Reply #8: Did you guys never take English Lit 101? OK, I will walk you through this.

[McCamy Taylor]

In the RAW Story here are the charges against Iran. Note that its crime is that it is trying to get nuclear weapons which will upset the balance of power in the Middle East, which will inconvenience the US. (Hey, RAW Story has a US readership.)

1. Iran, whose nuclear ambition "threatens the security of Israel and the entire world."

2."The Iranian president’s statements such as his description of the Holocaust as a myth and his goals to wipe Israel off the map indicate that Iran is serious about its threats."

3."Once Iran goes nuclear, other countries in the Middle East will go nuclear, making Israel’s neighborhood much more volatile," Edwards said.

In the IsraeliInsider story here are the charges against Iran/Syria/Hamas/Hezzbolah/Palestine: Iran's crimes are its funding of Hezzbolah and Hamas, which kill Israeli citizens.

1. '"Iran is serious about its threats," former US Senator John Edwards told the Herzliya Conference at the Interdisciplinary Center on Monday.'

2. "Addressing the second Lebanon war, Edwards accused the Islamic Republic of having a significant role, saying Hizbullah was an instrument of Iran, and Iranian rockets were what made the organization's attack on Israel possible."

3. "The former senator also said that Syria has been a great source of destabilization in the area, from its support of Hizbullah and Hamas, to its relationship with Iran, and for this it should be held accountable."

4. "Edwards also spoke against the Palestinian Authority, saying the Hamas government was no partner, and that Israel should make efforts to strengthen Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas against Hamas."

Regarding what Edwards plans to do about Iran:

The RAW Story version:

"Iran must know that the world won’t back down. The recent UN resolution ordering Iran to halt the enrichment of uranium was not enough. We need meaningful political and economic sanctions. We have muddled along for far too long. To ensure that Iran never gets nuclear weapons, we need to keep ALL options on the table, Let me reiterate – ALL options must remain on the table."

The IsraeliInsider version:

"Hinting to possible military action, Edwards stressed that "in order to ensure Iran never gets nuclear weapons, all options must remain on table."'


That Hinting to possible military action is where the two stories really diverge. Consider for a moment what was taken off the table by the W. administration---direct negotiation. How do we know that RAW Story is not more accurate with its direct quote? Maybe what Edwards really meant to say is "I will talk those damn Shia clerics to death. They want direct negotiations? They will get all the direct negotiations they can handle--and then some."

The US NEVER takes the military option off the table. Our long range weapons and nukes are always there. So Edwards could not have meant that he is taking them off the table or putting them back on. Given enough provocation, we will drop bombs from the air on anyone, though we might not invade. Even Bill Clinton dropped bombs, even in the middle of the impeachment.