the eyeranian

Hi. And you have not mentioned the boy next in the queue. The widened eyes say it all :
Jesus, Billy - not me, not me !

pedram,

pictures could give wrong impression. read it you will find out. i used to tease some of my friends who would meet and touch their cheeks according to a middle eastern custom. how?

if i had a camera handy, i would get a picture from them at the right moment. you wouldn't believe how pictures taken at the right time can turn everything around to a kiss from lips. people always shut their eye lids while closing the cheeks together. so imagine half open eyes and seemingly approaching lips (since its 2 dimentional).

bottom line: it is possible to take picture that gives you a totally false impression.

Pedram, I have wondered how some of you most excellent bloggers keep pounding out the volume, and all best quality posting, day after day. Take a rest, you deserve it. BTW, is he slipping the little boy some tounge in there? ,;-)
on a more serious note, if you find anything useful in my "free speech" piece when continuing your "hate speech" piece please refer to it, thanks,
Dave

Hooman seems to think that it's an optical illusion; MB is used to translating 2-D pictures into 3-D graphics, and that is no illusion at all. Other respective facial parts cannot be where they are without the mullah's lips being directly on the lips of the child.

However, the hands are not in the vicinity of the mullah's private parts.

The West-toxification has gotten to you.

Pedram, We, the US, supported Iraq against Iran because the Iranians replaced an authoritarian dictator with a Shia-Fundamentalist-spread the Islamic Revolution to the whole Mid-East, then the world-kill the Jews, oops I mean Israel-Meglomaniac-Tutti Fruity Nut whose government equaled if not suppassed the Shahs in brutality and oppression, while taking the Iranian economy down the drain. There is now a sizable number of Iranians in country who seek US support on at least the verbal level against the current mullah rule. Likely Sec. of State Powell was talking to them. So, to be plainly rude, stick in your ear your Arrogant-ness. Rifle308

I've seen folks kiss kids on the lips before, even I do it. It's not a sustained thing, just a quick peck. Taking into consideration that this is a still frame, the pix still looks like the Ayatollah is looking for an underage "wife". Maybe he's been reading The Satyricon.

Eye - FYI - it's per se (as such)

The picture is too revolting for comment.

Let's hope our intervention in Iraq will cause neighboring states to re-evaluate themselves in the context of the 21st century.

"Links between the two countries have been underwritten and enforced by powerful Zionist lobbies, justified by a press that slavishly follows the party line, rationalized by the liberal intelligentsia, and institutionalized by robotic Congressional approval. The relationship has extended to new levels of cordiality in the regime of G.W. Bush, for whom Ariel Sharon “is a man of peace.” And it is strategically vital for both partners. America aids and arms Israel and defends it in the UN and against world opinion. Meanwhile Israel is America’s pit bull in the crucial zone of the Middle East, while performing for the master such tasks as his delicate sensitivity to world opinion has found unacceptable....
Is there any word for this except racism, institutionalized at the most fundamental level of the state? Is not this the guiding logic of Israel’s militarization, and its mechanism of ruthless expansion and repression--and yes, the prospect of expulsion? Does it not devolve onto society and through the Diaspora, corrupting the emancipatory legacy of Judaism and sowing chauvinism and blind prejudice?

The racist character of the Zionist state is the truth so hard to bear by those who believe in Israel’s fundamental legitimacy. But it also disintegrates this belief, because racism at this level, where a whole people is destroyed so that another people might thrive, epitomizes the meaning of a crime against humanity"

Yeah, umm there is no anti-semitism here. yep, none on the left at all...

Nice Article, schmuck.

I am not gonna defend this guy in the picture, but three possibility crosses my mind considering the stature of this mullah (he wouldn't need to show his sexual desires in a photo-op):

a- this is a fabrication.
b- this is an illusion resulting from converting a 3-dimentional object to a 2-dimentional picture.
c- this tradition is accepted in that particular country, and we should not read too much into the picture.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that this guy does these kinds of things off camera and behind the closed dooers, but letting others to take a picture ....

Well, I may not be familiar with Iraqi culture, but as long as I know, at least this one is not so usual in Iranian culture.
The Ayatollahs cannot hide behing their "Aba" forever; sometimes they have to expose themselves :))
Note: I have no problem with homosexulaty or, in case of Hakim, even pederasty. I just find it kind of funny for an Ayatollah, who claims homosexulaty is a taboo, to kiss a guy like that!

Mr. Moallemian,

You say you don't like Mr. Powell's statement of non-hostility to the Iranian people. Would you have preferred a statement of hostility? ("You, the people of Iran, are our enemies forever and you know it!")

The CIA's role in the overthrow of Mr. Mossadegh in 1953 was wrong, as was America's long-term tolerance of the Shah's human rights abuses. As you probably know (but never mention), U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright publicly admitted to these mistakes, and openly expressed regret for them, 4 years ago. But if my country (the U.S.) betrayed the Iranian people in the past, then we have all the more reason to support the Iranian people today.

I strongly suspect the Iranian people will WELCOME American support for their noble struggle against ultraconservative oppression.

www.arjunbamzai.blogspot.com

Glad to have found your site. It is enlightening to read non-conservative logical points of view (as opposed all those neo-conservative-let's-save-Iraqis-cause-we-are-rescue-angels-all-of-a-sudden-now-never-mind-the-Mosadeq-overthrow-right-through-to-Rowanda-masaccare-etc-we-learned!)

sigh.

beh ghole khodemoon dast marizad:)

Hey let's make this clear here. This guy should be put in jail (he is the head of justice system!) and be registerd as a sex offender. This is true manifestation of what happens in those dirty minds -- bloody pedophiles.

Ramin

ModerateIslamic,
I was born Muslem but I am not a religious person at all. However, I think I share your views regarding US-Israeli ties.
Generally, labeling people who seriously dis-agree with Israeli policies as Anti-Semite, has become an effective tool in the hands of the zionists to silent any objections. This has to be broken and we have to break it. We have to say what we think is fair no matter what.

First, I did not want to comment about the picture. But I think the happiest people in seeing this picture publicized are the occupiers of Iraq, so this picture serves them well.
I definatly do not wish to defent a Mullah, but I think they are smart enough not to show their dirty actions in public, in front of a camera.

Many mums and dads kiss their children from the lips. Just make sure to take the picture in the right moment if you wish to show them being bad and abusive parents.

I hate to see myslef sounding like I am defending this Mullah, but I do believe this picture does not fairly represnet the real situation. We cannot use just any means in demonizing our enemy, I am sure there are more fair ways to show who is good or bad, let us be fair reporters even about the events involving our enemies.

Faramin: Given the enormous amounts of criticism of Israel - in blogs, newspapers, demonstrations, radio and TV - could you give us your definitions of "effective" and "silence"? Go ahead - criticize Israel, it's what just about everybody else is doing, although I expect you'll still consider yourself "brave" and "fair".

Elaine,
....enormous amount of critism of Israel in the madia? I let others decide about your first wrong assumption. Yes, everyone who respects humanity is criticising Israel but that everyone does not include the mostly zionist-controlled media in Nort America.
And, who talked about being brave? Brave are Rachel Corrie and her type who leave their comfortable lives to protect defenceless Palestinian children from Israeli shells and bullets.

Elaine:
..however I agree with you about demonstrations who are held by people who are not fooled by the media.

Just a non-political comment - I had an Iranian friend in college (before the Shah was overthrown). A long while after we became friends he finally showed me some pictures of his family. He told me that he was reluctant to show the pictures to Americans, because they would probably find them weird - there was mouth to mouth kissing of males throughout. I think this just might be a case where the "cultural" argument is true. I still loath religious fundamentalism, though.

Faramin: It is possible to criticize Israel's government without being anti-Semitic. Mike Silverman has created a HOW TO GUIDE.
Read it, and see how many times you cross the line.

The more you fight the Israelis the stronger they become.

The way to defeat them is to stop fighting. All of it including the Palestinian National Suicide Bombers.

Saddam supported Palestinian National Suicide Bombers. Where is he now. Who is next?

The only way Bush can get what he wants from the Palestinian/Israeli situation given American politics its to destroy every country that supports Palestinian armed struggle.

Who wants to be next?

M. Simon,
You are a good expression of a "Street fighter". Are you?

Buck,
Who draws that line, SILVERMAN?
No, I will criticize Israel because of its long crimes against the humanity and against the Palestinian cildren and civilians as I dis-approve what happens to Israeli civilians who get killed by suicide bombing, AND believe me, I don't give a damn what SILVERMAN says.

I personally don't see what so offensive. Btw,
could someone ask the Mullah to forward me his phone
number?

Faramin: There you go, using the guidelines already. Your last post was within points 1, 2 3 and 4. You didn't mention Zionists or Jews, you were specific, and you balanced the occupation with the suicide bombings.

You want to criticize Israel without it seeming that you hate/blame all Jews, I get it. I was just trying to help.

Buck,
When I say I criticize Israel, I am criticizing a known and tangeable entity which has a government that officially rules it. The issue of zionism is not as clear as Israel. All jews are jews but not all jews are zionists.
Beside, it is not because of Mr. Silverman so-called guid line that I am trying to be fair(infact, his guid line is an attempt to restrict me from what I wish to express). I have always said no civilian should be harmed anyway, no matter who an from what ethnicity they are.
When I need to mention zionism, I won't hesitate.
Thanks for your comment anyway.

every time you read an article accusing people of "zionism", replace the word "jews" with "muslims", or "homosexuals" or "blacks" or "the disabled". then it's offensive, isn't it? why is it okay to bitch about jews?

Liz,
Why should we do this? The issue is not Jews but it is Zionists. So there is no need to replace the word "Jews" with "Muslems" to see how offensive it is. Zionists are dangerous as are Islamic foundementalists.
And, I am not even a religious person.

Faramin

What exactly are you trying to pull off here? we are takling about a picture which in my mind is an act of pedophilia.

Yes parents, occasionally, kiss their kids on the lips but certainly not other kids. Can't you simply observer how this bastard has tilted his head to the right? come on! better way to teach french kiss 101?

M.Simon

When was the last time you read a book on politics? what was the title? the depth of your reasoning is fantabulous!!!

I made mistakes in my first comment. Pedram informed me that the guy in the picture is not the head of justice system. He's Ayatollah Hakim.

I thoroughly enjoy Faramin's comments. well put. The minute yu call Sharon a butcher, u r accused of being an anti-semite.

I personally believe religion is a rather personal matter, but it is particularly repelling to see many jews, who themselves have gone through the worst of history, be as prejudiced as they are. It's is sort of a reverse anti-non-semitism. And the constant defenses makes you wonder about the intentions. talk about skewed.

Ramin,
You might be right, as I said, I hate being seen as defendant of this Mullah, but I just don't think they would do it in public and in front of a camera.

In the momory of Rachel Corrie who died while defending humanity (Slide Show)

http://salvatorereda.sevcom.com/

"...we conducted a coup to overthrow your popular prime minister and re-instate the unpopular king, then supported his dictatorship for a few more decades while he limited your freedoms, imprisoned your intellectuals and executed your children, then when you kicked him out we supported your neighboring dictator to attack you by missiles and chemical bombs and finally propped up king's obtuse son to come back and "rescue" you..."

wow - the Bush administration did all that? I had no idea they were so ambitious.

Mr. Fleck,

So, that's how you define ambition as proven over and over again. Well done.

What about what I call Zionist Christians. These are American Christians that believe Isreal is the fulfillment of Christ's prophecies. Frankly, it seems he got some things very accurately, but I believe in 'self fulfilling prophecies'. Christian Zionists, who see the creation of Isreal as a fulfillment of prophecy are more prominant in the south, more likely to be protestant, are very likely ignorant of the reality in the middle east, they are fed a weekly dose of strange doomseday cult dogma in church. Also, they vote. Incidentally, these people believe that as soon as we can tear down the Al Aqsa mosque to build the Jewish Temple, all the Jews will be converted to Christianity. In fact, (this is especially true for the southerners) many of the 'christian zionists' don't even like jews, and so support they isreal like a rope supports a hanging man. What should I call these people if zionist is a hot button word?

BIg A, I believe the people you are referring to label themselves as "Zionist Christians" also. Pedrum had a link to his article about them and their connection to Iraqi war earlier which I just searched for and found it at:

http://www.iranian.com/PedramMoallemian/2002/October/Iraq/index.html

It makes some very valid points.