U.S. rhetoric may aid wrong side in Iran

Mpls (red)Star Tribune / New York Times ^ | 6/27/02 | Thomas L. Friedman

[Valin]

TEHRAN, IRAN -- So a senior Iranian official is explaining to me how the world looks from Tehran: Let's see, he says, Iran helps the United States organize the Northern Alliance, a longtime Iranian ally, to oust the Taliban in Afghanistan -- a regime Iran staunchly opposed. ("We are civilized fundamentalists," unlike the Taliban, sniffed an Iranian official.) Once the Taliban were out, Iran quietly aided the United States in forming the interim government in Kabul. Not a single Iranian was involved in Sept. 11, not a single Iranian has been found in Al-Qaida, and Iran's nuclear reactor is under international inspection. Iran has the most democracy and freest press of any Muslim country in the Middle East. And as a thank you, President Bush labeled Iran part of the "axis of evil."

[Valin]

Iran has the most democracy and freest press of any Muslim country in the Middle East.

Talk about setting the bar real low.
And I'm the smartest person in this room right now, not to mention the best looking. :-)

[thoughtomator]

Now you're the second smartest and second best looking =)

On a serious note, Iran is one of the few ME nations that we have a chance of establishing long-term friendly relations with, without having to conquer the country directly or by proxy. They are establishing a democratic society, and although it is true they have a long way to go, they are much much further along than any Muslim nation.

[BlueLancer]

"And I'm the smartest person in this room right now, not to mention the best looking. :-)"

"Now you're the second smartest and second best looking =)"

And neither of you have anything to worry about when I enter the room. I'll just sit here in the corner and drool a little bit.

[Valin]

Where are you hiding?

[Valin]

Friedman made that exact point on Charlie Rose earlier this week. Your average Irainian wants much of what globalism has to offer. If I'm not mistaken the Mullas are going to have a real problem in the coming years.

[Reo]

The Wall Street Journal has been running a series of articles on this same subject lately. There is evidently considerable pro-USA sentiment among the students and youth in Iran, who see the theocracy as preventing them from enjoying the benefits of life in the 21st century. A movement towards democracy in Iran could provide the same kind of impetus to freedom that Solidarity generated in Poland. Iran could be the first of the dominoes for democracy.....what a change that could be!!!

[BlueLancer]

I learned the art of camouflage from this newsreel.

And here I am ...

[Valin]

LOL

[Loc123]

When Bush called Iran part of "the Axis of Evil" he was speaking of those evil, "conservative" types and not the civilians.

CANDELOUS! We put Iran on notice that we support democratic revolution--just as Reagan did with the evil empire.

Surprisingly balanced editorial by our Red Star Tribune..