# Repost of Iran Topic posted 5-22-11 **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 22, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repost-of-iran-topic-posted-5-22-11/582813 "2011-05-22T21:09:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repost-of-iran-topic-posted-5-22-11/582813/81 "2011-06-13T01:23:05Z")
> [@chiefwhitesr](#): > > Here is a link that explains what your stating to be [false](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100329221957AAEhhtj). Your link does not say what you claim it says. It discusses the “SEAL challenge,” (which appears to be a program to let people interested see whether they might make it), and notes that one can enter the military with parental permission at age 17, but it says nothing that contradicts Ibn Warraq’s assertion that entry to the actual SEAL program could not begin at that age. Do you have something a bit more official. (Yahoo Answers does not establish accuracy any better than Wikipedia or the Straight Dope.) ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repost-of-iran-topic-posted-5-22-11/582813/82 "2011-06-14T03:51:11Z")
> [@chiefwhitesr](#): > > To answer a previous post from another person; what is the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter? Maybe nothing by one count but by another democracy. I know we have all heard the speeches from the hill about the spread of democracy and how it is our duty to do so when we have the opportunity. Many would agree and many would disagree. The difference between the pathology of democracy and the pathology of say for example communism, fascism, or Sharia Law is that while imperfect it gives more opportunity than it takes away. and while I personally believe that many politicians are useless lumps of coal waiting to be burned I have to believe that the pathology of democracy is not only worth fighting for but dying and even killing for. Are you aware that the government of the United States has overthrown democratic governments in countries such as Guatemala, Chile, Grenada, and a great many other places? Are you aware that the foreign policy of the United States for the past few decades has generally been opposed to democracy in most countries? Are you aware that, even now, American troops in places such as Saudi Arabia are upholding dictatorships and preventing the spread of democracy? If so, then how on earth can you justify supporting the United States government while saying that democracy is always better than the alternatives? > [@](#): > > I believe in the right to bear arms and I believe in a countries right to not only defend itself but defend anyone it can from the tyranny of evil men. The Taliban, Al Queida, So does that mean that you believe Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and other Arab countries have the right to fight back against American invasion, regardless of whether it involves the military or the CIA? > [@](#): > > No offense directly intended to the country itself only the weak mindedness that I feel creeping up from people of popularity like Ron Paul. Ron Paul is not popular. He’s extremely unpopular. ---
**Author:** ![chiefwhitesr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5ac83/32.png) [@chiefwhitesr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiefwhitesr)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repost-of-iran-topic-posted-5-22-11/582813/83 "2011-06-18T19:06:17Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Are there SEALs who live under bridges? there are SEALS who live secret lives. ---
**Author:** ![chiefwhitesr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5ac83/32.png) [@chiefwhitesr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiefwhitesr)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repost-of-iran-topic-posted-5-22-11/582813/84 "2011-06-18T19:08:01Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Are you aware that the government of the United States has overthrown democratic governments in countries such as Guatemala, Chile, Grenada, and a great many other places? Are you aware that the foreign policy of the United States for the past few decades has generally been opposed to democracy in most countries? Are you aware that, even now, American troops in places such as Saudi Arabia are upholding dictatorships and preventing the spread of democracy? If so, then how on earth can you justify supporting the United States government while saying that democracy is always better than the alternatives? > So does that mean that you believe Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and other Arab countries have the right to fight back against American invasion, regardless of whether it involves the military or the CIA? > Ron Paul is not popular. He’s extremely unpopular. Thats very true ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repost-of-iran-topic-posted-5-22-11/582813/85 "2011-06-18T20:03:52Z")
> [@chiefwhitesr](#): > > there are SEALS who live secret lives. Yes, but those are real SEALs that don’t bring up the subject to appear mysterious. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repost-of-iran-topic-posted-5-22-11/582813/86 "2011-06-18T21:37:21Z")
Actually, I don’t really think SEALs live lives that are all that mysterious. They’re not super ninja Jedi monks - they’re sailors with a cool MOS. Their lives are probably pretty similar to those of other sailors. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repost-of-iran-topic-posted-5-22-11/582813/87 "2011-06-19T00:14:05Z")
Rum, sodomy and the lash? ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repost-of-iran-topic-posted-5-22-11/582813/88 "2011-06-19T02:02:12Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Rum, sodomy and the lash? We’re out of rum. ---
**Author:** ![chiefwhitesr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5ac83/32.png) [@chiefwhitesr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiefwhitesr)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repost-of-iran-topic-posted-5-22-11/582813/89 "2011-06-25T23:12:38Z")
Damn the rum is always gone and I didn’t bring it up to be mysterious I just thought it would be better received than it was. Its a good time to change the subject to another post instead of this side conversation that has occurred. I feel like I made a mistake announcing my identity. So I will leave you to believe what you will. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repost-of-iran-topic-posted-5-22-11/582813.md?page=4)