How Concerned Should Israel Be About Iran?

To the Editor:

Those who got Iraq so wrong should read “Israel Cries Wolf,” Roger Cohen’s April 9 online column about Iran, so they do not repeat their mistake.

Mr. Cohen dismisses the “messianic apocalyptic cult” view of Iran held by Israeli leaders. There may be similarities between rulers of Iran now and in the 1980s, when martyrdom was elevated to defend the country against Iraqi aggression, but the ruled are not the same.

Many who fought and died in that war were the children of mothers with little education who were raising eight or more children. The average rural mom today is much better educated and spends her time educating two children.

The standard of living has more than doubled since then, and the poverty rate has come down from 45 percent to less than 10 percent.

Mothers focused on the future of two children are rarely apocalyptic, let alone willing to lose one to martyrdom. If Israeli leaders believe otherwise, Iranian leaders do not.

Djavad Salehi-Isfahani
Blacksburg, Va., April 9, 2009

The writer is a professor of economics at Virginia Tech.