Iran

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==Hostage crisis==
 
==Hostage crisis==
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In 1979 a group of militant Iranian students stormed and took over the US Embassy in Tehran, holding 52 of the former occupants hostage for 444 days.  This led to a proliferation of "Nuke Tehran" bumper stickers, and to difficulties for President [[Jimmy Carter]] in his bid for re-election in 1980. In a [[Fun:Conspiracy_theories|totally innocent coincidence]], the hostages were released minutes after [[Ronald Reagan]] was sworn in as President. Later, he repaid the favor by (allegedly) [[Iran-Contra|illegally selling arms to Iran]] in order to funnel the profits to the Contras in [[Nicaragua]].  We say "allegedly" because such anti-American nefarious behavior is obviously outside the realm of possibility for such a "great" American President.
 
In 1979 a group of militant Iranian students stormed and took over the US Embassy in Tehran, holding 52 of the former occupants hostage for 444 days.  This led to a proliferation of "Nuke Tehran" bumper stickers, and to difficulties for President [[Jimmy Carter]] in his bid for re-election in 1980. In a [[Fun:Conspiracy_theories|totally innocent coincidence]], the hostages were released minutes after [[Ronald Reagan]] was sworn in as President. Later, he repaid the favor by (allegedly) [[Iran-Contra|illegally selling arms to Iran]] in order to funnel the profits to the Contras in [[Nicaragua]].  We say "allegedly" because such anti-American nefarious behavior is obviously outside the realm of possibility for such a "great" American President.
  

Revision as of 01:11, 14 February 2011

Iran, formerly known as Persia, is a large country that is on the border between the Middle East and Central Asia. As a non-Arabic country in a region dominated by Arabs, it has traditionally been viewed with suspicion by its neighbors. (Its neighbors are, of course, on fantastic terms with each other, because they are brother Arabs.) Like some other Middle Eastern countries, it has large American oil reserves beneath its territory.

Contents

Another version

This version has Iran being bordered by Arabs on one side, a couple of different former Soviet types on another side or two, Afghans elsewhere and Pakistanis somewhere else. Most of those are not Arabs, but many people (mostly Americans) have a difficult time with all of this. Yet another good reason to bomb them off the map?

Islamic Republic of Iran

The current government in Iran is a theocratic republic. This government was founded by the Ayatollah Khomeni after he deposed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1978-9. It is well-known for its particularly brutal treatment of homosexuals. [1] Iran's current president is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has drawn condemnation (particularly from non-Muslim countries and the sane) for his promotion of Holocaust denial. While he is the most visible part of the Iranian government, Ahmadinejad isn't the guy in charge over there. The "Supreme Leader," who pretty much has the power to do what he wants, is Ali Khamenei.

This is the same Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who, according to Al Jazeera, caused some amusement by making the bizarre claim that: "In Iran we do don't have homosexuals like in your country. In Iran we do not have this phenomenon."[2] This might have something to do with hanging them from boom lifts.

Hostage crisis

In 1979 a group of militant Iranian students stormed and took over the US Embassy in Tehran, holding 52 of the former occupants hostage for 444 days. This led to a proliferation of "Nuke Tehran" bumper stickers, and to difficulties for President Jimmy Carter in his bid for re-election in 1980. In a totally innocent coincidence, the hostages were released minutes after Ronald Reagan was sworn in as President. Later, he repaid the favor by (allegedly) illegally selling arms to Iran in order to funnel the profits to the Contras in Nicaragua. We say "allegedly" because such anti-American nefarious behavior is obviously outside the realm of possibility for such a "great" American President.

2009 Elections

In Summer 2009 Iran held some rather remarkable "elections". A couple of facts have led people to wonder about the validity of the results.

  • It has been expected that it would take several days to hand count the 40 million votes. In fact, the "result" was released in two hours.
  • Some constituencies reported turnout of well over 100%.

See also

Iran-Contra Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi

Footnotes

  1. Human Rights watch on Iran's homosexuals
  2. No homosexuals in Iran!
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