Women in Iran, Before and After the Shah

A question was posted on Chicago indymedia.

Under shah women had all the rights.
When Islam radicals took over they lost them.
How is that US imperialism?

Women4Peace.org had a very insighful answer: Women’s Rights in Iran If you don't have time to read it (although it is rather short) it ends with a very STRONG statement.

This is what Imperialism does. It supports the fundamentalist rule in Saudi Arabia, builds and arms the Taliban to overthrow a government friendly to the Soviet Union, arms and helps Saddam Hussein against the Iranian people for 8 years, supports the Turkish military massacre of the Kurdish people, assassinates democratically elected leaders in Latin America, and on and on. That is why US Imperialism has been and is the main impediment of peace and justice for people all over the world.

Gung-ho American's should really think about that.

Terror Is as Terror Does

Bruce Schneier lays out the proper perspective on "Terror". His piece is a must read.

It's nice to see deep comprehension put so well. And I will go a step further. Imagine, if you will, the day after 9/11, rather than rush to weak conclusions and hasty actions, we just went about our business, acting as if nothing significant had transpired other than an unfortuate "accident" that now had to be cleaned up. I know I'm stretching things to the extreme here, but I want to make a point. If we had acted like this, what would the "terrorists" have achieved? Right. Absolutely Nothing. Yes, they managed to kill a number of people and knock down a few buildings, but that's just a tactic, not their strategy. Their strategy is to instill fear and foolish, costly behavior. Sadly, we have allowed them to achieve their goals.

But knowing is half the battle! At least now we can set a new course: "Courage, gentlemen."