Skirting U.S. sanctions, Europeans launch trade mechanism for Iran

Yes, it's still hypocritical.

You can, and in my opinion should, criticize Iran for a lot. For example for being a theocracy like you mention. But saying "you cannot have nukes, but we can" is still very much hypocritical.

> Leave had a bus, with a slogan.

Not just any slogan, a slogan that was blatantly misleading to say the least.

People also dislike the idea of the EU forcing every child to eat a kilogram of french cheese every morning before school.

Luckily, neither is likely to happen and - even if it were proposed - the UK has the power to veto it ever happening.

assuming we are in the EU. if we're outside, we just watch and weep.

I can also highly recommend Fisks books (I have The Great War on the shelf and refer to it often), but I would also like to add Robert Baers books, he was a CIA case officer who speaks farsi and is pretty knowledgeable about things. I think it is also highly worth reading up on the original coup that installed the Shah in the first place, it was essentially the first coup the British used their newly trained (everyone knows the OSS became the CIA, but who did the OSS learn from? The Brits) American orgs as a proxy in an overthrow.

Which is one of the reasons moves like this by the UK are interesting; much of the current American sentiment towards Iran was shaped by the Chatham House group in the first place.

Also I sat down and actually read all the IAEA reports in 2010 or so and besides the mossad planted laptop fiasco, all indications were that Iran was not seeking weaponization or even virtual breakout mode, and I have yet to see any good evidence to the contrary other than claims of "secret evidence".

> half the world isn't actively trying to destroy most people/nations

True, including Israel.

You do realize that the occupation and abuse of Palestinians by Israel is what drives those Arabs that hate Israel, right? It's a rallying call, if you will.

As for genocidal rhetoric, it's been done both by Israeli neighbors and Israel itself.

As for military might, Israel is clearly on top.

> I do recognize it must suck ass to live in Gaza and I feel for them, and hope for a better future where their lives don't suck ass. I have no idea what to do about it though.

> I know it's inconvenient for Europeans and progressives who think they can just lift the blockade and stop operations in Syria and everyone will live happily ever after

As for Syria, is a sovereign country that you have no right to operate in, nor do you have the right to constantly violate Lebanese airspace.

How do you expect other countries to respect you, when you don't even respect international law?

As for Palestinians, there's always the rhetoric that they will never become peaceful etc. but how about you stop thinking of 'Greater Israel' and stop building illegal settlements as a first step? You can't continue jacking their land and somehow come to an agreement with them.

As for Gaza, yes, lifting the blockade, at least for essential supplies, lifting fishing restrictions, not targeting civilians and perhaps sponsoring targeted programs to build infrastructure there etc. would help. Stop sniping nurses and journalists as you did with the great match of return, that would be nice.

Build some goodwill, allows Gazans to leave and study abroad, sponsor some targeted infrastructure projects...

> but when that filters through my ears it becomes "we don't give a fuck if you live or die."

> Why should I care about the opinions of people who don't give a fuck if I live or die?

For my part, I absolutely care for you to live, but it could be said that it is what comes out of Israel is to my ears as if you don't care whether Palestinians live or die indeed.

There's much talk about their violence etc. but from what I've studied, it is driven by desperation. There's no prospects there, no future, no joy, no nothing. When there's such a situation, resisting what they, (and the international community btw), see as occupation is pretty much the only thing that occurs to many of them.

I realize the issue isn't simple, but as I said, outreach and show of goodwill go a long way. Stop building settlements for one, enforce security in their areas from settler attacks as well, build infrastructure, come to the table and most importantly stop dreaming of 'Greater Israel' and you may get somewhere.