As described in his latest New York Times op-ed, "In Iran, They Want Fun, Fun, Fun" (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/opinion/kristof-in-iran-they-want-fun-fun-fun.html), Kristof continues his 1,700-mile, magical mystery tour across Iran, accompanied by his son and daughter. In a journey akin to Borat's excursion across the US (yes, I know, Borat spoke English, while Kristof doesn't speak Farsi), Kristof continues to relay profound anecdotes from his chance meetings with ordinary Iranians. Discussions with members of Iran's persecuted Baha'i minority? Kristof doesn't mention any. Exchanges of views with Iran's oppressed Kurds? Again, no such thing. Dialogue with Iranian homosexuals? No way, given that homosexuals are hanged in Iran. A visit to Evin Prison to check the well-being of political dissidents languishing in its dungeons? Sorry, not on this road trip. Better still, an off-the-beaten-track side trip to witness the stoning to death of a woman accused of adultery? No, he wouldn't want his children to see such a spectacle.
Fun, fun, fun . . .
So what did the ayatollahs want and gain from Kristof's visit? The answer is easy: At a time when Iran is avoiding any concessions in its negotiations, i.e. stalling tactics, with the P5+1 over its nuclear weapons development program, Kristof, a useful idiot if ever there was one, concludes his opinion piece by observing:
"My road trip across Iran leaves me convinced that change will come here, too, if we just have the patience not to disrupt the subterranean forces at work: rising education, an expanding middle class, growing economic frustration, erosion of the government monopoly on information. My hunch is that if there is no war between Iran and the West — which would probably strengthen the regime — hard-liners will go the way of Mao, and Iran will end up looking something like Turkey."
Thanks for your "hunch," Nicholas, that fun loving Iran, if left alone, will someday end up looking like Turkey, which is growing more fanatic by the day and is now renowned for imprisoning journalists who dare criticize the ruling AKP. Meanwhile, however, Iran continues to threaten Israel with extermination, as it engages in unspeakable barbarism against its own citizenry and supports its terrorist proxies, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas.
Kristof is obviously continuing where Roger Cohen left off. Rarely have I been so nauseated.
In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country. In Iran we do not have this phenomenon, I don't know who has told you that we have it.
ReplyDeleteChin Qui,
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President in Chief and Supreme Leader
Hee, hee, hee
ReplyDeleteDear ShutHerBug:
ReplyDeleteWhich one of the following statements don't you understand:
Iranian Revolutionary Guards Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, July 2, 2012: "If they [Israel] take any action, they will hand us an excuse to wipe them off the face of the earth"
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, March 2, 2012: "The Zionist regime is a cancerous tumor and it will be removed."
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, 2008: "You should know that the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime which has 60 years of plundering, aggression and crimes in its file has reached the end of its work and will soon disappear off the geographical scene."
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, 2005: Our dear Imam [Ayatollah Khomeini] said that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map and this was a very wise statement. . . . I have no doubt that the new wave that has started in Palestine, and we witness it in the Islamic world too, will eliminate this disgraceful stain from the Islamic world."