Get Real

The illusion of attacking Iran

Balatarin
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Get Real
by Deepak Chopra
14-Mar-2012
 

Co-authored by Ken Robinson

War is where illusions go to die. This was true of Vietnam and the war in Iraq. It is being ground into us every day in Afghanistan.

At this moment, those who want Israel to mount an air attack on Iran's nuclear facilities are counting on mass amnesia. But forgetting the lessons of past wars won't save the next bout of military adventurism.

War with Iran is a real possibility, and yet there has been no real debate on its consequences. The rest of the world may cast Iran as the villain of the peace, but Muslims are at best ambivalent. Considering the firestorm that arose from the burning of the Quran at a U.S. base in Afghanistan, it was wily religious politics for the Iranians to build the Fordow Uranium Enrichment Facility right next to "Qom," the center of Shi'a scholarship globally and the site of the Holy Shrine of Fatema Mae'sume, sister of the Imam Reza (789-816 AD). It is a significant destination of pilgrimage.

An attack on Qom is equivalent to an attack on Mecca for the Sunni Muslims, which most people agree would be catastrophic for the West. Even if the Israelis show remarkable precision in their air strikes, as they have in the past, targeting the area will certainly galvanize and nationalize the Shi'a in a way that George Bush's "axis of evil" speech only suggested.

This and other risks are not lost on Israel, but Americans have no clue that this location must be target number one, if a major attack aims to destroy or greatly degrade Iran's nuclear program. The uranium enrichment facility there is built into the side of a mountain, considered too deep for our bunker busters, which in any case Israel doesn't possess in its arsenal.

Before invading Iraq, the neoconservatives surrounding Bush characterized a unilateral act of preemption as a"clash of civilizations," a right-wing illusion that is deservedly dead. But an attack on Iran will revitalize such thinking. The impact of Western interference as "neo-crusaders" in the Islamic world could well define the West, if not for a thousand years as the earlier Crusades did, then for the foreseeable future.

Instead of feeding the public on a new batch of illusions, these points are worthy of illumination, to educate Americans on how high the stakes are and how quickly the security of the nation could unravel if we have to fight the A-Team of the Quds Force and Hezbollah, either here or overseas.

President Obama has served the country well by his cautious attitude and refusal to stoke war fever, but his coolness only inflames the right wing. For them, the greatest illusion is American exceptionalism carried to the point that this country is invulnerable. After 9/11 this illusion was hard to keep alive, but the right has managed by stoking wildly exaggerated fear about national security and by claiming the best antidote for one failed war is to wage a new one.

We need for realism to prevail over illusions. This time won't be like Operation Babylon, the Israeli attack on the Iraqi reactor in Osirak in 1981. An attack on Iran will have global consequences, setting in motion a series of cascading events that cannot be accurately calculated by game theory whizzes at the Pentagon or paranoid Israeli nationalists. All we can know for certain is that the consequences will be irreversible and out of our control.

First published in HuffingtonPost.com.

AUTHORS
Deepak Chopra is the author of "War of the Worldviews: Science vs Spirituality and more than sixty books translated into over thirty-five languages, including other numerous New York Times bestsellers in both the fiction and nonfiction categories. Ken Robinson is a former special operations and intelligence professional with 30 years of experience, globally, and a member of the National Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.

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Siavash300

Arj's questions

by Siavash300 on Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:49 AM PDT

"Ghom is a prominent Shia religious site, had nothing to do with whether they support IRI, but rather the abundance of people visiting the site" Arj

This technique was used by Saddam Hossaine for the first time once U.S air strike started in Iraq. Saddam was making human shield for hiding his weapons. Saddam was transferring those targeted area weapons to civilian community and blaming U.S aircrafts for killing civilians. It didn't work and Saddam was doomed to be removed from power.

"what makes you think this guy is concerned with the financial interests of India or China?!" Arj

Politics is a cutting throat business. Every nation try to protect their own interests and no one act on behalf of any nation unless some kind of interest involved. History of exploitation of Indians by Brits is well known to everybody. They learned how to survive and at the same time they also learned how to take advantage of others once their interests were involved. Indians has great reputation for that matter. These days they are trying to fullfill their pockets from Persian oil money. You may read some recent news about india position during this sanction. China is also concern about their source of oil and Saudi promised them to elevate the level of their oil production to cover Chia's short coming of oil. You may do some research about it and you will find out yourself.

 "Have you ever thought that the above blog could be the author's genuine opinion?!" Arj

Not at all. This is politic and like I said before it is a cutting throat business. Opinions shape based on people's or rather nation's interests. All these nations want Iran oil. They are money hungery and oil hungery starts from U.S all the way goes to Asian countries. That is politic. They have to protect the interest of their own people first. This fact is more vivid from indians with long history of being used by Brits and theyt want to do the same to others after they received their independency. you can see this fact once you get involve in business with any Indians. Chopra is not exception.  

"What makes you think that the author of some of the most-read books, whose message of love and peace has millions of followers and whose mere presence could attract capacity crowds in any venue (for as much as $1000 a pop) needs to get involved in the trade affairs between India and Iran?!"   Arj

His past history my friend. I don't know how much you know about this individual but I read his book and sometimes I listened to his lectures and I respect him as a spiritual trainer (however that one is questionable because once time magazine wrote something that hurts his credibility). Anyway, I liked his sessions. Once in early 70 he was bargaining to buy a cheap car in amount of $1700 in San Diego and all sudden he found himself in a 10 million dollar home in California. He established what it was referred to as "great american dream" by his lectures. Typical stereotype of poor man migrate to America and make a fortune.

"Perhaps, if we as a nation spent a fraction of the time to defend the honor of thugs like Shaban Bimokh, and learned to have respect for opinions, we would not have been in the mess we are!" Arj

 We are in the mess because of hypocrite people who say something and do something else. We are in the mess because of people who applies in European and western university or choose west for their residence and they were critical of shah of being pro west. We are in the mess because of those who were receiving "FREE NUTRITION" in schools because of shah smart leadership and at the same time bad mouthing shah. We are in the mess because Khaens who received all previliages from shah such as education scholarship to go to western universities and back stabbing shah at the same time. Yes, hypocrisy and hypocrites are hurting our nation, Not a patriatic man who played major role in prevention of Iran falling in the hands of Soviet Union. You may read more of the event from the book of Mark Gasiorowski. The most conclusive and credible reference.

Sincerely,

Siavash


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Arj

Re "ridiculous perspective"

by Arj on Tue Mar 20, 2012 07:45 AM PDT

Siavash, do you always reply to blogs and comments without even understanding their basic premise?! When did I suggest that people who visit Ghom are necessarily supporters of IRI (as I did not suggest that they're opposed to it either)?

Unlike you, who seem to have taken the liberty to speak on behalf of the Iranian people, I can not make that assertion without a credible source and a plauseable research result to indicate what percentage of those people support what! Moreover, my point which was in response to those who dismiss the above blog's assertion that Ghom is a prominent Shia religious site, had nothing to do with whether they support IRI, but rather the abundance of people visiting the site (which puts it among the top three Shia sites along with Mashad and Karbala), hence, the magnitude of any collateral demage in terms of human lives in case of a military strike!

Perhaps unlike you, regardless of their religious or political beliefs, the fate of these people matters to me as countrymen and fellow humans! Have you ever thought of opening your eyes before your mouth when making a comment?!

P.S. I do not speak for D. Chopra, but wonder what makes you think this guy is concerned with the financial interests of India or China?! Have you ever thought that the above blog could be the author's genuine opinion?! What makes you think that the author of some of the most-read books, whose message of love and peace has millions of followers and whose mere presence could attract capacity crowds in any venue (for as much as $1000 a pop) needs to get involved in the trade affairs between India and Iran?! Are you so shallow to judge the author of an article by his name rather than his opinion?! Perhaps, if we as a nation spent a fraction of the time to defend the honor of thugs like Shaban Bimokh, and learned to have respect for opinions, we would not have been in the mess we are!


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Siavash300

Ridiculous perspective, Arj's irrational logic

by Siavash300 on Mon Mar 19, 2012 04:31 PM PDT

No comparison between Vietnam war and destruction of nuke facilities in Iran to save lives of million innocent people in Israel. Vietnam had full support (military and financially) of Soviet Union and all brothers communist party around the world. Stinky ruling mullhas in Iran has been despised by all westerners and Arab nations around the world. No outside support.

"....in Qom during Noruz and see how many millions of Iranian and foreign Shia pilgrims visit there on yearly basis!" Arj

Who said that million of pilgrims are supportive of criminal ruling mullahs in Iran? Shaban Jafari was a patriatic man who was devoted to shah till the end of his life. He was a religious shia. Never missed his daily pray as a muslim and he was fasting during Ramazan as well. Was that made him to be followers of stinky ruling mullahs in Iran?  Of course not. We have million of devoted shia who think the same way. We can find plenty of them among those who go to Jamkaran. It has always been like that and it will also be the same after regime change in Iran. That is not a determinating factor in regime change in Iran.

Dear Mr. chopra,

I understand that India and China are taking advantage of the situation of sanction imposed by westerners upon ruling mullahs in Iran. Both countries are trying to fullfil their pockets from our oil money by supporting Islamic criminal gang who unlawfully took power in Iran for last 32 years. Inida and China may benefit for a short time,but in long run both of these countries are losers. You may relate to them by writing an article to support Iranian people,NOT criminal Islamic gang. The Islami criminals has no support among our people. Just take a look at video from June 2009. About 3 million of our people were on streets of Tehran chanting against ruling Islamic gang. You may inform all Indian authorities from this fact and advise them not to support them. That 3 million proterstors on streets of Tehran are not dead. They are still alive and waiting for an opportunity to overthrown Islamic criminals any day soon.

Siavash


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Arj

Interesting perspective

by Arj on Sat Mar 17, 2012 07:42 AM PDT

Mr. Chopra touches this issue and its often overlooked realities from an alternative POV than the one normally projected by the mainstream media!

P.S. Reality check: Those who are under the impression that Qom is irrelevant, should be present in Qom during Noruz and see how many millions of Iranian and foreign Shia pilgrims visit there on yearly basis! Or better yet, visit Jamkaran to see the masses of people camping out in the middle of the desert in search of their "callings!"


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oktaby

grand standing

by oktaby on Fri Mar 16, 2012 08:39 AM PDT

"An attack on Qom is equivalent to an attack on Mecca for the Sunni Muslims".  No. Pure nonesense. There is no such equivalency.

"to educate Americans on how high the stakes are..". Lets educate everyone on rape and plunder going on Iran and what a cluster F#$% it'll be once the rapist republic gets nuclear. And since when you or the neocons worried about the consequences of war? where were you when people like me were protesting on the street before the Iraq war? Too busy getting to first billion?

"...but Muslims are at best ambivalent". So what's new. They can't decide and whoever is anti-west must be good, hence the popularity of AN. A syrian neighbor of mine was among those fans until recent events in Syria.

"It is a significant destination of pilgrimage." it is significant among a small portion of the the same ambivalent moslems. And specially popular among the most illeterate and clueless.

"Instead of feeding the public on a new batch of illusions..". And this from a guy who became a billioner selling snake oil, specially to the most affluent. What are you really worried about? certainly not the 700 million piss poor in India. So why so much concern here?

Yep the rapist republic endurance is good even for Deepak.

Stick with selling your fancy Spas, oils and illusions of holistic life as you spend your billions. Your opinion on this is even more worthless than Ali Geda or AN. 

Oktaby


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Siavash300

Chopra's mistake

by Siavash300 on Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:54 AM PDT

testingggg


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default

who are you and whats your business on Iran?

by rain bow movment on Thu Mar 15, 2012 01:03 AM PDT

33 years ago an indian british guy  (roholla khomayni) supported by the East & the west to bring peac (Islam)to Iran but infact he piss on Iran.

Now this Indian american guy wants to be a saviour of Islamic regim  by scaring people ,if Israeil attackes Qghom so &so will happen.

If Israeil attacks qghom,it has more benefit to Iranian than damages.

1-it will get ride of usless expensive blood succer russian nuclear facility with few hundred usless shiah(sh**t factory).

2- qghuds force & hezbollah unable to  attack Israile as some of their commanders are on Israile payroll and it proves they are paper tiger and usless.

3- the legitimacy of Imam masomeh  will go under scrutiny by some belivers , how she is unable to protect the qghom from this attack and so it will proven she is usless too.

we need the attck of Israil on IR regim facility to weaken this murderous regim and tear it  apart by Iranian liberation army,(It's not MEK)


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Anahid Hojjati

excellent points

by Anahid Hojjati on Wed Mar 14, 2012 01:45 PM PDT

I wanted to say the one about Ghom. That is the problem with Non Iranian analysts. They really can't analyze Iran. I am saying this even though I am a fan of Deepak.


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Disenchanted

Way to go Deepak! It takes courage to write this.

by Disenchanted on Wed Mar 14, 2012 01:25 PM PDT

  •    People who have opposed Israel & AIPAC policies usually expect the worst & so it is admirable that you have put your reputation oniine. Watch for Alan Dershowitz!

  •    Just a couple of points:
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  •  No one really gives a damn about Ghom much! :-) 
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  •  I certainly hope the team in Theiland wasn't the "Team A"! :-)

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Siamak Asadian

Do not underestimate Hassan Firozabadi, or his

by Siamak Asadian on Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:59 AM PDT


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iraj khan

Excellent

by iraj khan on Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:55 AM PDT

observations by Mr Chopra.

The trimuph of reason over illusions, thanks for posting it. 


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Azin Izadifar

Its' an honor to see you on

by Azin Izadifar on Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:45 AM PDT

Its' an honor to see you on this website. You are very well-known amongst Iranains. Thanks for caring enough to write this.


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Anahid Hojjati

My favorite sentence of the article

by Anahid Hojjati on Wed Mar 14, 2012 09:47 AM PDT

"how quickly the security of the nation could unravel if we have to fight the A-Team of the Quds Force and Hezbollah, either here or overseas."

" A-Team of the Quds Force and Hezbollah"?

Deepak, now you are being funny.


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