How much have we strengthened Iran?

Question

Iran is the big winner in the war in Iraq. Its influence has expanded vastly. It's weapons programs have moved along unopposed. This is an Axis of Evil nation. They are not our friends.

We have to consider America less safe as Iran has become more pwerful and more bold. Iraq will now be under the influence of Iran, as the government already is.

The leader of Iraq is currently a Shiite spiritual leader that is a protege of Iranian Shiite leaders.

What have we done?!

Turbo, the twisted stability of the Saddam regime was the essential check on the power of Iran. We toppled that regime, and rolled out the red carpet for Iran -- one of our most dangerous adversaries.

Not too smart, was it? It was a spontaneous rectal extraction of a foreign policy.

Aussie, they need not invade. They already have their man in power -- Al-Maliki. No need to attack. The job is already done.

Mehrdad, I sympathize with your plight. There is a very simple answer for why Iran is an "Axis of Evil" country, and it has nothing to do with genuine evil. Iran is the primary vehicle for a rival system of petrochemical distribution, which would involve Central Asia and China. Iran is the epicenter of the geo-political struggle for control over the most important economic resource in the world.

Until America is energy independent, or until Iran is our friend and drinking our Kool-Aid -- you are going to be hearing about how evil Iran is. Of course, it is all cynical nonsense. They are God-fearing people, good parents, children, good souls just like everywhere else in the world. There is a right wing party in America that prays on the bigotry of less educated people here that are prone to believe that the world is full of depraved lunatics that want to kill us. I write these questions to expose this ignorance, in part.

David J -- time to switch meds, pal.

Answer 1

you see iranians as intruders but what about america itself. america attacked iraq not iran. america and israel have all kinds of nuclear weapons but no one doesnt care. but poor iranians cant have this energy even for peacful purposes.why americans and europeans have got such ideas about iran.

Answer 2

For the next 50 years it is the Oil that will decide which Nation gets prosperous and which Nation go belly up.that is why this struggle is going on .At this time Iran and Iraq are the prize.The west headed by United States wants to grab all the Middle East where as China and Russia wants Iran to be in their basket.But I think Americans Created a lot of trouble for them selves by invading Iraq,this invasion has turned the Muslims on the street against the west.May be they will have to leave entire Middle East.Because it will not be worth the cost to carry on this struggle for Oil.But rest assured this conflict will last for many more years and many many innocent lives are going to be lost.
Yes it was a very big blunder to invade Iraq and put shite in charge under the pretext of democracy and strengthen the hands of Iran.

Answer 3

We have not done much actually... and we do have a big problem...

We had to remove Saddam Hussein... back in 1991 as he had become to cocky and gone in business for himself.
The problem was that we had no one to replace him. So we left him there. That was our biggest mistake.

But we still have the same problem... If the Americans leave Iraq... the Iranians will invade within weeks.
So we only have two choices... or we stay... or we take Iran out of the picture.

Answer 4

That's the same question the Democrats were asking about Iraq prior to us going in...In fact they were convinced Saddam was not only a major threat to the well being of this country but also harboring al qeada . This same party you speak so highly of completely disagrees with your assessment of Iran and believes we should consider them "friendly"..

Answer 5

We have strengthened them greatly Saddam was a balance against Iranian power in the region. In fact, Bush I used that argument to defend not taking out Saddam after the first Gulf War. Too bad his son was not half as smart. Great perspective on the entire issue.

Answer 6

You're very perceptive! Iran is gaining ground daily- and since they do not play with the USA, you can imagine the bile piling up in American politics...

Answer 7

Why are you assuming they would not have done this anyway, with or without a war in Iraq? It's something they'd been pursuing, unopposed, for years before Bush came into office.

Answer 8

You know what we've done, and it was planned that way for many decades. What you see in that whole region is our own creation. Why? It's simple, that's where all the oil is. If it wasn't for oil, these people would still be riding around in the dessert ,on there camels. And we would have no need to bother them.

Answer 9

you should be proud of yourself for being able of seeing and saying the bitter truth.

yes, that's what happens when a country meddle's in other countries' affairs

since you seem to actually understand what is going on in the Middle East, let me share this with you.
http://www.breakdownfilm.tv

(go to watch trailers, very enlightening)

Answer 10

Note:I'm not arguing or something, Americans say they understand what I'm saying, this is only for correcting some wrong opinions, not for blaming you or the others.Hope you understand me.

Hi people.I'm Iranian and I live in Iran.When I chat with people from other countries, I understand that they have totally wrong ideas about Iran.I just wrote this article to correct you.
The first thing they accuse our government of, is that they don't let you be free.Actually, Iranians would be some of the most free people in the world, since thousands of millions of strict rules in other countries, don't even exist in Iran.Our goverment tried to not to let western cultures influence ours, by prohibiting videos and sattelites, but in Iran every single house has one sattelite. Sattelite channels have a serious influence on people, now the way they wear clothes sounds like western countries, only there are scarves that don't seem to be worn because we're Muslems.People wear fashionable scarves to make themselves more attractive and most part of their hair is out.They do whatever they wish to, and some of the things they do, don't fit our culture at all, however it's normal in Iran, since people have got used to such acts and behaviours.You really need to pay a visit to Iran and you'll be surprised seeing the difference between what you imagine and how the real Iran is! It's wonderful, believe me.The Iran you know, is related to at least 40 years ago.At present, everything's so great.Even at that time Iran was not a bad country either, but many things have changed so far.
Some people think music is forbidden in Iran, but did you know that Iranian pop music has won the nobel prize in France?Iran's full of music and they're all current pop music.The best you've ever heard, and in case you're curious to hear some, e-mail me and I'll send you some.
Some people think women don't have any rights in Iran! What would you tell me if I tell you that women are now overtaking Iran? They're treated very well, most of the times they're the winners in most cases: They get into the best universities, they get the best jobs, they've got rights that have made it difficult for men to marry them, because husbands seem to be under control of women and they have to buy them expensive things and treat them very well, otherwise women will have the right to divorce them, and then the their husbands have to pay them a great amount of money which most husbands cannot afford. (so, they can simply sit in the corner of prison! lol).Another funny thing: Your footage about stoning the women who have committed adultery.Have you ever asked yourself they relate to how many years ago?Just for your information, those are from Afghanistan which was once ruled by those freaks (Taliban).I find it difficult to make you understand that Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan are SEPERATE COUNTRIES! and thet we're Persian not Arab!And I find it even more difficult to make you understand that Iran is a normal country like any other countries in the world.There's nothing mysterious about it!(The media is very good at making good scary titles: BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS!!! IRAN UNDERCOVER!!! This would be enough to scare people away! Iranians are much more educated,sophisticated, intelligent and open-minded than what you think!!! I'm sure you don't know that there are lots and lots of Iranian geniouses and scientists that are all under 25.You don't hear about their discoveries and inventions on TV. A small example is this 17 year old boy who's invented 72 amazing inventions that the biggest scientist haven't ever managed to.You don't know that Iranian students are winning gold and silver medals in different compotitions in the world all the time such as robots, biology,maths,physics,anything! Why don't your media talk about them?
Some people think, Iran's a desert! Iran's a modern country with very beautiful nature and lots of historical places to visit.Please take a look at the following links and see if Iran looks like what you think or not! (Surely it doesn't!)
This is a photo of Tehran: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Tehran-2-1600.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran

If you like you can visit these too, hope you like them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hills_south_west_of_Sanandaj_near_the_village_of_Kilaneh.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jhcfjuhfuvfjhyf.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel2.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kish-island.gif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel3.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran


See how the media are fooling people? None of the things you hear on the media about Iran are true.So, please don't worry about us, cos we're really free.Ok?

I thought it's better to clarify some political matters as well:
Some of the Americans I chatted with (not all of them), said here in the U.S it's said that president Ahmadinejad hates the U.S and Israel and wants to nuck them!! Now, this is so odd, their media is good at putting comments, it's easy to show a video or an image of our president or leader on the T.V screen or on the internet and say he says this, he says that.....
First of all you should know that Iranians don't hate anyone, if our government complains about some injustice that's now going on in the world, it's not bad.Is it? Nor do we hate Jews, nor do we hate Americans.They're both nice people.If they're media is fooling them, it's not their fault.If I were in thier shoes, I would hate Iran too regarding all the terrible lies they keep hearing about it nearly everyday.Who says we want to force the others to convert to Islam?Have you ever found a Muslem that knocks at your door and asks you to do so?Who says we call Americans athiests?That's so funny, Christians and Jews are both God believers.We've never disrespected them.I wonder why the media like putting words in our mouth and raising hatred.In Iran, religion would be the least important thing, it means that where you come from and what you're religion is, are not important for us at all.And I wonder why some Muslim countries think there's a problem between Shittes and Sunnies, it doesn't make sence in Iran.
I wonder Iran is a threat to whom? How is it possible for Iran to nuke somewhere while it doesn't have any nukes?!!!(The media have never been intelligent liars).Has Iran ever attacked anywhere?
Some say he said: Israel should be wiped off the map! But have they told you the rest of his speech and that why he's said this at all? If you know a little literature, you know that it's a passive sentence.He's never said that IRAN wants to wipe Israel off the map! And he wasn't talking about destroying Israel, he was talking about relocating Israel, so that they could live seperate from Palestinians and they could both live in peace.They've only told you this phrase not the rest of it and it's mistranslated deliberitely.Be concious! Iran's always defended itself, but it's not an offensive country, while most countries have nukes and are clearly threatening Iran to nuke us! Good isn't it? Some say he's said: Holocaust is a myth! Ok, he's said this, but is saying it a crime? If 6000000 Jews were killed, that's so terrible, but those 300000 Shiite Moslems who were killed by Saddam aren't important at all! 650000 Iraqi people are killed and it's not important! When Fox News simply says: America and Israel are capable of destroying and killing all Iran's 690000000 population (, it's OK and no one says they're treatening other countries to nuke them (I saw this with my own eyes on the Fox News web-site)