Kevin, I am absolutely amazed, in writing what I quote below I must ask the question - Do you actually believe this???

McGrath of Harlow - 06 Dec 06 - 06:52 PM

"Iran hasn't actually done anything illegal in relation to the nuclear issue. As for help to Hezbollah, this is on a small scale compared to, for example, the backing which was given by the USA to the contras

It's a deeply flawed regime, but it's in power as a result of a democratic vote, carrying out the policies on which it was elected.

A lot of the responsibility for getting Ahmadinejad elected was down to Bush and his "Axis of Evil" talk and so forth. And, of course, to the fact that countries on either side of Iran had been invaded. Those are the kind of things that get extreme nationalists propelled to power."

As to Iran having done nothing illegal in relation to the nuclear issue, I believe that Dr. Mohamed El Baredei and the IAEA would dispute that, primarily because Iran has been proved to have been less than honest with this International body over the past few years - The start of their programme pre-dating 911, the fall of the Taleban in Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq.

As for helping Hezbollah, Kevin here contends that this is on a minor scale. The reality is that without Iran's help Hezbollah would have ceased to exist years ago, without Iran's help and assistance for Hezbollah the Middle-East peace process would have moved on years ago. Kevin give me the names of any front-line Arab State that calls for the total destruction of the State of Israel - NONE. Two states that were not front-line states but who heavily backed such terrorist groups in order that they could claim to be part of the struggle were Iran and Iraq - The latter is now no longer sponsoring international terrorists - guess what Kevin numbers of dead Israeli citizens has dropped dramatically since March 2003. If Iran stopped meddling and peddling violence by proxy in the region the number of innocent civilians dying in the region would likewise dramatically decrease.

You are correct in stating that the current regime in Iran is deeply flawed. As to that regime being in place because of a democratic vote is a bit of a joke considering that the 12 Old Gits who actually dictate government policy barred, what was it, over 6000 candidates from standing in those elections - oh yes, Kevin very democratic.

The responsibility for getting the latest puppet-in-power in Iran elected rested entirely with the 12 Old Gits - No one else Kevin, they'd got tired of stone-walling reforming Presidents and prime ministers and therefore simply removed those candidates from the ballot, with no alternative choice the opposition vote stayed at home - That is what got Mohammed Ahmadinejad elected Kevin, nothing else.