[Jake The Goose]

I worry that we categorize the Iranian people - simply because their leaders are nuts.

I went to college from 1977-1981 at The Citadel - a military university. I played soccer. The Citadel had about 60 Iranian students - sent over by the Shah to educate his future military leaders.

These were by among kindest, most generous men I ever met. They were true Muslims, respectful, intelligent - and deeply religious. They also loved Americans. If you needed to borrow money - they were first to offer - need to borrow a car - they would lend it.

At the end of my freshman year - when the Shah was over thrown - these men were told to return to Iran. When they got home - they were executed - along with most of their families - it was a tragedy I will never forget.

I believe the Iranian people (not the leaders) are wonderful people, and they represent our best avenue for peace. Find a way to get them to work the issue internally - and I think Iran can and will once again become a great friend of the USA.

I have no idea how you do that - but I hope smarter people do.

I truly believe that - I have reason and experience to make me believe that.

[snugs]

I agree with you all the Iranian or Persian people I know are very kind and loyal people.

Even my agent for the company I work for in Iran are very kind and considerate and during mum's illness were always the first to say don't worry if you make a mistake etc and even corrected a few of them for me before forwarding to customers.

When mum died and I advised them because I needed to let them know I would not be at work on the day of the funeral the message of condolence they sent was wonderful.

Definitely the best way of moving forward is to somehow getting the Iranian people to rise up but they have had 20 years plus of oppression and fear to overcome.

[OldFriend]

I think many Americans are recognizing that the everyday Iranian citizen is desperate for a change in leadership in their country.

The media tends to ignore or downplay the street protests demanding democracy.

[cake_crumb]

"At the end of my freshman year - when the Shah was over thrown - these men were told to return to Iran. When they got home - they were executed - along with most of their families - it was a tragedy I will never forget."

Even after all these years, testimony like yours is still heartbreaking. We should never let the world forget the hell Carter wrought in in Iran, or that ALL of us are still paying a price for it.

[rodguy911]

Great post Jake.
That is probably our best bet in Iran and hopefully our intelligence agencies are on the job.
The only successful way to change Iran is from within. It won't be easy though, rumors are it a very repressive state that the mullahs are running. And you have lots of wack-jobs in power who want to take the country back to the 1500/1600's, real nut cases.

[douglas-from-nyc]

Jake, you are spot on - let me offer you the following excerpt from Quoting from Albert Hourani’s A History of the Arab Peoples, on writings of Abd al- Rahman ibn Khaldun (1332-1406).

“He tried to explain the rise and fall of dynasties in a way which would serve as a touchstone by which the credibility of historical narratives might be judged. The simplest and earliest form of human society, he believed, was that of the people of steppes and mountains, growing crops or rearing livestock, and following leaders who had no organized power of coercion.
Such people had a certain natural goodness and energy, but could not by
themselves create stable governments, cities or high culture. For that to be possible, there had to be a ruler with exclusive authority, and such a one could establish himself only if he was to be able to create and dominate a group of followers possessing “assabiyya”, that is to say, a corporate spirit oriented towards obtaining and keeping power. This group could best be drawn from the energetic power of men of the steppe or mountain, it could be held together by the sense of common ancestry, whether real or fictitious, or by ties of dependence, and reinforced by common acceptance of a religion. A ruler with a strong and coherent group of followers could found a dynasty; when its rule was stable populous cities would grow up and in them there would be specialized crafts, luxurious ways of living and high culture. Every dynasty, however, bore in itself the seeds of its decline: it could be weakened by tyranny, extravagance, and the loss of qualities of command”

Now my comment, which mirrors your statements based on your direct experience with those fine young men,

One only needs to recall the words of Ecclesiastes, “there is nothing new under the Sun”, to be astounded that in the 14th Century Khaldum recognized what F.A. Hayek recognized in his 20th Century groundbreaking book Road to Serfdom, and its literary sequel The Constitution of Liberty.

If Khaldum recognized that the vast majority of Muslims of that era possessed a “certain natural goodness and energy”, can the NYT, and the liberal left explain to me why they believe so strongly that the Islamic faith is somehow forever destined to be at war with itself, with ruler after ruler establishing only new Caliphates that subjugate the majority.

It seems to this observer that what the many people of the Muslim world need is a modern day ally who recognizes in them the same qualities that Khaldum wrote about so long ago.

So you ask how it's done - #1, you are are smarter than you give yourself credit for, and #2, the answer is what we are doing right now in Iraq, despite honest mistakes,

DGL