You may ponder over this, for example: "On July 3, 1988, an Iran Air Airbus A300 (Iran Air Flight 655) was shot down by a United States Navy guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes just south of the island, resulting in 290 civilian fatalities. The wreckage crashed 2.5 kilometers off Qeshm's southern coast." How can a country justify shooting down commercial aircrafts flying in their own air space? What risk an airliner represent for a country on the other side of the world? Were the US ever sanctioned over this? Were the culprits ever tried and sentenced?
That's a remarkably long bow to draw, in terms of arguing whether or not a country should be allowed to host a Formula 1 GP. And whilst I agree with your sentiment I don't think that is quite the way to go about it. However, what is also remarkable is the blinkered and uneducated world view of a lot of the people on this website. It's not their fault. Perhaps they need to get out more. Most people I know who have actually travelled the world have come to the same conclusion: apart from a minority of radicals we all want the same thing. Most people, no matter where they are from, are very cool - peace loving and accepting of difference. It's actually fun to meet them and spend time with them. The angriest people are usually insular, have never ventured outside of the their patch, and frankly don't have a clue about the real world. That goes for ALL races and religions (religion usually being the main problem). Anyhoo, I'd be supportive of an F1 race in Iran the same way I am supportive of Pakistani cricket (my favourite sport) even though they currently have to play their home games in another country - again, thanks to religion. The Pakistan cricket team is excellent!
You are right in everything you say. I was only using that regretable incident to illustrate why some American people may feel uncomfortable with the idea of Iran hosting a GP, and a place dangerous to visit. Westerners are not overwhelingly welcomed in some parts of the Middle East, because of the chaos their countries have left behind. Unless you have the chance to discuss with people, many see Westerners with some suspicion. If Iran gets a GP, that's fine with me, and I cannot see why it shouldn't.
Anthony Bourdain's episode on Iran is really worth watching (CNN); the reality is that Iran is one of the Middle East's most progressive countries. The US (and UK) topple its democratically-elected government in 1953...
William... I almost have to believe that you're just pursuing this line to rattle the discussion. You're going to ding the US... even dare to compare the US to Iran through a tragic occurance? How many terrorist plots, explosions, hijackings, knifings, bombings, (insert any sort of violence you wish that kills and mames innocent people all over the world - has Iran masterminded, supported, bankrolled, sanctioned, etc? Yes William... you're correct. The world would be much safer place if the US just disappeared. Now I know I do not have to even look back upon this thread. I'm going to go talk about cars and drivers and racing.
Granted, the Islamic republic has resorted to highly controversial policies and actions over the years. I do not condone that. But, we shouldn't play the offended virgin, since we created the precedents to that situation, and made the conditions for the Ayatollahs to seize power in the first place. The West don't to terrorism; it does "intervention", bombings, regime changes, destabilisation, it finances opposition, putrpuppet regimes in places, encourage aggression that cost millions of lives, etc.. to suit its agenda. Then, it claims it is victim of "unprovoked" retaliation. That is bonkers; action brings reaction!
Bringing F-1 to Iran will not solve or bring together the major protagonists in this scenario. Can sport bring people together - sure. it can also polarize them AKA rugby fights in the UK... ( or Riots after football matches in Europe ). I'm not saying that the US is lilly white - no country is. However to state that the US is as dangerous or more dangerous than Iran is absurd and frankly insulting. Nobody - no US president, idiot congressman or Senator has ever come out positvely for Hitler like the former Iranian President. what you forget back in 1988 - The straits of Hormouz were beign threatend by Iranains to stop oil shipments on US flagged vessels. Its own neighbors ( Saudi Arabia ) asked for US protection becuase of the Iraq / Iran war and the mining of the straits.... However -and I'll gladly protect your right to say it - your comments are just crazy, and seen though a rose colored filter.... I'm glad you condem all this from your country and ours. but it does nothing. Frankly in this case its just the same thing all over again. the F-1 is using Iran just for $$$$$$$$$$$$$ so in your morally superior comments all you are supporting is the same people being exploited by... Bernie & Cie. same imperial attitudes different method. ever been into the F-1 Paddock? I have, and there are not a lot of freedom fighters there. they could care nothing about anything other than $$$$$$$$$$$$.
Not so accurate. they were elected democratically - but kind of in the same way Putin gets re elected over and over again. the Military has been behind the ruling govt in Iran since - Alexander or Xerxes
Ahmadinejad was an extremist, I'll give you that. His bark was worse than his bite, as it happened. Under his leadership, Iran didn't attack or invade any country, that I know. He had a belicose rhetoric, for sure, but he didn't send troops to attack his neighbours, nor send drones to assassinate people he didn't like in far away countries. He didn't order bombings other countries nor did he interfere in other countries' politics, or on other continents. He was a jerk, there is no doubt, but no danger. But we keep hearing US politcians, vice-pres. senators, generals, broadcasters and else, maybe not prasing Hitler, but condomning US aggression, proposing interventions in places that don't matter to the security of their country, raising opposition, arranging political assassinations, bribing officials, organising colour revolutions, and endorsing regime changes. That's OK for you? Ahmadinejad was a lamb compared to them! Washington harbours more warmongers than Tehran. Since you mention the Iran/Iraq war, you must know who instigated it, and who pushed Saddam Hussein to attack its neighbour, no? Hussein was backed by the US, hellbent on revenge for the hostage situation, and sanctioning the attack and invasion of a sovereign country, threatening to veto any UN resolution against Iraq! The irony is that the US turned against its pet when he invaded another sovereign country of his own volition: Kuwait. Another example of Washington's double standards.
It's so funny when people criticise the lack or democracy in some countries, but not in others, according to their political inclination. Tell us what democracy there is in Saudi Arabia, or in the United Arab Emirates, or in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, all great friends of the USA! So, Putin wasn't elected democratically (according to you), but the same criteria don't apply for the friends of America: Pinochet in Chile, Videla in Argentina, Franco in Spain, Somoza in Nicaragua, Batista in Cuba, the Junta in Greece, Marcos in the Philipines, etc, etc ... I have never heard much protest from Washington about these dictators put in place mostly with CIA help. Double standards again ...
Many of us do criticize these other countries. Almost all of the 9-11 conspirators came from SA. Bin Laden was Saudi Arabian. But these other countries don't usually have "death to America" rallies weekly also. We all have to pay the piper for what we sew. Again, I don't have a problem in Iran getting an F1 venue. Just don't expect any Americans to attend.
Far from me to condone "death to America" weekly rallies; they are absolutely pointless, apart for stiring up hatred among the population. Mass hysteria is never a good thing. But what is more dangerous, a bunch of brainwashed morons parading and shouting slogans in the streets of Tehran, or group of fanatics of another kind throwing airliners on buidings in the heart of New York? It's strange to me that one lot provokes strong rhetotic against Iran, whilst the other lot hasn't even pushed Washington to distance itself from Saudi Arabia! It's an open secret that Al Qaeda is financed by Saudi backers, some even in royal circles. It's the same for the the Islamic State. But not a work of condemnation of the KSA ! Strange, to say the least ...
I dont see Cameron pulling its relationship from SA? Its called politics. F-1 is going into an area where the political tension is very high - so you are taking sides by going there. Sport is not immune to politics - especaially F-1 its is not an angle just blindly being invited to Iran.
Ahmadinejad not only was an idiot - but apparently he was democratically elected and represents the Iranian people ... I'm not goign to argue US policy ... you are dead set that the USA is responsble for all this crap that we've done so i cant change that, and its not worth the effort. Hope you have a great time at the Iranian GP. It is not right - most likely will not happen and sponsors I doubt would support it.
Politics is the root of much if not all evil - and remember that most of the middle east's problems (particularly Syria and Iraq) lie at the feet of the British and the French in the wash up of WW1. John
Like so many British Prime Ministers, Cameron isn't too clever in foreign policy. He sent the RAF to bomb ISIS but at the same time cajoles the Saudis to buy stuff from us. The KSA finances ISIS!
