Double standard policy

Iran has always said that one of the main problems with the West is that those countries apply a double standard policy towards Tehran and other Muslim states. The Israeli nuclear program is the leading example. If Tel Aviv develops an atomic bomb is OK but if Iran shows interest in doing the same is bad. Anyway during these days Iran is showing a very similar approach which shows that politics is about interests and not about absolute values.

The Supreme Leader and President Ahmadineyad reacted in a very positive way to the changes in Egypt. They praised the Egyptian people efforts to get rid of Mubarak, even though they were not very successful since the Head of the Intelligence Services and the Minister of Defense are in charge. A typical case of Gatopardism, the president left the power and there is a promise of constitutional reforms and free elections but there is still a long way ahead.

But at the same time the Iranian regime choose to toughen the policy toward the opposition leaders and the citizens that request some changes in Iran. So we can add a new example to the double standard policy in the Middle East.

Ahmadineyad, the Iranian "Che Guevara"

Wikileaks cables, as the one you can see here, demostrate that Israeli and American officials are pretty aware of the limitations of the so called Iranian influence in Latin America. It´s hard to find in our countries many citizens who know for sure where is Iran or the foundations of its political and cultural life. But the Iranian-bogeyman card is showed everywhere even though in private meetings they recognize it´s almost impossible to compare Iran with other countries, especially when the diferencies are so obvious. Do you imagine Latin American girls dancing Samba wearing a chador?

AHMADINEJAD FINDING IT HARD TO GARNER SUPPORT ABROAD

13. (S) Regarding Ahmadinejad's efforts to build alliances with leaders in Latin America and Asia, the MFA official said that he has reached out to the developing world through his outlandish statements on the Holocaust. He is viewed as a hero by some in the Arab world, and leftists in Latin America support him. The problem for Ahmadinejad, the official observed, is that the friction between the Sunnis and Shia is at its height due to Iraq. Leaders of the Arab world are also worried that Hizballah might steal the show in Lebanon.

Ahmadinejad is working hard but is facing obstacles in developing diplomatic support for his stance. The IDI officer said that Ahmadinejad is having problems getting support from "people in the street" in Latin America. Those people do not share his comparison of the Iranian Revolution and their revolutions. According to the MFA official, the Iranian Government recently hosted a conference in Tehran aimed at comparing the Latin American and Iranian revolutions. One of the invited guests was Che Guevara's daughter, who used her speech to criticize the Iranian Revolution and make clear that her father's ideas were very different from those propagated by Iran's revolutionary mullahs. Some of the Latin American leaders are also wary of his attempts to reach out to their peoples. They see it as a challenge to their power. The IDI officer said Israel is concerned about "opaque Hizballah / Al Qods Force activity" in Latin America. He did not elaborate.

A new blog on Iran!

Dear readers,

I´ve reunning a blog on Iranian issues in Spanish for the last two years (http://www.noticiasdeiran.com/), so based on this experience I think it´s time to begin publishing in English now. I don´t think a new blog is needed but I feel that we can fill a gap regarding news dealing with the relations between Iran and Latin America (hopeful or frightening links???).

Anyway, here you´ll find news, commentaries and opinions on what has been called "the worrisome Iranian influence" or what I´d call "a non traditional extra regional influence in Latin America". It´s a humble way to put our two cents in the issue.

Last but not least, as you probably noticed, English is not my mother tongue so you´ll find some mistakes on grammar and vocabulary, but please don´t focus on them but on the ideas I write. Don´t worry, I promise I´ll keep on eye on my ESL books to improve bit by bit!

Paulo