You are assuming that I watch news sources which lie to me by overplaying the Iranian "threat"

To answer your question, I do not believe any of the bullshit that I see in the "news"

Well, I thought I knew whats going on by watching various different news sites but it would seem that you are much more informed. Please enlighten us with your un-bullshitted Iran experience.

What are your news sources anyway, Nigee?

Also, I am somewhat puzzled about the phrase "real threat to the peace in the middle east". What specific peace are you talking about?

The one in the Middle East, duh...

I live here for all my life and the only peace I saw so far is between Hamas and the Egyptian Government. And even that one doesn't seem to do well lately.

One of the only Nigee threads that would genuinely benefit from a bbc link, and it doesn't have one. Typical :p

I was joking Hot Fuzz.

I know steephie. I'm just being sarcastic.

They've been "reporting" that Iran is "only months away!" from developing nuclear weapons for the last 30+ years. Anyone who takes such claims seriously at this point would fall for anything.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26896983

wtf ..... now Boeing are selling spare plane parts to the Iranians, I thought I heard this country was the "Axis of Evil".
Who has been telling lies to us all these years !!

In addition to commercial aviation, "someone" had been supplying Iran with the tools and spare parts needed to keep their F-14 fleet (sold to the Shah in the late '70s) in the air over the last three and a half decades. Those planes flew for the duration of the Iran-Iraq war (a war which lasted twice as long as Amerian involvement in WWII), and some of them if I'm not mistaken are still flying. Makes you wonder if the American ruling class really feels Iran is an enemy, or just a way to keep the peasants terrified and docile of a complete non-threat through judicious use of propaganda while simultaneously empowering an important geopolitical check on the regional ambitions of Russia, Iraq, Pakistan, and the Gulf Emirates.

I'm kinda wondering if Iran has normal folks living in the country as well as all of those war-mongering hateful xenophobic Muslim fundamentalists whose main job seems seems to be buying the USA flag and setting alight to it in public places adjacent to nearby international news crews while simultaneously shouting death to America..... I wonder if there is anybody who lives there who wants to get a job and feed their children and live life without fear of persecution where there human rights are not violated and they their every communication is not sped upon, because if there are people like this I could understand completely why they might be a little suspicious of the West. The good news is they like jeans, Twitter & Facebook. US style 'democracy' I feel will be a much tougher concept to sell .....

What's motivating all this, Nigs? Has Mrs Nigs banned you from betting on the National?

I'll tell you my horses ....Long Run, Rocky Creek, Balthazar King.

You've stolen my short list! In the end I went for Mountainous and Pineau De Re. If you're going to lose, do it in style!

Satisfying :)

Nice little touch ..... 1st & 2nd between us

And fifth, which is rather nice if you go for one of those online first five each way things. Although to be honest the pilgrimage to the bookies after half hour studying the paper over a pint is half the fun.

Have to say it, though, with three of the top five we've kicked some serious arse.

I bet online and was mugged by shitty William Hill and they didn't pay 5th place ...... I've closed that account and opened one with BetVictor,

Ouch. Still, we live and learn. You'll have to let me know what BetVictor's like. I'm thinking of starting an account for the world cup.