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Improving international relations and global image are America's most pressing external issues. Recent administrations' lack of both understanding of and standing in the world community combined with a seeming unwillingness to acquire either, have left America increasingly isolated and distrusted. In a world of rising powers and lesser' nations with populations no longer willing to kowtow to pressure and threats, this is a very dangerous path for all involved. The present situation in Iran, while desperate, is not unsalvageable and if successful U.S. foreign policy could have a blueprint for regaining the worlds respect and trust.

Iran's history spans more than five thousand years. Long before most western nations had discovered writing the Persians had produced the Cyrus Cylinder. This clay cylinder is recognized by some as the first written declaration of human rights and predates the U.S. constitution by over 2300 years. Politics, in the modern sense, have been a part of the story since the early 20th century. From the beginning however Iranian politics have been undermined and subjugated by foreigners and in recent times from within. Russia did its best to depose Iran's first Prime Minister and it was the CIA that overthrew it's final, freely elected, one. The following years of autocratic and despotic rule by the Shah followed by the Islamic Revolution, which in turn was a leading contributor to the Iran-Iraq war.

When Saddam Hussein invaded Iran in 1980 half of the forces that opposed him were made up of locally raised militias. These volunteers helped beat back what was to become, with liberal U.S. assistance, one of largest militaries in the world. Iranians remember all of this after decades of oppression and they fully understand what they are missing by being citizens of a pariah nation. Most Iranians don't believe the rhetoric but cannot deny that America seems belligerent towards them and are unwilling to allow their nation to be treated like a child, or worst yet a criminal.

Propaganda and media manipulation are major stumbling blocks in the path of America regaining it's standing in the world. They are, however, very near this path's beginning. The only way America's foreign policy will change is from within and to do that it's citizens must reclaim the media and force it's leaders to be accountable. A current tactic in political debate is to employ the concept of moving forward.' Quite often what this means is that a problem exists but there's

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