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Iran will not go Bin Laden’s way

By M.Behnoud

Osama Bin Laden’s video message that was broadcast by Al-Jazeera television mesmerized the world. Despite claims that Al-Qaeda leader was critically ill and hidden in a cave somewhere, his physical condition seemed to be batter than the last time he appeared in a video film.

Bin Laden spoke in a presidential manner, giving the impression that, like President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry, he also has a number of speech writers who prepare for him most effective speeches. He said that George Bush’s arrogance was the root of all ills on the globe. It was evident that, in the second part of his message directed at the Western nations, his aim was to intimidate them. I think he was successful.

He chose a critical time, just before the US presidential elections and he knew what effects his appearance might have on Bush’s cowboy image. It is no wonder that, using such shrewd tactics, Bin Laden has become the champion of the people whose voice is lost under the thunder of bombs and rockets. It will also be no wonder that if tomorrow Americans reach their aim and Kill him, he would become the most revered martyr among many martyrs. However his life is not important any more. He has been successful in igniting a fire that has engulfed the world.

But where does the interest of us, Iranians, lie?

It is true that some people in our country were full of joy of seeing Bin Laden in TV. They are overjoyed because, in their view, Islam is confronting the whole world. Some people wished that it was the general view of most Iranians. But it remains just a wish. The majority of Iranian people have no such dreams.

There is no doubt that twenty five years ago, when some students climbed the walls of the US Embassy in Tehran, they inflicted much psychological and propagandistic damage on mighty America. The most credible witness could be President Jimmy carter who, wrote in his autobiography, lost the 1980 election not to Ronald Reagan, but to Ayatollah Khomeini who after getting rid of the Shah, had always said “Carter must go.”

At that time, Iran had become the anti-US champion of the world. However in later developments, Iran did not pursue this road in the style of Bin Laden. Iran is a different nation and its people are different from Taliban, have no similarities with Saudis, and have never cheered Saddam Hussein. Even when America paved the way for Saddam Hussein to invade Iran, common sense prevailed. During the Kuwait war again, Iranians kept their distance and did not make the same mistake that Arafat and King Hussein made.

In other words, twenty five years ago, when the people had revolutionary zeal and the Soviet Union was still a superpower, the Islamic regime inflicted a wound on America. However now, after calculating the price and realizing that the time has passed for such actions, has resorted to mere rhetoric in international arena and gaining points from the war between two of its most dangerous enemies: America and Bin Laden.

It can be said with certainty that, at this time, the only danger that threatens the Iranian regime, stems from internal movements, meaning the people who think they do not enjoy what they deserve from their life and the world. Even if this dissent can be contained for a limited time, people’s unhappiness causes a second threat. If Americans are, after all the problems they have faced, still serious in reconstructing the Middle East, their only encouragement is internal dissent and division between peoples and governments.

This is a potential threat. However we think that young people of Iran have the wisdom of not endangering their security and well-being if, and it is a big if, they enjoy freedom. We think that if reactionaries and backward thinking elements, are not in charge, Iran can neutralize this potential danger by guaranteeing freedoms and people’s participation in the governing system. This is where there is a fight inside Iran today. It is not about fighting or welcoming America.

Actions by the US and Bin Laden have always damaged democratic movements in Iran. They have frightened government supporters, permitted opposition to go overboard and encouraged reactionaries to act tough. Iran was the first aim of American plans. But People’s show of unity on 21^st May 1997 and wisdom of politicians neutralized that threat. It has always been like this in our long history. Now when even the opposition is advising the regime to resist extremism, there is no reason that fundamentalists should be in control. Iranian reform movement has suffered enough from Middle East turmoil that had been born out of extreme actions by Bin Laden, Bush and Sharon. 

What is considered as strength of today’s international community is the ability to resist censoring people like Bin Laden who are threatening the civilized world with extinction. All the free world media re-broadcast his message without any objections from their leaders. Fundamentalists do not understand how shaky is the power that is gained by forcing others to keep their silence.