Current Events — HabitableZone

Current Events » in reply to No apology necessary

I've been following the shell game.
Mary Anne — (archived)

And I agree.

The EU is playing all the diplomatic cards in its deck. At this point, I think the game is solitaire, but as someone who believes that violence is a last, and desperate, resort, I'm glad they're taking the time. It will save people the trouble of having to make the case later that Iran has been given numerous opportunities to cooperate with international bodies.

If there is a way for the Iranians to change their own government without the US bombing the hell out of Iran, I would like to support that. The nation of Iran has a venerable and cultured civilization, one which is not at all dependent on Islamic fundamentalism. If they wish to reclaim their historical identity, America can honorably support that.

One reason I don't want the US to be overtly involved in any overthrow of the current regime is the fact that the current regime owes its existance to our pal the Shah. Thhe US installed the Shah in 1953 after overthrowing the elected government of Mohammed Mossadegh because Mossadegh was a little too far to the left for the US. The Shah's repressive style was so repulsive that he made Khomeini look good. American support of the Shah led to the rise of anti-American hatred in Iran that only now seems to abate somewhat.

The Iranians need to have a government that they support and that they install. They are intelligent, sophisticated, courageous people; they can do this if they want to. If they want to replace their current government and they want to ask for help, then yes. If we want to hand them another new government, bearing in mind our history, absolutely not. If it fails, or becomes worse than the one it replaces, I don't want it to be demonstrably our fault... again.

Strongly enforcing international consensus on nuclear weapons is another story.

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