Iran and Mullahs

Nushin Namazi from Iran writes: John Heelan's conclusion that the rising interest in the Middle East in British universities is a result of rejecting the United States is illogical and provincial.   The UK and Europeans have a long standing interest in the Middle East and given the current regime changes, there is a lot more opportunity for young people in Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries whose governments are being toppled.  This rising interest could be driven by Middle East oil given that UK has few national reserves. and, in the chaos of an emerging /changing governments, there are many lucrative economic and academic opportunities. In addition, the Middle East is closer to Europe geographically than America.  The English and the Mullahs have also worked together for several decades. I was truly saddened to hear such provincial comments from John Heelan. If anything, the policies of President Bush are directly threatening the vested European economic interests in the Middle East. As usual, this is a competitive response from the Europeans to maintain their stronghold in these countries -- unfortunate for the Middle East. America has usually been viewed as a liberator, an instrument of technological change and a good thing (e.g. Nixon's administration helped Iran's industrialization and modernization process), while the English and American Democratic party (Carter, Clinton, and now Kerry) support the Mullahs in order to maintain their colonial exploitations. The mullahs in turn give away the national resources cheaply in exchange for billions or millions for themselves while they oppress the people and keep them in the dark with the help of Islam!!

RH: This is of course Nushin Namazi's version of history.  She is the daughter of a diplomat who served under the Shah.

Istvan Simon writes:Nushin Namazi's version of history, as professor Hilton says, actually contains some uncomfortable truths I believe. The Shah of Iran was undoubtedly a despot. But he sent thousands of students to  United States universities, including hundreds to Stanford, where I met many of them. Though their tuition and living expenses were being paid by the Shah through generous scholarships, in the interest of developing Iran into a modern Society, many of these  students were very anti-Shah, perhaps motivated by idealism and a lack of respect for human rights in Iran. They supported Khomeini's revolution. Big mistake. Many  were quickly murdered or exiled by Khomeini's goons.  He was a despot 100 times worse than the Shah, and the mullahs ever since are a horrible burden on Iranian Society. There is a moral to this story somewhere: Be careful what you wish for.

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