White House increase Ahmadinejad's credibility in Iran. But Ahmadinejad also represents a trend that is taking place throughout the Middle East. He is part of the same process ThaT has brought Hamas to office in Palestine and includes Muqtada al-Sadr in Iraq and, to a certain extent, Hizbollah in Lebanon. organising allong urban poor, trying to meet the basic material needs of people as far as possible and generally adopting very moacol, even austere, life styles. They provide a clear contrast to the wealthy, frequently corrupt figures favoured by western In essence Blair's view is that Britain, the US and a few other 'reliable' powers have a right to nuclear power and weapons while denying others any such right. We should denounce this attitude for what it is - racist, imperialist arrogance. leaders.
Ahmadinejad and the other forces all speak in the name of Islam and this has proved a powerful rallying point. It would be very foolish to dismiss the role of religion in building their support but it would be equally foolish to ignore the very real work they have done in the slums of the region to improve the material lives of the poor, work which ultimately has allowed them consolidate and increase their influence among the urban poor.
Charitable concern for the plight of the dispossessed is perfectly compatible with Islam. Indeed Islam demands such charity from its adherents. However, to go beyond alleviating suffering requires a challenge to the structure of society, at both national and international levels.
Ahmadinejad, Hamas and the others have not shown an ability to go beyond radical Islam and develop a programme to challenge international capitalism. They risk ending up in the same mire of corruption and brutality as Rafsanjani, Fatah, Talabani and co. Launching repressive campaigns around social or moral issues is a more likely choice than developing an alternative to global capitalism.
And just as, in a certain sense, the US and Ahmadinejad
governeal need each other to justify themselves, this is true of the other movements - in particular the relationship between the Israeli government and Hamas.
Nevertheless all these movements have been subjected to vitriolic attacks by western governments and media. Their fear that radical developments in one state may affect others is certainly
Ties between Iran and Ical. Hizbollah are long standing but new developments are taking place. Ahmadinejad's election has already had an impact in parts of southern Iraq where Shia authorities are refusing to cooperate with the British occupying forces and pro-Iranian sentiments are growing.
It is this fear of the spread of organised radical currents among the urban poor that most alarms Washington and London. Militarily both are severelv overstretched to contemplate an invasion of Iran. For the moment, therefore, they continue to ratchet up the invective cover Iran's nuclear programme. campaign demanding sanctions against Iran. I his campaign is breathtaking in its hypocrisy.
Blair is widely believed to be in favour of a massive expansion of the British nuclear industry. He also believes Britain should nuclear weapons. But Iran, which is encircled by nuclear-armed states, should not be allowed nuclear technology because it might use develop weapons.
The Iranian government is doing nothing illegal attempting to develop nuclear power. There is absolutely no evidence that Iran is anywhere near being able to produce nuclear weapons Western intelligence agencies will, no doubt, some day come up with 'proof' and Bush and Blair, arrogant as ever, will expect us all to forget that their 'proof oI Saddam's weapons of mass destruction turned out to be a pack of lies.
In essence Blair's view is that Britain, the US and a few other 'reliable' powers have a right to nuclear power and weapons while denying others any such right. We should denounce this attitude for what it is - racist, imperialist arrogance.
Iran has as much right to develop nuclear power and nuclear weapons as Britain, the US, Russia or Israel (whose nuclear capabilities are never called into question in western capitals.). We do not and cannot support Iran (or any stale) exercising thal right but, while the major imperialist JUWCLS have nuclear capability, then we will have no truck with the hypocrisy that the west can decide who will or won't be allowed to develop technologies.
Until Bush and Blair give up their nuclear weapons and SLall dismantle their nuclear power stations then they have no right whatsoever to demand Tehran abandons its nuclear programme
(This article is indebted to the excellent 'Mid-point in the Middle East?' by Tariq Ali In New Lett Review 38 March-April 2006).