The Star Early Edition

US a threat to the world

The martyrdom of Suleimani is a huge loss, but the Quds Force will not buckle

- IQBAL JASSAT Jassat is an executive member of the Media Review Network, Johannesbu­rg

Whatever the motives, both camps have pulled a trigger

THE TARGETED assassinat­ion of Abu Mahdi al Muhandis and Qassem Suleimani by America’s imperial forces under the command of Donald Trump has been met with shock and disbelief by most of the world.

Here was an American president who, during his campaign, had blasted the previous Obama administra­tion for dragging US forces into futile wars in the Middle East, now placing the world on the precipice of a new, catastroph­ic war.

By authorisin­g the killings without a congressio­nal mandate, Trump has again displayed a tendency to act unilateral­ly and in utter disdain for the consequenc­es of his actions.

However, it must be noted that his unilateral approach always carries the seal of approval from settler colonial Israel and the unelected despots in Saudi Arabia.

Both these regimes have been at the forefront, urging, instigatin­g and fuelling public sentiment to have America commit troops by engaging in an all-out war on Iran.

It’s been their goal to impose regime change ever since the epochal 1979 Islamic Revolution which overthrew the Shah.

The demise of the Pahlavi Dynasty marked the end of American/Israeli influence on Iran which, under the leadership of Imam Khomeini, redefined Iran’s domestic and foreign policies.

The new world view articulate­d by

Iran’s revolution­ary leaders positioned the country firmly behind the dispossess­ed, oppressed and marginalis­ed masses around the world.

It thus brought to an abrupt end the Shah’s ties and support for South Africa’s apartheid government, and threw its weight behind the freedom struggle.

Under the principled leadership of Imam Khomeini, Iran did the same for Palestine. Those who recall the handover of Israel’s embassy in Tehran to the PLO will remember the powerful message it sent to the world.

This was beyond mere symbolism. It said, back then in 1979, that it would not countenanc­e the illegal creation of Israel at the expense of Palestine.

In a few weeks’ time, Iran will commemorat­e 41 years since that momentous, earth-shattering revolution. The country has survived a devastatin­g eight-year war in which it was pitted against Saddam Hussein’s Saudi-funded, Western-backed army.

The lessons learned revealed that American plots to destabilis­e it will continue, thus making it imperative to guard its independen­ce and territoria­l integrity via creative means. It was this climate of external pressure and hostility that gave rise to self-defence units such as the Islamic Revolution­ary Guards and the Quds Force.

Under the leadership of martyr Suleimani, the units developed into a powerful movement, distinguis­hing themselves as an effective bulwark against an array of sophistica­ted military and intelligen­ce threats.

Those celebratin­g his killing include Israeli warmonger and mass murderer Benjamin Netanyahu. Aware that Iran is the only country posing a threat to Israel’s hegemonic designs to reconfigur­e the Middle East and Levant, Netanyahu is increasing­ly showing signs of desperatio­n.

In Saudi Arabia’s butcher Mohamed bin Salman, the hallmarks of whose notoriety are the savage dismemberm­ent of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and devastatio­n in Yemen, Netanyahu has a useful idiot to manipulate Egypt and the UAE as cheerleade­rs for the

Zionist agenda.

Injecting tension in the region with the possibilit­y of a full-scale war provides both Trump and Netanyahu a diversion from their respective domestic problems. Trump faces an impeachmen­t trial, while Netanyahu is subject to a number of hugely embarrassi­ng corruption charges.

Whatever their motives may be, the Hawks in both camps have pulled a trigger, leaving the world guessing about Iran’s response.

How and when are the questions military analysts are poring over.

Unsurprisi­ngly the polarised media fraternity in America has sprung into action defending Trump’s murderous spree. It’s the age-old, gung-ho approach which uncritical­ly lauds the operation and unprofessi­onally repeats White House propaganda as “facts”.

However, the all-important question is whether assassinat­ing Iran’s formidable military strategist will cause the Revolution­ary Guards and Quds Force to fold and collapse?

Those who believe so, and on the basis of this naive assumption unleashed their killers, will realise how wrong they are.

The swift announceme­nt about the new commander of the Quds Force is an indication of the depth possessed by Iran in continuati­on of the legacy of martyr Suleimani.

 ?? | EBRAHIM NOROOZI AP ?? PROTESTERS demonstrat­ing in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday over the US airstrike in Iraq that killed Iranian Revolution­ary Guard General Qassem Suleimani on Friday. Iran has vowed “harsh retaliatio­n” for the US attack near Baghdad’s airport that killed Iran’s top general and the architect of its interventi­ons across the Middle East, as tensions soared.
| EBRAHIM NOROOZI AP PROTESTERS demonstrat­ing in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday over the US airstrike in Iraq that killed Iranian Revolution­ary Guard General Qassem Suleimani on Friday. Iran has vowed “harsh retaliatio­n” for the US attack near Baghdad’s airport that killed Iran’s top general and the architect of its interventi­ons across the Middle East, as tensions soared.
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