06 09 12 - Robert Fisk: 'America's =ggression is fuelling extremism', says Iran's ex-president

Independent<=b> Published: 04 September 2006

By Robert Fisk in Chicago
As the West's "war on terror" burns across the =uslim world, one of Islam's most principled leaders - the former Iranian =resident Mohammad Khatami - issued a grave warning yesterday from the very heart =f America, the country whose troops and allies are fighting Islamists =cross the Middle East in a war that is costing thousands of Muslim lives. =o:p>

"The policies of the neo-conservatives have created a =ar that creates more extremists and radicals," he told The Independent =n Chicago. "The events of 9/11 gave them this ability to create fear =nd anxiety ... and to create new policies of their own and now events are =reating an expansion of extremists on both sides. A struggle is under way to =ominate this world multilaterally ... We are a witness to war - with suppression =rom one side and extremist reaction in the form of terror from the =ther."

Mr Khatami might appear an improbable figure in the =reakfast room of one of Chicago's smartest hotels, dressed in his black turban =nd long gown, his spectacles giving him t+he appearance of a university don - =hich he once was - rather than the seer of Iran, a man whose demands for a civil society and democracy at home were overwhelmed by the ascetic clerics =ho surround the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Yet he is enormously =mportant in the Sunni as well as the Shia Muslim worlds as a philosopher-scholar, =hich is probably why the Bush administration gave him a visa, and his message =as the sharpest he has ever delivered to the Muslim world and the secular =est.

The former president said: "We have to find ways to =onfront these people on both sides. We need public opinion to be influenced ... =nd now the neo-conservative policies have created this sort of =ar."

But Mr Khatami, who defended Iran's role in the nuclear =risis between the West and Tehran - he asked why Israel was allowed nuclear =eapons while refusing to sign the nuclear non-proliferation pact - did not =pare the perpetrators of what he called "the inhumane terrorist =ttacks" of 11 September 2001. "I was one of the first officials to condemn this =arbaric act ... this inferno would only intensify extremism and one-sidedness =nd would have no outcome except to retard justice and intellect and sacrifice righteousness and humanity," he said.

Addressing 15,000 American Muslims at the weekend, Mr =hatami also made a clear assault on the influence of Israel's political lobby =n the US. "We are unfortunately witnessing the emergence of policies that =eek to confiscate public opinion in order to exploit all the grandeur of the =ation and country of the United States ... policies that are the outcome of a =oint of view, that despite having no status in the US public arena as far as =umbers are concerned, uses decisive lobby groups and influential centres to =tilise the entirety of America's power and wealth to promote its own interest =nd to implant policies outside US borders that have no resemblance to the =pirit of Anglo-American civilisation and the aspirations of its Founding Fathers =r its constitution, causing crisis after crisis in our =orld."

When he spoke of "the vast and all-encompassing =resence of powers who express concern for the world but implement policies aimed at devouring the world," there was a sense of shock among his =udience. They had not expected such an epic denunciation of US hegemony from a divine =nown for his compassion rather than his anger.

"Any popular or democratic change or transformation =hat is outside the realm of their influence is not acceptable," he said, "for they find it far more convenient to deal with =on-nationalistic and non-popular trends and regimes rather than popular ones, who naturally =end to care about the welfare and the physical interests of their =eople."

Thus did Mr Khatami dispose of America's cry for "democracy" in the "new" Middle =ast.

Needless to say, his words were given scarcely a few =econds on America's major news channels. Mr Khatami's wisdom is not wanted in =ashington.

As the West's "war on terror" burns across the Muslim world, one of =slam's most principled leaders - the former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami = issued a grave warning yesterday from the very heart of =st1:country-region w:st="on">America, the country whose troops and =llies are fighting Islamists across the Middle =ast in a war that is costing thousands of Muslim lives. =o:p>

"The policies of the neo-conservatives have created a war that creates more extremists and radicals," he told The Independent in Chicago. "The events of 9/11 =ave them this ability to create fear and anxiety ... and to create new policies =f their own and now events are creating an expansion of extremists on both =ides. A struggle is under way to dominate this world multilaterally ... We are a witness to war - with suppression from one side and extremist reaction =n the form of terror from the other."

Mr Khatami might appear an improbable figure in the breakfast room of one =f Chicago's smartest hotels, dressed in his black turban and long gown, =is spectacles giving him t+he appearance of a university don - which he =nce was - rather than the seer of Iran, a man whose demands for a civil society =nd democracy at home were overwhelmed by the ascetic clerics who surround =he Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Yet he is enormously important in =he Sunni as well as the Shia Muslim worlds as a philosopher-scholar, which is =robably why the Bush administration gave him a visa, and his message was the =harpest he has ever delivered to the Muslim world and the secular =est.

The former president said: "We have to find ways to confront these people on =oth sides. We need public opinion to be influenced ... And now the =eo-conservative policies have created this sort of =ar."

But Mr Khatami, who defended Iran's role in the nuclear crisis between the West =nd Tehran - he asked why Israel was allowed nuclear weapons while refusing =o sign the nuclear non-proliferation pact - did not spare the perpetrators of =hat he called "the inhumane terrorist attacks" of 11 September 2001. =quot;I was one of the first officials to condemn this barbaric act ... this =nferno would only intensify extremism and one-sidedness and would have no =utcome except to retard justice and intellect and sacrifice righteousness and humanity," he said.

Addressing 15,000 American Muslims at the weekend, Mr Khatami also made a clear =ssault on the influence of Israel's political lobby in the US. "We are unfortunately witnessing the emergence of policies that =eek to confiscate public opinion in order to exploit all the grandeur of the =ation and country of the United States ... policies that are the outcome of a =oint of view, that despite having no status in the US public arena as far as =umbers are concerned, uses decisive lobby groups and influential centres to =tilise the entirety of America's power and wealth to promote its own interest =nd to implant policies outside US borders that have no resemblance to the =pirit of Anglo-American civilisation and the aspirations of its Founding Fathers =r its constitution, causing crisis after crisis in our =orld."

When he spoke of "the vast and all-encompassing presence of powers who =xpress concern for the world but implement policies aimed at devouring the world," there was a sense of shock among his audience. They had not expected such an epic denunciation of US hegemony from a divine =nown for his compassion rather than his anger.

"Any popular or democratic change or transformation that is outside the realm =f their influence is not acceptable," he said, "for they find it =ar more convenient to deal with non-nationalistic and non-popular trends =nd regimes rather than popular ones, who naturally tend to care about the =elfare and the physical interests of their =eople."

Thus did Mr Khatami dispose of America's cry for "democracy" in the "new" Middle East.

Needless to say, his words were given scarcely a few seconds on =st1:country-region w:st="on">America's major news channels. Mr Khatami's wisdom is not wanted in Washington

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