>> Perhaps the only authentically Third-World nation was the
>> Islamic Republic of Iran: neither East nor West, in the sense of
>> neither of the capitalist bloc nor of the socialist bloc1; and neither
>> Eastern nor Western in its cultural mythology.2
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But couldn't you say the same also about Quaddafi's Libya - at least, prior
to the invasion of Iraq?
Certainly, the US saw Iran and Libya as identical, each bent on "exporting terrorism" and pursuing WMD programs. You'll recall that the US's Iran Sanctions Act, prior to Quaddafi's 2003 policy reversal, was formally known as the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act.
The Europeans and other US allies - and a large part of the Iranian ruling class - still see a parallel. They think Iran could be persuaded to follow the Libyan road if only the US would deal with them in the same way.
It may be that US-Iranian geopolitical interests are uniquely irreconcilable and will lead to war. Things are still very unclear and in flux at the present time. But we do know that, as in Iran, a large part of the US ruling class is also pushing for a political solution, so perhaps it may transpire that - rather than Iran being a unique historical phenomenon, the the "only authentically Third-World nation", as you suggest - the Bush and Ahmadinejad governments have simply delayed a Libya-style accomodation. I know you don't rule this out.