July 25, 2007
American, British and Iranian security forces decide to hold a contest to see which is fastest at locating and apprehending a suspect.
A bunny is set loose in a forest, and the Americans go first, with their infrared goggles and helicopters. They produce the rabbit in eight hours. The Brits go next, with hounds and carrots, emerging six hours later, rabbit in hand. Then in go the Iranians, who return an hour later with a badly beaten and bruised bear, walking on its hind paws, its front paws raised in surrender.
“Hold on,” say the Brits, “That’s not a rabbit.”
“Yes, I am,” sobs the bear. “They’re right, I swear. I am a bunny!”
This is a joke Iranians tell, and while it may not be funny, it’s quite telling: After decades of dealing with a corrupt justice system – the shah’s and the mullahs’ – no one believes the “confessions” the government broadcasts as evidence against those it apprehends. The confessions of two Iranian-Americans, Middle East scholar Haleh Esfandiari and urban planning consultant Kaian Tajbakhsh are unlikely to sway public opinion (always privately held in Iran), that their statements, cobbled together from choppy footage, don’t amount to a confession of guilt. Two other Iranian-Americans, journalist Parnaz Azima and peace activist Ali Shakeri are also being held.
It is hoped that, in its upcoming talks with Iran, the U.S. will make smart, tactful strides, while realizing that the abhorrent way Esfandiari and Tajbakhsh have been treated is a daily reality for millions of Iranians. Only diplomacy, not war, can improve our relationship with Iran and perhaps indirectly affect positive change there. Meddling with the country’s internal affairs and bullying it on the international scene will have disastrous consequences.
Yesterday Joe Copeland met with the sponsors of a new report on Puget Sound sea rise and some of the potential impacts to wildlife. Email: joecopeland@seattlepi.com
We’re also writing, as planned, about today’s testimony by Atty Gen Alberto Gonzales. And the House is preparing contempt of Congress proceedings against the White House. We’ll be commenting on the news as it develops.
D. Parvaz is writing this editorial. Email: dparvaz@seattlepi.com
Reader comments
The editorial about access to birth control stirred this dissent (more comments here) from cherishdestiny:
I’m just befuddled by the recent series of opinion pieces about medical access. We’re supposed to guarantee kids access to whatever, then we’re supposed to guarantee college kids (who’ve some how or another managed to arrange tuition and other fees well into the tens of thousands per year while not finding a way to purchase insurance or at least their own birth control) access to free or dirt cheap birth control (btw, why so much talk specifically to birth control - wouldn’t access to antibiotics and other meds necessary for basic/maintenance care be more important than something optional like birth control pills?) yet once the person turns 18 (or slightly older if they’ve been in foster care of manage to go to college) they’re totally on their own for health care access? The logic is starting to get baffling.
Besides, wouldn’t it actually be better if said college kids used the already provided condoms? Yeah, they’re annoying, but they do protect against the various STD’s that are so often common problems on campuses. Birth control pills only protect against pregnancy - and only if the user actually follows all the instructions (like taking the pill at the same time every day and not depending on the pill while taking any of many antibiotics).
Monday’s editorial about the Sonics and Storm reflects the divide in the Emerald City. Some are keen on saving the basketball teams — others don’t want to spend another green nickel. Editorial here, comments here.
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Face Reality says:
Let Bennett and his self serving cronies go already, and take their toys with ‘em.
The “sooner” they go the sooner the they’ll be forgotten, replaced by some other form of mindless sports or other form of entertainment for the masses.
Undoubtedly to some other community stupid enough to subsidize billionaires with their hard earned tax dollars, for sports palaces that the average wage earned can’t afford to attend.
Think we’ve practiced enough of that stupidity here.
On the other hand, Sabon counters:
I have no clue why the anti-sports - anti-Sonics people live in Seattle. If you want to live in a city without sports or anything else connect to civic pride there are LOTS of cities in the country where they feel exactly like you. Feel free to move yourselves to those small town places. Don’t let the door hit you in the rear. BELIEVE me, we won’t miss you at all.
As for Bennett, I agree that this whole thing has been a HUGE mess. Of course it started with the cursed Wally Walker and how he and the then Sonic owners blew yet another decision making process with horribly bad timing and moronic thinking.
Bennett has been lots better but still doesn’t deserve a grade better than maybe C+ when he needs an A to get –anything– done is this mixed up and confused city that screwed up the monorail and many other things back lack of leadership and not much better thinking or planning than Wally Walker.
As for Bennett, why can’t Key Arena work? The seating area/basketball court is great. I FULLY agree that the rest of the building needs a lot of help. So how about saving hundreds of millions of dollars and rebuild the building outside of the seating area/court? That would make the most sense despite the exciting idea of creating a world class complex that happens to have basketball as just one of the events that happens there. Sorry but Seattle has too many things going on right now. (See bridges around the area)
Question of the Day:
Should the House charge White House officials with contempt of Congress related to the US attorney firings? Or should the Senate censure, or impeach, the Atty Gen if he refuses to answer their questions? Or, turn it around, should the president stick to his guns?
Posted by toshko under Mircette News | Comments (0)
