With the recent events in Iran, one has no choice but to be dare-we-say, hopeful. Whether you are hopeful for a slight or complete change, freedom fever is higher than Mt. Damavand right now. Equally as white as Mt. Damavand’s snowy peaks, though, are our collective complexion as we march overseas, and thinly bleat out our unimaginative badly rhyming slogans, thrust our skinny vegan fists in the air like cancer patients. Like a soup that’s missing a spice you can’t quite identify, so goes the diaspora. I’m just not feeling the love, people. Maybe it’s all the separation from the Iran-mother.
The recent unexpected discovery of huge deposits of chlorophyll in Iran, has many Iran experts definitely drooling like rabid raccoons in an LA suburb, as they feverishly foment foamy theories and analyses, making sure to drop-hint their books, that they know need to be hawked, it’s now or never baby! John Stewart here I come! Of course, these ultimately clueless caliphs, just like you, (or me), have absolutely no idea what will happen.
Ah!, But I do have a prediction!
I will predict this. When the dust in the wind finally settles, one of these Pundits du Perse will certainly win the perceived lottery, and through sheer luck, beat the others and take credit for being right about “the” eventual outcome. If I didn’t at least try and spoil this victory for them, unearned as you might agree it would be, I wouldn’t be eroony. So here goes the obvious.
Iran can either go one of 2 ways:
1- Full Horror Movie in which a lot of blood will soon run like a freak rainstorm in the joobs of Tehran.
2- or The Boring Public Access Channel you sometimes stare at for hours, the one with the local town hall slideshow announcing pet care tips, and the local church Bingo times and dates.
Public Access Iran, is going to be that slow motion move to moderation. Think China on anti-Steroids. 10 maybe 20 years of slow but steady progress to more and more freedom. You’d be surprised how many in the diaspora are for that kind of slow-paced change. (See recent open letter)
Full Horror although unlikely, and not very probable is still statistically possible, given the hardliners, who have no real hand left to play, except the Wild Card. Which is always the Joker.
Which now brings me to US Sanctions on Iran and a “How about trying this approach?” approach.
Currently, US Sanctions prevents pretty much any technological or commercial exchange, outside of the usual non-impactful humanitarian, a few shiny trinkets, flying carpets that don’t fly, and some cultural nonsense.
Another impossible mission issue, is the whole deal with Iran’s obsessive nuclear proclivities. What to verify, where to verify it, who and how to verify. Underground bunkers, numbers of centrifuges, which so-called US ally sold Iran the equipment to begin-with, what to do with them?
And worst of all that constant nagging wife, the always whiny threat by Israel, “If you don’t do something about Iran, then by Jude we will!” One issue too many, to merely toss on the heap of an already high pile of issues that even this, most talented of presidents, ought to be dealing with. If you ask me.
So here’s the “How about this” part.
I say, open Iran wide open and let’s all say Ahhhhhhhhhh!. No sanctions whatsoever. Specifically stop talking about the nukes. Just for a minute.
Here’s the logic.
By opening up Iran, and completely removing any sanctions, trade and the relations that follow, can take hold once again. Goods as well as ideas can be exported to Iran, investment and partnerships can be formed. Even if led by business, cultural exchanges can move people if not mountains.
Exposing virtually every facet of Iranian society to it’s counterpart in the freer US, this by virtue, will merely show Iranians a natural working alternative to their current central plan.
By nature, and at the heart, Iranians want the exact same thing Americans want, and that is to be free to have good time. Being exposed to more of American fun, and not less, will no doubt pressure the government to change far faster. Specifically from the ground up. Certainly faster than wearing subtle easy to quickly hide green wristbands can.
There is also one final act that the US can do, that would virtually eliminate Iran’s self described need for self defense from the clear unobstructed shot poised by Israel’s well-aimed and boldly undeniable illegal nuclear arsenal. Sign a peace treaty with Iran. Protect it against any nuclear first strike, especially and specifically one by Israel.
That would shut down Iran’s nuclear program faster than Khamenei trying to stop Ahmadinejad’s slobbering advances.
