Some of the former US hostages claim that Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was one of their captors. Although he denies this, there can be no doubt that he served honorably in the war against Iraq. He has been radicalized by revolution, war, and the slaughter of Shia Muslims.
Iran's President and ruling theocracy make no secret of their hatred for America, and they want Iran to stay an angry, anti-western country. After violently putting down protests to his re-election, Ahmadinejad demanded an apology from the United states. He claims that the US was meddling in Iran's affairs by inciting the demonstrators, just as the CIA did in 1953.
We owe the people of Iran an apology, but not for the reason he stated. Despite all we've done to them, the Iranians want their Democracy back. And we're doing nothing to help them as they stand up to their hard-line theocratic government.
Iran's regime is dangerous. A militant, nuclear armed Iran will be very dangerous. The United States must seize this opportunity and reach out to the Iranian People.
And to do that, we must apologize for the atrocities we have meted out on them.
We undermined their parliamentary government, and supported the Shah. We have imposed crippling economic sanctions on Iran since 1979. We sold nerve gas to Saddam Hussein, knowing he would use it on Iranians. We incited the Shias in Iraq to rebel against Saddam, then stood by while they were butchered. We've killed unknown thousands more waging our illegal war in Iraq.
I can't apologize for America. I don't even consider myself a patriot anymore. But as a citizen of this nation, I am sorry for what America has done to your country.
And we are all going to be very sorry if we do not take this opportunity to free Iran.
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