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Monday, September 20, 2010     INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING

The global showdown between Exceptionalism and Islamofascism

By Sheda Vasseghi

The majority of the world views America as exceptional.

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As a country that has come to possess a unique role in world affairs, America serves as a role model for many nations still struggling with their identity, equality, equity, and the pursuit of happiness.

Whether America acts in its own interests or not, the world expects it to be honorable and just. Any perceived contrary shift from this expectation brings disappointment and anger, because consciously or subconsciously America is considered the final frontier for a balanced society – a natural price to pay for exceptionalism.


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In 1908, during the Iranian constitutional civil war, British scholar Edward Browne argued that Iranians were an “exceptional” people. According to Browne, their struggle for national sovereignty was above all others in the region. Iranians deserved democracy and independence, because they were “a chosen people, unique and apart from all other nations.”

The Cyrus Cylinder in the British museum, London.     
Iranian exceptionalism goes beyond its early 20th century fight for a constitution. Browne was probably ridiculed by his peers for such a suggestion, but if the American experience is regarded as the definition of national exceptionalism, then one could see why Iran, or rather ancient Iran, is viewed similarly.

The Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great (550-330 BC) was the first world empire that included different nations with different beliefs. The Persian Empire set the tone for tolerance with the Cyrus Cylinder, known as the world’s first human rights decree. For the first time, the world was introduced to freedom of thought and religion as implemented by the Persian central government. This world empire which covered approximately 3,000,000 square miles survived for 220 years, an amazing feat for its time.

In the 18th century, the United States of America was created as the first world democracy, an experimental place where people from around the world could migrate and share a common culture and nationality without sacrificing their heritage or religious beliefs. The Fathers of America had each read The Education of Cyrus, and were aware of the birth of the Persian Empire and its founder.

Today many Americans and Iranians are extremely patriotic and have a strong sense of their respective national foundations. Both peoples are highly aware of their rights and the need to fight to maintain those rights. Now both are facing a common enemy, an Islamic fascist movement that threatens the natural world order. If America is the leading global balance of power, Iran in the 1970’s was the regional balance of power.

It is no surprise then that the two nations with their exceptional histories are the main battleground for the evil in our lifetime. For Iranians, the battle has taken over their country while for Americans the battle struck their backyard and is challenging their physical, psychological and financial welfare.

It is also no surprise that both peoples “get it.” Both peoples know that the regime in Tehran is funding and supporting this fascist movement against civilization. Both peoples know deep down in their national conscious embedded by their forefathers that the regime in Tehran must come to an end.

Social psychologist Gustave Le Bon states “[t]he beginning of a revolution is in reality the end of a belief.” With the rise of the 2009 national revolution in Iran and abroad, the idea of an Islamic theocracy has come to an end for Iranians. The Islamic Republic is quite aware of this, and has started a different public relations campaign in order to survive.

Despite worldwide protests, just last week the British government reportedly pressured the British Museum to lend the Cyrus Cylinder to the Islamic Republic for a so-called cultural exhibition in Tehran. It is ironic that even though the Islamic Republic has wanted to borrow the first known human rights decree since 2005 for an exhibition in a country that no longer has any human rights, the British have decided that now is a good time to allow the most highly pre-Islamic Iranian national symbol to be handed over to the enemy of the Iranian culture. This decision by the British has come about a month after Ahmadinejad started introducing himself as a “religious nationalist.”

Given that Islamic doctrine encourages its followers to be political chameleons as needed, Ahmadinejad and his administration are now using Iranian national heritage to “calm down” the public and hope to influence this threatening national uprising. In a recent opening ceremony in Tehran, a person dressed as Cyrus the Great and an Achaemenid solider were brought before Ahmadinejad, who put keffiyehs around their necks implying that Cyrus the Great and the ancient Persian soldier were jihadists too!

Ahmadinejad as a true Islamic fundamentalist hopes that he can divert the Iranian national uprising for some time, or if the people are triumphant in overthrowing the regime, he hopes to gain some sympathy as a “religious nationalist” and escape the wrath of a people tortured by the Islamic Republic and its Sharia-based Constitution for 31 years.

It is no secret that for over two centuries the British government has meddled in Iran’s affairs for its own interests. Iranians are aware of this role and will not take this most recent overture to their enemy lightly. Although it is the responsibility of Iranians to protect their nation, its culture and heritage, should something happen to the Cyrus Cylinder while it is in the hands of Islamofascists in Tehran, the Iranian people will hold the British partially responsible for such a tragic violation against human civilization.

If the Islamic Republic and Ahmadinejad believe that their recent fictitious claims will work with the people of Iran, and that they can take their fascism underground until the time is ripe for re-slaughtering innocent people in order to pillage and rape Iran, they are sorely mistaken! As Americans re-group and re-focus internally for November elections, and Iranian nationalists unite domestically and abroad with continued opposition efforts, their shared exceptionalism will defeat the evil of our time.


Sheda Vasseghi is on the Board of Azadegan Foundation and is a regular contributor to WorldTribune.com on Iran’s Affairs.


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