From: javad@hplabsz.hpl.hp.com (Agha Javad)
Subject: Re: Cruise missiles
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 19:17:42 GMT
Organization: LabaniyyAti-ye-Sar-e-Koocheh

In article <1993Jan22.165417.25465@ncsu.edu> hernlem@chess.ncsu.EDU (Brad Hernlem) writes:
>In article <22JAN93.12864345.0059@UNBVM1.CSD.UNB.CA>, J10B000
><J10B@UNB.CA> writes:
>> In article <1993Jan21.161617.13628@sei.cmu.edu> psc@sei.cmu.edu (Peter
>Capell) writes:
>> >
[stuff deleted]

>> >Surely killed enough of them themselves!
>> >^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> >The issue is power and power alone.  I wait for the day when there is peace
>> >and self-detemination for all these nations...
>> >
>> >   INSHALLAH!
>> >

[more stuff deleted]

>
>1. When did revolutionary Iran ever unilaterally attack a neighbor? 
>
>2. The U.S. has sold over $30 billion in arms to the Middle East since
>the end of the Gulf War.
>
>3. Kuwait just signed a $4.5 billion dollar arms deal with the U.S.
>
>4. U.S. military aid to Israel amounts to at least $1.8 billion annually
>excluding special arms deals. (Compare with Rafsanjani's budget of $2
>billion per year. Population of Israel about 5 million, population of
>Iran about 55 million).
>
>5. Iran has mediated to bring about the end of hostilities on its
>Northwest (Azerbaijan and Armenia) and Eastern (Afghanistan) borders.
>
>6. Iran is involved in the establishment of multiple economic ties with
>its neighbors ( Economic Cooperation Council with Turkey, Pakistan, and
>Central Asian Republics as well as recent gas deal with Georgia, etc..).
>
>My points are that:
>
>1. there is no basis for the claim that Iran wishes to "stir up trouble"
>with its neighbors.
>
>2. Iranian military outlays are not only not outstanding but are small
>compared with similar spending by its neighbors, many of whom have
>recent records of hostilities against their neighbors (Saudi Arabia
>attacking Iraq without provocation, Israel attacking Iraq without
>provocation, Israel occupying parts of Lebanon, Syria and Palestinian land).
>
>Whatever your opinion about the government in Iran, the above facts
>remain. Just because some people don't like the government because of
>(insert your favorite gripe here....human rights violations, President's
>name is not Rajavi, "Islamic" economy inconsistant with capitalism,
>etc..) does not mean that it is out to destroy the world.  
>

I agree with most of what you say, but I must express concern that gov't
in Iran has certainly had its share of "meddling", and has certainly not 
been a peace-loving one.  When Rafsanjani says during the intifadeh that
Palestinians should go around killing 2 western civilians for each 
Palestinian killed in the occupied territories, when the Iranian gov't
kills its opponents abroad (such as Bakhtiar, etc.), when the Iranian
gov't harbors hijackers (Kuwait Airways and Air France hijackings to Tehran 
in 84-85), and when the Iranian gov't issues a formal death sentence
and puts out a contract in broad daylight on Salman Rushdie's head, I think
you can hardly say that this gov't just sits back and doesn't do anything 
naughty.  But like I say, your other points are definitely true, and I am
glad to see that steps have been taken to promote peace and settlement
in some areas, e.g. the Transcaucus, as well as the position in the 1991
Kuwait war, etc.  Maybe some people are learning something after all,
and we can only hope for a change from within for the better.  Only then
can we truly focus on our country's development in all arenas, and stop
trying to fight everybody's struggle. 


>Brad Hernlem (hernlem@chess.ncsu.EDU)


Agha Javad