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But why is it that people who are open-minded enough to separate the children of the Islamic Republic’s rulers from their parents don’t actually separate ordinary Iranian people from the rulers of Iran? When the U.S. imposes sanctions on Iran, it acts as if Iran’s government is like that of Switzerland or Finland—governments that might change their stance for the sake of their people's well-being! The leaders of the Islamic Republic couldn’t care less that someone like me, a programmer living in Iran, can’t access many of the services I need for my work because of these sanctions. When I freelance for a company outside Iran, I can’t receive my payment directly due to sanctions. I have to use middleman companies that take a big chunk of my earnings as fees—because Iranians can’t use PayPal, Visa cards, or other banking services. On top of that, I can’t download many software tools and apps because their servers have blacklisted Iran. And that’s just one of dozens of restrictions these sanctions impose on us—yet they don’t hurt the regime’s top officials at all. Why would some Ayatollahs, who doesn’t even know how to create a Gmail account, care that I, a developer, can’t connect to Gradle servers to compile my software and am forced to either use a VPN (which kills my internet speed) or switch to Maven instead? These issues don’t matter to the Americans who support sanctions against Iran—but when it comes to the families and children of the Islamic Republic’s rulers, suddenly they all become human rights advocates!

With all due respect, I'd like an explanation too- I don't exactly get it. Also, I'm terrible at my job!

Hmmm... "Deep fanaticism", "twisted interpretation", and a leader "being above even God." The current US administration seems to have all of these things... in spades. And it can be bought cheap. You are familiar with Trump's "gold card" program? Wealthy foreigners consider Trump’s Gold Card visa as immigration fast lane : NPR For a fistful of millions, anyone can simply buy citizenship to the US. Terrorists are notoriously well funded... why would they bother sneaking through a border when they could walk right in the front door with Trump's approval.

Quiet regime change hasn't ever worked for us any better than open regime change. Always backfiring. This may be something you call a "common attitude" but only for those common folks that haven't learned from history. (And, I do find your comment that "even when your economy is down your leadership spends exorbitantly" more than a little humorous. As we find ourselves in the midst of the US passing a bill that will put us another $4 trillion in debt. While increasing our military spending.)

From my perspective - politicians, their lies, and their intended manipulation of the people they are supposed to be helping seems to be universal. Given a position of power and authority, politicians tend to line their pockets first (if not only.)

Quite simply, because they've made deals. Just like in Iran, wealth and power go hand in hand here. The current Trump administration values those with wealth and cares little about those without wealth. Currently, controversially, pushing tax cuts for the very wealthy and tax increases for those with middle to lower income. It is a trend that should be reversed, but we are seeing no evidence of that. Why do we tolerate such unfairness in the US? Ignorance. Pure voter ignorance. I would not want to accuse Iran of the same thing - but I would be inclined to think a similar thing is true.

Too bad you have to read a post from an Iranian before you finally figured it out and came to this, surprisingly insightful, conclusion. It is important to listen to others. Even if people may not agree. And... even if those others aren't from a foreign country.

And there’s no guarantee that taking Khamenei out would solve that. They just might replace him with someone just as bad, or worse. You guys will have to do at least the first part, on your own. I don’t like their kids living here, and personally wouldn’t allow it, but many here would be against punishing someone for whom their parents are.

I was referencing a report by the Pentagon You were referencing what Iran said I'm going to have to trust the report from the Pentagon before I trust what Iran says. (You do understand that, right?)

You should really just avoid the "can't remember anything" gig you've got going on - it's giving out a bad vibe.

Good one, this is called "projecting"... do you what this means, scooter? This is where you attribute your own personal attributes to others. In this case, your failings. The problem with it is that what you are announcing to the world is really your failings. It's not a crime to not remember what you are saying from post to post, it's just it's incredibly rude to accuse others of your own failings without any rationale. Scout-tard Alzheimer's eating your brain level bad.

Let's check your logic skills. If "someone" says a certain 1st group is more normal than a certain 2nd group... Does that mean the 2nd group "aren't normal" BZZZZZ.. your answer is wrong. No, it does not mean that they aren't normal. Keep at it, logic may not come easy but it's a skill everyone should have. (Really, seriously, work on that. You'll need it in high school and - if you make it - in college.)

I think that the portal is just a formal way to say that you are open to transferring. It doesn't seem like there are any actual regulations on changing schools. Unenroll, get dismissed, quit, who knows.. You can join any team for second semester.

I am very excited to see what Ware can do at NCU. I do think Nickerson did a great job there, but it seems to be a good hire with a lot of upside. Best of wishes to NCU and Ware.

These are the kinds of posts I want from the notable guys that cover our sport.

That’s true. But even the Germans didn’t overthrow Hitler themselves—just like the Russians didn’t overthrow Stalin. I had a German friend who once told me that his father was still a supporter of Hitler years after he was gone. Probably only people who’ve lived under regimes like Nazi Germany or Stalin’s USSR can truly understand that the chances of overthrowing the Islamic Republic without outside help are close to zero. I’ve read a lot of books about life under dictatorships, but I can honestly say that none of those regimes were as dangerous as the Islamic Republic. The reason? The supporters of this regime have something the others didn’t: deep religious fanaticism and a twisted interpretation of Islam where Khamenei is seen as being above even God. And then there’s the fact that the children and families of top Islamic Republic officials are living in the U.S.—which totally contradicts America’s supposed goal of pressuring the regime. For example, Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, one of Khamenei’s top advisors, a relative of his, and one of the most dangerous figures in the regime—his daughter lives in New York!

Word salad is the best you can do?

You know exactly what this means.. or you're terrible at your job. Take your pick. Smfh.

Show us a single post. You won't be able to. They don't exist. But keep on being sloppy. That suits you.

You know it's bad when C.P. is skeptical on a public format. I'm not faulting Flo for being hesitant to make comments, but when nothing concrete has come out and Pyles is essentially saying this doesn't look good.. you know it really doesn't look good.

Don't care much about which political party. But I do, fiercely, believe in morality, honesty, ethics, principles, and integrity. In what way do you somehow think I don't?

You absolutely win this one. I'm shocked - I did not see this coming. Not sure how to explain it. Jake Paul at #14 by the WBA. It's not without controversy, but that doesn't change the fact that you were right, and I was wrong. (Not something you see posters say around here much - but they really should far more often. It's OK to be wrong.)

@Undefeated A common attitude here is that if it gets uncomfortable enough, the Iranians will change their leadership, one way or another. We know from past experience that if we do it for you, it will create chaos and resentment for us. Even when your economy is down your leadership spends exorbitantly on terrorism and nuclear weapons . That’s what we want to stop. So our gov’t tries to keep them pinched down as much as possible. The average American doesn’t hold ill will for the average Iranian, or average Russian, or average Chinaman, but until we figure out how to get by without governments, we’re the ones stuck holding the bag.

Even the people that the Islamic Republic presents as “nuclear scientists” — and some of whom were killed by Israel in this conflict — are, in reality, not nuclear scientists at all. Most of them don’t do any scientific or research-based work. They’re involved in operational or logistical tasks related to Iran’s nuclear programs or affiliated projects. Just because someone has a degree in physics and works with the Islamic Republic doesn’t make them a nuclear scientist. Many of these individuals haven’t published a single scientific paper in any reputable physics journal or related field. The Islamic Republic calls a bunch of loyal operatives “nuclear scientists” simply to gain public sympathy and rally people behind them.