Face the Tyrants

The United States’ assertive approach to the Middle East is necessary in order to ensure the appropriate changes come about.  Iran and Syria have begun to feel the pressure in having to engage in vocal warfare with the Bush Administration.  However, the Bush Administration’s policies are growing to aggressive in its overt threats against both the Iranians and Syrians.  Further conflict of any kind, whether full-scale war or surgical strikes against nuclear reactors, would undermine the reformist demographics in both countries, creating an excuse for these tyrants to remain in power.  US policies need to reflect the changes that are needed for the region - a philosophy of solidarity and not militarism.
The war in Iraq maybe a strategic folly on the part of the Bush Administration, but the effort can be salvaged.  American policies have directly influenced the creation of three new democracies in the region - Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine - all nations plagued by militant Islam.  However, the Iraqi incursion has given a cause to those militants behind which they can rally.  While these realities could be a new threat to the Middle East, they do not have to be.
The recent assassination of Rafik Hariri in Beirut has transformed the landscape the Middle East.  This blunder will inevitably drive Syria from Lebanon, whether the Syrians like it or not.  While Syria reels from the Lebanese backlash, Syria’s imperialism in other areas are beginning to backfire.  The recent bombing in Tel Aviv was claimed by the Damascus office of Islamic Jihad, now pushing Syria against the ropes.
Twenty people, 16 Lebanese and four Israelis, have been murdered either directly or indirectly by Syrian influence in the last two weeks, and produces an unprecedented opportunity running behind a tragic period of mourning in Lebanon and Israel.  For the first time in the history of the Middle East, Israelis, Palestinians, and Lebanese all face a common enemy.  A meddling tyrant rules in Damascus in the presence of Bashar al-Assad.  He has supported terrorism that has undermined the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and lengthened a senseless conflict.
Citizens of all three countries who want progressive change need to recognize what is in the making and seize the day.  Most all of the 13 million people who live in these countries are sick of occupation, tension, and the stressfully constant threat of imminent war.  The younger generation of the Middle East is fed up with a status quo of conflict, and has its grandest chance to unite for a common cause.  Progressive pluralism can become the biggest threat to Syria ever, and will drive Syria from its imperialism of its neighboring nations.

But, Syria is not the only tyrannical power in the region.  Far more dangerous, is the ideological theocrats of Tehran.  The Iranians have also funded terrorist organization to attack Israel that are continuing to harm the peace process.  Iran has as much Israeli blood on its hands as do the Syrians, and their greater desire to create a fundamental-Islamist Middle East threatens the progress of a region in dire of need of reform.
Contrary to this “Islamotopian” desire by the Iranians, is a very young and angry generation of Iranians who resent the oppressive regime.  Human and civil rights abuses plague the country.  Criticism from international organizations frequently points out discrimination against Jewish, Christian, and Bahá’í minorities, imprisonment and silencing of political opponents, and the abusive use of the death penalty on children.
Iranians are also fed up of the status quo, yet have no outlet through which they can voice their frustration.  Now, oratory from President Bush puts the most committed progressives in Iran in jeopardy.  Further rhetoric that could be seen as militarily threatening to Iran would be more demeaning to the disillusioned of the Iranian populous.  Spitting conjecture about war would destroy anti-governmental sentiment in the country, and detriment the opportunities Iranians now have to bring change to that country themselves.
What the Bush Administration needs to realize is that they have two clear options if they want to change the regime of Tehran.  They will either have a hostile Iran that will hate the US for bombing its country and having a corrupt government; or, there will be a rise of progressivism in Iran through encouragement to rise up peacefully rather than overt statements that the war option “is on the table.”  Mr. Bush knows his reputation is a stained one internationally, and his words can become misconstrued is they are too ambiguous.  What needs to happen is not talk of solidarity with the Iranian people from the bureaucrats of American politics, but from the concerned citizens of the United States.
In the spirit of social movements witnessed in recent history, Americans from college campuses to its cities have to demonstrate in support of the oppressed millions in Iran.  External pressure from the Western governments does not bring with it a sense of trust.  However, a loud and legitimate voice from the masses of the US would be seen as a green light by Iranians throughout that country to commit themselves to change.
Iranians fear for themselves following the government’s latest efforts to suppress dissent.  Far and wide camaraderie from Westerners, and especially Americans, will be a light at the end of a dark tunnel of frustration, and would likely trigger efforts to bring change in Iran similar to the movement that hastened the Islamic Revolution 26 years ago.

Both Syria and Iran are threats to the world and stability of the Middle East.  Beyond the common rhetoric about supporting terrorism and nuclear proliferation, they are amongst the plainest of  criminal regimes on the planet.  The smallest of the Middle Eastern countries now have common ground on which to tread together, posing the biggest threat to Islamic militancy ever.  As well, the nations of the West have a chance to draw their citizens back into the political process by generating an exciting movement to support the peaceful liberation of Iran and other countries from oppressive dictatorship.  These prospects cannot be overlooked in that we may never see an opportunity like this again.