I agree with quite a few points the open letter mentions. Specifically, the “proposal section”, and the following 3 paragraphs:
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“America led the world in supporting the Eastern European Solidarity Movement……”.
“The Iranian government is, by all definitions and international laws and United Nation’s resolutions, a gender apartheid regime…………….Support the millions of laid-off and destitute Iranian workers, students, and teachers, as well as the estimated 23,000 innocent political prisoners who are being tortured in prisons for speaking out against these tyrants. Support the average Iranian and not the Islamic regime……”
“This will be a bold and thoughtful way of managing the foreign policy of America. It is the picture of your message of change, at work not only for America, but the world at large, Senator. Appeasement of dictators and oppressors is just as unwise as war……”
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Below are my thoughts and not aimed at any one person:
Firstly, discussions about Iran tend to become very heated, because, for many Iranians, it is a very personal and emotional topic and situation. Add to this some 30 years of oppression by the Mullahs, and you get utter frustration by those who want the Mullahs’ regime gone.
Secondly, the climate of paranoia, mistrust, and fear surrounding Iran was, mainly, created by the Mullahs and their supporters. It serves the Mullahs and their ilks well to have anti-regime Iranians (from all walks of life) at each others throats & suspicious of one another.
So, the “Mullahs’ Machine” continues to add fuel to fire through different channels and by various means. The incessant talk about “War with Iran” is one such vehicle, because the Mullahs know it will generate unbelievable anxiety amongst ordinary people, particulary, those in Iran. The Soviets tried similar tactics. Mullahs have been more successful, partly, because this regime is a religious dictatorship, not just a dictatorship, with more ingrained ideology & definitely long term and global ambitions; it is also extremely good at propaganda.
Other thoughts:
1979 thuggish revolution in Iran, was extremely well planned & organized, over at least 7 years, and had broad & unquestionable support & funding from foreign powers, including & especially Carter & his administration – a combination of ignorance, deliberate actions, and lack of longer term vision regarding the impact of such a revolution, not only on Iranians, but also on Americans, for example.
But, Iranians themselves (inside and outside, some key ones were U.S. citizens at the time) should have known better when they (students, women, communists, marxists, workers, etc, etc..) were mobilized and chose to unite and rally around a self-professed, hideous Islamic character “ayatollah” promising “Democracy”.
Did we understand what type of “Democracy” was to be offered or facilitated by a Mullah who claimed he was going to sit in Qom, and provide “spiritual guidance” only?!! Had we forgotten Khomeini’s continuous opposition since the 1960′s to modernity and progression? Or the Shia Muslim clerics influence since the Safavid period, or the general Arab-Islam atrocities after Iran was invaded, and when Iran was still largely a Sunni country?
Those Iranians who, directly and/or indirectly, supported “the revolution” are fully responsible for the state of affairs in Iran now and over the last 30 yrs.
By only blaming “foreign powers” for one’s own actions, we only promote a false sense of victimhood and powerlessness.
IMO, Iranians, inside and outside, if they geniunely want the regime gone, must unite, choose an overall leader, take the lead & stop bickering. Iranians have done it before and can do it again.
But, I also think that many know Mullahs’ regime is not Shah’s government, and will not go quietly nor peacefully, I wish it would. Nor can it be reformed. Additionally, given further opportunity, IRI, together with the help of their mostly Arab mercenaries e.g. Bassij militia, will continue to instill fear, kill, maim, rape, and torture as many Iranians as possible.
On the other hand, foreign powers run Military Operations, not Liberation Operations and are not capable of building or rebuilding a country, especially from a cultural perspective. Foreign powers do what suits their interests only (even Richard Perle and Wolfowitz said so on Iraq – see the link below re Richard Perle). However, if these foreign powers genuinely look for stability in the ME region, not just chaos to, perhaps, further their own political influence and economic gains, then Iran and supporting the Iranian people will be a significant contributor to the long term stability of the region.
http://plateauofiran.wordpress.com/2007/06/07/democratic-transformation-is-possible/
A closer to home example for Americans is that the needed support for Iranians may not be too dissimilar to the one the French actively gave the Americans during the American war for independence. Sure, Washington was the leader of the Americans, but without help from the French, the British would’ve not surrendered to Washington at Yorktown.
About the Eastern European situation during communist/cold war era, I suggest you read this. It is written by a Polish person, and outlines some of the similarities & differences between “Islamic Regime in Iran” and then “Communist Poland”.
http://plateauofiran.wordpress.com/2007/05/22/islamism-vs-communism-a-view-from-poland/
Ultimately, in my opinion, it is up to the Iranians to first get their act together, learn how to be part of “the opposition” in these extraordinary times, and then look for the support of the foreign powers to help remove certain “obstacles”. But, talking about “reform of IRI’, “bombing Iran” or “unconditional or conditional negotiations and appeasement with the Mullahs” are not feasible strategies.
