Along An Imaginary Axis: Iran from the Inside

[democratic]

http://www.antiwar.com/orig/millera.php?articleid=6213

by Anne Miller

In 2002, President Bush indicted Iran as a member of an "axis of evil." What I found in Iran during my ten-day visit with a Global Exchange delegation in April makes this pronouncement sound ridiculously foolish as well as just plain false.

I confess that I felt some anxiety flying into Tehran alone at 4 am on an American passport. However, my concerns quickly dissipated as I was overwhelmed by the number of people who wanted to grant me access to their world. American foreigners are a rare sight in Tehran, and I was greeted with great enthusiasm.

Every Iranian with whom I spoke had generous words for me and for my country. "We love America." "There isn't any enemy between the Iranian people and the American people." I was invited into peoples' homes for chai and conversation in every city I went. Iranians are a strikingly beautiful, curious, and open people.

Iran is also a demographically young country, with 70% of its population under the age of 30. "Do you have a Yahoo! email account?" was one of the most frequently asked questions. Iranians want to be connected to a world beyond their borders and practice their English. They are disenfranchised by a corrupt, hypocritical regime that the majority of the population cannot support and does not trust.

[Colorado Blue]

1. I've had many Iranian friends over the years. We connected

due to my interest in the art and history of the region.

It's a wonderfully rich and diverse country, with incredible architecture and a long history.

I hope, someday, people can see each other without the interference of politicians!

[susan6970]

2. DISARM THE MIDDLE EAST?

What about disarming the USA? We have more WMSs than the rest of the world combined. Aren't we being our usual hypocritical selves if we expect ancient enemies who share a border to disarm while we, with oceans between us and any potential enemy, arm ourselves to the teeth and are even considering putting weapons in orbit?

[oblivious]

3. Lot of questionable statements with no supporting evidence

- They are disenfranchised by a corrupt, hypocritical regime that the majority of the population cannot support and does not trust.

- Many, although certainly not all, Iranians are pessimistic about Iran's political and economic opportunities.

- There is also credible evidence that the Iranian government is pursuing a nuclear weapons program,

- However, some suspect nuclear activities have been discovered by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

- Iran wants nuclear weapons as a deterrent against the threats made by the US and Israel

- Iran's refusal to bend to the demands of the US or Europe to permanently cease its uranium enrichment programs

[Dirty Hippie]

4. I asked an Iranian student of mine if she thought

the people of Iran would stand behind their government if the US bombed and she responded adamantly they would.

They like America and distrust their own government but only to a point.

She also told me she was a child during the Iran-Iraq war and grew up hearing bombs being dropped. She said she still has nightmares about it.

[Selatius]

5. Iranians are fiercely defensive of home and family

They'll fight to the death if they feel their lives are threatened. We shouldn't be fighting them because they are not our enemy, but I fear if Bush truly had his way, he'd be pitting us against them on the battlefield, and we're all going to come home dead.