Blast at IRG
The face of the Israeli terror machine may have reared its ugly head again in the world. This time it may have produced yet another massive act of sabotage (Hebrew original) at an IRG missile base west of Teheran. During transfer of explosives at the Modarres (other sources say the base is called Sajad) garrison, which houses Shihab 3 (Israel Defense says the site is also responsible for development of the new Shihab 4) and Zelzal surface-to-surface missiles, an explosion ripped apart the base and killed anywhere from 14 to 40 soldiers depending on the source (UPDATE: the official number released by the IRG now is 17), and wounded an equal number, some severely. Among the dead were a high level IRG officer, Major General Hassan Tehrani Moqaddam (more background here), the director of the IRGC Jihad Self-Sufficiency Organization, which directed base operations. The blast was felt as far away as Teheran, 25 miles distant. Those who experienced the explosion said it felt like an earthquake. Some say there were two explosions.
Ynet raises the possibility that it was a deliberate act of sabotage on not just a missile base, but an intelligence facility. Teheran Bureau says the IRG is telling the Iranian media that the incident was not an act of terror, but purely an industrial accident. An Iranian who worked at the base for several months and was interviewed by Iranian media discounted the likelihood of an act of sabotage since security at the base was extremely strict.
However, an Israeli source with extensive senior political and military experience provides an exclusive report that it was the work of the Mossad in collaboration with the MEK. Israeli media is humming with similar reports and Channel 10’s intelligence correspondent went so far as to say, a bit coyly perhaps:
If it was the work of western intelligence it was a high successful and impressive achievement.
It is widely known within intelligence circles that the Israelis use the MEK for varied acts of espionage and terror ranging from fraudulent Iranian memos alleging work on nuclear trigger devices to assassinations of nuclear scientists and bombings of sensitive military installations. A similar act of sabotage happened a little more than a year ago at another IRG missile base which killed nearly 20. In the murky world of Israel-Iran relations, where it’s often hard to tell the difference between information, misinformation and disinformation, either explanation may be true. But my source has never been wrong so far in the reports he’s offered.
It is, of course, ironic that the same MEK is paying key political players in U.S. life hundreds of thousands of dollars to lobby on behalf of removing it from the Treasury Department terror list. I suppose when a terror group is harming your enemy then it’s no longer a terror group, eh? Certainly if there was another power than the Mossad willing to pay more for them to attack Israel and the U.S., guess who they’d be wreaking havoc on?
To give you an idea of the level of brainwashing Israelis undergo thanks to willing collusion between military correspondents and the intelligence services, this is how the Hebrew Ynet report describes the MEK and its collusion with Mossad and others:
Though the reliability of this report can’t be substantiated, it should be remembered that the Iranian opposition [by this they mean MEK and not the Green movement] fulfills an important role in revealing secret Iranian installations and serves as a pipeline for publication of secret intelligence. There is an assumption that western intelligence services pass on to them intelligence in order to “launder” it and expose it to the world.
An unsuspecting Israeli would find nothing in this passage unduly alarming. But those analysts who’ve followed the various shenanigans and frauds perpetrated by Mossad and MEK in the past understand the truth that is concealed here: that the information fed to MEK is fraudulent. But by laundering and having an ostensibly Iranian group release it, it has more credibility among the world press.
The irony of such acts of terror committed by the Mossad is that they supposedly relieve pressure to attack Iran head on with a military strike to knock out its nuclear targets.
On a related subject, Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann (Turner Overdrive), attempting to outdo her rivals in fawning obeisance to Israeli interests, claimed that with Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions:
The table is being set for worldwide nuclear war against Israel.
Frankly, I don’t know who’s worse, the mystic, megalomaniacs in Tel Aviv plotting a military strike against Teheran or their enablers within the far-right confines of the Republican Party.
Silverstein has published Tikun Olam since 2003, It exposes the secrets of the Israeli national security state. He lives in Seattle, but his heart is in the east. He publishes regularly at Middle East Eye, the New Arab, and Jacobin Magazine. His work has also appeared in Al Jazeera English, The Nation, Truthout and other outlets.
Of course it could not be anyone else who’s responsible.
I mean the CIA would NEVER do something like this…
Saying that the Mossad did it is like saying that men never went to the moon. No hard proof of anything…
Your title is irresponsible saying that the Mossad is responsible for killing 40 people where:
* the IRG themselves claim it’s only 17.
* the IRG did not make any allegations towards the Mossad or Israel in general.
All of your post relies on a nameless source whose identity you do not revile and we’re just suppose to eat it and believe you.
there’s not a single fact in your post – everything is just baseless speculations.
The explosion might have come from accidents (REAL accident do happen from time to time), the opposition may have bombed the base or it may have been 101 other different reason. Tying it directly to the Mossad without any shred of proof is simply idiotic.
Unlike you, my source has a track record that establishes him as highly credible. And btw, you can’t read: the headline says “40 Dead AND Wounded.” Not “40 Dead.”
You’ve not read previous reports reported here by intelligence mavens like Ronen Bergman who wrote months ago about a series of similar attacks against Iranian targets which he claimed (& Yossi Melman separately joined in this evaluation) that the Mossad had a hand in. One of these attack was the missile base explosion a yr ago which is highly reminiscent of today’s explosion. So there.
I’ve noted that Iranian sources claim it was an accident. But when someone as authoritative as my source tells me something’s happened, I take notice. You may think or say whatever you wish.
So Iran claims it was an accident yet you claim otherwise based on an anonymous source that you don’t disclose? Which would hold up as more persuasive.
I can list at least 20 scoops offered by my source which have proven true. I can’t offer up that many statements by the IRG which I’d trust as well. Read the blog for a bit longer & you can track my source’s track record. Till then you ought to sit back & read before you judge.
BTW, my source has had in the past, & currently has access in a single week to more high level information than you’ll ever see in your entire life.
Richard,
I think you are unwittingly playing into the hands of the mossad, and they’ll love you for publishing this rumour/story/fact.
They would love that all Israel’s enemies would think that the mossad did it even without their actual involvement.
It’s the same as the Israeli nuclear policy = “blurred” (in Hebrew “עמימות”) – neither denying nor admitting. This is their strength that the enemy will be wary even if not based on actual proof.
I agree with Shmuel that to make this even sound like an Israeli job is indeed feeding to their agenda
HOWEVER, as an Iranian, who is sticking with the official line coming from Tehran (accident), I find Richard’s post useful in underlining the policy of terror pursued by Israel; and the double standards of the western world vis a vis “state sponsored terrorism”.
I’ve considered that. Barak in fact when asked about the attack made the obscene comment in Hebrew: keyn yirbo (“may there be many more”). But believe me if my source hadn’t confirmed this information I wouldn’t be offering it.
If Israel wants to engage in acts of sabotage against Iran then I won’t allow it to do it in secret. I want it all out in the open in all its ugly naked “glory.”
When you say, “40 dead and wounded,” do you mean, “40 dead and 40 wounded,” or “1 dead and 39 wounded,” or 80 wounded, none dead,” or Steelers 24, Bengals 17?”
I trust the English language comprehension of my readers to understand my meaning. If you don’t perhaps you need some remedial help.
Al Bundy- Your mind has obviously been occupied by weapons if mass deception. The fact that intelligence agencies are actively working to diminish Iranian nuclear and military capabilities is indisputable. Iranians are not all crazy. Wake up from your slumber. A huge tragedy occurred in Iran, and we should all mourn the loss of life, liberty and prosperity. Whether this incident was an accident or another act of terror is not nearly as important as the fact that this type of incident would be better classified as a great loss to another great nation of the himsn race that is struggling to deal with nearly a century of oppression and terrorism under imperialist and colonialist ideology enforced by corrupt British, French, American and Israeli leadership.
maybe you are e world will be right naybe not,however i think that the world will be better place without those missles or this “base”
I would agree with you if you would join me in saying the world would be better without Israeli nuclear weapons as well.
Dear Mr. Silverstein,
As an Israeli citizen, and IDF soldier (reserve) I would very much appreciate if people like you won’t pull their hands and wisdom in other peoples’ lives.
You see… I will be potentially directly or indirectly effected from your irresponsible claims. You, on the other hand, will continue your life happily, being said to be that famous Apocalyptic blogger.
How much s**t should I (and most of my friend) eat from your (and the scoop press) greedy way of mind. You are not living in a vacuum. LIVE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT HURTING OTHERS.
Mossad this and Mossad that… Mossad killed jesus… didn’t you know? 🙂
Cheers,
David M.
Israel, My land and Palestinian land, NOT YOURS!
If your IDF and Mossad wouild live their lives without hurting others I’d be happy to oblige. But as they don’t follow your directive to me I’m afraid I’ll have to disobey yr directive till such time as you can persuade your military & intelligence services to stop being rogue operators on the regional & world stage. If I can provide any assistance to you or any reasonable Israeli attempting to do such work I’d be happy to help. But if you don’t intend to transform those agencies into respectful law abiding entities, then you can go take a hike.
Sorry to disappoint you about yr claim to ownership of Israel and God knows what else. But when you attempt to drag the entire region & world into a conflagration then we have to step in & attempt to return you to sanity whether you wish it or not.
Eli;
Why would the “world” be a better place as a result of a country, with NO history of military aggression in modern times, but with plenty of declared enemies (e.g. Taliban, al Quaeda, Israel, Ba’th regime and their remainders, Saudi’s, Pakistani fundamentalists) behind its ears?
Do I, as an Iranian, not have the RIGHT to deter attacks? Do I, as an Iranian citizen not have the right to live a peaceful life without Israeli blatant threats??
Where is your moral ground?
I think it’s time for every country to give up its nuclear weapons. But since Israel refuses to give up its arsenal (or even to admit it exists) I support Iran having the capability to defend itself against Israel and the U.S. by whatever means necessary.
Yawn, you are boring.
That must mean you have narcoplepsy. Have you seen yr doctor?
“The face of the Israeli terror machine” = Richard, this time you realy set a new level of hatred.
I don’t hate Israel, I hate terror whether it originates in Israel or Iran or Palestine or the U.S. Sorry yr mind is too small & cramped to contemplate this nuance.
You write:
” I hate terror whether it originates in Israel or Iran or Palestine or the U.S”
However, you never use express hate toward Iran or Palestine the same you do when you discuss Israel or US.
Hate is wrong. ואהבת לרעך כמוך. Even if your buddy is a zionist.
I don’t “express hate” toward any country including Israel. I hate injustice & terror. Learn the difference.
You hate terror whether it originates in Israel or Gaza or Iran, or U.S. Even if Iran said it was accident still you think it’s Mossad! May be join the Gaza bound flotilla next time and do your blogging from Gaza!
Your comment is brimming with intelligence & wit.
Hi, I have cited your article here .
I have no beef with Israel, but I have a serious issue with bullies!
The blinded left “liberal” terminology of the writer disturbingly resembles to Ahmadinijad’s. For Mr. Silverstein Israel is using “terrorist” methods when fighting a crazy dark fanatic religious regime whose ideology is to wipe out Israel of the map. The fact that Iran’s regime is repeating this massage on every stage (incl. in UN general assembly) can not confuse Mr. Silverstein. Iran is using proxies (IE Hamas and Hezbollah) to terrorize Israeli civilian. It is arming them with more missiles than few states have (and they are using these missiles every day against Israeli civilians). But to Mr. Silverstein Israel is “A Terrorist state”.
What sick moral Tikun Olam has – What a sad Joke!
And dare you to publish my response…?
I published a link to this post at the popular right wing Israeli site Rotter & realize a lot of the dyspeptic comments are coming from that source. So I’ve published a few comments I wouldn’t ordinarily publish because these readers don’t know the comment rules & because they represent a circle that doesn’t address me or this blog directly very often.
I inform this writer that I don’t allow racism to appear in the comment threads & yr comments about Iran are precisely that. I remind him as well that most Iranians would have no trouble with this statement, which turns yours on its head: Israel is a “crazy dark fanatic religious regime whose ideology is to wipe Iran off the map.”
I didn’t use the term “terrorist state,” so don’t put words in my mouth. But I do believe that Israel, like the U.S. and many other so-called civilized nations, engages in acts of terror. And I oppose all acts of terror whether committed by Israel, Iran, the U.S. or whoever.
I’ve given you this comment gratis. If you publish another you must read the comment rules and follow them as I will not be as permissive if you break the rules next time.
First – Not a Surprising comment – from a writer who supports “freedom” of speech writes and enjoys freedom of speech even when it is endangering other people (IE civilians in Israel) and expects everyone to observe it. But in commenting on your posts you do not offer same freedom. Interesting and very typical to people with your views.
Second – I do not read “Rotter” and not one of its followers.
Third – You obviously did call Israel a terrorist state (indirectly but very clearly) when wrote that it is using a “terrorist” measures.
Fourth – and most important – there is nothing racist in saying the regime in Tehran is crazy fanatic (which it is..) I did not say people of Iran are all crazy. But its regime is and you are not doing your readers any favor in denying it. If you can prove this assertion as wrong please do…
JamBo Jack- Your mind has obviously been occupied by weapons if mass deception. The fact that intelligence agencies are actively working to diminish Iranian nuclear and military capabilities is indisputable. Iranians are not all crazy. Wake up from your slumber. A huge tragedy occurred in Iran, and we should all mourn the loss of life, liberty and prosperity. Whether this incident was an accident or another act of terror is not nearly as important as the fact that this type of incident would be better classified as a great loss to another great nation of the himsn race that is struggling to deal with nearly a century of oppression and terrorism under imperialist and colonialist ideology enforced by corrupt British, French, American and Israeli leadership.
@Jambj…There are no civilians in israel.
@andrew – you are an Idiot and an un useful one…
Write another word in this vein here & you’re gone for good. Do you understand?
You’re a racist.
When I visited Iran, we toured a small, ancient village just outside Natanz (at its center is a Turkic-style mosque that is centuries old). A woman from the village greeted us with the hospitality that is a hallmark of Iran. As we were leaving, she asked us (through a translator) to please give her and her family and villagers just a day’s warning before the US bombs them. She would like to be able to save her family.
THAT is how ordinary Iranians — the ones that Americans from Hillary Clinton to the propagandized man on American Main Street claim to support — respond to the repeated threats of attack on Iran, and actual incidents that may or may not be the acts of “western” agents —
“Why do they hate us?”
Incredibly, “they” — Iranians — don’t. But not because we haven’t tried.
First, don’t tell me what I did or did not say. I did not call Israeli a terrorist state as you claimed & if you continue to insist I did something I didn’t do you won’t be doing it here. The U.S. engages in terrorism as well but it is not a terrorist state. If you don’t understand the difference that’s your problem, not mine.
Commenting at a blog is different than being a citizen of a state. I have rights to free speech in my country. YOu have less such rights in yours. But here there are rules of discourse. I am not a country. I run a blog. There’s a diff. there as well which you seem to be missing.
Last & most important–stating overblown lies about what Iran is IS racist & not permissible in this blog unless you also wish to ascribe the same overblown rhetoric to Israel. If not, you’re being a racist & it isn’t permitted here. Period. Neither Iran nor its regime are any more crazy than Israel & its gov’t.
Richard said: “Neither Iran nor its regime are any more crazy than Israel & its gov’t.”
Okay Richard. But the regime in Israel is an elected, representative government, and the Iranian regime is neither.
What are we supposed to take away from the fact that an elected government (Israel), is no more crazy than a theocratic dictatorship?
Please Richard. Reason this one out for me.
Not an elected representative gov’t? Acc. to whom? It has a Majlis and elected leaders. Now we may say that its not as democratic as we would wish. But then again, Israel isn’t as democratic as many Jews would wish. The influence of die-hard religious & nationalist fanatics within the political systems of both countries is pronounced.
JamBo Jack,
I am an Iranian who hates the Iranian regime.
However, this “fanatic” regime is just as fanatic as the Israeli one. Both these regimes are devious and they somehow (d)evolve from eachother’s dark matters!
What frustrates me is that Israel, US, and the puppet IAEA report have created a condition of terror and threat that is forcing us Iranians to shut up and rally behind Tehran. Iranians will not stand a military attack on Iran.
However, at the end of this fiasco two groups will get what they want:
– The Israeli regime is going to muddy the Palestinians-state issue; have a scarecrow to cry victim, and use its bullying skills to get extra candy from uncle sam.
– The Iranian regime will muddy the issue of the greatest financial scandal in Iranian history: 3 billion dollars missing; and different factions in the regime would LOVE this Israeli rhetoric because it is such a great distractor!
Iran’s and Israel’s fanatics need no better allies to assist them continuing the horror path they are set in. However, the Iranian regime’s horror is directed at the Iranian civilians; and the Israeli’s is directed at all civilians of the Middle East.
As a dissident Iranian, I feel caught between a rock and a hard place!
RE: “The blinded left ‘liberal’ terminology of the writer disturbingly resembles to Ahmadinijad’s. For Mr. Silverstein Israel is using “terrorist” methods when fighting a crazy dark fanatic religious regime whose ideology is to wipe out Israel of the map. ~ JamBo Jack
SEE: Israel’s Defense Chief OK’s Hundreds of Israeli Deaths, By Ira Chernus, CommonDreams.org, 11/11/11
ENTIRE COMMENTARY – http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/11/11-2
You’re the main story on ynet:
[IMG]http://i40.tinypic.com/2d6ejp.jpg[/IMG]
<a href="http://i40.tinypic.com/2d6ejp.jpg"
Silverstein is citing Bergman, Bergman is quoting Milman, Milman is referring to Silverstein.
Is it a good example for perpetuum-mobile? Moebius ring? auto alimentation?….
Melman doesn’t refer to me. He did once some time ago. Since then he’s made me persona non grata. Which is OK w me.
since when is attacking a military base considered terrorism?
Well then I guess we’ll call it an act of “naked military aggression” & causus belli for war. Make you any happier?
wow! youre full of BS
17 people died not 40!
stop making up facts youre as reliable as a shoe
You can’t read & you’re the 2nd hasbarist making the same mistake. Do you understand what “40 dead and wounded” means? Or do you need English lessons?
Well i need English lessons and you need Math lessons 17 dead and 16 wounded=33… thats more like 30 then 40
Holy moly, you say 33 & I say 40, ya got me. Caught red handed. Deliberately inflating the numbers. Cause for excommunication fr the blogger fraternity. Better go file a complaint.
wow.. you think you are so smart. you think you can go and write something stupid call it a”fact” well honey.. thats what dictators do… they go and create “news” and publish it like it happened.. youre in a great company along with Hitler Stalin and the Arab nations. good for you!
the problem with losers like you is that you think you have power in your hands.. probably you was a loser growing up and thinking that now someone will listen to you… sad sad story… but hey.. it happens
Wow, so 40 as opposed to 33 means you are a Hitler-Stalin-and-the-Arab-nations-dictator-loser!!
Cheers Ann!
elisabeth
if you don’t know the facts don’t say that you do.
History shows that showing “facts” to people cause actions. not all people are smart enough to take what they read and decide for themselves if it is right or wrong, some people think.. i read about it so it means its the truth. if you have power in your hands (and writing a blog is power) you need to be responsible enough to show the facts as is! again, you don’t know who reads this blog and what they will do about it.
Only an Israeli or someone living in a land in which people are used to their generals and politicians thinking for them could say such nonsense. YOU may not be smart enough to know how to determine whether someone is right or wrong, but I have faith that most people can do this, and especially those who read this blog (aside possibly from you).
Richard you are stupid.
think how many of the American and Europian people were sure that there is nuclear bombs in Iraq and that it is necessary to attack there…
people during the holocaust (and before) were sure that the Jews are making unleavened bread from the blood of Christian children… ho my god! learn history before you respond!
What a load of polizer winning bulls**t.
Your “source” is probably iranian
And you probably (no not probably, definitely) can’t spell. P-U-L-I-T-Z-E-R. You wish you had a source as good as mine. Omigod, you have “source envy.” How interesting.
honey! he spells better in English then you are in Hebrew.. so.. please don’t try to make him look like an idiot.
It is ‘than’ not ‘then’, Ann.
Elisabeth
i speak three languages. maybe my grammer is not perfect in English, but i bet i’m better than you on the other two
I don’t get it.
Iran say it is an accident and you write here it is an hostile act of Israel.
Do you accuse Iran officials of lies ?
If so, what do they have to gain by it ?
and what evidence do you have for it ?
If you were a general and your facility was sabotaged by the enemy would you want to concede this publicly & let the world know that your defences are so weak that you were penetrated by an enemy? Then would you like to experience the pressure fr the Iranian people for a revenge strike against Israel?
In a battle bet the credibility of IRG figures & my source I’ll pick my source any day of the week.
Richard, you certainly did not get enough attention from your father Gepetto.
I am clueless for how you are planing to either make a Tikun or the world a “better place”, when the best thing you can do is spreading lies and hate.
Please prove what I wrote are either lies or hate. With real solid evidence. Otherwise, you use those terms here again & you won’t be here again.
He doesn’t have to prove you’re a liar you have to prove youre telling the truth… well… go to Iran and get me some evidence
Dear Richard,
Theses Sihab Missiles, are developed only for one pupose and it is the final distruction of the jewish state and its people. It is a natural right of the Israelis to take them out and it can not be considered as act of terror, but, self sefense.
If Iran will give up its wepon- there will be peace. If Israel will give up its wepon, there will be no Israel and no Jew alive!!!
Shlomo
Those missiles are developed with one purpose: to allow Iran to defend itself against its enemies. In this case, one of those happens to be Israel, possessing 200-400 nuclear warheads & apparently, if necessary, willing to use a few to against Iran. It’s a natural right to tell any enemy that if they “take out” Iran that they will be “taken out” in return. If Mossad terror is self-defense, then you live in Alice’s WOnderland where a word means nother more or less than what you want it to.
Isn’t it interesting that so many Israelis believe that if their enemies simply unilaterally disarm there will peace & love in the world, but that if Israel is asked to do the same that it will involve a 2nd Holocaust. Unfortunately for people like you the world works quite differently & when you want an opponent to do something they’ll refuse unless you respond in kind. Nations don’t unilaterally disarm simply because you argue that if they do Israel will treat them nicely–honest.!
But if Iran gives up its weapons, history demonstrates Israel will pounce on it. Israel, after all, makes one war after another. Your reasoning, the lop-sidedness of it, is troubling. By what right does Israel alone get to keep its nukes and everyone else should disarm? What is it about Israel that is so special. The only thing I see is that it is a state that has no ability to live in a world of other states and other peoples. That’s about it: Israel is intransigent and it can only expect intransigence in return. That’s how nations work, give and take. Israel takes everything and gives nothing in return. I’m a Jew and I can’t bear what is being done by Israel “in my name” “for my benefit”. I resent the ugliness that Israel presents to the world again and again and I resent its defenders calling upon special privilege, special license of some kind. These people, and that state, ain’t so special and it will either live with other nations as decently as possible or be outcast, as it is.
Mr. Silverstein:
Another lie against Israel, without any evidence to confirm it, only fervent desire to be true, to give vent to his anti-Israel hatred.
You’re singing a different tune now I suspect given Iranian acknowledgement that Moghadam was killed by an Iranian enemy.
“Ynet raises the possibility that it was a deliberate act of sabotage on not just a missile base, but an intelligence facility” – How funny it is. In Ynet there is an article say That’s kind of funny. Today Ynet is publishing Silverstein’s story and the title is: “The Mossad is responsible for the explosion in Iran”. Are you working together? Who comes first? The chicken or the egg? http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4147387,00.html
It’s funnier when all of your posts seem to be an evaluation and no more. No hard proof of anything was shown. Oh, it seems that I’m wrong because “intelligence mavens like Ronen Bergman who wrote months ago about a series of similar attacks against Iranian targets which he claimed (& Yossi Melman separately joined in this EVALUATION) that the Mossad had a hand in.”
The most funny thing is when someone wrote on your blog that Iran is responsible to the Buenos Aires Attacks alomst 15 years ago you dismissed it by “The claims about Buenos Aires may or may not be true. But they are NOT a proven fact” although Argentina’s prosecutors charged Iran’s government and Hezbolla.
So, yes, you’re right about this thing – The claims about Iran’s explosion may or may not be true. But they are NOT a proven fact like you try to show.
I don’t know whether this is correct or not & I suspect not. But certainly no party has been convicted of any charges in that attack.
Not the first time if Israel is behind this, maybe even a drone attack.
Despicable.
However, I find it intresting that so many rabiate likudniks bother to visit Richard’s blog since you obviously hate his views.
Anonymous,
Chalk it up to Richard’s repeated attempts to whore himself out to a well-read right wing Hebrew news site/forum. His attempts are met with vigorous contempt and derision, but as we all know, there’s no such thing as bad publicity, and Richard very much wants to be taken as a serious journalist instead of the leftist mirror of Debkafile.
Just personal insults once again. Why dont you make a counter-argument instead of bashing him. Prove that his wrong. Your call.
“leftist”, that cracked me up.
Interesting phenomenon, isn’t that? They’re like moths drawn to a flame…
more like flies to shit.. but ok..
since when is an attack on a military target terrorism?
as far as i understand the terms, terrorists attack civilian targets while insurgents attack military targets
Isn’t it funny that if Iran bombed any Israeli air base or Dimona every headline in Israel would use the word TERROR in capital ltrs. But when the Mossad sabotages Iranian military facilities then it’s not terror. Would you prefer to call it an act of war rather than terror? I’ll live with that. How about “Israel committed an act of war against Iran yesterday.” Or “an act of naked military aggression.” OK?
man.. if Iran bomb anything in Israel it will be war! if any goverment will take responsibility for bombing anything it will be war..
but i want to see you sitting in your cosy chair and the Indians (which were really before you in America unlike the Palestinians) start to bomb New York, California (where ever)
i want to see your goverment doing nothing unlike Israeli goverment that do not respond when they bombing Sderot, Dimona..
how could this attack, directed towards a military base, possibly be considered “terror”?
Why would it be despicable? No civilians died, only Revolutionary Guards thugs. If we can do more of these acts, hooray. Again, no civilians died – hence, it would not be an act of terror.
Hi Richard – on maybe the only light note possible, I recall that Randy Bachman – a liberal Green supporter – was very vexed when one of his songs was used to laud Michelle.
Thanks for your unrelenting efforts. “If you can’t eliminate injustice, at least tell everyone about it.” – Ali Shariati (1933-1975)
To those here who are asking for proof, you won’t get it if intelligence is involved. Remember the 9/11 attacks that led to the UN approving the bombing of the Taliban and al aqeeda in Afghanistan provided intelligence.
A cynic could question, why was this believed? There was no trial that proved Bin Laden was behind the attacks.
Similarly, here there is no proof that Mossad was behind it, people will rely on what intelligence or officials say. If some Israeli intelligence sources say Mossad was behind it, there is no reason to mock those believe that to be so. At the same time, it’s worth remembering it could have been an attack by the MEK on it’s own, or it may have been an accident.
I’m inclined to believe the version above. These are the last desperate attempts by the Israeli’s to sabotage whatever they can. I also believe more attacks like this will follow, till Iran actually officially goes nuclear by detonating a bomb and shutting the world up. This double standard hypocricy is galling. If one state can have nuclear weapons in the Middle East, everyone can. Either call for disarmament, or shut up and let everyone be.
Pray tell me Richard, if an explosion, “accidentally on purpose”, had caused 27 deaths which resulted in saving the lives of the 15 million people who died in WW1 or the 60 million who died in WW2, would they also have also been condemned by you or labeled terrorists?
The “misunderstood” Iranian Islamic regime is the same one that rather than accepting a status-quo cease fire after routing the Iraqis during the Iran-Iraq war, continued to throw cannon fodder into Iraq for another 6 years with the expressed intention of setting up a Shia Republic to mirror Iran’s. Some of your views, which the democracy you live under allows you to freely express, cater to the same people who would curtail your freedom of speech and much more in a heartbeat, as some of those “same people” are doing in Iran. If the explosion was indeed an act of sabotage, by Israel or others, I mourn the loss of the innocent lives taken, but applaud act of diminishing the offensive capability of a regime that would have us all “non believers” perish without a second thought.
This ain’t Nazi Germany & I object strenuously to such comparisons. Guilt & pathology are present on both sides both Iranian & Israeli. Israel is no savior of the world.
I’m no expert on the Iran Iraq war but I’d be willing to bet that your account is false. For one thing you neglect the fact that Iran was fighting against a truly homicidal, tyrant in Saddam Hussein.
My views don’t “cater” to anyone. And I resent that nonsensical statement as well.
This attack by Israel will not “diminish” Iran’s offensive capacity except possibly in the short term. IN the longer term it will increase their resolve & will to resist & make it much more likely to get a nuclear weapon. After all, in their view the only way to prevent such Israeli bullying is to have a nuke to lob at Tel Aviv if Israel wants to continue such acts of terror against it.
On the other hand, if this was an accident, then I concur with Shmuel that it’s massaging the ego of Mossad. They’re probably rubbing their hands in glee and at all this, being credited with something they did not or could not do.
JamBo Jack
For all his faults, and that of the regime of Iran, you have fallen for propoganda disseminated against Ahmedinejad and Iran.
First of all, Ahmedinejad did NOT threaten to nuke or wipe Israel off the map. Those words were misprepresented by Zionist fanatics to lead the the US into war with Iran. Time magazine carried his interview, where he explained that the current occupation and state of affairs would be wiped by the passage of time into history.
We all know the status quo can’t last, if the rightists get their way, the West will deal with Israel the same way it did al qaeeda and other fanatics.
The second lie you have fallen for is that of Iran, it has a booming economy, and relations with South America, and China. Whilst i’m not claiming Iran is perfect, nor defending the regime, the distortions coming from the US and Israeli rightists about Iran are fabulous lies at best, designed to brainwash. Even it’s claims about anti semitism are lies, for Ahmedinejad and Iran generally has good relations with his own (Iranian) Jews.
Oh and Jambo Jack,
Just to save you coming back and questioning why a threat would need to be manufactured against Iran..the answer is rightists fear losing Israel’s regional superiority when Iran or another power goes nuclear.
That’s why they are desperate to keep up the pretence that Iran is a threat to Israel. Iran wouldn’t be so stupid as to build a bomb then pick a fight with another country which would mean it’s own destruction. No.
I’m sure you were aware of that? Or are you one of those who support that agenda under cloak of Iran is a threat to …’world peace’?
The problem with people is judging the intentions of a regime that bases their decisions not on rationality but rather apocalyptic religion – namely, “the hidden imam”
What about another regime that bases its decisions not on rationality, but rather apocalyptic religion and nationalism–that is, Israel??
The Israeli government doesn’t have any policies that are based even remotely on “Apocalypse”. But if by that word you mean being wiped off the map by Muslims, then Israel does indeed have policies in place to hopefully prevent that from happening. This is completely rational – unlike your accusations, which are bordering on pathological.
From my own PoV the one thing I don’t have is an appreciation of Iran’s prior form in terms of managing Bad News i.e. on previous occassions has Iran:
1) Denied, denied, denied that anything even happened?
2) Always called it an “accident” even when it wasn’t?
3) Rushed to blame Big/Little Satan for every accident?
4) Called it as they see it?
Any opinions?
In the assassinations of the nuclear scientists it did blame the U.S. & Israel. But in those cases clearly they were murdered & there was someone to blame. In this case, what happened is more difficult to ascertain unless/until they investigate causes, do forensics, etc.
An attack on a military base is an act of terror?
An attack on a civilian Jewish community center in Argentina is an act of terror. An attack on a military base of a country that continually engages in acts of war against you is not an act of terror.
Please stop the nonsense. Eight other people have advanced this nonsensical claim & I’m tired of it. IF you don’t like terror call it an act of naked military aggression & be done with it. Let’s start the war already because what Israel did, if it did the bombing, is an act of war.
If the explosion at this military base was due to an attack by israel, it is of course an act of war. But it is not “terrorism.” That word should be reserved for deliberate attacks against civilians, or attacks against non-civilians where civilians are endangered unnecessarily (as in bombing a residential building because your target is inside or supposedly inside).
And yes, the peace-loving Iranian government that hasn’t gone to war in two centuries is sponsoring a proxy war against Israel now. But two wrongs don’t make a right, as even Bibi’s mother probably told him.
By the same token, the US is sponsoring a proxy war against Iran by Israel.
It is amazing how the Likudniks reacted to the claim of Mossad influence. They doth protesteth too much. (did I get that right?) The idea in the attack was to obscure the source enough so to keep alive deniability. When you, Richard, blurt out that it is obviously Israel, the thing just wasn’t obscured enough. And that’s why they are all so uneasy with your comments.
Of course it is Israel or its proxies. Of course it is an act of war but not the attack we all feared (and still do.) It is testing the waters of what can be done in the present environment in which the report on Iran and the US are discredited (and so easily really!) Can Israel get momentum going again without the discredited report? Just my humble thoughts on the matter.
But Bibi’s father, the unreconstructed Jewish fascist with a PhD told him that two Jewish wrongs undoubtedly make a right.
Good point.
Chayma: “A cynic could question, why was this believed? There was no trial that proved Bin Laden was behind the attacks.”
So you think it an open question who was behind the 9/11 attacks? And since Bin Laden was never brought to trial and never will be, you will continue to entertain the possibility that he and al Qaeda were “framed,” notwithstanding all the evidence incriminating him/them for those crimes and his broadcast claim of responsibility for them?
Will you tell us what alternative culprits you think plausible – the CIA?, Mossad?, others?
Nope, nope, nope fella. No conspiracy theorizing around here. Stick to the topic even if others don’t. I’ll take the matter up with anyone else who goes off the beaten path.
Silverstein has it for Israel, will not miss an opportunity to question, put down or simply discredit Israel. It is part of the Left’s Operating System 101. One should only ask what would an aging fellow in Seattle know about Israel’s operations inside Iran? After all, this is not the leaky CIA with dozens of traitors who speak to the media, sell information for money or spill the beans for political reasons. For an educated guess he is doing all right for now, but this has nothing to do with jurnalism and much more to do with Lefty advocacy. No serious paper with any ethics could publish spcualtion, guess work as factual news. Indeed, if one does not have the information, on can go to a fortune teller and ask for a lead?
You might want to explain to us and all your far right friends, if no serious paper would publish my work why my report was published in the Telegraph and Yediot yesterday along with Channel 2 and 10 news programs. In fact, the only “serious paper” that won’t publish my work is the “far-left” (to people like you) Haaretz. Hell, my stories have even been covered by Yisrael HaYom. Care to explain that?
Your stories in Israeli papers published as opinions, not as hard news.
The modern day sensationalist “news” will publish anything if it said by someone that is even a little bit known by the media.
Are the BBC and NY Times, both of which interviewed or quoted me yesterday, sensationalist foreign media?
Actually….YES!
And are you a hopeless wingnut? YES again!