We can still prevent war with Iran. Issues Beyond Palo Alto, posted by Tom R, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 17, 2007 at 8:29 pm
If a pending war with Iran already concerns you, you can skip the rest and go directly to this link for StopIranWar.com: Web Link or to learn more please read on.
In 2003 the Bush Administration led America into a war in Iraq that could have been avoided, for reasons that were not necessary. Four years, thousands of lives, and hundreds of billions of dollars later, we are still paying for that mistake. Yet we now find ourselves facing another war in the Middle East, this time with Iran.
The rhetoric is becoming heated. American politicians from both Parties assert Iran must be stopped from acquiring nuclear weapons, and an American military strike against Iran is being considered. While plans for the next war proceed, our government refuses direct bilateral and unconditional negotiations with Iran. After 9/11 Iran made several peace overtures to the United States which were rebuffed or ignored. Meanwhile Congress appropriated millions of dollars to fund "regime change" in Iran. America may have legitimate issues with Iran, but Tehran has legitimate reasons to distrust Washington's peaceful intentions also.
We are locked on a collision course with disaster, but there still is time to change that. A group formed by some of Americas most distinguished recent war veterans; VoteVets.org, has joined with former N.A.T.O. Supreme Commander and retired Four Star General Wesley Clark to found StopIranWar.com to inform the public and lobby our political leaders on the urgent need for diplomacy with Iran NOW, before another war starts. Their message to our President and Congress is simple: Actively pursue all peaceful efforts to resolve our outstanding issues with Iran so we can prevent another deadly war.
Please visit StopIranWar.com at: Web Link to learn more and add your name there to the tens of thousands of Americans who already have signed petitions supporting immediate open dialog between America and Iran. And feel free to pass on the text of this message to others that you know.
Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 18, 2007 at 5:33 am
Here's one vet who will not sign on with "Wesson Oil" Clark. His sudden reluctance to go to war is a pleasant surprise considering why Clinton fired him.
Posted by Albert, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Apr 18, 2007 at 6:59 am
I am one vet who has proudly signed the petitions on StopIranWar.com. This time, the veterans will not sit on their hands and allow the worst president in our history to take our country into another bloody and unnecessary war.
Posted by Dick, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Apr 18, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Our enemy is Islamic Totalitarianism. Iran is the center of that ideology. Iran is run by a mad man. Iran is developing nuclear weapons for its jihad. These are enough reasons to make use of those military bases.
Posted by sarlat, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Apr 18, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Iran is an inegral part of the middle east and we are not. We have no business being there and threatening its countries. We have no busines deciding which country can have nuclear weapons and which doesn't. By invading Iraq we made Iran realize that they only way to preven a US invasion is to become a nuclear power. Unlike us, Iran hasn't invaded another nation in centuries. As much as I despise the Iranian regime and its theocracy, the greatest threat to world peace and stabilty is the Bush regime, not the Iranian regime.
Posted by Dick, a resident of the Palo Alto Orchards neighborhood, on Apr 18, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Our business is our self-defense. When a rogue nation threatens us and is busy developing nuclear weapons, its our business--actually our duty--to stop it.
Posted by Draw the Line, a resident of Stanford, on Apr 18, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Yes, Bush the fascist maniacal dictator who believes he is the hidden Imam come to bring about the war that will ressurect him, who tortures and imprisons men and women with no law to protect them, who subscribes to Sharia law...Oh wait, wrong guy. No matter, clearly Bush is the more dangerous of the two. Too bad Ahmadinijad doesn't run our country, we would all be so much safer.
Posted by sarlat, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Apr 18, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Last time I checked, Ahmadinijad didn't invade a sovereign country using false pretenses, killing tens of thousands, if not more, civilians. One believes in Sharia law, the other in Rupture. Both are bad, but only Bush presents a grave danger to the entire world.
Posted by Draw the Line, a resident of Stanford, on Apr 19, 2007 at 7:30 am
Tell you what, though I hope this never happens to you, Sarlat, if the day comes that someone is telling everyone that he plans to destroy you and your home, is seen building the factory to build the weapons to do it, most of your neighbors are on his side, and you can't simply run away and hide, tell us what your plan will be to protect yourself. Then let everyone tell you that you are more dangerous to the city than he is.
Though I feel tremendous pity for the Iranians who are stuck under the thumb of this guy, and hope they can overturn this guy soon, I am glad that my country is believing him. I am glad that my country believed Saddam, and took him out. Whatever happens after this, we won't be any worse off than with him in power, and the same would be true with Ahmadijinad.
Though I certainly hope and pray that "diplomacy" is more successful with him than it was over the 12 years with Saddam, I also completely support ending all talk LONG BEFORE they are nuclear, and can hold Israel hostage ( which is the goal), and sell weapons to come into the US ( the other goal).
Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 21, 2007 at 8:10 am
Nations are not the only entities capable of doing harm. And even in the strictest sense of the word your comment is demonstrably wrong. An embassy is USA soil. And just as you may have interests outside your own house, the US has interests outside our own borders. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
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