A war with Iran must be avoided
It is with great alarm that I have watched the escalation towards war and an armed conflict between Iran and the United States. I am not a politician. I am a military veteran having attained the rank of sergeant as part of an ODA Team assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group. I am also a climber. In 50 plus years of climbing, I have had the opportunity to climb in Iran and have encountered several Iranian climbers in the U.S. as well.
My encounters have only been positive. While in Iran several people on separate occasions remarked about the kinship the Iranian people felt with Americans. It was based on the openness and hospitality with strangers that they thought was shared by both cultures. I experienced that hospitality visiting their beautiful country.
Many in Iran, just like in the U.S. do not agree with their government, but they do deeply love their country as we do. Whatever challenges exist between our governments need to be handled with diplomacy and direct engagement. War with Iran is entirely avoidable and I beseech our president and our national leaders to work towards building a lasting peace in Iran, the Middle East, and worldwide. Why do many Iranians hate the United States? Why are we putting a strangle hold on the country? Could it have something to do with oil? Is it possible that a strong ally of the U.S. in the region hates Iran?
In 1951, democratically elected Mohammed Mossadegh became prime minister as the oil industry was nationalized. The Anglo-persian Oil Company was immensely profitable for Britain. American CIA and British Secret Intelligence, SIS, funded and led a covert operation, Operation Ajax, that resulted in a coup d’etat. Mossadegh was arrested and exiled.
Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi reinstated the western oil companies and became absolute ruler with the aid of the U.S.
When Iraq invaded Iran in 1980, the U.S. sent billions of dollars in aid and military equipment to support Saddam Hussein’s army.
Because of the Shah’s brutal dictatorship, a resistance movement toppled his government and seized the U.S. embassy. The Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeni returned from exile and established an Islamic State, based on sharia law.
Iran continues to control its own natural resources. If we are honest, we should raise our periscope above the surface of subterfuge and admit why we support the Saudis and not the Iranians. Both countries are guilty of terrorism.
No one hates without a reason.