Iran fined $2.65 billion for terrorism

[Firecat]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070908/...iran_terrorism

Um. I don't think attacking soldiers should be considered terrorism (what's war then?), and I don't think their deaths should qualify their families to receive any money except from their own government.

[zenkidori]

eh, Iran gets no sympathy from me. fuck em. If they are sponsoring terrorism or sending over arms and terrorists to fight us in whatever other country then we should go after them anyway. personally I think we should squeeze the shit out of their leadership so long as they try and fuck with us.

Iran can kiss my fat black ass.

[Blind_Io]

Yeah, and I'm sure they will by crying themselves to sleep tonight on their trillions of dollars worth of petroleum.

[jetsetter]

Um. I don't think attacking soldiers should be considered terrorism (what's war then?), and I don't think their deaths should qualify their families to receive any money except from their own government.

War on Iran? When did this happen? You see what I am getting at?

[cdbob]

Rubbish, I don't care if you sponser "terrorism" you don't ever fine countries, look what happened at the 1919 Paris peace conference.

[nomix]

Court at Nurnberg. "Suspect accused for the crime of starting a war of aggression is guilty. The convicted will be executed by hanging."

...

[zenkidori]

I see what you're getting at, however, if Iran did finance these terrorist attacks, one could be pursueded that it was them who fired the first shot and thus started a war.

but as always, history will be written by the victor, and unless you europeans decide to back Iran or whatever, instead of just bitching about how awesome we are, I don't see Iran winning.

USA! USA! USA!

[Firecat]

So the same token, the United States is at war with Palestine because they supply Israel with arms? I could take this analogy a long way throughout the history of the 20th century.

[zenkidori]

I was speaking more of directly financing terrorist actions, sending people, etc. if they are directly involved in the financing, supply, etc. of actions against us then yeah, it's on their plate. if they are just supplying in general then it's a harder case to make, as you've pointed out, we do the same.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by Firecat

So the same token, the United States is at war with Palestine because they supply Israel with arms? I could take this analogy a long way throughout the history of the 20th century.

but we also give a good chunk of money to the Palestinians as well

Originally Posted by zenkidori

but as always, history will be written by the victor, and unless you europeans decide to back Iran or whatever, instead of just bitching about how awesome we are, I don't see Iran winning.

Our financing and technology couldn't help Iraq win a war with Iran in the 80's, and Iraq had a significantly larger army than we have. All Iran had was the strategy of "send a shitload of men running after them."

[zenkidori]

yeah but, we got the bomb. when we send weapons to other countries and shit that's not really trying, it's more like, "hey if you could do this, that'd be awesome". even in Iraq we're half-assing it, which I think is part of the problem.

[Firecat]

Originally Posted by thedguy

but we also give a good chunk of money to the Palestinians as well



Our financing and technology couldn't help Iraq win a war with Iran in the 80's, and Iraq had a significantly larger army than we have. All Iran had was the strategy of "send a shitload of men running after them."

You can't compare it with what the Israelis receive. It's not even close. Plus their are a lot of caveats to that aid as well.

Funny thing, the United States also supplied Iran in that same conflict too.

These proxy wars are nothing new. I'm just not sure how culpable Iran is in this particular bombing just because they have links to Hezbollah. Why didn't the court "fine" Syria as well?

[thedguy]

Sadly there is good money in keeping countries at war. Where's the "Consulting: If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem" pic when you need it?

I just noticed how our weapons were delivered to Iran...through Israel. The more I read on the history of US involvment in the middle east the more I realize, we should just get the hell out. Sure gas will go upto $8 a gallon but I bet you a few good solutions to our little oil problem pop up real fast.

One thing I find intersting about your comment on the Israeli's is I remember reading that the aid we provide to them is less than 1% of their GDP, why are we bothering then? Let them buy their arms from us and save our tax payers a few bucks.

[Firecat]

It even goes beyond dollar amounts though. It's weapons, technology....and Israel uses this (and their own, of course) and sell to China and many other nations (which are even against US interests). It's also US support in the United Nations and other venues.

[nomix]

Originally Posted by zenkidori

I was speaking more of directly financing terrorist actions, sending people, etc. if they are directly involved in the financing, supply, etc. of actions against us then yeah, it's on their plate. if they are just supplying in general then it's a harder case to make, as you've pointed out, we do the same.

So, in that respect, the United States has been at war with the USSR. Go figure.

This is just one of many cases where parts of the US government thinks they are the Roman Empire. Random US judge > a foreign government.

Would love to see the city court in Dresden fine the US Air Force and the RAF for the bombing of Dresden.

Dresden, I appeal to you, do it!

[zenkidori]

USSR lost tho, so we win and nobody cares.

and of COURSE we were at war with them, duh. cold war ring a bell?

PS dresden not gonna happen.

[nomix]

Thank you for stating the obvious.

[tigger]

Originally Posted by nomix

This is just one of many cases where parts of the US government thinks they are the Roman Empire. Random US judge > a foreign government.

Agreed. This is stupid, no beyond stupid. What real legal precedent is there to make this judge think that he's got authority over a sovereign foreign government?!?
I know the families want revenge or whatever; but they were soldiers, death is kind of one of the assumed risks of that job.

[smib]

Thank you bouncy feline. It can't be stressed enough that we have no say over what a sovereign nation does. If we did there wouldn't be much point in even having the word exist. Also, as difficult as it may be to handle, being a soldier means you are increasing your chances of being killed. This is something that the person and their family members have to accept.

[jetsetter]

I would have thought that you guys would have gotten this by know but I guess not. Nobody actually expects Iran to pay, these are symbolic gestures to demonstrate the anger of the families of the soldiers who were killed. This is one of the few avenues that the families could take to get a message straight to Tehran.