Submitted by Peter J. Herz(United States), Jul 31, 2005 at 10:08
Iran is not a problem for the West; but a problem for America. Much of Europe and Canada seem determined to distance themselves from the USA on issues related to ferment in the Islamic world. China also is determined to help Iran's nuclear development. Further, I fear that much of America's response to Iran remains a mysterious, irrational mix of nostalgia for the Washington-Tehran axis that existed in the days of the Shah and sheer paranoia that can't get over being blindsided by the events of 1978-79. Hence, it is best to sit back and let history happen to Iran.
Iran's warped, conspiratorial mindset--which infects everyone from its president to the lowest dirt farmer--is a very good reason why the USA should not try to intervene in its affairs. Nobody in that country needs someone else on whom the country's troubles may be blamed. It is no accident that its likely alternatives are the mad mullahs on the one hand, and the Mujhaeddin-e-Kalq, who hold to an unholy mix of Marxism, New Left romanticism, and Islamofascism. This is no promising seedbed for a future democratization; but an excellent recipe for an unholy internal conflagration that will burn any outsiders who seek to intervene--no matter how benign their intentions.
The best course for the USA re Iran is a public declaration that the USA will pursue a MAD doctrine with Iran--one strike on the USA or an ally, and it's Marg Bar Tehran, Mashad, Tabriz, Isfahan, Bandar-e-Pahlavi, Qom, Hamadan, ve etc. etc.
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