the empire has a special talent in that it can turn gold into lead;

 

 I have spoken with professional Iranian Americans who, prior to this war, were staunchly opposed to the religious government. They took great pride in Iran’s participation in the World Cup, yet were deeply offended by the treatment of the players, who were judged solely on the basis of their nationality. These individuals began to sense that the prevailing attitude was one of distrust toward all Iranians, rather than a targeted opposition to the Shia theocracy. However, this war against Iran is yielding a counterproductive outcome. Rather than toppling the regime or inspiring a popular uprising, it is fostering a unifying effect, as the public increasingly comes to view the so-called “Great Satan” and “Little Satan” as the true aggressors...........more......