Very good insight and discussion about a lot of aspects of the current situation in Iran
Like Arman, I too use terms like “Islamic Republic” or “Islamic Regime” to describe the mullahs in Teheran. I’m also impressed that he avoids terms like “islamist” or “islamism”. Talking about Shiraz, in a Persian setting, I think of that city as Persepolis or Pasargadae, the ancient capital of Persia under the Medians and the Achaemenids. Oh, and I’m also glad that he uses the name “Iran” instead of “Persia”, which actually was just equivalent of today’s Fars province (which includes Shiraz)
I know Israel is not doing too well in the information warfare, but I remember Netanyahu, both before he was prime minister and after, saying that Israel should do what is necessary for its survival regardless of what the rest of the world thinks of it. Given that, he should have completely destroyed Gaza by now, regardless of the Greta Thunburgs and the Marlene Engelkorns of the world
I do agree w/ Armin that Trump sabotaging the regime change in Iran has been a godsend to Israel. I no longer consider myself a Trump fan. MAGA, yeah, and yeah, he did come up w/ the definition, but if there are policies he enacts that even indirectly threaten the US in the long term, then opposing that is not anti-MAGA or anti America-First
The best example of the lack of distinction b/w the Gazans and Hamas was not so much the aid controversy, as much as the hostage releases. When Hamas was releasing the hostages, they had to have their own personnel protect them from being lynched by other Gazans before they could be handed over. A lot of the abductors, murderers and rapists of October 7th were not Hamas, but ordinary Gazans
He was insightful in pointing out that the “revolution” was split in 3 phases – first the overthrow of the Pahlavis, then the conquest of the Middle East (including Israel) and finally, the destruction of America. Also how the 3 waves against Israel – the sunni invasions of 1948, the Pan-Arab nationalists in 1956 and 1967 and finally the shi’a attempts by Iran, Hizbullah and the Houthis, w/ a sunni side of Hamas, all failed to take out Israel
Historically, I didn’t get what he was describing when he talked about the muslim brotherhood getting the Navi Safavi (new Safavids?) Iran became Twelver in the 16th century under this Azeri clan which zealously converted Iran overnight from sunni to shi’a. All their neighbors – Afghanistan, Turkistan, the Ottoman empire and Arabia remained sunni, but this dynasty managed to make Iran a shi’a island in a muslim sea. Muslim brotherhood, influential as it was in Egypt, Syria, Jordan,…. hardly had any traction in Iran
On whether the islamic republic is the greatest threat to the stability of the world, no! As Robert mentioned, China definitely is, although I saw Gordon Chang earlier today describe in an interview that President Xi’s hold is weakening, and it’s unpredictable what might happen in China. However, China aside, the fact remains that sunnis are 95% of the world’s muslims, and are the ones doing all the rapes and other crimes in Europe, Canada, Australia, India, Africa and other places. Turkey is leading in this department, particularly to the non-Arabs like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and even to some Arab ones like Somalia and Yemen. That’s why I normally cringe when people try to condense the problem of islam to Iran, which is only a shi’a part of this issue
I was amused at the news that many Iranians are rooting for France to fall to the jihadists, having first infected Iran w/ it by sheltering Ayatollah Khomenei and then doing what it could to preserve that regime. Maybe once this islamic regime falls, they can all go to France and challenge Macron for the leadership, like Mamdani in NYC. It would be hilarious to see the French elites suffer the same fate as the Tudeh Party in Iran
I do disagree w/ Navabi when he thinks only the islamic regime wants to take over the whole world. China has an ideology from the Middle Kingdom called “Tianxia”, meaning “all under heaven”. Under this principle, the Emperor of China was the only sovereign authority on earth. Past Maoist leaders in China, from Chairman Mao himself to Hu Jintao did not share that, but Chairman Xi definitely does. He believes in Mao’s true communism, but along w/ that, he also believes in Tianxia. That’s what the belt/road programs are about, while he has replaced the Soviet Union as the main ideological inspiration of communist parties worldwide. Countries like Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela now owe allegiance to him, although North Korea has grown sick of him and is now veering more towards Putin
I don’t agree that Israel is standing b/w islam and the rest of the world. If the jihadists recognized that they can overwhelm the West – particularly Europe, which is falling over itself to fall over itself, w/o taking out Israel, they could prioritize accordingly. Take out Europe – Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, UK, Ireland…. w/o touching Israel. As for America, completely take over the Democrat party, and then try. Israel itself doesn’t have to fall for any of this to happen
The discussion about the support to the Pahlevis was fascinating. I also enjoyed the soccer stadium chants of “Shove that Palestinian flag up your @$$”. One thing that Arman said where I agree w/ the Iranians saying it and disagree w/ Arman: “No Iranian is muslim, and no muslim is Iranian”. Legally, he may be right, but muslims have only an alliance to the global ummah, not to their individual countries, be it Iran, Syria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, et al. So every Iranian should have to choose b/w being muslim or being Iranian. If it’s the former, they can move to Iraq, Bahrein, Azerbaijan – other shi’a countries that aren’t becoming non-muslim anytime soon. Also, that GAMAAN survey Robert mentioned was from 5 years ago, not a couple, so the actual number of muslims could be way lower than 40% that was reported then
On the question of whether to ally w/ Iranian muslims who are against the islamic regime, I think the answer should be “no”. Precedence is here in the West: in order to avoid offending “moderate muslims”, we have diluted all rhetoric against islam to the point that it’s now islamophobia to bring them up. A future secular Iran should be secular in the same way that Uzbekistan is secular, where any displays of islamic piety or support for islam is cracked down upon. If a Iranian privately wants to practice just the 5 pillars within the walls of his home, he can. However, everything else – shariah law, death for apostasy, stoning women for adultery & most islamic laws and practices need to be simply banned, and that’s not gonna happen if there is the attempt to co-opt muslims who are also against the regime
On the question of whether muslims can be allies, I disagree, like I always have, w/ the semantic distinction b/w “islam” and “muslim”. The former wouldn’t be any threat w/o the latter. The reason Iran was a threat was the assumption that 90 million of them supported the islamic revolution. If a day comes when not only does Iran become secular, but that the remaining muslims are embarrassed to belong to islam and do what the rest of their countrymen have done and apostatized, then there won’t be a problem. But if there are residual muslims, then there could come, after another 50 years, another islamic revolution like 1979. If one doubts me, just look at photos of Iran from the last century – the 1950s to the 1970s: women in skirts, men in suits: it was their kids that went on to become mullahs who drove that revolution. No, Mr Navabi, I agree w/ those of your friends who say that islam has to be completely eradicated from Iran
࿗Infidel࿘says
I do agree w/ Armin that Trump sabotaging the regime change in Iran has been a godsend to Israel. the islamic regime
Billysays
Iran is Islamized with discrimination, violence, and terrorism against Israel and all Non-Muslims, and Islam and every Muslim is a potential threat to Non-Muslims as taught in the Quran. Muslims are the demonic agents of Allah’s punishment against unbelievers, Non-Muslims. Allah in Quran 9:14 says, “Engage in war with them[unbelievers]. Allah will torment them[unbelievers] by your hands and put them to shame and give you victory over them and heal chests of a believing people[Muslims].”
ISLAM IS AHISTORICAL, FALLACIOUS, DECEITFUL, AND POLITICAL to conquer and to subjugate Non-Muslims(Quran 3:54; 7:99; 8:30, etc.). There is NO MECCA, NO MUHAMMAD, and NO QURAN in the 7th century AD in Saudi Arabia despite the Muslim Standard Islamic Narrative(SIN) claims. Thus, Islam is a FACTITIOUS IDEOLOGY and CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION imaginatively fabricated over time into the 21sth century, and there is NO PEACE with Islam and its Murderous Muslims(Quran 8:39: 9:5, 29, 111, etc.).
Allah’s cursed Islam, a CRIMINAL-TERRORIST ENTERPRISE and a MURDEROUS-DEMONIC CULT OF BELIEVERS, Terrorist Muslim Soldiers for Allah, continually fund, promote, and practice ideological subversion, propaganda, bigotry, discrimination, deceit, mass murder, intimidation, supremacy, segregation, hatred, incitement to violence, criminality, genocide, victimhood, censorship, and terrorism as taught in Islamic Law, Sharia, and in Islam’s Quran(Quran 5:14,35; 8:60; 9:41, 88, etc.).
Allah’s specious ideology in Qur’an 8:39 commands Muslims to fight Non-Muslims until they surrender to Muslim rule when it says, “And engage in war with them[Non-Muslims] until there will not be sedition and the religion will be completely to Allah…” Muslims are encouraged to conquer and subjugate every territory for Islam. Hence, Islam and Muslim actions should be legally challenged with a multi-faceted force of Western Laws like Muslims wield against Westerners via Tax Exempt Organizations, the Media and Hollywood, Foreign Funding, etc. because Islam violates and is incompatible with Western Laws(Quran 8:60; 9:5,29, 111; 47:4; 49:15; 60:4 etc.).
Like a Foreign Terrorist Organization(FTO) designated by the USA Secretary of State, Islam and its Muslims function as a MUSLIM TERRORIST ORGANIZATION(MTO) fighting against Non-Muslims to make Islam supreme and NOT A PEACEFUL religion under Western Law because Islam funds, teaches, and promotes Terrorist Criminal Organizations with Muslims as Terrorists for Allah(Quran 2:191; 4:89, 91; 9:5,29, 111; 49:15, etc.).
Allah’s Islam, a supremacist Antichrist Ideology, is using Western Freedoms and Laws against Non-Muslims to conquer Non-Muslims under Islamic Rule. Non-Muslims should legally designate Islam as a Muslim Terrorist Organization(MTO) where Mosques, Muslim Schools, Islamic Centers, Sharia Courts, and Muslim Organizations are banned because of their incitement of segregation and discrimination to fight back against ISLAMIZATION, Muslim subjugation, and tyrannical violence(Quran 4:65; 9:5,29,111; 60:4; 98:6-7, etc.).
Allah’s Muslims desire to make Islam supreme. Sahih Bukhari 3126 says, “… the Prophet said, He who fights so that Allah’s Word(ie. Islam) should be superior, fights for Allah’s Cause.” Allah, the Supreme Destroyer, in Quran 9:111 says, “Surely Allah has purchased from the believers[Muslims] their souls and their money so that they may have the garden[Heavenly Paradise]. They engage in war for the sake of Allah[ie. Allah’s Cause), so they kill and are killed…”. Allah teaches that Death By Jihad leads to Muslim Paradise and Allah’s reward. Allah in Qur’an 3:169 says, “And do not consider those who were killed for the sake of Allah as dead. Yet they are alive with their lord, receiving their provision.”
Under Islam and Islamic Law, Muslims have the Legal Right and the Quranic Duty to terrorize Non-Muslims because neglecting this QURANIC DUTY is a CRIME of Blasphemy, Unbelief, and Infidelity against tyrannical Allah. Jihad means warfare against Non-Muslims to ESTABLISH ISLAM’S RELIGION AS SUPREME(Quran 3:115, 151; 9:5, 29, 111; Muslim Law Manual: “Reliance of the Traveller”, o9.0, etc.).
More specifically, Islam, a terroristic-totalitarian way of life, is a Muslim Terrorist Ideology and Murderous, Criminal Enterprise of: incitement, intolerance, continuous war, discrimination, oppression, segregation, slavery, supremacy, genocide, polygamy, propaganda, deceit, hatred, sedition, terrorism, and violence against all Non-Muslims as taught in the Quran(Quran 2:191, 208,216; 4:65, 89,91, 95, 115; 5:14,64; 8:12,39,60, 74; 9:5,21,29,36, 41,49, 73,88, 111,123; 21:92; 47:4; 49:15; 60:4; 61:9-11; 62:6; 89:14; etc.).
Ayatrollahsays
I thought this was great. The interviewer sould have refrained from interrupting Spencer a few times. But he still did a good job.
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Hudders. says
Thank you for posting.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Very good insight and discussion about a lot of aspects of the current situation in Iran
Like Arman, I too use terms like “Islamic Republic” or “Islamic Regime” to describe the mullahs in Teheran. I’m also impressed that he avoids terms like “islamist” or “islamism”. Talking about Shiraz, in a Persian setting, I think of that city as Persepolis or Pasargadae, the ancient capital of Persia under the Medians and the Achaemenids. Oh, and I’m also glad that he uses the name “Iran” instead of “Persia”, which actually was just equivalent of today’s Fars province (which includes Shiraz)
I know Israel is not doing too well in the information warfare, but I remember Netanyahu, both before he was prime minister and after, saying that Israel should do what is necessary for its survival regardless of what the rest of the world thinks of it. Given that, he should have completely destroyed Gaza by now, regardless of the Greta Thunburgs and the Marlene Engelkorns of the world
I do agree w/ Armin that Trump sabotaging the regime change in Iran has been a godsend to Israel. I no longer consider myself a Trump fan. MAGA, yeah, and yeah, he did come up w/ the definition, but if there are policies he enacts that even indirectly threaten the US in the long term, then opposing that is not anti-MAGA or anti America-First
The best example of the lack of distinction b/w the Gazans and Hamas was not so much the aid controversy, as much as the hostage releases. When Hamas was releasing the hostages, they had to have their own personnel protect them from being lynched by other Gazans before they could be handed over. A lot of the abductors, murderers and rapists of October 7th were not Hamas, but ordinary Gazans
He was insightful in pointing out that the “revolution” was split in 3 phases – first the overthrow of the Pahlavis, then the conquest of the Middle East (including Israel) and finally, the destruction of America. Also how the 3 waves against Israel – the sunni invasions of 1948, the Pan-Arab nationalists in 1956 and 1967 and finally the shi’a attempts by Iran, Hizbullah and the Houthis, w/ a sunni side of Hamas, all failed to take out Israel
Historically, I didn’t get what he was describing when he talked about the muslim brotherhood getting the Navi Safavi (new Safavids?) Iran became Twelver in the 16th century under this Azeri clan which zealously converted Iran overnight from sunni to shi’a. All their neighbors – Afghanistan, Turkistan, the Ottoman empire and Arabia remained sunni, but this dynasty managed to make Iran a shi’a island in a muslim sea. Muslim brotherhood, influential as it was in Egypt, Syria, Jordan,…. hardly had any traction in Iran
On whether the islamic republic is the greatest threat to the stability of the world, no! As Robert mentioned, China definitely is, although I saw Gordon Chang earlier today describe in an interview that President Xi’s hold is weakening, and it’s unpredictable what might happen in China. However, China aside, the fact remains that sunnis are 95% of the world’s muslims, and are the ones doing all the rapes and other crimes in Europe, Canada, Australia, India, Africa and other places. Turkey is leading in this department, particularly to the non-Arabs like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and even to some Arab ones like Somalia and Yemen. That’s why I normally cringe when people try to condense the problem of islam to Iran, which is only a shi’a part of this issue
I was amused at the news that many Iranians are rooting for France to fall to the jihadists, having first infected Iran w/ it by sheltering Ayatollah Khomenei and then doing what it could to preserve that regime. Maybe once this islamic regime falls, they can all go to France and challenge Macron for the leadership, like Mamdani in NYC. It would be hilarious to see the French elites suffer the same fate as the Tudeh Party in Iran
I do disagree w/ Navabi when he thinks only the islamic regime wants to take over the whole world. China has an ideology from the Middle Kingdom called “Tianxia”, meaning “all under heaven”. Under this principle, the Emperor of China was the only sovereign authority on earth. Past Maoist leaders in China, from Chairman Mao himself to Hu Jintao did not share that, but Chairman Xi definitely does. He believes in Mao’s true communism, but along w/ that, he also believes in Tianxia. That’s what the belt/road programs are about, while he has replaced the Soviet Union as the main ideological inspiration of communist parties worldwide. Countries like Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela now owe allegiance to him, although North Korea has grown sick of him and is now veering more towards Putin
I don’t agree that Israel is standing b/w islam and the rest of the world. If the jihadists recognized that they can overwhelm the West – particularly Europe, which is falling over itself to fall over itself, w/o taking out Israel, they could prioritize accordingly. Take out Europe – Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, UK, Ireland…. w/o touching Israel. As for America, completely take over the Democrat party, and then try. Israel itself doesn’t have to fall for any of this to happen
The discussion about the support to the Pahlevis was fascinating. I also enjoyed the soccer stadium chants of “Shove that Palestinian flag up your @$$”. One thing that Arman said where I agree w/ the Iranians saying it and disagree w/ Arman: “No Iranian is muslim, and no muslim is Iranian”. Legally, he may be right, but muslims have only an alliance to the global ummah, not to their individual countries, be it Iran, Syria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, et al. So every Iranian should have to choose b/w being muslim or being Iranian. If it’s the former, they can move to Iraq, Bahrein, Azerbaijan – other shi’a countries that aren’t becoming non-muslim anytime soon. Also, that GAMAAN survey Robert mentioned was from 5 years ago, not a couple, so the actual number of muslims could be way lower than 40% that was reported then
On the question of whether to ally w/ Iranian muslims who are against the islamic regime, I think the answer should be “no”. Precedence is here in the West: in order to avoid offending “moderate muslims”, we have diluted all rhetoric against islam to the point that it’s now islamophobia to bring them up. A future secular Iran should be secular in the same way that Uzbekistan is secular, where any displays of islamic piety or support for islam is cracked down upon. If a Iranian privately wants to practice just the 5 pillars within the walls of his home, he can. However, everything else – shariah law, death for apostasy, stoning women for adultery & most islamic laws and practices need to be simply banned, and that’s not gonna happen if there is the attempt to co-opt muslims who are also against the regime
On the question of whether muslims can be allies, I disagree, like I always have, w/ the semantic distinction b/w “islam” and “muslim”. The former wouldn’t be any threat w/o the latter. The reason Iran was a threat was the assumption that 90 million of them supported the islamic revolution. If a day comes when not only does Iran become secular, but that the remaining muslims are embarrassed to belong to islam and do what the rest of their countrymen have done and apostatized, then there won’t be a problem. But if there are residual muslims, then there could come, after another 50 years, another islamic revolution like 1979. If one doubts me, just look at photos of Iran from the last century – the 1950s to the 1970s: women in skirts, men in suits: it was their kids that went on to become mullahs who drove that revolution. No, Mr Navabi, I agree w/ those of your friends who say that islam has to be completely eradicated from Iran
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Billy says
Iran is Islamized with discrimination, violence, and terrorism against Israel and all Non-Muslims, and Islam and every Muslim is a potential threat to Non-Muslims as taught in the Quran. Muslims are the demonic agents of Allah’s punishment against unbelievers, Non-Muslims. Allah in Quran 9:14 says, “Engage in war with them[unbelievers]. Allah will torment them[unbelievers] by your hands and put them to shame and give you victory over them and heal chests of a believing people[Muslims].”
ISLAM IS AHISTORICAL, FALLACIOUS, DECEITFUL, AND POLITICAL to conquer and to subjugate Non-Muslims(Quran 3:54; 7:99; 8:30, etc.). There is NO MECCA, NO MUHAMMAD, and NO QURAN in the 7th century AD in Saudi Arabia despite the Muslim Standard Islamic Narrative(SIN) claims. Thus, Islam is a FACTITIOUS IDEOLOGY and CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION imaginatively fabricated over time into the 21sth century, and there is NO PEACE with Islam and its Murderous Muslims(Quran 8:39: 9:5, 29, 111, etc.).
Allah’s cursed Islam, a CRIMINAL-TERRORIST ENTERPRISE and a MURDEROUS-DEMONIC CULT OF BELIEVERS, Terrorist Muslim Soldiers for Allah, continually fund, promote, and practice ideological subversion, propaganda, bigotry, discrimination, deceit, mass murder, intimidation, supremacy, segregation, hatred, incitement to violence, criminality, genocide, victimhood, censorship, and terrorism as taught in Islamic Law, Sharia, and in Islam’s Quran(Quran 5:14,35; 8:60; 9:41, 88, etc.).
Allah’s specious ideology in Qur’an 8:39 commands Muslims to fight Non-Muslims until they surrender to Muslim rule when it says, “And engage in war with them[Non-Muslims] until there will not be sedition and the religion will be completely to Allah…” Muslims are encouraged to conquer and subjugate every territory for Islam. Hence, Islam and Muslim actions should be legally challenged with a multi-faceted force of Western Laws like Muslims wield against Westerners via Tax Exempt Organizations, the Media and Hollywood, Foreign Funding, etc. because Islam violates and is incompatible with Western Laws(Quran 8:60; 9:5,29, 111; 47:4; 49:15; 60:4 etc.).
Like a Foreign Terrorist Organization(FTO) designated by the USA Secretary of State, Islam and its Muslims function as a MUSLIM TERRORIST ORGANIZATION(MTO) fighting against Non-Muslims to make Islam supreme and NOT A PEACEFUL religion under Western Law because Islam funds, teaches, and promotes Terrorist Criminal Organizations with Muslims as Terrorists for Allah(Quran 2:191; 4:89, 91; 9:5,29, 111; 49:15, etc.).
Allah’s Islam, a supremacist Antichrist Ideology, is using Western Freedoms and Laws against Non-Muslims to conquer Non-Muslims under Islamic Rule. Non-Muslims should legally designate Islam as a Muslim Terrorist Organization(MTO) where Mosques, Muslim Schools, Islamic Centers, Sharia Courts, and Muslim Organizations are banned because of their incitement of segregation and discrimination to fight back against ISLAMIZATION, Muslim subjugation, and tyrannical violence(Quran 4:65; 9:5,29,111; 60:4; 98:6-7, etc.).
Allah’s Muslims desire to make Islam supreme. Sahih Bukhari 3126 says, “… the Prophet said, He who fights so that Allah’s Word(ie. Islam) should be superior, fights for Allah’s Cause.” Allah, the Supreme Destroyer, in Quran 9:111 says, “Surely Allah has purchased from the believers[Muslims] their souls and their money so that they may have the garden[Heavenly Paradise]. They engage in war for the sake of Allah[ie. Allah’s Cause), so they kill and are killed…”. Allah teaches that Death By Jihad leads to Muslim Paradise and Allah’s reward. Allah in Qur’an 3:169 says, “And do not consider those who were killed for the sake of Allah as dead. Yet they are alive with their lord, receiving their provision.”
Under Islam and Islamic Law, Muslims have the Legal Right and the Quranic Duty to terrorize Non-Muslims because neglecting this QURANIC DUTY is a CRIME of Blasphemy, Unbelief, and Infidelity against tyrannical Allah. Jihad means warfare against Non-Muslims to ESTABLISH ISLAM’S RELIGION AS SUPREME(Quran 3:115, 151; 9:5, 29, 111; Muslim Law Manual: “Reliance of the Traveller”, o9.0, etc.).
More specifically, Islam, a terroristic-totalitarian way of life, is a Muslim Terrorist Ideology and Murderous, Criminal Enterprise of: incitement, intolerance, continuous war, discrimination, oppression, segregation, slavery, supremacy, genocide, polygamy, propaganda, deceit, hatred, sedition, terrorism, and violence against all Non-Muslims as taught in the Quran(Quran 2:191, 208,216; 4:65, 89,91, 95, 115; 5:14,64; 8:12,39,60, 74; 9:5,21,29,36, 41,49, 73,88, 111,123; 21:92; 47:4; 49:15; 60:4; 61:9-11; 62:6; 89:14; etc.).
Ayatrollah says
I thought this was great. The interviewer sould have refrained from interrupting Spencer a few times. But he still did a good job.