Michael Sauers
June 24, 2025
Iran and the United States have a history. Like all histories it is complicated and subject to interpretations. However, there is much solid evidence from which we can draw understandings and conclusions.
Many politicians, such as, Senator Lindsey Graham, and many major media outlets like to begin U.S. and Iranian history on November 4, 1979. This is when a student led rebellion took over the American Embassy in Tehran in a direct reproach to decades long U.S. interference in Iranian affairs including support for the brutal dictator, Shah Pahlavi. (Shah of Iran) This is insulting to those of us who know differently and a disservice to those who are history/perspective challenged.
In 1953, the American CIA, along with other co-conspirators, overthrew Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh and restored the Shah Pahlavi to power. This was because Mosaddegh had nationalized Iran’s most valuable asset, oil, and capitalist oil companies could not tolerate this. As a consequence the Shah of Iran ruled with an iron fist resulting in tens of thousands of Iranian citizens being detained, questioned, beaten, tortured and killed. This was done with the full knowledge of the American government. WE DID THAT.
In 1957, the United States gave the Iranians technical assistance and nuclear technology which they have parlayed into their present state of nuclear technology development, nuclear technology development that we now criticize. WE DID THAT.
In the 1980’s the U.S. assisted Saddam Hussein through a “dual-use” program whereby Saddam used Sarin and Tabun gases against Iranian civilians. Tens of thousands of civilians were killed. Tens of thousands of civilians are still suffering. WE DID THAT.
There is much more but it is easy to see why Iran does not trust us.
Now, the history of Palestinians and Israelis does not begin on October 7, 2024. It is painful to believe/accept that so many “informed” and “educated” people ignore a very torturous and lethal dispute that began many decades earlier. Both the Israelis and the Palestinians have committed atrocities. This is easy to research.
October 7, 2024 was a horrendous day. Hamas attacked and killed over a thousand Israeli citizens. Others were taken hostage. In retaliation, Israel launched an attack on Gaza that has brutally killed between 60,000 and several hundred thousand Palestinians. Many of the dead are children. It can only be described as genocide although Israel is dancing around that label. We supply Israel with billions of dollars in aid, much of which is used to purchase American made WMD. We supply Israel with veto cover at the United Nations. WE DID/DO THAT.
To understand the hatred and animosity one must go back 200 hundred years. Patiently, studiously and impartially research “suicide bombers”, “Hamas shelling”, “Deir Yassin massacre”, “Sabra massacre”, “Shatilia massacre”, “Hezbollah”, “Yemen”, “Ariel Sharon”, “Yasser Arafat”, “Mier Kahane”, “Gaza”, “West Bank”, “illegal settlements”, “international criminal law”, “Menachem Begin”, “Baruch Goldstein”, “Zionism”, “Hebron”, “Susya”, “terrorist Organizations”, “United Nations”, “Nakba”, “Netanyahu”, “AIPAC”, “American funding/supplying weapons to Israel”, no international press aloud in Gaza, etc. and you will begin to understand.
There is much more but it is easy to see why the Middle East does not trust us.
We (citizens of the world) need to get a grip on reality. Children, just like our children and grandchildren are dying in the most horrific ways. Take the time. Do some research. Talk to family/friends. Write letters. Talk to your elected representatives. Do not accept historical and factual misrepresentations from Congress/Presidents.
This problem has a solution. It is us speaking out!