All in all, it makes sense for Iran to proffer cooperation with the United States, and promptly step back if the offer is (inevitably) declined. The world will watch the West -- led by the US -- get mired in another self-destructive military intervention.
Now, as a futurist, let me proffer two basic-level wildcard scenarios (the other scenarios cost a cool fee):
Wildcard Surprise 1:
In a move that would shock the world into a state of incredulous catatonia, the West, led by the US/UK, decides to solve this moral dilemma -- and appease the J-5 -- by blaming Iran for this crisis.
There is a precedent for this hypothetical madness. ALL concerned MENA nations that had supplied top-notch intelligence on Al Qaeda in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 were subsequently targeted for regime change, destabilization and/or destruction. Cases in point: Iraq (2002), Libya (2010), Syria (2011) and Iran (ongoing). Two of these nations were subsequently gathered under the "Axis of Evil" in George W. Bush's 2002 State of the Union Speech, and later speeches. No J-5 nation was mentioned in the 2002 speech although Pakistan was singled out for exceptional praise.
"Many nations are acting forcefully. Pakistan is now cracking down on terror, and I admire the strong leadership of President Musharraf."
There was tremendous applause, most likely choreographed a la North Korea. We know how Pakistan's anti-terror resolve turned out under the "strong leadership of Musharraf." Did the same august company of US Congressmen and Senators also applaud when more than 164 Indians, including women and children, were massacred in cold blood on 26/11?
What about nations directly involved in 9/11 planning and funding? How did they fare?
Well, ALL
MENA nations that supplied hijackers on 9/11 were rewarded with new arms
deals and/or additional security guarantees. From being the "good guys,"
they progressed to be even better "good guys". Republican presidential
candidate Mitt Romney even singled out "Saudi Arabia and Qatar" as "our allies"
-- with pride -- when he pilloried Obama for not doing enough to aid
rebels who were
fighting for "freedom
and democracy" against
the Assad government.
These are the "rebels" who have strewn the streets of Aleppo, Damascus, Mosul and a host of other cities with decapitated heads, dismembered limbs, and raped women and children. Churches and Christians were particularly targeted. Raping and murdering Syrian Christian women hardly raised a whimper of concern in the US Congress, Senate and White House or anywhere else in the citadels of power in the West.
Out of the total 19 hijackers, Saudi Arabia produced a whopping 15, UAE (2), Egypt (1) and Lebanon (1). Other nations that were deeply involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks may have been surprised that they were earmarked for US arms and foreign aid bonanza instead of military retaliation. These included Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and of course, Pakistan, among others.
It got even more insane. George W. Bush re-branded himself an evangelist for Sunni Islam and equated it with Christianity -- a trait shared by other Republicans.
As the American philosopher Eric Hoffer once noted after observing his fellow countrymen: "Those who bite the hand that feeds them, licks the boot that kicks them."
That sums up the United States, in my opinion.
Wildcard Surprise 2: After Iran is threatened in a pathetic attempt to appease militant Sunni Islam, Russia decides to send armaments and advisors to Iran. And possibly troops. In fact, there is a small probability that even China might do likewise but on a more subtle scale. But this is contingent on Wildcard Surprise 1 and other variables that I will leave aside for the moment.
@Copyright 2014 Mathew Maavak
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