WND: Iran declares war on U.S.

[bountyhunter]

COLOR ME STUNNED

So let me see if I understand:

IRAN... the country that was pummeled into the dust by the Reagan adminsitration using Saddam Hussein as their surrogate (via the arming of Hussein with unlimited US weapons including antrax strains sold from labs here)..... harbors a resentment against the US for that?

And now that they have the opportunity, they are directing attacks against US forces?

I'm shocked... I don't know who could have seen that coming except maybe for a blind guy with a bent cane and a dead guide dog.

 

[Gary H]

bountyhunter:

You are a little short on history. Iran is not this issue. It is the folks at the top that run the country in the name of religion. They have been against the U.S. because of our long support of the Shah. We supported the Shaw because of their anti-Western views, hostage taking and terrorist support. The people of Iran are generally pro-U.S. They actually have marched in the streets in support of us after 9-11.

 

[bountyhunter]

You are a little short on history. Iran is not this issue. It is the folks at the top that run the country in the name of religion. :

Excuse me but my history is both complete and accurate. Iran was winning in it's war against Iraq by accounts until the US (Reagan) intervened and armed Hussein. He did it both to get revenge for Iran's taking of US hostages as well as to try to stop the sprad of Islamic fundamentalism.

The folks "at the top" in Iran are islamics because Iran is a theocracy. And if you take a vote in most Arab countries, a sizable chink of the population in every country (including Iraq) are IN FAVOR of a theocracy. The main problem we face in iraq is that most of the people there want Islam to be the foundation of whtever "constitution" gets put in place and the US will never allow it.

They have been against the U.S. because of our long support of the Shah. We supported the Shaw because of their anti-Western views, hostage taking and terrorist support. .

We supported the Shah because he agreed to supply us with oil in exchange for us keeping him in power. And, there were certainly many Iranians who hated us for that because the Shah was an absolute dictator who killed his opposition.... very much like the dictator we supported in Iraq during the decade of the 80's.

The people of Iran are generally pro-U.S. They actually have marched in the streets in support of us after 9-11

If you say so.

 

[idd]

very much like the dictator we supported in Iraq during the decade of the 80's.

Don't forget that the US helped Saddam and the Ba'ath party into power in 1963.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Fellow members! If you want to debate history, then let's debate the one salient issue entitling this topic, Iran having declared war on the U.S. Other than the World Net Daily that also does stories on crop circles and [space] alien abductions, is there any proof Iran has declared war on the U.S.? Maybe we could find the answer in the National Enquirer?

 

[Art Eatman]

I'll interject some points on the history of Iran.

Always remember that a major part of the USSR's policy was to somehow acquire a warm-water port; if not direct control, then via a friendly government. That, as well as oil, caused its interest in the internal affairs of Iran. (Heck, this warm-water-port thing is even pre-USSR, if you'll recall the "Great Game" of Kipling's "Kim". Replace Britain in India.) Mossadegh was seen as vulnerable to Soviet influence, from the usual "disinformation" routine plus destabilization efforts. From the standpoint of a leader firmly in control of his country--he wasn't.

Resentment of the Shah came from the mullahs. Their influence was waning with his efforts to increase secularization and modernize the country. They began trying to build up an anti-Shah revolution, which led to the activities of SAVAK. Even so, Khomeini was exiled, not killed by SAVAK. Big mistake, in hindsight...

A major part of the reason for supporting Saddam in his war against Iran was the fear of Iranian success in exporting their "Shiite Revolution" into Saudi Arabia. That same fear was why we didn't take Saddam out during Desert Storm, once we'd decisively defeated his army. It was believed he would continue to prevent any Iranian expansion of influence in Kuwait or Saudi Arabia. A "balance of power", if you will...

Art

 

[Gary H]

bountyhunter:

I wanted to point out that the theocracy and the people of Iran were not on the same page with regards to their dislike of the United States. It is a country of young people, many of whom want to wear jeans and listen to rock and roll. Art did a good job of establishing the political background.

It seems that we are looking forward to a more Western secular government in Iran. Don't be so sure that the Iranian people want a theocracy. The present government is strongly disliked by many Iranians. With regards to other Arab countries that are less educated and have had a less Western oriented past, it seems that they do look to a more fundamentalist Islamic republic.

A number of sources reported that both Syria and Iran were supporting those fighting the U.S. WND was the first out with the story. I don't know if all of these reports are accurate. I guess that only time will tell.