Four years ago this month, I was in Tehran to cover the election. All eyes were on Iran as reform-minded candidates for president promised change if elected. There was great anticipation in the U.S. that maybe this might be a pivot point in our relationship with Iran. In some ways, it was. Things got worse.
A little-known, conservative, former mayor of Tehran who wasn't on the radar of any of the pundits surged to victory and won the election.Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's belligerent and provocative statements about the U.S. and Israel since his election have dashed the hopes of those who were eager for a new chapter in U.S.-Iran relations.
(In this picture, I'm reporting from in front of the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days)
I was among the many correspondents in Iran who were stunned at Ahmadinejad's victory. I was also upset that I'd missed out on the opportunity to interview him. Days before the election, I'd been offered an interview but it conflicted with another interview we were doing. The conventional wisdom was Ahmadinejad didn't have a shot of winning. In fact, when we were offered the interview I said: "We can interview who?" And so, in one of the greatest tactical blunders of my career, I turned it down. Days later, this long shot "nobody" was a big somebody.
My failure to get the big interview was part of a bigger failure of many outsiders to understand the real Iran and to understand Iranians. While we were all focused on Iran's relationship with the outside world, Iranians were apparently focused on the thing that often drives American voters to the polls--the economy, stupid. Unemployment was at record levels and many Iranians were feeling forgotten by the establishment. Ahmadinejad was essentially promising a chicken in every pot if he was elected.
Unfortunately for Ahmadinejad, that chicken has failed to materialize in most pots across Iran and these could be his final days as president. Does that mean hope for the many Iranians who want reform? Maybe. But no one should expect a sudden thawing of relations between Iran and the U.S. or wholesale changes in Iran. Because at the end of the day, the president of Iran is still second fiddle to the hard line religious leadership of the country. The Supreme Leader, Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, still runs the show.
That's why every Friday, you can still see thousands of Iranians gathered at the University of Tehran shouting: "Death to America! Death to Israel!" As an American, it was pretty unsettling to be standing right near those folks as they demanded the death of my country. But as it was explained to me later, they don't mean it literally. It's more of a rallying cry of pride for true believers, Iranians told me. They don't want to kill us as individual Americans or even America as a nation, I was told.
And the truth is, everywhere I went in Tehran, people were quite happy to speak with the visiting Americans. Iranians are world-famous for their hospitality and yet I was still taken aback at just how friendly people were to me. They repeatedly told me they didn't war with America and that they in fact like Americans. These were not hand-picked Iranians provided by some handler but simply folks we encountered as we traveled. I found a teenager shooting hoops at one apartment complex and I jumped at the chance to teach him how to play HORSE. I was surprised to learn how much he knew about the NBA. This gentle 16-year-old kid told me his favorite player was not an Iranian superstar, but Allen Iverson. Allen Iverson!
My sense during my brief visit to Iran was that many people there do want change. They don't want to be a mini-U.S. but they do want to engage us. I heard over and over from people on the street that they have no quarrel with the American people. I found the average Iranian wants the same things we do--peace and prosperity for their families. If you were to step into an average person's apartment in Tehran and you didn't know you were in Iran, you might think you were in Los Angeles. You'd be welcomed and offered a snack and maybe a glass of wine (even though it's illegal), you might watch a little satellite TV (even though that too is prohibited), you'd be welcome to have conversation on anything from politics to film personalities. You'd eat and laugh and head back to your four-star hotel with a smile on your face. I sure did.
Of course, few if any would say Iran's current leaders are as hospitable to America. In fact, many would say Iran's leadership openly exports terror and weapons that put Americans in harm's way. But as we look in on Iran today, I just wanted to share what I experienced on the ground in Iran about average Iranians. I didn't meet a single Iranian who said he wanted to harm us. Didn't meet a single Iranian who wanted war. I did meet many Iranians who were hopeful for change. I doubt that has changed in the four years since I was there.
Previous Entry
Mr. Buckley, frist I must apologise to you for yelling.I am new with computor and did not know there was an ettiquit to the computor I was told that caps means I'm yelling. I was told no one would read what I have to say. What I had said is very i'm portant. with this new law SB 670 it is putting people out of work and costing big copanys a lot of money which means less taxes for cal. please just contact Pat Keene of Keene Enginering there in LA.with this stop dredging I heard from a friend that talked to him said his buissness is down 40% already. I wonder if this last at least 2 years how many companys will still be in buisness and how many will be out of work all i can see is cal. getting deeper and deeper in debt.On my other blogs thiers more info. I don't even know if any of my twits got through. THANK YOU for your work and thank everyone else at the station for doing a great job!!
Dan Williamson
173rdsourdough@gmail.com
Posted by: Dan W. | August 20, 2009 at 04:46 PM
FRANK IS IT NOT A BREACH OF CONTRACT WHEN YOU PAY FOR A PERMIT THAT STATE YOU CAN SAY DREDGE FROM 1 JAN.2009 TO DEC.31 2009 AND THEN SENDS OUT A LETTER THAT STATES DREDGING MUST STOP IMMEDIATELY IN THE STATE OF CAL.AND NO REFUND OF FEES. I'M THINKING OF ALL THE OUT OF STATE DREDGERS THAT GOT PERMITS AND THIRE FEES ARE WAY OVER 100 DOLLARS THEY DON'T GET BACK. I BELIEVE THE STATE OWES 100,000S OF DOLLARS IF NOT INTO THE MILLIONS. ALL THE MONEY SPENT ON EQUIPMENT THAT CAN NOT BE USED THAT PROBLELY WASTE AWAY.ASK PAT KEENE HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT HIS BUISSNESS.
Posted by: Dan W. | August 18, 2009 at 02:16 PM
MR. BUCKLEY, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME STOPED DREDGING IN THE STATE OF CA.AND REFUSES TO RETURN OUR DREDGING PERMIT FEE'S.I'M A 100% DISABLED VIET-NAM VET. AND NOW ANOTHER RITE IS TAKEN AWAY.I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE GOVENOR LIED ABOUT SIGNING SB 670 INTO LAW.CAL. NEEDS MONEY AND THE GOV.SHUT'S DOWN AN INDUSTRY. THE TAXES AND FEES LOSS WILL BE A LOT PLUS THE LOSS OF TOURISM MONIES FROM OUT OF STATE DREDGERS. SO FAR I'M OUT CLOSE TO 5000 DOLLARS. I'D LIKE TO TALK IN LENGTH BUT I'M REALLY NOT GOOD ON COMPUTERS. I'M GOING TO FILE SMALL CLAIMS IN COURT TO TRY AND RECOUP SOME OF MY MONEY.
Posted by: Dan W. | August 18, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Great article Frank.Great insight as to the average iranian citizen, i agree it wasn't your biggest mistake.
Posted by: Julie from South LA | June 18, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Hi Buckle,
I already read your "biggest mistake", but I think is not your biggest mistake but your great lesson, because you showed us how the really Iran people is. So, congratulations and don't forget that we learn from our mistakes.
Posted by: angeles napoles | June 16, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Sad that the most coverage KTLA gives to Iran is this blog post. Seems the direction of the show is to devote unlimited time to water skiing squirrels, raccoons in vending machines, police dashboard cameras, kids singing in a classroom and a dog in toilet but as little as possible to any real news.
If this direction continues, missing that interview may not turn out to be your biggest regret.
Your Pal,
Kenny
Posted by: kenny | June 16, 2009 at 08:13 AM
Hello Mr. Buckley,
I must first say that I am an avid viewer of the KTLA morning, afternoon, and evening news. I have been a dedicated viewer for many, many years.
I was watching the 1:00pm newscast today and saw the segment on the Lakers parade and heard the commentary, via the phone, by Mayor Villaragosa.
I have a few issues to discuss about the Lakers parade and the Mayor's comments.
First, I think the fans in attendance of the downtown area (those who burned, stole, vandalized, and intimidated) don't deserve a parade. While I'm not one to allow a few to spoil it for the majority, I think this is something that should be considered.
Second, the Mayor stated he is raising funds to pay for the city's portion of the cost. Quite frankly, that's baloney. While he may be raising costs from the private sector for the city's portion of the parade, who is going to pay for all of the overtime compensation to all of the city personnel (cops, traffic control officers, transportation personnel, etc) needed to coordinate and control this large city event? Us, the taxpayers.
Third, the Mayor has furloughed city workers, teachers in the city have lost their jobs, streets are in dispair, transportation has been affected, and the Mayor wants to have a parade. Last time I checked, I'm sure Kobe and many of his teammates are making many, many, many millions of dollars every year. I believe the Lakers organization should pay for a parade if they want one. In our economic times, I don't believe the city has any business hosting a parade.
Finally, what's going to happen when people get out of hand at the parade??? More damage?? More costs? The Mayor needs to get his priorities straight and show some concern for the citizens of Los Angeles, and not just the fans of the Lakers
I think a parade is a bad idea, unless the Lakers want to flip the bil.
Thanks.
Posted by: Gary | June 15, 2009 at 01:55 PM
If you could interview him now, what questions would you ask?
And what do you make of the apparent protests against him during this last election?
Thanks for your insights!
Posted by: Bob H. | June 13, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Frank, always nice to see you blog. Thanks for your perspective on Iran.
If only a basketball game, instead of nuclear weapons, could settle arguments between countries. And the money generated from those games could determine the change we all want in our societies - "a chicken in ever pot, a car in every garage."
Enjoy the game tomorrow.
.
Posted by: jozielee | June 13, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Frank - Thanks for the insight! Personally, I believe much of what is reported on news services here in America and abroad is edited, sliced, and re-told in a way to promote a network or paper's agenda or angle on a story. One story can be told differently from two differing viewpoints. In any case, it is always refreshing to read about your own personal experiences and perspective. Thanks for sharing... Now keep rocking the Volvo in the driveway... Too funny you rebel rouser, you!
-m
Posted by: mike | June 12, 2009 at 02:01 PM