[Vision2020] Iran Was A Democracy Pre-CIA Coup

Sat May 20 15:08:49 PDT 2006

Tom et. al.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi labels the government of Iran,
before the CIA sponsored imposition of the Shah, a "democracy."  The current
government of Iran might not be as anti-US, and might be more democratic at
this moment, were it not for the US imposition of the dictatorship of the
Shah.

"...as she describes her story, starting with Iran's democracy under Prime
Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. That golden era ended when Mohammad Reza
Pahlavi, the shah, overthrew the popular, elected government."

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/270023_trahant14.html

There's a new book that does just that. "Iran Awakening: A Memoir of
Revolution and Hope" may be the most important book you could read this year
because it gives context to the debate about Iran, its nuclear program and a
potential war. Shirin Ebadi, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and a lawyer,
longtime Iranian human rights activist and a well-known dissident, wrote it.
She was in Seattle last week talking about the book and her work.

"Though words are peaceful weapons, over the past 15 years, I have been
harassed, threatened and jailed in the course of defending human rights and
victims of violence in Iran," Ebadi writes. "I wanted to write a book that
would help correct Western stereotypes of Islam, especially the image of
Muslim women as docile, forlorn creatures."

Her words are not docile at all, and are often brutal, as she describes her
story, starting with Iran's democracy under Prime Minister Mohammad
Mossadegh. That golden era ended when Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the shah,
overthrew the popular, elected government. One of the prime minister's
actions -- nationalizing Iran's oil industry -- was seen as a threat to the
West. "This bold move, which upset the West's calculations in the oil-rich
Middle East, earned Mossadegh the eternal adoration of Iranians who viewed
him as the father figure, much as Mahatma Gandhi was revered in India."

-------------

Vision2020 Post by Ted Moffett

On 5/20/06, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:

> Exactly, Sunil.
>
> The Mid East, in fact, has a longer history than any nation in the western
> hemisphere.
>
> It just hasn't had any history "of democracy".
>
> t hansen-moore
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
> safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
> sideways, chocolate in one hand, a drink in the other, body thoroughly
> used
> up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO. What a ride!'"
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
> On Behalf Of Sunil Ramalingam
> Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 11:32 AM
> To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] A "Must See" Article About the Iraqi War
>
> Wayne,
>
> I think the quote in question needs its second half, '...and tradition of
> democracy.'
>
> I don't believe Iraq had a history or tradition of democracy.  I don't
> think
>
> Hagel was saying Iraq had NO history.
>
> I would add I don't think we have the right to go invading states with a
> history and tradition of democracy either.
>
> Sunil
>
>
> >From: "Art Deco" <deco at moscow.com>
> >To: "Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> >Subject: Re: [Vision2020] A "Must See" Article About the Iraqi War
> >Date: Sat, 20 May 2006 11:18:20 -0700
> >
> >Tom quoted Senator Hagel:
> >
> >"...on a country with no history and no culture..."
> >
> >This part of the statement is not only untrue, but racist and
> inflammatory!
> >
> >The part of the world now occupied by Iraq has perhaps one of the
> longest,
> >best researched history of anywhere in the world with the possible
> >exception of Egypt.  Many diverse cultures have occupied this area and
> >significantly contributed to the advancement of mathematics, science, and
> >art especially in the earlier days of civilization.  [Perhaps a history
> >major will expand on these remarks.]
> >
> >Statements like the above from high-ranking American public officials
> like
> >Hagel do not contribute to a solution of the enormous human toll-taking
> >problems that face that region (and thus the rest of world) but instead
> >make any solution harder to achieve.
> >
> >While it may be difficult or even impossible to create a western style,
> >secular democracy in Iraq, it is possible to argue for such a point
> without
>
> >resulting to insulting and lying about millions and millions of people
> and
> >thus showing our national ignorance and insensitivity.
> >
> >
> >Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
> >deco at moscow.com
> >
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
> >To: "'Taro Tanaka'" <taro_tanaka at hotmail.com>; <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> >Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 7:17 PM
> >Subject: RE: [Vision2020] A "Must See" Article About the Iraqi War
> >
> >
> > > Fantastic!!
> > >
> > > How did you manage to come across this?  I read over portions of it,
> > > bookmarked it, and converted it to PDF.
> > >
> > > I particularly enjoyed reading:
> > >
> > > "As Senator Hagel puts it, You cannot in my opinion just impose a
> >democratic
> > > form of government on a country with no history and no culture and no
> > > tradition of democracy."
> > >
> > > It only makes sense and clearly explains why creation of an Iraqi
> > > "parliament" wil never work.
> > >
> > > Thanks again.
> > >
> > > Tom Hansen
> > > Moscow, Idaho
> > >
> > > "Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the
> >tranquil
> > > and steady dedication of a lifetime."
> > >
> > > --Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
> >[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
> > > On Behalf Of Taro Tanaka
> > > Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 7:02 PM
> > > To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > Subject: [Vision2020] A "Must See" Article About the Iraqi War
> > >
> > > I'm not a fan of Bush's war, but I think this article in Commentary
> >provides
> > >
> > > a valuable perspective:
> > >
> > > The Real Iraq, by Amir Taheri
> > > http://www.commentarymagazine.com/Production/files/Taheri_0606.htm
> > >
> > > -- Princess Sushitushi
> > >
>
>
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>
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> _____________________________________________________
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