What I Learned from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad--Blogger

I'm not well-versed on most international news. I read the New York Times and our local Seattle paper and listen faithfully to an intelligent talk radio host, but find myself with the ostrich approach to much of it, in the same way that I avoid movies with violence and suspense. World events are far more consequential than celluloid stories, but at the same time, I feel powerless to impact, and incompetent to fully understand, most situations, which are often a blend of politics, religion and cultural context.

But there's something different about Iran's revolution. This is a revolt of the type that can not only turn around the safety of the entire world, but pivot a nation from totalitarian, misogynistic suppression toward at least a form of democratic, semi-tolerant rule. What this could mean is opportunities for Iran's citizens, and openings to diminish or eliminate hostile threats that unchecked could launch us, God forbid, into a massive international conflagration.

So the significance of demonstrating for Iran's citizens who resist the imposition of the fraudulently and forcibly-perpetuated leadership of Ahmed Ahmadinejad is enormous. And as the people of Iran continue risking their lives and combating repression to express themselves, rallies around the world in their support abound. Tempe, Arizona. San Diego, California. Charlotte, North Carolina. People of Iranian descent, many of whom recall fleeing their nation with the overthrow of the Shah, join students and others passionately insisting on Iranian citizens' right to an election free of corruption.

I happened upon Mahmoud Ahmadinejab's blog. Really, he has one. While enjoying time with his wife and children, he says, he came upon "the noble book- Nahjul Balagha," specifically, "the letter of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) to his governor Maalik al-Ashtar, in ‎which he (pbuh) elaborates the right procedure of ruling and governance." Ahmadinejab "naturally" wanted to review this "greatest management charter of Islamic government" because he's "someone who bears the heaviest executive responsibility of the country for ‎sometime now." And he plans to continue for some more time, asserting the direction he believes is what Allah wants.

In this letter, Imam Ali (pbuh!) puts forth some pretty good-sounding instructions, like taking care of the poor, being just in making decisions, choosing fair advisors, humility, and integrity--in the service of Allah. It appears, however, that all bets are off for those who don't want to follow Allah's precepts. When it comes to negotiating, here's the word: "If your enemy invites you to a peace treaty that will be agreeable to Allah, then ‎never refuse to accept such an offer because peace will bring rest and comfort to ‎your armies, will relieve you of anxieties and worries, and will bring prosperity ‎and affluence to your people. But even after such treaties be very careful of the ‎enemies and do not place too much confidence in their promises because they ‎often resort to peace treaty to deceive and delude you and take advantage of ‎your negligence, carelessness and trust."

We're dealing with a theocracy here, but also a dictator, who justifies his oppression with religious interpretations. Those who eschew America's founding as a "Christian nation" must appreciate that while the populace has always been almost entirely Christian, governance has always remained entirely secular. Contrast our system with Iran's; be grateful for our heritage and our founders' insight, as well as the goodwill that the Judeo-Christian perspective encourages.

Then I read some of the comments on Ahmadinejab's blog. Jack Meyerhoff from the US: "I hope someone puts a bullet in your head very soon." Just above that Han Guangui from China says, "you are very brave that you can fight against to USA ,I support you forever." A couple comments ask if other commenters are fake.

What are we to believe about Iran? I believe the reports that journalists have been detained, email curtailed. That citizens risk injury and death to protest that their will has been violated. That Ahmadinejab, who denies the Holocaust, seeks nuclear capabilities, has designated Israel, which could be within firing range, an enemy despite there being no real threat other than its Jewish basis.

From Ahmadinejab's blog, I learn one thing. He claims, if not believes, that this is all about what Allah wants. And religious conviction can be the most dangerous of motivators. I only hope that world response allows the Iranian people to prevail, and that Pres. Obama gets over his fear of "meddling" and shows some courage to take a stand.

Dr. Michael B. Oren speaks on Terrorism, Israel, the future

As promised, I wanted to report on a lecture the 200 members of our Israel tour group heard from a famous person--not a movie mag celeb but someone who is an expert in the field of mid-east relations, author (Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East) and professor Dr. Michael B. Oren (left).

The auditorium was filled, and throughout the talk completely silent, save for the sibilant scribbling of pen on paper. Dr. Oren addressed facts about the conflicts in the mid-east, content he'd tried to communicate when invited by our President and State Department to offer advice. He warned us that some of the facts were not what we'd wish to hear. But nonetheless, the US as a nation would have to face them.

First off, he said each of the governments of mid-eastern countries are basically "a family with an army," and the way we must deal with them is to make a strong impression. While "Sadam Hussein needed to not get away with defying the UN," at the same time, we should not try to make Iraq a democracy. Instead,he believes a "Shiite strongman" will ultimately hold together the country, not American efforts--but still, "we cannot detach from the mid-east, because the mid-east will come after you."

Secondly, we also can't separate from our need for oil, and so we're forced to continue to buy oil from that part of the world. We must realize that at the heart of the conflict is "a clash of cultures," much broader than just eliminating Muslim extremists. We must "speak their language and know their culture."

To do that, we need a new "lexicon about terrorism," something we've never had to understand before. These are fighters with no uniforms, no negotiators to make treaties and no intention of abiding by traditional codes of war. "We must understand the theology of a world civilization that wants to take over and kill ours--run by doctors and lawyers" (per the British plotters recently). "This is not about democracy, but about theology--we must support moderate Islam, but covertly, because if we do it openly then the moderates will be discredited."

Dr. Oren's third fact concerns Iran: "Sanctions and dialog won't work," he cautions. "Iran will nuclear-ize," and its leaders have said publicly they're willing to "sacrifice 50% of its population to get rid of Israel [should there be a nuclear showdown]." Dr. Oren believes that "once Iran gets the bomb, every country will [get it], changing human reality." Therefore, we have to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons; there's "no way to avoid a major collision with Iran." Israel's entire existence is at at stake, given their proximity to Iran, but Israel lacks the planes to take out Iran's bomb-making sites. Dr. Oren believes that the US is best equipped to make the kind of surgical military strike required, and it needs to be sooner rather than later.

Regarding the Palestinians and Israel: He said that the press misled the public regarding Bush's recent speech on the topic. Upon actually reading it, "Bush gave a very pro-Israel speech," including no return to pre-1967 borders, and no opening the doors to Palestinian refugees, whose numbers "would make Israel a de facto Palestinian State." Also, no "land for peace," but rather, "from the Palestinians, peace for land."

He doesn't think Palestinians can "create viable, transparent institutions; they're in chaos." For Palestinians, the goal is a "one state solution," meaning the end of Israel.

"Israel is a miracle; it started with nothing and is among the fastest growing economies. It's the most high tech" even while last year fighting a war with Lebanon, Dr. Oren says. "The US puts relentless pressure on Israel," he notes, "as if Israel is responsible for the attacks on it."

Dr. Oren explained that in the 30s and 40s, Jews bought up Israeli land, "fair and square," giving lie to the Arab's assertion that they were driven off their land by Jews who wanted to create their new state. In fact, in the 1880s, Israel already had a Jewish majority, which continued to grow; the new state was proclaimed and immediately, on May 14, 1948, the Arabs tried to destroy it.

So, what's my reaction to Dr. Oren's points? Though alarming, I've heard them before, and my experiences in Israel have only confirmed that we're dealing with a religiously-driven cult, which means nothing logical or negotiated can deter them. They want the end of Israel--and, in their best fantasies, build a world ruled as a kalifate, under Muslim law, where everyone recognizes their god. What this does is underscore that we're not only fighting for our lives, but fighting for our eternities. These are bad guys, and they have no scruples because they believe they're doing what god wants them to do.

It seems wrong, but I do think America must abandon its wartime morals and practices and start imagining the passion and tenacity of a religion in which those who are "not them" must be converted or murdered. There there is no room for "peaceful co-existence" with anyone else, even Muslims of a variant branch. Non-Muslims are sub-human "infidels."

This is a case where, every day as we continue to live our lives, they plot to end our lives. Dr. Oren's talk was clever, articulate and scary. But I think it's extremely important, which is why I'm reproducing my notes here in my blog. We should anticipate what we as a nation need to do, and pursue what is necessary--because meanwhile, we are being pursued. I only pray our leaders are up to the task.