March 20, 2008

President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad is serious. And while he is determined and solemn, he has every right to smile today without any feelings of guilt or desire to apologize. He has the right to celebrate any way he chooses. They are celebrating the fifth anniversary of the American invasion of Iraq, an occasion that concerns him, his regime and his nation.

Certain historical episodes demand exceptional realism, a sense of humor, and some sarcasm. It is not unusual for him to feel deep gratitude towards the master of the White House, to appreciate the favors he has done his country, to acknowledge that no one has ever been so generous to it in a manner that must be rewarded.

The Iranian regime is solemn, struggling to muffle any signs of its happiness and desire to celebrate. The imagination of the conservatives is tense and depressed. Celebrations could have been conducted differently. George Bush could have been invited to Iran to receive a warm reception and a medal of honor. He would have received a standing ovation from those waving their fists and yelling "Death to America."

Ahmedinejad laughs. If Iran had planted a president in the White House, he would not have been able to serve it the way George Bush did. George Bush rendered the Islamic Revolution priceless services, unmatched even by the services of the Revolutionary Guard generals. Ironically, this happened while George Bush raised the slogan of enmity to the Iranian regime, which he had positioned in the Axis of Evil.

Ahmedinejad drowns in his memories. In 1980, Saddam Hussein's army penetrated the Iranian hinterland. His planes bombed Iran, while his rockets showered its cities. He cannot forget a press conference held by the grand leading president who entered wearing his military suit and smile, with arrogance flowing out with his responses. A reporter asked him about the future of Iran as the Iraqi troops were stationed on its territories. Smiling, he responded, "This is a matter that depends on the decision of the Iranian peoples." It was evident that Saddam was flirting with the dream of dismembering Iran and settling historic scores with it.

Ahmedinejad reminisces. He joined the Revolutionary Guards; his dream was to punish Saddam Hussein's army with victory and revenge. However, he never even dared to dream of toppling that regime. He certainly never dreamt of becoming the president of Iran. He did not dream of landing in Baghdad shortly before the fifth anniversary celebrations, to address the Iraqis, the Arabs and the world from Al-Rasheed's capital, while Saddam Hussein's corpse lay in his hometown of Tikrit.

Ahmedinejad smiles. Another man worth thanking is Usama bin Laden. Were it not for the Ghazwas (or conquests) in New York and Washington, the world's only superpower would not have lost its patience, mind, and sound judgment. The neoconservatives would not have been able to push it to this fatal meal. The crumbling of the Taliban regime under American strikes was a beautiful gift, but the grand prize was soon to follow.

Ahmedinejad mocks. He pulls a paper out of his pocket and stares at the numbers; the number of American troops killed; the massive costs inflicted on the American economy; the dilemma of involvement in two wars at which victory is impossible and from which withdrawal is very difficult. America's image in the world has suffered severe damage. The invasion of Iraq occurred without international delegation. The invaders never found any weapons of mass destruction, and the recent studies exonerated Saddam Hussein from any links to al-Qaeda.

The model that the US wished to plant in Iraq and eventually implement throughout the Middle East was nothing but the midsummer night's dream of a completely different Middle East. Its stars resemble Muqtada Al-Sadr or differ from him in style but not in essence. What they share in common is animosity to the US and to the democracy that it tried to slip into the region.

The Iraq of old is gone. The Eastern Gate is gone, and gone with it is that who once called himself the guardian of the gate. Iraq no longer poses a threat or represents a wall. It can no longer beget another Saddam or anyone who resembles him. In Iraq, Iran has more power than the obstructing third, and there can be no security, stability or a cabinet without an Iranian seal. A jackpot it is. Iran has reached the Mediterranean; its ability to threaten oil security is certain; its ability to threaten Israel's security has been tested and proven. Iran is present here and thither. The only thing standing in the way of its transformation into a major power in the region is the nuclear umbrella which is soon to arrive.

While putting off the fifth candle, the Arab feels like an orphan in the region. A different atmosphere prevails in Iran. Ahmedinejad should have invited Bush to some honorary celebrations. After all, Iran has earned from the "Great Satan" a gift that surpassed all ambitions. It is a gift that threatens to change the entire Middle East.