Current Events

ENgaged????????

 Lilililililililililililililililil!

Mobarakeh!

Now that you are engaged and have your woman, girl, by your side, this IS a big part of your reward. who is she? who is she?

I did not mean to imply that you are sheep... i mean cheap:)) Of course i will do it for you. i will get you a bargain my man. WInk! wink!

Preserving Your Political and personal aspirations are, IS a Big part of why i am in buisness:)

Dr. Mo!

Thanks for your vote of confidence!

I am motivated, engaged and ready to start, but I am not cheap!

Please negotiate a better deal as my agent (ehem!)

and the executive director / Camp manager Job Goes to....

FAramarzzzzzzzz..

 I can just see you leading the effort and taking on the reigns of leadership on that baby.

I'd say they should hire you for something around 100 grand a year... cool . right?:) 

A New Mission for NIAC

I honestly believe that NIAC will be most useful if it focuses on social and cultural aspects of Iranian-American lives like the camp for the kids or this kind of field trip to DC.

They should also start a "NIAC Peace Corp or NGO" and sponsor college-age Iranian-Americans to spend a year or two in Iran, learn the culture and language first hand and get an understanding of Sepah, Basij and the Ayatollahs.

That might change their orientation a bit.

Don't Be So Ridiculous, Mr. Parsi, et al!

In the same interview with Ms. Shohreh Assemi from around minute 28:00 on, Mr. Parsi claims that PMOI was lobbying to stop the US from attacking Iraq and instead the organization made every effort to encourage a US attack on Iran. When asked by Ms. Assemi if he had any documents (madaarek) to prove his claim, he simply says he had none and he had heard about such activities by PMOI lobby in the US. Isn't it shameless of Mr. Parsi to make baseless claims/accusations and expect Iranians, in general, and Iranian-American community, in particular, to believe him without providing any proof! Even if he did provide the required documents with regards to such activities by PMOI, will that alone be sufficient to justify NIAC's pro-regime stance? Most Iranians who have avoided NIAC are already aware that NIAC's activities are not in the best interests of Iran and Iranians. Those who blindly follow NIAC and champion its cause must realize that the examples they provide of "positive" NIAC activities would not have existed had it not been for the anti-Iranian, anti-American and terrorist activities of the regime in Tehran. Solving a problem or two which could have been avoided had there been a democratic government in place in Iran, does not justify NIAC's pro-regime stance, either. Such activities are merely the badly needed guise for the real intentions of the NIAC Lobby such as buying more time for and postponing the demise of the ruthless IR regime by trying to broker a rapprochement between Washington and Tehran.

as far as liaisons with IRI officials & lobbying for the IRI

NIAC is on the right track.

as far Iranian Americans are concerned

NIAC is on the right track.

Speaking of Bla Bla...

We get it all day under the guise of Hafez!  Poor Hafez.

The best Dokoon is the dokoon of dead poets that are not there to defend themselves.

Is NIAC Pro-Regime Or Anti-War?

In another interview with Ms. Shohreh Assemi, Mr. Parsi was asked specifically about what to do with the regime in Tehran, but Mr. Parsi does
not answer the question. Here's my comment on the thread related to the
interview: by G. Rahmanian on Sun Oct 09, 2011 08:08 PM PDT: "Interesting how Mr. Parsi employs fallacious arguments against sanctions in order to avoid the questions posed to him by the interviewer. At 12:58, Ms. Assemi asks a question about WHAT TO DO with the IR regime which has blocked all possible democratic options for any change in Iran. Mr. Parsi opts for not answering the question directly. Instead he engages in his usual rhetoric about WHAT NOT TO DO! He talks about US-Iran relations with regards to the possibility of an impending "accidental war" between them. Then he resorts to the kind of desperate and ludicrous logic that smacks of opposition to any regime change by Iranians. Why should he bring in all the gratuitous and Irrelevant details which have little bearing on a very direct question Iranians are facing? Why can't he simply come to point with regards to the question of how Iranians and NOT AMERICANS must deal with a brutal regime which has ruled Iran for more than three decades. Why bring in the US-Iran relations at that point? Ms. Assemi's question was crystal clear! She even mentioned the Reform Movement's plan not to join the upcoming elections. Mr. Parsi's infantile argument that since sanctions may take time to lift, so it is best not to impose them, was even more ludicrous. Although someone has suggested he needs to improve his proficiency in Persian, it was not Mr. Parsi's linguistic ability that stood out most. It was rather his desperate attempt at demagogic and deceitful rabble-rousing without offering an intelligent response to the most important question in the interview that is cause for concern. Mr. Parsi himself says that the regime in Tehran WILL NOT accept the proposition to have contacts with the US military in order to prevent an "accidental war," but he criticizes "those" who are against such contacts. If one party of the only two involved does not accept having contacts, does it really matter who is for or against them? What's his objective for even bring it up, except for his unwillingness to talk about the real issues of Iranians? He does, albeit momentarily, mention human rights abuses by the regime which, as a matter of fact, did not start only two years ago!"

iranfirst, i looked at the

iranfirst, i looked at the clip and clearly remember the entire interview on parazit.  trita argued against foreign military intervention (one way of getting rid of vf) as probably 95% of iranians do including me, probably you, and khamenei (especially khamenei).  i have no qualms about that.  then he was against getting rid of vf through an uprising by iranian people because he said "look what happened the last time there was a revoultion."  so he covered the set of possibilities of getting rid of vf.

in the same interview, he argued against sanctions but said that he's for targeted sanctions.  but obama signed a law for targeted sanctions and niac was against it.  as far as human rights go, niac is new to the game and trita has been asked point blank when niac wasn't involved in human rights "talks" where he has said "we don't especialize in human rights."  this is from first-hand conversation.  after niac realized that they must get into the human rights debate, he has time and time again made a fool out of himself.  the link i provided is an article authored by him.  in a conference on human rights niac set up, he urged those who are abused in iran to keep a record of the abuses they have endured and present it to the world (parvandeh-sazi). as if there is any doubt that iri is torturing and killing political dissidents.  there are actual videos of these atrocities.  they just killed a child in public a couple of months ago for god's sake.  keep records?

i do agree that there are many well-intentioned people that are fooled by this organization.  i'm for iranians uniting in this country, filling out census forms identifying themselves as iranians, get involved in politics, preserve their language and culture, have hafez readings! but it doesn't have to be through this phony lobby group.

Trita , is he for Regime Change or Not?- Hamsadeh ghadimi

Dear Hamsadeh Ghadimi, you are right. One has to Listen to what Trita
himself says and decide . In this video he is directly asked, and off
course he dances around the questions without answering, because he is
NOT for any regime (IRI) change, he is a dalal who wants to make money,
period. He has to make all sides (including terrorist IRI) happy to make
money.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U-1HQrpx7Q

Having said that I am sure there are many Iranian Americans (many young)
who work for NIAC and are sincere in their efforts to help other
Iranian Americans.
Too bad these people are used as a front by the likes of Trita Parsi to
gain legitimacy. My hope is that these honest idealist members
question and ultimately replace the VF/ Rahbar / president-for-life of
NIAC

"... albeit for the wrong interest groups ... ."

That's a great way of putting it. Without IR, there wouldn't be any use for any such organization.

ramin jan, before you have

ramin jan, before you have an aneurysm, go to niac's website and read their mission statement.  as you will see, niac's mission has nothing to do with human rights in iran.  now you see that my sentiments are based on facts.  for someone who is primarily concerened about human rights in iran, (s)he would spend her/his free time and resources on organizations that just do that.  and what did you think of trita parsi's assertion that it's because of the u.s. policies that iri is cracking down on the opposition.  do you agree?  with that logic, i can see how the targeted sanctions that obama signed, ordinary iranians would get hurt!

iranfirst, i'm afraid that you're wasting your time with providing links or any facts/observations that bolster your view (as i have).  you know that they will try to shoot the messenger instead of responding to the points he's making.  they don't even respond to trita parsi's own idiotic statements (link in my earlier post).

NIAC's so-called "leadership" conference & Trita/IRI Lobby-Video

//iraniansforum.com/index.php/video/viewvideo...

NIAC has done more on human rights than all IC bloggers combined

I love to see how NIAC-haters on IC keep on bringing up human rights, as if NIAC isnt doing anything on that. In fact, it is doing FAR more on that than all of these bloggers combined. Here are the facts:

//www.niacouncil.org/site/PageServer?pagename...

But clearly, these NIAC-haters cant read, or dont want to read. It is just too comfortable making up a fake case on human rights against NIAC, so that they can feel good about their own useless existance.

If they did consider facts, they would see that the problem is with THEMSELVES and the fact that they are wasting their time on IC rather than DOING something.

In essence, NIAC is putting these sorry excuses for Iranians to shame, and that is why there is so much wrath among these losers against NIAC.

Before NIAC, the uselessness of this crowd wasnt as obvious. Now it is - because NIAC is achieveing things while these folks remain stuck in nonsense cyberspace conversations... 

Darius

Worshipping the wrong thing: I've been meaning to tell you for a while, that for Hafez "LOVE" isn't a King, a Ruler, NIAC, OBAMA, The Shah, Queen Elizabeth - Love is more ethereal than that, worshipping "leaders" or "groups" wasn't up Hafez's alley. 

Maybe Iranians get this passionate about who they hate and who they love, because they are looking for "Love" in the wrong place. Just a thought.

As for NIAC - they do stuff that's commendable. I might be naiive, but that counts more to me, than "where" the funding is coming from. Next year, maybe I won't support them. It's all cool. Because NIAC, OBAMA, The Shah, the this or the that Leader - are not meant for worshipping. 

I am also more foucsed on human rights in Iran

Both hamsade Ghadimi and Bahmani wrote comments that I can identify with. I don't think it is enough to prevent war between US and Iran. What we have in Iran is a kind of war any way. war of a government against its own people.

LOVE is Boring ...

Hence why I'm a monarchist ...

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZKiYgcgBAY

;0) 

Name that Tune!

Listen to (A NIAC's Brat) Ramin's Tune:

'NIAC is successful because they are smart, professional.......'

And again:

'It is also not  acoincidence in my view that these smart and professional......'

And here comes more:

'and that the unprofessional, mentally instable, conspiratorial, pro-war, pro-violence and revenge-obsessed Iranians have ended updoing nothing but bitching and slandering folks.' 

Now, is anybody complaining about fake 'Ph.D.'s' working as 'Professionals' in our country?  anybody?

Here we have a yankee cowboy from VW, and most probably a 'high school drop out' who dares to call himself 'Iranian.' SHAME.

And "Mosht Nemooneh Kharvar!'

forgot to add a link.

forgot to add a link. here's trita parsi's reasoning for the root of the problem for rise of human rights abuse in iran: united states policy!

//www.iran-press-service.com/ips/articles-2008/march-2008/bush-administration-has-fueled-the-human-rights-ab.shtml

agha ramin, if you really

agha ramin, if you really wanted to go to d.c., it's only a 2-3 hours from w.v.  i don't think there'll be any national gathering of any kind your neck of the woods anytime soon.  although if you wait enough, maybe someone can even bring ka'beh to w.v. so you can have your hajj.

kidding aside, the last time someone brought proof that niac president for life has secret meetings and communications (which he has not admitted) with iri representatives, all the niacis got a serious case of laalmooni citing we're not going to respond to every accusation that comes along.  the rabid support of niac by the rabid supporters of iri is not evidence either (not insinuating that all niacis are iri supporters for the logic-challenged readers).

personally, as an iranian who also happens to be a u.s. citizen, i'm more concerned about human rights in iran which is not part of the mission of niac.  in fact, some of the opinion pieces coming out of niac with regard to human rights in iran nauseates me.  as someone pointed out, there are many iranian-american groups and human rights groups focusing on iran (and are not in cahoots with iri).  i prefer to interact with those groups.  at any rate, looking forward to the proceeding of niac's leadership conference.  can someone post that on i.com?

Hafez's Real King: "LOVE"

As much as I'd hate to take things off topic -- (whether NIAC is funded by blah-blah-blah or blah-blah or just blah) I know PARSA Foundation gives them grants, and I respect the foundation a lot.

But back to the distraction via Hafez. The subject of "Kings" had come up. Yes, there were benevolent and less-benevolent Kings in Hafez's life. These altering states enriched his experiences, and he has poems thanking and deriding both types of Kings. 

But "King" to Hafez, and much of Persian mysticism, is "Eshgh": The ruling kings are only significant in terms of how effectively they let Hafez celebrate his adherence to "Eshgh" - LOVE -  Furthermore, to Hafez, the earthly love and divine love are intricately intertwined.

Back to the fight over NIAC: My position is that it's fine to oppose - but instead of conspiracy and "negh-o-nough" - actually setting  up your own "Iranian-American" organizations, that's equally determined to have representation in the US. Much of what they do is positive for the community, and I don't "worship" anyone - 70% or so of what they do is up my alley, and that's all it takes to be supportive. We still think we have to "worship" or "hate" But, like Hafez, who only worshipped, "LOVE" - maybe there's a lesson to be learnt. This stuff is just politics - you shouldn't be looking for your "God" via NIAC, or OBAMA or THE SHAH etc. Hafez certainly didn't.... OK.. I hope that satisifed those who'd posed the question on "Kings."

Forget Iran, join NIAC in DC!

Does this seem wrong? Or am I unreasonable? Should we give up on freeing Iran this easily?

To me this looks like:

Give up your hopes for a free Iran kids!

Look, get off it already, Iran is lost, really there's no hope or chance for you or anyone in Iran.

Better to focus your efforts in the US and learn how to get more and more and more of the American dream. Even if you are French-Iranian or from Iranian-free Denver. Forget your Iranian dream(s), because they are only nightmares.

Get involved in US politics! And learn how to lobby! Even if you don't actually have a constituency that needs one! Just act like one, because that's where the real action i$!

Unfortunately as elegant and organized as many of you seem to feel that all of this looks, and as proud of NIAC you are, I cannot help but wonder what could have done if this and NIAC was focused on how we can all work from here to achieve (more important) political change inside Iran.

Because by my calculations, achieving political change in Iran will give us far more political prestige/aberoo in the US.

And apparently from this "Kurdish Rebel Dancing Music Video" report, prestige/aberoo is what we are really after.

To read more bahmani posts visit: //brucebahmani.blogspot.com/

Mehrdad

I know.  I expected that statement from mini-Fereydoon which I usually ignore, but Mehrban....I did not.

Wish i was there!

NIAC is successful because they are smart, professional and they are thick-skinned enough not to be phased by what Darius admitted is a character assassination campaign by the pro-Israel, pro-MEK, Pro-Monarchist groups.

It is also not  acoincidence in my view that these smart and professional Iranian Americans have taken the pro-dialogue, pro-human rights, anti-war, anti-sanctions stand, and that the unprofessional, mentally instable, conspiratorial, pro-war, pro-violence and revenge-obsessed Iranians have ended updoing nothing but bitching and slandering folks.

My only wish is that NIAC would do something in West Virginia...

Ramin,

West Virginia

Dear MM: Such comments only begs more question…

Firstly, any accusation without any reasonable proof, only blows more holes in the opponent sail and give the nagging charge even more credibility.

Secondly, should the charges be true what would be the excuse for the opposition to this group for not attempting to organize and compete even at financially disadvantage position?  We do see MEK as hated and unpopular they are to have been able to garner much financial support to the point of renting many high cost US politicians and it is fair to say that not all the money comes from AIPAC.  So, if they can do it why not the others?

Hence, I believe in what Afsaneh said about “negh-o-nough”

'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad

Dear anglophile, this seems logical

to write positively about kings that Hafez thought had done good and negatively about those he did not think much of. Not all kings were or are good and not all presidents are good either.

But not Hafez dear Anahid

He was a genuine admirer of a number of kings who were his contemporaries, most significantly, Shah Shoj'a and Shah Mansour. It is outside the span of this blog but I can bring you many examples of Hafez's heartfelt admiration of a number of kings and at the same time abject detestation of a few others. May be a subject for Afsaneh's next blog :)

Mehrban / DK

Mehrban,

Any proof of IRI money for NIAC?

DK,

I am just astonished that you said anything positive on NIAC, instead of the mini-Fereydoon-like babble.  The last sentence, I hope you meant to say (and made a mistake), being an "artist" of a sort, go out and break a leg!

Maybe some of our poets were sarcastic in writing about kings

The other day thinking of Rodaki's poem,"booye jooye Molian ayad hami", I was thinking that Joys usually stink and was thinking what if sometimes these poets were forced to write poems in "madh" of the kings and how would they show their displeasure in this case.