Iran, the Lion, and the Rancher

 

A mountain lion wanders up to a rancher's property, looks in the direction of his sheep, and licks its lips.

 

The lion charges towards the sheep, but the rancher hollers loudly and scares it off.

 

Later that day, the rancher runs into his neighbors in town and tells them about the mountain lion. They say "Oh, we don't think he really wanted to eat your sheep. He was probably just being sociable and wanted to play".

 

The next day, the same lion came back. After circling the ranch twice, it charges towards the sheep, extends its claws, and with a fierce roar, attempts to lunge at the nearest sheep.

 

The rancher fires his shotgun up in the air, scaring the lion off.

 

That night, the rancher runs into his neighbors again at a party. After telling them what happened, they say "Oh, we don't think he really wanted to eat your sheep. He was probably just trying to go for a jog and get some exercise".

 

The third day, the same thing happens, but the mountain lion actually gets its mouth around one of the sheep and a claw on the sheep's back. The rancher's shotgun blast in the air does nothing, and he has to aim some buckshot right close to the lion's head before the lion will back down and let the sheep go.

 

Later, the rancher tells his friends what happened, and they respond:

 

"The lion was just wrestling with the sheep. We're sick and tired of you telling us that the lion is trying to eat your sheep! If he was that kind of lion, he would have already eaten a couple of your sheep by now!"

 

What's the lesson behind this story?

 

Well, top military commanders, Congress people, Senators, weapons inspectors and foreign governments have all said that the Bush administration is planning to attack Iran. In response, defenders of the status quo respond "we're sick and tired of you telling us that they're trying to attack Iran! If they were like that, they would have attacked already!"

 

Well, the mountain lion would have already eaten a couple sheep, but the rancher stopped him.

 

Similarly, the Neocons would have already attacked Iran, but those patriots fighting to save America from the fascists and warmongers have successfully warded off the attack so far by:

• Exposing the illegal acts of terrorism and covert military options which the U.S. is already using against Iran
  
• Pointing out that attacking Iran will be harmful to the national security of the U.S.
  
• Showing that attacking Iran will bankrupt our country
  
• Debunking the claim that Iran threatened to annihilate Israel
  
• Debunking the claim that Iran is a danger to America or the rest of the world
  
• Debunking the claim that Iran is supplying most of the weaponry to Iraqi insurgents
  

 

The Neocons have gotten busted in so many lies (Iraq, torture, etc.) and illegal acts, that they have had to push back their timetable somewhat for an attack against Iran.

 

But trying to argue that they are not still hell-bent on bombing Iran is like the rancher's neighbors saying that the mountain lion has only pacifist intentions towards the sheep. Unless we remain as vigilant as the rancher, the lion will attack.

 

This is not to say that Iran is run by a bunch of nice guys. The fundamentalist Ayatollahs are radical nuts. But most Iranians are very moderate, and the government harbors no military ambitions to invade foreign countries.

 

Source: http://georgewashington2.blogspot.com/2008...nd-rancher.html

Garbage. Poor analogy. Not even the same thing.

 

 

"This is not to say that Iran is run by a bunch of nice guys. The fundamentalist Ayatollahs are radical nuts. But most Iranians are very moderate, and the government harbors no military ambitions to invade foreign countries."

 

This says it all, and makes the entire thing foolish. Comparing Iran to a sheep is beyond ridiculousness.

he sleeps up on a hill but doesn't see very far

Edited May 24, 200817 yr by Laozi

Bah, I just wasted my time reading that - bad analogy.

Comparing Iran to a sheep is beyond ridiculousness.

 

are you suuure?

 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want

He makes me down to lie

Through pastures green He leadeth me the silent waters by.

With bright knives He releaseth my soul.

He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.

He converteth me to lamb cutlets,

For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger.

When cometh the day we lowly ones,

Through quiet reflection, and great dedication

Master the art of karate,

Lo, we shall rise up,

And then we'll make the bugger's eyes water.

I want my two minutes back, please.

Garbage. Poor analogy. Not even the same thing.

 

 

"This is not to say that Iran is run by a bunch of nice guys. The fundamentalist Ayatollahs are radical nuts. But most Iranians are very moderate, and the government harbors no military ambitions to invade foreign countries."

 

This says it all, and makes the entire thing foolish. Comparing Iran to a sheep is beyond ridiculousness.

 

 

You're right, the US isn't a rancher at all....

In times of Universal deceit, telling the truth, is a Revolutionary Act.

 

-George Orwell-

That's good quote Yuusha. Too bad that thing here was more than quite meh

 

I'm all for putting neocolonists etc. under fierce blaze of rage but this wasn't good article at all

Edited May 24, 200817 yr by Xard

In times of Universal deceit, telling the truth, is a Revolutionary Act.

 

-George Orwell-

Everybody has an agenda. Except me.

 

-Michael Crichton-

 

Also, "neocolonists"?

schutta.

In times of Universal deceit, telling the truth, is a Revolutionary Act.

 

-George Orwell-

So that's why noone ever listens to me? Brilliant!

Yuusha's point seems to be that the US has not been very good at foreign policy over the years, particularly their strategies when dealing with non-democratic countries. I'd say that's a pretty obvious point.

The problem isn't whether he has a point (most people do), but that the analogy is so wrong that everyone who reads it can point out why. Also, to make it worse, this is an internet forum and not a hall of Ph.Ds.

This is why I read the comments before I touch the first post.

The REAL story is that his 'friends' secretly hate him and think he's an idiot who will listen to anything they say. They actually want his sheep to get eaten so he will lose his means of making a living and be forced to move far, far away.

 

The moral of the story is your friends hate you and you should ignore them.

So... you're saying that Iran are the good guys, despite their fanning the flames of sectarian violence in Iraq?

But most Iranians are very moderate, and the government harbors no military ambitions to invade foreign countries.

They leave it to terrorist cowards to do their dirty work.

So... you're saying that Iran are the good guys, despite their fanning the flames of sectarian violence in Iraq?

 

If fanning the flames of sectarian violence in Iraq makes a foreign nation a bad guy then the US and the UK get top honors for evil!

 

Aside from that - I think some facts would be good to back up assertions. Also, how do you feel about not bothering to fan the flames of sectarian violence at all, and just going there and doing it yourself, like we and you did? Does that make it better, when you are swimming in the blood of your own murders rather than someone elses?

Edited May 25, 200817 yr by Colrom

@Walshingham:

I'm not saying they're the 'good guys.' I'm just saying that going to war with Iran is crazy. If you're familiar with what the Neocons have been up to, you'd know that these people are trying to manufacture consent for yet another war. There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare. And in war, the truth is usually the first casualty.

--------------

 

@Hurlshot:

My point is that the American people should always be vigilant in dealing with the neoconservatives and militarist nationalists who cry "appeasement!" at the very prospect of diplomacy.

 

Don't let them trick you into another war.

--------------

 

@Dark Raven:

Israel

Has created 4 million+ Refugees,

Holds the World's record for UN Violations at 69+,

Has Killed more innocent civilians per capita than any other country 50,000+,

Has Imprisoned more civilians per capita 250,000+,

Has rendered more civilians handicapped per capita 50,000+,

Has Demolished more homes than any other country 60,000+,

Has Outlawed marriage to non-Jews,

Legalized Torture & Assassinations,

Has ethnically cleansed 500+ villages &

Destroyed 350 Churches/Mosques

 

You were saying....

I'm no fan of Israel. I already got into trouble here for speaking my mind about them, so I won't make a repeat of that.

For real???

Comparing them with Nazis I guess is bad.

Yeah well here's my take on them:

 

9/11 was an inside job.

The war on terror is bogus.

Its all manufactured terrorism.

 

The banksters are artificially propping up the economy, to give a bit more time to attack Iran after another round of inside jobs and false flag ops.

 

The schedule for the NWO has gone awry for Zionists and there neocon stooges. Its a lot harder for them to start WW3 Christians against Muslims while in the midst of a recession/depression.

9/11 was an inside job.

 

O RLY? UR PR00F?

 

The schedule for the NWO has gone awry for Zionists and there neocon stooges. Its a lot harder for them to start WW3 Christians against Muslims while in the midst of a recession/depression.

 

What "new world order" - the Illuminati, Reptilians, Skull and Bones? Or is it some other top-secret club that no one, other then -for the most part- crackpots on the Internet, knows about? How about the Obsidian Forums, why cannot we be the cover for this "order?"