Iran’s ‘crimes’

In 2002, George W. Bush named Iran as part of an “axis of evil,” warning about Iran’s “nuclear ambitions.” Although International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have found no evidence of Iran developing a nuclear weapons program, Bush continues to state that Iran is a “threat” to world peace.

This Sept. 28, Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, addressed the annual session of the U.N. General Assembly. Quite noticeable was the absence of both U.S. and Israeli delegations during his speech. The U.S. bourgeois media, as usual, opted to attack and vilify him, seeming incapable of reporting in a balanced and objective manner.

The corporate media characterized Ahmadinejad’s speech as “rant and railing.” They referred to him as “madman,” “despot,” “kook,” “foe,” “belligerent” and “lousy.” One TV commentator announced that Ahmadinejad was about to be “grilled” by reporters. A local newspaper called his speech “a snoozer of a sermon.” They even stated that the suit he wore looked like the same as last year’s.

This past August, Ahmadinejad granted a TV interview in Tehran with a prominent U.S. journalist, Charlie Rose, who prefaced his introduction by stating, “No leader in the world is more controversial, mainly due to his rhetoric regarding the holocaust and the state of Israel, than Pres. Ahmadinejad.” The interview itself contained sarcasm, snide remarks and accusations by Rose.

Last year, President Ahmadinejad spoke at Columbia University in New York City at the invitation of the student body. The university president’s, Lee C. Bollinger, so-called “introduction” of Ahmadinejad became a lengthy personal attack, revealing his contempt. Not being a gracious host, Bollinger displayed rudeness, disrespect and insults.

Both Democratic and Republican presidential nominees, Obama and McCain, have stated the U.S. needs to impose heavier sanctions on Iran, mobilize the world community to go after Iran’s nuclear program, and act more forcefully to contain Iran’s nuclear capabilities, all to protect the Zionist state of Israel. The candidates won’t state whether Israel has “a green light” or not to use its nuclear weapons. McCain even joked about bombing Iran.

The war drums seem to be banging. And we’re still waiting for the U.S. government and the media to explain why Ahmadinejad is considered “one of the most hostile and controversial heads of state” and Iran is so dangerous. What’s the rhetoric really all about?

War on Iran and its people would be another preemptive war for oil. There are no weapons of mass destruction! However, both the U.S. and Israel do possess nuclear weapons. Several other countries also have nuclear power or weapons. The threat to the security and stability of the Middle East region comes from Washington, not from Iran. With all the U.S. threats and years of an embargo against Iran, we’re still left wondering: what exactly are Iran’s crimes?

The long arm of U.S. “national interests” is extensive and expanding. The U.S. is not interested in peace in the region. Instead, it prefers to display force and military power to get its way. It has historically been involved in creating and fueling hostilities in the region. And the capitalist media participates in the propaganda, resorting to deception, name calling, and prejudice again and again. There is no shame in anyone’s game.

—Dolores Cox
New York City activist