Newsletter 100209
TBN Nejat TV: Iran at a Crossroads
Dear Beloved,
A Difficult Time:
Upon examination of the Western world's response to the current dilemma of the Iranian nuclear program and the Ahmadinejad phenomena, I see very little solid and well thought- out analysis. I am looking for a solution that makes sense and will resolve the problem. It has yet to appear.
Western policies are not determined by a supernatural ideology or belief system. The wheel that turns the Western political gear is one simple word -- money. Mammon is the engine driving both our domestic and foreign policies. You often hear this phrase from our President or Secretary of the State, "our interest, and the interest of our allies." Consequently, in our dealings with foreign powers and entities, our actions are spurred by these objectives. Once in a while we come across people with an ideology whose engine does not run by the green color of our, now-a-days, mighty half dollar! What do we do with them? Buy them? Give them incentives? Threaten them? Freeze them out? Provoke them by calling them names? What if none of these work? We then deploy the "last-resort policy." Do you know what that is? Well, we are bigger and have more fire power and so you guessed it right -- we go to war. How we wish money could answer it all!
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are great examples of our "last resort policy." The problem is that we are trying to squelch a force whose engine is driven by an ideology of warfare and bloodshed. The more you hit that engine, the stronger it becomes. Our Western policy cannot match the zeal we are facing on the battlefield, no matter how much of a greater force we possess. If the cruel Soviet army could not win the war in Afghanistan after nine years, there is no way that we will. The question is, what should we do? And what will we do now that it's Iran's turn?
Iran, An Ancient Power!
Iran is a land of a proud people possessing over three thousand years of written history. It has been home to some of the greatest empires the world has known including the Parthians, Medes, Persians and dynasties such as the Achamenians and Safavids. In the beginning of the 19th century, due to the corruption of the Qajar dynasty, there was a break down in the Iranian (Persian) mentality of mastership. Qajar's corrupt reign gave way to several decades of relentless foreign interventions in Iranian affairs. Iran became a pawn in the hands of Great Britain and Russia. Great Britain especially caused much affliction and damage to the Iranian economy by usurping control of their national resources, including oil. During WWI, Iran was occupied by a joint British-Soviet force which left Iran an economical disaster. It is believed that as many as two million Iranians died as a result of the famine caused by the fighting of foreign forces in northern Iran. In 1941, after Hitler had invaded Russia, Iran became an attractive route for the Allied forces to help the Russians against Hitler. Great Britain and Russia invaded Iran, deposed Reza Khan (the Shah's father) and installed his young son, Muhammad Reza, as the Shah of Iran. This event is also known as the "Persian Corridor" and marked the beginning of US-Iranian relations. After the war Russia annexed the northern part of Iran known as Tajikistan.
After WWII national sentiment was on the rise again as the newly elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddeq from the National Front party, passed the Oil Nationalization act, which nationalized the oil assets and expelled British companies. Winston Churchill's government initiated drastic economic measures against Iran and also planned to oust Mosaddeq by a coup. In February 1953, an agreement was struck between the U.S. and Great Britain for a covert operation, code-named Ajax, to topple the Mosaddeq government. The operation, led by Kermit Roosevelt, succeeded in August of 1953. Mobs of people paid by Roosevelt began violent demonstrations in the streets. The chaos led to the fall of the Mosaddeq government and the installation of the Shah by the U.S.
This is when the seed of hatred began. Ayatollah Khomeini became a staunch opposer of the Shah's authoritative regime and of his being supported by the U.S. From 1953 to 1979 the Iranian psyche took two diametrical paths -- one towards the western philosophy (money & better living) and the other leading all the way back to the time of Mohammad, the prophet of Islam, and his life-style. These are two reverse ideologies and ways of life. The recent demonstrations in Iran after the Presidential election are descriptive of these two paths. One desires freedom, prosperity and pleasure whereas the other desires martyrdom, Islamic law and justice.
Our policy-makers in Washington must distinguish between the Islamic regime and the Iranian people. Each group holds a different bargaining chip. One cannot use the same method of negotiation for both and expect a change. We must also recognize that both groups have one thing in common -- national pride. Both groups are well versed in the meddling of foreign powers and desire to be independent of such influence. The rift between the Iranian regime and the Iranian people is growing and will expand as long as there is no external intervention from the West or Israel. To effect change in Iran, we must allow this gap between the regime and the Iranian people to grow so that the one can overpower the other. The good news is that seventy percent of the people of Iran are under the age of 30. These are the pro-western, tweeter generation.
The current negotiations with the Iranian regime will be fruitless even though the Iranian delegation acts as though they are willing to work with IAEA. Iran wants to be a nuclear power and it will neither compromise nor be deterred. The more the U.S. and its allies threaten Iran with sanctions and isolation, the greater the resolve of the Islamic regime will be to become a nuclear power. The only option will be a military strike on these facilities. A military strike against Iran, however, will eliminate the gap between the regime and the people and will push Iran further into Islamic violence and obscurities. The regime's hatred towards Israel and the West has been more of a theory; a military strike will make that theory a reality. I believe that a military strike against Iran will unite more Islamic groups and make Iran even more of a leader in opposition to the West. Sunni groups such as Al-Qaeda will be submitting to Tehran's leadership. And eventually Iran will become a superpower of the Islamic world. Imagine that scenario! The Iranian regime has killed Islam in the hearts of millions of Iranians. A military strike against Iran will revive the martyrdom sentiments and push Iran back to an even more dangerous position in the region.
I understand the Iranian psyche, culture, Islamic faith, and the "Velayate Faghih," which is the formation of the Iranian government and I would recommend some unconventional steps to keep Iran from falling back into an even more militant Islam. Isolating Iran with sanctions has been ineffective. Russia and China are more supportive of Iran and are reluctant to join the West. Isolating Iran will also push them into developing their own technology and machinery of war. We do not want a cold war with an Islamic theocracy. They do not play that game well. Let's engage Iran, and pull them in to our circle. The Iranian political apparatus is extremely fragmented. There are elements within the Iranian government who favor a more Western life-style. Most of these elites have Swiss bank accounts. They are not all ideologists.
I believe the following unconventional method will change the path that Iran is choosing and protect the world from another major disaster. An isolated Iran with nuclear power is a chapter prior to Ezekiel 38-39. That time is not yet here, and we must pray and put forth effort to prevent it from taking place. Unfortunately many preachers speak as though they desire this to happen before its time. They have no understanding of God's timing and God's plan for these last days. Sensationalist writings about Iran and Israel sell books. They feed on the fear and emotions of the people. They appear to be patriotic and pro Israel, but in reality they lack compassion and love for the souls of men, first Jews and then gentiles. From such we must distance ourselves. If our goal in ministry is anything other than the redemption of mankind, we miss the Gospel. Remember God loves the world which includes both the Jews and the gentiles. Today, many ministers' feet are stuck in the pages of the law; as a result they preach judgment, and not grace. They are messengers of condemnation and judgment. They speak of the nations as though they were their judge. We must pray for a solution with Iran without a military option. It is God's will.
I suggest, for what it is worth, that the United States should sign a peace treaty with Iran. Here are the steps that can lead up to it:
- 1. Make Iran a partner with the West, an ally. This will eliminate their hostile language against Israel and the West. It will also pull them out of the frigid waters of radicalism.
- 2. Recognize them as a power in the Middle East. Remember that in regards to land mass, population, and economy they are greater than all the other nations in the Middle East. Political recognition will build their national pride. They have the keys to solve the problems in Afghanistan and Iraq in a short amount of time. Remember that they are a power house in both nations because of their influence on the Shi'ite population.
- 3. Acknowledge officially the mistakes that were done by the CIA and MI6.
- 4. Eliminate sanctions and include them as a member of the G20. Give them a seat at the table.
- 5. Open the doors of trade and commerce with them. This will build relations between the people.
- 6. Build a strong bridge for education between the two countries.
- 7. Treat them as a friend, a partner. Do not bully them with the language of a superpower. Iranians have a problem with having a boss over them. Have you seen the bazaars in Iran? One thousand stores sell the same thing wall to wall. In America, it would be Wal-Mart. Not in Iran.
- 8. Sign a document promising not to meddle with their affairs, if they also promise not to meddle with yours.
Again these steps may sound foolish to the mind of scare-tactic conservatives. But it works. I have been dealing with tens of thousands of Iranians for the past 29 years. I know what works and what doesn't. And obviously the policy we have had with them so far, doesn't. Let's rethink things and map out a new way. There is a saying in Persian, "If you can't beat them, make them your friend."
You are Blessed (Eph 1:3).
Pastor Reza F. Safa
TBN Nejat TV
P.O. Box 702094
Tulsa,OK 74170-2094
www.rezasafa.com
918-488 9645
