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Putting a Face on Iran

I played basketball with my Iranian next-door neighbors lots of summer nights when I was growing up. The smallest one – Hafez – stood about 4’6”. He embarrassed us all over the court with moves that made the basketball–which was … Read More

By / August 26, 2008

I played basketball with my Iranian next-door neighbors lots of summer nights when I was growing up. The smallest one – Hafez – stood about 4’6”. He embarrassed us all over the court with moves that made the basketball–which was about as big around as his chest–spin, slice, and float into the hoop. I remember hearing Hafez speak Farsi to his parents and the beautiful, large picture of Tehran above their sink. I learned from my parents later on that Hafez’s parents had been Maoist revolutionaries. They protested against the Shah and his Western supporters, but after the revolution they found themselves in the crosshairs of a newly installed Islamic government, which had started to crack down on the non-religious leftist groups.

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  • Anonymous

    I was kind of hoping for a more compelling reason for not attacking Iran than the fact that the authors neighbor played basketball with an Iranian kid. Europe has no reason to fear Iranian nukes, as Iran has not threatened Europe, and Europe has major economic ties to Europe. In addition, a nuclear Iran could fulfill Europe's wet dream of finishing what Hitler started, without Europe having to get its hand dirty. China and Russia have no incentive to disarm Iran, and in fact, Iran's nuclear program would be impossible without Russian assistance. Russia has an interest in a strong Iran in order to bleed the US in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I suspect Isaac Luria and his J street mayvens are uncomfortable with a strong Israel and would like a nuclear Iran to counterbalance Israel. If Israel gets nuked in the process, Luria can wring his hands and parade the nobility of suffering among his non-Jewish friends. That is the essence of J street

  • Zeevico

    (1) Peace with Syria–so long as the present regime remains in place–is an impossibility. Syria is ruled by its elite–generals, Ba'ath officials, Assad's family and tribe, etc. This elite cannot rely on the Syrian economy for money and resources, as the Syrian economy is a shambles, as a result of incompetence, corruption and socialist policy.  Its source of money and resources is Iran. Syria is, in effect, a client state of Iran. The United States and Europe are no longer in the business of keeping 'client states' in power and the cost of doing so is probably the biggest reason. Unless client states go back in vogue, Syria's elite have an overwhelming concern–namely, their survival–which forces them to link with Iran. The Syrian elite are simply too afraid to be on their own, as that would require economic liberalisation, institution of some respect for the law (so as to bring confidence to those in the market), and an end to the totalitarian grip of the Ba'ath on Syrian society. That means they risk losing power. If and when the US decides to take Syria on as a client state, the prospects for Syrian-Israeli peace increase. If the Syrian elite loses control of the government, then I have no idea what will happen. But, as should be clear, up until that point the question of Israeli-Syrian peace is purely theoretical, as is a withdrawal from the Golan Heights.

    Speaking idealistically, I for one would have little objection to a withdrawal of sovereignty from the Golan in the context of a bona fide peace agreement with the Syrians, supported by the majority of the Syrian people.

    (3) There is really no reason to support Hamas. The only thing we can really do to effect a change in the status quo is try to properly fight this propaganda war with the Palestinians and convince the US and Europe to support and monetarily aid Israeli re-entry into Gaza, the Israeli army's destruction of Hamas and re-introduction of Israeli military rule [not to mention the same in West Bank and the de-legitimisation of the Palestinian Authority]. From there, God knows, but at least the situation on the ground will be relatively stable, which will be best for both parties in the long run.

    Really, we may as well just play darts as discuss the conflict. Whatever we do, there are so many factors that might destroy Israeli or Palestinian efforts regardless.

  • Ofer

    Your 3 suggestions show how far off base you are:

    1) Any "peace" with Syria includes withdrawing from the golan. A suicidal move as the withdrawal from Leabanon and Gaza shows.

    2) Where do you see political reconciliation in Syria? I see Syria killing anyone who opposes their meddling there, and Condi Rice applauding giving terrorists access to the Lebanese government.

    3)Egypt hates Hamas more than Israel does. Why should we support Hamas when it makes no secret of it's aim to destroy Israel?

  • Isaac Luria

    Thanks for your deep thoughts on the matter. So glad we could engage in a fruitful discussion.

  • Anonymous

    Image:Waffen-SSposter01.jpg

  • Anonymous

    Many words, no meaning.