Comments on: Anyone have any theories why the world i…

By: Naila

Naila — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:57:12 +0000

I think the intense interest in AMERICA is because of the chip on the shoulders America still has over having its puppet government (the Shah) and decades of control over Iran overthrown by a bunch of “mullahs.” The idea that the greatest nation on earth (self proclaimed by America) would be defeated, and its people humiliated (the hostage situation is seared in many Americans’ minds) irks them. Iran, compared to most nations around the world and certainly compared to America’s greatest allies, is a far more judicious nation in terms of its treatment of its people. While poor the languished under the Shah, the Iranian Revolution did help the very people the Shah brutalized.

The insane interest is in hoping to see the Mullahs overthrown — more to assuage American hurt feelings. Additionally, considering how close Israel is to attacking Iran (it is barely held back by America), there is even more interest. The neocons will twist this event to figure out ways to play it to their advantage.

ALSO, Iran lies between the oil fields of Azerbaijan and Kazakstan and the Persian Gulf. Get control of Iran, you can control of oil that can last for decades for to come.

And the Iranian revolutionaries? they are pawns.

By: BuzzK

BuzzK — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 10:17:44 +0000

This is a very long important discussion: why leaders who abuse power are not held accountable, throughout history, except in very pointed times. Fear? Inertia? Inhumanity?

Sometimes, when you want to talk about justice and what is right, you will find the majority of people are vehemently against you.

By: thabet

thabet — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:21:02 +0000

Daniel Larison answers your question, Aziz.

By: thabet

thabet — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:11:00 +0000

also, iran is perceived to be a more advanced nation?

Sully seems to think so:

Because Iran actually has a population capable of sustaining democracy; and Mousavi is as good as we'll get.

By: thabet

thabet — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:09:19 +0000

I wonder how many Iranians who view Ahmadinejad as a ‘president of Arabs’ for Iran’s visibly increased involvement in Lebanon/Iraq.

By: thabet

thabet — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:02:41 +0000

It’s not US foreign policy that is up for critique here, tbh. As someone who relishes the delicious irony offered by pronouncements from State Department/White House (for which I am labelled ‘anti-American’ by BK ), even I can see this isn’t unique to the US, or even the West. We can name dozens of countries which have dubious foreign policy records (many of them include Muslim countries, like Iran).

What I find more annoying and worthy of derision is stupid pundits and ignorant people who fail to hold their own govts accountable. Both the US and UK re-elected people who carried out an illegal invasion of another country based on lies. What does that say about us?

By: BuzzK

BuzzK — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:33:31 +0000

Yeah, the US is very unique in this respect.

By: Willow

Willow — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:09:09 +0000

Sort of. Here’s the thing: Mubarak has the US totally convinced that there are 2 choices: him, or the Muslim Brotherhood. An MB/coalition MB and other ultraconservatives would put Israel at risk, since the destruction of Israel is one of the main talking points of most fundamentalist groups in Egypt. So in the event that the Mubarak regime was overthrown by popular uprising, one of three things would happen:

1. Egypt would invade Israel
2. Israel would preemptively invade Egypt
3. The US would invade Egypt with the aim of preventing scenarios 1 and 2.

All of these are messy. Better to let Mubarak continue to do whatever he wants, as long as he keeps a lid on the worst parts. Mubarak knows quite well that US aid is a bribe to keep the peace with Israel, and he’s had the last 4 US presidents over a barrel because of it.

By: johnpi

johnpi — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:41:37 +0000

I don’t know about “no one” but you’ve pegged the morally challenged US foreign policy community. Spot on.

By: Lawrence of Arabia

Lawrence of Arabia — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:29:34 +0000

No one would care if Iran were totalitarian if they could be bought off by Western money in the way Egypt has been. In fact, they would prefer it. Strongly centralized governments are easier to deal with.