Dear FRONTLINE,
"Showdown with Iran" is a program every citizen of the U.S. should see. It became obvious that our administration's misguided efforts concerning Mid-East politics and policies have brought our country to another brink of war, and it fills me with a sense of dread that, in the final words(paraphrased) "It would be the worst mistake of an outgoing administration to attack Iran" forbodes exactly what I think will happen.The program illustrated the Bush administration's blunder at not realizing the power of Iran as an ally instead of a potential enemy.When will U.S. policy change from a stance of world domination to one of cooperation and peace? Our country is missing the opportunity to mediate from a power standpoint, and only centers on using that power to impose our unsound agression.
Thank you, Frontline, for broadcasting such an important, timely program such as this.
Paul Sager
Bellevue, Wa
Dear FRONTLINE,
I watched the program tonight on Iran and learned from it, so that is a good thing. I was disappointed in one thing, that you didn't go quite far enough back in the history of Iran / US relations. As you probably know, the US backed a governmental overthrow of the prime minister in 1953. I feel it's important to bring this fact to light as it is still white hot in the minds of the Iranians. Following that, the US backed Iraq during the terrible war which only further provides background as to the problematic relationship. It seemed that you started looking into the relationship following 9/11, which isn't right.
West Bath, Maine
FRONTLINE's editors respond:
The readings and links section of the site offers a chronology (from Terror and Tehran, our previous report), that covers the 20th century history of Iran-U.S. relations.
Dear FRONTLINE,
It was an interesting piece, although to do real justice and tell the whole story, it would take a lot more than an 1 hour program.
Unfortunately the voices of reason have been silenced on both sides. The two countries' governments are run by ignorant power mungers, who have no regards for the life of people they are ruling. At least people in US are lucky enough to change the tyrant after 8 years,but in Iran it's only an improbable dream that has lasted more than 28 years.
Alex Alborzfard
Hamilton, NJ
Dear FRONTLINE,
One would hope that people who not only hold power be thoughtful, but would also have at least a short term ability for historical memory.
Armitage's cavalier dismissal of the initial overtures for diplomacy on the part of the Iranian reformists is eerily reminiscent of the same blunder made with Ho Chi Minh. A blunder that engulfed our country and destroyed countless lives. Like Bush and Cheney, and Rumsfeld, his incompetence is exceeded only by his hubris.
Judith Crews
Boise, ID
Dear FRONTLINE,
This program was so informative. I consider myself fairly well informed with the news of world and current events, yet there were many interesting facts about Iran wanting to confer with the U.S. about our opposing issues. Thank you for revealing objective material which we rarely get on other television news programs.
As far as the future--it scares me to even make a prediction. I would much rather talk to the "enemy" than to fight him. You have clarified why the Islamists see us as a 'warmongering' nation. Thank you for this piece of worthwhile television.
Mary King
Winter Haven, Florida
Dear FRONTLINE,
The tone of the show was that of a hard, irreconcilable line on both sides. John Bolton is just as "hard" (if not more so) a hardliner as any figure in Ayatollah Khamenei's Qom-based clerical establishment. I also found it unhelpful to add the views of Reuel Marc Gerecht, a discredited neoconservative and pro-Israel hardliner who is openly anti-Iranian within the American policy establishment. What was distressingly left out of the piece was that, like the ominous "drumbeat" leading up to the invasion of the Iraqi state, staunch pro-Israel pressure groups and individuals (who have the most to fear from an emboldened Iran in representing their particular interpretation of Israeli national interests)in Washington are once again pushing the Bush administration in a highly counterproductive and possibly destructive direction. It is the Iranian and American people (and possibly Israeli) would suffer from such distorted and misguided policy.
Derek Flood
Brooklyn, NY
Dear FRONTLINE,
The very last comment from the Iranian oppostition leader in Tehran went something like this; "Both the leaders (US and Iran) feel they are doing the work of God." "They both have left the ground a bit."
Never has there been more true words spoken. These leaders will not be happy until the common folk are back into the Dark Ages. Only God will be able to forgive them - for they KNOW what they are doing.
Randy Thompson
Lewisville, TX
Dear FRONTLINE,
For the Israeli Mossad Agent to state that a Nuclear-Armed Iran would leave America with no leverage as a basis for striking a soverign foreign land is meritless and should be declared as such.
If it were true, then what about India or Pakistan, or even Israel itself? Our Nation has shown itself as quite capable of dealing with adversarial countries, even under intense pressure, without resorting to nuking anyone.
Maybe it's high time Israel made peace with its neighbors, starting closest to home, instead of agitating to further it'sown profitable enterprises in another war.
Joe Dokes
Emerald, Oz
Dear FRONTLINE,
I would like to express my dissapointment with the manner in which this program described the Mojahedin-E-Khalq. First of all, the Mojahedin did not fight against the Iranian people in the Iran-Iraq war. In fact, they made every effort to remain out of the conflict and protect POWs captured in Iraq from being tortured by the Iraqi military by taking full responsiblity for them. Secondly, the Mojahedin did not kill Americans during the transition of power after the revolution. The individuals responsible for that incident were a group of Marxists who used the name of the Mojahedin to gain popular support. Thirdly, the Mojahedin have never killed innocent civilians. They have missed many opportunites to gain power in Iran because of their uncompromising stance on that matter. The struggle for freedom in Iran has been long and full of suffering. I am sure you know that anyone you are allowed to interview in Iran lives in fear and realizes that the truth would cost them their life. My own father was murdered by the Iranian regime more than 18 years ago while trying to bring awareness to the situation of political prisoners in Iran. I would be happy to provide you sources that will provide you an accurate account of who the Mojahedin-E-Khalq are and why they are so often misrepresented by politicians and the media. As we are all aware, what might be considered minor inaccuracies to outsiders, could eventually result in the loss of life for a group of people that have done nothing else but fight and die for their people. With that said, I do appreciate you covering this topic. The Iranian regime threatens the entire world. It is important that Americans are exposed to the complexity of the situation. It is time that the world support the Iranian people in their struggle. By no means do I support a military strategy, but rather one that empowers the forces that already exist in the country and gives the Iraninan people a fearless voice. I hope that Frontline will continue to provide the American public programs that will force us towards awareness and action.Respectfully,
Zahra Amanpour
Jersey City, NJ
Dear FRONTLINE,
Iran controls 4% of the world's oil supply. Its border forms the eastern shore of the Straits of Hormuz where about 20% worlds oil passes. The Straits are so narrow that they are vulnerable to artillery fire from Iran's shore. You sometimes read about how the Straits could be closed by sinking a few tankers in the narrow part.
If the US starts bombing Iran, I think it would be logical for Iran to retaliate by disrupting the worlds oil supply. I wonder why this possiblilty was not discussed in the FrontLine piece.
Ed Hoopes
San Diego, California
Dear FRONTLINE,
It came perhaps too late to include in this excellent program, but one should note the significance of Putin's recent visit to Tehran in which he offered support to the government in the development of nuclear power as long as the effort was not directed toward a nuclear bomb (I paraphrase). This should be a strong incentive for the Iranian regime to live up to its stated objectives, as Russia is their only powerful ally outside the middle east. I look for confirmation from experts that this is a good omen for the west's efforts to prevent profliferation.
stuart boynton
New York, NY
