These Questions Are on the Test

From Rodger Payne at Duck of Minerva.

Is it not possible to rely on justice, ethics and wisdom instead of on instruments of death? Aren't wisdom and justice more compatible with peace and tranquility than nuclear, chemical and biological weapons?

Please ignore the fact that those questions were asked by...Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his address to the UN General Assembly, September 20, 2006.

Ahmadinejad asked many more questions than he answered, but he did offer this diagnosis immediately following the above:

If wisdom, ethics and justice prevail, then oppression and aggression will be uprooted, threats will wither away and no reason will remain for conflict. This is a solid proposition because most global conflicts emanate from injustice, and from the powerful not being content with their own rights and still strive to devour the rights of others.

The recently declassified National Intelligence Estimate, "Trends in Global Terrorism" dated April 2006, finds that perceived injustices, feelings of powerlessness and fear of Western domination are fueling the jihadist movement worldwide.