Opinion
The Iranian bear hug
Zaki Shalom
Published: 07.10.07, 14:00
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43 Talkbacks for this article
1. Gee! You are a real Arab-friend!
Tayfun_Turkey ,   Istanbul   (10.07.07)
Yes Mr Zionist academician Teach arabs and muslim how to behave from an Israeli University on occupied land, a few kms to massacres on Arabs by your army!
2. hahahahaa arabs and iranians are not enemies!
Ahmed ,   Egypt   (10.07.07)
We won´t fight for you! hahahaahahahaa what a stupid opinion.Do you want a war between muslims? you won´t get it.I hope nobody censure this commentary.
3. Prof Ahmadinejad for Tayfun (1)
Franklin ,   France   (10.07.07)
If you understand what you read... The Teacher of the Arabs, is your "friend" : Ahmadinejad, who pretend to be THE new Bikbachi for Islamikazes and other Nazislamistes What a pupil you are Mr. Tayfun ? May be you can advise your leaders to negotiate with the Kurds, like Israel do with the Palis. ? No Palistan, without Kusdistan. OK ???
4. Hahaha....!!!! ????? Ahmed (2)
Franklin ,   France   (10.07.07)
War between Muslims ???? How that is possible ? Open your eyes, Switch on your TV, Take a map...and open your Mind, if you are able to.
5. Arabs Have Been In A Coma For Years
Bill Foonman ,   Jacksonville, USA   (10.07.07)
So what's new here?
6. Egypt
Egyptian   (10.07.07)
Egypt is not an Arabic country. This Arab nation hoax started by the British to fight the Ottomans Empire. Iran is not our problem and we should learn from our previous experience not to team up with Arabs and Israelis in anything.
7. Re#2 arabs and iranians are not enemies!
Christy ,   Boston, US   (10.07.07)
Perhaps Arabs don't think so, but Persians do. I've had Persian friends for quite a number of years. They NEVER supported the Shah but had to leave because the new regime was unbearable to them. I recall my first encounter with a female Persian, who has become a very good friends. We worked together & had gone out to lunch together while first getting to know each other. Can't recall HOW we got onto the subject of Iranian vs. Persian & Persian vs. Arab .. but she was adamant that I MUST understand she was PERSIAN and NOT Iranian. I also was told NEVER to confuse Persians with Arabs, even though many share the same faith (Muslim) and lived in the same area of the world. She, and other Persian friends, have drilled into my head the history of the Arab conquest of the Persians. The Persians have not forgotten nor forgiven the slaughter of the Persians by the Arabs. Persians may not be at war with the Arabs, but I wouldn't be very comfortable living in an Arab country knowing that Iran is about to have nuclear war capabilities. Search out some Persian blogs/ message boards. Hang around long enough & you'll get to read some comments about Arabs that aren't very nice. It would be unwise for Arabs to believe nuclear - armed Persia is no threat to them.
8. 1 & 2
Korem ,   New York, USA   (10.07.07)
1, you're a Turk. You don't even have a part in this. 2, say whetever you like, but I recall interviews on Egyptian television of high-ranking officials arguing that Iran was a greater threat than Israel.
9. Israel seals her own doom
John ,   London,UK   (10.07.07)
Professor Shalom should recognise how pathetically weak Israel has become that now it is begging Arabs countries to stop Iran, same Arab countries which do not recognise Israel. Saudi Arabia like Iran and Syria have said they do not accept the existence of Israel. Kuwait, Libya, Algeria, Marocco, Tunisia, Qatar, Yemen, Dubai and nearly all other muslim countries want Israel to be moved to Alaska. They want to see Jews slaughtered in the holy land. Yet Israel is hoping they would come save Israel. How sad once mighty nation has become. This is all a result of Israel not acting justly and hence her God seems to have abandoned her to Arabs to decide her fate. Unless Israel reverse bad policies, which actually oppress Palestinians and deny basic human rights, she will continue to head towards her own doom.
10. #2 where r u living? there already IS a war between muslims
(10.07.07)
11. is this what you want to hear from arabs?
arab   (10.07.07)
Let's exchange nukes & protectors; Yours are sweeter! No, Iranians can send enough conventional missiles to destroy TA. Unfortunately Israel do not have enough conventional alike. Just hundreds imported bunker-busters can not make enough for Iran. Israel has swallowed its depleted nuke-waste to make some advances in medicine instead of making bunker busters.
12. #6 i´m an arab of egypt
Ahmed ,   Egypt   (10.07.07)
And the majority of egyptians are arabs,except nubbians,some europeans and greek cristians. Of course,i´m a muslim.
13. thereafter, you drop the bomb; boom!
(10.07.07)
the extermination of non-Jews was an established principle in Jewish theology and it has even been dignified with a term: it is called Hashmadat goyem.
14. #7, Thans for the warning, girlfreind.
Persian CAT   (10.07.07)
Sure there is a history of animosity between the ancient Persia and Arab tribes of the Arabian Peninsula, just like the history between many European nations. It is also true that Iranians/Persians do not want to be called Arabs, just as they don't want to be called German, and some harbor some ridiculous chauvinistic and xenophobic views too - against Turks, Arabs, Jews, you name it (ironically most of those folks live in the West!). The fact is most of the Iranians and Arabs have realized they NEED to stick together to fight off their common enemies, The enemies of the Muslims, Arabs, and the entire Third-wold countries including Christians are the colonialists, Zionists, and racists,who want to occupy their lands, steal their natural resources and subjugate them. But thanks your warning and "advice" to the Arabs, you're a real pal!
15. strong enemy is better than leaky droopy
arab   (10.07.07)
16. Israel,arabian states ,iran and turkey
Ahmed ,   Egypt   (10.07.07)
must be united and form the United states of middleast with freedom of religon and a strong army,this is the solution for this problem.It seems a dream but it can be possible.
17. #16 You fool!, Jews have more ambitious plane for the World
(10.07.07)
USW "United States of the World": It is this secret of Jewry, this ancient desire to conquer all nations by fomenting social tension and manipulating it to weaken gentile resolve whist simultaneously empowering still more the Jewish tribe that moves Zionists to refer to Jerusalem as "The Head Capital of the United States of the World." As did Rabbi Julius T. Loeb, Jewish Zionist leader in Washington, as reported in Whose Who in the Nation's Capital (1929-1930). What the Jewish bigot Lewis Browne described as the: "Day they [the Jews] would be triumphant in all the earth:their spirit, their ideals, their God, would reign supreme. Jerusalem would become the centre of the world, and the Temple would become a house of prayer for all nations. They, the Jews … in the end would be the mightiest conquerors of all!" http://discoursewiththepharisees.blogspot.com/2006/11/christs-discourse-with-pharisees.html
18. Hypothetic !!
Zaki Jafar ,   UAE   (10.07.07)
Dear Zaki what a funtastic article. Thanks. At last you (Israel) started thinking the wellbeing of Arabs. Now first apply your goodwill on your neighbouring Arabs (Palestineans).
19. A little change in your own text.
Nazar ,   India   (10.07.07)
Also go through your text, if a little change is made: Needles to say, your expressed tendency does not express genuine concern on the part of the Israelies regarding the Arab community. Also needles to say, US' expressed tendency does not express genuine concern on the part of the Europeans/ Americans (christians) regarding the Israelies (Jewish community). These two communities never enjoyed a close and fraternal relationship. The US president is conducting himself in a very sophisticated manner in this context, while being aware that such an approach grants US several important advantages
20. Neutron Bombs Over Iran and Syria
Dave Levy (Zionist) ,   Burbank. CAUSA   (10.07.07)
To all those Arabs-Muslims, who think that their worlds won't be affected by an Israeli-Iranian conflict, take heed to my warning: Israel has 200-400 nuclear devices, most installed on it's very long range Jericho Missiles, and cruise type missiles (5 Dolphan Class subs) partrolling in Muslim waters, the Persian Gulf, etc. Israel has almot 500 state of the art jet fighter bombers, with refueling capabilities. They alone, can deliver 25 nukes to Iran. Iran will be a sheet of glass (out of it's sand) It's oil will be contaminated for 1,000 years. Iran will back to the biblical age. If Syria, or Hez, or Hamas, or Islamic Jihad join the battle, look for the area south of the Litani to resemble a sci-movie about total destruction. No hiding behind woman' skirts Israel also has thousands of Popeye Missiles..land to land, and 5,000 smart bombs, bunker busters. etc. It can choose neutron bombs..to avoid property damange..to wipe out the Revolutionary Guards. Local police can subdue it's 40,000 suicide bombers. We will join in where possible to hunt them down. Iran's Pres. is crazy like a fox..but is he wise? We know about Nasrallah and Assad's bravo...When Israel bombs Damascus...Assad will run to Libya..as fast as possible. But, like Saddam, he will be found. The above scenario is getting closer to reality. Israel showed how ineffective the commie defenses are. Our B1s and 2s, will help sudue Iran, forever.
21. #16
SWA ,   Connecticut, USA   (10.07.07)
A united nation in the middle east with firm principles granting freedom of religion would be a marvelous solution. Unfortunately, many, if not most muslim nations today already show how antithetical freedom of religion is to Islam. How does it go? There is no God but Allah and Muhammed is His prophet? Not a lot of room for other beliefs is there? Oh, I know, people of the book and all that. Jews, Buddhists, etc, you'll be fine. Just don't be late with that Jizya. Oh, and don't expect your testimony in court to equal a Muslim's. Oh, and no building your own houses of worship. And it's ok for you to convert to Islam, but naturally if anyone wants to convert from Islam, they'll be killed. Islam may well have many strengths; willingness to grant that other religions are equal and Islam is in no way superior ,simply isn't one of them. So how about it Ahmed? Would your new nation proceed from the assumtion that Islam is neither better nor worse than other faiths?
22. Iran Has OIL on the Brain
RickD ,   USA   (10.07.07)
The Iranian economy is failing. The Iranian leadership doesn't know how to build anything or develop anything. Their existing OIL infrastructure is in decline. The only way they can make money is by selling OIL. Once the Iranian OIL wells give out in a few years the Mullahs will be looking to steal some other OIL. Look at a map and see where there are OIL wells near Persia and this is where the Mullahs will soon be targeting: Iraq, Saudi, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Dubai, Turkmenistan. If you think there will be no war between Persians and Arabs you don't know any history and you don't see the OIL writing on the wall. The Arab rulers see this coming but they will always cut off their noses to spite their faces. The author of the article can see this coming clearly.
23. to 6
Egyptian   (10.07.07)
Speak about yourself only and not the whole country. I'm not Christian since you drag the religion into the discussion and Arab classification is based on the language this is why we call Arab because we speak Arabic this make all Egypt Arabs including the people you listed. Taha Hessian and other egyptian writers said the same thing about the Arabs.
24. Israel overall
Alin ,   Bucharest,Romania   (10.07.07)
I agree with #20.The muslim nations are so unwilling to see the truth...In the Yom Kippur war,Damascus was one hour from nuke destruction. What makes all of you,muslims,to think Israel will not use its nuclear arsenal on all his ennemies, Iranian,Arab or others?
25. To #9
Steve ,   Berkeley, California   (10.07.07)
You Brits are fed poison by your biased media. It's the only way to understand your ignorance, stupidity and Israel-hatred. Time and again since 1948 Israel has attempted to make peace only to be faced with hatred and bombs from Palestinians who want all of Israel for their own. Now that Iran wants to destroy Israel it is Israel you accuse of oppression. If Mahatma Gandhi led the Paleastinians rather than their crop of malicious or inept leaders there would have peace decades ago.
26. For #6 and #23
Alin ,   Bucharest,Romania   (10.07.07)
If all Egyptians would have shown the wisdom #6 is showing....After all,Egypt is another territory conquered by the caliphs;this doesn't make Egypt arabic.Egypt has thousands of years of non-arabic history.The fact that some of egyptians are of arabic origin,like #23 is,doesn't mean you have to condemn a country to follow arabic foolishness.The only thing that lies between Egypt and arabs is the false-prophet's faith.Egypt is not arabic and he should stay away from Israel's way,unless he wants to face the same faith as arabs will.After all,Israel is the greatest military power in the region and any country has the ability to support a nuclear and conventional attack from Israel.So,Egypt is egyptian,not arabic.In that country,arabs are ex-conquerors who are living from the past.
27. The egyptians,today aren´t pharaons
Ibrahim ,   Lebanon   (10.07.07)
I agree with Ahmed,actually,egyptians are arabs,except a minority of cristians and some africans on the south, and jews that stay on summer on sinai.These people that say that egyptians are paharaon don´t know the actual egypt,i consider egypt as an arab country,except these minoritys.On the other hand,i agree also with Ahmed,Iran is not our enemy,Iran has not pretension to conquer arab land,iranians are muslims and they write their words with arabic letters,we are brothers.
28. Power of Ahmadinejah
Carl D. Mathis ,   Clinton, Illinois   (10.07.07)
What we have is a classic confrontation of Superman's Clark Kent versus Lex Luthor. Ahmadinejah through his own eyes is determined to not be pushed around, even if his enemy who has more power, seeks to go through more diplomatic or open channels to protect the free world. Is this not like the old USSR aligning those countries, albeit weaker but potential allies, to become a greater force rallying behind the Cause (being Arab)? And with the new Russia becoming a Superpower on the upswing, even the UN will have difficulty in controlling this situation.
29. #26 Hey! what's the price of the brains today in Romania?
(10.07.07)
30. I thought that the shah admired hitler and the nazis so much
jack bauer   (10.08.07)
that he changed the name of his country from persia to iran. I thought it had something to do with the nazis "aryan" bloodline doctrines. I guess the ayatollahs didn't find that all too offensive and kept the name on just adding the islamic bit surprising isn't it? NOT as for those saying that shite and sunnis are friends....I guess you guys dont learn history in your caves....unless its preaching how evil those jooooos really are
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