Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihlpg.UUCP
Path: utzoo!lsuc!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ihlpg!tan
From: tan@ihlpg.UUCP (Bill Tanenbaum)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Islamic tolerance (is not the subject)
Message-ID: <1574@ihlpg.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Jan-86 19:35:01 EST
Article-I.D.: ihlpg.1574
Posted: Wed Jan 22 19:35:01 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 24-Jan-86 22:34:41 EST
References: <63@ubc-vision.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 38

> > [Me]
> > Israel views Iraq (a potentially powerful Arab country) as a greater enemy
> > in the long run than Iran, a non-Arab country which under the Shah had
> > friendly relations with Israel and was Israel's main oil supplier.  Israel
> > has always viewed the armies of the Arab states as the main threat to its
> > existence, not terrorism.  Israel would not like Iraq to win the war.
> 
> Farzin Mokhtarian
> 1. Iran under Khomeini is very different from Iran under the shah. No matter
>    what  the state of the past relations between Iran and Israel, it doesn't
>    apply to the present day Iran.
-----
But it might to a future Iran.  Iran, after all, is not an Arab country.
-----
> 2. It is Khomeini who has announced his intentions to liberate Palestine when
>    he gets Iraq out of the way not Saddaam Hosein. Do you have proof that he
>    intends to do otherwise?
-----
Khomeini won't live that long.
-----
> 3. Israel is militarily superior to the combined armies of *all* the Arab
>    countries. I don't believe that fear of a possible Iraqi victory would
>    convince Israel to arm the ayatollah.
-----
The precarious status of Iranian Jews is also relevent.
Also, the military superiority of Israel is not an axiom.  It needs work.
-----
> 4. I agree that terrorism does not threaten the existence of Israel. Is this
>    a good enough reason for Israel to arm the terrorists? What about all the
>    people who are killed by the terrorists? 
-----
Israel does not arm the terrorists.  Iran (Libya, Syria, etc.) arm the
terrorists.  Are you suggesting that Israel gives arms to Iran so that
Iran can give them to terrorists?  Pretty despicable accusation, if
you really mean it.  It's amazing what contortions you will go through
to blame Israel for everything and anything.
-- 
Bill Tanenbaum - AT&T Bell Labs - Naperville IL  ihnp4!ihlpg!tan