I think that Iran and the USA are talking themselves into a war with each other. The two nations have been strongly antagonised to each other since the Islamic Revolution, exactly 28 years ago in 1979. The Shah was overthrown, and Ayatollah Khomeiny returned from exile to take his place. Since Khomeiny's death, other, less fundamentalist leaders have taken over. As I have reported on this blog before, Iran's current president, Mahmood Ahmadinajad, is a fiercely nationalistic leader.
I was very concerned to read US president George W. Bush making belligerent speeches about Iran, and the Iranian president doing likewise. Assertions that Iran had supplied Shi'ite groups in Iraq with weaponry, to be used against the USA are quite serious. However, since 2003 when the US went to war against Saddam Hussein because he had weapons of mass destruction, the Bush presidency has lost a lot of credibility with regards to its intelligence. Because S.H. didn't have any WMD.
It does not pay in the Middle East to send the cavalry in, or even to start sabre-rattling. If George W. has not worked out by now that the popularity ratings of American foreign policy need to be prefixed by a minus-sign, it's time he had a reality check. Quiet diplomacy works better - sending in more troops just attracts more insurgents and other nasty elements. But history has shown (said he, sighing deeply) that successive US governments prefer the cudgel to the carrot.
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This is more serious than we would like it to be Guido and we must hope and pray that it doesn't come to a head! This new Iranian leader is not a bluffer as far as I am concerned and he shouldn't bee taken to brinkmanship. I was only thinking the other week I wish the old Ayatollah Khomeiny hadn't died. He at least kept a lid on this festering pot, from time to time. This man is dangerous! Jeanie
ReplyDeleteI'm worried, too. Every day I worry that we'll suddenly 'need more troops' and my husband will be sent to fight for something stupid...just because the president says so. :-/ The husband has about 5 more years before he retires and it won't come soon enough as far as I'm concerned....
ReplyDelete~Amy
HI Guido,
ReplyDeleteI knew there was a reason why I liked you so much! :) I couldn't agree with you more. The Bush administration is seems to be going on pure ignorance and bullying.
"People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". I wonder if George W. is familiar with that? lol
Huggers,
Gayla
Well said Guido, I agree with you totally.
ReplyDeleteSandra xx
I rented an apt. in an old hotel in Utah from an Iranian when the Shah's reign of Iran ended. He was bringing every relative he had to the U.S. after that time who could not adjust to Komeni's reign. He was an infulential person so I learned quite a bit about Iranian character I think studying him Hopefully George Bush has learned his lesson only more importantly I think Congress has, too, and will not be giving him a war with Iran, too. The one with Iraq is dreadful enogh whnich all too many of them were persuaded to authorize. I thought as you did as I watched the invaions the pen is mightier than the sword, why is he doing this. But I think 9/11 got everyone into the war mood. They wanted to attack they didn't care who any enemy would do who undoubtedly applauded this act if they did not orchestrate it. How many times has the world has to learn the lesson that war often creates more probems than it solves? Geery
ReplyDeleteThe United States is a democracy and gives everyone the right to vote. This last election demonstrated that the heartland of America is taken aback at the direction our current government has taken us in. I, for one, voted for the carrot and am dismayed that The President seems to be paying little heed to his advisors and the electorate. I predict big changes in our government and foreign policy within the next few years. I pray I am right and I pray our allies will wait and see before promouncing final judgement on us as a nation.
ReplyDeleteSam
Sad and scary... and disappointing.
ReplyDeletebe well,
Dawn