Posted on 05/30/2004 10:50:04 PM PDT by F14 Pilot
While we look at Iraq or at Gaza and worry about peace, it would be wiser to look east of those lands where the prospect for genuine and benign peace has seldom been greater. One quarter of the human race lives in the Indian subcontinent and the Iranian plains within those nations we call India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Iran.
Two planet has seven which have publicly announced nuclear powers or are considered immediately - America, Russia, China, Britain and France - are four nations which are considered almost certainly to posses such weapons - Israel, South Africa, India and Pakistan. Only two of those nations have fought wars since 1970, and those two are India and Pakistan.
When the Taliban was in power in Afghanistan, these goons committed intentionally provocative acts like destroying ancient Buddhist sites and persecuting religious minorities, which included not only Hindu, but Buddhist, Sikh and Zoroastrian minorities, each of which live in relative freedom in India.
When America removed the Taliban and introduced a moderate, tolerant government in its place, that dramatically reduced the pressure on neighboring Pakistan to support anti-Hindu and anti-Indian policies. Our constant pursuit of al-Qaida and bin Ladin also weakens the power of these bad people to commit terrorism in India.
India now has its first Sikh Prime Minister, which creates a real window of opportunity for Pakistan and India to mend fences. Sikhism combines elements of both Islam and Hinduism, and as minorities who have sometimes suffered discrimination in India by the Hindu majority, they have no interest in Hindu nationalism.
Both these developments - routing of Islamic fundamentalism in Afghanistan and the rise of a non-Hindu to power in India - help those who want Pakistan to be peaceful, neutral, tolerant, free and open. There is another piece of the geopolitical puzzle which could make the victory of peace and freedom complete.
Persia is a very ancient land with a very sophisticated and influential culture. Persian ideas, art, philosophy and literature is vastly underrated in the West, because so much of it we assume is our culture. The Parsees of India, who have traditionally been the most successful and most "Westernized" (in our terms) were Zoroastrians from Persia who fled to India, primarily a section of Bombay.
The Persian people have chafed for a quarter of a century under a corrupt and theocratic thugacracy incomparably worse than the worst excesses of the Shah. The people of Iran do not hate the United States at all, although their leaders hate us with a fierce passion. As we discover an increasingly closer connection between bin Ladin, al-Qaida, terrorism in post-war Iraq and Iran, America may decide to help the people of Iran gain their freedom early.
If that happens, then the situation in Iraq will improve almost overnight. First, because the Shia who are unhappy now in Iraq will have to contend with the opinions of the much larger Shia population of Iran which is delighted with America. Second, because this would horrify Syria and other troublemakers.
The liberation of Iran would also mean that Pakistan would have the third troubling border pacified and it would be surrounded by nations who wanted peaceful, tolerant and prosperous futures. The ripples of that could be profound.
Those former Soviet Socialist Republics of Kazakstan, Uzebistan, Kirghiz, and Tajikistan have long secular histories from Communism, but very strong historical ties to Persian culture. If that great Persian heritage was used to bring these nations more firmly into the family of civilized and friendly nations, then the whole configuration of power and of sentiment in Central Asia would change.
That means good intentioned people in Russia and China would have a much easier time moving their nations toward peace and freedom as well. The ripples would reach Pyongyang, Damascus, Ankara, Hanoi and Rangoon.
Two pieces of the three piece puzzle are in place: moderate and tolerant leaders now rule India and Afghanistan. The last piece, the decisive victory, will be in the liberation of Iran. To quote Michael Ledeen, who writes on this subject often: "Faster please." Amen
This is true, but I'm the pessimist on FR. Profound ripples: peace or Pandora's Box?
When the status quo simply cannot be allowed to continue, due to the catastrophic risks involved, it is useless to get worked up over the uncertainties of change.
You are correct, the mullahs will not cede power democratically or from internal pressure and we will not jump into Iran to force change.
This one is up to the people of Iran, at least to start and to maintain long enough for international forces to enter and stabilize.
If they do that, I suggest we hand Jimmy Carter over to Iran for trial.
The Persians were conquered by the Arabs and had their own religion stomped out --- but maybe a part of it remains in them. The 3 wise men -- the Magi --from the Orient that came to visit Jesus in Bethlehem by following a moving star were very likely Zoroasterianism priests and very possibly from Persia.
Arabs are more suited to Islam and it's their religion but Persians really are not.
"If they do that, I suggest we hand Jimmy Carter over to Iran for trial."
LOL and so true. That wimp let history get to this point. Think how different if we had a strong president at that time. The permutations are many but I have always thought the causation came back to him and his sissy administration.
Agreed!
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