Iran Election VS American Selection: an outsider's perspective

The Iranian people are stuck between a jerk and a hard place. That is what it seems like anyway.

The problem they face is getting the rest of the world to believe that their protests against the election outcome, accusations of election fraud and demand for change are truly the voice of the majority, and not the result of US backed reformers and a highly biased Western media.

The world is still smarting from the sting of the Iraq War. As far as we can tell, flaccid media inquiry, incompetent intelligence (or downright lies?) arrogant executive power and an unstoppable American agenda made Iraq and its people far worse off than they ever had been under Sadaam. They are now free to choose between poverty and death by suicide bomber. Have the thousands of deaths, dislocation, social instability and unemployment really been worth the 'fight for democracy?'  Some would argue that the greatest beneficiary of the Iraq conflict has been Halliburton, not Iraq.

So who should the outsider believe? The Bush Administration attempted to make a case against Iran that was eerily similar to that of Iraq and even seemed to toy with the idea of an invasion. First there were the allegations of arms smuggling into Iraq then the accusations that Iran wanted (wants?) to manufacture nuclear weapons. Truth or just a pretext to gain control of more Middle East oil? Indeed, the ambiguity of the election results can be seen merely  as ammunition for a US led invasion. Despite Obama's apparent equanimity, corporate interests might have more sway in decisions about war than the President. Hardly anyone really believes that Bush was 'The Decider' - it's more likely he was the decoy for a fait accomplis.

Still, word from within Iran (I am fortunate to know at least one person with intimate knowledge from individuals therein) is that election irregularities began to take place early on in the ballot counting and even before,

This is really doesn't look like an American interferance, there was dodgy goings on as the results came out, and even before they were announced, even before the Western media began reporting on the situation. People all over Iran are pouring into the streets risking their lives to protest against the result. And yes, that's ALL OVER Iran, not just the rich neighbourhoods of Tehran...

...all the communcations in Iraq, mobiles, texting, facebook, news sites, reformist sites, were shut down as the election results started to be announced. Why would these things happen if it was a fair vote? - SJ

These comments may very well represent the voice of the Iranian people, but when filtered through the Westerm media we are left with suspicion and cynicism.

While Iranians battle for democracy, the rest of the world wonders if said Iranians are destined to suffer the same fate as their neighbours. Would they opt for that fate? It is unlikely,  after all the ideal would be progress to democracy on the terms of the Iranian people themselves not Western powers. Indeed the term 'Westernization' is often used interchangably with 'progress', but American culture isn't better, just different - and capitalism isn't democracy. These distinctions are of utmost importance in a post 9/11 world where the US claims the noblest of causes and purest of motives as rationales for violating the most basic human rights.

I might be jumping the gun, but while the people of Iran deserve better than what they presently endure, they also deserve better than Western occupation. And knowing the US propaganda machine it will soon find a way to formulate an artificial choice between invasion or the 'wickedness' of spectator politics. Shortly thereafter America will have to invade for  the sake of 'freedom'. Outsiders fear that it's just a matter of time before the self-righteous rhetoric starts and Uncle Sam shines up his curb stompers to go force democracy up another nations rear end.

The best source for information may be direct from the people of Iran themselves or independent jouranalists, and as my source queried, 'It's as if people outside of Iran can't believe the Iranians want change? Is it so hard to believe?' No. But Iran is caught between a jerk and a hardplace. Now we just have to determine who's who.

CAY

Peace. Freedom. Dignity.