“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122: 6
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Shimon Stein and Emily B. Landau—Iran’s Nuclear Fairy Tale:
Parallel to its diplomatic engagement with the P5+1 to resolve the nuclear crisis, Iran is engaged in a public campaign to persuade the media and public opinion of its narrative regarding the crisis, which in essence is a nuclear fairy tale. A dominant theme in this narrative is Iranian victimization and mistreatment by a bullying hegemonic West. The story Tehran tells repeatedly is that Iran is only trying to exercise its “legitimate rights” to a civilian nuclear program according to the terms of the NPT, yet the strong powers oppose this and continue to exert their aggressive influence on Iran, primarily through what Iran regards as “illegitimate” and “illegal” sanctions. Why illegal? Because – as the story goes – no proof has been produced that Iran is guilty of any wrongdoing in the nuclear realm.
Two sets of recent statements clarify the nature of the disinformation campaign and its blatant cynicism – and demonstrate the nuclear fairy tale well. First is a description of the situation recounted by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in an onstage interview with David Ignatius of the Washington Post, during the Munich Security Conference in early February 2015. In this interview, Zarif begins by saying that the objective of the nuclear negotiations is to “make sure that Iran’s nuclear program remains exclusively peaceful.” He then explains: “That means that Iran should, in fact, be able to exercise its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, because without it exercising that right, it’s impossible to make sure that it’s peaceful” (emphasis added). The second condition is to lift all sanctions on Iran, which, as Zarif explains later in the interview, is the objective of the JPOA, if read “correctly.”
These are two rather odd conditions for ensuring that Iran’s program is peaceful, with no mention of the need to satisfy the IAEA probe into strong suspicions of Iran’s work on a military nuclear program. Yet Zarif’s answer is very simple: “Iran takes steps to reassure the international community that [its] program remains peaceful – and the reason I use the word ‘reassure’ is that over the last 10 years or more, Iran has been the subject of more IAEA inspections than probably any other country on the face of the Earth, and the IAEA has yet to find a single evidence that Iran’s program is anything but peaceful” (emphasis added).
Thus according to the narrative, the IAEA is unfairly exposing Iran (always the victim of unwarranted harassment) to unprecedented inquiries, without even a shred of evidence to justify them. This contrasts sharply with the situation in the real world, however. In fact, since the release in late 2011 of the full annex of IAEA suspicions about Iran’s illicit military activities in the nuclear realm, Iran has stonewalled the IAEA investigation, with an ongoing refusal to allow inspectors entry into the military facility at Parchin and a missed IAEA deadline set last August, during the months of the P5+1-Iran negotiations. The latest IAEA report released in February clearly notes Iran’s lack of cooperation with the Agency in this regard.
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SnyderTalk Comment: It’s a fairy tale alright but Obama believes it’s real, or at least he says he does. That’s what happens when you elect a man who thinks like a child as president.
See “Obama: Republicans aligning with Iranian hardliners”. Do Americans know how foolish Obama is? Some do, some don’t.
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Michael Young: On Iran, Arabs Deeply Mistrust Obama—Two issues raised by Netanyahu’s speech to Congress cannot be readily ignored by President Obama: How a deal might enhance Iran’s regional influence; and whether regional wariness of a deal could spur nuclear proliferation. Iran’s regional role is an issue that the U.S. has strenuously, and foolishly, sought to separate from the nuclear discussions. This has alarmed the Gulf states who fear that lifting sanctions on Iran and rapprochement with the U.S. would facilitate Iranian expansionism. The U.S. administration has made it a primary goal to reorient American attention away from the Middle East and reduce the American footprint, and where that was not possible, to define limited goals and share the burden with others. But the outcome may well be an enhanced role for Iran, and this is something Arab states, not to mention Israel, will have great trouble accepting. If the Arabs feel threatened by an Iran that, ultimately, has the means of going nuclear, they will respond in kind by trying to develop their own nuclear capability. This would generate considerable instability and defeat the purpose of a nuclear agreement now. Obama may get his deal with Iran, but he has prepared the terrain so carelessly that the consequences may be quite damaging.
Ben Cohen interviews Michael Ledeen: The Resistible Rise of Iran: an Interview with Michael Ledeen—Ladeen: It’s conventional wisdom that Iran came to the negotiating table because of sanctions. I’m not sure that’s correct. It may well be that Iran came to the negotiating table because President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Zarif convinced the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, that if they went to the table, they would get everything they wanted from President Obama. Because, they said, America’s will has been broken, and the Americans are prepared to make endless concessions just to keep talking. I’m not convinced that there’s going to be a deal with Iran. Khamenei doesn’t want to deal with U.S., he wants to destroy us. He says that every week – sometimes every day. So why should he make a deal when he’s getting everything from us now without a deal? You have the moderate Arab countries who are, all of a sudden, talking to Israel, working out joint plans and contingencies with Israel. What can they do? If Iran is going nuclear – and there’s not a leader in the Middle East who doesn’t believe that Iran is going nuclear – then they have to defend themselves. And if America isn’t available, who is?
Denis MacEoin: What the White House Might Not See about Iran— Given Iran’s tendency to enrich uranium in secret, it may achieve nuclear breakout capability well before ten years from now. Nor should we forget that current polls place Mahmoud Ahmadinejad close behind Hassan Rouhani for the 2017 presidential election. An exhaustive list of genocidal threats by major Iranian politicians between 2009 and 2012 has been compiled by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. The latest threat was made on March 1 of this year. The Islamic State and other terrorists do not represent an idealized version of normative Islam, and a number of Muslims may not even support them. But their scriptural and historical roots frankly have plenty of precedent, and far from minimal support. Shi’i Islam is a very different belief system from Sunni Islam. Iran today resembles a medieval European state.
SnyderTalk Comment: At this point, I believe that Obama sees and knows what he is doing. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to draw another conclusion.
Alan M. Dershowitz: Supporters of Deal Are Strengthening Iran’s Negotiating Position— Despite repeating the mantra that “no deal is better than a bad deal” with Iran, the United States seems to be negotiating on the basis of a belief that the worst possible outcome of the current negotiations is no deal. Many supporters of the deal that is now apparently on the table are arguing that there is no realistic alternative to this deal. That sort of thinking out loud empowers the Iranian negotiators to demand more and compromise less, because they believe — and have been told by American supporters of the deal — that the United States has no alternative but to agree to a deal that is acceptable to the Iranians.
From Iran: “Iran Declared ‘Iran Today Has Become An Empire As It Was Throughout History And Its Capital Now Is Baghdad In Iraq‘” and “Rouhani adviser denies he called for Iran’s return to empire“.
SnyderTalk Comment: One of these articles is truthful. The other is not. Which one is which?
Michael Curtis: Islamist Barbarism At The Gate— The barbarism of Islamist terrorists grows every day. They are committing war crimes by systematically destroying the cradle of Western civilization and erasing the history of the region. The world has become familiar with Islamist actions: not just the cruel brutal behavior of the Islamist State of Iraq and Syria (IS) with its belligerent militarism, its beheadings of hostages, and crucifixion of Christians, but also the actions of other Islamist groups such as al-Qaeda, Taliban, and Boko Haram. These groups have been responsible for terrifying modes of punishment for any divergence from the right way of life they impose, for the suppression of education, honor killings, enslaving and sexually assaulting teenage girls, genital mutilations, and forced marriages. Now, the world is witnessing with horror the destruction by Islamist terrorists of the cultural heritage of entire civilizations, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites, in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.
Lawrence A. Franklin: Who Ends Up with Iraq?— If and when the Islamic State is defeated in Iraq, the long-postponed struggle between Iraq and the Kurds will recommence. Unless Iran, now fighting the Islamic State in Iraq, takes over first. According to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) ministers, Baghdad does not want the Kurds to possess heavy weapons: it would make more difficult any attempt by the Iraqi central government to compel Iraqi Kurdistan to remain within Iraq. It is also hard to discount the temptation for the central government of Iraq simply to hang on to valuable materiel. It may have been presented with no strings attached, or with no negative consequences should the strings somehow become “unattached.”
David Daoud: Jordanian Foreign Minister’s Trip to Iran Draws Speculation About Pivot Towards Tehran— A recent visit to Tehran by Jordan’s foreign minister Nasser Joudeh has raised questions about the purpose of the trip, notably whether it was the first step in building a future relationship between the two countries, Al-Jazeera reported. This recent Jordanian overture surprised many political observers and analysts in Amman including entities both supporting and opposing the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, since neither Iran nor Jordan gave any indications of a shift in relations before the visit. According to the report, the Jordanian government maintained a high level of secrecy over the details of the visit this past Saturday to the Iranian capital, with the exception of a brief official statement issued by the Jordanian News Agency. The statement only noted that Foreign Minister Joudeh visited Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and handed him a handwritten letter from King Abdullah II.
Dr. Haim Shine: Israel cannot gamble with its future— The most bizarre election campaign in Israel has hit the homestretch. Since its start, profanity, hatred and a venomous atmosphere have permeated the public sphere. At times, it may seem that Israel is an island in the middle of a quiet ocean where an election is being held between various tribes over coconut planting areas. Yet, every sane person understands that the processes taking place now in the Middle East are dangerous. The threats surrounding Israel are coming closer and the renewed Iranian caliphate has its eyes set on the “Crusader Zionist entity.” The idea that an election can be won on the basis of slander in the media (as is being done to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) represents a distortion of the democratic process, which rests on a choice between known alternatives. Ruses can be used in war, but elections should be conducted with integrity.
Stephanie Butnick: Why One Jew is Staying Put in Brussels— This month at Jewcy, our partner site, we’ve launched a series called Voices from Europe, in which young Jews across Europe share stories of the reality of their day-to-day lives. Guest editing the site is Jane Braden-Golay, president of the European Union of Jewish Students, who laid out her vision for the month in her editor’s note last week. The first piece in the series comes from Joshua Goodman, a Brussels-based radio host. He says most of his friends and family back home in Canada can’t understand why he wants to stay in Europe.
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ISIS releases video purporting to show execution of ‘Israeli spy’
Joint Arab List spokesman: ISIS learned its crimes from Zionism
IDF officer in Golan Heights lightly wounded by gunfire from Syria
Israelis don’t think elections will impact peace process, poll finds
Jordan’s Abdullah likens ISIS to Nazis in speech to European Parliament
Obama’s ‘lame duck’ status looms large in Iran nuclear negotiations
Former Intel chief Yadlin calls for military contingency plan with US against Iran
Israel, Hamas deny reports of truce proposal in exchange for lifting Gaza blockade
Economic catastrophe awaits if Jews leave Europe, Jewish leader warns
Iran selects new head of body in charge of ‘Supreme Leader’ position
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Why the Arab World Wants Herzog
ISIS Executes Israeli Arab ‘Mossad Spy’ in Syria
Mothers Tell High Court: Infiltrators Ruin Our Lives
From Sicily to Naples, Italian Crypto-Jews are Returning
Republicans Might Be Too Weak to Fight Obama
PA: Sue Liberman at ICC for ‘Behead Arabs’ Call
No Investigation into ‘Herr Stürmer’ Cartoon
Labor Opens Largest Lead on Likud
IDF Officer Wounded by Syrian Gunfire
Yadlin Calls for US-Israel Pact on Iran Strike
Netanyahu: Security Services are ‘Essential’
Hamas, Israel in Talks for 5-Year Ceasefire
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Netanyahu claims more support for his stance on Iran now
Zarif: Republican letter on nuke talks a ‘propaganda ploy’
Has Israel got the six-year itch with Netanyahu?
Lapid: Three weeks after there’s a new PM, Netanyahu will be forgotten
Hamas offers long-term calm in exchange for end of blockade
Hamas denies it offered Israel a temporary ceasefire
Hamas says West Bank arrests prove security cooperation ongoing
PA arrests 30 Hamas activists in West Bank sweep
Hamas claims it nabbed official who betrayed top commander
In Gaza, Abbas’s Fatah practices attacking IDF positions
Multiple explosions reported in Gaza City
Four held over alleged ties to terrorist Coulibaly
Amid Iran talks, AIPAC quietly courts progressives
The ‘Hamasnik’ candidate who wants Palestinians to recognize the Jewish state
Netanyahu denies Likud claim he’s backed away from two-state solution
British university seminar to question Israel’s legitimacy
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Text of Senators’ Letter to Iran’s Leaders on Nuclear Talks
SnyderTalk Comment: In the letter, the Republican senators said that an agreement with Obama is an agreement with Obama. That’s exactly what it is. I don’t understand all the fuss.
Israel’s Arab political parties have united for the first time
At Israel Trade Event in South Africa BDS Supporters Threaten to ‘Kill Jews’
Controversial ‘New Israel Fund’ Received More Than $1 Million From US State Department
Palestinian Authority Pays Terrorists, Says it Can’t Afford to Pay Employees
Report: Hamas mulls 5-year cease-fire offer
UN panel asks for more time to complete report on Gaza war
Treasure from era of Alexander the Great found in cave
‘Blurred line’: Anti-Israel campus climate leading to bigotry, warn critics
Boko Haram Sect Attacks Ngambu Town Of Borno
Palestinian Authority arrests dozens of militant Islamists ahead of Israeli election
ISIS on the run increases security risk for wider Middle East, experts say
Jury in Boston Marathon bomb trial sees blood-stained note
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Russia Opts out of European Arms Control Treaty
Britain may broadcast Putin’s financial secrets to Russian people
Russia Being ‘Whipsawed’ By Dollar, Politics
Report: Iran, IAEA officials meet ahead of March nuclear deadline
Ukraine, Iran, and the Threat of a Nuclear Middle East
Chechnya’s leader vows loyalty to Putin amid Nemtsov probe
A “Good Deal” Needs to Bolt the Door on the Iranians Getting a Nuclear Weapon
Unveiling New Iranian Missile Meant to Coincide with Nuclear Talks
Turkey Seeks to Replace Ukraine as Energy Hub
Military analysis of what Russia really wants reveals nuclear dangers
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Exodus 2: 11-14
11 Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 He went out the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were fighting with each other; and he said to the offender, “Why are you striking your companion?” 14 But he said, “Who made you a prince or a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Surely the matter has become known.”
SnyderTalk Comment: Read His Name is Yahweh.
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His Name is Yahweh explains why the Name of God, Yahweh, is so important. It’s available in eBook format and in paperback. It’s also available for free in PDF format.
- God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This [Yahweh] is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.” (Exodus 3: 15)
- “Therefore behold, I am going to make them know—this time I will make them know My power and My might; and they shall know that My name is Yahweh.” (Jeremiah 16: 21)
- “Behold, the days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘Yahweh our righteousness.’” (Jeremiah 23: 5-6)
- Yeshua said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8: 58)
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Hamas is No Peace Partner for Israel
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Blessings in the Book of Revelation is a book that you need to read, especially now. There are blessings throughout the Scriptures but Revelation is the only book in the Bible actually containing a specific blessing for reading it. It’s repeated twice, once at the beginning and again at the end. This is the reason that I believe Revelation should be the first step toward studying biblical prophecy. Though not easy to do, Revelation can be broken down and understood by anyone, not just the academic elite. So, Revelation’s blessings are for everyone. Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
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Other Books by Neil Snyder
- Stand! is a suspense novel that exposes the lies, corruption, and greed underlying the theory that man-made CO2 emissions are responsible for global warming. Professor Wes Carlyle and Karen Sterling, his research collaborator, carefully scan the audience for their would-be attacker—a member of the enviro-gestapo who has been following them for days. Wes spots his man in the back of the room leaning against the wall. Suddenly, another man in the audience steps forward and moves toward Karen at a menacing pace. With a vicious stroke, he swings a billy club at her head. Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
- What Will You Do with the Rest of Your Life? deals with a question that every Christian has to consider: what should I do with my life? Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
- Falsely Accused is a true story about a young woman who was accused of committing a double homicide. It’s about a travesty of justice, and it reveals Yahweh intervening in the life of a believer to rescue her from danger in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Everyone will enjoy the book, but young people in particular need to read it because the mistakes made that led to the problem could have been avoided. They were the kinds of mistakes that young people are prone to make. As they say, forewarned is forearmed. Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
