Comments on: No Influential Voice in U.S. Supporting War on Iran: Peter Feaver

By: Jeremy R. Hammond

Jeremy R. Hammond — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:07:23 +0000

It’s not just the translation. The context was important, too. First of all, Ahmadinejad was quoting something Khameini had said. Second of all, the topic was oppressive regimes, and the need to see them overthrown. He included Iraq under Saddam Hussein and Iran under the Shah alongside of Israel as examples.

Nobody suggests that therefore he must want to nuke Iraq or Iran.

By: Bill Davit

Bill Davit — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:43:19 +0000

Some background on Ahmadinejad’s statement. The contentious phrase is (بايد از صفحه روزگار محو شود) which translates to (The era of the page will disappear) with google translate. It appeared in MSM as (wiped from the pages of history.) Others said (The regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time.) Israel of course translated this to “wipe israel of the map.” Ahmadinejad quickly followed with this gem as well (Soon this stain of disgrace will be cleaned from the garment of the world of Islam, and this is attainable.) The challenge is that the english translation has no comparable phrasing in Farsi. I think it is safe to assume he means wipe Zionism off the map, but the issue for the Jew is that Zionism means Israel. Thus we need to recognize that the meaning is different for each respective audience.

In the greater context of things this statement grooves quite nicely with the Islamic mandate to make the Arabian penisula free of Pagans. Islamists view Palestine as a wafq for all time because it was conqured and consecrated Islamic. It is why you never see a true treaty offered but a Hudna. A Hudna is “if Muslims are weak, a truce may be made for ten years if necessary, for the Prophet made a truce with the Quraysh for that long, as is related by Abu Dawud” (‘Umdat as-Salik.) The point is the objective is never changed just the time frame to do it. Hamas and Hezebollah have indicated so several times and their charters do explicitly call for the destruction of Israel.

You also need to consider what would happen if Zionism did fall and Israel became a majority Palestinian state. Can we honestly expect the Muslims to not persecute them or enforce Dhimmi laws on them? I don’t think so and the fact that religious minorities decline each year in the Islamic world supports this fact. Go to any number Islamic states and you will see they have vestiges of Dhimmi laws codified into their constitutions. It’s why year after year Islamic states rank in the lowest rungs of human and religious rights reports. Thus to a Jew losing the status of a “Jewish State” does effectively mean wiping it off the face of the earth. May not happen over night but an Islamasized society will make it a reality over time as it has throughout the Middle East.

By: Jeremy R. Hammond

Jeremy R. Hammond — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:56:23 +0000

I would find it hard to believe Mr. Feaver isn’t aware the actual context of the loosely translated “wipe Israel from the map” quote from Khomeini, Martin, when he repeats it, invokes the Holocaust, and says Iran is pursuing nukes at the same time.

I would also point out to readers that Mr. Feaver also assumes in his remarks that Iran has a weapons program, but offers no evidence for this.

By: Martin Green

Martin Green — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:14:00 +0000

The oft quoted statement by President Ahmadinejad- ‘we will wipe Israel from the map’ is very contentious. Depending on the source of translation it varies from a direct threat to a prediction of the fate of Israel. Someone should really produce a definitive and accurate interpretation of iranian statements – or is that something that people like Professor Feaver really do not want! An important article since it does underline the philosophy and intentions of the US elite which hardly fill me with great optimism!