Iran 1 West 0
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
I just saw that the Iranians have released new pics of the Brit captives, the capture of whom should have led, according to Israeli justifications for the July war, to a large-scale invasion of Iran by the UK -- although technically a strike is still not out of the question, nevertheless, it has not happened yet and we can only base our analyses on what has happened.I read the whole Brit captive affair along three tracks:
1) The domestic Iranian track, i.e. purely for Iranian public consumption;
2) The regional track, i.e. a subtle threat about what may come if USA (or anyone else) attacks Iran;
3) The international/global track, i.e. the image of Iran.
The first track seems to be playing smoothly so far, in so far as it is aimed to boost the confidence and pride of the Iranian people in the face of the psychological war that is being waged against the country. Its primary objective is to alleviate the fears of the Iranian people in the face of a looming strike. We cannot be sure if the second track will be as effective, but granted the risks associated with a strike on Iran (and hopefully the awareness of these risks by Bush, Blair, & co. -- something I am not betting on), it will have some impact, at least in terms of psychological warfare and its transformation of public opinion in the west. On the other hand, this incident has been utilized by some as a "proof" that Iran is a bully and must be put in its right place. Which takes me to the third point -- the image of Iran in the world, and especially in public opinion around the globe. While the incident itself at first was highly denounced, public opinion has gradually calmed down and has been reassured, through those photos (despite the trumpets of war sounding from some "houses" ahem...), of the welfare of the soldiers and the possibility of their release via diplomatic channels. The Iranians' release of photos every few days or so is meant to serve as a reminder of this fact to the world, and lays to waste much of the hyped-up hysteria of a genocidal Iran (once again the "they're going to throw us into the sea" myth comes in handy), along with the attempts at readying public opinion for a strike. The image of an Iran that has been represented in vicious terms in Western media is challenged by the image of an Iran that treats its captives "like kings" (even giving them chess boards and serving them fruit)... It's a bit of a hyperbole (!) I know, but it is good enough to score some points! At the end of the day, in terms of public opinion, it is not "reality" that matters as much as the psychological impact of images.
Nice track suits too... hahaha... (at the risk of sounding ignorant and heartless) I'm having too much fun with this.
Iran 1 West 0
posted by Angry Anarchist @ 4/03/2007 07:50:00 PM,
8 Comments:
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At April 4, 2007 at 5:19 AM,
said...
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So far as I know, no hard evidence has yet been offered as to just where that gunboat happened to be when it was apprehended. Lots of claims, yes. Evidence, no.
And as I recently wrote, neither side in this dispute is particularly trustworthy:
http://homepage.mac.com/n5jrn/blog/2007/04.html#02202718 -
At April 4, 2007 at 3:48 PM,
Puppeteer said...
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Yes, they seem confortable enough playing (Irani) chess and enjoying a soda on the Farisi carpet. Reminds me of a trend once in Yemeni captives which were fed mansaf and qat.
Nevertheless, I'm not sure all Irani prisoners enjoy the same treatment, as US prisoners in GITMO and Abu Ghreb. Or second class Third World citizens are more habitualised with cruelty and violence, so no point in giving them rights? -
At April 4, 2007 at 7:22 PM,
Angry Anarchist said...
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Um well in case you will notice my point was completely removed from the treatment of Iranian prisoners (or Syrian ones for that matter... ahem) and had to do with Iran's foreign policy (more or less)...
But I am sure that there will always be those who will have nothing better to do than yell foul play at this analysis, because it does not give a "balanced" view (balance my arse). Well my dear Puppeteer, I am sure you know that the pro-Western Shah's regime (a fan of which the so-called Iranian opposition undoubtedly IS) was in fact a dozen times worse than the current regime's violations of human rights. Or Islamists are "deserving victims" but women, gay people "undeserving victims"? -
At April 4, 2007 at 8:48 PM,
Puppeteer said...
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Ooops, missed a point!
What I mean is the same as an article published in the Guardian, I think, which ridiculised the so called "human-rights" violation concern of all Western human rights rapists (US springs to mind). I'll send a link, quite funny, in a tragic way. -
At April 4, 2007 at 8:52 PM,
Puppeteer said...
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Ok, here is the article:
Call That Humiliation? -
At April 5, 2007 at 3:51 AM,
What is "Occupation" said...
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interesting, no pics or signs of any of the 3 israelis that the iranian proxys hold...
almost a year, not one visit by the red cresent, not one sign the JEWS or ISRAELIS are live...
yet Iran is soooo in tune with justice... -
At April 7, 2007 at 3:11 PM,
Angry Anarchist said...
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Uh oh, I think we have a clone of What is Occupation, folks!
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At April 8, 2007 at 10:29 PM,
said...
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Another specimen speaking in monosylabus? (ya3ni 7aywan?) ;)
