It seems the main theme of the Republican candidates’ election campaigns will center on animosity against Islam and Iran. A demonized Iran will be frequently voiced as a justification for new US-led operations. In addition, they may keep the Islamic terrorism theme alive. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has claimed that they are not fighting terrorism but radical Islam.
Well, to whose interests will this theme of a demonized Iran that represents radical Islam serve best? Of course, Iran’s.
As the West steps up its antagonism against Iran, Iran will become stronger. There are two reasons why Iran has been declared an enemy by the hegemonic powers of the global system. First, Iran rejected the role of a US gendarmerie in the region following the Islamic revolution of 1979. Second, Iran is governed by an Islamic regime. As a result, Iran has emerged over time as the protector of the region and the oppressed Muslim world and the Arab streets because of the heavy costs of crude US and Western policies in the region. Part of Iran’s strengthening is attributable to Western insensitivity and barbaric, disparaging and destructive US policies in the region. This hinders the maneuverability of well-meaning countries like Turkey. No country can play a leadership role in the region if it is perceived as a US ally and a protector of Israel, and this doesn’t change even if it has all the shebang of historical, economic and geographical advantages. If you are concerned about the Palestinian issue, you are expected to oppose the Jewish occupation and settlers and advocate the return of Palestinian refugees and promote the Islamic legacy of Jerusalem and Masjid-i Aqsa. And this naturally puts you in a position that is antagonistic to Israel. On the other hand, the US has been lending full support to Israel with no strings attached. If you want democracy, you cannot maintain friendship with Western-supported autocratic regimes or emirates. If you advertise your dislike against misery, you cannot continue to implement the liberal policies that enrich specific groups and that comply with the requirements of the global capital. Eventually, masses with hurt pride will revolt and the country will turn into a sea of fire with protests where justice is demanded. Here, it is not important whether you are a Sunni, Shiite, Wahhabi or secular.
Iran may or may not be sincere in its discourses, but there are six reasons for Iran’s confrontation with the West:
(1) Iran has been openly confronting the US since 1979.
(2) With its nuclear program, Iran aims to eliminate Israel’s nuclear monopoly in the region. Israel owns more than 200 -- some say over 400 -- atomic bombs, and no one is critical of Israel’s ownership of nuclear weapons. If Iran owns nuclear weapons, this will create a balance of terror.
(3) Iran refuses to integrate into the global economic system, and is trying to find a different course.
(4) It is trying to prove that an “Islamic socio-political regime” is possible in modern times.
(5) Iran does not reject all Western cultural values but adopts a selective attitude. It brings to the fore its unique traditional and Islamic values and it does not bother to prove to Westerners that Islam is in compliance with their values.
(6) Iran backs countries and organizations that resist the US and Israel. This is the main reason why it lends support to Hezbollah and Hamas as well as the Syrian administration.
There are two ways to stop Iran, seen as a “threat” by the West: to change the regime in order to give the country’s reins to liberals and pro-Western groups; or to occupy it as in the case of Iraq or force it to surrender with the use of military force.
Iran suffered great losses and casualties in the war against Iraq but it survived it. It is the world’s 18th biggest economy and it is quite advanced in weapons technology. Westerners put Saddam Hussein against Iran, but they later invaded Iraq in 2003 and executed Saddam. The Gulf War, the invasion of Iraq, Hezbollah’s military success in 2006 and the ongoing stalemate in the Palestinian issue are making Iran become stronger in the region. The Shiite population, which amounts to 200 million, has acquired a sort of political awareness. There is now a strong Shiite strand, including Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Yet it would be wrong to assume that Iran’s prestige is restricted to Shiites. Denigrated in the face of the West and Israel, the Arab streets are nurturing a profound sympathy toward Iran as well.
