Theocracy on the 100-Year-Plan

Theocracy on the 100-Year-Plan   By Paul Sperry FrontPageMagazine.com | August 15, 2006 When President Bush said we’re at “war with Islamic fascists,” he was referring to Osama bin Laden and his acolytes in London trying to blow U.S. airliners out of the Atlantic skies.But America has its own “Islamic fascists” right here at home. Once they amass the numbers, they secretly plan to nullify our Bill of Rights and religious freedoms and create their own Muslim state ruled by Islamic law. They’ve got a 100-year plan, but they’re already making inroads.Astoundingly, some of them head the allegedly moderate Muslim groups who protested Bush’s use of the phrase “Islamic fascists.” The Council on American-Islamic Relations whined that the term contributes to a rising level of hostility toward Islam. “The use of ill-defined hot button terms such as ‘Islamic fascists’ harms our nation’s image and interests worldwide, particularly in the Islamic world,” the group said in a press release.”Our nation”? Please. CAIR really only cares about the interests of one nation — the nation of Islam — and its own leaders are on record stating their desire to replace our constitutional democracy with a fascist society (as we know it) represented by sharia law.“Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant,” CAIR co-founder Omar Ahmad once told a Muslim audience in Fremont, Ca. “The Quran should be the highest authority in America.” Lest anyone think he was misquoted, CAIR’s own spokesman, Dougie “Ibrahim” Hooper, let it slip to the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he essentially wants the same thing: “I wouldn’t want to create the impression that I wouldn’t like the government of the United States to be Islamic sometime in the future.”They aren’t alone: * The former head of the American Muslim Council — supposedly the “most mainstream Muslim organization in America” —  exhorted Muslims to turn the U.S. into an Islamic nation ruled by Quranic law even if it takes “a hundred years,” according to federal court records.* Popular New York imam Siraj Wahhaj told his flock in a taped sermon available at his mosque: “In time, this so-called democracy will crumble, and there will be nothing. And the only thing that will remain will be Islam.”* Another so-called moderate cleric, Zaid Shakir , admitted in a recent interview with the New York Times: “I would like to see America become a Muslim country.”These quislings aren’t part of the fringe. They represent the Muslim establishment in America. And they are on record wishing America would be ruled by Islamic law and not the Constitution.Now they have the gall to publicly denounce Bush for associating Islam with everything they would let an emir establish in his place: rigid, one-party theocratic rule; forcible oppression of opposing views and beliefs; collectivism; militarism; sexism; chauvinism; and anti-Semitism. The evidence is overwhelming. Everywhere it is codified and put into practice, sharia law results in brutal suppression of dissent, free will and individualism. Apostates face a death sentence in not only Pakistan, but even post-Taliban Afghanistan, the supposed model for “Islamic democracy” in the Muslim world. Bibles are still confiscated and churches still banned in Saudi Arabia. Non-Muslims working there must still use separate roads and facilities. One of the first decrees by new “reform-minded” King Abdullah was banning photos of women and censoring any anti-Wahhabi stories in newspapers throughout the kingdom. If that’s not fascism, what is?Across the Gulf is another religious police state — run by Shiites, but no less Muslim or hateful of Jews. Iran’s leader Mahmoud Ahmedinijad and his goose-stepping army are big fans of Hitler, the fascist’s fascist. What a surprise. Perhaps these regimes have swerved off the spiritual path and no longer really follow the tenets of their faith. Actually they follow them all too well. Sharia law is plucked directly from the Quran and sunna. That’s why we still see today barbarous 1,400-year-old Bedouin justice like beheadings, amputations and stonings. Sharia also sanctions polygamy, denies women basic rights and merges mosque and state. Make no mistake, all of this is scripturally supported.And it’s essentially what even many of the supposedly “hip,” “enlightened” and “Westernized” leaders in the American Muslim community want to bring to our shores, as Muhammad brought centuries ago to Medina. (The Muslim American Society even refers to this country as “The American Medina” in its literature.) Even after 9-11, they’ve won a number of concessions from cities with large Muslim communities. Mosques can now override noise ordinances and blare their calls to prayer five times a day, for example. And more Muslim kids can ditch public school on Muslim holidays. They see 9-11 not as a setback for their cause but a chance to “educate” Americans about Islam and gain wider acceptance and bigger footholds in our society. And they’re in no rush. Abdurahman Alamoudi, the godfather of their movement, counseled patience — an Islamic Republic of America, even if it takes 100 years.Until that time, CAIR and other Muslim activists are steadily institutionalizing Islam at the local level, exploiting the very religious freedoms and tolerances they would ban. Here are some recent milestones:* In North Seattle, Wash., a public pool agreed to set up a swim time for Muslim women in which men, even male lifeguards, are banned. * In Hamtramck, Mich., officials amended a noise ordinance to let mosques broadcast calls to prayer over loudspeakers — despite complaints that the Arabic chants, repeated five times a day, are a nuisance. * In Irvington, N.J., public schools agreed to close for Muslim holidays, joining schools in Paterson and Trenton, as well as ones in Dearborn, Mich., that have recognized Islamic holy days. * In Fairfax, Va., public schools agreed to produce local TV announcements in Arabic and Farsi. * In San Francisco, a federal appeals court gave its blessing to Muslim role-playing exercises in California public schools, even though the pro-Islamic lessons — written by Saudi-backed consultants — appear designed to promote the religion rather than simply teach its history. * In Kansas City, airport officials agreed to install special wash basins in restrooms for Muslim taxi drivers who complained they couldn’t easily wash their feet before praying. What if Muslim activists could realize their dream of overturning the entire U.S. system of government in favor of a religious police state for Allah? What then? Think Iran, think Saudi. And picture the following: * New York without Lady Liberty — the statue would be one of the first monuments destroyed. Even the Starbucks goddess would be scrubbed from the coffee chain’s logo, as was done in Saudi Arabia. * Women covered from head to toe while in public, forbidden from baring their legs, arms, necks, hair and even ears except in the company of other women or their husbands or close male relatives. * Legalized domestic violence, as per the Quran. (Husbands may beat their wives, but only after verbal warnings and a period of sexual denial fail to correct their disobedience.) * Legalized polygyny — one man married to more than one wife — with up to four wives per man. * Men divorcing their wives simply by orally declaring “I divorce you” three times. (The split is then valid. The Quran doesn’t offer the same right to wives. Also, fathers would automatically get custody of children.) * Women barred from voting or driving. * Two female witnesses required in court for every one male witness. * Thieves with amputated right hands. * Homosexuals put to death. * Critics of Muhammad locked up (cartoonists included). * Apostates executed. * Liquor stores shut down. Beer and wine yanked from grocery store shelves, along with pork products and dog food (as dogs are barred from households under Islam). Napa out of business. * Razed churches and synagogues. Bibles removed from all hotel rooms. * Non-Muslims driving in separate lanes, using separate bathrooms. * Playing cards and chips banned (since gambling is haram, forbidden, by Islam). Las Vegas bankrupt. * “The Three Little Pigs” burned, along with Piglet dolls (as pigs are considered vile in Islam). * Toilets facing away from Mecca (so as not to offend Allah). * Mortgages, credit cards, savings accounts, life insurance and most retirement funds outlawed (because they’re based on interest, which also is forbidden by Islam). Wall Street shuttered. * Industries dealing in alcohol, entertainment, pork products, conventional banking services and other so-called vices forbidden by the Quran also shut down. Economic depression. * Birthday parties forbidden (because there is no evidence in the Quran that Muhammad celebrated his birthday, and devout Muslims strive to imitate their prophet’s life in every way). * No more Thanksgiving (replaced by Ramadan) or Christmas (replaced by Eid). * Museums and art galleries closed (as Islam bans human representation in art). * Media critical of the emir of the White House censored. * Arabic as the official language of America. * “In Allah We Trust” emblazoned on our currency. Don’t laugh — especially you 49% who told Gallup you believe U.S. Muslims are loyal to the United States. Given high Muslim immigration and birth rates, their dream could one day be within reach. Some sharia laws are already recognized in parts of Canada and Europe. And America is no less a target of a global Islamic movement to pressure Western society into abiding by Islamic laws.The movement is driven by the militant Muslim Brotherhood and bankrolled by Arab governments. In addition to Saudi funding, CAIR just last month got an endowment from the United Arab Emirates (which already owns the deed to CAIR’s D.C. headquarters) to help launch a new $50 million campaign to mainstream Islam in America.Part of that campaign involves stocking U.S. libraries — first in neighborhoods, then college campuses — with pro-Islamic propaganda. It also involves pressuring corporate America to accommodate Muslim religious customs in the workplace , such as giving Muslim employees time off to attend Friday mosque and letting them wear head scarves and beards even when it violates long-standing dress codes and presents safety and security issues.CAIR plays the race card. If board members don’t accept the group’s “offer,” it cries bigotry. It’s cultural extortion, and no one should give in to it. Those who do only help the Islamic fascists achieve their subversive goal of turning America into a mullahcracy

By Paul Sperry
FrontPageMagazine.com | August 15, 2006 When President Bush said we’re at “war with Islamic fascists,” he was referring to Osama bin Laden and his acolytes in London trying to blow
U.S. airliners out of the Atlantic skies.But
America has its own “Islamic fascists” right here at home. Once they amass the numbers, they secretly plan to nullify our Bill of Rights and religious freedoms and create their own Muslim state ruled by Islamic law. They’ve got a 100-year plan, but they’re already making inroads.

Astoundingly, some of them head the allegedly moderate Muslim groups who protested Bush’s use of the phrase “Islamic fascists.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations whined that the term contributes to a rising level of hostility toward Islam. “The use of ill-defined hot button terms such as ‘Islamic fascists’ harms our nation’s image and interests worldwide, particularly in the Islamic world,” the group said in a press release.

“Our nation”? Please. CAIR really only cares about the interests of one nation — the nation of Islam — and its own leaders are on record stating their desire to replace our constitutional democracy with a fascist society (as we know it) represented by sharia law.

“Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant,” CAIR co-founder Omar Ahmad once told a Muslim audience in Fremont, Ca. “The Quran should be the highest authority in
America.”

Lest anyone think he was misquoted, CAIR’s own spokesman, Dougie “Ibrahim” Hooper, let it slip to the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he essentially wants the same thing: “I wouldn’t want to create the impression that I wouldn’t like the government of the
United States to be Islamic sometime in the future.”

They aren’t alone:

* The former head of the American Muslim Council — supposedly the “most mainstream Muslim organization in America” —  exhorted Muslims to turn the U.S. into an Islamic nation ruled by Quranic law even if it takes “a hundred years,” according to federal court records.

* Popular
New York imam Siraj Wahhaj told his flock in a taped sermon available at his mosque: “In time, this so-called democracy will crumble, and there will be nothing. And the only thing that will remain will be Islam.”

* Another so-called moderate cleric, Zaid Shakir, admitted in a recent interview with the New York Times: “I would like to see
America become a Muslim country.”

These quislings aren’t part of the fringe. They represent the Muslim establishment in
America. And they are on record wishing
America would be ruled by Islamic law and not the Constitution.

Now they have the gall to publicly denounce Bush for associating Islam with everything they would let an emir establish in his place: rigid, one-party theocratic rule; forcible oppression of opposing views and beliefs; collectivism; militarism; sexism; chauvinism; and anti-Semitism.

The evidence is overwhelming. Everywhere it is codified and put into practice, sharia law results in brutal suppression of dissent, free will and individualism. Apostates face a death sentence in not only Pakistan, but even post-Taliban
Afghanistan, the supposed model for “Islamic democracy” in the Muslim world. Bibles are still confiscated and churches still banned in
Saudi Arabia. Non-Muslims working there must still use separate roads and facilities. One of the first decrees by new “reform-minded” King Abdullah was banning photos of women and censoring any anti-Wahhabi stories in newspapers throughout the kingdom. If that’s not fascism, what is?

Across the Gulf is another religious police state — run by Shiites, but no less Muslim or hateful of Jews.
Iran’s leader Mahmoud Ahmedinijad and his goose-stepping army are big fans of Hitler, the fascist’s fascist. What a surprise.

Perhaps these regimes have swerved off the spiritual path and no longer really follow the tenets of their faith. Actually they follow them all too well. Sharia law is plucked directly from the Quran and sunna. That’s why we still see today barbarous 1,400-year-old Bedouin justice like beheadings, amputations and stonings. Sharia also sanctions polygamy, denies women basic rights and merges mosque and state. Make no mistake, all of this is scripturally supported.

And it’s essentially what even many of the supposedly “hip,” “enlightened” and “Westernized” leaders in the American Muslim community want to bring to our shores, as Muhammad brought centuries ago to
Medina. (The Muslim American Society even refers to this country as “The American Medina” in its literature.)

Even after 9-11, they’ve won a number of concessions from cities with large Muslim communities. Mosques can now override noise ordinances and blare their calls to prayer five times a day, for example. And more Muslim kids can ditch public school on Muslim holidays. They see 9-11 not as a setback for their cause but a chance to “educate” Americans about Islam and gain wider acceptance and bigger footholds in our society. And they’re in no rush. Abdurahman Alamoudi, the godfather of their movement, counseled patience — an Islamic Republic of America, even if it takes 100 years.

Until that time, CAIR and other Muslim activists are steadily institutionalizing Islam at the local level, exploiting the very religious freedoms and tolerances they would ban. Here are some recent milestones:

* In North Seattle, Wash., a public pool agreed to set up a swim time for Muslim women in which men, even male lifeguards, are banned.

* In Hamtramck, Mich., officials amended a noise ordinance to let mosques broadcast calls to prayer over loudspeakers — despite complaints that the Arabic chants, repeated five times a day, are a nuisance.

* In Irvington, N.J., public schools agreed to close for Muslim holidays, joining schools in Paterson and Trenton, as well as ones in Dearborn, Mich., that have recognized Islamic holy days.

* In
Fairfax, Va., public schools agreed to produce local TV announcements in Arabic and Farsi.

* In San Francisco, a federal appeals court gave its blessing to Muslim role-playing exercises in
California public schools, even though the pro-Islamic lessons — written by Saudi-backed consultants — appear designed to promote the religion rather than simply teach its history.

* In
Kansas City, airport officials agreed to install special wash basins in restrooms for Muslim taxi drivers who complained they couldn’t easily wash their feet before praying.

What if Muslim activists could realize their dream of overturning the entire
U.S. system of government in favor of a religious police state for Allah? What then? Think
Iran, think Saudi. And picture the following:

*
New York without Lady Liberty — the statue would be one of the first monuments destroyed. Even the Starbucks goddess would be scrubbed from the coffee chain’s logo, as was done in
Saudi Arabia.

* Women covered from head to toe while in public, forbidden from baring their legs, arms, necks, hair and even ears except in the company of other women or their husbands or close male relatives.

* Legalized domestic violence, as per the Quran. (Husbands may beat their wives, but only after verbal warnings and a period of sexual denial fail to correct their disobedience.)

* Legalized polygyny — one man married to more than one wife — with up to four wives per man.

* Men divorcing their wives simply by orally declaring “I divorce you” three times. (The split is then valid. The Quran doesn’t offer the same right to wives. Also, fathers would automatically get custody of children.)

* Women barred from voting or driving.

* Two female witnesses required in court for every one male witness.

* Thieves with amputated right hands.

* Homosexuals put to death.

* Critics of Muhammad locked up (cartoonists included).

* Apostates executed.

* Liquor stores shut down. Beer and wine yanked from grocery store shelves, along with pork products and dog food (as dogs are barred from households under Islam). Napa out of business.

* Razed churches and synagogues. Bibles removed from all hotel rooms.

* Non-Muslims driving in separate lanes, using separate bathrooms.

* Playing cards and chips banned (since gambling is haram, forbidden, by Islam). Las Vegas bankrupt.

* “The Three Little Pigs” burned, along with Piglet dolls (as pigs are considered vile in Islam).

* Toilets facing away from Mecca (so as not to offend Allah).

* Mortgages, credit cards, savings accounts, life insurance and most retirement funds outlawed (because they’re based on interest, which also is forbidden by Islam). Wall Street shuttered.

* Industries dealing in alcohol, entertainment, pork products, conventional banking services and other so-called vices forbidden by the Quran also shut down. Economic depression.

* Birthday parties forbidden (because there is no evidence in the Quran that Muhammad celebrated his birthday, and devout Muslims strive to imitate their prophet’s life in every way).

* No more Thanksgiving (replaced by Ramadan) or Christmas (replaced by Eid).

* Museums and art galleries closed (as Islam bans human representation in art).

* Media critical of the emir of the White House censored.

* Arabic as the official language of America.

* “In Allah We Trust” emblazoned on our currency.

Don’t laugh — especially you 49% who told Gallup you believe U.S. Muslims are loyal to the United States. Given high Muslim immigration and birth rates, their dream could one day be within reach. Some sharia laws are already recognized in parts of Canada and Europe. And America is no less a target of a global Islamic movement to pressure Western society into abiding by Islamic laws.

The movement is driven by the militant Muslim Brotherhood and bankrolled by Arab governments. In addition to Saudi funding, CAIR just last month got an endowment from the United Arab Emirates (which already owns the deed to CAIR’s D.C. headquarters) to help launch a new $50 million campaign to mainstream Islam in America.

Part of that campaign involves stocking U.S. libraries — first in neighborhoods, then college campuses — with pro-Islamic propaganda. It also involves pressuring corporate America to accommodate Muslim religious customs in the workplace, such as giving Muslim employees time off to attend Friday mosque and letting them wear head scarves and beards even when it violates long-standing dress codes and presents safety and security issues.

CAIR plays the race card. If board members don’t accept the group’s “offer,” it cries bigotry. It’s cultural extortion, and no one should give in to it. Those who do only help the Islamic fascists achieve their subversive goal of turning America into a mullahcracy 

Iran and Syria applaud ‘victory’

Iran and Syria applaud ‘victory’

Syria and Iran have praised Hezbollah for what both describe as the group’s defeat of Israel in Lebanon. Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad hailed the “glorious battle”. Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Hezbollah had thwarted US plans to dominate the Middle East.

The comments came as the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah continued to hold, despite sporadic violence.

On Tuesday the Israeli army shot five Hezbollah fighters in two incidents in south Lebanon, killing at least three.

The Israelis say they acted in self-defence.

Jubilant mood

Both Syria and Iran are long-time allies of Hezbollah.

Mr Assad, speaking in Damascus a day after the UN-brokered ceasefire took effect, was giving his first speech on the crisis since it began more than a month ago.

God’s promises have come true Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Iranian president

He said Israel had been defeated and Hezbollah had “hoisted the banner of victory”, following the month-long conflict.

He added that peace in the Middle East was not possible with the Bush administration in power in Washington.

“This is an administration that adopts the principle of pre-emptive war that is absolutely contradictory to the principle of peace,” he said.

“Consequently, we don’t expect peace soon or in the foreseeable future.”

The defiant speech is the clearest sign of how US opponents in the Middle East have been emboldened by the outcome of the conflict, says the BBC’s Jon Leyne in Damascus.

IMPACT: 34 DAYS OF FIGHTING Lebanon deaths: About 1,000 – mostly civilians No precise data on Hezbollah dead Israeli deaths: Soldiers: 114 (IDF) Civilians: 43 (IDF) Lebanon displaced: 700,000 – 900,000 (UNHCR; Lebanese govt) Israeli displaced: 500,000 (Human Rights Watch) Lebanon damage: $2.5bn (Lebanese govt) Israel damage: $1.1bn (Israeli govt)

Mr Assad said there was no more need for defeatism among Arabs – a feeling echoed across the Arab world, our correspondent adds.

In Iran, Mr Ahmadinejad said Hezbollah had foiled plans to forge a Middle East dominated by “the US, Britain and Zionists”.

“God’s promises have come true,” he told a cheering crowd in the north-western city of Arbadil.

“On one side, it’s corrupt powers…. with modern bombs and planes. And on the other side is a group of pious youth relying on God.”

As Lebanese refugees continued to pour back to their homes on Tuesday, their government said it was ready to move forward with its part in securing the ceasefire.

Defence Minister Elias Murr said that by the end of the week, the Lebanese army would deploy 15,000 troops on the boundaries of the southern Litani River, some 30km (18 miles) from the border with Israel.

In the meantime, international troops currently in Lebanon would assume positions vacated by the Israeli army before handing them over to the Lebanese.

He said it was not the job of the Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah fighters but he was confident they would withdraw from areas in southern Lebanon as the troops moved in.

In Israel, army officers said they expected to start giving up captured Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon within a day or two.

French visit

Overnight, Israeli troops left the southern Christian town of Marjayoun, Lebanese security sources said.

HAVE YOUR SAY With one side achieving its aims and the other not, peace will not last. Jeff Smith, United Kingdom

Israel’s army said Hezbollah militants fired several mortars southwards overnight but it did not respond as none landed over the border and no-one was injured.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy is travelling to Lebanon to discuss the proposed deployment of an expanded United Nations force, in which France is expected to play a key role.

Meanwhile, the presidents of US and Iran have blamed each other for fuelling the crisis.

US President George W Bush accused Iran of backing armed groups in Lebanon and Iraq “in the hope of stopping democracy from taking hold”.

Iran’s president blamed Washington for providing Israel with weapons which he said had been used to target women and children in Lebanon.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/4794363.stm

Published: 2006/08/15 16:57:42 GMT

© BBC MMVI

CBS is now officially the communication for barbarians service

CBS is now officially the communication for barbarians service By Dennis Prager Tuesday, August 15, 2006 A little over three years ago, CBS sent Dan Rather to Baghdad to ask meaningless questions to, and provide a propaganda vehicle for, Saddam Hussein. Last night, Communication for Barbarians Service broadcast Mike Wallace’s equally meaningless interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s fanatical leader. Interviews with evil leaders are meaningless at best and destructive at worst. Few reporters will ask real questions or challenge the propaganda responses of these leaders. These interviews merely offer them invaluable “humanizing” time and ask questions that reconfirm the low state of television news. Here are some of the tough questions Mike Wallace asked one of the vilest leaders on earth today: What he thinks of President Bush, why he is concerned about how his jacket looks on television and what he does for leisure. Never once did he challenge Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s attacks on America — such as America’s loving war, seeking to be an imperial power or oppressing its own people. When asked about his statements that the Holocaust is a “myth,” Ahmadinejad replied, “What I did say was, if this is a reality, if this is real, where did it take place?” Wallace did not respond to the leader of a country saying “if” the Holocaust “is real” with a single question. But he probably laughed more with Ahmadinejad than any American news reporter has ever laughed on camera with the president of the United States. If CBS wanted anything more than ratings and Wallace wanted to be more than a “useful idiot” (Lenin’s phrase for the Western journalists and academics who supported Soviet Communism), here are some questions he should have asked Ahmadinejad: In countries with a free press and where history is understood as consisting of verifiable facts, anyone who denies the Holocaust, the systematic murder of approximately 6 million Jews by the Nazis, is regarded as either an anti-Semite or a kook or both. You have repeatedly denied the Holocaust. Why should the world not regard you as either a kook or an anti-Semite? And do you understand why most free societies wish to prevent you from acquiring nuclear weapons? Given that you have announced that you wish Israel to be erased from the map, why would those countries that do not share your desire to extinguish a country not try to prevent you from acquiring nuclear weapons? In Iran, under your direction, religious police walk around the country monitoring how much skin a woman reveals. Most of the world considers this primitive and another reason to regard you and your regime as fanatical. On what grounds do you support whipping women who reveal their arms in public? And do you understand why such policies help explain why most free societies wish to prevent you from acquiring nuclear weapons? Why do you believe that millions of Iranians chant “death to America” and “death to Israel” but no Americans or Israelis chant “death to Iran”? Are people more bored in an Islamic republic than in a free society? Does your brand of Islam promote preoccupation with death rather than life? Or is there simply a lot more hatred in your country than in free societies? And do you understand why all this hatred helps explain why societies in which people do not chant death wishes would like to prevent your society from acquiring nuclear weapons? In Iran, women determined by Islamic courts to have committed adultery have been stoned to death. According to The Washington Times, “The condemned are wrapped head to foot in white shrouds and buried up to their waists. Then the stoning begins. The stones are specifically chosen so they are large enough to cause pain, but not so large as to kill the condemned immediately. They are guaranteed a slow, torturous death. Sometimes their children are forced to watch.” Do you believe that this brings world admiration to Islam? And do you understand why most societies in which women who commit adultery are not stoned wish to prevent you from acquiring nuclear weapons? Last year, a teenage girl who said she was raped by two young men was not only not believed, she was given 100 lashes by your Islamic republic. Many of us find whipping teenagers for having sex, not to mention for being raped, unimpressive. Does this help to explain why societies that do not whip teenage girls are not excited about your country acquiring nuclear weapons? Last month, a British newspaper, the Sunday Mirror, reported that in your Islamic republic, “16-year-old Atefeh Rajabi was dragged from her prison cell and taken to be executed. The Iranian judge who had sentenced Atefeh to death was left unmoved as he personally put the noose around her neck and signalled to the crane driver. Kicking and screaming, Atefeh was left dangling for 45 minutes from the arm of the crane . . . Atefeh’s crime? Offending public morality. She was found guilty of ‘acts incompatible with chastity’ by having sex with an unmarried man, even though friends say Atefeh was in such a fragile mental state that she wasn’t in a position to say no.” Does this help explain why people who don’t support hanging young girls from cranes might be concerned about Iran acquiring nuclear weapons? As it happens, Mike Wallace and CBS News did what they set out to do — win in the ratings war Sunday night. But they hurt America and abetted evil in the process. Not deliberately, but knowingly.