Each star on this map marks the location of a military base of the United States - in Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, other Gulf states, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and into the ...stans. The blue in the center (not well distinguished from the Caspian Sea and other water) is Iran.
[I]magine if the blue in that map were the U.S... and the large red areas were Mexico and Canada... and the stars represented Iranian military bases. Then further imagine that Iranian political leaders and media figures routinely told their population that it was the U.S. that was an aggressive, threatening power that had to be stopped: the mocking condemnations of that level of propaganda would be endless. Yet American political officials and commentators feel free to insist, with a straight face, that Iran is an aggressor nation posing a serious threat to the U.S.: such a serious threat, in fact, that war may be necessary to stop it.Let me be quite clear here; I'm not saying that the Iranian leadership are good guys. I'm just using the graphic to show that there might be reasons for them to feel threatened.
Original image credit unknown; found at the Democratic Underground, via Informed Comment and Salon.
"But..but...I was told they hate us for our freedoms!"
ReplyDeleteI'd imagine part of the goal is to have them feel threatened.
ReplyDeleteRight or wrong, a big stick on the other side of the planet doesn't make speaking softly very effective.
Stop it! You're making too much sense.
ReplyDeleteI also feel that the political rhetoric that comes from the USA would not be tolerated if it came from a different country. IMHO
ReplyDeleteThe bellicose political rhetoric that comes out of the USA would be laughed at and scorned as absurd, lampooned and made fun of in every way if it were coming from any other nation than the USA.
DeleteMeanwhile, on the home front...
ReplyDeleteWhen you add in the history of the US overthrowing the democratically elected government of Iran in the 50's, coupled with the large military presence of the US surrounding Iran, I don't blame them one bit for feeling threatened.
ReplyDeleteAs you've posted before: http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2011/04/history-of-us-intervention-in-iran.html
And well they should feel threatened! Iran is a nation with no history whatsoever of peaceful times nor motives. They have proven themselves time and time again as an enemy of a civil world.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I want to say that I was directed to your blog by a fellow blogging friend, and have enjoyed everything I have seen thus far. Very eclectic, interesting, and intelligent. I may not agree with it all, but of course adults can disagree whilst conducting themselves in a civil manner. There are so many more of your blog entries to explore, and I am quite looking forward to doing so.
"There are so many more of your blog entries to explore, and I am quite looking forward to doing so."
DeleteGood. And if I might offer a suggestion - the best way for new arrivals to explore is NOT to go back page by page, but to use the "categories" in the right sidebar to narrow down the exploration to what interests you.
Your post does not jibe with any real history of that country. You can learn a very basic overview here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d%27état
DeleteErm, until 1953, we were quite chummy with Iran, and they hadn't attacked anyone in about 200 years.
DeleteThe "evil Iran" meme has only been in place for 30 years, since they overthrew the shah in 1979. It's very unfortunate a batshit islamic theocracy came to power, but their anger towards us is well deserved.
gives a new meaning to "surrounded by enemies".
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend "All the Shah's Men" on a primer on why Iran and the US don't get along.
They don't like us, but they're not a threat to Israel or us and the coming war (it's going to happen) is a tragedy in the making.
"(it's going to happen) -- Let's certainly hope war doesn't happen, particularly since Pakistan now says it will to come to the aid of Iran -- and Pakistan DOES have nukes!
DeleteAs a man of the right, I shudder. The only reason the crazy ayatollas rule there is because of us. They were the most civilized nation in that part of the world until we meddled. Now they hang Bahais in soccer stadiums for sport. Our Bad.
ReplyDeleteyour map is out of date. I see several of these posts that have been closed for quite some time. Also, you might want to define what a military base is. Do you know that the US has German troops stationed on it's soil? Brits? Canadians? Do you know we have Jordanians and Saudis and Israelis stationed on our soil?
ReplyDeleteI know that it feels good and easy to capture your arguments in graphic form. But you do a disservice to the nuances of our foreign policy when you do. And, before you go posting these, how about asking someone who has actually been in the military whether the information depicted supports your argument? I think you'd be surprised to find many, many left-leaning folks who have been in uniform.
I don't understand your point in mentioning Germans and Jordanians stationed on US soil. Of course allies have troops stationed on each other's soil. So?
DeleteA few of the bases being now closed doesn't affect the argument much. Iran is surrounded- we invaded and still occupy its immediate neighbors on two sides. That is why its upset.
I'd prefer not to ask the military squat, since it seems to be lying us into another war.
Anon, the map may well be out of date (although I don't think the principal involved is); I did a TinEye reverse image search without locating the original use of it. If you'll tell me which of these bases have been abandoned, I'll make a note of that in an addendum to the post.
DeleteI try to be as accurate as I can, but as you note, I'm dependent on my sources (and on corrections from my readers).
Abbie, I suspect anon's point is that some of these stars may represent "places where American troops are stationed" (i.e. defensively guarding an embassy) rather than a true "military base" with its more offense-based connotation. Since the source of the image is uncertain, his point may be valid (though I think the larger point re threat is still valid).
DeleteThanks for the tip, Minnesotastan. That will help me get a start. Have a good one, sir.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see some pins where our nearest large Navy vessles are, too.
ReplyDeleteYou act as if Iran is just like the USA in motive and global citizenship. After the 444 days, do you really expect the USA to see Iran with kind and generous eyes? You're ridiculous. There is no moral equivalence and try as you like, only the willfully naive will think what you allude to equals the USA being worse than or even the same as the threat of Iran to world peace. Do you really think the USA wants to annihilate an entire people, like Iran does? --a.
ReplyDelete@AnonymousFeb 5, 2012 09:42 PM
ReplyDeleteSome strange rhetoric does come from Iran, at least if the media are to be believed. On the other hand, let's look at Iran's capabilities. They may--may--be on the way to developing nuclear weapons. Israel already has hundred of them. Unless the leadership of Iran becomes actively suicidal, I doubt that there will be any attack on the Iranian side--at least not until Israel strikes first, which it increasingly seems inclined to do.
As a Canadian who watched with incredulity the whole WMD in Iraq fiction--very few people outside of the U.S. and its media believed in this story--be used to justify war, I can only say that talk on the part of U.S. politicians is part of the same process. Sadly, we now have a George W. Bush wannabe-Republican as Prime Minister, and he's repeating the same fiction.
The lives of 4500 Americans were squandered by a bloodthirsty regime. The only nation on the planet which egged us on to attack Iraq was Israel. This after 15 American and British intelligence agencies determined that Saddam was not an immediate to America. We need to make Israel understand that if it engages in military adventures against Iran it does so on its own. Isrtael's misbehavior is not worth the loss of a single American life and they need to "chill". I'm sick of doing their dirty work for them and a war will only serve to fatten the loins of Wall Street at the expense of American lives and treasure.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/ron-pauls-strange-claim-about-bases-and-troops-overseas/2012/02/08/gIQApZpqzQ_blog.html?hpid=z3
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see those data. Thanks, anon.
Delete