# Iran: "Death to America!" Why isn't this on the news? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 1, 2004, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555 "2004-12-01T20:03:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/21 "2004-12-01T21:04:50Z")
I’m not sure either; it at least looks like they covered for him. But I’m just saying you might not need a decision on high for something like that to happen, just a few of the right people. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/22 "2004-12-01T21:15:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I agree it’s not a likely scenario, a government would know what’s at risk. But I do think stateless terrorists are more likely to use a nuclear weapon than a government. As the A.Q. Khan situation shows, you may not need cooperation of a whole government for these materials to be moved around. That’s true. But I also don’t believe that Iran is as splintered and disorganized as Pakistan is right now, so I think the likelihood of a rogue element in the security forces siphoning off materiel to terrorist groups is fairly low. > [@SimonX](#): > > Undoubtedly we have engaged in negotiations with Iran for quite some time. Recently we negotiated about the trade of some terrorists that they had captured (Zarqawi was rumored to be among them- second or third time some has captured the fella and his leg(s)) for some terrorist we had captured in Iraq- the MKO/MEK/NLA/NCRI crowd. They wanted to try a number of the terrorist we captured. Others they were willing to grant amnesty to if they were willing to swear off terrorism. True, but along with the negotiations on how to cooperate in overthrowing the Taliban, those were fairly minor negotiations on how we could cooperate in achieving ends both sides wanted to achieve (toppling a government that was hostile to both the US and Iran, along with the organization that was helping support it). They didn’t require a large amount of trust from either side. Perhaps I should have been more specific in my meaning of serious negotiations that require a high level of trust between both sides. Such as asking Iran to sacrifice strides in its national security. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/23 "2004-12-01T22:23:54Z")
So they’re shouting “death to America”? Meh. As noted, they’ve been doing that ever since 1979. ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/24 "2004-12-01T22:32:18Z")
Obviously, but doesn’t it seem a tad strange that they’re doing it at a lawmaking session, and that the lawmakers themselves are doing it, right after they approved new nuclear developments? And doesn’t it seem odd that they’d be screaming this if it were indeed all for peaceful energy purposes? ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/25 "2004-12-01T22:38:25Z")
> [@PaulFitzroy](#): > > … And doesn’t it seem odd that they’d be screaming this if it were indeed all for peaceful energy purposes? It would only seem odd if one was willing to stick their head in the ground and think that Iran would not be willing to use their nukes against the “west”, whatever that is these days. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/26 "2004-12-01T22:45:27Z")
> [@PaulFitzroy](#): > > Obviously, but doesn’t it seem a tad strange that they’re doing it at a lawmaking session, and that the lawmakers themselves are doing it, right after they approved new nuclear developments? And doesn’t it seem odd that they’d be screaming this if it were indeed all for peaceful energy purposes? Alas, it doesn’t seem odd at all. This has been perfectly normal practice for the Iranian government for the past 25 years, unfortunately. However, you should distinguish between the rabid propagandistic screaming, and what’s actually going on. (Not excusing anything, but you can also bet there’s a lot of peer pressure, and fear that if one doesn’t scream loud enough, one will be in deep crap - read up about the applause after Stalin gave a speech, and how everyone was scared to be the first to stop clapping, so it went on for hours.) ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/27 "2004-12-01T22:50:50Z")
> [@PaulFitzroy](#): > > And doesn’t it seem odd that they’d be screaming this if it were indeed all for peaceful energy purposes? Iran is odd. Perhaps there were sentiments involved that were related to the US’s objections and attitude toward Iran pursuing legal activities within its own borders. Maybe some of it was the equivalent of a good nose thumbing. Or maybe Iran can hardly wait to blow a nuke in Souix City Iowa to ensure the rapid annihilation of their country. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/28 "2004-12-01T22:56:10Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > It would only seem odd if one was willing to stick their head in the ground and think that Iran would not be willing to use their nukes against the “west”, whatever that is these days. Sure they would use em. I mean why have nukes if you don’t intend to use them? Right? Just look at the US we’ve got em because we intend to use them. I’m sure if Iran was already risking ‘national obliteration’ they’d be willing to launch a nuke @ a NATO member. **I’m sure anything that’d make worthwhile to risk the desctruction of Iran’d cause Iran to launch a nuke.** ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/29 "2004-12-01T23:09:29Z")
> [@PaulFitzroy](#): > > And doesn’t it seem odd that they’d be screaming this if it were indeed all for peaceful energy purposes? You’re kidding, right? It’s Iran. It would be be odd if they _weren’t_ screaming “death to America.” ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/30 "2004-12-01T23:09:49Z")
I’m likely to leave at any moment not to return until the new year. ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/31 "2004-12-01T23:12:34Z")
> [@PaulFitzroy](#): > > Iran is developing nuclear weapons and will not hesitate to use them against America Where the hell did you pull that from? > [@The Article](#): > > Some lawmakers broke out with shouts of “Death to America!” after the conservative-dominated parliament after lawmakers voted to advance the nation’s nuclear program, an issue of national pride that provides a rare point of agreement between conservatives and reformers. So a few nutso lawmakers shout “Death to America”, and this condemns all of Iran? As far as the bill itself… they passed an outline of a bill, not a bill. And it says nothing about using it as a weapon. This is saber rattling with Europe, which has been trying to rationally iron things out before randomly invading people. > [@](#): > > what will we do? How can we negotiate with a nation whose lawmakers chant “Death to America” and whose leader is a fanatical Islamic Ayatollah? Unilaterally pre-emptively invade them? Won’t happen. Bush is a wuss and he wouldn’t want to fight another losing war, and Iran would be much harder than Iraq. But it’s OK. Now that Iraq is clear airspace, Israel can just fly over and bomb them at will. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/32 "2004-12-01T23:13:01Z")
In that case, Happy New Year, **Simon**. I enjoy your commentary, so here’s hoping the Middle East is calm for a while until you return. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/33 "2004-12-01T23:14:15Z")
> [@SimonX](#): > > I’m likely to leave at any moment not to return until the new year. Another voice of sanity consumed by the growing drivel. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/34 "2004-12-01T23:31:48Z")
> [@SimonX](#): > > I’m likely to leave at any moment not to return until the new year. Please don’t. You’re rational! ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/35 "2004-12-02T00:02:05Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Please don’t. I’m in the middle of moving to DC. I’m leaving first thing in the morning so I’m packing up tonight. For various reasons I won’t arrive at my new place for several days. But even after I arrive I expect it’ll be a bit before I’m online again. I’m just not sure when I’m going to unplug my computer tonight- hence the “at any moment.” ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/36 "2004-12-02T00:08:10Z")
> [@SimonX](#): > > I’m likely to leave at any moment not to return until the new year. Well, there goes the whole collection of Conservatives I respect on this board. ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/37 "2004-12-02T00:55:23Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You’re kidding, right? It’s Iran. It would be be odd if they _weren’t_ screaming “death to America.” Yep. And I’ve known several Iranian nationals in the US, one back in the day of Khomeini. Basically they argued that this was just internal propaganda being said by those in power to “look good”. Otherwise, pretty irrelevant. And, I’d say they had a point. How is Iran going to cause the death to America? For those who think Iran would use nukes, they wouldn’t ever have enough to truly destroy America. However, for Iran this would mean they be squashed like bugs. I can’t imagine that so long as Iran was ruled by a group of people, they could agree amongst themselves to be destroyed. (A single crazy dictator might, but that isn’t how Iranian politics currently are.) ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/38 "2004-12-02T02:15:10Z")
> [@rfgdxm](#): > > And I’ve known several Iranian nationals in the US, one back in the day of Khomeini. Don’t you mean Persian? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/39 "2004-12-02T02:27:58Z")
As to what Iranian thing I’d like to know why it isn’t “on the news,” it’s the [**Sazeman-e Mojahedin-e Khalq-e Iran**](http://newsjunkiesunanimous.com/simonxs_seen/mek_notes/mek_notes.html) and their relationship with Sadaam Hussein, their parts in implementing Hussein’s atrocities re the Kurds and Shiites that have recently become trendy to be all outraged about (a decade too late), and their relationships with various people in and around the Bush Admin. As recently as this year one of Bush’s foreign policy/defense advisors was rasing funds for this Islamo-Marxist terrorist cult. AKA National Liberation Army of Iran, the People’s Mujahedin of Iran, Organization of the People’s Holy Warriors of Iran, National Council of Resistance, Muslim Iranian Student’s Society, Council of Iranian National Resistance, National Council of Resistance (NCR), National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), etc ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555/40 "2004-12-02T02:30:55Z")
> [@SimonX](#): > > Hussein’s atrocities re the Kurds and Shiites that have recently become trendy to be all outraged about (a decade too late) Not to mention selectively. RNC: Attrocities only exist when they further _our_ goals! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-death-to-america-why-isnt-this-on-the-news/277555.md?page=3)