In today’s N.Y. Times, there is an article that reports on a developing
rapprochement between the U.S. and Iran:
"The Bush administration is considering establishing an American
diplomatic presence in Iran for the first time since relations were
severed during the 444-day occupation of the American Embassy in Tehran
nearly three decades ago, European and American officials said on Thursday.
"The idea would be to establish a so-called interests section, rather
than a fully staffed embassy, with American diplomats who could issue
visas to Iranians seeking to visit the United States. But the officials,
who spoke on the condition of anonymity under diplomatic rules,
cautioned that the idea had not been approved by the White House and
could be delayed or blocked by opposition within the administration.
"The proposal comes as the White House is adopting new tactics in
dealing with Iran. With six months left in office, Mr. Bush and
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appear to be looking for new ways to
reach out to the Iranian people as the administration tries to bring a
peaceful resolution to the impasse over Iran’s nuclear program."
As has frequently been the case in American dealings with Shi’ites in
the region, there are contradictions within contradictions. In Iraq, the
Shi’ite government has been criticized by Tehran for not opposing U.S.
occupation goals strongly enough but this very same government has
instructed Washington that it will be necessary to set a date for
withdrawal of American troops despite Bush’s objections.
With respect to Iran, a rapprochement would have been categorically
excluded by some elements of the radical movement in the U.S. who assume
that American power is unlimited. But the U.S. always had implicitly
shared goals with Tehran in removing Saddam Hussein and empowering a
Shi’ite state. Despite fiery rhetoric directed against Tehran, the
Islamic Republic furnished crucial intelligence to the U.S. when war was
launched against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
In an interview with USA Today on June 9, 2005, Mohsen Rezaie, former
commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and one of eight candidates in
Iran’s June 17 presidential elections, made clear that the U.S. and Iran
had common goals in the region despite the foolish prejudices of the
hard right:
Q: Should Iran reopen talks with the United States with a view toward
re-establishing diplomatic relations?
A: Everything is possible. The American authorities didn’t give Iran a
clear proposal, except for Mr. Reagan, who was a brave man, and Mrs.
Albright who praised Iran. Other American presidents and American
secretaries of State didn’t make a courageous proposal to Iran. If they
make a rational offer to Iran, I believe a real transformation will take
place in the relations between Iran and America. I believe that the
political-security environment that currently exists between Iran and
the West must change into a political-economic environment.
Q: What has Iran done to support U.S. security goals in the region, in
Afghanistan and Iraq?
A: Iran’s supporters and allies in Afghanistan and Iraq played an
important role in the fall of the Taliban and Saddam Hussein and Iran
extended to them the necessary assistance. Some Revolutionary Guard
commanders which advised the Northern Alliance had a key role in the
capture of Kabul. They were special forces for urban warfare and had
experience in this field during the Iran-Iraq war. They were very
effective and active in giving advice to this group. But American army
propaganda quickly claimed most of these achievements in its own name.
Those radicals in the U.S. who gullibly accept Revolutionary Guard
rhetoric on its own terms might have some difficulty grasping Rezaie’s
intentions. This would not be the first time it would be behind the
curve. After Nixon visited China in 1972, Maoists all across the U.S.
were shocked by the spectacle of the American imperialist head of state
clinking champagne glasses with Mao Zedong. Of course, there was also a
similar bid in 1985 when Oliver North was delegated to seek Iran’s help
in arming the Nicaraguan contras, with a key-shaped cake taking the
place of vintage champagne.
full:
http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/iran-israel-and-nuclear-holocaust/
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