Iran paper on declining power, influence of US, Israel

Text of editorial by Mohammad Imani headlined "Government of the poor" published by Iranian newspaper Kayhan website on 20 August

Not so long ago - may be one or two decades - it had become customary among us Iranians that when America, Britain, Israel or even France or Germany committed an act of tyranny against our or other oppressed nations, the spokesperson for our Foreign Ministry would content himself with expressing concern, dissatisfaction, disgust and condemnation on behalf of Iran's nation and government. These countries were powerful and possessed the necessary force, therefore it seems that they were allowed to carry out whatever they desired and craved, even if it were an abuse of rights and insults against a nation. We had to put up and shut up. We suffered in silence and shed tears of blood. Even those same expressions of disgust rubbed salt into the wound and added insult to injury and the imperialist enemy became more audacious. But, the will of God blessed and emboldened the Iranian nation and lifted us to such a level of respect and power that the situation was completely reversed.

If once upon a time, a nation or a government started trembling at an ultimatum issued by Britain, Russia or America as to what to do and after several days of suffering condescension, the rulers and government officials fell to their knees in abjection and tightened the chain of captivity around "Iran's" throat and even if after the Revolution, despite the disruption of that oppressive connection, the power of bitterness would be imposed on the oppressed nation of Iran, today, thanks to the stability of the Islamic Revolution, the tables have turned and it is now the enemy's turn to content itself for the umpteenth time with expressing concern or dissatisfaction against beloved Iran's daily increasing power and the realization of the people's rights. During the last several years, the interpretation that for example the White House spokesperson or America's Foreign Ministry or such and such an Israeli or British government spokesperson has expressed concern about Iran's such and such political, economic, technological or military progress, has become a completely repetitive interpretation. A recent example is the mutual expression of concern by spokespersons from the American government and the Zionist regime over the launch of the "Safir-e Omid" [the envoy of hope] satellite. During the last four or five years, the world has repeatedly heard the sounds of explosions from news bombs related to Iran's great international, political, diplomatic, economic or even technological successes and it has more or less spoken in praise and marvel whereas it has only witnessed shock from the imperialists who have said out of desperation; For God's sake! What is going on? Why do you abruptly disturb our sleep!

However, they deserve to feel wrath to the point of outburst. They are right to foam at the mouth out of anger and to groan in pain. But, the limit of their wrath and objection only reaches to this extent and not any further! It was with regard to this recent issue that the Zionist newspaper Yediot Aharnot wrote in a tone full of rage that "Iran's satellite launch is another reason that the powerful infrastructural ability of this country is expanding. We can no longer rule over them through military attack. Every time the Iranians reveal a part of their successes, we discover how much more powerful their infrastructures has become. This extensive infrastructure cannot be destroyed with bombing a few installations. The Iranian satellite is not a game; it exposes a strategic threat against us. At the moment, thousands of engineers and scientists are active in Iran's nuclear centres."

Today, events have come to such a pass that every few days, the Americans and the Israelis curse each other for what has happened and shift the blame for the new situation in the Middle East on one another. Just yesterday, the Israeli newspaper, Jerusalem Post reproached Robert Gates, the intelligent and audacious American Defence Secretary and sarcastically called him "Iran's biggest friend" because of his weak performance; whereas Gates had replaced Rumsfeld so that he would imbue America's military bulldozer [war machine] against Iran, Iraq, Hezbollah, Hamas and Syria with more impetus, power and momentum and it was he, who alongside [Condoleezza] Rice, tried at least to prevent America's calamitous situation in Iraq from getting worse. But now, as a harassed Israeli observer and spectator, the Jerusalem Post judges thus:

"America's Defence Secretary has turned into Iran's biggest friend. His performance is very weak. After Russia's attack against Georgia, America's grandeur was completely destroyed because in practice Washington could do nothing but condemn. America's inability emboldened Russia. It is not only America's intelligence organizations that are to blame, Rice and Gates are also blameworthy because a month ago they claimed that their defence plans will guarantee America's future power for a decade...in the report published by the investigative group affiliated to America's Defence Secretary about Iraq's issues, it has been stressed that in order to obtain regional and international support on Iraq, Washington must win the hearts of Iran, Syria and some other countries in the region but no mention has been made of Israel, America's oldest ally. Gates' standpoint concerning Iran's nuclear programme was not half as blatant as this adopted standpoint; he even recommended in a joint report that to resolve its problems, America must get much closer to Iran. America's Defence Secretary now poses a serious challenge to Israel and if Bush hopes to leave the White House with the slightest modicum of credibility, he has to push Gates aside whose policies are Iran's first friend and supporter inside the White House."

This judgement is concerning one who even lately, whilst emphasizing the benefits of economic and diplomatic pressure, specified that the military option must always remain on the table and nobody must believe this option has been discarded. Consequently, the fact that such a quarrelsome dialogue and such bitter talking have taken place between America and Israel must be unprecedented; two regimes who through complete coordination have carried out numerous treacheries and crimes against the nations of Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Afghanistan and other nations.

During the Georgian saga, which was the result of billions of dollars of investment in the sphere of velvet revolutions - creating the impression of full scale support for the process of democratization in various countries - the latter turned to ashes in a few days and the quarrels between Israel and America on one hand and between these two and several NATO countries with Russia were worth seeing. Israel and even young and old Europe reproached America that is this all the support you claim to provide against threats and not making deals over the fate of friendly countries and governments? In addition, on the other side, it was the Russians who excitedly and daringly put aside all diplomatic etiquette and vented all their repressed rage of the last one or two decades against America, on the head of the velveteen Georgians and cried out, you ingrates! Did we not provide you with enough help in the Iranian issue and did we not leave Iran in the lurch?! What a spectacle to behold! Hidden powers that out of respect for global public opinion usually uphold one another's respect and dignity in order to maintain their own superpower prestige and respect, no matter how much rivalry there is between them, started to spill out everything they knew about one another! The world had rarely witnessed such a loss of face and shrewish behaviour. Betrayals were revealed and amidst this saga, the one that emerged powerful and proud and the legitimacy of whose honest and firm diplomatic path - despite its original hardships-, was Iran. The Russians were so furious that for the first time in history, they even bombed the Israelis' military base around Tbilisi and it was the first time that the Israelis failed to show any reaction or response in such a situation.

Do not doubt that if Iran's great challenge - the nuclear challenge is only a small part of the whole story - against the superpowers had not become so lengthy and had not ended to the benefit of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the abjection and incompetence of the Americans and the international Zionism in Georgia - in a wide-spread geographical position extending from the Mediterranean coast to the other side of the Black Sea and the Caucasus and the Persian Gulf region - would not have been thus shown off. Is such a display of desperation and adversity in keeping with the image of America and Israel? Where is the powerful Japan of the Second World War and its surrender within a few hours or the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan in a few days or the domino-like and the ridiculous collapse of every single republic of the former Soviet Union in front of the apprehensive and frantic looks of the Russians compared to today's events in Georgia, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine? Do not doubt that America and Israel were defeated not by Russia's ground and air forces at the gates of Tbilisi but by Iran's powerful position. If Iran and the strategic issue of the greater Middle East were not at stake, America and NATO knew very well how to discipline the Russians and had no choice but to do so. If the Americans and NATO were not interested in becoming involved in a conflict with the Russians and gave way to the opponent so easily in the battlefield, during the last decade they would not have repeatedly entered the backyard of the Russians in Ukraine, Georgia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania and ... not have powerfully annexed them to NATO and the anti-Russian front. The Russians should really be thankful towards Iran. The passing of time will reveal the truth of this statement even more.

Now, America (and Israel) are using the same tone to express concern at Iran's growing nuclear, missile and telecommunication technologies or Iran's determining influence in Beirut, Iraq, occupied Jerusalem- and even in America's backyard in Latin America - that they are using towards the downfall of Georgia and the process of the velvet Revolution in front of the Russians. An ineffective expression of concern with a similar tone, appeal and language; and we owe all this to resistance by a nation who answered to the call of guidance of their divine leaders of yesterday and today, Khomeyni and Khamene'i. As interpreted by an insightful brother, if the absence of Imam Mahdi had a lesser or greater period, maybe the emergence of the guardianship of that most supreme of all jurisconsults will also have a lesser or greater aspect and the Islamic Republic's present credibility and influence of word is only a small manifestation of that flowing and current guardianship in the world and in itself is the harbinger and forerunner of the rise of the emerging sun [presumably the twelfth Imam] for the establishment of the rule by the world's poor and oppressed. Let us pray to God, it is so.