By Tanveer Jafri

February 15, 2005
Pakistan's Pak Tribune - Original Article (English)    

Iranian Students Fill in Registration Forms Making Official
Their Readiness To Carry Out Suicide Attacks If Iran is
Invaded By the U.S., in Tehran on Friday. (above and below).

[LATEST NEWS PHOTOS: Iran].

 



Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad Tours
the Natanz Uranium Enrichment Facility Lat Week. (above).


Ahmed Raza Shah Pahelvi, America's Man in Tehran.
He was Deposed in 1979 By the Iranian Revolution
and the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. (below)

There is a latent feeling in regard to the Iran issue that Mother Earth is preparing herself to bear the pain of a terrible war. In spite of Iran's refrain that its nuclear program is for generating electrical energy, America is unwilling to accept it. Washington says that "Iran is telling a lie and is determined to use its uranium enrichment program to manufacture its atomic weapons."

Iran answers that although its uranium enrichment program is not at all for manufacturing atomic weapons, whether and how many atomic weapons it might manufacture is its own domestic affair. Since Iran is an independent country with independent thoughts, America or any other country should have no objection to its manufacturing of atomic weapons.  

In the meantime, American [State Department] spokesman Sean McCormack in his latest statement anxiously expressed the view that Iran has already manufactured various parts of atomic weapons. Now Iran's chief scientists and electrical engineers are busy day and night trying to assemble the different parts. McCormack is of the view that Iran has obtained the desired skills and has made great progress in this direction.

America has undoubtedly succeeded in convincing the international community on this matter. This is quite clearly seen by its success at the International Atomic Energy Agency. Now, according to America, Iran is such a danger to the world, that it is not desirable for Iran to manufacture atomic weapons. While at the same time, North Korea has openly told Washington that it has so many atomic bombs, it can stoutly face any American attack.

North Korea has refused to reveal the number of atomic weapons it has, and insists that the number should remain secret. But this unsatisfying answer by North Korea didn't at all add to America's worries. Why not? Because, now it's Iran's turn, not North Korea.

Iran and America will face each other. This is what has been brewing for the past 30 years. Back then, the royal rule of Ahmed Raza Shah Pahelvi, the promoter of American interests in Iran, was brought to an end by the Islamic Revolution. When Iran fell into the hands of Islamic fundamentalists, the country's mainstream of thought changed, and there was a U-turn in Tehran's policy toward America.

The policies of Shah Pahelvi, who, like the leaders of many other countries in the world, sought to pave Iran's road to strength, power and development by becoming a puppet in the hands of the United States. His policies were completely dismissed. Now Iran has adopted the path of self reliance and independence. All the supporters of the Shah or the United States, who controlled the top posts, were shot to death. Three decades ago, Islamic power in Iran sent a message to America that GOD is supreme and more powerful than Washington.

America's attack on Iraq was condemned by most of the world's countries, and even by Americans themselves. President George Bush replied in a very philosophical manner. He said in a recent statement that undoubtedly, the reasons for the attack on Iraq may have been wrong, but the attack itself was correct. In other words, the "boss is always right." This is the same way that America says it is right about Iran's enrichment program, whatever the world may say about it.

Washington says Iran is going to manufacture atomic weapons, and Iran's atomic weapons are fatal for the world. So this Shiite-majority country may soon have to face the wrath of the American military. Day by day, this expectancy is gaining strength. The main reason is that the time is most suitable for the American army.

Because of its operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, a sufficient number of its soldiers are present in Middle Asia. Under the prevailing circumstances, if there is a war, the American military can easily turn its attention to Iran, because of its army bases in Kuwait and Iraq.

An Iranian Artist's Rendition
of Shia Founder Imam Ali (above).


[ NEWS PHOTOS: Shiites Celebrate Ashura].
About Ashura

Shiite Muslims Celebrate the Martyrdom
of Imam Ali By Beating Themselves With
Knives at the Holy City of Karbala
in Iraq Last Thursday. (below).


 




Shiite Celebrants In Karachi Flagellate
Themselves In Honor of the Martyrdon of
Imam Hussain. (below).






The Japanese City of Nagasaki, After an
Atomic Bomb Was Detonated Over the
City, August, 1945. (below).


---------------------------------------------------------

Now the question arises: If there is a war, will it be a like Iraq, the result of which is much ado about nothing? It may be a war that lasts a week, or it may take longer and have unimaginable consequences.

To venture a guess, it is important to have a look at the history of the Shiite community. This nation, which accepts "Hazrat Ali" [] as its First Imam, takes inspiration from he and his sons "Hasan" and "Hussain." Every year on the eve of "Moharram," remembering the sacrifice of its Third Imam, Hazrat Imam Hussain in Karbala, Shiites undertake astonishing deeds [SEE PHOTOS, left]. Such as the shedding of his own blood and walking on burning coals, following the ideal of Hazrat Ali that "Death with dignity is better than life with humiliation."

Following this policy, Imam Hussain fought against the cruel Syrian Caliph Yazeed, and sacrificed all the members of his family to keep Islam alive. He didn't accept Yazeed as an Islamic Caliph. It seems that this nation [the Shiites] will have to undergo the same type of test, and that another "Karbala" is coming its way. There is an assumption in the Shiite community: "In incidents like Karbala, martyrs live forever and no one remembers those that were cruel."

[Editor's Note: In 680, Imam Hussain, grandson of the prophet Muhammad, lead a revolt against the new Caliph, Yazeed. In the Battle of Karbala, the "large and professional army" of Caliph Yazeed squared off with Imam Hussain, whose forces are said to have consisted of 72 men and boys, 2 of whom were Hussain's sons. Yazeed prevailed and Hussain and his sons were killed. Hussain was decapitated and his head was brought to Yazeed. It is one of the most important events in the Shiite calendar, and symbolizes a devotion to faith, even when facing tremendous odds and inevitable martyrdom []].

But will the Shiite community in Iran be able to fight America as Imam Hussain fought Yazeed, and summon the courage to face the cruelty?

If America's statement that Iran has nearly finished building atomic weapons is true, if war is thrust upon it, will Iran not use them? Some experts believe that Iran attained the ability to produce atomic weapons long ago. Some experts accept that Iran has already equipped itself with nuclear weapons. If these arguments are accepted, then just imagine the scenes of the fast-approaching war.

Now there is no point doubting that Iran will use nuclear weapons, because up to now, America is the only country that can be accused of using atomic bombs. So America has been the most irresponsible and is the least trustworthy on this matter. Now if, "The boss is always right," and the danger is from Iran and not from America, then what will the horrors be if Iran does use atomic weapons?

To make a guess, we would have to have a look at the consequences of that atomic attack on the Japanese city Nagasaki. This terrible blast resulted in the immediate deaths of 70,000 people, and the effect of the resulting radiation can still be seen in Japan's citizens. The intensity of the blast was equal to 20,000 tons of TNT. There was a 4km deep ditch at the site of the blast. A shimmering cream-colored cloud of smoke up to 12km-high appeared in the sky. A person hundreds of kilometers away could see the blast as if it were the sun rising. Even a blind girl, who was standing 15 km away from the blast, saw the light from the blast with her blind eyes.

The horror of that atomic explosion in 1945, a twentieth century explosion, is beyond description. Obviously, the horrific consequences of a 21st century atomic bomb inflicted by Iran, America or any other country, would be beyond the imagination. God forbid!

If this mother earth ever has to face a war with atomic weapons, and as we have said, "The boss is always right," then everyone except you [Bush] is correct. This American policy will be responsible for the upheaval of this earth, because war is nothing but the destruction and devastation of humanity. As Sahir ludhianvi, a renowned Urdu poet said:

Isliye aiy  Sharif Insano, Jang Taltee  rahe to behtar hai,
Aap aor Hum, Sabhi ke aangan mein, shamma jalti rahe to behtar hai!!

"It is better to avoid war so that a light will remain visible in our yards."

VIDEO FROM IRAN: 'SUPERPOWERS MADE OF STRAW' BEHIND WORLD'S ILLS

Iran TV: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Issues a Rebuttel to George W. Bush's State of the Union Address, February 1, 00:06:00, MEMRI

"Allow me to say a word to the man who won his elections by spending billions of dollars and by a court order, thus becoming a leader of a large country."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad