Persian Heri tage Persian Heritage Vol. 24, No. 94 Summer 2019 www.persian-heritage.com FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK 6 Persian Heritage, Inc. 110 Passaic Avenue LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 8 Passaic, NJ 07055 A Precious Gift 9 E-mail: [email protected] NEWS Telephone: (973) 471-4283 Fax: 973 471 8534 Sadaf Khadem, Iranian Female Boxer 10 The Edinburgh Iranian Festival 12 EDITOR SHAHROKH AHKAMI COMMENTARY EDITORIAL BOARD Who Owns Iran’s Oil? 13 Dr. Mehdi Abusaidi, Shirin Ahkami (Khosrow B. Semnani) Raiszadeh, Dr. Mahvash Alavi Naini, Mohammad Bagher Alavi, Dr. Talat The Middle East: A 20th Century Neologism... 16 Bassari, Mohammad H. Hakami, Ardeshir Lotfalian, K. B. Navi, Dr. (Mohammad Ala) Kamshad Raiszadeh, Farhang A. Sadeghpour, Mohammad K. Sadigh, M. A. Dowlatshahi. 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I delayed my writing for as long as possible with Kuwait. He wanted to show the United States the power because I was anxiously waiting for the news from Iran. Iran of his military and leadership. Using inaccurate statistics, the is, as we know, a country in turmoil and on the brink of a pos- then United State Secretary of State Colin Powell was able sible war with the superpowers of the world. We have been to convince the United Nations that an invasion of Iraq was publishing Persian Heritage for twenty-four years. Most of justified. There were many counter arguments heard from my editorials have addressed my deepest concerns for Iran Iraq’s Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz. The result was the invasion and Iranians due to the rhetoric coming from Iran’s present and the complete devastation of Iraq. The invasion was led regime. It is the same worrisome war mongering rhetoric we by General Schwarzkopf of the United States, who ironically have heard for the past forty years, post the Iranian revolution. had spent his adolescents growing up in Iran. Saddam ended I understand my comments on the editorial pages are up in a hole, only to be found and dragged out months later. repetitive. I also understand that to some of my dear readers, To the present day, the damage and the destruction endured my words are boring and discouraging. But, because of the by the Iraqis at the hands of the invaders remains visible. The continuous disheartening events encircling Iran and its people, outcome resulted in Iraq’s division into three parts, under one I am compelled to share my deepest feelings, emotions and flag!!!??? thoughts with you, my dear readers. Today the Ayatollahs in Iran are using similar rhetoric In my editorials, I admit I criticize individuals, just as I in defying the world superpowers. The problem facing these am criticized in other publications and or “Letters to the Edi- Ayatollahs is that their rhetoric is not supported by the Iranian tor.” This is called Freedom of Speech, a right and privilege people or the rest of the world. The hope of success for the we have by living in the United States. My writings are my Ayatollahs was the backing of Russia and China. However, opinions. It is unfortunate that some readers who disagree it was not too long ago that Mr. Putin stated that he will not with MY OPINION AND CRITICISM, rename my words as act like a fire department to extinguish the fire that will burn HATE SPEECH. They have tried to make me a public enemy Iran down. This language was unsettling for the Iranian lead- and have negatively labeled me. While these unjustified inter- ers. They finally understood that this “so called” friendship pretations by some emotionally hurt me, they will not change was no “friendship” at all. It was a one-sided relationship that or weaken my opinions when it comes to addressing the abused Iranians by spending billions of Iranian currency on devastation and turmoil the people of Iran are encountering. building nuclear power plants for energy, sales of the Missiles Having said that I do not want to lose perspective on the S-300 that were never delivered and the use of Iranian military current important issue, which is that we are living in a very bases. Finally, they realized that their “so called allies” were dangerous time and the possibility of war between Iran and not and are not going to back Iran in the event of a war with the United States is imminent. the United States. Perhaps the Ayatollahs have forgotten how For many years, I have been an avid reader and con- these same allies were a friend to the enemy of Iran, Saddam tinue to educate myself on the foreign policies of the world Hussein. After 40 years, these Iranian leaders continue not superpowers and the implementation of their policies against to understand the true meaning of leadership. They know Iran and other countries. The current state of affair between only how to rob Iran of its valuable assets, transfer them to the United States and Iran reminds me of Saddam Hossein personal accounts to international banks outside of Iran, when who, because of his own ego, engaged in an eight-year war these assets could be used to ease the suffering of its citizens. with Iran; a war that resulted in the death or severe injury of In the US and other developed countries there is a drive over one million Iranians, five hundred thousand Iraqis, the to make something out of yourself. Becoming successful is destruction of the province of Khouzestan, the cities of Abadan encouraged. Many Diaspora Iranians have worked hard, sac- and Khorramshahr, the devastation of farm and industrial in- rificed and have made names for themselves in many profes- dustries and the ruin of economic and human livelihood. But sions. They have earned their financial success in an honest Saddam did not learn his lesson. Right after the statement of manner not through embezzlement and stealing assets from Ayatollah Khomeini agreeing to a cease fire to end the eight- the people of Iran. They have not profited from the sanctions year war, ‘’Taking this decision was more deadly than taking placed on Iran; they have not profited the grievances endured 6 No. 94 F R O M T H E E D I T O R ’ S D E S K by the people of Iran. The sanctions placed on Iran by the Gulf) stated that the Hawkish members of the present United United States and other countries have only helped aid the States administration are using too strong a rhetoric against the corrupt system in Iran. They have assisted the regime leaders Iranian people and not directing it at the Iranian government, and their children (Agha Zadeh) in buying luxury cars and this is dangerous. This rhetoric is turning American opinion buildings. They have assisted in making the poor poorer and against the people of Iran and not at the ruling Ayatollahs. the Iranian middle-class disappear. Iranians are double victims. They have been victimized How many times must it be said before we all understand by an abusive government and victimized by a world who are the level of poverty plaguing Iran? According to the latest not educated on Iran, Iranians and its history.