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Thursday, 26 October 2006 |
Our relationship with Iran is a great example of the failed Middle East
strategy. After 9/11 in Tehran, there were a million people in
the streets supportive of the United States and expressing concern
about our country. When we went to Afghanistan and overthrew the
Taliban, Iran helped us to create a new government there. When we
invaded Iraq initially, Iran reached out through European contacts to
try to have negotiations with us, not just on Iraq, but on a whole
range of issues. There was even some indication suggesting the
recognition of Israel. And yet, rather than opening up and
talking with them, we took the approach of turning down negotiations.
We need to take threats of military attack against Iran off the
table. The use of military force in Iran would be
counterproductive. It would weaken moderates in Iran and
strengthen radicals. It would further destabilize Iraq and the
Middle East. It would make the quagmire of Iraq look like child’s
play.
The U.S. has a long history of wrongheaded policy toward Iran. We
overthrew their elected government in 1953 when they wanted to
nationalize the oil industry and ensure oil profits went to
Iranians. We installed the brutal Shah of Iran and supported him
through the Iranian Revolution in 1979. We allied with Saddam
Hussein when Iraq was at war with Iran by providing him with
intelligence and with chemical weapons. It is time to correct our
policy toward Iran not continue on the path of confrontation and
failure.
The goal of U.S. policy toward Iran should be to make Iran into an ally
rather than into an enemy. We have enough in common in order to
reach that goal. Stability in the Middle East benefits both of
us, and the world. It is time to recognize the failure of
the military-based “shock and awe” foreign policy and get serious about
a foreign policy based on diplomacy and negotiation.
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