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July 17, 2009

Is America losing “Great Satan” status?

The Washington Post thinks so:

For the past three decades, the United States has been Iran’s “Great Satan.” Schoolchildren learned to chant “Down With U.S.A.” Conservative clerics sermonized against America. Anti-American murals depicting images such as a skull-faced Statue of Liberty dotted Tehran.
But since Iran’s disputed presidential election last month, another Satan has gained ground: Great Britain.

As we reported earlier, before Rafsanjani’s speech, when the head of the organization that oversees the Friday prayers spoke, the audience refused to repeat the chants coming from behind the podium. When he said “Death to America,” the people responded with “Death to Russia” and “Death to China” instead. (Both countries have recognized Ahmadinejad.)
The Washington Post cites experts saying that the Iranian government, while intent on staying in power, may not be focusing on the U.S. as much because they do not want to unnecessarily poison the atmosphere before U.S.-Iran talks can begin.

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