Iran, Growing Stronger - Should We Be Concerned?
Intelligence gathering with respect to Iran and their nuclear intentions is the most important issue facing the US spy community today. There are many other issues of a similar nature that are on the agenda, but at this moment in history Iran and what that nation is up to ranks number one. Why?
A number of reasons and at the top of that list is Iran's history, culture and providence. Iran, formerly the Persian Empire was unchallenged hundreds of years ago as the seat of trade routes linking the Mediterranean with the East. Trade was not limited to silk, salt and pottery, the most significant import/export that passed between regions trading in tangible goods were the intangibles—culture, language, philosophy, religion, belief systems, even the rudiments of science. The Persians were under, or at least exposed to, the influence of other cultures that challenged their strict lifestyle. This required a tightening of leadership influence and in some cases extreme measures were taken to inoculate the people from the pressure of persuasion.
As a result the Qur'an became the absolute word on behavior as well as faith. Of course, like many religions, various interpretations emerged and with that fanaticism. Today Iran's Guardian Council views the influence of the West (mainly the US) the same as it did the harmful influence of other cultures long ago. Looking at Iran's situation from their perspective is a challenge for those of us liberated from what we call oppressive government, but if we could see it the Councils way one might empathize, a smidgeon.
It isn't hard to see how religious leaders could view our nation as astray. A nation of egomaniacal, self-centered, immoral, perverted idol worshippers and that's just the leadership. I'm smiling, sort of. I said all of the above just to make this point; Iran and its leadership don't play by the same rules. They've been at the game much longer than the US and they are a sophisticated, shall I say, adversary. They know tricks we can't even conceive of and right now the Guardian Council and their own 'Dennis-the-menace' Ahmadinejad have their collective fingers crossed as they lie to the world about their nuclear intentions. Everyone knows about their deceptive ways and they know everyone knows, but they keep on deceiving and the world keeps on dozing.
That is precisely why the intelligence community must do all in its power to obtain verifiable information for use when developing policy concerning US and Iranian matters.
A number of reasons and at the top of that list is Iran's history, culture and providence. Iran, formerly the Persian Empire was unchallenged hundreds of years ago as the seat of trade routes linking the Mediterranean with the East. Trade was not limited to silk, salt and pottery, the most significant import/export that passed between regions trading in tangible goods were the intangibles—culture, language, philosophy, religion, belief systems, even the rudiments of science. The Persians were under, or at least exposed to, the influence of other cultures that challenged their strict lifestyle. This required a tightening of leadership influence and in some cases extreme measures were taken to inoculate the people from the pressure of persuasion.
As a result the Qur'an became the absolute word on behavior as well as faith. Of course, like many religions, various interpretations emerged and with that fanaticism. Today Iran's Guardian Council views the influence of the West (mainly the US) the same as it did the harmful influence of other cultures long ago. Looking at Iran's situation from their perspective is a challenge for those of us liberated from what we call oppressive government, but if we could see it the Councils way one might empathize, a smidgeon.
It isn't hard to see how religious leaders could view our nation as astray. A nation of egomaniacal, self-centered, immoral, perverted idol worshippers and that's just the leadership. I'm smiling, sort of. I said all of the above just to make this point; Iran and its leadership don't play by the same rules. They've been at the game much longer than the US and they are a sophisticated, shall I say, adversary. They know tricks we can't even conceive of and right now the Guardian Council and their own 'Dennis-the-menace' Ahmadinejad have their collective fingers crossed as they lie to the world about their nuclear intentions. Everyone knows about their deceptive ways and they know everyone knows, but they keep on deceiving and the world keeps on dozing.
That is precisely why the intelligence community must do all in its power to obtain verifiable information for use when developing policy concerning US and Iranian matters.
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