How do we help Iran?

[Nebor]

So I saw Persepolis last night, and I thought I would make a thread without my usual satirical spin.

It seems clear to me that the Iranian people, as a whole, are a particularly bright, industrious people that have through some means or another been brought under the rule of an Islamic Republic. I have several friends my age (late 20s, early 30s) from Iran that are doctors, lawyers and IT people here in the US. They tell the same story you can find coming out of any free Iranian outlet: The youth are unemployed, unrepresented, and unhappy. They have no problem with Israel, they absolutely LOVE the United States and Western Culture, and they are not religious fundamentalists. Many of them aren't religious at all.

So I pose to you the question, what is the best way to help this once great people to be great again? They certainly have the potential to be a regional power and leader, and are most definitely more desirable in that role than the Saudis, who don't even pretend a democracy. So what do we do?

 

[Sinsear]

Bomb them?

 

[Aimster]

You forgot the option where it says finding a cure for Islam

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Sinsear
Bomb them?

Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran.

 

[MovingTarget]

Do nothing. Any interference in their affairs at this point will only make things worse for them. With everything that happened with the Shah and in the 50s, it would cause more trouble than its worth, and postpone the establishment of a free state there. It may take a while, but the Iranian government is slowly making enough rope to hang itself with. The US and Iran are natural friends and allies as far as the peoples are concerned. The rift between us need not be terminal. It is time to open up formal ties, if only on a basic level.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Do nothing. Any interference in their affairs at this point will only make things worse for them. With everything that happened with the Shah and in the 50s, it would cause more trouble than its worth, and postpone the establishment of a free state there. It may take a while, but the Iranian government is slowly making enough rope to hang itself with. The US and Iran are natural friends and allies as far as the peoples are concerned. The rift between us need not be terminal. It is time to open up formal ties, if only on a basic level.

I agree. It won't be too far into the future when we unite with the secular Persians to exterminate Islam across the globe.

 

[Aimster]

It isn't going to happen.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Nebor
I agree. It won't be too far into the future when we unite with the secular Persians to exterminate Islam across the globe.

Do you post this crap when you're on your drugs or when you're off your drugs? It is hard to tell.

 

[ProfJohn]

We need to keep up the economic pressure.

There have already been mass demonstrations in the past and each time the Mullahs used force to end them.
Eventually the people will over come this and take over.

The latest Israel must die speak may just be an effort to divert attention from the huge problems Iran is facing at home, but it doesn?t seem to be working.

 

[Jhhnn]

We need to quit grandstanding and threatening the Iranians. It's that simple. Like people everywhere, they'll rally around whatever leadership they have when confronted by external threats, accept more autocratic rule in the name of "National Security".

We've seen the same phenomenon in our own society, more than once, and should expect it in others.

And, quite frankly, the only reason the mullahs came to the fore in Iran is because they were they only organized force capable of running the country when the Shah's govt collapsed- his secret police had seen to that, even if it wasn't exactly what they'd set out to accomplish...

Prior to the ravings of the Bush Admin, the Iranian govt had shown signs of moderation, of evolving into something better for their people and less antagonistic to the West. And, uh, let's face it, the bushistas don't give a fig about democracy, anyway- just look at who they call friends, and who they support in the region... repression is just peachy, so long as the perps are our economic allies...

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Why do we always have to help other countries? I think America needs to be helped first.

 

[ProfJohn]

Jhhnn? ditch the ?bushistas? line. This administration is no different than the past ones when it comes to who it picks for ?friends.?

If you don?t believe me then look up the details of who helped fund the Clinton library and explain why the Saudis gave him so much money.

This isn't a Democrat or Republican issue, both sides are very similar when it comes to the Middle East. (outside of the war in Iraq)

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: SoundTheSurrender
Why do we always have to help other countries? I think America needs to be helped first.

Replacing the Iranian government with one more friendly to US interests would be helping us.

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
We need to keep up the economic pressure.

There have already been mass demonstrations in the past and each time the Mullahs used force to end them.
Eventually the people will over come this and take over.

The latest Israel must die speak may just be an effort to divert attention from the huge problems Iran is facing at home, but it doesn?t seem to be working.

500 students is not massive.

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: SoundTheSurrender
Why do we always have to help other countries? I think America needs to be helped first.

Replacing the Iranian government with one more friendly to US interests would be helping us.

we tried that. end result?
Islamic Republic of Iran

 

[chucky2]

Originally posted by: Nebor

....

So what do we do?

Just cut off ties with Iran completely. If the West is so corrupt and bad, then it shouldn't be a problem for them. When the youth there finally get sick of tired of being led around by their loony government and religous Leaders, then they can change things themselves. Young people get older, older people run things.

It's not our problem if that takes 25 years to happen, Iran can live with the paths it chooses, same as any other country.

Chuck

 

[yllus]

As wonderful it would be to simply go in there (or anywhere), break a few skulls and give the people back their right to self-determination, that simply doesn't play in the world anymore. People would be too busy screaming, "American imperialism!" to take advantage of the opportunity that is presented to them.

So, let them stumble along and fix the problem themselves. We've been predicting revolution for quite a few decades now, but if it takes another five it's still worth letting them do it themselves. Iraq has really shown that the people have to desire it deeply and pay for it in blood to follow up with real change. The hand-holding just lets them resort to infantilism en masse.

More info:

Iranian evolution: The scales are inexorably tilting as economic hardship requires Iran to embrace openness.