Amir Taheri writes for the New York Post that Islamists around the world celebrate the outcome of the US elections.
Calling the election “the beginning of the end for Bush,” Ayatollah Imami Kashani told a Friday congregation in Tehran that the Americans were learning the same lesson that last summer’s war in Lebanon taught the Israelis.
Tehran decision-makers believe that the Democrats’ victory will lift the pressure off the Islamic Republic with regard to its nuclear program. “It is possible that the United States will behave in a wiser manner and will not pit itself against Iran,” says Ali Larijani, Tehran’s chief negotiator on the nuclear issue.
His view is echoed by academics with ties to “Supreme Guide” Ali Khamenei…
Nasser Hadian, another academic with ties to Khamenei, goes further. “With the return of a more realistic view of the world, the United States will acknowledge the leading role that the Islamic Republic must play,” he says. “There is no reason for our government to make any concessions on the nuclear issue.”
What do they expect from the Democrats?
Iraq: The assumption is that America will cut and run.
Iran: Radical circles are unanimous in their belief that Iran can now proceed with its nuclear program without fear of U.S. and allied retaliation. They expect Democrats to revert to Clinton-era policy and seek a “Grand Bargain” with the Islamic Republic – acknowledging Iran as the major regional power and recognizing its right to the full cycle of nuclear technology.
Israel: Radical Islamists in both Iran and the Arab countries believe that the Democrats’ victory indicates “growing American lassitude.” They believe that, once it becomes clear that Americans don’t want to fight for the Middle East, many in Israel would emigrate to America and Europe to escape the constant daily pressure from Islamist groups such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah.
As Amir points out, the Democrats – however – may change their point of view on certain issues now they are in power themselves. Also: Bush still is the President of the U.S. and will continue being so for the next 2 years.
Some points of criticism: Taheri does not present other examples: only Iran. Secondly, where are the facts? Just writing that Islamists worldwide rejoice, without presenting clear facts, etc. does not exactly make one’s article trustworthy. Thirdly, does it mean that when radical Muslims rejoice, Western policies are automatically wrong? Or do ‘we’ have to do what ‘we’ consider best, no matter what extremists might think of it?
That being said, when Islamists rejoice it seems to be logical for one to take a closer look at the exact reasons and to re-consider one’s policies.
No?
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