A disaster after 5 days? That is some geopolitical crystal ball. I wish they had taken this action in 1979 when I was in HS -Call of Duty: President Trump Edition
I just finished your piece on the history, geography, and current status of the conflict with Iran, and I have to tell you — it's the clearest, most coherent account I've read on the subject. I've consumed a lot of coverage on this, and yours is the first that left me feeling like I actually understand what's happening and why.
The way you wove together the historical context, the geography, and the present moment was masterful. This is exactly why Fast Forward matters. Thank you for doing this work so well.
Analysis that doesn't focus on the Shia Islamic theocracy that has ruled Iran for the past 47 years misses a huge part of the story, since that so directly bears on what has been their apocalyptic vision and goals. They march to a different drummer. (Similarly, it is a mistake to neglect the place of Orthodox Judaism in the governance of Israel, especially it present.)
Far and away the best synopsis I have read of what is going on in Iran, balanced, informed and insightful. With an occasional teaspoon of humor to help the tragedy go down. Thanks you.
Teresa, you may recall from our undergraduate days at UMass Amherst in the late 1970s, that the campus was alive with protests against the Shah of Iran. Students organized rallies, and the slogans were familiar: “Death to the Shah.” I even remember a "Death to the Shah Bake Sale" sponsored by one of the communist organizations on campus.
At the time, many American students saw the Shah as a corrupt dictator backed by Washington and assumed the revolution would bring something better. That assumption did not age well.
The monarchy fell, but what replaced it was not a liberal democracy. It was the Islamic Republic—a regime that would go on to repress women, jail dissidents, export revolution across the region, and define itself through hostility toward both Israel and the United States.
History has a cruel sense of irony.
Many Western liberals who marched against the Shah were motivated by genuine concerns about human rights and political freedom. But revolutions have a way of devouring the hopes that give birth to them.
The tragedy of modern Iran is that the people who marched for freedom in 1979 are still marching for it today.
Ah, yes, I do recall those protests, Brad. That's why it's so distressing that the Trump administration doesn't appear to have any plan, short-term or long-term, to work with opposition leaders to restore democracy and hold elections. I don't think Trump really cares who rules Iran, no matter how brutal they are to the Iranian people, as long as they can't attack Israel.
How does it diminish in the least the significance of Iran's network of terrorist proxies that they aren't "news," that we have known they have operated as Iran's cats-paw widely throughout the ME, Europe, Africa, SA and beyond? The fact is that it doesn't, and diminishment of those proxy networks is one of the motivations for striking at Iran now when Iran and the proxies have been weakened. And we have enough munitions to blow up every theocratic despot they stand up, cult leader or not.
Maybe I missed it but, why after all these years of Fast Forward being complimentary to GLOBE digital subscribers, is there now a FEE to continue???? Always have enjoyed...
Hi David — I understand the confusion! Elizabeth is right: I retired from the Globe last October and made the decision to keep writing Fast Forward. I chose Substack because they make it really easy to compose and email newsletters. The Globe was gracious enough to let me take my subscriber list with me.
I mentioned in several FFs that since the Globe was no longer paying me to write it, I was going to start charging for some content on Feb. 1. My main weekly essay is free, but everything else is for subscribers willing to pay Substack’s minimum charge.
An excellent column but you fail to mention the event that precipitated this whole sequence, the CIA and MI6 collaborating to remove the democratically elected Mossadegh, replacing his government with that of the Pahlavi clan who were so repressive ( with US assistance).
the historical part you left out was how the u.s. and the u.k. overthrew the democratically elected prime minister of iran, mohammed mossadegh, in 1953, at the behest of the oil industry, and installed mohammed reza pahlavi as the new "friendly" ruler of the country. lots of repercussions down to today, when it looks like we might be doing it again.
It was on behalf of the British oil industry, right? Mosaddegh nationalized all of British Petroleum's assets in Iran because he saw Britain's exploitation of Iran's oil as an immoral plundering of the country's wealth. Britain, however, felt that the oil was rightfully theirs because they had discovered and extracted it at their expense. They blockaded Iranian ports and seized oil tankers. MI5 and the CIA orchestrated the overthrow of Mosaddegh and installed the Shah. Just disgraceful.
It was a fairly mundane situation getting into a hot war with the Iranians until Rump took over Venezuela. This spoiled the orange-suited child President of the USA. He thought Iran would bow the knee and kiss his ring. WRONG. Iran has dealt with conquering hordes for thousands of years. Do you think they will give up and lay down their weapons now? NO WAY.
This was excellent Teresa!!
One problem with saying the Iranian people have been “thrown to the wolves” is that wolves are already gnawing on the bones of the Iranian people.
share 🔊 Trump demands
unconditional surrender
https://ojaiohana.substack.com/p/video-trump-demands-unconditional?r=5chxge
A disaster after 5 days? That is some geopolitical crystal ball. I wish they had taken this action in 1979 when I was in HS -Call of Duty: President Trump Edition
https://torrancestephensphd.substack.com/p/call-of-duty-president-trump-edition
SO PAINFUL TO READ
SO WELL SYNTHESIZED
THANK YOU
Teresa,
I just finished your piece on the history, geography, and current status of the conflict with Iran, and I have to tell you — it's the clearest, most coherent account I've read on the subject. I've consumed a lot of coverage on this, and yours is the first that left me feeling like I actually understand what's happening and why.
The way you wove together the historical context, the geography, and the present moment was masterful. This is exactly why Fast Forward matters. Thank you for doing this work so well.
Elizabeth
Provincetown
Analysis that doesn't focus on the Shia Islamic theocracy that has ruled Iran for the past 47 years misses a huge part of the story, since that so directly bears on what has been their apocalyptic vision and goals. They march to a different drummer. (Similarly, it is a mistake to neglect the place of Orthodox Judaism in the governance of Israel, especially it present.)
Really helpful information Teresa! And cleverly written. Thank you!
Far and away the best synopsis I have read of what is going on in Iran, balanced, informed and insightful. With an occasional teaspoon of humor to help the tragedy go down. Thanks you.
Teresa, you may recall from our undergraduate days at UMass Amherst in the late 1970s, that the campus was alive with protests against the Shah of Iran. Students organized rallies, and the slogans were familiar: “Death to the Shah.” I even remember a "Death to the Shah Bake Sale" sponsored by one of the communist organizations on campus.
At the time, many American students saw the Shah as a corrupt dictator backed by Washington and assumed the revolution would bring something better. That assumption did not age well.
The monarchy fell, but what replaced it was not a liberal democracy. It was the Islamic Republic—a regime that would go on to repress women, jail dissidents, export revolution across the region, and define itself through hostility toward both Israel and the United States.
History has a cruel sense of irony.
Many Western liberals who marched against the Shah were motivated by genuine concerns about human rights and political freedom. But revolutions have a way of devouring the hopes that give birth to them.
The tragedy of modern Iran is that the people who marched for freedom in 1979 are still marching for it today.
Ah, yes, I do recall those protests, Brad. That's why it's so distressing that the Trump administration doesn't appear to have any plan, short-term or long-term, to work with opposition leaders to restore democracy and hold elections. I don't think Trump really cares who rules Iran, no matter how brutal they are to the Iranian people, as long as they can't attack Israel.
My latest on the topic. https://jewnewsreview.substack.com/p/the-war-with-iran-trump-cant-explain?r=lo3cj&utm_medium=ios
How does it diminish in the least the significance of Iran's network of terrorist proxies that they aren't "news," that we have known they have operated as Iran's cats-paw widely throughout the ME, Europe, Africa, SA and beyond? The fact is that it doesn't, and diminishment of those proxy networks is one of the motivations for striking at Iran now when Iran and the proxies have been weakened. And we have enough munitions to blow up every theocratic despot they stand up, cult leader or not.
Maybe I missed it but, why after all these years of Fast Forward being complimentary to GLOBE digital subscribers, is there now a FEE to continue???? Always have enjoyed...
Hi David — I understand the confusion! Elizabeth is right: I retired from the Globe last October and made the decision to keep writing Fast Forward. I chose Substack because they make it really easy to compose and email newsletters. The Globe was gracious enough to let me take my subscriber list with me.
I mentioned in several FFs that since the Globe was no longer paying me to write it, I was going to start charging for some content on Feb. 1. My main weekly essay is free, but everything else is for subscribers willing to pay Substack’s minimum charge.
I hope that clarifies the situation!
Thanks for reading, BTW. I appreciate it.
Teresa
Teresa no longer works at the Globe. She is out on her own and deserves all our support, so send those dollars in. :-)
An excellent column but you fail to mention the event that precipitated this whole sequence, the CIA and MI6 collaborating to remove the democratically elected Mossadegh, replacing his government with that of the Pahlavi clan who were so repressive ( with US assistance).
the historical part you left out was how the u.s. and the u.k. overthrew the democratically elected prime minister of iran, mohammed mossadegh, in 1953, at the behest of the oil industry, and installed mohammed reza pahlavi as the new "friendly" ruler of the country. lots of repercussions down to today, when it looks like we might be doing it again.
It was on behalf of the British oil industry, right? Mosaddegh nationalized all of British Petroleum's assets in Iran because he saw Britain's exploitation of Iran's oil as an immoral plundering of the country's wealth. Britain, however, felt that the oil was rightfully theirs because they had discovered and extracted it at their expense. They blockaded Iranian ports and seized oil tankers. MI5 and the CIA orchestrated the overthrow of Mosaddegh and installed the Shah. Just disgraceful.
Yes the US never intervenes for the benefit of anyone but itself.
GREAT column, Teresa!
It was a fairly mundane situation getting into a hot war with the Iranians until Rump took over Venezuela. This spoiled the orange-suited child President of the USA. He thought Iran would bow the knee and kiss his ring. WRONG. Iran has dealt with conquering hordes for thousands of years. Do you think they will give up and lay down their weapons now? NO WAY.
Just imagine what a free social democratic Iranian society could continue to contribute to the world.