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Interpreting Ahmadinejad’s Anti-Zionist Comments
Excerpt:

openDemocracy (Nov 3) focused on a “clash of perceptions” between the U.S. and Iran with Ahmadinejad’s comments seen as exacerbating an already tense context. The crux of it is that the U.S. has long regarded Iran as the “serious problem” in the Middle East and had hoped to contain Iranian ambitions with success in Iraq. Failing in Iraq and failing the prospect of establishing actual “regime change” in Iran, the U.S. views it as unacceptable that Iran should develop a nuclear capability. Hence the ongoing efforts to bring Iran before the U.N. security council. This clashes with Iran’s perception that it has every right to develop its nuclear capability viewing itself as one of the “great states” with over 4,000 years of civilization. As the author notes: “This view [of their right to develop nuclear energy] is reinforced by more recent developments: Iran has seen regimes to its east (Afghanistan) and west (Iraq) destroyed by a superpower that describes it as “evil”, permanent US bases being constructed in these neighbouring states, and its entire coastline effectively dominated by the US fifth fleet.”
That might indeed explain their actions -- the Mad Mullahs™ are not stupid. They do indeed see the U.S. as a threat to them -- because we are. Too bad you didn't quote the rest of the article, because there is a clear and succient description of why we're giving Iran the gimlet eye. It's encompassed in the phrase, "axis of evil."

The Mad Mullahs™ are evil. They debase their religion, they oppress their people, and they threaten the entire region. They want to do even more than that, and they will if they get nuclear weapons. The writer offers up some of the Iranian responses should a war occur between the U.S. and Teheran: getting Hezbollah to act up in Iraq (yeah, that'll scare us) or closing the Straits of Hormuz (yeah, they'll get sympathy on the world stage for choking off the oil). But this assumes we're going to go to war against an entire country.

We won't. The problem isn't the people of Iran -- they're as decent and likable folk as you'll find anywhere. The problem is the Mad Mullahs™. That's a solvable problem. Think about it.

In the meantime, the writer offers the usual pablum about how everything the U.S. does only makes things worse, so we should just slink away and mind our betters. Pheh.

Posted by: willtotruth 2005-11-12
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=134841