The Secret Government: The Constitution in Crisis
December 6th, 2007
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
October 28th, 2007
Frontline: Showdown With Iran
October 25th, 2007
War on Democracy
October 1st, 2007
Charlie Rose Interview of Ahmadinejad
September 25th, 2007
Ahmadinejad’s Speech at Columbia
September 25th, 2007
Ahmadinejad’s speech at Columbia undermines the case for war with Iran. I hope that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech at Columbia University yesterday will energize the antiwar movement in the United States to vigorously and effectively oppose war with Iraq and to understand that the question of Palestinian self-determination is inextricably linked to all the conflicts the U.S. is involved in the Middle East.What follows is my reaction to some of the issues raised in Ahmadinejad’s speech and in the question and answer session that followed:Iran’s Nuclear Technology: The International Atomic Energy Agency has consistently certified that Iran is complying with international guidelines for the peaceful use of atomic energy. Iran’s uranium enrichment process is limited to 5% enrichment - well below the level needed for developing weapons. Iran fully complies with requests for international inspections and has maintained transparency about its program.
Ahmadinejad recognizes that Iran’s oil is a nonrenewable resource and Iran’s oil based economy is not sustainable in the long run unless Iran uses its oil revenues to make the transition to economic and industrial self sufficiency. Iran is developing nuclear power because Iran’s supply of oil will inevitably become depleted.
Forms of Government
September 16th, 2007
From the Tao Te Ching, 57 and 58:
Applies to both the current state of capitalistic republic in the US and the religious republic in Iran:
“If you want to be a great leader,
you must learn to follow the Tao.
Stop trying to control.
Let go of fixed plans and concepts,
and the world will govern itself.The more prohibitions you have,
the less virtuous people will be.
The more weapons you have,
the less secure people will be.
The more subsidies you have,
the less self-reliant people will be.Therefore the Master says:
I let go of the law,
and people become honest.
I let go of economics,
and people become prosperous.
I let go of religion,
and people become serene.
I let go of all desire for the common good,
and the good becomes common as grass.If a country is governed with tolerance,
the people are comfortable and honest.
If a country is governed with repression,
the people are depressed and crafty.When the will to power is in charge,
the higher the ideals, the lower the results.
Try to make people happy,
and you lay the groundwork for misery.
Try to make people moral,
and you lay the groundwork for vice.Thus the Master is content
to serve as an example
and not to impose her will.
She is pointed, but doesn’t pierce.
Straightforward, but supple.
Radiant, but easy on the eyes.”
