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The Great Satan (Persian شيطان بزرگ, Shaytan Bozorg) is a common epithet for the United States of America in Iranian foreign policy statements. Ayatollah Khomeini used the terms Iblis and Shaitan, both Islamic terms for the devil, or Satan. He is quoted as saying on November 5, 1979, "* are the great Satan, the wounded snake."
The term was extensively used during and after the Iranian Revolution, but it continues to be in use in some Iranian political circles. Use of the term at rallies is often accompanied by shouts of Marg bar Amrika! ("Death to America!"). The term has also found use in political statements of non-Iranian Islamic fundamentalist political or guerilla groups.
During and after the Iranian Revolution similar appelations were used for the Western World and to a lesser extent the Soviet Union, which was labeled as the Small Satan.
The term has been discussed extensively. Former US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, argued: "Far from being the great Satan, I would say we are the great protector. The United States rebuilt Europe and Japan after World War II, defeated Communism and fascism and the only land we ever asked for was enough land to bury our dead."
See also
External links
- The Great Satan by Kavitha Rao, April 26, 2000
- The Great Satan by Paul Craig Roberts, antiwar.com, May 1, 2004
- China Backs Iran Against The Great Satan Joe Vialls, December 22, 2004
- 'Great Satan' warned of a burning hell by Ian Black, The Guardian, February 16, 2005
- Hello To The "Great Satan" By Safa Haeri, Iran Press Service, May 13, 2006
"Great Satan"