So I am trying to get a grip on what exactly the crazy right is afraid of regarding Iran. Let me try to guess. They are afraid that in 5 or 6 years Iran will be able to produce one bomb, use it to "eliminate" Israel, thus guaranteeing their own destruction in a bombing infinitesimally more destructive, just so that in several thousand years - after the radiation clears - the Palestinians will be able to return to their homeland.
Does that help make it a little clearer what kind of 'forward thinkers' we have clamoring for another war?
Let's get one thing straight. Iran is doing nothing illegal. Nothing. They have every right to pursue nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's rhetoric, while certainly repugnant, is nothing at all out of the norm for most of the Middle East. And in fact (via Billmon) the most serious breach of international nuclear agreements is likely to occur in the dealings between India and the rogue state, U.S.A.
Now this isn't to say that Iran's president isn't a fundamentalist wacko and quite probably a fascist. (For discussion on this as well as other issues involved during Bush's race to start another war, see these two superlative posts by Billmon. btw, the best opportunity to promote the reform movement in Iran according to Billmon has come and gone and he blames not only the Bush crime family, but Clinton as well.)
Anyone with a basic understanding of Iran's history, specifically the last century, certainly knows that the idea of “a sustained bombing campaign in Iran humiliat[ing] the religious leadership and lead[ing] the public to rise up and overthrow the government" is beyond naive; it's absolutely absurd. The last thing you want to do is create a 'world vs Iran' type of psychology within the country. This would play right into Ahmadinejad's hand and will handcuff reformers. It is easy to see how Ahmadinejad will attempt to play this out. The day he announced that Iran had enriched (minuscule) amounts of uranium, April 9, was the same day that the United States cut off relations with Iran in 1980.
It does seem, though, that if there were competent, reasonably intelligent people in the White House instead of the current crop of intellectual midgets and incompetent clowns, there would be room to encourage the more sane and responsible elements within Iranian society. Ahmadinejad, according to some, won for his promises of economic improvement not for his extremist foreign policy rhetoric.
"Ahmadinejad has forgotten why he won the presidential vote. The needy voted for him because he promised to bring bread to people's homes but nothing good has been done to improve living standards," said Reza Lotfi, a student at Tehran University.
Mansour Ramezanpour, a construction worker, questioned why the government hasn't done more for the weak economy.
"Previously, I went to work four days a week. Now, not more than two days. Recession is everywhere," he said.
Nevertheless he will remain popular as long as Bush and company allow him to play the part of the uncompromising nationalist confronting foreign imperialist threats.
"Ahmadinejad is a source of pride for resisting the U.S. and defending Iran's nuclear rights," said Ali Mahmoudi, a regular attendee of Friday prayers in this strongly religious nation
Soon I will try and touch on a bit of their history and why is so very easy for Iranians to resent and feel threatened by foreigners, especially the Americans and the British. As well I hope to have up a one minute video on the Iranian situation. I'm planning on this being the beginning of a weekly or bi-weekly video post on current events and international politics. We will see how that goes.
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