Replies

[No offense, but the fact that someone here on FreeRepublic would consider a radical Islamic regime like Saudi Arabia to be an “ally” of the U.S. shows how far gone this country is.]

It’s not clear to me why we wouldn’t consider the Saudi regime an ally. I find it exceedingly strange that you would speak out in favor of a regime that took US embassy staff hostage for 444 days and killed 200 marines in Lebanon. On the one hand, you speak out against the Iraqi war that strengthened Iranian influence, but now you’d like to see a nuclear-armed Iran with ICBM’s. This is a country that has repeatedly sworn to destroy the Great Satan.

You’ve belabored the point that Iranians may or may not have a legitimate grievance against us for helping the absolute ruler of Iran, the Shah, stay in power against his treasonous Prime Minister. The fact, though, is that Mossadegh was a Red who have had Khomeini killed, thereby strangling any theocratic revolution in the crib. Since the Shah’s sweeping away of Mossadegh’s challenge to his authority, in alliance with the mullahs, meant their continued survival, Iran’s theocrats had no reason to resent America. That’s why Carter was so surprised when they took hundreds of US embassy personnel hostage. Just as American intervention to keep the Shah in power in the 50’s had kept the mullahs alive, Carter’s pressure against the Shah helped the mullahs win power. That’s because Carter was stupid and sentimental. Iran’s clerics are venomous snakes that bite because it’s their nature.

Even if the mullahs had a legit grievance, that and $2.75 will get you a ride on the subway. We’re not obligated to let them acquire the means to nuke us regardless of their grievances. Their end times scenario, key in a country that isn’t just governed by religious law, but ruled by actual clerics, foresees a cataclysmic war that brings about the appearance of the Shiite Messiah. What better way to trigger this than to launch a thousand nukes at the Great Satan?

Besides, in practical terms, the more serious their felt grievances, the more important it is that Iran’s military capability is neutralized. Hitler was such a grave threat to the Jewish people precisely because he felt so aggrieved.

I have no favorable sentiments for the Iranians. My preference is to leave these other countries the hell alone -- especially when you consider that our involvement in toppling the Mossadegh government was done in support of yet another foreign interest (British Petroleum).

The Saudi regime is only an "ally" in a sense that they conduct business with the U.S. and use their large trade surplus with us to finance an extensive lobbying campaign here in the U.S. We have absolutely nothing in common with that country in terms of our language, customs, culture, governing structure, or anything else that would typically define an "ally."