UCD: War on Iran - What is the Truth Behind the Crisis?

by pat c Mon Feb 04, 2008 18:45

Torab is a member of Workers Left Unity:
http://www.etehadchap.org/english/

Articles by Torab:

The Class Nature of the Iranian Regime
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83485

Defiance grows
http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/671/iran.htm

by Mark C Mon Feb 04, 2008 22:42

Looks like an interesting talk. Any chance an mp3 of it will be available?

Mark.

by Tech1.0 Thu Feb 07, 2008 21:50

I'd really like to hear that lecture too as Torab was on the Pat Kenny radio show this morning and I have to say it was a very worrying interview.

A short list of some of those issues that I can remember from this mornings listen (I'll return with an RTE link after I've listened to it again)

Torab made it clear that he was very much disappointed with how economic sanctions against Iran were not working as some countries were still engaging economically with Iran. The mentioned countries were China and Russia. I needn't mention the consequences of such economic sanctions upon the people of Iran.

Kenny tried to minimise (in a highly un-empirical way) the record of the US supported and imposed brutal regime of the Shah with respect to the Islamic republic's record. While it was not expected that Torab would defend the present regime it was an open opportunity to mention how the Shah was imposed by a US/CIA/UK/Anglo-Iranian(BP) coup against the democratically elected democratic socialist Mossadegh in 1953*. Mossadegh was elected on the highly popular platform of nationalising Iran's own oil. Anglo-Iranian(BP), the CIA and the Americans were having none of it and a fledgling democracy was brutally expunged. The rest is history.

Another notable point made by Torab, near the end of the interview, was how he just didn't see regime change coming from within Iran. This was repeated a number of times.

http://www.mohammadmossadegh.com/

"There is no better way to govern Iran than Democracy and Social Justice!" -Mohammad Mossadegh

http://www.gwu.edu/%7Ensarchiv/iran/index.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9fJYck6PTM

Iranian Prime Minster Mohammad Mosaddeq being carried away by supporters outside the parliament building after an address on oil nationalization.

by Tech1.0 Thu Feb 07, 2008 23:54

The interview is available below. Click on the "Shows from the past week: Thursday" - and then move the slider to 28mins in.

http://www.rte.ie/radio1/todaywithpatkenny/

by pat c Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:35

Tech I fear you may have misintereted what Torab said. He is opposed to any sanctions against Iran. The point he was making is that despite their public bluster many countries are continuing to do secret deals with Iran.

Torab also fully believes that change must come from within and below in Iran. He made that very clear at the public meeting on Wednesday night. Torab opposes any US intervention and spoke about the developing mass movements among workers, students and women in Iran. Torab sees those as the agents of change.

Torab pointed out how the Shahs father had seized power with the help of White Russians and the British after the Russian Revolution. Torab however also pointed out that while 500 political prisoners died under the Shar, at least 40,000 political prisoners have died under the Mullahs.

Thanks for posting the PK link.

If anyone is in any doubt regarding Torabs views regarding change from within, sanctions or the Shahs Regime then I suggest you read these articles:

The Class Nature of the Iranian Regime
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83485

Defiance grows
http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/671/iran.htm

by Joe Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:40

I think you might have heard what you expected to Tech.

On the sanctions he was making the point that they were a preparation for war rather than designed to damage the regime

On change he said it wasn't going to come within the current constitutional set-up which is not the same thing as calling for outside intervention.

I'm inclined to think though that not much useful was done with the interview though in terms of building opposition to a probable war - he failed to put forward any direct argument against US intervention which I'd have thought would have been the main purpose of getting the airtime.

by pat c Fri Feb 08, 2008 13:59

There is a limited amount of info you can get across in an interview which lasts 20 odd minutes. Torab made clear his opposition to war but also attempted to put imperialist intervention in Iran in a historical context. If you had attended the meetings you would have heard a lot more as he had additional time to develop his points.

Torab is in no doubt that the main enemy is US Imperialism while also calling for the overthrow of the existing Iranian regime. Torab sees the emeging mass movement of workers, students and womens rights activists as the agent of change.

Again, I suggest you consult the articles by Torab and Yassamine Mather regarding the politics of Workers Left Unity.