One day before the second September 11th after the WTC attacks CNN was discussing the legacy of this black day in human history. The discussion was part of a weeklong series about the issue. Members were American students and students of the American University in Lebanon, a country still suffering wounds of a deadly civil war. They together should discuss the image the world has today about the USA. After two wars it changed fundamentely.
After some time the discussion leader was asking the members, what are the reasons for failed countries like Iran. Interesting: In his eyes Iran is a failed country. Is this really true? It is true that the Iranian state is a Theocracy, means the leaders are religious (at least they say it, but it looks like that they are very ordinary politicians like we know them even from Germany). It is true that women have not the full rights like the men. It is true that the government is supporting terrorist groups like the Hamas in Israel. It is not clear, but it looks like that the regime is trying to build nuclear weapons. Is this the reason enough to call Iran a failed country?
To show that this is unjust in my eyes, I want to compare Iran with the mighty USA. The US government was never a true theocracy but still now the christian believe is very important to all administrations. The Bush team is even doing a step back. Till the 60's negroes had not the full rights in the US. Like the women in Iran they were people second class. US administrations often supported groups in different countries, which used as well terrorism to reach their aims. For example the Contra movement in Nicaragua, the Mujahedin in Afghanistan, the Chilenian military dictatorship (interesting thing is that the military took over control as well on a September 11th) and the Shah in Iran. And like so much other countries US development huge arsenals of ABC weapons to defend their system. There is nearly no difference between the US and Iran. There is only a difference in evolution. This means there is no reason to call Iran a failed country as long the USA has not failed. When I was travelling in Iran, I felt myself always safe. Okay, my passport was stolen, but this could happen in a lot of countries. People were very friendly and open minded. Some of them were religious. Okay, not christian but religious. For sure the country is underdeveloped in a lot of parts but it is working.
As long US is not talking with Iran a lot of Americans have no impression how this country is really looking like, how the people are. So they will think always that in this country brutal religious leaders are surpressing the people. For sure a lot of people make no difference between the Taliban Afghanistan and Iran. If this misleading picture will be not corrected by the countries leaders the result will be again war. After the Rumsfeld mess in Iraq the Western societies should now, that this is not only tragical for a lot of people on both sides, it is as well very expensive. And at least money language understands nowadays nearly everyone.