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July 20, 2004
Green is the New Black; Iran is the The New Threat
I remember being greatly amused upon learning the "[insert color] is the new black" turn of phrase -- pink is the new black, red is the new black, you know. So, we now learn that Iran is the new threat. Well, "old-new" threat so even that's like fashion: since there are only so many variations to clothes, fads cycle through semi-regularly, probably at a rate finely calculated to ensure maximal waste. Since we also have only so many nation-states located in geopolitically important regions with repressive regimes that can be targeted with some cover of legitimacy, we have to cycle through them too.
So, there we go. Bush says they will investigate 9/11 links to Iran; CIA downplays the possibility of a link; Iran calls the allegations ridiculous.
Here's where the deja vu diverges. Iran is not a crumbling, totalitarian state. It's a strong, repressive regime. There is a big difference. Plus, Iran has genuine sizable domestic opposition. It may or may not make United States' plans easier. It could provide internal leverage against the regime. Then again, the existence of strong domestic forces mean that it's hard to create a sustainable, pliant client-regime. While Reza Pahlavi hang on for decades, back then domestic social forces in Iran were much weaker and much less organized.
It will be a shame if the progressives once again largely ignore the fact that Iran's regime is very repressive and very unpopular, as they seemed to do with Iraq pre-invasion. It may not be a convenient fact for those wishing to oppose imperialism first and foremost; but ignoring facts does not seem to make them go away. It's a thorny question and it should not be left only to disingenious imperialist apologists who will forget their feigned concern for the people at the drop of a bomb.
Posted by zeynep at July 20, 2004 09:21 PM
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