[FREE IRAN Project] In The Spirit Of Cyrus The Great

[sudi]

This article may be somewhat dated considering the latest developments (IAEA referral), but it may also prove interesting when attempting to explore IRI's possible retaliatory avenues:

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[Oppenheimer]

Thanks Sudi, very interesting article.

Since this whole thing is still in process, and undecided in terms of outcome....I'm not ready to declare the IRI a winner....in fact, having become more and more exposed in its intent....it's just a matter of time till the IRI reaps what it has sown.

IRI 's doing a real good job of pissing folks off....and that's going to be their undoing.

[sudi]

[Oppenheimer]

One could safely say that the Iranian people have been subjected to the IRI's policies in a negative way for some time.

When it comes down to disputes between governments, a people with no voice in the matter is always going to be caught in the middle.

The resolution to this of course is for the Iranian people to get rid of what ails them, including the feeling of pwerlessness to determine their future.

the prospects in this are somewhat bleak...civil war as a result of bloody crackdown on dissent is a distinct posibility.

Then there's the distinct probability that the dillema and threat that the IRI poses to other nations, by its action and intent may be deemed actionable through milatary intervention by other nations.

While every effort is currently being made to bring the regime into line with civilized behavior, and compliance with international norm, and commitments, there is no sign that the IRI will take the necessary steps to prevent further confrontation, either by greater compassion toward its own people, or by living up to international standards and the rule of law in international fora.

There really are no good options, even if the international community places its full support towards the Iranian people's aspirations for liberty, via UN resolution, financial assistance and other non-violent measures.

In all this, the question of Iranian national pride in reaction to external means to force regime change is a matter for reflection by Iranians themselves....How can one have pride in Iran at this point in time, given the nature of the regime that governs it?

Would the inevitable needed outside help be a point of support among the people given to the IRI, because external regime change is not something one may take pride in, having not been able to suceed on their own?

Probably....but what would restore pride in the Iran nation but a people who have self determination of their future? At present, there is nothing to take pride in...except cultural heritage....but the past will not feed the starving, house the homeless, grant liberty, or provide security.

In the Iran/Iraq war....Iranians came in human waves...en mass, dying by the thousands....where then is that courage today to stand up for their liberty in the face of a regime that will inevitably mow down the opposition in a similar manner, whether the opposition comes in a human wave, or waits to be arrested at home?

Remember, after thirty years of Saddam's repression, there was no internal opposition....they were all in mass graves....Iran is going on twenty seven years now....time is short.

Does the international community have a moral responsibility to protect? It has declared that it does in the UN at this recent summit.

Thus the average Iranian must reflect on the circumstance at present, and determine whether external intervention is acceptable, as the issue is a grave one indeed.

[sudi]

On a somewhat related/tangent subject ... I haven't been able to confirm this, but what I'm hearing from various sources (mostly blogs and opinion pieces) is that, eventhough it's proven disasterous internationally, Ahmadinejad's "nuclear stance" is gaining more and more popularity within Iran. As I understand, the new government is successfully pushing the nuclear issue as a matter of "national pride." Ahmadinejad and his thugs have even dared compare the current standoff to Mossadegh and Iran's plight in nationalizing the oil! Interestingly enough, up until now, IRI considered Mossadegh a foe!!

Hopefully, I'm wrong and my impression has been incorrect. However, if what I hear is correct, it seems the duty of opposition outside and inside Iran to convey to all Iranians that Ahmadinejad's motives are all self-serving and he is simply attempting to provoke nationalism in order to buy more time for IRI. Ahmadinejad seems to believe that national support will slowly yield to international softening and ultimately support.

[Oppenheimer]

Dear Sudi,

I guess I just have to have faith in the intelligence of the average Iranian citizen, that they are aware enough not to buy into the line of crap the IRI dishes out in their name...as if there was some "citizen mandate" involved.

Thing about the absence of a democratic system is that the people have no voice in the matter regarding nuclear issues....period.

It is not possible to take an accurate poll of Iranian public opinion...or referendum on the matter of a nuclear power program.

Nor is it clear that the majority of Iranians would even want nuclear power in such an earthquake prone region...not to mention the environmental and inherent health risks posed by such facilities.

The other thing is what constitutes "inherent rights" ? Certainly the IRI has failed in its obligations under the NPT, and failure to disclose....but it goes further than that...in the fact that the IRI's support for terrorism nullifies any and all right to persue any nuclear technology whatsoever, as the risk of such fissile material getting into terrorist hands is far to great to honor any right to such technology it might otherwise have.

This is not a question of national pride , for there can be no pride taken in such circumstance. Therefore it cannot be said that the west simply wants to keep Iran down, and backward technologicly. Nor can the IRI state with any mandate by the people that it should persue nuclear power.

"national pride" is nothing more than a figment of the IRI's imagination, trying to avoid the reality that it has niether the respect of the people, or their support in activities that through weapons programs, simply put the population at risk, as well as the region's peace and security beyond anything acceptable to the international community.