PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - An interesting read on the Middle East and OIL

LUVMBDiesels · #15 03-10-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymr

The typical man in the street in Iran is just as concerned about his livlihood and family as we are here. The last thing they want is a direct confrontation with the US, because it would turn their pretty country into a war-ravaged ruin. Unfortunately their attitude towards Israel runs contrary to ours, and it is a very deep-rooted attitude. That issue alone will block any meaningful dialog.

I agree with you on this. From the Persians I have met, granted they were all in the USA so are biased, they really like America and would like for our two contries to have the same relationship we used to have. They want to be major regional players and operate as a country their size and power should on the world stage. They do not want to be a pariah state. However, their government has other ideas. As for their anti-semitism, back inthe Shah days, Iran and Israel got along fairly well. Again it is the mullahs who are dictating thought in the Islamic Republic. That being said, the average guy in the street in Shiraz is sympatheic to the Palestinians, but I think that is being used as a 'safety valve' by the government just as anti-Israeli sentiment is whipped up in Saudi Arabia to keep people's mides off their own plight. Once the need for the 'safety valve' is gone, I think relations would improve between the countries. After all, Israel and Iran were once major trading partners and could be again (as long as Tehran does not nuke Tel Aviv)