looking back in March?
I asked someone who had spent two extended spells in Iran and has since then worked with Iranian Christians and converts in this country how he viewed the present war. This was his answer: “Iran? Where should I start?
When I was in Iran the seeds of revolution were already germinating. European colonialism, regime change organised by BriIran Issuetain and others, the West’s exploitation of Iranian (and the Gulf states) oil, helping themselves to over 90% of the profit generated by Iran’s oil, were still running sores. The Shah was seen as a puppet of the US and amassing a personal fortune. Secret police were busy. The Mullahs hated the intrusion of Western values mainly propagated by Hollywood. The intelligentsia and students viewed the West and supported the communist Tudeh party, also strongly anti the capitalist agenda.
The US has never forgiven the American Embassy hostage event and its humiliation in the ousting of Jimmy Carter. The American imposition of sanctions on Iran has been damaging the economy and the well-being of Iranians ever since. Netanyahu has been explicit in his ambition to cripple Iran for 40 years.
Mgr Nazir Ali wrote a very perceptive article for the Telegraph a few days ago saying that the Trump administration have got into a war they cannot win because they have no understanding of the Shia mindset.
Shia Islam has its origin in the martyrdom of Ali and Hossein, and its followers, the republican guard et al, still see martyrdom as a fate to be welcomed. The Iranian soldiers in the Iran-Iraq war went into battle equipped with a green key, the key to Paradise. If there is a ground invasion or takeover, the insurgency will be unrelenting.
Meantime the wanton destruction by a president who describes bombing as fun is devilish. Oliver McTernan popped up with a comment yesterday that the assassination of Ali Khomenei was a big mistake.
“That he had always been adamant that to make a nuclear weapon was incompatible with Islam and that his removal opened the door for others less principled to look for a nuclear weapon as the ultimate deterrent to those who attack Iran, as it is for North Korea. His removal makes that more likely not less. Of course, Trumpians do not understand religious conviction.”
Michael Wenham
This article originally appeared in the St John’s Messenger. If you would like to discuss contributing a future article please contact news@valebenefice.org.uk.
