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Rick,
thanks for the explanation. I would like to add that the operation of the
Iranian Majlis, where there is a much wider variety of political voices than
in many Western states, as well as the high voter turn outs are other
important factors showing the vitality of Iranian democracy (compared to
American "democracy" for instance). The fact that many Afghani parents,
especially of Hazara background, send their daughters to Iran for education
illustrates the gaping gulf that separates these governments. Sudan, also,
according to this logic is moving away from Islamism as Hassan al-Turabi, the
principal Islamist ideologue of the Government of National Salvation, has
been imprisoned by President Bashir who is now trying to find accomodation
with the exiled "opposition" in the North through Egyptian and Lybian
mediation. However, having said all that, I think that that statement in
your, Jared's and Nico's article should include a footnote, b/c sadly most
people will not understand why you call Iran and Sudan (and yes even Lybia)
"secular". It's important to be precise so that you don't turn-people off
before they give your take on things a chance. Your forwarding a very
complex - and to my mind very plausible - scenario, however, you need to make
sure that this message gets across without alienating people. Also in terms
of Russia being the target: Aren't all the states bordering Central
Asia/Afghanistan the ultimate targets i.e. not only Russia, but China, Iran,
South Asia, etc. (essentially the country's of the Shanghai Forum and the
tentative raprochement btwn Russia, China and India)? In the Grand
Chessboard (1997) Zbigniew Brzezinski calls the whole of Central Asia the
"Eurasian Balkans" and advocates US military supremacy over the WHOLE OF
EURASIA (he actually favors the setting up of a trans-Eurasian version of
NATO). Just like the Balkans is a central transit route/strategic point in
any bid for European supremacy, Brzinsky argues that the whole area
encompassing the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Central Asia
(broadly defined to include Afghanistan and large parts of Iran) serve the
same geostrategic importance for Eurasia. Not only does this region hold the
overwhelming majority of the world's hydrocarbon resources, but it is also
smack-dab in the middle of 1) future potential trade networks between the
Russian, Chinese, Iranian, Indian, Turkish, and Pakistani economy's (there
are various planned configurations of some type of regional trade regime),
and 2) covers the area that is planned to be incorporated infrastructurally
by the EU through the TRANSECA project. Most importantly then, this whole
war is designed to ensure and legitimize the establishment of NATO, or a new
US dominated/created/controlled organization, over the whole of EURASIA!
After Eurasia falls into US hands, Africa, South America and South East Asia
will easily fall into line.
cheers!
Kole
In a message dated 18/09/01 07:25:11 Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> Dear Kole,
> Notwithstanding the lingering effects
> of Khomeini era influence in Iran, nor the
> introduction of Islamic law in Sudan, Iran now is
> different than it was in 1979 - according to the US
> itself at any rate - and neither Iran nor Sudan was
> established as a theocratic state after World War II,
> unlike several others I could name.
> In no way can either be compared to Aghanistan under
> both the Mujahedin and Talian regimes, as Western
> propaganda is currently trying to portray them.
> Similarly, Libya's constitution has an Islamic
> flavoring, but could hardly be described as an Islamic
> fundamentalist regime.
> Both Iran and Sudan have had several governments since
> 1945, and the vast majority of years intervening
> between then and now have seen purely secular
> governments. As they may again at anytime.
> Such is definitively not the case with US client
> regimes and recipients of US military aid like
> Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, the
> United Arab Emirates, etc.
> Without splitting too many hairs, the US is 'building
> a case' against several countries with no connection -
> or with Sudan, no current connection - with the
> alleged evildoer Osama bin Laden, and it seems
> incumbent on all of us to acquaint Western friends -
> who do not understand why Shiite Iran would not harbor
> Wahhabi Sunni fundamentalists, for example - with the
> truth.
> For peace,
> Rick
>
>
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