Iranians Offer Neighborly Advice

[democratic]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33066-2003Dec3.html

By Karl Vick
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, December 4, 2003; Page A20

"Our government is not worthy. Why would I suggest it to Iraq?" asked Hassan Dahmardeh, 30, a car dealer watching the river from concrete steps a few yards downstream from Mardanian. He gestured toward the evening strollers. "Most of the people you see here are unemployed. How could I suggest a system that can't provide jobs to the people?"

"You can see that we have failed," said Nozanin, 22, a student of industrial management who offered only her first name. "It's better if Iraqis think of a new constitution for themselves."

In two dozen interviews on the streets of Isfahan -- Iran's second-largest and most splendid city -- only two ordinary Iranians answered with a firm yes when asked whether their theocratic system offered a model to Iraq. Another seven offered mixed assessments.

The remaining 15 were frankly down on their government.

"No, it's not good," said Abbas Ghazy, 20, his head freshly shaved for an obligatory stint of military service, belongings stuffed into a pair of pale blue plastic bags at his feet. "This government is not good at all. It's full of problems. There's all sorts of wrongdoing. It's full of theft. They don't think of the young people. They only think of their pockets."

The interviews, conducted mostly at random around the picturesque Bridge of the 33 Arches, broadly reinforced what Iranians have said repeatedly at the ballot box. Since 1996, elections at all levels have been won by candidates promising to make Iran's theocracy more responsive to its 68 million people, half of whom are under age 20.

[el_gato]

1. don't worry, that whole country will be up in flames

once the neocons have manufactured enough consent to blow it all to hell just like iraq

[democratic]

2. Frankly,

Having spoken to many inside the country--anything is better than the current regime.

and BTW- there is no difference between reformist and hard-liners in Iran- a Mullah is a Mullah.

[el_gato]

3. if iranians want change it is up to them to do it

not us

but that is the real goal of these types of articles
to ultimately justify our meddling in their affairs

[The Magistrate]

4. They Are Attempting To, Mr. Gato

Do you support their efforts?

[el_gato]

5. i support thier autonomy, do you?

and I don't believe in meddling in their affairs

[The Magistrate]

6. Iran Is A Sovereign Nation, Sir

With an ancient and proud history.

Do you support the rule of iron-fisted and corrupt clerical reactionaries, who remain in power today only by the brutal and extra-legal suppression of the people's will for change?

[el_gato]

7. what are you advocating?

are you suggesting we invade or somehow meddle in the internal affairs of that country?

before bushco came along the reformers were actually making progress and now that the neocons are in full control the fundamentalists have a cover by saying Iran is under attack by western power.

do you understand the counterproductive nature of our constant meddling in the affairs of other nations?

do you even understand how Iran became a fundamentalist state to begin with?

geez :eyes:

[The Magistrate]

9. Unintended Comedy Is Always the Best, Mr. Gato

What seems best to me is that the people of Iran prosecute a revolution to break the power of the reactionary clerics. It is unfortunate that little direct support can be given them in their struggle, but that struggle ought to enjoy enjoy the support of left and progressive persons everywhere. We on the left ought not to join the clerics in attempting to discredit the people of Iran opposing their rule as somehow being stooges of U.S. imperialism, or similar tripe. That, Mr. Gato, is to support a reactionary and obscurantist fascism: you may be comfortable doing so, but it is reprehensible to me.

[el_gato]

10. your playing with fire, and you don't even know it

as well your intellectual dishonesty is appalling

[The Magistrate]

11. So, Dear

You can be counted on by the ayatollahs, eh? It does not much surprise me: the effort to be "lefter than thou" at all costs generally produces persons who, objectively, provide all the assistance they can to reactionaries.

[Aidoneus]

12. what kind of people on the other side would you suggest?

Not generally speaking, but in details. Pahlavi & Khomeini's grandson, for example, are already in the pockets of those here that I know you oppose. I do not suggest or expect you to think in rigid terms of "leaderism" alone, but they would be first out of the blocks to try and hijack any really revolutionary popular movement that gained steam, and in the existing environment would likely be successful in engineering interventions on, if not direct military, economic levels through their ties, that would be widely destructive as such have been elsewhere.

If the popular opposition could, on the other hand, resist such an outcome and effectively cast aside those who would lead them to such, that would be very great and that indeed is something I do support. But I do wonder if that would be possible to be accomplished (such attempts in the past have not been widely successful).

[democratic]

8. .

No one is saying we need to meddle in their affairs, but we should morally support them. Moral support goes a long way.

These news articles are trying to get the truth about what's happening in Iran.