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February 2003

See this month's letters
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* No justification for attacks

Re. Mr. Pakravan's article "Pahlavi pulling a Rajavi?" I have two comments:

1) I do believe that Shahzadeh Reza Pahlavi has tried to be all inclusive, but the response from the Jewish/Iranian community has far outweighed that of the Moslem/Iranian community here in the US. Therefore, the influence of the former on the US Adm. would be very strong, since it works right into American policy vis-à-vis Israel. I don't think Reza Pahlavi would sell us out to anyone and is not doing this for personal gain. Unfortunately in the world of politics, one often plays different sides for the benefit of the final goal.

Superpowers, if we like it or not, do have a say in regional and international politics. Iran, pre 1979, was able to keep the balance and would do so again if we were free to act for Iran's benefit. The mullahs have only Islam and their own pockets as their agenda and are playing footsie with all Arab countries as well as with Afghanistan and India in addition to holding Europe dear to their heart for the flow of the money that keeps them in power. I believe a secular and democratic government in Iran would bring stability and strength as well as what should be most important to all Iranians: we would be once again respected and become part of the civilized and international community with a strong voice.

2) I cannot fathom anyone, no matter how anti-monarchy they are, to put the Pahlavis in the same shameful league as the Rajavis, Khamnei, Arafat, Assad and even Mubarak. The late Reza Shah and then his son, the late Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, built Iran and brought it into the 20th century. Iran became the most respected and developed country of the region. Women became recognized in all spheres of life, schools and jobs were available, hospitals and health and welfare institutions were built and we had the best doctors; industry was growing, the economy was strong, the country had no international debts and our military kept our borders safe. We had political problems due to the influence of the then Communist Soviet Union as well as the dissatisfaction of the clergy who felt their influence weakening. But in balance, none of the suppression of freedom of speech and lack of political activism outweighed the benefits to the country. We would have achieved those as well, if only the people had not fallen into the trap of the "religious paradise".

So in my humble opinion there is no justification for the attacks of Mr. Pakravan. It is up to all Iranians to forge ahead for a free and strong Iran, and it is the Iranian people who should have every right to chose freely for whatever government and whichever leader they chose. To do this we need unified Iranians, without personal vindictiveness, and we should become all-inclusive and work together and not turn to accusations of the past.

Shahla Samii



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* As long as clever England has so many Iranian friends

I read with interest the baseless accusations of Mr. Pakravan in his piece against Mr. Pahlavi [Pahlavi pulling a Rajavi?]. One thing that amzed me the most was that the writer did NOT offer even one tiny evidence for his substantial claims.

It is so unfortunate that his name for many patriotic Iranians is the painful reminder of General Pakravan whose mysterious act in saving the evil enemy of Iran and Iranians led to the destruction our national identity.

England so very cleverly fooled the rest of the world by producing a contemporary imam for us. And today people like Mr. Pakravan, knowingly or innocently, are once again falling into the same old British trap: Keep the radical Islam and the mullahs in power so that you can continue to rule over Iran until eternity.

If there are Iranians who still do not believe in the unending scope of British domination around the globe, ask them to look at what happened during the MESA convention (last November) in Washington, D. C. Mullah Kadivar who has been teaching at Harvard University was the sole representative of the Iranian resistence movement!

Of all the Iranian scholars and professors only two had the guts to let him know that they knew this was another plot by the British policymakers to convince Iranians that for the next several decades their leadership must be limited to mullahs.

The rest of the best Iranians present in this session did not dare asking a meaningful question from Mullah Kadivar. Why? Because Dr. Yarshater had approved Mr. Kadivar's presence. And there are rumers that he also is the person who appointed him to teach at Harvard!

Dr. Yarshater chose the name Iranica for our encyclopedia. A name that rhymes so much with Britanica. Why couldn't there have been a pure Persian name for our encyclopedia?

As long as clever England has so many Iranian friends around the world, for the next twenty-four years there will be no hope for an independent Iran free from the dictatorship of a foreign religion that for fourteen centuries has been the main source of destruction for all of us in Iran Zamin.

Aman Kay



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* Now that Pahlavi's democratic message is being heard

Dear Mr Pakravan, [Pahlavi pulling a Rajavi?]

I went through your article aking myself what is this Gentleman trying to suggest ? That because of looking for political support among American senators of all circles some of whome may belong to the "far right" of the American political Arena, should mean that Mr. Pahlavi is oppsoed to democracy and human rights ?

Let us get this right. From a European perspective "Far Right" is a very strong adjective directly associated with fascism and racism. In the United States however it is mostly associated with an ultra conservative economic policy which does not have anything to do with "racism", even if there may certainly be radical minded members in these parties who may even be anti-black, or anti whatever you want.

To try to create an amalgam between Reza Pahlavi's campaign which has to be reminded is based on a "civic non-violent mouvement against the Islamic regime" and what you seem to wrongly assume his intention as much as those of his supporters to somehow encourage a military intervention in Iran, is in my opinion totally incorrect assumption. So what if as you seem to assume that "On Capitol Hill, the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conducted a low-key campaign to have key Congressmen recognize Pahlavi as the leader of the Iranian Diaspora." ?

It is no secret that Iran and the Jewish community have had strong historic ties of friendship dating from the early years of the foundation of the Persian Empire. So what if the often paranoiac Israeli government of Mr. Sharon has suddenly realized that a post-IRI democratic Iran is to the interest of Israel ? Better sooner than later.

On the otherhand is it the fault of the monarchists, or supporters of the Third Wave mouvment of civil dissobedience to the IRI led by the Reza Pahlavi, if the democratically elected American President George W. Bush happens to be a Republican and supports the death penalty in his home state Texas, or accused of sympathies with the ultra conservatives? This is a domestic democratic choice made by the American People.

Is it the fault of the monarchists or supporters of the Third Wave Mouvement of civil dissobedience to the IRI, if an Isreali-Palestinian conflict has been dividing the middle east since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948? Is it the fault of the monarchists or supporters of the Third wave mouvment of civil disobedience if political analysts such as a staunch pro-israeli "Michael Rubin" or that a regular contributor to the NRO (National Review Online) like "Michael Ledeen" expresses a vehement anti-IRI rhetoric (while also insisting on the fact that the majority of the iranian people are against the current regime)?

This is nothing in comparison with the way the current Islamic Republic of Iran in your own words "continues to violate human rights in Iran, and its natural resources continue to be exploited by a corrupt regime" and the way it treats its own citizens through repetitious censorship of newspapers, arrestation of journalists, intellectuals or students such as :

Amir-Abbas Fakhr-Avar (Siyaavash)( 27 year old Univ. Student Sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to 8 years in prison) or Ahmad Batebi (25 year old Univ. Student Sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to 15 years in prison) or a 70 year old movie critic and intellectual like Siamak Pourzand whose trial was broadcasted on National Television in order to intimate an ever growing dissident mouvment against the IRI in Iran.

Let it be reminded that Reza Pahlavi's campaign for civil disobedience against the IRI and commitment to the liberation of his homeland started prior to the horrible and nightmarish day of Sept 11th which will remain in history as one of the most barbaric acts against humanity. I cannot speak on behalf of Reza Pahlavi, but Until further notice and to this day his commitment to the establishment of democracy and the respect of human rights in Iran has been clear and unambigueos be it in his speaches, interviews or in his book the "Winds of Change" also written prior to the attacks of Sept 11.

That the iranian opposition which you accuse of incompetance for the last 23 to 24 years is your right. But what could you have expected from the exiled opposition to do, when their leaders, both inside or outside have been either assassinated by agents of the IRI as was the case for the late Shapour Bakhtiar in exile or human right activists Dariush and Parvaneh Forouhar in Iran or reduced to silence regardless of their political affiliation by successive western governments, who have been cutting Oil deals with the IRI, not only during the tragic Iran-Irak War but beyond, despite regular alerts by human rights organizations on the political repression in Iran under the so-called moderate mullahs.

In addition to confuse the democratic approach of Reza Pahlavi and his campaign with that of a terrorist organization and recognized as such by most Western Democracies that is "The Peoples Mujaheddin" led by Mr Rajavi and his self elected wife president is truly wrong and out of proportion.

It is indeed regretful that some iranians have been misled into this para military mouvment and endoctrined to the point of accepting to fight against their own people during its 8 year war against Irak. On the otherhand do you seriously think that both iranians of the diaspora and the world would have payed attention to the situation in Iran and particularily the deteriorating human rights conditions in Iran before the tragic events of Sept. 11th for which many iranians held Candle Vigils in a sign of solidarity with the victims and the American Nation ? This tragic event was indeed a cruel signal for the West that it could not remain indifferent to the situation in the middle east and particularily in countries such as Iran which have supported and exported terrorism for the past 24 years.

It is astonishing that now that Reza Pahlavi's message in trying to rally all democratic forces seems to be heard and understood by both Iranians inside and outside the country, that you find it oppurtune to critisize him, and associate him with obscure intentions.

Darius Kadivar



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* Your ignorance amazes me!

The above statement refers to both Mr. Javid & the so-called Mr. Pakravan.

Your article, in a democratic society, is slanderous, not to mention borderline asinine [Pahlavi pulling a Rajavi?]. By attempting to make a comparison between HRH Reza Pahlavi and that common thief/criminal Rajavi, you have revealed your true colours: an agent of the "Tazi" regime currently gripping my Iran by the throat.

Lest you forget that Rajavi was one of your very own brethren of the so-called revolution? The same person whom looted a once prosperous nation with the likes of Khalkhali, Khomeini, Khamenii.

You obviously have failed to recognise the historical relationship the Jewish people have had with Iranians for thousands of years. The Israelis can easily distinguish between an Iranian and a "Tazi". It is the type of Islam your masters advocate that seeks to divide Iran between believers and non believers. However, my generation of Iranians are not as naive as the generation that was hijacked by a Towel-Headed despot.

In a rage of envy, and most likely fear as your Islamic Republic is breathing its last breath of air, you and your cronies seek to bring anyone and everyone whom is not in the caravan of lies, corruption and deceit you promote.

Enjoy the rest of your pitiful existence.

Babal Kalhor



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* What's "fouck you" in French?

Could you kindly translate to French the following response to the article titled "Pahlavi pulling a Rajavi?" in case the author is not well-versed with the most famous four-letter word in English language: Fuck You!

Xerxes

PS: I am a born-again Shahi...



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* Child pornography?

The Anyway section of 2/14 issue is astounding. I understand that the motto of your publication is 'Nothing is Sacred'. Is one to understand that child pornography is now on the menu?!

To show a child with an unreal, large penis is tacky at best, and to extend the joke to include paternity and child support issues merely betrays the poster's lack of decorum; never mind the real size of his phallus.

As for the other insensitive cartoon about alcoholism and the children - simply disgusting. Being a child of an alcoholic is anything but funny.

Is your material these days so devoid of substance that you have had to resort to posting such tripe?! Let's hope that in your world at least the mockery of children would be considered sacriligeous rather than unsacred.

Yek Montaghed



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* iranian.com: One-man show with no interest of getting help

As a regular reader of the iranian.com I am concerned about the progress and well being of the online magazine. It is understood that the survival of the publication is mostly relied on the commercial advertisements and the readers' contributions.

The advertisement income is directly related to the intensity of the traffic and the contributions dependent upon the satisfaction of the loyal readers. Of course I admit that I am not an expert on these matters but I will try to open up the discussion.

To start with I will give my opinion and I hope that you will open up this discussion and let the readers speak for themselves. My interest in the iranian.com is for the following reasons:

1- This is one of a few English daily online publications with a good readership and publicity.We have many many good Persian dailies that only Persians can read and have no international exposure. This is very important. How much can we talk among each other?

2- It is well diversified and covers a lot of areas. Personally I do not read many sections and I am not interested to know how a nymphomaniac (to say the least) woman tries to get laid in a plane toilet [The night flight], how Iraj Mirza (one of the most gifted recent Persian poets) describes a rape case or a man tries to tell the story of hemorrhoids. I become aware of these contents after reading other readers comments and refer to see what they are talking about. I have no objection to publishing them either if it brings more readers to your site for the sake of income which is vital to survival.

3- My #1 favorite is the readers' letters. Although I like to read the experts' and gurus' articles and opinions but basically I use them as a starting point to see what follows from "the street". Plus how many good gurus you can find to write good articles every day? Now I have some objections to the way the letters are edited. There should be a limited number of letters allowed to be published about the same subject and by the same people. Cases in point:

Recent letters by the Bahais. From outside of the country we all know what the situation is and our sentiments were well reflected in your original article on the subject [Heechee kam nadaaran]. You would expect a few letters to back you up, and understandably there were no or very very few letters to the contrary.

But day after day after day we read letters from the four corners of the world repeating the same thing by the Bahais to the extent of ad Nauseum. How many Bahais are in the world anyway compared to the Christians and the Moslems to write so many letters? These pages should not be used as a propaganda vehicle for which the Bahais are well expert of (I have no favorite religion).

Or take the case of the monarchists. There are six or seven of them who at each occasion try to bombard the site by frequent repeated letters for the same purpose of propaganda. It is the editor's job to give priority to and limit the space based on many factors the least of which is to stop repetition to the level of ad nauseum as referred earlier.

Unfortunately in the past several months I see less and less letters published. I am not sure whether this is due to lack of interest by the readers or it is the editor's choice. At any rate the result is that after a glance at the titles of sex stories or nonsense stories (for me) I go to Gooya or Payvand or to many other Persian sites to satisfy my needs.

4- After being a regular reader, you get the feeling that this is a one man's show with no interest of getting help to expand it. It appears that one person is doing every thing and the readers section is the first victim of this phenomenon. There seems to be no interest in hiring enough help probably for economic reasons.

It also looks like that the prevailing belief there is that agar shareyk khoob bood khoda yeki baraaye khodash misaakht (if having a partner was a good thing, God would have created one for himself), as we used to say.Any how if these are the reasons for cutting down the readers' letter section, it should be corrected.

Sorry for the length of the comment. These are a few points that I have come up with.If it is worth, please publish it and let us see what the reaction is.

Peerooz



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* I am not a psycho

I found your article on girls pooping quite stimulating [Uncovered: Girls poop too]. When I was in the navy, i spent some time in the persian gulf. When i was there some guys paid this beautiful, blonde scanidinavian girl to spread her cheeks and poop on this glass coffee table. i swear to god, it was the sexiest thing i've ever seen.

I am not a psycho, im a normal guy with a good career and a child. and though it may be taboo, girls pooping is amazing. i love it when a girl is not afraid to poop in front of a guy. I love web sites and pictures on the matter, and to be honest the smell of a womans poop is wonderful...it's to bad you don't realize a lot of men feel as i do.

anyway, thanks for the incredible article.

Christopher



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* Noruz wishes -- for U.S. politicians

Please mail/email to State Governor and/or Mayor of Your City

Dear ---------------

The first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, March 20th, has been celebrated as the beginning of the New Year by Persian (Iranian) from times in antiquity. Although the celebration of Noruz predates Zarathushtra, symbolism from his teachings has been incorporated into the celebration of Noruz, most notably the concept of renewal.

Zarathushtra's call to individuals to renew the world and bring about the triumph of good over evil was the moral basis of the Persian Empire that some 25 centuries ago produced the first charter of human rights, freed the Jewish people from bondage in Babylon, and banned slavery. The first postal system and the federal system of government introduced by them has been the forerunner for subsequent ones.

Today in North America, over a million people of Iranian descent including 25,000 Zarathushtrians, renew friendships, strengthen family connections, and remember their dearly departed during the Noruz celebration of life and renewal of nature. We also use this time to remember our commitment to our timeless ecological message of respect for elements of nature (air, earth, fire, and water) and our environmental responsibility in protecting the precious earth.

In the spirit of Noruz, we extend our best wishes to you and the constituents you serve, and hope the spirit of renewal, symbolized by Noruz, will always inspire you in the execution of your office.

With best wishes,

Mohammad Ala



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* Nothing is sacred? Rubbish! Allah is sacred

Your claim that 'nothing is sacred' is a foolish, overly anti-religious dogmatic splur against all people of faith. If nothing is sacred - then why not live in a world where anything goes? (Like the West's philosophy on life).

Why not forget all the God-given sacred codes of morality and wholesomeness and just make things up as you go along?

Rubbish! Allah is sacred. His law is sacred, His deen is sacred, His creation is sacred - and our purpose is a sacred one.

The only things that are not sacred is the subjectivity of human opinions that contradict the divine laws that have been appointed for us to follow and act upon. Opinions like that of Sakineh Khamenei in her pathetic photo display [April Fools feature: "Nothing is sacred"]. Call herself a Muslim by displaying crap like that? God will decide about that, I'm sure. I can't.

Hossein,

Angry half-Persian Geography student
Birmingham, England



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* Looking for good Iranians

I like Iranians because of their good nature. I like to contact only those nice persons who are interested to create a new world image for Iranians.

Good persons free of inclinations and anti-terror preferences may contact me for exchange of ideas and developments.

Mohammad Akaml



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* Iranian culture remains outside iranian.com

Dear Jahanshah [Javid],

As a proud Abadanee, born and bred under the shadowy gaze of Abadan's mighty refinery, it is amusing to observe the vastness of the ever-growing schism between what I see as Iranian and historically relevant to Iranian history and what you discern to be factual or even worthy of mention.

The existential query regarding our Persian identity - that mutable, nebulous notion which defines us and distinguishes Iranian culture from all others - remains palpably outside the domain of The Iranian. It seems to be a topic which requires greater discourse and thought - not only by those who define their cultural ego by culinary fetishes and nostalgic inanity - but by those who live and breathe Iranian.

Payam



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* We need to put away false pride

Before anything let me thank you for your great website. I enjoy it a lot. And thanks for naming it iranian.com not Persian, not Aryan, and not anything else. However I take a one look at your website and I see is bunch of pan-iranism propaganda that i am getting sick and tired to see and hear.

We are Iranians. Not Aryans, not Persians (if you think you are pure Persian show me the proof that shows none of your ancestors have any Greek, Mongol, Arab, Russian, Turk, Afghan, Turkmen, Azari, Lur, Kurd, Assuriyan, Armanian, African and Portuguese in their blood), and not any other fancy name that doesn't ring terrorism in westerner's ears.

We had a great civilization at some point that's its all but gone. Today we are a third world nation which would be like the good old Afghanistan if it wasn't because of our oil. We are bunch of individualistic, none cooperating, selfish and fake people (why do you think we are doing so well living in United States). we like to close our eyes onto reality and drive our BMWs and buy that extra Persian Carpet and go to Gogosh concert in Las Vegas.

Why? Why are we like that? When are we going to wake up and start looking forward instead of crying about our past? When are we going to realized we are not better than anyone else? If anything, we are inferior to western world and even our neighbors. I mean look at Turkey for example. They don't have quarter of our natural resources but they are a lot more advanced than us. Look at Arabs. Streets of Dobi are a lot nicer than streets of Shiraz.

We need to put away this false pride and ancient history crap. We have to wakeup because if we don't nothing is going to get better for iran and Iranians.

B Barzin



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* Protecting civilizational heritage

I was very disturbed after I read Mr. Gieve Mirfenderski's article [The last stand of all things Persian] about the name of the Persian Gulf. With friends like these, does the Persian Gulf need any enemies? Hardly!

Rather than attacking those who are doing their best to not allow neo-colonoial divide and conquer schemes to completely succeeed in cultural ethnic cleansing, Mr. Mirfenderski is well advised to remember that the ultimate reason why people of conscience should defend the name of the Persian Gulf (as well as that of the Arabian Sea or the Shatt-al Arab) is that the civilizational heritage of ALL CULTURES needs to be protected, in this savage technological age in which biological diversity, along with its intimate twin, cultural / linguistic diversity (in other words diversity of consciouness) is fast vanishing -- thus endangering the very foundational fabric which makes possible the thriving (namely survival) of life on our fragile globe.

It seems that Mr. Mirfendereski's thinking is influenced by rampant relativistic libertarianism, in which the "right" of anybody to do anything that s/he pleases (such as the singer Ebi's horrible money-hungry behavior) takes precedence over any other value.

I, for one, do not want to live in such a Darwinain jungle. Long live the evolution of consciousness, beyond the immorality of opportunistic "value" system of "might makes right!"

Moji Agha



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* Start a forum

Dear hamvatan,

Ever since I accidentally discovered iranian.com, I have been glued to it allmost on a daily basis. At the same time I have always tried to introduce it to my friends; and let me tell you, the ones with the least interest in politics / current affairs have become instant addicts of your site.

In my opinion, the most captivating aspect of your site is the chance to either witness or participate in debate. If our vision is the same, that is to dream for a future secular democratic Iran, then I think that the least each democracy/freedom loving Iranian can do, is to participate in debates.

Therefore I would like to humbly present to you an idea, that can hopefully encourage and increase debate on your site. If you have ever checked out the websites like israelforum.com, meforum.org, you will notice that these are 'forum' based, that is they allow for automated and quick turnaround of posts. All posts are tied to a thread, so you can trail through the entire history of a debate at any time, always uptodate.

Of course, there might well be Iranian sites of this nature, however I am not aware of any. So my suggestion is, do you think that there is a possiblity that you can add a 'forum' of a similar nature to your site. And at the same time, just imagine the possibilities if it were bilingual, that is English & Farsi.

Farzad



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* Americans cam have all the oil they want -- if they give Iran democrcy

This is really funny how Iranian have the gouts to speak out in USA and other European country against President Bush and Anti War demonstration but you should see there faces when they go to Iran and they are in Mehrabad Airport in Teheran. They look like little scared dogs that has the tail between there ass. "bale Ghorbaan, Chashm ghorbaan, nakhair ghorban" this is how they respond to the Iranian officer and are scared.

While staying in Iran you don't see any on them speak out there mind or demonstrate against Iranian government which is killing hundreds of people daily. No they are scared because if they say anything they know what will happen. They will get a really good view of Tehran while the looking at it for the last few moment hanged on the top of the crane But here in USA or Europe they have no problem to act like a hero and demonstrate against war or humanity. Because they know the same government that they demonstrate against is providing a country of freedom and free speech.

Actually they forgot that the same man Saddam Hussein was responsible of the war against Iran which Iranian lost over 500.000 solder and 300.00 wounded, and it sunk Iranian economy down the drain. Because this people or the same that flea the country there home land to be able to leave in peace and be able to live there live they way they want.

Now some of the are to compatible and forgot what Saddam has brought to his people they forgot how many innocent people are being killed by his hand, they forgot that in Iraq hundreds people are in hunger while Saddam has his cook prepare food in 3 of his palaces since he doesn't know where he actually will be. The same Saddam that has bomb Iran city's with chemical bomb, the same man that sponsers family's of suicide bombers in Palestine.

I know that the USA government is not a house of angels but I see that they have created a country that everyone can have a future. They used there sources to better this country, and some may say that American are selfish, they don't care about anyone, why should they, Iran has many sources that can use to bring the economy to the top, from Oil to uranium, rice, caviar, iron, silver ...... what do they with it?

I don't care about Saddam or bin laden or any Moslem that believes Mohammed was a soldier and uses his name to create a war, but I do care when they terrorize a country that I live in, a country that my son is born in, a country that I as Iranian swore to protect in case of a war. My own country can not give me the same peace the same future, and please don't tell me this is because of the mollas, how can bunch of mollas have they power over more than 60 million people? It is us, we Iranian that worry about other's doing but not our self.

I see it this way if USA invades Iraq than Iran and take the oil, at least from every 10 gallon oil they take they give Iranian 3 gallon, it is better than the mollas regime which Iranian don't see any gallons of oil. Where ever American put there feet in they bring some kind of stability and financial security. If we can not use our resources then let them use it and give us some percentage. Hey if they promise peace and freedom in Iran, and a future of democracy than they can have all the oil the want.

Bill Gates Didn't create computer's he just made it better. Persian history goes back to over 3000 year, and what do we have from this history? NOTHING USA goes back few hundred year and look where they are, so they most do something right. All I can say is to my fellow Iranian in USA and Europe is "Your actions or your inaction's define the future of your live, be real."

Ba sepass

Filip Saprkin



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* Second bullet

"I am glad that at this historic time adults are in control of the U.S. foreign policy," Bahadori wrote [Go for it].

I think in the Iran-Iraq war you got a bullet in your head. Sorry for what has happened to you.

Abbas Rabei



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* Must have received Iraqi bullet in brain

I read Mr. Hamid Bahadori's article "Go for it". He must have received the iraqi bullet right in the brain. Its' impact has apparently eliminated his thinking process and paralized his sense of judgmen.

Mr. Bahadori shamelessly supports the war against Iraq since; he believes it is a war against barbar fundamentalists. While no one with a rational mind, would argue about the repressive and undemocratic nature of Saddam's regime, one must also consider the destruction and the death toll that war brings for innocent civilians.

A man who claimes to have personally experienced the brutality of the war, should seek peace and not vengence. His rationalization is weak and his justification for the war, absolutely absurd.

During The Vietnam war 50,000 Americans and millions of Vietnamese got killed. The veterans who survived, are still suffering from the post traumatic effects and the chemical weapons that were used. Most of the leaders of the peace movement today are in fact those who personally experienced the horror of the war.

Javad Dehaghani



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* Iraq war is SYMBOLIC and necessary

In reply to many readers of Iranina.com who have honord me by reading my article "Go for it" in the 2/21/02 editon of Iranina.com, I would like to share the follwing comments with them.

I know that Iraq is supposedly a secular Islamic country, or at least it is as close to such an animal if it can ever exist. Of course, please take a look at their flag and let me know what it says!!!!???

However, the essence of my argument was that this battle is SYMBOLIC. The symbolic value of this war is far greater than its imminent consequences. Sadam and Iraq represents Islam, no matter how much you think of that government being secular or not.

The U.S. MUST (and I mean MUST) prove to the upcoming angry young fundamentalist Mslims (even in the U.S. territory itself) that there is a line that they simply can not cross, and also that U.S. is ready to shed blood of its young soldiers to defend its interests and those of the Western civilization's idealogy, secularism through economic expansionism obtained by rapid technological breakthroughs, which can ONLY happen in a free (relatively speaking) and secular society.

Iraqi people just happen to be the weakest point in the Islamic chain. As the great political thinker of the 20th century Vladimir Ilich Olianov (Lenin) said: "You always attack the enemies camp at its weakest link." He said this in defense of having the socialist revolution in Russia which was less industrial compared to that of Germany and England as Marx would have proposed. Hey, if you can't hit the capitalism in England or Germany where it is too strong, let's hit them in Russia where it is weaker.

If you can't hit fundamentalist Islam in Iran or Syria, let's hit their SYMBOL in Iraq.

Germany and England did not have much in common with Russia and Germany actually invaded Russia twice, but still Lenin sees them as being on the same camp, and he sees their fights as their internal capitalistic struggles.

The same goes for Iraq. They may fight with Iran or Kuwait, but at the end of the day, they are all in the same Islamic camp.

It's these historic perceptions that shape history, and only great thinkers like Lenin can see these.

In our time, some of the Bush advisors see these BIG PICTURE historic type issues, and I am glad the G.W. is wise enough o understand that this thing is too big for him to even comprehend even when explained to him, and he just follows the advice of his advisors.

Well, I might be wrong, but I guess we'll all know in about 500 (FIVE HUNDRED) years or so!

Thanks for your interest in my article. It made you think, and that is all that it was meant to do.

Hamid Bahadori



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* Saddam is a cancerous tumor. Remove it

Dear Mr. Bahadori, [Go for it]

Thank you for sharing your article. This is my opinion on the whole situation. Much of the news today centers on the demonstrations against a war in Iraq. This and the ignorance of the people, has troubled me enough to write about it.

Watching the sea of humans on television, I draw a parallel between the images of Iraqi Kurds in the refugee camps, their children playing in the mud and the children in the democratic nations, walking all festive and cheerful, hand in hand with their parents! Obviously in the "free" world there is enough democracy to have the "right" to express your opinion but the question arises when one thinks about the suffering people in Iraq and the nature of these demonstrations!

Is it really the children they care for or is it because it is fashionable to go to these rallies? Or is it the western belief that Iraq cannot become a democratic society so why bother? Are Iraqis not human enough to be liberated like Germans, Italians, and French as they were liberated in 1945? Why Europeans welcome American intervention in solving European security problems but they are all fire when it is about the Middle East (anyone still remember Kosovo?)

Perhaps this line of thinking comes from the anti Semitic European attitude towards Arabs otherwise Europeans know it better than anyone else that sometimes nations have to be helped to help themselves. Every person is worthy of living in freedom and unfortunately Iraqis and the rest of Middle East are deprived of their most basic rights.

Perhaps there are people in this world who like me find this current act of demonstrations a betrayal to the oppressed Iraqis. Where were the human-shield-candlelight-vigil people when Kurds or Iranian soldiers were gassed? We are speaking about a regime that is responsible for the genocide of about a million people!

This regime must be held accountable for crimes against humanity. It is never too late or too early to move in and eliminate this cancerous tumor. The removal of this regime is a blessing for the region and will open new horizons for the Iraqi people as well as of other nations in the Middle East. Finally, the US has come to realize the importance of security in the region and the inseparable relationship between security and democracy.

Iraqis are living zombie-like under this regime. The oil is smuggled out to bring money for palaces and weapons while Iraqi children are dying because of medicine shortage. We must all pray for an end to this tragic condition but it is obvious that will not happen as long as the current Iraqi regime is in power. An invasive surgery on this dying patient is better than letting him dye painfully and slowly.

Unlike Europeans I believe Iraqis deserve a better life and they will have a brighter future under a democratic regime.

Sheema Kalbasi,
USA



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* "Clash of Civilizations" rant

I'd hate to intrude on Hamid Bahadori's fantasies and his rather poor imitation of neo-con "clash of civilizations" rant [Go for it] with such inconvenient things as the facts, BUT:

1- Neither Saddam nor his regime have any Islamic credentials, medieval or otherwise, and

2- The same "adults" in charge of US foreign policy now were supporting Saddam and giving him weapons of mass destruction a few years ago.

So much for the "Enlightened".

Mohammadi



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* American government's huge credibility problem -- THAT's the problem

Dear Hamid, [Go for it]

I agree with some of your ideas and as a veteran of Iran-Iraq war myself. I agree with you that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction and used them against Iran and his own people. I also agree that the Iraq war won't be as much about oil as some protesters and the people in the anti-war movement claim it to be!

Where I completely disagree with you is that you misrepresent the nature and ideology of Iraqi regime, which is what the US administration is doing to justify their war. Thre is no evidence or credible ideological clues or actions that put Saddam Hussein and his regime anywhere, even in the outskirts of the fundamental Islamic extremist (or medeival Islamic) movement. I'm not even sure there is a coherent movement like that.

There are some extremist Shiite clerics in Iran who happen to be in charge of the government there and are very close to losing that advantage. Then there are extremists Wahabis in Saudi and Pakistan (and elsewhere) who are 25 times worse than the Western media made Shiites to be.

These Wahabis are in no form or shape united with or associated with the Shiite fundamentalists in Iran or with Saddam Hussein. So, lumping the misfits in one group and encouraging America to take a historical grand stand against them is just not useful or realistic.

What is going on with America's desire to go to war in Iraq is just two simple facts. The first one is a doctorine that has been around in the US right wing circles for several decades. The doctrine that became President Bush's new foreign policy strategy has been around since the Reagan era.

Rumsfeld and Cheney tried to promote it during the Reagan years and then during and after the first Persian Gulf war but the Bush senior didn't go along with it then! So, these hawks just happened to be in charge of things in Washington when the 9/11 happened and found this opportunity in their laps and we are where we are.

The second and more obvious thing that is going on is that US didn't really get to teach anyone a listen and punish anyone a significvant listen. In the eyes of the US administration, the American people still want to see someone get whipped really bad over 9/11 and Afghanistan didn't really do it for them!

The problem is that American government has a huge credibility problem all over the world. Regardless of the reason (cold war, etc.) the US government spent the past 50 some years siding with brutal dictators, crushing democratic aspirations and obstructing popular freedom drives all over the world!

There are examples of this all over the world. US has caused the death and injury of countless humans in an endless series of foreign policy debacles, including the Vietnam War that you are so agreeable with. And the one time that trouble bounces back and crosses the ocean and kills several thousand Americans, we cry foul and want to bloody a country half a world away.

A country that by all evidence we helped arm and promote all through 1980's and sat silently as he used VMD's against Iranians. But when it fits our own strategy we're willing to distabalize a region and attack pre-emptively and create a horrible internation example for future governments to follow and make wars of their own! In short, Hamid jan, I disagree with you and think that you are wrong!

Best regards,

Farhad Radmehrian



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* Go for what?

Hamid Agha, [Go for it]

I have a tremendous and deep respect for all of those who fought to save Iran from the Iraqi aggression during the Iran-Iraq war, so I salute you for that. However, I find your article full of big and complex words with little substance or logic.

I would like to remind you that as you and I were fighting the Iraqis, it was the US that fueling the Iraqis against Iran and supporting Saddam.

I personally believe that wasn't for the US involvement and backing of Iraq, the war would have been done with far sooner with hundreds of thousands of lives spared. Now I would suggest that if you went to war for you country, then at least recognize who your enemies were.

Also, as you are cheering for the US and comparing it to the Vietnam, please remember that they got their ass kicked in that adventure and even the politician admit that that was a wrong place to stick their nose.

And finally, a lesson from history, all those empire that you were speaking of with all of their might, they are GONE and done (down) with now.

Mehrdad Mehranpour

P.S. Just to be clear, I am not fond of Saddam and the sooner he is brought to justice, the happier everyone will be. Just like what happened to the Pahlavis.



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* Finish the job this time

Dear Mr. Bahadori, [Go for it]

Thank you for your courage to come out against the odds.

I keep my fingers crossed that U.S not only finish the nightmare of Saddam Hussein but the Moslem Fundamentalists all together.

I hope U.S. will finish the job this time round.

H. Hakimi,
Norway

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