Recently I was invited by NIAC to send a pre-written letter opposing the new round of sanctions against Iran as a result of the Saudi Ambassador Assassination plot by Iran uncovered by the US.
NIAC's letter is good (a bit too long if you ask me), to be fair, it covers all the usual areas of concern that NIAC has and it is convenient and harmless if you are a member and don't actually care what NIAC does but want to claim you do. Just like that iPhone you own, but don't know how to use either.
But I didn't give NIAC my right to speak (especially to politicians) just because it really really wants to. I don't agree with NIAC's argument that it cannot speak out against the Iranian government because it's charter says it can only advocate for Iranian-American issues in the US.
Which is confusing, because now when I have a problem with the lawn watering policy of my Home Owner's Association, do I call NIAC first or Jose?
Meanwhile, I will at least credit Trita Parsi for inventing the now popular term, "Soft Power" in his numerous books about how bad the US-Israeli-Iranian governments are. You have to get through his berating of Israel first though.
Confused? Get in line baby!
For example this latest Anti-Iran-Sanctions robo-letter NIAC wants everyone to send to US politicians.
[Hypothetical Question: Is it technically impossible for NIAC to send the same kind of letter objecting to similarly retarded Iranian laws to Iranian politicians in Iran?]
Here's my version of the letter NIAC wanted me to send:
Dear [Recipient],
I write to urge you to oppose ANY sanctions on Iran.
I am deeply concerned (but not surprised) that Congress and the Administration are totally wasting their time by assuming that any sanctions would hurt the Iranian leadership and persuade them to act the least bit differently. This didn't work in Cuba and worked worse with North Korea. Since Iran knows US history better than you do, it of course won't work with Iran.
It is a huge waste to institute any broad or even surgical sanctions on Iran, that anyone in Iran with half a brain can circumvent. And when it comes to circumvention, Iranians have a brain and a half!
A far better idea now that the US needs all the business it can get, is to open the door to Iran as wide as possible, and let every single US business sell whatever they can to consumer product hungry Iranians, and ramrod Iran into an era of inarguable prosperity and a veritable consumerist orgy.
This will achieve several objectives:
It will open Iran up and dependent on US products and goods, causing Iran to rethink automatic antagonistic policies towards the US. Especially this can be a good wedge to broach the subject of Israel with, as well as provide a carrot-juice smoothy with an energy and immunity boost for the Palestinians to come back to the bargaining table.
For example, just one idea along this vein of creating an "Iranian Dilemma" would be "Best in Class Top Quality Qorans printed in Israel".
Also by helping Iran usher in an era of unequaled prosperity, you will effectively remove the primary weapon and continual threat that the Iranian government has held over the heads of Iranians since 1979. Prosperity combined with Iranians has always led to change. Think when Iranians were fat last. OK think the Shah-era 1970's then.
If the Iranian people were actually able to enjoy their day to day lives for once, and have enough to eat and buy in the marketplace, at reasonable prices, they would very, very, very quickly right what they agrree now is obviously wrong with their government.
H.R.1905 (the Iran Threat Reduction Act) threatens only to encourage Iran to seek the same rewards that North Korea and Pakestan got by simply bluffing belligerency to American negotiators who don't know how to haggle Bazar-style. The toys Iran wants for Christmas? A rudimentary but still quite effective DIY home-brew nuclear program, continued abuse of human rights for fun and prophet, and to enhance the inflated image that Iran actually thinks it has in the region.
This last one is actually the most intolerable and annoying one. Arrogant Iranians only end up ordering Chivas. And then where will the world be?
H.R.1905 is understandable coming up on an election year. Do what you gotta do, but trust me, Iran will implode on prosperity with a single match. Because they always do.
"Keep 'em lean and Iranians get mean, make 'em leaner and they only get meaner."
Allow civilian aircraft parts for Iran. Iran has one of the worst civilian flight safety records and airplane food in the world, with over 1,000 deaths due to crashes and/or indigestion. This doesn't win any hearts and minds (or bowels). If Iranians can travel safely and they can credit the US (and BOEING) for it, they will.
Allow Iranian-Americans to send money to loved ones in Iran or even better receive free money they never kne they had from an inheritance or pension in Iran. You will make it up in iPad sales.
[Side note: When Iranian Americans find out about sanctions the hard way, and end up in US prison, they don't vote and make campaign contributions like they used to.]
Parents in Iran are currently unable to send money to their sons and daughter to study in the US. (Cultural Note: Iranians tolerate only the ugly daughter going off to college, the pretty ones are married off to balding older friends of the family, with mustaches). Iranian students who can't pay, take away scholarships/grants from Americans with lower GPAs.
The U.S. must not endorse policies that jeopardize U.S. interests and threaten the global economy. This has nothing to do with Iran but it just sounds good to say.
H.R.1905 doubles down on failure. In the face of sanctions EVER achieving anything, how stupid do you have to be? This is of course a rhetorical question.
I ask you to please oppose any sanctions against Iran and figuratively shitcan H.R.1905 right off the bat. I hope I can count on you to stand against these counterproductive proposals and I look forward to your response. Or not. Either way, I'm Iranian and used to total political inaction by now.
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Hass
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Mon Nov 07, 2011 02:38 PM PSTI think the joke thread is:
//iranian.com/main/blog/monda-13
But thanks for the joke except that it is not funny. I guess the life expectancy excludes:
IRI is 115th...and proud of it!!!
by AMIR1973 on Mon Nov 07, 2011 01:13 PM PSTHere are infant mortality ratings by country. IRI is either 115th or 155th (depending on the source):
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_infant_mortality_rate
Its life expectancy is ranked somewhere between 103rd and 132nd:
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy
And remember, IRI has enjoyed some of the highest oil prices ever during its wonderful 32 years in power, whereas oil prices were high only for a 5-year period under the Shah (1973-78). Nice try though, O hass-terical one :-
Iranians are BETTER OFF THAN EVER BEFORE
by hass on Mon Nov 07, 2011 01:03 PM PSTFrom 1975 through 1980 Iran's Human Development Index remained stagnant at 0.569 . By 1990 it was up to 0.693, and in 2002 it was 0.732. Today it stands at 88th in the world, placing it high on the "medium developed" nations list and slightly above Turkey's (Iran = . 702, Turkey = .679)
Life expectancy at birth in 1970-1975 was 55.3 years. For 2000-2005, it is now 70.3 years. Under-five mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) in 1970 was 191. Today its 42. Today about 90% of the people have access to basic healthcare, and even remote villages have obtained clean water, electricity, schools and roads. Iran produced about one million passenger cars this year, compared with the 12,000 manufactured in 1989.
Dr. Mohandes
by Abarmard on Mon Nov 07, 2011 09:41 AM PSTYou are right. I was under heavey scotch influence. My friends fault to have his laptop open... ;)
Bruce bahmani jan
by Dr. Mohandes on Mon Nov 07, 2011 07:18 AM PSTYour reply to Rational Iranian... That was an awsome write up.
No one could have put it as artciculately and succinctly as you just did and not to mention it can not get any more simplified than that!
Good work there Buddy. Keep on keeping it UP:)
Reply to RationalIranian
by bahmani on Sun Nov 06, 2011 10:16 PM PSTI'm not a lobby, and have no intention of becoming one. Why would I do the Iranian way, and start my own thing? I'd much rather try to help NIAC get on the right track.
My point and question is, Do YOU think we have more "problems" with the US government? Or like me do YOU think the main problem here is the Iranian government?
Because personally, I think it is IRAN that has escalated things to the brink of another war. NIAC won't lift a finger to complain about the hiker hostages (Why? Because they were Jewish?), but the minute a Texas BBQ bar puts up a humorous poster depicting a caricatured stereotype of an Iranian being lynched, in response to the Hiker Hostages, NIAC suddenly has a cause and beef?
If you think we need to "fix" the US, and pretend Iran isn't a factor, I think you are crazy.
Since I know you are NOT crazy, why don't you stop the cheerleading for a "service" we don't need, and help me change NIAC's strategy to focus on lobbying the real culprit, namely the government of Iran to change.
I will listen to you argue back, "Bruce, it won't work, you cannot talk to the IRI..." if someone for ONCE tried and failed. To my knowledge a group as astute and equipped and intelligently staffed as NIAC has NEVER tried to lobby Iran like it does the US.
What a WASTE!
Trying means the SAME effort NIAC spends on the US government, spent on the Iranian government.
Show me it being tried ONCE, and I'll accept NIAC's and your strategy.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not against NIAC, I think they are an exceptional automobile.
They happen to pointed in the wrong direction.
Agha jan, the RACE is this way ---->.
To read more bahmani posts visit: //brucebahmani.blogspot.com/
i agree with no sanctions at all
by xalephbet on Sun Nov 06, 2011 05:31 PM PSTthat's the fastest way to regime change.
Hass is lying
by AMIR1973 on Sun Nov 06, 2011 11:58 AM PSTThe IRI's infant mortality ranking and life expectancy rankings are NOT even in the Top 100 among countries. Many countries much poorer than the IRI have better infant mortality and life expectancy than the IRI -- so much for Hass's lies about iranians living long lives and having good access to health care. Yeah, right!
Abarmard jaan
by Dr. Mohandes on Sun Nov 06, 2011 11:42 AM PSTAre you feeling Alright my Friend??...
Step away... Take a deep Breath....Feeling dizzy by any chance?...
I am here and There... Meaning aziz. That I AM In IRAN but... BUT I am Here... As in IC... So Logically it can be deduced that ---> Here = IC...
I am sorry but I am not willing to take back what i said That how F... Up things are in This country, Even if you spend the whole next week or even a month explaining to me about How we need this ... That it is all part of a Metamorphisis that we are going through...
la dee la dee da... You know what i sayin' Playa?:)
It is time to Rap...
Good comments
by Mohammad Ala on Sun Nov 06, 2011 06:54 AM PSTGood comments hass, James, and Kako.
For fun
by Abarmard on Sat Nov 05, 2011 07:26 PM PDTIt's simple. Confrontation vs. dialogue. Perhaps one thing Ron Paul says is correct, the end result of these policies are war. If you like war and having Iranians inside suffer whatever consequences because you are not there, then what can I say? If knowing the end result is war and to your eyes it’s wrong to not like war, then wrong feels so right!
Dr. Mohandes, question is, if you are in Iran, are you here or there?
"I LIVE in IRAN. Yes. I am there right now".
NIAC's policies are clear. No sanction, no war. It's simple and makes many angry because of its simplicity. Most people who disagree, and say it is an IR lobby, resort to the fact that NIAC had meetings with IR officials while they also met with US officials.
Well, what do you think dialogue, communication, peace, lifting sanctions mean? Not talking and throwing shoes at your opponent? What do you think NIAC is, an LA TV?
Don’t be a member; I don't believe you are missed. After all what's democracy without having different opinions? Respect comes by personal push to investigate a bit further otherwise ignorance takes over.
Let me think of the logic:
Yes, don't sign the petition, instead write to your rep to force further sanctions, and ask all anti Iranian (oops, meant anti IR, which happens to have Iranians live there) parties continue these policies so IR (only IR officials of course) suffer as it already has, while people flourish and enjoy more and more freedom as sanctions become tighter and tighter.
Who knows, maybe if we just rise against NIAC and go on streets chanting free Iran all problems will resolve. Could it be any simpler than that? Why NIAC doesn’t get this? It’s not only NIAC but IRR people on Iranian.com.
OK, got it, let’s get rid of NIAC, get rid of all reps of IRR on Iranian.com, then write a letter to US officials and say make IRR suffer. That must be it. We missed it all these years. Down with NIAC that has kept IRR in power by lobbying for all the right policies to help IRR, which is…which is…sanction? No, lifting sanction, because now there are no sanctions in place and if NIAC was not there Iran would be sanctioned and then we would not have IRR. I get it. I get it. Let me post my comment now and let everyone know this horrible lobby group that is helping IRR.
Hey better yet, if the objective of war with Iran is to bomb Mullahs houses and some IRCG, then people will run on streets and revolt and get rid of the IRR and we all be free and go there and have fun PARTYYYYYY…. NIAC doesn’t want that because they are IRR lobby and don’t want war, so, we can’t go and say down with Mullahs.
Back to reality:
Think of it this way, things are going your way, sanctions are getting tighter and war might be around the corner. Hey you are never satisfied are you? NIAC has lost to your demands already. We as NIAC followers think you are part of the problem.
I have a
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Sat Nov 05, 2011 02:04 PM PDTdifferent idea about dealing with Hizoblah Republic. How about they allow free and no vetting elections. No more VF and Mollahs with no popular mandate. In return all sanctions are removed. People decide the regime they want.
Observations
by rationaliranian on Sat Nov 05, 2011 01:58 PM PDT1) NIAC's letter is a bit too long for you, but you take the liberty of writing a letter that is twice as long. Nice work.
2) You mention that NIAC should change its goals to focus more on the Iranian government as opposed to issues facing Iranian Americans in the United States. You even say that you didn't give NIAC the right to speak for you. Well, have you asked yourself why NIAC doesn't adapt to your preferences? Have you considered that you might be in the minority? Have you tried to start your own organization that pursues your stated preferences? Have you tried to rally Iranian Americans around your preferences? Maybe if you spent more time focused on these questions rather than writing blog posts, you'd accomplish your goals. All that time and energy you spend writing blog posts about NIAC could be directed towards something that actually makes a difference in the real world. People are free to criticize NIAC, but it's sad that Iranian Americans who critiize NIAC the most are the same people who accomplish the least.
Haas
by Dr. Mohandes on Sat Nov 05, 2011 04:41 AM PDTI LIVE in IRAN. Yes. I am there right now , And witnessing the situation on a daily basis and everytime i hitthe streets, I can virtually call you a Liar... Just for Including that last statement in your comment. Okay... Sorry... Liar is a bit Third degree. But you are definitely
Not right... You don't have any idea what you are saying... You are out of touch with The realities on the ground... in the air... deep under the water... You have been misinformed. Deceived. Mislead...Given the wrong kind of information... Oh sorry,,, already covered that one...! Oh... You were there yourself you say? Hm. In that case... You were not focusing on what was right in front of Ya!
You have done anything BUT stating the fact. And i seriously doubt mr, HG is having any kinda fits about it, since reading his reply to you gives me the impression that his account is far more accurate than yours and much closer to the FACTS...
Living Longer?? Yeah? Iranians never in theirlong history have had to deal with Psycological issues, stemmed from social ills and economic devastations, as they are doing today. That is a Fact Senior.
Better access to health??? LOL. Yeah that is if you have freaking deep pockets and a long hand than can reach in and dig out all the cash and pay outta pocket. Otherwise as they say een amereeka You are Fooked! Just last week they had it on national tv that in some chi chi shahr... poor people dont even a simple clinic and have to drive all the way, 3 hour drive to Karaj and tehroon. The nearest cities at that. Yeah indeed. Better access to healthcare. !!!
It a terribly sad saga indeed. I wish i knew which sources you consulted with before extracting your data... But i have a few words for all those sources and the ones compiling such data.
As i said I LIVE Here and You or no one else can change facts as they parade before my eyes on a routine basis.
Okay?? okay then.
it's funny how the iri
by hamsade ghadimi on Fri Nov 04, 2011 08:31 PM PDTit's funny how the iri chearleaders are rabid niac supporters. and they get upset when they're called iri supporters. so "iranian people are doing better than they ever have been?" i don't know about you, but when i was growing up in iran, they weren't hanging children by the crane in the street. and when i visit iran, i see the price of meat and other goods (some of which are more expensive than here in the u.s.) while the income is much lower. you wouldn't understand since i suspect you haven't grown up in iran or recently have visited my country.
as far as sanctions on airparts, you chose to just answer one of my 3 points. and a very weak answer at that. apparently the french airbus has authorized dealers for parts in 30 countries (//www.airbus.com/tools/airbusfor/suppliers/). boeings are a small number of iranian fleet (go check it out yourself) and they should be grounded if they're not safe to fly (see point #2 in my 1st comment).
people like you who think that iranians have never had it so good disgust me and frankly i think that you deserve to burn in hell sir (if there's such a thing). and i know you're a big niac fan which speaks volume for the lobby group.
btw, i took the author's blog as satire.
Israel want sanctions so US imposes sanctions
by hass on Fri Nov 04, 2011 05:26 PM PDTNo, Hamsade, actually Iran operates quite a few Boeings, and anyway the US sanctions prevent it from getting parts even for the French-made Airbus because there are parts that are made in the US, which is why Iran also can't get Rolls Royce jet engines. These things are subject to "end user licenses" that prevent sales to Iran, whether directly or indirectly. As a result, Obama claims to be "supporting the people of Iran" while at the same time placing their lives in danger and considering bombing them outright.
In fact the author is correct. The best thing to do if you want to topple the regime, is to OPEN UP to Iran because a secure. financially succcessful Iran is going to be the best ally for the US. However the people in charge of US foreign policy DON'T WANT Iran to be secure and stable - that would make Iran a potential competitor to Israel and Saudi Arabia, and we certainly can't have THAT now can we? Israel definitely doesn't want Iran to be a regional competitor (even the Shah really didn't get along too well with Israel) instead Israel wants Iran to be under its thumb, like Jordan. And certainly there are too many OGHDEI bitter exile Iranians who have sat on their fat asses in LA spitting bile at Iran to be able to think past their own desires for revenge even at the cost to the people of Iran for them to accept anything like engaging Iran. However engagement is ALSO the best way to promote human rights too!
And Sorry but the people of Iran are doing better today than they ever have been. This is just a fact that may cause you to have some fits but it is true. They live longer, have better access to healthcare, clean water, electricity, education, paved roads, childcare, vaccinations, etc. than ever before and Iran's Human Development Index has improved a LOT since the days of the Shah.
winning with tiger blood
by hamsade ghadimi on Fri Nov 04, 2011 07:22 AM PDTwinning with tiger blood should be niac's motto.
i got a chuckle from reading your blog bahmani. on the issue of sanctions on airparts: 1) u.s.-made planes make up a small percentage of iran's fleet (majority are france's airbus) while most of the aircrashes are due to the german fokkers (no pun intended) (source: wiki), 2) shouldn't air safety officials in iran ground planes that are unsafe to fly? or are they flying these ill-equipped planes to spite their noses (and the ordinary iranian noses), 3) iri transportation minsiter has claimed that u.s. sanctions are ineffective (//www.presstv.ir/detail/147965.html). which makes me wonder if iri (or its lobby) is trying to blame their own incompetence on other countries' actions.
there was a saying "if you don't want an uprising, keep iranians hungry and keep arabs full." i don't agree with the statement for the obvious simplistic generalization but still was amused with your statement "keep them lean and they get mean." i actually like your line better. there are a lot of nuggets (e.g., circumventing expertise by iranians especially when moving money/valuables from point a to point b) in your blog worth discussing but i'll keep it short.
We're winning!
by James D. on Fri Nov 04, 2011 06:39 AM PDTBahmani,
I know you usually try to be snarky when it comes to NIAC, but this is a complete validation of NIAC and its role of getting Iranian Americans involved in US civic life.
At the top of NIAC's pre-written letter, it says "
Please personalize your message." And you did, so kudos.
Also, I don't know about you, but I wouldn't have even known there was such a bill until after it had passed without NIAC. I'm guessing its the same for most of the other people here. But not only did you know about the bill, you took action to tell your lawmakers what you think.
That's progress!
hehe
by hirre on Thu Nov 03, 2011 05:06 PM PDTgood one