Remembering Iran . . . .
On the day we celebrate our freedom, perhaps it’s apropos to remember just how fleeting freedom can be.
A recent news headline indicates “concern democracy will be fleeting in Egypt” after the recent takeover by the Muslim Brotherhood. IMO, there is damn good reason to be concerned.
Many TAH readers might be too young to remember the details – but the Iranian Revolution did not begin with the pro-American Shah leaving Iran in early 1979 and Khomeini’s subsequent return. Rather, the Iranian Revolution derived from what had been an “under the radar” anti-Western Islamist opposition movement for years – a movement which objected to the Shah’s modernization efforts as being “against Islam”. In Khomeini, it had a charismatic (if exiled) leader, and also had democratic allies within Iranian society. In late 1978, those directing the Iranian Revolution made a play for power by disrupting Iran’s society through public demonstrations. The attempt was successful, and the Shah was forced to depart. Khomeini then returned.
However, the Iranian Revolution did not immediately install Khomeini as a theocratic dictator on his return to Iran. The Iranian military at first opposed giving Khomeini and his allies political control of Iran. After a brief struggle the Iranian military relented, and an interim government was formed. Elections were soon held and a regime led by democracy advocate Mehdi Bazargani was installed. Hardline Khomeini supporters subsequently isolated Bazargani, neutralized him politically, and then systematically eliminated all non-radical elements from the “Revolution”. Within a few months, they’d succeeded – and had also pushed through a new constitution making Iran effectively a theocracy.
We’re still feeling the effects 33 years later.
Fast forward 33 years. In Egypt, we’ve seen a long-term, anti-Western Islamist opposition movement – the Muslim Brotherhood – oppose a pro-American government for years. The Muslim Brotherhood finally took to the streets and forced a longstanding US ally from power. The Egyptian military at first opposed giving control to the Islamists. However, after a brief period of unsettled violence, an interim government was formed. Elections were held; and the Muslim Brotherhood has now been elected elected to lead the Egyptian government. It is now in the process of installing it’s own leadership as the Egyptian government. And that leadership is also calling for the return of the charismatic mastermind of the 1993 WTC bombing, Omar Abdel Rahman – who is currently in a US prison for that crime.
I swear I’ve seen this film before. And in terms of the United States’ interests and national security, it kinda sucked the first time around.
Category: Foreign Policy, Military issues
Wheat is the key. They don’t have it and neither does Iran, but we do because we know how to grow it and know how to protect it from rust and rot.
“. . . a new constitution making Iran effectively a theocracy.”
Thanks, Hondo — true history is IMPORTANT .
Hondo-the ascendancy of the Muslim brotherhood is troubling, but I wouldn’t put too much into any request for the release of Rahman.
It’s pandering on their part, just like when the Israelis ask for the release of Jonathon Pollard-they know it will be popular among a certain part of their constituency, but that it is never going to happen,
One might think that the Egyptian people would be wiser than this. While they never had much say in elections under Mubarak, they have had the history of Iran for the past 30+ years to show them what voting for islamists can do.
People value emotion over reason. False prospects are always more attractive than sober reflection on the facts. You know, hope and change and all that.
I agree, Athena. One might think that.
But history yields many examples of a nation exchanging one autocratic ruler for another after a brief or nonexistent period of freedom. For examples, see France, Germany, Russia, Hungary, China, Iran, Vietnam, Italy, any number of Latin American countries . . . .
“Meet the new boss . . . same as the old boss.” All too often true 41 years ago, and regrettably still all too often true today.
“Those who fail to learn from History, are doomed to repeat it.”
Good accounting of Iranian history Hondo. One more detail: 33 years of running Hezbollah, the most dangerous, global, and organized terrorist organization on Earth. And until 9/11, Hezbollah had more American blood on its hands than any other terrorist group.
So who will the Muslim Brotherhood play with? Aywan al-Zawahari started his career with them, before he opened the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which he later merged with Bin Laden, to form Al-Qaeda. But you’d be hard pressed to find a terrorist organization without ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.