By Farhad
Shishechian
Iranians built the best part of
their long history naturally on their genius to make deals. Strong cultural and
psychological capacity is virtually the innate tool to accommodate a
relationship thriving on the bases
of making deals. Wheeling and dealing (Bede Bestoon in Persian) have been
the core factor on which Iranians erected their imperial household, the
foundation for every individual to be relevant and
prosper.
The silk road was the masterpiece of
their creation, During the 250 years that the Achamaneid dynasty was in power, trade was the life
blood of the economy. This was followed successfully for several more centuries
through other dynasties. Tax from merchants filled the coffers and productivity
in every area established the social order.
Artisans and craftsmen were broadly
activated and their work was revered. The indication of such artful culmination
is evident in every artifact in world museums from these
periods.
There have been times when societies
went into decline and lost their vitality, disintegrated and got ransacked by
the enemies. These times are definitely when the dynamics of making deals either
transformed or were interrupted by outside influences and even inside
confusions. The inability to reinvent the rules catastrophically brought
societies down and faltering dynasties crumbled.
Americans, share the same traits and
are enjoying similar possibilities. There is no myth about the US foreign policy. Make a deal and
you are in business. In fact the 20th century was built on this
foundation and the 21st is no exception to this old rule. Wheeling
and dealing is the essence of all human interactions, well with the exception of
friends and families. There is no room for zeal when both parties benefit. The
ones who get good at making deals more brilliantly take advantage of their
resources. The zealots get the hypocrites to rant about and stay in another kind
of business in the ever widening eyes of a silent nation.
Over the past 28 years after the
turnaround for America in
Iran, a very stubborn power
player anonymously throws the wrench in at the most crucial time when
Iran tries to make deals with
the US. It is a good example of a
lose-lose situation as far as the good of the two sides are
concerned.
Iran has gone a long way due to this
animosity and poisonous reactions to its overtures, distancing herself from the
US. Iran reluctantly has engaged the Russians to
substitute the otherwise a good partner, the role that the US is running
away to assume. In foreign policy going wrong with the fundamental trade issue
is like trying to take a cab in the middle of a busy highway.
Iran should think about her share in
every issue in the world and the region in particular. Intuitiveness and some
flexibility will pay off, paving the way for a bigger
future.
Every country is trying to get ahead
and ultimately makes deals with the "Great Satan," because it is in their self
interest, plain and simple. The Turks, Pakistanis, Saudis and gradually Iraqis
and Afghans will agree to anything for now, logically short of jeopardizing
their long term interests.
Planting friendship starts by a
nervous hand shake and little trust. Short term cooperation is the measures to
initiate a more civil coexistence. The US lawmakers for the sake of harmony and out of
self interest have for the past twenty eight years voted against
Iran's interest! Why? There is no
relevance to having any knowledge or concern about Iran in the minds of the Senators and politicians
in the US. It is merely a choice they make
and in many cases a convenient one.
It is up to the Iranians to break
out of an introverted foreign policy and use a broad based approach to settling
their differences; reaching out to Americans is possible too. Negotiations and
making deals prospectively produce the results that wars might hope to achieve.
The Neo-cons can keep on the seesawing tactic of giving the Iranians the false
sense of strength and consequently beating them with no real
expense.
