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Juan Cole
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Every time Iran is made to appear as an evil foe I feel a prick in my heart: what could it be instead all these years had America not destroy a burgeoning democracy in 1953? Today’s vilification of Iran is reminiscent of the vilification of an elected prime minister of Iran almost six decades ago as a leftist leader needed to be deposed when in reality he was an ardent admirer of the Western values and leaderships. By destroying a legitimate system of governance of a regional leader America opened the door for counterproductive factors and forces to take its place: the theocracy that calls America ‘the great Satan’, the safe haven of extremism and terrorism in the region all would be almost impossible had Iran become a democratic power in the region and a natural ally of America. Hundreds of billions if not trillions of dollars of American taxpayers’ money were sucked up in this quagmire that was in essence America’s own making. The opportunity of making a win-win world and America being its trusted leader was long lost in the quick sand of chasing puppets, abusing power and doing quick-fixes.
Then again a historic second chance appeared to transform an enemy into a partner in 2003 before the American leadership: a stunning most comprehensive proposal of peace and cooperation in the region offered to America by none other than Iran! How good can it get? That very proposal was kept hidden from the American public and trashed by the Bush administration. The American policymakers after invading Afghanistan and Iraq were hallucinating of a hegemonic power in the region. Why bother with Iran when America could do it all? What is mind- boggling is that who were the advisors at that time that lost their minds to fail to see how handy a friendly Iran could be — flanked by Iraq and Afghanistan — in America’s ‘war on terror’ and in achieving success in the region?
Blunder after blunder! This world could have been an infinitely better place if we had learned from our own past!
Every time Iran comes as an evil foe I feel a prick in my heart: what it could have been all these years had America not destroy a burgeoning democracy in 1953? Today’s vilification of Iran is reminiscent of the vilification of an elected prime minister of Iran almost six decades ago as a leftist leader needed to be deposed when in reality he was an ardent admirer of the Western values and leaderships. By destroying a legitimate system of governance of a regional leader America opened the door for counterproductive factors and forces to take its place: the theocracy that calls America ‘the great Satan’, the safe haven of extremism and terrorism in the region all would be almost impossible had Iran become a democratic power in the region and a natural ally of America. Hundreds of billions if not trillions of dollars of American taxpayers’ money were sucked up in this quagmire that was in essence America’s own making. The opportunity of making a win-win world and America being its leader was long lost for America in the quick sand of chasing puppets, abusing power and doing quick-fixes.
Then again a historic second chance to transform an enemy into a partner appeared in 2003 before the American leadership: a stunning most comprehensive proposal of peace and cooperation in the region from Iran! How good can it get? That very proposal was hidden from the American public and trashed by the Bush administration. The American policymakers after invading Afghanistan and Iraq were hallucinating of a hegemonic power in the region. Why bother with Iran when America could do it all? What is mind- boggling is that who were the advisors at that time that lost all the foresight and common sense to fail to see how handy a friendly Iran could be — flanked by Iraq and Afghanistan — in America’s ‘war on terror’ and in achieving success in the region?
Blunders after blunders! This world could have been an infinitely better place if we had learned from our own past!
Ruby I agree with your basic sentiment except for the part about blunders, blunders! Change your perception a bit and look at the fact that the world bankers etc have been working toward a one world govt. and their total control of it. (plus the goal to reduce the world population to about 4 billion people. They couldn’t stand for a stable middle east. They don’t make money unless there are wars. The war in Iraq was not about Saddam being a despot, The one worlders (US CIA) put him in power for hell sake!! It was because he was going to start selling their oil for gold and that would ruin their plans. Same thing with Iran. Once the dollar loses its world reserve status the monopoly game of fiat money is over. Of course they are preparing another crisis so they can tell all the little dumb ass munchkins in the US that they are here to save us with their one world govt and one world currency. Get ready for your chip implant!