Monday, September 24, 2007

Ahmadinejad and hypocrisy

So let me get this straight... why are we getting media-blitzed (yet again) about Ahmadinejad?

The Iranian regime is, at the least, noticeably better when compared to others in the region. For one, they actually get to vote - well, a rigged vote at least. They have a decent oil economy, build universities and academics. Religiously it's not quite like living under the Spanish Inquisition - though it's not a western nation by any meaningful measure either.

In other words - it's a modern Islamic society somewhere in the middle.

For contrast - we've been directly bombed and targeted in Saudi Arabia (Khobar Towers). A majority of the 9/11 terrorist were Saudi. Osama bin Laden is Saudi. Saudi Arabia has absolutely no freedom of the press, is a monarchy that held it's first municipal elections only two years ago!

Perhaps you might say that the difference is that the Iranians are seeking nuclear energy and the Saudis are not. Except that they are, as reported by the Times of London last year.

Essentially - Iran and Saudi Arabia are not great places to live for a lot of the people there. Ahmadinehad is not comparing his country to the American ideal. Iranian life is better than most of the places around there - and he's probably right.

That's not saying a lot - but it is something.

So when you get down to it... at least the dude has the balls to come here and discourse.

Something you'll never see from the murderous regime of China. We're funding his vastly larger nuclear program at the local Wal-Mart. And yet, we give Jintao a Time cover award for being influential.

Hypocrisy? Yeah, we're blind as bats.

No comments: