Thursday, June 30, 2005
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: 'Evil' Iran
W and his Bush league minions love to play to US voters' emotions. Their primary tool is the "our opponents are evil incarnate" routine used throughout history to unify the citizenry and make them easy to control. (Easier to unite people against something than for something.)
Of course, polarization is a two way street. The other side's extremists get empowered by your rhetoric, and folks trying to find a middle ground find it washed out from under them. Case in point:
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Of course, polarization is a two way street. The other side's extremists get empowered by your rhetoric, and folks trying to find a middle ground find it washed out from under them. Case in point:
Iran victor 'kidnap role' probeRegardless of its truth, I expect these rumors will only help Iran's new president at home even as they fuel the flames of anger here. Thank you, President Bush, for adding to the political pressure on Iran to make itself a nuclear power.
The US says it is examining reports that Iranian President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took part in the 1979 hostage-taking at Tehran's US embassy.
Some of the former US hostages have said they recognise Mr Ahmadinejad as one of their captors.
But three Iranians involved in the action, as well as Mr Ahmadinejad's own staff, have denied that he took part.
(Source: BBC News, June 30, 2005 [emphasis in original.])
