$75 million to promote democracy in Iran. A country that hates us, hates the fact that we're in the middle east and is defying the UN by building nuclear munitions. Also the masses cannot even handle free speech (political cartoons). I see congress approved $10 million already but Rice would like more. Is is just me or would this be a waste of money, if approved?
Iran does have a large portion of its population (mostly the younger ones) who are quite liberal and not so anti-West as the freaks running the country. Perhaps a program like this isn't so bad. It could have a similar effect to what similar programs had on the USSR. It could also backfire as it could just further piss off Muslims who want nothing more than to get as far away from Western culture as they can.
For only $75M, I say go for it. It's a helluva lot cheaper than starting another war, and it just might do some good. I'll take any form of diplomacy over the big swinging rooster approach of recent times.
Similar to freedom in China, information and access to the rest of the world are the first steps to calls for reforms from within.
$75 M isn't that much money. The Iran issue is going to continue to grow. They have some real scary people in high places over there.
People there are so uneducated there (literacy rate is somewhere around 55%). They beleive anything that is told to them by there leaders. Hopefully, a western voice over there would help things.
Last edited by HighLineGRIZ on Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:35 pm; edited 1 time in total
I guess my thoughts are, congress appointed $10 million, use that, take the other $65 million and reduce the defecit, send it to the Gulf Coast, invest it in social security, health care, or persricption drug plans, I just see it better spent somewhere else.
I guess my thoughts are, congress appointed $10 million, use that, take the other $65 million and reduce the defecit, send it to the Gulf Coast, invest it in social security, health care, or persricption drug plans, I just see it better spent somewhere else.
$10 M isn't enough to do anything in Iran. The social issue's funding that you list are appropriated from a seperate budget that the defense budget that the $75 M will come from.
I guess my thoughts are, congress appointed $10 million, use that, take the other $65 million and reduce the defecit, send it to the Gulf Coast, invest it in social security, health care, or persricption drug plans, I just see it better spent somewhere else.
Build one less sub, and then spend the billions saved on that on promoting more knowledge and information programs for the citizens within the countries of the world where little is allowed by their governments (namely China, N. Korea and Iran). The money is out there, we just need to spend it wisely.
Although I am sure a Senator or Congressman somewhere would scream if an unnecessary weapon was no longer going to be built in their district ... similar to the MT delegation being dead-set against getting rid of the missiles in MT (including one right next to my parent's front door) because of the economic impacts on Great Falls.
I guess my thoughts are, congress appointed $10 million, use that, take the other $65 million and reduce the defecit, send it to the Gulf Coast, invest it in social security, health care, or persricption drug plans, I just see it better spent somewhere else.
Better yet don't spend it in Iran or any other country, including the USA. Give it back to the tax payers so they can buy their own health coverage, guns or drugs.
Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 395 Location: helena 2831 eGriz Bucks
I find it very interesting that the former leader of Iran, Khatami(sp) has basically said the current leader is unfit, unable and should not be there. I would say that Iran has possibilities, but not with the idiot they have in charge now...
Interesting article on-topic. The paragraph about the "axis of evil" comment is a bit frustrating, but is probably more pervasive than most of us realize:
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