then a few weeks later Mr. Bush named who he thought wast he "Axis of Evil".
You can not have civil Diplomatic Talks until you meet each other as Equals, to discuss your differences as Diplomats for your Nation. Bush Shames America wiht his lack of diplomatic understading. Even in his "name calling and labeling" of American's as only either: Patriotic or Cowards who cut and run.

*Using the term "Axis" from the World War II, Axis vs. Allied Powers, as a means of letting America "visualise" the Nazi's of old Germany.

[exusmcsgt]

themooniac-

In addition, we make a practice of demonizing any and all who dare to oppose our hegemony. We slam China for it's hegemonic policy against Taiwan but give ourselves the right to practice hegemony if it suits us.

Iran and North Korea and allies that don't jump through our hoop are categorized as evil or otherwise because they don't recognize our self-imposed right of dictatorship of world events.

They have a right to formulate their own policies as sovereign states - as do we.

[exusmcsgt]

themooniac-

The reason why this hegemonic history is important is that we are in Iraq for purely hegemonic reasons, true to our history.

Bush and the Neocons wanted a platform from which to project American power in the middle east. After tossing Hussein, the plan was to build four large permanent American bases. One in the north of Iraq to be on Russia's doorstep, one on the border with Syria, one on the border with Saudi Arabia, and the last on the border with Iran.

The bases were begun, however Congress pulled the plug on funding about 2 months ago when even they realised that we would never pacify Iraq to the point that we could ever post a permanent claim to the bases, if finished.

[exusmcsgt]

bigal321321-

I notice that you do not propose that the Palestinians be treated equitably by Israel as a solution........

[exusmcsgt]

themooniac-

You are correct in your observation that I do not suffer America being driven by corporate interests. That, however, is not the explanation behind our hegemony throughout history.

You observe that Panama is better off for our hegemony. I will offer that Colombia who had it's territory stolen is certainly not.

Whether you accept it or not, from the Mexican-American war to the Spanish-American war to Panama and several other instances we have invented pretexts and wars to impose our will on others. It is unabashed imperialsim. I will say again that we didn't want it from the British any more than the rest of the world wants it from us.

[exusmcsgt]

bigal321321-

Perhaps you'd be kind enough to explain what the Holocaust has to do with the Israeli persecution of the Palestinians?

[themooniac]

Sarge, the two dozen or so mosquito bitten, typhoid infested folks living in what is now the canal zone probably were probably hatin it, I agree, but look where their country is at now. Besides that the entire country, the U.S., was stolen from the Indians in the first place. Maybe in protest of that you should relocate to the country of your original heritage. But then again thats probably being a little harsh and unrealistic. I think your problem really is with corporations that engage in neocolonialism like United Fruit/Chiquita (if you want to bring up Latin American history) and that old military indutrial complex that Ike warned about rather than some tacit approval of this behavior by regular middle class Americans. Actually when they close the books on Iraq I would really like to know where all the money went and what segments of American society profited... I think your problem is with unbridled and savage CORPORATE capitalism at any cost and I can agree with that point. I just think you go a little to far in being judgemental about American society on the whole. You could do a lot worse you know - keep it in perspective.

[bigal321321]

in response to exusmcsgt. You make it sound like that is strictly arab land throughout history. The reality is this land had been a mish-mash of ethnic origins for centuries. Jews have occupied that land for centuries, even before to aquired state in 1947.Do you think the Palestinians have a grudge and revenge factor? Factor in the millions of Jews who died in concentration camps. Never will Jews go sheepishly to their deaths again.

So you see this whole dilemma could be cured with a reduction of bigotry throughout the area. I believe if you would like to see a real change there then convince the imam's to preach love instead of hate.