EXPANSION OF COMMENTS POSTED TO AN ARTICLE ON CBC NEWS
“Iran abandons nuclear deal limits as thousands mourn general killed by U.S.”
My total sympathy is with this ancient society, one of earth’s great cradles of civilization much like China or Egypt, and a modern country which has started no wars. They are a lovely people, but they have suffered a great deal from outside interference.
Since the Revolution of 1979, ending the Shah’s government, the United States has engaged in 40 years of pure hatred against Iran, and it has taken many ugly actions along the way, including encouraging and supplying Saddam Hussein’s Iraq during the terrible long war (1980-88) inflicted upon Iran.
About a million died, including thousands from the poison gas Iraq used heavily, know-how and components having been supplied from either the United States or one of its European allies. The ruthless idea was to compensate for Iraq’s much smaller population in a war intended to punish or destroy Iran’s revolutionary government.
Please remember, the Iranian revolution happened in the historical context of an American-engineered coup, 1953, having toppled the elected government of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and put into place the truly brutal Shah with his SAVAK secret police. It is well documented how SAVAK would pull out the fingernails of many of its prisoners.
America supported the Shah’s government for decades. The Shah was the kind of foreign leader the Pentagon and CIA much value. He was their “man in the Middle East.” Washington has never forgiven the government of Iran for the Shah’s loss of power. Israel, too, liked the Shah and detested the new government, making many false accusations against it.
The Iranians have always avoided rushing into war. They prepare for the possibility under the immense threats they have received – and, of course, not just threats, given the Iran-Iraq War, the shoot-down of a civilian airliner by an American warship, and numerous terrorist activities from Israel - but they have not started any war.
This new American act of state terror does demand a response. It will be carefully considered and may be a while coming.
I read a good deal of foreign press, and the fact is that the General was greatly admired and regarded as a hero by millions of people in the region.
He was a serious part of defeating ISIS. The General was a genuine hero in the Iraq-launched war against Iran, and he was much admired for his work with the Quds Force, an unconventional warfare branch of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Millions of ordinary people regarded him as legendary. Other military figures valued his talent.
It is said that he was one of the most gifted and fearless commanders of the era. His presence inspired soldiers, and his mind was brilliant.
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The Iraqi Parliament just voted to expel the American Military
Now, we'll have to see whether the decision can be enforced.
We are dealing with a country, the United States, which takes muscular pride in behaviors like stealing Syrian oil or starving Iraqi children.
The American position in Syria is likely not sustainable without the troops based in Iraq.
It would be a great tribute to the General if his death did bring down that whole house of cards.
Remember, too, the United States killed a second important commander, the Deputy Commander of the PMU (Popular Mobilization Units), someone reporting to the Iraqi Prime Minister, as well as, previously, clusters of PMU soldiers, soldiers regarded as an integral part of Iraq’s military.
The entire set of American acts could hardly be more outrageous, and now Trump is repeating threats about bombing 52 targets in Iran, including cultural ones.
It will be interesting to watch Putin's reaction.
Russia is not a formal ally of Iran’s, but they have worked together in Syria, and there are steps he can take, steps ranging from small to large.
Supplying Iran with the extremely sophisticated S-400 anti-aircraft/anti-missile missiles plus teams of Russia trainers could be a possibility. It would protect important facilities from aerial bombardment as well as make a statement. America and Israel have reluctant respect for this weapon.
Putin does need Iran in his struggle with the United States – as does China - and cannot, I think, just let it go to American predation, as he regretfully did Libya in 2011. But he is constrained in his choices, as well as always being cautious.
