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Order Jamie Glazov’s new book, ‘United in Hate: The Left’s Romance with Tyranny, Terror, and Hamas’: HERE.
As we speak, the humanitarian crisis in Iran is quite dire. Protesters seeking a free Iran have been massacred, tortured, raped and arrested en masse. There are reports that over 36,000 people have been slaughtered within a period of a few days. The death toll since the Iran protests began is likely much higher. Iran Human Rights has reported that at least 40,000 people, including children, have been arrested related to the crackdown on the Iran protests. Relatives who have come to collect the bodies of their loved ones have reported difficult signs of torture on the bodies.
Meanwhile, the living conditions inside Iran are horrific. The BBC has reported that although the internet access has returned for some, it still remains tightly controlled and has left most of the country still cut off. How can the average Iranian in the bazaar conduct business under such conditions? Meanwhile, the inflation remains rampant, the economy is collapsing due to the regime’s mismanagement combined with crippling sanctions and widespread corruption, and average Iranians struggle to eat basic proteins, such as chicken and meat.
Given these existing horrific conditions, if the United States or Israel attacks Iran at this time, millions of Iranians will want to leave the Islamic Republic, seeking to cross over to either Turkey or Azerbaijan. From there, they will aspire to move to either Europe or North America. Given this scenario, the creation of a buffer zone may be an American interest and it may behoove Washington to sponsor such a buffer zone, which would be similar to the humanitarian buffer zone that was created in Iraqi Kurdistan in the past.
Along these lines, a recent article in Forbes Magazine argued that Washington should strengthen its presence along Iran’s northwest frontier in order to better navigate the chaos in Iran. The peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia already assisted Washington with this. However, the creation of a humanitarian buffer zone along the Iranian border would further advance such an endeavor.
A humanitarian buffer zone would not only be an asset to the Iranian people, but also to the American intelligence community, offering Washington the chance to keep its eyes and ears focused on Tehran. A humanitarian buffer zone along the Iranian border would also help Iranian opposition groups to organize and regroup, which would offer them a badly needed safe space as they struggle to topple the mullahs. This would help promote regime change in Tehran, without going in and doing a full-scale invasion of the Islamic Republic.
South Azerbaijani dissident journalist Ahmad Obali also supports the creation of such a buffer zone, claiming that it could be used to help offer humanitarian relief to the Iranian people and would be an asset to Washington as well: “The humanitarian buffer zone should go from the Azerbaijani border deep into Hamadan, from just west of Tehran all the way to the Turkish border. This is the South Azerbaijan region. It should definitely be a no fly zone and there should be no armed activity from the Iranian regime’s side.”
He added: “This is a large area that can definitely host millions of refugees and internally displaced persons. I think that the US and the West should contribute financially, politically and even militarily until everything is settled inside of Iran, which will permit the refugees to return. We expect for the US to be a leader in enforcing the buffer zone and help the public in Azerbaijan in handling the coordination. In this way, the Republic of Azerbaijan would not be under so much pressure to house and handle millions of refugees.”
The same can be true of Turkey. They face the same difficulties that Azerbaijan faces in handling millions of refugees. In sum, a Washington-led buffer zone is a win-win for everyone and should be established at the soonest possible date.
Rachel Avraham is the CEO of the Dona Gracia Center for Diplomacy and an Israel-based journalist. She is the author of “Women and Jihad: Debating Palestinian Female Suicide Bombings in the American, Israeli and Arab Media.”
We need another Berlin Airlift like what America and Britian did in Germany after WW II when the USSR tried to force the whole Nation under Communism
Yes, I’d say this, or something like it is needed. Iran, however, is a large country. Ninety millions plus, and over twice the land area of Texas. The poisonous Pakistan and Afghanistan on its eastern border, Vicious Arab militias aligned with the Islamic Republic to the west. What a mess.
Gee, that’s just a swell idea except who or what will step in to govern Iran when the Mullahs are eliminated. Creating a buffer zone for displaced Iranians without a timeline for their return to their homes will just create misery for those languishing there.
Think of the leaving before the entering
This points to the need to make sure that any attack that is undertaken is really decisive, because there will be no need for Iranians to flee their homeland, if the regime is displaced, and if it is not replaced by anything similarly Islamist.
Whatever transpires in coming weeks, Iran’s recovery from 47 years of oppression, mismanagement and corruption will be challenging, to say the least. This is a country of 90 million, with water resources adequate for half that number, economic assets mostly in the hands of the hated IRGC, and a currency that’s almost worthless.
Buffer zone is necessary not only because of mass emigration or refugees but at the same time, in order to confront and prevent the activities of drug traffickers. As we know for tens of years Iran has been acting as a safe corridor for drugs transition from Afghanistan to Europe. Although Iranian governments have had a role in this case but in conditions of chaos and insecurity, the volume of drug trafficking to Europe will definitely increase.