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That's a hard one. I've worked overseas and you find out that things are usually not exactly as they are depicted in the news or in the political speeches. To a very large extent, the people are not a lot different from us in their basic wants and desires, but there can be big cultural differences. There is often some basis behind some of the stereotypes, but often they are exagerated. Remember, I am a hillbilly from Up the Valley. I did go barefoot in the summer after school was out while on the farm, but I did have shoes for when I went out in public, and I did not wear a straw hat or wear bib overalls. I did not marry my cousin. Some basis for the stereotypes, but not a lot.
I worked in Spain shortly after Franco died. Although he was dead, people still got very quiet and became very careful when la Guardia came around. It was really educational to see just how careful people became, especially with me coming from the USA. That's a big reason I feel that people talking about how we are losing our freedom are pretty inexperienced in some things. Of all the places I have worked in Asia and Africa, Spain shortly after Franco was probably the most repressive. But even them, if la Guardia was not around, the people lived pretty well and seemed pretty happy. I loved he Spanish people. So friendly, helpful, and full of life.
I've worked with Arabs. I know that the Iranians are Persian, not Arabs, so there are cultural differences. They've had their ups and downs but the Persians/Iranians have been a force in that part of the world since the days of the Greek city-states. It is an ancient civilization and they are a very proud people. We are not going to run roughshod over them. I don't have a lot of personal experience with Iran. I knew a family that left Iran when the Shah was overthrown and our kids were good friends, but we never really became close. And I've never visited the country.
I understand the concern with the WMD not found in Iraq, but I do feel it is very possible and probably very likely Iran is trying to develop the bomb. They have been a force in that area for thousands of years and are likely to go to great lengths to remain so. Is the leadership crazy enough to start lobbing a few at Isreal when they get a few stockpiled? I doubt it, but they just may be willing to take brinkmanship to a level we don't want to go.
They pretty much use Syria as a go-between to forment turmoil instead of getting their own hands that dirty. Syria does not have that much oil or money and Iran does. That's why the stuff going in in Syria right now is probably the most inportant of all the stuff going on in that part of the world. If Assad falls, I'm afraid Iran might take some pretty serious steps to install another puppet. Or take some other action that could get scary.
I don't claim to know everything that is going on in Iran. I don't have access to all the secret information or the spy satellite shots. I couldn't interpret them if I saw them anyway. But at least I can find Iran on the map and I know they are Persian, not Arab.
I don't necessarily trust our government to always be right, such as Iraq and WMD. If you have a leader that is so right he is just looking for yes men to tell him how right he is, we are in trouble. If we have a President that can listen with an open mind and welcomes dissenting opinions to test his beliefs, we are more likely to come out OK. Some people seem to see a President that keeps and open mind, that will listen to somebody that disagrees with him, and will adjust his actions as new information becomes available as weak. That is called point forward analysis. Take things as they are now to base a decision on, not how you used to think things were. I consider that prudent and cautious. But at some point a decision has to be made and enforced.
I'm not an expert on foreign affairs but I don't consider myself totally ignorant on some things. With our military power, the size of our economy, our dependence on a Global economy, and all that, I like the idea of someone other than a pure rookie running things. They don't have to know everything themselves. They have to be able to get good people in critical positions and rely on them, but they do need to know enough to know when someone is blowing smoke. Blind reliance on subordinates can get you in big trouble.
Editterd to add:
The Iranians don't trust us a lot. We strongly backed the Shah while they were trying to overthrow him.
The Iranians don't trust us a lot. Right after they overthrew the Shah and while they were still in disarray, we make Sadam Hussein a regional power and strongly backed Iraq with war materials during the Iran-Iraq War. Kind of hitting them when they were down.
Usually I'd say most people in most foreign countries are OK with us on a personal level, it is just the leadership we have a problem with. But in Iran I think the man in the street probably does not like us a lot.
Did I pass your pop quiz?