More babies... the way to dominance!
Probably you've heard that our president in Iran has called for a baby boom to almost double the country's population to 120 million and enable it to threaten the west. He told MPs he wanted to scrap birth control policies that discourage Iranian couples from having more than two children. Women should work less and devote more time to their "main mission" of having and raising children, he said.
Why the rush to reproduce?
Iran became unique among Muslim countries in implementing a system of prenuptial counselling on contraceptive methods that both partners must attend before the marriage. The country also became home to the region's only state-sponsored condom factory which produces some 45 million condoms a year. Regular condoms are produced and distributed free for state clinics and counselling centres.
Statistically, Iran's population growth dropped from an all-time high of 3.2% in 1986 to around 1.2% today, similar to that of the United States. Any baby boom initiated now wouldn't be combat-ready until the later 2020s. However, one lesson of Iraq is that occupying and holding onto territory needs manpower. Perhaps it's intended to enable Iranian regional expansion in a generation. Another scenario would be the hope of ensuring that Iran has enough population to support retired workers later this century.
However, I presume, an even longer-term scenario is laid out in a book by Mark Steyn titled "America Alone". It seems that Iran's President has digested the main lesson of the book, which is, if you don't have people, you can't have any influence in the world! Steyn actually believes that "Every society - regardless of whether it's a totalitarian dictatorship or it's fascist, or it's communist, or it's Muslim theocratic, or it's a liberal Western democracy - needs people... the treasurer of Australia has a slogan. He says, he's recommending - by offering great tax incentives - that people have three kids... one for mum, one for dad, one for Australia..." That's actually a good way of looking at it.
But how about Iran, I have concerns though. look at Palestine, the average age of the people in Palestine is 15.6, they have no memory of 1947, these kids were raised in the age of Arafat and they have no economic prospects, its always the Jews fault and eventually they turn to violence, just look at pictures of them jumping and dancing around on burning cars, they are raised in a culture that glorifies mass murder.
Coming back to Iran, in an article, critics of this new population expansion move point to "surging inflation and rising unemployment, among young educated people, unofficially about 26 per cent." Despite our oil wealth today, still many ordinary people need several jobs to make ends meet, imagine another 50 or 60 million with no work, no money and told the easy lie that its the great Satan!
I am not supposed to conclude like this but, unfortunately, we need to understand that Muslim leaders, like in Palestine and Iran, hate western countries more than they love their children.
Related:
* Iranian leader calls for a baby boom to help defeat west - The Guardian
** America at 300 Million: Reluctant to Reproduce - By Mark Steyn
1) I think you take Ahmadinejad too seriously. He's neither the main policty maker in Iran, nor the most influential person in domestic politics. The fact that he's created a lot of buzz around the world by his big mouth doesn't mean he's going to cancel all the population control policies.
2) Fertility rate for iranian women (1.8 child per woman) is lower than American women (2.09 child per woman), which is a direct consequence of higher literacy levels amongst Iranian women.
Ahmadinejad may have a big mouth to talk a lot, but he can't influence the decisions of educated Iranian families who are in control of their lives (instead he humilates himself).
3) These kinds of decisions are made in the Iranian medical circles and the Iranian parliament. Medical institutions in Iran are clever, they won't be fooled easily.
4) I don't agree with your final statement that Iranian leaders hate western 'countries'. They may dislike western politicians, but definitely not the countries; as many of the children of Iranian politicians proundly go abroad to west for education.
(at October 30, 2006 10:17 AM)
Smart analysis,but I think there is an another important reason behind Ahmadinejad's talks which is diminishing the presence of women in social stages. The high number of girls attendance in universities entrances examinations,their eagerness for occupying high and crucial roles and jobs and their attitude towards freedom made threatening environment for some weak and unable leaders who just reached their positions by relations,not by their abilities.For Iranian educated women,the concept of "main mission" is changing from being an indifferent ,unaware and powerless mother to an useful,aware and caring person,even these aims doesn't give them a chance to be a mother.
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