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Posted on 01/22/2005 2:03:08 AM PST by F14 Pilot
"So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation… America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom."
Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran, who was watching President George W Bush's speech on television at his hotel in London, noted the language. He was relieved that the phrase "regime change" was not used.
He believes that American military intervention in Iran would be wrong: "Iranians are not willing to buy freedom at any cost. They do not want the freedom of an American general marching in. It is a matter of national pride. We do not need an American soldier to save us."
Mr Pahlavi, 44, has been actively campaigning for secular democracy in Iran since September 11. He says that it is only the regime that stands between an educated, well-resourced country and the free world: "All the unemployment and poverty in Iran is a by-product of political asphyxia."
But Mr Pahlavi says that the rising against the regime must come from within. He looks to the Ukraine or Yugoslavia as a model and rejects comparisons with Iraq: "Iran has a different history, polity, totally different scenarios. Our society is more dynamic and capable. We don't need teachers from American universities to come and teach us about democracy."
What Mr Pahlavi wants from Europe and America is "support for the Iranian people. This means refusing to deal with the regime".
He is particularly opposed to any weapons for trade negotiations: "Other countries should take a principled position on the regime. They must not be seen to cut a deal, at the expense of the Iranian people." There has been little reporting of protests against the regime since the elections last year but Mr Pahlavi's adviser, who asked not to be named, claimed the frustration is at boiling point, particularly among students.
"President Khatami addressed a meeting recently and the students started chanting 'shame on you'. It was moving," he says.
The opposition in Iraq is fastening on the May presidential elections as the moment to force the collapse of the regime. Petitions are being compiled on the internet for a referendum. The opposition claims that the election will be hollow.
"Saddam had elections," says Mr Pahlavi. "Let's not be infatuated by elections." Will the Pentagon have the patience to wait for an internal uprising? A report this week by Seymour Hersh in the New Yorker revealed that special forces are already on the ground in Iran.
Mr Pahlavi responds that America must anticipate scenarios but he again rebuffs any sort of intervention. He will not accept, for instance, an American bombing of nuclear installations in Iran to pave the way for a popular uprising. He says that this would immediately strengthen the position of the Mullahs. "It has to be the right mechanism," he says.
He agrees that the stakes are high. Iraq has little chance of becoming a stable country while Iran is supporting insurgency there. "Iran doesn't need to invade Iraq," says Mr Pahlavi. "It is already in there."
He is also clear about the purpose of Iranian Mullahs acquiring nuclear weapons: "It is to blackmail the rest of the world." He says the regime is acutely aware that it is exposed by the toppled tyrannies on its borders and is ready to lash out.
Is he pushing for a restoration of the monarchy as part of a new Iran? "My political mission is over the day that Iranians have the freedom to go to the polls," he says.
He is son of a king and they call him PRINCE
He took power..I assumed it was by the will of the people.
No, it was not. It was by the will of the U.S.
See clip #499. http://memritv.org/Search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=499#
Yeah? So what? For a while a rather creepy young musician was called Prince too. It doesn't mean a thing except to people with chains in their brains.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal
-- Thomas Jefferson - U.S. Declaration of Independence
The Shah, yes, Khomeni, no.
The Shah yes, Khomeini, Yes.
Source and link please?
I never got the impression that he wanted to be installed as a moinarch. He used to live here in L.A. (may still for all I know) and was the broadcaster of a Free Iran radio station beamed into Iran.
Seems to me he's one of the good guys. His mother was also a gracious woman.
There are dozens of sources. Try Ledeen for starters. Or Amir Taheri. Don't have a link off-hand.
If you read the real history, you'll understand why the people of Iran (and Americans) hate Carter so much.
It was Carter who advised the Shah and Khomeini (behind the Shah's back). Carter got the Shah out of Iran and ushered Khomeini in. Fact. Though it's not one democrats like to admit to.
For argument sake, if Nixon were president at the time, he would have backed the Shah.
gee ..I did not know you were talking about Carter..He said no no didn't he, and tut tutted? Carter is clueless and has always been.
The Shah asked Carter for help to put down the uprising. He asked for munitions and backing. Carter refused. HE wanted the Shah out. HE wanted Khomeini. HE did all he could to make that happen, and succeeded. It was HIS will, and as our President, that made it the will of the U.S..
Actually, if you think about it, it's incredible that Iranians have any love for the U.S. at all.
The only tyrants Carter supports are communist or anti US.
"Carter is clueless and has always been"
Yes, he and his advisers set up the role of Iran as host to terrorists and terrorism and created the mess we have today.
I am glad you made that statement..I learned some interesting things about Khomeni's history with terror groups and happened on a couple of blogs where great reverence is expressed for him by Iranians.
If you were on a blog that had Iranians paying respect and reverence to Khomeini, you were on a blog infiltrated by the regime.
They visit FR, too.
Seems like they do.
http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=iran&ID=SP85005
Same old, same old.
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