An Ex-Official Offers Glimpse of Iranian Views of U.S.

[sabra]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/28/world/middleeast/28iran.html?ex=1156910400&en=bef5019416e8c1ad&ei=5087%0A

An Ex-Official Offers Glimpse of Iranian Views of U.S.

TEHRAN, Aug. 27 — A former high-ranking Iranian official wants Americans to see his cracked thumbnails. They were torn out, he said, after Washington’s friend, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, put him in prison in the 1970’s.

...

His point is instantly clear: look at what happened when we had close ties to the United States.

...

Dr. Besharati, too, echoed the idea that giving in on the nuclear front would not solve Iran’s problems with Washington, only aggravate them.

“I would like you to write this down,” he said, speaking through an interpreter. “If we backed down on the nuclear issue, the U.S. would have found fault with our medical doctors researching stem cells.”

...

Asked whether Iran is afraid that greater economic, political and social integration with the West might dilute the country’s Islamic identity, he turned the question around. “Can the West be more flexible and accept us as we are?” he asked.

[Warpy]

1. They hate our government

which is not surprising. It's something a lot of us on this board have come to share, I think.

They love Americans and they love American movies and music, though.

I think you'll find the latter through much of the world.

Wise leaders can capitalize on it. We'll have to clean house of the stupid ones, though, and I'm talking about both parties and a whole lot of careerists in the State Department.

[gorbal]

2. Thanks for giving us the other side

Sometimes you just don't realize the news you are NOT getting.

[kineneb]

3. no trust of US gov there

The Iranians have a long memory- and they have not forgotten Mossedeq's overthrow. So much for our historical promotion of "democracy" in other countries. In Orwellian Doublespeak, "democracy" really means "open season for big corporations". The current Islamic Republic is just the latest veneer over ancient feudal traditions. The country would probably have been a true democracy by now if the US gov. hadn't stepped in and messed around.

And to paraphrase Jim Morrison (The Doors):"You cannot impose democracy."

[ShockediSay]

5. nor here

I said that

and everything else you said ... well said.

[MrPrax]

4. Enlightened...

This guy understands US foreign policy better than most Americans...

“I would like you to write this down,” he said, speaking through an interpreter. “If we backed down on the nuclear issue, the U.S. would have found fault with our medical doctors researching stem cells.”

LOL...yup point well taken...it's a sham fight done entirely to appeal to most debased emotional elements of American society. For decades we approved people worst than Saddam (we used him to attack your country) because we lied to ourselves over the threat posed by the Russians and now we lie to ourselves over the threat posed by the Muslim Arab.


He smiled, sat back and let his point settle. “What they would like to see us do is plant corn, make tomato paste and bottle mineral water,” he added. “They do not want to see us get high-tech.”

...yup, that's SOP...we use coltan, oil, sisal, slaves and tomato paste...we don't DO competition.

“Can the West be more flexible and accept us as we are?”

nope...our economic system would fall apart if 'alternative' economic blocs emerge in the world that we can't directly control or leverage. Any attempt to divert goods and resources to OTHER people will be considered an act of aggression, regardless if it is fairly traded.

“The shah of Iran never drank water without the permission of America,”

That's right...we are hypocrites and believe none of our highly valued 'western ways'...democracy and freedom is weapon used to attack countries so we can impose leaders/kings/generals that ask permission of Washington to drink water. We white people of course wouldn't dream of having generals and monarchs running our countries, but your brown, so we don't give a shit and have invented an different set of 'human natures' for you guys.

(all quotes from the OP)

[cliss]

6. Iran has no choice but to rebuff the US

on the nuclear issue. If they cave, it's really curtains for them because just like the Iranian official says, the US will come after them about everything.

The US absolutely MUST have oil producing countries to be weak. Like Iran, Venezuela and others. They cannot grow in power because then it upsets the balance of power....which always needs to be tilted in favour of the Empire.

But Iran will prevail. Since when is the buyer more powerful than the seller? Who can sell to anyone he damn well pleases.

[SutaUvaca]

7. That's the bottom line..

“If we backed down on the nuclear issue, the U.S. would have found fault with our medical doctors researching stem cells.”

Iran has oil, Iran is key to controlling Middle East power and treasure for the PNAC's.
Dr. Besharati hits the nail on the head. Any excuse would be found for *co to go after Iran.