69 million page views

Politics and theology in Iran

Reader comment on item: U.S. to Israel: You Decide Nukes in Iran, We Decide Bedrooms in Jerusalem
in response to reader comment: Theolgical/political logistics

Submitted by Jon (France), Jul 21, 2009 at 17:14

I do of course agree that I was positing a major movement from the theologically orientation of present day Iran, but I am not nearly so sure that it is unlikely. The present regime has pushed the limits of what is acceptable to the Iranian population. It is holding on to power through the violence of those parts of the armed forces which have gained most through the "revolution" and stand to loose the most were Iran to throw off the straightjacket of "religious" leaders.

Turkey in 1923, with Mustapha Kemal went very much further that what Iran would have to go through to wipe the slate clean, and Turkey also had to fight against the greek occupation.

In Iran the population is now quite well educated, and perfectly informed about the modern world, well in advance of the populations in other Muslim countries. And more and more it has scores to settle, and a feeling that it wants it's rights in the neighbourhood.

Would Farsi speaking Iran accept the dictates of a foreign anti semitism if it were free to make choices ? Would it align itself with the backward kingdoms and princedoms when it has, though it's own resources no need for them ?

Obviously the first order of business would be to liquidate the power structures imposed by the clerics, but I would not be terribly surprised if a quite different Iran emerged from the likely very violent struggle with the beneficial owners of the regime.

India perhaps would be a first "option" as a base alliance, but the very hatred with which Israel is held among the "clerical classes" might recommend it to those escaping from their grip. After all Israel has never been in conflict with Iran, and Iranians and not known, where they are free, to huddle around tables with arabs, with whom they have little empathy.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (33) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
The Israelis are taking only a minute portion of what is theirs! [118 words]Jay DuncanMar 30, 2010 01:11170762
Hussein Obama struggles not to deal with Iran untill his mandate is over- so the culpabitility will fall upon others. [78 words]YnnatchkahJul 27, 2009 15:00159350
The New Nuclear Cold War [170 words]Stepehn HughesJul 23, 2009 00:36159183
Israel , and Israel alone should decide how she will survive ! [84 words]Phil GreendJul 19, 2009 03:13159004
Best interest of whom? [18 words]JohnJul 16, 2009 19:24158926
I believe that in the interest of consistency we should order Israel to surrender it's nuclear arsenal. [27 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
GreywulfJul 16, 2009 09:43158913
Weakening Israel [342 words]Fay VoshellJul 14, 2009 11:07158837
Whiny Petulance [108 words]danJul 14, 2009 05:18158826
No difference at all [119 words]Lars NielsenJul 13, 2009 17:22158810
US policy toward Israel is perfectly consistent [332 words]Fay VoshellJul 12, 2009 12:50158780
Ms Voshell is right, but the question is consistent with what ? [245 words]JonJul 15, 2009 06:47158780
Theolgical/political logistics [369 words]Fay VoshellJul 17, 2009 09:47158780
Politics and theology in Iran [313 words]JonJul 21, 2009 17:14158780
Wny an Iranian/Israeli alliance won't happen [394 words]Fay VoshellJul 28, 2009 11:46158780
Fayad, Palestine and the jews. [26 words]stevenLJul 9, 2009 22:27158704
inconsistency [70 words]miriamJul 9, 2009 19:16158699
Mixed messages from Obama adm. officials causing a lot of hot-air. [16 words]M.D.Jul 9, 2009 17:47158692
Foolish preference [79 words]R.S. DavisJul 9, 2009 10:30158662
Green Light means go [120 words]AntiochosJul 9, 2009 09:55158660
no inconsistency [150 words]Pete murrayJul 9, 2009 06:34158652
Yea old double standard ! [123 words]Lou from Queens, NYC, USAJul 9, 2009 00:21158642
Sovereign or Not [128 words]Gilles and Elinore MailhiotJul 8, 2009 19:42158634
US To Israel: You decide Nukes in Iran. We decide bedrooms in Jerusalem. [127 words]DebbieJul 8, 2009 18:20158625
Israel as a vassal state of the US [114 words]Regina DalyJul 8, 2009 15:16158624
Agreed [66 words]Abu NudnikJul 8, 2009 13:21158621
So Israel is being asked/tasked to do the US's dirty work in Iran [664 words]JonJul 8, 2009 12:43158617
Israel's independence [73 words]J. SheffJul 8, 2009 12:37158616
Further elaboration, please [86 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Sheryl RosenbergJul 8, 2009 11:28158613
Iran and her nukes program and no new Israeli settlements [163 words]IsaacJul 8, 2009 11:27158612
Obama's Hectoring & What It Portends For Israel [202 words]Adina KutnickiJul 8, 2009 09:46158608
What's good for the goose, etc. [141 words]Rebecca MouldsJul 8, 2009 09:32158607
Bingo [93 words]Yuval Brandstetter MDJul 8, 2009 01:36158591
Mr. Obama's attitude along with Hillary's one. [140 words]SvetlanaJul 7, 2009 23:14158589

Comment on this item

Mark my comment as a response to Politics and theology in Iran by Jon

Email me if someone replies to my comment

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

See recent outstanding comments.

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)