think ahmadinejad knows who lars von trier is? that's the key question.

I am aware that people from foreign cultures strikes us as stupid and bizarre. But your penpal Ahmed doesnt seem very clever or illustrated. The fact he keeps writing long, confused, unfocused, apologetical letters to ... the American people (300,000,000 individuals) is troubling. I suspect the writer may be seriously disturbed. Scary.

An Azeri Writer has been condemned to death by an Iranian ayatollah, Salman Rushdie-style, for perceived insults to the Prophet Muhammed.

The BBC, in its permissive latitudinarianism, reports the story as matter-of-fact run-of-the-mill news from the Middle East and the fact that Azerbaijan is a place where British Petroleum has a huge stake in oil-investment upstream would never enter into the journalistically-challenged British propaganda network.

Oh, and the Republic of Georgia is where the pipeline from Azerbaijan passes through on its way to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, whence the crude oil is shipped to refineries in the UK. And if Georgia were a person, Vlad the Empoisoner would have already administered Polonium 210, because the Azeri oil competes with Soviet exports to Europe, which the former-Sovs wish to have completely under their control through oil blackmail. Vlad, the Short, almost invaded Georgia last month after it threw out four of his FSB, the successor to the KGB operatives, as they were planning their assassinations of senior Georgian politicians---0ops, maybe got a bit ahead of the curve there! Vlad the Short just signed a big agreement with Iran, concerning the sale of anti-air missiles for an oil and gas agreement.

Every story has its subtext.

Between Vlad's poison-purveyors and Ahmedinejad's nutty basijis, I'd hate to be that poor Azeri journalist.

To answer your two part question about the Palestinians:

A) Palestinian "terrorism" is a result of the Israeli occupation and stealing of their land. Thus, while they do commit injustice, the greater injustice is being done by Israel. Condemning the Palestinians is like condemning the nerdy kind on the playground for trying to stand up to the bully. Yes, the nerdy kind is probably wrong to hit back (because violence is not justified), but the bully is the problem and needs to be taken care of.

B) No one is calling for "the forced migration of all Israeli Jews" and you are just full of bullsh** to even act like this is a serious issue. For your information, Ahmadinejad calls for a one-state solution to the Israel/Palestine problem and does not call for the Jews to leave Israel. You are just using the typical victim mentality to attribute to everyone the most violent intentions, even though you have no evidence or proof. By doing this, you are just feeding into the same system that makes Israel more violent and cruel, because you objectify all its enemies into Hitlers that need to be destroyed. It is a big problem. YOu are all wrong and delusional in your views of Israel.

Whatever you say Joe.

Daniel, you forgot to mention Mr Ahadinijad's critique of how the zionists have seized control of the financial services and the media. I'm no scientist, but while perusing my bookmarked blogroll I noticed a preponderance of Jewish names (M. Yglesias, E. Klein, M. Sawicky, Yourself) and I don't presume this is completely coincidental. It would appear the zionists have seized the new media as well.

No one is calling for "the forced migration of all Israeli Jews"

Really, Joe? Are they all supposed to be killed on the spot?

I'm permanently fed up w/ the Israel gov't, but come now, sir -- you're just making yourself look stupid.