[lit-ideas] Re: Iran (1), The Revolutionary Imperative

  • From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2006 10:09:54 -0800

Mike,  I agree with everything you've written even though you write it with
obvious disapproval.  I approve of what you disapprove.  But then I think
Democracy a good thing and Islamist Fascism a bad thing.  I also agree with
our tactics during the Cold War.  Letting the USSR win the Cold War would
have been a very bad thing in my opinion.  And yes we need to make the world
safe for Democracy.  That's very important.  Making the world save for
Islamic tyranny, which you put on a par with democracy, is not a good thing.

 

Lawrence

 

  _____  

From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Mike Geary
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 9:58 AM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Iran (1), The Revolutionary Imperative

 

>>On page 4 Berman writes, "Since its founding, the Islamic Republic of Iran
has made the worldwide spread of its radical message a cardinal regime
principle.<<

 

In contrast to the United States which invades countries to effect
"democratic" regime change.

 

>>The idea originated in the 1960s and 1970s, when the Ayatollah Khomeini
languished in exile in Iraq and France. 

 

Exiled, that is, by the Shah, a puppet of the United States.

 

 

>>During this period, Khomeini formulated his theory about the need for
radical Islamic transformation in his home country, Iran, and of 'exporting'
this revolution throughout the Middle East and beyond.<<

 

In contrast to the United States which has never advocated democratic
revolution throughout the world.

 

 

>>an ideological mission, that is, the Jihad for the sake of God, as well as
for struggling to open the way for the sovereignty of the Word of God
throughout the world.<<

 

In contrast to a war to make the world safe for democracy, led by a nation
"under God".

 

 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Lawrence <mailto:lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>  Helm 

To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 

Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 10:15 AM

Subject: [lit-ideas] Iran (1), The Revolutionary Imperative

 

I've been reading Ilan Berman's Tehran Rising, Iran's Challenge to the
United States, 2005.  I read some good reviews about the book.  He is
described as "an expert on regional security in the Middle East, Central
Asia, and the Russian Federation.  He has consulted for both the U.S.
Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Department of Defense and provided
assistance on foreign policy and national security issues to a number of
governmental agencies.  In his book, he documents everything.  The book has
148 pages of text.  The footnotes are in the back, 52 pages of them.  I'll
skip the notes unless someone asks about something Berman writes.

 

I plan to quote various passages from this book as I read it, both to add to
our understanding and provide an indication of what our government
understands about Iran (assuming Berman is as knowledgeable and influential
as advertised).

 

  During this period, Khomeini formulated his theory about the need for
radical Islamic transformation in his home country, Iran, and of 'exporting'
this revolution throughout the Middle East and beyond.  As Khomeini's brand
of radical Islam rose to power in Tehran, so too did the idea that Iran's
Islamic Revolution could serve as an example for other Muslim nations.

 

"This dictum was enshrined in the preamble of the country's 1979
constitution, which announced that the Islamic Republic's armed forces 'will
be responsible not only for safeguarding the borders, but also for
accomplishing an ideological mission, that is, the Jihad for the sake of
God, as well as for struggling to open the way for the sovereignty of the
Word of God throughout the world.' . . ."

 

"The idea of global Islamic revolution in fact pervaded the entire
governmental structure created by Khomeini following his triumphant return
to Iran.  It was first institutionalized by Khomeini himself, who imposed
the velayat-e faqih (rule of the jurisprudent) as the guiding principle of
the newly established Islamic Republic.  Adopting the mantle of the vali-e
faqih made Khomeini the ultimate arbiter of Iranian religion and politics
and set Iran on the course of radical religious expansionism.

 

"Khomeini strengthened this priority just days after his return to Tehran by
unifying the countries radical religious militias . . . Originally tasked
with rooting out lingering domestic opposition to the Revolution, the
Pasadrin also became tasked with organizing and training the Basij, a
massive, radical people's militia designed to maintain social order, often
by force.  For Khomeini, however, the principal value of the Pasadaran was
always as a strike force capable of spreading the revolutionary message far
beyond Iran's borders.  

 

"It did not take long for Khomeini to put his plans into action.  Just six
months after his return to Iran, and with his newly formed government still
struggling to consolidate its power against remnants of the pro-Shah and
anti-clerical opposition, Iran's new leader had already declared the start
of his modern Muslim crusade.  'The governments of the world should know
that Islam cannot be defeated.  Islam will be victorious in all the
countries of the world, and Islam and the teachings of the Koran will
prevail all over the world,' Khomeini announced publicly, putting the whole
world on notice about his ambitions of a global Islamic order.

 

"In fact, that process had already begun.  Soon after its establishment, and
under the watchful eye of the Pasadaran, the Islamic Republic began a
wide-reaching appeal to like-minded Islamic radicals from around the Middle
East, North Africa, and Asia.  In response, thousands of pupils flocked to
Tehran, drawn by the promise of replacing Iran's successes in their own
countries.  There they found military training, political government eager
to internationalize its radical religious revolution"

 

 

Lawrence

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