Jihad Against the Great Satan

Islamic War on the United States

Most Americans have no idea why the Muslim world hates the U.S. The average person dismisses the fatwas of Mullahs or Imams as the judgment of unreasonable wackos upon a peaceful and just country. Western conservatives point to the political and economic success of the U.S. as the impetus behind Islam's Jihad. An equally simplistic response comes from many liberals: Islamic hate comes from the U.S. exerting hegemony in underpriviliged parts of the world. Although all three of these ideas have merit, there's more, much more to the story.

Forty years of U.S. foreign-relations were dictated by international Cold War defense policy. The government seemed to an all's fair in love and war against communism approach and allies were found without consideration for their in-home policies. Many excused the U.S. government because the 'sins' of the allies paled in comparison to the threat of communism. For current generations living in the Arab and Persian world, this backdrop is our track-record. Every president includes peace in his Middle-East master plan, talking the talk and posturing for the global community. But actions speak louder than words. Iran is a perfect case-study.

When the Soviet Union had strong ties to most of the middle-east, the U.S. was desperate for an ally in the oil-rich desert sands. The Shah of Iran wanted to westernize his country, and took a pro-Israel position. This was the will of his people and by the mid-1970s opposition parties were growing. By 1977 the Shah was said to be worth billions of dollars, while the people of Iran lived like peasants. In 1978 Amnesty International estimated that 2,200 political prisoners were jailed in Iran. The U.S. found itself propping up the regime of a dictator.

The Shah fled to Cairo during the Iranian Revolution and was replaced by a religious leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini, who instituted a Muslim theocracy.