Monday, August 07, 2006

US hails Iran's 100th anniversary of constitutional revolution - AFP via Yahoo!

-The United States hailed Iran's Constitutional Revolution that occurred one-hundred Years ago as of this past Saturday. After reading the comments that were made by representatives of the American administration I found myself happy at the acknowledgement, but betrayed at the same time. Our constitutional Revolution was a huge step in the history of our nation. However, that same step towards democracy and openness brought undemocratic and corrupt responses by Western nations that eventually lead to the Islamic Republic of 1979. It was the West, in particular Britain, that helped the Shah at the time of the Constitutional Revolution betray his own people and regain control of the country. It was Britain again that helped the Shah hunt down the fathers of that revolution so that democracy would not flourish. It was the United States in conjunction with Britain that sought the coup of The Great Prime Minister Mossadegh. Finally it is the West, in particular the European Union that supports the dirty mullahs that rule over our beloved country today.

So while I thank the United States for acknowledging our Constitutional Revolution of one-hundred years ago, it is only a small expression of gratitude. It is time that the Western nations put aside their interests in short term gain for the long term assets that can only come with an open and honest relationship with the Iranian people. It is time that the West stops its animosity towards an open and democratic Iran and starts supporting the true grass-roots democratic movements that are emerging in our country.

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The United States hailed Iran's constitutional revolution on its 100th anniversary as a defining but short-lived advance toward democracy, and voiced support for Iranians it said who still hoped for an open society.

The August 5, 1906 decree, which called for the creation of an elected parliament, the Majlis, "serves as a defining political moment for advancing the democratic ideas it represented," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement released Friday.

"Iranian nationalists set forth a powerful and revolutionary concept: a written constitution founded on the rule of fair and just laws, providing for a free press and respect for individual rights," McCormack said.

"This short-lived but noble constitutional movement was a significant victory for Iranian democracy and for the cause of freedom in the Middle East."

Since then, McCormack said, Iranians have continued the struggle against unchecked power, corruption and wide disparities in wealth.

"The United States supports the aspirations of the Iranian people for an open society that encourages debate, allows for freedom of the press, champions human dignity and ensures justice, the rule of law and government accountability," he said.

The State Department message aimed at Iranians came against a backdrop of mounting tensions over the Iranian government's nuclear program and its support of the Shiite militia Hezbollah, based in southern Lebanon and currently engaged in fighting with Israel that has killed more than 900 people, mostly civilians, since July 12.

Earlier Friday, the United States issued a new rebuke to Iran and Syria, accusing them of directing Hezbollah to attack Israel.

"Iran created Hezbollah in 1982. Iran has funded Hezbollah and Iran has provided the long-range rockets that are raining down on the northern part of Israel right now," Nicholas Burns, under secretary of state for political affairs, said in a CNN interview.

"Iran is acting in a way that is fundamentally contrary to the hopes of all of us for stablility and peace in the Middle East."

On Monday the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling on Iran to freeze sensitive nuclear work by the end of the month or face possible sanctions.

Tehran contends that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes but the US and other countries suspect it is a cover to develop nuclear weapons.

Original Article

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