Iranian Army will cut off hands of aggressors

[Vegas]

http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/line-17/0704187707122036.htm

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Wednesday that the Iranian Army will resist against aggressors and will cut off their hands from the Iranian territory.

Addressing a ceremony marking observance of Army Day, he lauded combat readiness of the Army in defending the territories of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The structure of the Iranian Army is defensive not offensive, the president said, adding that the Iranian nation is against oppression and aggression and will react to such attitudes by any state or nation.

Today, the Iranian nation is the harbinger of justice in the world and opposes injustice anywhere in the world, he said.

Ahmadinejad stressed that the Iranian people are interested in establishment of peace and security throughout the globe.

[Potomac Yank]

Sounds like a job for the BUSH Brigade.

[Iron Jaw]

Sounds like a job for the BUSH Brigade.

Actually, I think Iran is ripe for another internal revolution.

By the way, the Shah's son, Reza Pahlavi II, is still residing in Potomac, MD. He once said he would lead the Iranian people into the new century.

[IBC]

Actually, I think Iran is ripe for another internal revolution.

By the way, the Shah's son, Reza Pahlavi II, is still residing in Potomac, MD. He once said he would lead the Iranian people into the new century.

They loved the Shah over there.

[Iron Jaw]

They loved the Shah over there.

The Shah, though he came to power by a coup in 1953, actually had a high popularity rating in Iran throughout the 60's, into the early-mid 70's as Iran's economy and standard of living exploded. Heavily supported by the west, the Shah believed in a separation of church and state, women's rights (the veil and heavy clothing was not required garb for women under the Shah), working with the west - and recognizing Israel as a legitimate state. The afore-mentioned was too much for the Islamic clerics, many of who despised the Shah and the Iranian Monarchy. Of course, the Shah deposed and exiled the most ambitious clerics, such as Ayatollah Khomeni. The clerics wanted to rule themselves.

The Shah's gravest mistake was the allowed actions of his secret police known as Savak, which took out clerics and others opposed to his ruling government. Savak became overly aggressive in the mid-70's which spurred the Ayatollahs, and the primary anti-Shah forces in Iran.

Overall, the Shah's downfall was the murderous actions of Savak, his support for western ideals, his dislike of the Muslim clerics and his open support for Israel. The revolutionary forces under the Ayatollahs turned out and continue to be just as murderous as Savak ever was.

Personally, I believe the Iranian people had a much better standard of living and lifestyle in general under the Shah. I presume, those who opposed the Shah's monarchy thought they would be better off, but perhaps didn't realize the even more violent leadership and restrictions under the rule of the Ayatollahs. When the revolutionary government took charge, the Iranian people elected Abol-hassan Banisadr as their president. Charismatic and smart, and eventually able to deal with the west, Banisadr made one grave mistake - he became more popular than the Ayatollahs, particularly Khomeni. In fact, Banisadr actually moved against the Islamic clerics (politically) and the Majlis (Parliment) who were Khomeni stooges (hand picked by the Ayatollahs). Khomeni ordered Banisadr's administration deposed, and hung most of the contributors. Banisadr escaped the country and fled to France, where he still lives in exile.

Thus, the deposed president of Iran lives in France while the deposed crown prince and successor to the monarchy lives in the U.S. And both are currently very vocal on the Iranian situation, as both heavily oppose the ruling clerical class.

Iran has large quantities of people who do not support the Islamic revolutionary government. The current president, though elected like Banisadr was, is a mere figurehead who can be tossed by the Ayatollahs anytime they please. According to Reza Pahlavi II (the Shah's son who lives in the U.S.), there are large pockets of former Shah supporters in Iran, and other large pockets of those who do not support a monarchy but support a secular democracy, and those who support a constitutional monarchy with him as the head of state. Pahlavi II does not support a military strike on Iran, but does believe the government of Iran will eventually be overturned from within. He does support heavy diplomatic pressure and the freezing of assets, travel, etc. to Iran.