Posted on 08/23/2010 8:34:14 PM PDT by Ooh-Ah
The Iranian regime loves to boast of its military strength, international clout and hold on domestic power. Much of this is accepted by outside experts, but in fact the regime is in trouble. Iran's leaders have lost legitimacy in the eyes of the people, are unable to manage the country's many problems, face a growing opposition, ....
A few weeks ago, according to official and private reports, the Iranian air force shot down three drones near the southwestern city of Bushehr, where a Russian-supplied nuclear reactor has just started up. When the Revolutionary Guards inspected the debris, they expected to find proof of high-altitude spying. Instead, the Guards had to report to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that the air force had blasted Iran's own unmanned aircraft out of the sky.
...
That opposition is fed by enduring social and economic crises. Unemployment last month reached 15% and is as high as 45% in some regions. In Tehran, health officials warned pregnant women and mothers of young children not to drink the water. Electrical failures are widespread. Taxi drivers have been striking around the country this summer, some because of the long lines at gas stations and others because of a shortage of compressed natural gas. The sanctions seem to be having an effect.
...
Challenges to the regime now come even from prisoners. When Mr. Ahmadinejad challenged Barack Obama to a debate this month, a Green Movement website reported with grim admiration that five journalists in Tehran's infamous Evin Prison had invited Mr. Ahmadinejad to come to jail and debate them.
Very little of this news reaches a mass Western audience, and one wonders to what extent Western governments understand what's going on. If they do, their failure to support the democratic revolutionaries is all the more lamentable.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Same old story, never comes to anything, keep moving folks nothing to see here, safe home and good night.
Thanks odds!
I think this needs to be explored and exploited further. Iranian nationalism is a strong current historically.
There is no other way to get around it, Iran has been occupied by a foreign Arab religion for over 5 centuries. Their forefathers did not convert willingly, they fought and died in an attempt to keep this insipid foreign totalitarian religion from their land and their people. They fought gallantly but ultimately failed and those that remained had the choice to convert or to die.
The forefathers of the Great Persian Empire have wept for centuries as their offspring have been occupied, terrorized and forced into submission of the invader Arab Islam. They cry for those in despair and curse those who embrace the very evil they fought and died to defend against. Perhaps the time is near when the people of Iran will cast off the alien evil once and for all and rebuild what once was and could be again. An enlightened society of great governance, laws, and works.
There is no compulsion to embrace a religion that was forced upon your forbearers at the point of a sward.
No Iranian can deny that the only reason Islam is in Iran today is because it was brought by the sward and they were too weak at the time to stop it.
Publicly, not that I’m aware of; privately, “probably”.
I’m unsure of the exact meaning of your post.
Two points:
>>>”I think this needs to be explored and exploited further. Iranian nationalism is a strong current historically.”
I think *secular-nationalism* in Iran can work now & in the future. But, that is not what the Islamic regime is pushing in Iran.
If we, by “religious-nationalism” mean “Islamic-Nationalism”, then personally I am totally against it. Because, “religious-nationalism” will push many Iranians towards how the Islamic regime in Iran wants to shape Iran & Iranians.
As I said in previous post, “religious-nationalism” is often fed in favor of Islam in Iran by All Factions of the current Islmic Regime, Not just Admadi-Nejad.
Surprisingly or not, and based on the feedback I’ve, there are many more Iranians in the U.S. who have, over the yrs, become much more religious & “practicing” Muslims, often in favor of the Islamic regime in Iran!
>>>”There is no compulsion to embrace a religion that was forced upon your forbearers at the point of a sward.”
Many Iranians, in Iran, nowadays are increasingly aware of this fact.
However, many more have been indoctrinated by Islamic teachings, throughout centuries since the Arab-Muslim invasion of Iran starting in 7th century. The same Islamic indoctrination is continuing to date.
Generally speaking, most Iranians are not even aware of the difference between Islam, Shia Islam, Zoroastrianism, and simply non-religious Iranian culture & traditions.
The entire thing has become very convoluted. The Islamic regime/mullahs knows it & takes advantage of the general confusion among the populace.
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