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When Ayatollah Khamenei comes out and says publicly that attacks on civilians are unacceptable and he publicly denounces all terrorists and calls for no attacks against civilians, then I'll be impressed...

I guess a statement from the prime minster of Iran is not enough to impress?

(Not sure why you think the Iran religious leaders would approve of the attacks. You do realize Iran is fighting against Islamic State, right?)

Your original statement implies that the US has claimed it was attacked by Iran, when in fact the perpetrators are likely someone else. That is not the case. The Iranian government is claiming it attacked these websites because of alleged US espionage.

Also, let me clarify my original reply. By "the Iranians themselves", I meant "the Iranian government". Second, the government and their controlled media outlets may not be particularly trustworthy, but it's obvious that this was a release sanctioned by the Iranian government. If you don't believe Fars, see also: Link to official Iranian govt news.

To summarize: The US didn't blame them. They made this claim themselves, apparently as a PR move to justify shutting down human rights websites and arresting innocent people, and as an attempt to drum up more anti-US sentiment.

This latest blurb shouldnt be surprising to anyone who has heard the saber-rattling emanating from Tehran.

This was trimmed from the original submission:

Slashdot readers may recall the assertions, roundly dismissed by undersea cable experts, that the cables were deliberately cut to sever Iran's internet connectivity, which, contrary to popular belief, never occurred.

Many fervently believed the cable "cuts" were a prelude to war; still others insisted they were part of a plot to prevent the opening of the Iranian Oil Bourse. Interestingly, no one could explain how cutting only one of several mechanisms of Internet connectivity to Iran would stop the bourse from opening...

Well, there was no secret invasion of Iran, and the Iranian Oil Bourse, after many self-incurred delays, still opened, to little fanfare. The opening of the bourse -- which doesn't deal in US dollars -- was supposed to be the turning point that sent the dollar into a freefall; however, myriad other factors seem to be hurting the dollar just fine on their own.

Why am I mentioning this? Because I think it is incredibly important to take a step back, get some perspective on things, and realize that actual totalitarian regimes are far more dangerous and damaging to individual freedoms and the free flow of information, in a very real and tangible sense, than even the wildest imagined conspiracy theories.

...

Ok, then here it is from the Fars News Agency, Iran's supposedly "independent" news agency:

Iran Introduces AIDS Cure

And here's one from the Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran's state news agency:

Iran discovers formula to cure AIDS

That good enough for you, or do you want to keep thinking it's a propaganda game against innocent little Iran?

"Unfortunately, today most of those having claims about our nuclear activities are the first to oppose and violate peace. They are using all scientific achievements to their own benefits and in line with their political interests."

"You don't believe, despite their own claims to be doing so, that Iran is developing nuclear weapons"

Try getting your news from more than one source otherwise you might as well be living in China.

Have you ever thought this might be about oil. Did you know Iran is opening an international oil exchange in March. It is backed by OPEC and will trade exclusively in EUROS, we all know how pissed the US was at Saddam....did you know he switched to selling oil in EUROS in 2000? Did you know that pentagon war games show a shitty outcome for the west if the US (or their proxy Isreal) attacks Iran. Why did Putin scare the shit out of Europe by turning down the gas in the middle of winter? Why was Rice in such a rush to declare there was a "consensus" amongst the UNSC permenant mebers when it is now obvious this was not the case?

The world did not change with 9/11, the 5 permenant members of the UNSC are still using smaller countries to fight proxy wars with each other. The US would be stupid to use overt force against Iran in the present circumstances but that does not rule out covert options. Anyhow, welcome to the start of the oil wars my friend, we are about to flush civilization down the toilet fighting over the worlds shrinking oil deposits.

As for nukes, instead of spending time attacking your straw man I will simply point out that it is strategically more logical to focus on the "have's" rather than the "might have's" and "have not's".

I apologize for exaggerating in my initial statement. The Bush administration has not broken ALL laws, rules, treaties and international regulations. Im sorry for making such a blatant generalisation. Do you follow the same logic in other contexts? Is it wrong to say that Saddam killed Kurds because he didnt kill ALL Kurds?

What I said in the original post, and for clarification will repeat here is that the Bush administration have shown that any law, rule, treaty or regulation by any national (US) or international forum will be broken, bent or circumvented if they see fit to do so.

The current administration has

Tortured
Kidnapped
Murdered
Instigated coups
Lied (Take your pick. My favourite is: "Right now, Iraq is expanding and improving facilities that were used for the production of biological weapons.")
Broken treaties
Hindered international courts

The list goes on and on. I could list more points, various incidents on each point and various sources for each incident but frankly, I can't be bothered. Those who realize that these atrocities are being committed need no persuasions and those who refuse to acknowledge or refuse to see the harm... well... I have no illusion of "converting" anyone.

So; have a nice weekend, and don't let the clue-by-four hit you on the way out.