You can laugh. Pashmeh khaayeh, beh tokhmam RD-joon. But, I do believe I know a bit about Iran's workings and thinking. I can also understand the way people in general think. It's not all that hard to understand.
I had a friend, Dar, born in the U.S., but of an Iranian father who worked for what is now Poly-Agra. He was a high profile businessman forced to take a place in the current government. His son was smuggled out of Iran because he was forced to enlist during the Iran-Iraq war and was being shipped out to the front. His American mother was beside herself and they risked getting him out of the country. I have heard his stories. They are fascinating.
I will have to say that should this country decide to make this foolhardy move, he who laughs last laughs best. Unfortunately, I doubt I or anyone else will feel like laughing. It should be tackled by diplomatic efforts first. The U.S. has to stop making Iran feel on the defense and let the the people take their natural course. They were chaffing under the Islamic rule, and willing to make a slow change, but they will galvanize into nationalism if they feel threatened. That's natural. Same as you.
Do you also speak Farsi? I learnt a bit a some years ago because I had an Iranian girl friend and we were foreign film buffs together. Because of her I know Iranian non-religious culture well. As a matter of fact, we had Iranian style dried fruits and candied nuts for dessert tonite since Iran has been on my mind so much.
Listen, I hate Islam. I hate it as much as I detest any idiotic, overbearing, sham religion bent on keeping people malleable and subordinate. So don't believe for one second I am pro-Iranian.
What I am is anti-stupidity and arrogance.
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