Iranians Have Memories Too
Last edited Thu Jan 15, 2015, 02:19 PM - Edit history (1)
By Ted Snider
Thursday, April 11, 2013
This isolation and abandonment by the international community, which left Iran with no option but to enrich her own 19.5% uranium, must be a terrifying reminder of the dangers of international abandonment. In 1982, when the Iraqis, who had invaded Iran, began using chemical weapons, Iran went to the Security Council begging for help. But help never came. Fact-finding mission after fact-finding mission confirmed Iraqs use of chemical weapons, but, for several years, the Security Council left Iranians to die. And 10,000 of them did. As many as 90,000 more soldiers and civilians were victims of chemical attacks that America and the world knew about.
So when the international community abandons Iran in her legal quest for medical isotopes to treat cancer patients in her hospitals, it may be a discreet, unemotional event in the west. But Iranians remember what happens when the international community leaves you on your own, and they have learned to be self sufficient. Hence, the--from their perspective--historically learned and rational decision to enrich their own.
Full Article: https://zcomm.org/znetarticle/iranians-have-memories-too-by-ted-snider/
SamKnause
(13,043 posts)Thanks for posting.
Aristus
(66,096 posts)we should be cultivating as allies. If the CIA hadn't engineered a coup against Iran's democratically elected leader in 1951 and replaced him with Shah Palavi, Iran would still be a friend and ally of the US to this day, and the Islamic Revolution would never have happened.
Iran is a potential ally we desperately need right now. The people are highly cosmopolitan, despite the stereotype of wild-eyed revolutionaries, and highly educated. The young people, at least, are strongly pro-Western and pro-US. Except for the ayatollahs, most of the people want renewed relations with the US.
People are always talking about how we need a strong Islamic ally in the Middle East. Iran is it; or should be.
But we've spent so long demonizing them, and B*sh with his stupid fucking "Axis Of Evil" bullshit, that it's hard to see why we need them as much as they need us.
polly7
(20,582 posts)Aristus
(66,096 posts)Then, about five years ago, I became friends with an Iranian musician who has taught me so much about this beautiful, fascinating country, and its amazing people. I hope to visit there someday.
When considering the current state of relations (or lack thereof) with Iran, I'm reminded of a line from Billy Joel's song "Leningrad'":
"We never knew what friends we had..."
StevieM
(10,499 posts)explaining the history of Iran and its people.