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From: david@randvax.UUCP (David Shlapak)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Myths destroyed
Message-ID: <2192@randvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Dec-84 14:20:00 EST
Article-I.D.: randvax.2192
Posted: Thu Dec 13 14:20:00 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 18-Dec-84 03:21:15 EST
References: <646@ihopb.UUCP>
Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica
Lines: 59

> 
> Gee, wouldn't the world be great if things and events fit into the
> popular myths. Alas, the world is not black and white. What happened
> this week?
>  1) A Kuwaiti jet was hijacked to Iran
>  2) Passengers on board were terrorized.
>  3) Two Americans on board were murdered.
>  4) The big-talk fast-shooting Reagan regime sat by totally impotent.
>  5) Brave men of the rather nasty Khomeni regime risked their
>     own lives by storming the plane and freeing the hostages.
> 
> I'm sorry. It doesn't fit the Reaganite views of the world.
> Cowboy Reagan who got elected by portraying an image of an impotent
> Jimmy Carter was even more impotent. The rotten Khomeni regime
> saved the lives of Americans and others. The world is not so
> black and white. Sorry.
> 
> Maybe it's time to re-think the myths.
> 
> 
>                       -Andy Berman
> 
> "Facts are stubborn things"

    Yes, facts are indeed stubborn, Andy...and here's a few for you...

    (1) The Iranian government delayed a week in taking any action against
	the hijackers, and waited several days even after innocent people
	began dying.

    (2) The "brave" Iranian "commandos" entered the airplane through ONE door,
	an absolute "no-no" when you're storming a plane or building.  You
	ALWAYS use as many entrances as practical, and if you can't use more
	than one, my understanding is you don't go.

    (3) Although lots of "shots" were fired, miraculously no one was hurt.
	Now when automatic weapons get used within the rather tight confines
	of an airplane, people will ALWAYS get hurt.  There is just no way to
	avoid it.

    (4) I don't recall a single instance in the past where a plane (bus,
	train, you name it) was taken by storm where the hijackers got out
	completely unscathed.  Again, it just doesn't happen that way.

    All these facts taken together convey a very strong impression that there
    was a deal between the Iranians and the hijackers, and that the "storming"
    of the plane was a setup designed to produce just the kind of propaganda
    results that you so kindly provided us with an example of.  I got nothing
    against Iranians, but something sure smells fishy at Teheran airport.

    Also, Andy, what was Reagan supposed to do?  With people like you, he's
    in a no-win situation.  Who were we supposed to bomb/invade/arrest?
    If he takes some action, you're all over him for being a trigger-happy,
    militarist, imperialist cowboy, and if he doesn't then you use that as
    evidence that he's really just a wimpy paper tiger.  Tell me, Andy,
    what was Reagan SUPPOSED to do?  What could he have done that you
    WOULDN'T have criticized him for???

						--- das