Where it all Began...

 

Yesterday was Patriot Day. The 11th anniversary of the cold blooded attack on our country by nineteen radicalized Middle Eastern men. Our day of tribute, of remembrance, turned into a day of reality as once again some of our Middle East embassies came under attack. As our flag was desecrated and burned, four innocent people, including our Ambassador to Libya, were murdered in cold blood. How did we get here? How did this ever get started?

It all started with a place which once was known as Persia. In the sixties and early seventies, modern day Persia, Iran, was an important ally of the United States. Our relationship was strong - so strong we had signed a contract to sell some "blue water" Naval ships to Iran. The Shah of Iran ordered four modern destroyers (USS Kidd vintage) from us as well as the associated combat systems. I had just started working at Sperry Univac in Eagan. One of the buildings off campus was for international programs and it was crawling with Iranians learning to operate the very complicated combat systems Sperry had designed. The Iranians I had contact with were polite, professional and anxious to learn. Nothing like what you see on the news today.

However, our relationship with the Shah was a bit like dancing with the devil. We needed that strong presence to counterbalance the Soviets in the Persian Gulf, but the Shah could be brutal to his own people. As with many monarchs or dictators, peace was kept with an iron fist. As the Shah was secular, many in the Islamic "grass roots" movement were not - and that was the fertile ground where the revolution really began.

In January of 1979, after two years of crippling civil disobedience, the Shah saw the writing on the wall, abdicated his rule, and went into exile. His government was abolished and replaced with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenini. Anything that was associated with the Shah was considered corrupt and dealt with quickly. The men going through training at Sperry Univac suddenly found their status changed from guests to exiles from their homeland. The Iranian ship contract was nullified and the assets were assigned to the United States Navy.

The United States kept it's embassy open in Iran and attempted to work with the new government. On November 4, 1979 a group of Islamic students and militants stormed the embassy and took 52 Americans, including our ambassador, hostage for 444 days. As we remember from our history, this brazen move took our country by surprise. Our president was unable to quickly react to this crisis and how it was subsequently handled helped determine the outcome of the next election. Once the hostages were finally released, our relationship with Iran was never the same - in fact it has worsened.
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Over the past thirty years we have seen many changes in the Middle East. Many of the dictatorial "keepers of the peace" have been swept aside by either execution or the Arab Spring. What has replaced them for the most part have been theocracies. Yesterday we saw the results of a theocratic change. Governments, once secular, are now powerless to control populations who are fervent in their religion.

Our presence in that part of the world has become alien - many there do not understand us and we no longer understand them. Many do not want us there as friends or even trading partners. The relationship has become so strained, it is truly amazing it has taken this long for another embassy incident.

I believe it is time to do a major rethink on why we are in that part of the world. We need a reclama - a big one. Many hate us, most don't trust us. In fact, we are referred to by some as "The Great Satan". Since Isaac and Ishmael battled in ancient times, our Judeo-Christian and Islamic faiths have been at odds more than once. Many Muslims still remember us and refer to us as Crusaders from events that happened almost a thousand years ago.

Our current Administration has tried apology and appeasement - neither has worked very well. Our former Administration believed in engagement - and that worked to rid the world of Saddam Hussein and bring a very shaky democracy to Iraq. Despite some diplomatic gains which have been made, many in the Middle East believe the caliphate has begun - and that is a party to which we are not invited, nor wanted.

So this is how I believe our current Middle East problems started. There are other complications which have further stressed our relationships. How this will end is anybody's guess. Many Christians believe the table is being set for Armageddon. With a nuclear Iran close to reality, that very well could be true. What I do know is this - in that boiling cauldron, Israel stands in the gap not only for them, but also for us. If Israel falls, we are next. We MUST stand with Israel.