In 1953, Iran’s democratic government led by Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq was toppled by a military coup backed by the CIA and the British Secret Intelligence Service. Mosaddeq had nationalized the British-controlled Iranian oil industry, and the Americans and the Brits weren’t having any of that. The coup transformed Iran’s
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Views from the Beltline: Iran and Saudi Arabia make nice
The Middle East has been an ugly place for some time. It has become humanity’s favourite region for killing each other although Vladimir Putin is attempting to return that honour to Europe. It was good news therefore to hear that two of the region’s major belligerents have decided to kiss
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Iran and Saudi Arabia make nice
The Middle East has been an ugly place for some time. It has become humanity’s favourite region for killing each other although Vladimir Putin is attempting to return that honour to Europe. It was good news therefore to hear that two of the region’s major belligerents have decided to kiss
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Islam—is the fear justified?
When it comes to religion, I am not a believer nor am I a student of theology. I am but a mere observer, much more inclined to fact than faith. I don’t have a high regard for any religion but there are things about most that I appreciate. Buddhism, for
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Ukraine—a hard power lesson for Iran … and others
In December, 1991, as the Soviet Union crumbled into dust, Ukrainians voted overwhelmingly for independence. Thus was created something of a nuclear problem. The new country was the world’s third largest nuclear power. Approximately 1,700 warheads remained on Ukrainian territory, a third of the Soviet arsenal. The Ukrainians didn’t have
Continue readingThe Iranian Pseudo-election
Last week, Iran held an election for members of its Islamic Consultative Assembly, the country’s Parliament or Majlis. The Majlis is something less than a ruling body. To begin with, candidates are screened by a council which answers ultimately to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. In addition to screening all
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Gary Younge writes about the need to respond to a bleak reality with the dedication to imagine and create something better. And Vickie Cammack and Donna Thomson highlight how the response to a climate breakdown includes mobilizing our capacity to care for
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Canadians want answers about tragic Iran air crash, but Canada has little influence with no embassy in Tehran
In the wake of yesterday’s air tragedy in Iran that took the lives of at least 63 Canadians, nearly half of them from Edmonton, and many others bound for Canada, all Canadians want and deserve answers to what caused Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS 752 to crash. Likewise, it is
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Hmmmm ……
Just sayin’. Recommend this Post
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. – Rick Smith offers some reasons for hope in 2020 even in the face of a grim start to a new year. And Cory Doctorow writes about the need to start dreaming up, and giving effect to, alternatives to a corporate-driven economy and society
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Donald Trump and the Road to World War III
I was so happy to get back to Canada just in time to see the last sunset of 2019. And I was looking forward to enjoying a slightly more peaceful year in 2020. So imagine how I feel to see us such a short time later, teetering on the edge of
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Hope Lies In The Streets
The decay and rupture of the social bonds that once held our societies together have unleashed the dark pathologies of opioid, alcohol and gambling addictions and led to an explosion of hate Read more…
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Perfidious America
Early in 2018, U.S. President Donald J. Trump withdrew the United States from the Iran nuclear deal, a deal largely negotiated by and signed off on by his own country. Iran had been keeping its side of the bargain and the other five partners were happy with the results. Nonetheless,
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Britain has bullied Iran for centuries
Britain’s imperial designs on Iran go back at least to the Great Game with Russia over control of trade routes through central Asia in the 19th century. Indeed, Iran’s southern and eastern boundaries were set by the British during the Anglo-Persian War (1856-7). By the end of the century, Britain
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Noam Chomsky On Iran the US
The US foreign policy regarding Iran is foolish. Noam Chomsky analyzes the situation: “The most dangerous immediate foreign policy crisis is the conflict with Iran, which has been deemed the official source of all evil. Iran must end its “aggression” and become a “normal country” — like Saudi
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: How much crap should Iran be expected to take from the U.S.?
Iran under the Ayatollahs is hardly a model nation. Domestically, it is repressive and, due largely to sanctions imposed by the United States, impoverished. Its foreign policy is aggressive. It supports groups that Canada has labelled terrorist, such as Hezbollah and Hamas, aids President Bashar al-Assad in Syria’s civil war,
Continue readingThe Maple Monarchists - Blog: Prince Reza Pahlavi Addresses a Meeting of Phoenix Project Supporters in Toronto
Prince Reza Pahlavi Earlier this month Prince Reza Pahlavi, claimant to the throne of Iran, addressed a meeting of international academics, scientists,strategists, researchers, artists,authors, entrepreneurs, and otherintellectuals gathered in the City ofToronto. The gathering was ofsupporters of The Phoenix Projectof Iran. The Phoenix Project contendsthat the 1979 revolution has stunted scientific discovery andtechnological progress
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Trump, Bolton Are Beating the Drums of War
It has been clear for well over a year that Trump is a pathological liar, a cheat, a sneak and an incomparable threat to not only the US but the rest of us as well. Read more…
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