It is more complex than that. It really is between fundamentalism and a more modern version of Islam. It is for the soul of the religion. Right now the fundamentalists are winning.
I have been unable for the life of me to understand why in the scenario where a relatively (these things are all relative in that region) advanced nation like Iran (and to a lesser extent Syria) - which allows women to vote, to get an education, to leave their homes unaccompanied, and which tolerates Christians and Jews
That is the old Iran before Khomeini took over and made Iran into a radical Islamic state. I saw the change firsthand in Iran when Khomeini came in the country in February 1979. The change was overnight. Iran is the biggest state sponsor of terrorism. Sharia law is rigidly enforced.
is pitted against a barbarian, medieval, savagely intolerant desert kingdom like Saudi Arabia, the US and its allies backs the Saudis. Iran hasn’t threatened US interests in almost forty years whereas a bunch of Saudis immolated a large section of downtown Manhattan in 2001 and yet Saudi Arabia “is our good friendâ€. Why?
I beg to differ. Iran is the biggest state sponsor of terrorism. They blew up Khobar Towers. They are funding Hamas and Hezbollah. They have supplied weapons to the Iraqis who have killed Americans.
AQ blew up the WTC. They weren't being funded by the Saudi government. Most of the 9/11 attackers were Saudis, but they were enemies of the state. AQ has attacked the Saudi government and Saudi citizens along with foreigners in the Kingdom.
For Israel my enemy’s enemy is my friend, and Israel’s enemies have always been the same as those of Saudi Arabia (and Turkey). Israel has no real quarrel with Saudi Arabia or Turkey but has had a long history with Assad’s Syria, Saddam’s Iraq and the ayatollah’s Iran, precisely the same enemies as Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The Saudis hate Shias and other heretics more than they do the Jews.
Basically true. The Saudis hate and fear the Iranians the most. There is a large Shi'a population in the Eastern provinces. About 10% of the Saudi population is shi'a.
I have the greatest of respect for Israel, they have achieved magnificent successes and long may they prosper but I think it is dangerous for the US to simply adopt Israel’s regional real-politik strategy as official US foreign policy. I really think the US needs to look again at where this mess is taking it.
You can't unring a bell. Israel is there to stay. They are the only democracy in the Middle East and share our values. Certainly, Israel's interests alone should not guide our foreign policy. But we do have strong political and cultural ties. I hope you are not suggesting we abandon them.
“That is the old Iran before Khomeini took over and made Iran into a radical Islamic state. I saw the change firsthand in Iran when Khomeini came in the country in February 1979. The change was overnight. Iran is the biggest state sponsor of terrorism. Sharia law is rigidly enforced.”
No, that is still today’s Iran, not as tolerant as under the shah but a heck of a lot more tolerant than the medieval bigots of Saudi Arabia where it is a criminal offence to worship any religion other than Islam. Syria was a fairly tolerant nation too under Assad and now we are supporting Al-Queada linked terrorists to overthrow Assad. It is truly bizarre.
The biggest state sponsors of terrorism today are Saudis and their allies in the Gulf states, nothing Iran does comes close to what the Sunnis have done that is a simple fact.
As to abandoning Israel that’s absurd, we can no more “abandon” Israel than we can “abandon” Japan, or Australia, or the Phillipines or the UK but the US is under no obligation to form its foreign policy in order to suit the agenda of one of its allies. If the Brits were doing stuff that got America into trouble the US would tell them to knock it off straight away and would be under no obligation to follow their bidding.
If Israel wants to cosy up with the fundamentalist Sunnis of Saudi Arabia or, increasingly, Turkey that’s Israel’s business, I hope they know what they’re doing but Israel doesn’t get to set US foreign policy, it’s not supposed to work that way.
I agree with almost all of your post, kabar.
Certainly AQ and SA were and are dire enemies of each other.
I’d just add that Iran is especially dangerous because they will almost certainly be the next in the ME to have nukes, unless SA pre-empts them and acquires some from Pakistan, so then you’ve got SA and Iran with nukes, with more countries sure to follow. (Oh, goody, goody!) /s
The crazy thing is that we oppose Iran in Syria, and then turn around and facilitate Iran getting nukes and economic support. Obama is just nuts...