Shalom, Mr Ahmadinejad

[Aemilius Paulus]

So being a friend to America makes domestic human rights abuses acceptable? Well that's just fine and dandy! Batista, Pinochet, Karzai, come in from the cold! All is forgiven!

Of course it is fine, even with the notorious SAVAK that the Shah instituted. America supported all three that you mentioned, and the Shah. Do not be naive, Subotan, and I know you are not, but do not even joke about it. I see nothing wrong, from a political perspective, of America preferring an oppressive, but friendly regime to a more liberal, but hostile regime.

I myself, actually, to some degree, support the old Shah. I read a great deal about him and his policies. He aspired to do to Iran what Ataturk did to Turkey, although his methods were not always so idealistic. He was a great seculariser, and he steered his nation on a course of Western culture, free of the oppressive burden of modern-day Islam. You, as a fellow atheist, should at least give him a bit of credit for that.

Plus, it is not as if the current Iranian regime is noticeably freer than the past. Sure, no SAVAK, but still, as witnessed by this year's demonstrations and voting frauds, this theocracy is not much better. Although the people are happier, given their religion...

I would love to play fair, but no one else does.

Right. USSR did not even pretend to be fair - why should US?