The Great Satan vs. the Axis
of Evil
June 24, 2002
At the time Imam Khomeini, the late Iranian leader, announced that the United
States of America was "the Great Satan", few then knew the label will come
eventually to hunt the Iranian leadership, and implicate it in a U.S.
reciprocatory remark that carry a weight, perhaps less provocative, but in
general, it is as demeaning to Iran and the Iranian people, (including, the
Iraqi and North Korean).
The late Imam felt, the U.S. Administration's foreign policy had intended
to destroy the newly found revolution, establishment and government in Iran.
As a background, the Shah, the late, but deposed Iranian King was according
to the Iranian government sources an agent to the United States of America.
The suffering of the Iranian people at the hand of the late King, were largely
blamed on the United States of America, because of the tremendous support
the U.S. Administration gave to the continuation of the Shah regime in Iran.
From the beginning, to the moment; the U.S. Government failed to contain,
and court the elected government in Iran, due to the Iranian refusal to accept
negotiation with "the Great Satan" as the Iranian proudly describe the U.S.,
or because of U.S. lack of initiative to grab the opportunity to establish
mutual relationship with Iran.
Regardless of the reason Iran had described the United States of America
as the "Great Satan"! Now, twenty-three years later, the United States of
America describes Iran, along with Iraq and N. Korea, as the "Axis of Evil."
To follow the same argument, we tend to accept, even though we disagree,
that the U.S. Administration believes that these three countries form an
axis of destruction to the U.S. foreign policy, thus, to the downing of the
U.S. superiority at multilevel.
The answer of why would Imam Khomeini describes the U.S. Administration as
he did, would take a lengthy time to address the grievance of the Iranian
Government and Iranian people against the U.S. Administration.
The U.S. on the other hand, and in a statement by its president, described
Iran along with others as the "Axis of Evil" that need to be destroyed. The
silent war that perhaps begun earlier than 1952, when the U.S. toppled the
newly elected government to the advantage of the Iranian king continues to
this day. Several meeting, secretly, and through indirect third parties have
taken place to meddle the difference between the two, but to no avail.
We simply request the U.S. Administration and the Iranian government to rethink
their strategy and peacefully come to a solution to this evil impasse that
is destroying the spirit of dialogue and acceptance of each other. Of course,
the negative impact of their current policies are felt by the average citizen
of each country. There is no way to take side here and say the U.S. is right
or vice-versa; the time, and circumstances that surrounds us require the
wise people in both Administrations to come to term with each other; and
meet to discuss a better solution, acceptable to both nations.
This is our request, perhaps you can join us to address this issue, and express
your dismay of both leaders to this irresponsible way that they are serving
their countries and people. And honestly, when the war starts and victims
start falling, then, they have served one thing, and one thing only. They
have served the evil way of life, which they preach the
opposite.
Note: Opinions expressed in this section
do not necessarily express the official opinion of Middle East News &
World Report management and staff.