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AIC Update February 2005 | Volume # 2 | Number # 5 | |||
| a catalyst for change through dialogue and understanding |
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Talking Points: AIC Press Releases & Alerts: Perspectives & Commentary: Excerpts - "The change in US-Iran relations is particularly called for since they are harmful to the national interests of both sides." "Three such schemes are possible: “soft peace”, “hard war” and a combination thereof, where the former guarantees the successful implementation of the latter." "It will entail massive death and destruction. Iran is no Afghanistan or even Iraq: a historical country with 72 million largely nationalist people and a territory five times the size of France, Iran cannot be easily defeated or its nativist regime quickly overthrown." |
Capitals a World Apart?
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Talking Points:
Each week the Council publishes Talking Points in AIC UPDATE to improve dialogue on issues integral to improving US-Iran relations.
Despite tough talk and street gossip suggesting regime change, both the United States and Iran remain on a dangerous but peaceful path towards rapprochement. Although the relationship is marred by a history of mistrust, neither regime change, nor war is the official policy of either administration. Top officials from both countries regard dialogue and discussion as the primary source for improved relations and the main mechanism for promoting nonproliferation. AIC Press Releases & Alerts:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dear Friend of AIC: You are cordially invited to “Tribal Life and Women’s Rights in Iran” on Saturday, February 26, 2005, from 6:00 to 10 p.m. at the Livingston College Student Center, Rutgers University. The event is organized by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Rutgers University, and is co-sponsored by the American Iranian Council, among other organizations. Attached flyer and registration form provide detailed information. This event will feature: Location of the event: Rutgers University Livingston College Student Center 84 Joyce Kilmer Ave Piscataway, NJ 08854-8040 For directions refer to the following website: http://maps.rutgers.edu/directions.aspx?id=198 For more information contact: (732) 445-8444 Space is limited; please Email mideast@rci.rutgers.edu to sign up and reserve your seat by February 17. In your email, please include your name, phone number, and an email address. We hope that you will grace this event with your presence. Sincerely, Hooshang Amirahmadi, Ph.D. Professor and Director Center for Middle Eastern Studies President, AIC Traditional Persian Dinner will be served. Co-sponsors: American Iranian Council Rutgers Center for Women’s Global Leadership Rutgers Department of African Studies Rutgers University Persian Cultural Club  Asia Society presents Meet the Author: Christopher de Bellaigue In the Rose Garden of the Martyrs: A Memoir of Iran Wednesday, February 16 at 6:30 pm Rich in history and myth, and a key player in contemporary world politics, Iran remains an enigmatic society for Americans. Journalist de Bellaigue (The Economist, The New York Review of Books) takes a critical look at the social and political conditions in Iran since the 1979 Revolution through the voices of Mullahs, academics, artists, traders, mystics, ageing revolutionary guards, and young feminists. Book signing and reception follows. $5 students; $7 members; $12 nonmembers Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue at 70th Street, New York, NY 10021 Call 212 517-ASIA. Visit www.asiasociety.org Perspectives & Commentary:
The following essay was originally written by Hooshang Amirahmadi in 2002 following President George W. Bush’s State of the Union speech that characterized Iran as a member of the ‘axis of evil’. However, the ideas are as pertinent today as they were three years ago. The essay has been slightly adapted and updated to reflect current events.
Despite President George W. Bush’s call for freedom in his second inaugural address, US-Iran relations have made a dangerous turn toward confrontation. The President’s assertion that it is “the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world” is a welcome reprieve for an Iranian people with a nascent democratic movement edging towards victory. However, the President also refuses to take the confrontational approach off the table, continually urging that it might become necessary to eliminate the threats of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction that originate from Iran. While I disagree with Mr. Bush’s continued characterization of Iran as a member of the ‘axis of evil’ and his confrontational approach, I do share his sense of urgency to change the current state of US-Iran relations. The relations between the two countries have been unfriendly for over two decades, and inimical relations produce inimical behavior and deeds. Under this condition, complaints, rhetoric, warnings, and soft policies are no remedies and the best approach is to transform the status quo. The change in US-Iran relations is particularly called for since they are harmful to the national interests of both sides. Assuming that the United States has no immediate military plan to overthrow the regime in Tehran, the question is how to change the relations for the better while promoting political reform and economic development in Iran. Iran’s past attempts to challenge the United States or mend relations with it through the use of trade or economic relations, cultural exchanges, and cover-up diplomacy, a la Iran-Contra fiasco, have all failed. Similarly, the US experience in punishing Iran though economic sanctions or engaging Iran through piecemeal incentives and passive invitation to dialogue has proven ineffective. In a situation where political and strategic concerns predominate and mutual distrust is built into a complex web of bilateral and regional problems, a more resolute and purposeful scheme is needed. Three such schemes are possible: “soft peace”, “hard war” and a combination thereof, where the former guarantees the successful implementation of the latter. Iran may wish to continue with its current “no war, no peace” policy toward the United States, but this approach does not serve the interests of either parties or the Iranian people. This “dead-end” scheme must be rejected, and it is to the credit of President Bush to have done so in his second Inaugural speech. In the age of globalization, non-alignment and inaction is hardly an option and will be sooner or later rejected by the Iranian people, should the Islamic government fail to do so first. Although “diplomacy” is the official position of the Administration, the “hard war” approach to Iran seems to underlie President Bush’s Inaugural address and the rhetoric that followed. Whether this approach is necessary or even suitable to the prevailing condition is debatable. While it might be used to effectively enforce a “soft peace,” the approach, in isolation, can be most counterproductive and harmful to the national interests of the United States. At the very least, it will entail massive death and destruction. Iran is no Afghanistan or even Iraq: a historical country with 72 million largely nationalist people and a territory five times the size of France, Iran cannot be easily defeated or its nativist regime quickly overthrown. |
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| About Update AIC Update is a public service of the American Iranian Council aimed at educating Americans, including Iranian-Americans, about US-Iran relations. AIC Update is an information resource for US-Iran relations and the efforts of the American Iranian Council to perpetuate meaningful dialogue between the United States and Iran. | Vision The vision of the American Iranian Council is that the United States and Iran will work together, since their common interests far outweigh their differences. AIC also envisions the Iranian-American community playing an increasingly significant role in American society, and Iran becoming a democratically developed member of the global community with full respect for human rights. | Mission The mission of AIC is to be a constructive force, in cooperation and partnership with other organizations, in bringing the United States and Iran together, involving the Iranian-American community in the dialogue, and bringing attention to social and political conditions in Iran. |
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