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  1. #1
    The Unstoppable Force Theodarzna's Avatar
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    Lightbulb [Opinion] The Abnormal Demand to ‘Behave Like a Normal Nation’

    Mike Pompeo delivered a speech on Iran today at the Hoover Institute in which he repeated his tedious “normal nation” rhetoric:

    “We just want Iran to behave like a normal nation. Just be like Norway," says @SecPompeo, in speech to Stanford students at @HooverInst. He says US strategy is to reestablish "real deterrence" against the Iranian regime.
    Mike Pompeo delivered a speech on Iran today at the Hoover Institute in which he repeated his tedious “normal nation” rhetoric:

    Trying to coerce another state to become what our government wants it to be is a fool’s errand. It is also extremely arrogant to think that our government has the right to dictate terms to others like this. Our government has no business trying to force other states to undergo some sort of transformation. The more that the U.S. applies pressure to make them do what our government wants, the more stubbornly they will resist. Almost everything that Pompeo cites as proof that Iran does not behave “like a normal nation” is evidence that the Iranian government behaves very much like lots of other states: it pursues regional influence, aligns itself with political forces that share the government’s objectives, and develops military defenses to deter attack for the sake of its own security. Like other states, Iran’s government prizes its independence, and to submit to the demands that the U.S. has made would mean giving up a significant part of that independence. “Behave like a normal nation” is little more than a code for demanding humiliation and surrender, because Iran is the only country being held to this “normal” standard.

    Iran is a country of more than 80 million people and it is going to have an important role in regional affairs no matter what kind of government it has. Norway has a population of a little over five million people. No offense to Norway, but telling them to “be like Norway” amounts to telling them that they should accept having little or no influence in their region. Pompeo is essentially saying that Iran should punch far below its own weight, and if they don’t they will be penalized severely. No nation would accept the reduced role that Pompeo demands, especially when the demand comes from the world’s only superpower that behaves more abnormally than any other nation in the world.

    (Source)


    My first general thought on Pompeo's words were that Americans have never had to defend their own cities from areal bombardment using military equipment procured under sanctions. I wonder how the USA would do? But more to the point, I agree personally with this take. Adding it is simply outrageous to expect a country of Iran's size, age, history, ect to not be involved in the region it itself occupies while the USA is essentially involved everywhere and doesn't even occupy the same continent and lets not even begin to imagine telling say Israel with significantly less people to "act like Norway".
    Last edited by Theodarzna; 2020-01-14 at 07:08 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Crissi View Post
    i think I have my posse filled out now. Mars is Theo, Jupiter is Vanyali, Linadra is Venus, and Heather is Mercury. Dragon can be Pluto.
    On MMO-C we learn that Anti-Fascism is locking arms with corporations, the State Department and agreeing with the CIA, But opposing the CIA and corporate America, and thinking Jews have a right to buy land and can expect tenants to pay rent THAT is ultra-Fash Nazism. Bellingcat is an MI6/CIA cut out. Clyburn Truther.

  2. #2
    Talk about throwing stones at glass houses.

  3. #3
    It's funny how the same people who decry the systems of government in Norway and her sister states as "socialist" suddenly think Norway is a model nation when it suits their needs.

  4. #4
    Well, to be fair, there's pretty much no developed nation in the world they can point to as "normal" where the US does meet the same standards.

    Would be nice if Iran got with the program and became "normal." Would also be nice if the US got with the program and became "normal" as well.

  5. #5
    So how many millions of people does he want to kill so Iran can behave the way he wants?

  6. #6
    Merely a Setback Sunseeker's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by beanman12345 View Post
    Talk about throwing stones at glass houses.
    THIS. It's ridiculous to hear Americans talk about how other nations ought to "behave themselves" when we clearly don't.
    Human progress isn't measured by industry. It's measured by the value you place on a life.

    Just, be kind.

  7. #7
    Practice what you preach America.

  8. #8
    The Lightbringer Pannonian's Avatar
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    When reading the title of the thread i was wondering if this would be about Iran, or the US...

  9. #9
    Legendary! Thekri's Avatar
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    I am rather disturbed by the use of Norway as the gold standard for good wholesome nations. I have nothing against Norway, but I doubt the fact it is 94% white is a coincidence given they keep bringing it up. Norway is as socialist as Venezuela, but since Norway is white and Christian, this administration keeps claiming it as some sort of paradise. This is some straight up Nazi levels of fetishizing Scandinavians.

    Anyway, as far as Iran, I am not a fan of how they are acting, but their circumstances are vastly different then Norway's circumstances. However, 400 years ago, Norway (As part of Denmark) faced a situation not that dissimilar from Iran today. Northern Europe was an unstable and wartorn area, rife with religious conflict, and the conflicting agendas of dozens of major powers. Sweden was a military juggernaut bordering Norway, and so war came. Again, and again, and again. Norway has seen its share of religiously driven bloodshed, it has fought superpowers and defied agreements like the Treaty of Roskilde that bound her.

    The point is that Norway acts the way it does because it is a stable and secure nation... for now. When that wasn't true, Norway acted like every other nation in crisis.

  10. #10
    I would appreciate it if the Trump administration acted like a normal government.

  11. #11
    Over 9000! Santti's Avatar
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    Well, at least he didn't say "Behave like we do". Now that would have been funny.
    Quote Originally Posted by SpaghettiMonk View Post
    And again, let’s presume equity in schools is achievable. Then why should a parent read to a child?

  12. #12
    We are meddling with a regional conflict that has been raging on and off since the 630's. The Shia/Sunni divide has been there for literally 1400 years. Iran isn't just a nation, it also represents the Shia in the Shia-Sunni and the Persians in the Persian-Arab divide.

    Considering that Salafists have completely overtaken the Sunni, without a strong Iran backing them, all Shia are walking targets for genocide. They are a minority in the Muslim world, they are mostly not Arab and Salafists see them as apostates.

    I don't think people demanding Iran to step back or stop existing actually understand that shitshow that would ensue in the whole Middle East if we upset the power balance.

  13. #13
    Yeah how dare Pompeo tell Iran to stop being a state sponsor of terrorism, and funding terrorist attacks across the globe! This is outrageous!

    Source https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-state-de.../30248755.html
    Iran spends over 1 billion per year funding terrorism and terrorist related activities. Imagine if they actually spent that money on the welfare and betterment of their own people instead? It would probably be more helpful than them shooting all of the citizens protesting against the government. Just a thought.

  14. #14
    I am Murloc!
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    Quote Originally Posted by announced View Post
    Yeah how dare Pompeo tell Iran to stop being a state sponsor of terrorism, and funding terrorist attacks across the globe! This is outrageous!

    Source https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-state-de.../30248755.html
    Iran spends over 1 billion per year funding terrorism and terrorist related activities. Imagine if they actually spent that money on the welfare and betterment of their own people instead? It would probably be more helpful than them shooting all of the citizens protesting against the government. Just a thought.
    Iran absolutely should be criticized by countries that do not fund terrorism and do not stand with countries that fund terrorism. Funding and supporting terrorism is vile and contemptible and those that do such things are vile filth

    Going back to the country in the OP.. What leg does the US actually have to stand on here?

  15. #15
    The Lightbringer Pannonian's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Xarkan View Post
    Iran absolutely should be criticized by countries that do not fund terrorism and do not stand with countries that fund terrorism. Funding and supporting terrorism is vile and contemptible and those that do such things are vile filth

    Going back to the country in the OP.. What leg does the US actually have to stand on here?
    That's the point, isn't it? They may call it "military intervention" or whatever, but in the end a political assassination with civilian casualties, for the enemy to learn a lesson, is - drummroll please - terror.

    Which, btw. also goes for obamas drone strikes.

  16. #16
    The Unstoppable Force Theodarzna's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by announced View Post
    Yeah how dare Pompeo tell Iran to stop being a state sponsor of terrorism, and funding terrorist attacks across the globe! This is outrageous!

    Source https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-state-de.../30248755.html
    Iran spends over 1 billion per year funding terrorism and terrorist related activities. Imagine if they actually spent that money on the welfare and betterment of their own people instead? It would probably be more helpful than them shooting all of the citizens protesting against the government. Just a thought.
    The US sponsors terrorism, the US backs the same proxy war nonsense. We also provide terrible services and spend legions of cash on a bloated military and foreign occupation and a globe spanning Imperium.
    Quote Originally Posted by Crissi View Post
    i think I have my posse filled out now. Mars is Theo, Jupiter is Vanyali, Linadra is Venus, and Heather is Mercury. Dragon can be Pluto.
    On MMO-C we learn that Anti-Fascism is locking arms with corporations, the State Department and agreeing with the CIA, But opposing the CIA and corporate America, and thinking Jews have a right to buy land and can expect tenants to pay rent THAT is ultra-Fash Nazism. Bellingcat is an MI6/CIA cut out. Clyburn Truther.

  17. #17
    Always amusing watching Norway being praised and condemned by right wing talking heads, as the situation demand.

    Perhaps the US might have more luck leading by example LOL.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by announced View Post
    Yeah how dare Pompeo tell Iran to stop being a state sponsor of terrorism, and funding terrorist attacks across the globe! This is outrageous!

    Source https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-state-de.../30248755.html
    Iran spends over 1 billion per year funding terrorism and terrorist related activities. Imagine if they actually spent that money on the welfare and betterment of their own people instead? It would probably be more helpful than them shooting all of the citizens protesting against the government. Just a thought.
    Gee, almost like someone shouldn't have overthrown their democratically elected government in the 50s in order to prop up a pro-US dictator, which led inevitably to a revolution by a reactionary force of theocrats.
    Quote Originally Posted by Tojara View Post
    Look Batman really isn't an accurate source by any means
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    It is a fact, not just something I made up.

  18. #18
    The Insane Dug's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Theodarzna View Post
    The US sponsors terrorism, the US backs the same proxy war nonsense. We also provide terrible services and spend legions of cash on a bloated military and foreign occupation and a globe spanning Imperium.
    Yeah but those terrorists just blow up other brown people in the desert so its fine /s

  19. #19
    Quote Originally Posted by Mormolyce View Post
    Always amusing watching Norway being praised and condemned by right wing talking heads, as the situation demand.

    Perhaps the US might have more luck leading by example LOL.

    - - - Updated - - -



    Gee, almost like someone shouldn't have overthrown their democratically elected government in the 50s in order to prop up a pro-US dictator, which led inevitably to a revolution by a reactionary force of theocrats.
    So if someone wrongs you over 70 years ago, this gives you a license to funding terrorism forever and ever? That's an interesting take on the situation.



    Quote Originally Posted by Thekri View Post
    I am rather disturbed by the use of Norway as the gold standard for good wholesome nations. I have nothing against Norway, but I doubt the fact it is 94% white is a coincidence given they keep bringing it up. Norway is as socialist as Venezuela, but since Norway is white and Christian, this administration keeps claiming it as some sort of paradise. This is some straight up Nazi levels of fetishizing Scandinavians.

    Anyway, as far as Iran, I am not a fan of how they are acting, but their circumstances are vastly different then Norway's circumstances. However, 400 years ago, Norway (As part of Denmark) faced a situation not that dissimilar from Iran today. Northern Europe was an unstable and wartorn area, rife with religious conflict, and the conflicting agendas of dozens of major powers. Sweden was a military juggernaut bordering Norway, and so war came. Again, and again, and again. Norway has seen its share of religiously driven bloodshed, it has fought superpowers and defied agreements like the Treaty of Roskilde that bound her.

    The point is that Norway acts the way it does because it is a stable and secure nation... for now. When that wasn't true, Norway acted like every other nation in crisis.
    I love how you people always bring race into the equation. As long as there is at least some white people in a nation then it must be racist to say Iran should behave like a successful nation. Maybe Pompeo is secretly a filthy socialist as well? After all you guys keep calling Norway a socialist country, which it really isn't. To truly understand Socialism, one must know it's definition.

    In a purely socialist system, all legal production and distribution decisions are made by the government, and individuals rely on the state for everything from food to healthcare. The government determines the output and pricing levels of these goods and services.

    source https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/socialism.asp

    Norway is a capitalist country, that is propped up by high taxes. The government doesn't run anything other than education, and they do meddle somewhat in healthcare but that is it. Corporations are still allowed to operate without government interference, and this allows them to be successful.

    Link https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffrey.../#4a0da6e274ad

  20. #20
    Stood in the Fire october breeze's Avatar
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    I am afraid you got it all wrong.

    When he says "like a normal country", what he actually means is "recognize Israel".

    That's ALL Iran needs to do to have all the beautiful weapons or even nukes.

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