Current Events

Dear Arthimis:

Reading your assessment of NIAC and Trita Parsi in the first paragraph of your comment, I could not help remembering what some people on this site used to say about Ahmadinejad's "eloquence," some years ago.

This is not a public speaking contest and Iranians are not electing a public speaker. Someone else wrote Trita is cute. It's the same idea.

This is real business. We are dealing with issues pertaining to a nation and not one tiny organization that only Trita Parsi and his few sidekicks and cronies will eventually profit from.

Trita Parsi is a demagogue. He can claim as much he likes, but he and his organization are not in any way or form working in the best interests of Iranians inside or outside of Iran. And he has taken it upon himself and his organization to lobby for appeasing the regime Iranians hate. He is telling the world, they should accept IR as it is. In this talk show he even resorts to lies about the existence of civil liberties in Iran of today!

Trita Parsi does not seem to hear or see what tens of millions of Iranians are demanding. Do you ever see him condemn regime's domestic or foreign policies? And why not?

Knowing more about NIAC does not hurt. To begin with, one needs to learn how, why and with whose help NIAC was set up. Where are the funds coming from? And many legitimate questions Iranians are asking.

Have you, by any chance, noticed the immunity NIAC enjoys from attacks by IR's supporters and apologists? Have you ever wondered why?

The crusaders are back, can you believe this in this day and age

//www.rferl.org/content/eu_video_backfires_af...

I'm surprised the west hasn't attacked IRI yet with this crusader attitude of theirs, human rights/democracy ha g.m.a. break racist child molestor's 

DDPH: No, question marks are certainly not a prerequisite…

Sincerity will go a long way though.

And I am glad to hear you have formed your opinion based on reading his books.  I am partly thru the book but have hardly drawn the conclusion that you seem to have got (no pun intended).  But I still like to see those internal documents you were referring to.  As mentioned my support for the group is not unconditional.

As for your question about people of Ghaza and Lebanon, since I am not sure about your implication and/or relevance in this question, I will hesitate to speculate and make any comments.

But regarding your second question IRI certainly has been the biggest oppressor of Iranian people during the last 33 years and I believe the policies currently pushed by AIPAC will only result in more misery for Iranian people as oppose to alleviating them.  However, a type of negotiation where human rights and freedom are integral part of those negotiations could result in less misery and very possibly an environment where Iranian people could take charge of their own destiny.

  Now if I may so I can understand your point of view better, if freedom, democracy and independence are part of your wish for the Iranian people how do you see they can be helped to achive that and how would you see any group, if not NIAC, be part of that process?

Regardless of the situation in Iran, do you see a benefit in uniting Iranian-Americans to have a voice in US politics and if so how do you see that should be shaped and/or accomplished?

'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad

More questions for NIAC supporters

1) Could it be that NIAC is actually hastening the war by doing all it can can to prevent economic sanctions and putting the Revolutionary Guards on a "terrorist" list and other methods of bringing pressure on the IRI?

2) Why is NIAC officials and members so quick to whitewash IRI's terrorist acts?  The most recent case being the Bangkok fiasco. 

Thank you Vildemose

Karim Sajdadpour is by far more qualified to to talk about Iran than any of these NIACie wannabes that are still peddling Ghaza and Lebanon rather than Iran.

Amirparviz

I would accept any one that is not a power mongerer (sp?), who do you have any one in mind? I posed the same question to the office of Reza pahlavi in 2000. I asked him if you were given the opportunity to go back and reform would you be willing to yield the power or even position as the monarch for greater good of the democracy in Iran as I elaborated that I think the culture of democracy is not well understood in Iran and people will look for a new hero, and his response (to be fair his secretary's response) was first its not very democratic of me to call my fellow citizens undemocratic. And Reza Pahlavi would do what people of Iran ask him to do. No I disagree with you first Reza Pahlavi is always tainted with spending most of his life in the united states and being biased (he would likely use his influence to keep the states happy no matter how harmful that would be for the country even if he has no real power) as his dad did. And second I can see clearly our hero making culture turn him into another khamenei or his dad. You are mistaking if you think khamenei (or mohammad reze) is an evil men that gets pleasure from killings and jailing, he legitimately thinks he is doing what is right for the country and looks at the power struggle in Iran as individual aspiration which will harm the country as a whole, the flaw in these types of government is you will always be biased toward your own point of view and unchecked power will corrupt anyone, thats why specially in iran we should not let any possibility for us making another hero or in other word make every position in the government elected and not permanent no matter how great that individual is and how much that individual can help and reform the country no matter how much he talks or believes in democracy (this is the problem in Russia). For those of you who think war will also solve the problem and the united states has the good of people in mind you are wrong. Every country including the IRI have their own interest in mind. That's why Shia in china and Muslim in chechnia are not supported by the IRI. As those governments are and hopefully will be life line for Iran agains israel and the united states attacks.(they are doing it for oil as they are not exempt from that law either).  I also have nothing against looking at counties around the world and learn from them. Yes it worked for Japan and Germany back then but that was different times we have Internet now. What we need to do is promote nationalism as that's the only thing that has shown to work for iran and a common ground that ties us together (NICA is doing just that and they are not trying to legitimize the current government). Nationalism is in direct conflict with any foreign intervention. Then it will make sense for Iran to support Hezbollah when we are in conflict with Israel and let them die when (I mean if) Israel turns into our friend. Ironically rahim mashaei who is hated by both side was trying to promote this and was sacked because religious nut jobs didn't like it. You can't forcefully separate religion and government though as we all know a religious democracy is an oxymoron unless 100% of people feel exactly the same way about it (never happens). If we make sure that every official is not gonna impose his beliefs with out checks and balances and the possibility of removal of those religious sentiments by popular demand from the government with out having to shed blood then you allow the population to obligate to a common law that is accepted by majority and tends to be in middle of two extremes with a inherent biased toward the majority. Elections should determine where we stand on religion adherence with laws that would protects the minorities. ( because religion is by it's core designed to eliminate competition (here is where israel went wrong and turkey went right) I don't believe Israel is a true democracy. Pahlavis tried to make Iran too secular too soon and IRI is falling from the other side. so if you are willing to accept me as the next monarch who will resign as one after one year of writing constitution and resigning the position with the promise never to hold any government position or power I am all for that.

Bavafa

Here I see a bit of sophistry. Sure they are statements. But aren't they also questions to NIAC supporters? Should I phrase them each as a question with a question mark? Would that be the only way to expect a response.

 To me Trita Parsi is NIAC. He speaks for it and will probably always will.My opinion of NIAC is shaped by reading Trita Parsi's 

After reading that book it would be hard to come up to a different conclusion. As an NIAC member you should really read it. My question for you and other NIAC members is this. Are Iranian people's welfare more important than people in Ghaza strip or Lebanon? Who is the biggest oppressor of Iranian people, IRI or AIPAC? Please provide simple and clear answers. This time I am using question mark :)

 Karim Sadjapour on

 Karim Sadjapour on MSNBC:

 //www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/vp/46679740#46679740

A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.--Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

Tirta Parsi (if that is his

Tirta Parsi (if that is his real name!) Did a great job here on Jon Stewart Show . He is a great Speaker and made himself look very smart , civilized and convincing . That is also good for Iranians all over, so Thank you for that...

But I have to agree with Mr. Bahmani here on :  "...seeing more results on the KONY 2012 campaign in the last 3 days than anything NIAC has done in the past 30." That is 100% true Mr. bahmani, because so far there has been not one Iranian leader, a patriot (Not even Reza Pahlavi entirely...) who has the honesty , integrity and COURAGE to come out and talk in front of the world media ON BEHALF of ALL IRANIANS with 100% honesty & without any Fear (for his own life & his family life) to condemn Islamic Republic for all its crimes against humanity in the past 33 years, NO ONE!!! Even Reza Pahlavi is NOT active and aggresive enough (of course his father's case and reputation in the eyes of all those Anti-Shah attackers/ sabotagers doesn't help him in any way & to his own credit...)

The problem with us Iranians is that we are never 100% clear in and on our (REAL) position in our lives with total conviction... We Change Positions and Jump ships very fast, depending on personal interest and benefits... WE IRANIANS HAVE MASTERED THE ART OF HYPOCISY IN OUR HISTORY AND ON SO MANY LEVELS...  Hypocrisy / Doorooei (Na faght Honar) Nazdeh Iranian ast o Bas...

As far as the "COURAGE" goes, unfortunately only fanatic one's in Iran are the one's who have showed having it which reminds me of a quote by Bertrand Russel that says :  "The whole problem with this world is that fools and fanatics are too self-confident and intelligent people are full of doubts."

WE HAVE NO REAL OPPSITION , NO REAL COURAGEOUS & HONEST LEADER THAT CAN UNIT US IRANIANS ALL AND SAY ON OUR BEHALF : WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE! WE WANT FREEDOM & DEMOCRACY IN IRAN AND WE WANT ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OUT OF IRAN NOW...

All these nice so called intellectual speeches are getting us Iranians no where and "Vaaseh Fati Toomboon Nemishe", Sorry...

Have a nice weekend ya'll ... 

Free Iran & Iranians. 

DDPH: At least now we agree that …

Those were statements rather than questions which you initially wanted an answer to.

  Furthermore, those (in quotation marks) are opinion wrapped as statements without offering any links or proofs for them.  I, as a member of NIAC, don’t have any access to their internal documents and just wondering if you have and can provide them to back your claim that “their main reason to exist is to counter the AIPAC influence” 

So, to make statements and expecting others to disapproving them else should be accepted as facts,  is an insincere way about fact findings and/or having a discussion.

Case in point:

There are people here who claim to be good looking, absent of disproving it, should it be accepted as facts?

'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad

ایرج چاخان

Give it a break Iraj Chaakhaan!

There will not be any negotiations with Rahbar/Sepah/Basij. These people are moving equipment and top soil from Parchin as we speak.

Nobody trusts the Regime with the exception of you NIACies. 

Viewers discretion is advised!

Soosan Khanoom

What Roozbeh said in the post was about NIAC, its members, its supporters, its leadership and its funding. These are all legitimate questions. I call you a NIAC supporter. Becasue A)That is true. B)It is a discussion about NIAC. If you often defended Islam and IRI I would also call you a Muslim and IRI supporter/appologist as well. 

But I can see you and Roozbeh have a "history" so I will stay out of it.     

NIAC: Stop Congress' New Pro War Resolution

It is was a major week in the debate over war with Iran versus diplomacy.

The hawkish AIPAC lobby organized its annual conference in Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Obama at the White House, and the pro-war crowd had one goal in mind: to pressure the President to draw a new “red line” for military action to try to block diplomacy with Iran and make war inevitable.  

But with your help, thirty-seven Members of Congress called on the President to support diplomacy. 

The movement against war and in support of diplomacy is growing, and we can stop the war push if we stand strong. 

Send a personalized letter to your elected officials with the form below. NIAC will protect your privacy and keep you informed about this and similar campaigns. NIAC will not sell or share your information.

https://secure3.convio.net/niac/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=199&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr004=45vtifcfg2.app334b

Kissy Kissy Bao Bao!

I think Suzie has a crush on Robbie but she is trying to make him jealous by saying that she likes Trita more and is going to the prom with him!

I am going to the Principal's office and tell Mrs. Johnson that I saw Suzie kissing Robbie!

Bavafa

What part of my statement is not correct? Which part is not "sincere"? My assertions are based on NIAC's OWN documents. 

You call me either ignorant or dishonest. You may be right. But you have to make your case. It is like saying you are wrong and I am not going to say why you are wrong. To me that posture lacks intellectual honesty and yes it also lacks " sincerity".

Yours is an example of why it is so hard to get a clear answer out of NIAC members and supporters.  

DDPH: Reading your statement here in quotation marks…

Does not resemble any type of question rather a conclusion which is presented as a statement.  It lacks sincerity for anyone to take it seriously and respond to it.

Furthermore, in my opinion, you are either not familiar with NIAC or simply accepting the rhetoric without making an honest effort in finding out for yourself.

As a full disclosure, I am a [cautious] supporter and member of NIAC.  Cautious for the reason that my support is not open-ended and will depend on direction and how they represent my voice in Washington.  So far, they have my full support in providing a counter balance to those who are pushing for war on Iran as well as promoting a condition for dialogue that is conditioned based on promoting human rights and freedom in Iran.

'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad

NIAC's Treacery!

NIAC will go down in history books as the most treacherous entity in Iranian politics of the twenty-first century.

While Iranians have been overwhelmingly demonstrating to the world they don't want the regime in Tehran, NIAC traitors, through their advocacy of appeasement, are hard at work trying to legitimize and save it.

"Negotiations" will let the Iranian people achieve Regime Change

I have no doubt that the IRI is interested in entering into "diplomacy", "negotiations", "talks" (or to borrow some of the language favored by Supreme NIAC Rahbar Parsi and others, "Grand Bargain", "engagement", etc) that would facilitate a Regime Change. Sure, the IRI will do that.

Rozbeh dear

iranian men rashti or not are suffering from "IamGoodlooking.Syndrome" ... which has left untreated.   

I am just trying to be nice rather than get on my own caffeine nerve and write a longer list .... Oh no who wants that ?  

:)

Any response from the NIAC supporters?

I posted this earlier. Should I assume NIAC supporters are acknowledging I am right? If I am right doesn't it bother you? Why is it so hard to get a straight answer from NIAC supporters?

 "NIAC is distracting and counterproductive at the very least. Their internal documents reveal

that their main reason to exist is to counter the AIPAC influence.

For the sake of argument let's assume that AIPAC is bad. Should that

be the primary focus of the Iranian Americans?

For the past 33 years the biggest

problem of Iranians has been the totalitarian regime that is killing,

imprisoning, torturing and raping our people by the tens of

thousands. IRI has been robing and destroying most of what is good in

Iran. And always when you point out these obvious facts, the IRI and

its apologists change the subject to Israel. NIAC fits well in that

role of distracting and countering any measures against the Islamic

regime."  

soosan khanoom, baba relax a bit...

I know you have an obsession with me , and it is understandable , lots of women have, it's that rashti good looks :)

but, seriously, my question was addressed at Trita Joon, and Trita Joon only, and I made it clear. if I ever  decided to talk to one of his nocheh's then I make sure I call you first. OK?? 

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."

Bavafa, top experts on this subject KNOW it is a sensible option

 and know that Zero military support is necessary.  Dagan is no dummy and plenty of others know of it too, the issue, USA/UK/France love the IRI and wish to keep extremism in power and oppose dagans views for other reasons, they don't want to bomb iran because they want to keep mullahs who serve their #1 goal for Iran.  Mehrdad You are actually using your imagination to base your positions, not expert advice. Who ever said the goal of the USA is to have a USA friendly regime?  The USA knows that it has lost Iran, period, the USA knows that in no way shape or form can it have a US friendly regime in Tehran, the best it can hope for is that down the road one day soon it can have a dialogue with Iran, like it has with China.

Shame on the Free World Media!!!!!!!!! Kesafat bazi bedoneh had

Mr Netanyahu's ex-security adviser, Uzi Arad, told Israeli Army Radio
on Friday the prime minister's words were clear: "What's left? A matter
of months.''

However, the former director of the Mossad spy agency, Meir Dagan, was cautious about an attack on Iran.

He told CBS's 60 Minutes programme: "An attack on Iran before you explore all other approaches is not the right way to do it.

"It's our duty to help anyone who likes to present an open opposition against the regime in Iran."

6 Countries Negotiating with iran, thousands of officials and dozens of agencies and only one person, Just One Person, a former israeli security chief none the less, gives the correct reason for opposing an attack on Iran as an alternative and supports giving the iranian opposition the chance, clearly he's not on the US payroll and is thinking with a deep sense of Humanity, unlike the media which does the politicians work in putting blinders on most people, so the politicians can serve their fascist corporate masters and get happily reelected by largely misinformed and duped citizens.

APFSM: While that may sound and be a sensible option…

It is far harder to implement if we want to come back on earth and reality.

Here are some reason:

• The Iranian opposition is far too fragmented/divided for US to pick one that also will guarantee a US friendly regime (read submissive)
• Any such support will eventually need a military backing (much like Libya or now in Syria) and the world competing powers (East & West) are at odds now regarding such plan

But in my opinion, if human rights are part of those negotiations, which means political freedom as well and can be at least partly be safeguarded by the West, then it will eventually lead to a regime change by Iranian people.  Hopefully then all other opposition groups, including the Monarchist can accept and respect the wish and choice of Iranian people.  Of course we are getting way ahead of ourselves now :)

'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad

Kingreza3

Do you see that a democratic culture takes building democratic institutions and time and does not happen over night?  Do you see that democracy where it has worked, japan, uk etc was done in a post industrial setting not a preindustrial one?  Can you see why a secular monarchy would be a huge benefit for Iran now, in restoring peoples freedom and peace, progress, human rights while the country develops?  The regression & tyranny of the last 33 years has moved Iran further from being a democracy not closer.  If You can really see the difficulties russia, with all the educated people she has, has with developing a democracy for itself and maintaining its independence, you'll know that it will take time in Iran too.

DDPH: While my comment was specific to what takes place on IC…

I would NOT limit it to our friends and members on IC but also if any official or otherwise member of NIAC and any other group who resort to such name calling.

Now, I hope we would differentiate between random/baseless name calling and associating  a person with a group they maybe a members of.

'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad

Bavafa

The sensible option is to give up sanctions and war talk and give support to iranian opposition groups, the people of Iran can take this regime down if the people are given the opportunity to create a united opposition against them towards a secular democracy, but since that is not the wests real goal & trita is serving the USA and IRI in their present policy of keeping the regime and securing it, this is an option that we aren't presented.  It is unconscionable to only give Iranians 2 options, talk with IRI & negotiate their survival or War.  Regime Change by Iranians is important, does this make sense to you all out there?  Do you see why the USA doesn't wish this and loves to keep the IRI they brought to power?  Do you see why this option is not ever mentioned for you all? If I have to explain anymore to you, you need to start paying $$$$$, this way whether you or not you develop your understanding to the point where you see clearly what's actually going on or not, at least I make some cash teaching basics and you have a chance of saving yourselves from years of self created misery, that's fair, Naa?

Bavafa

The sensible option is to give up sanctions and war talk and give support to iranian opposition groups, the people of Iran can take this regime down if the people are given the opportunity to create a united opposition against them towards a secular democracy, but since that is not the wests real goal & trita is serving the USA and IRI in their present policy of keeping the regime and securing it, this is an option that we aren't presented.  It is unconscionable to only give Iranians 2 options, talk with IRI & negotiate their survival or War.  Regime Change by Iranians is important, does this make sense to you all out there?  Do you see why the USA doesn't wish this and loves to keep the IRI they brought to power?  Do you see why this option is not ever mentioned for you all? If I have to explain anymore to you, you need to start paying $$$$$, this way whether you or not you develop your understanding to the point where you see clearly what's actually going on or not, at least I make some cash teaching basics and you have a chance of saving yourselves from years of self created misery, that's fair, Naa?

To hiree

Well said and I can't argue with you but one point. Democracy is a culture that needs to be learned. I have recently been reading the history of the revolution and I was surprise to see all different democratic voices that was very similar to recent calls for democracy in Iran during that time. We can blam west for those voices that were muted soon after the revolution, But I have come to the conclusion that unfortunately we have only ourself to blame. This culture of looking for hero still is very strong in Iran, just read the comments made from inside and outside Iran about why khatami voted in the election or the great support for a guy who is Playing the hero now and is "against status que" , talking about mosavi. I can see another revolution having the same outcome in the current culture as I have come to see that we Iranian actively look for a strong man to save us, we build them to be gods on earth and then act surprise when they start playing the part, as gods never make mistakes and thus never have to explain their actions. in my childhood I was mesmerized by khamenei and his ability to recognize issue and offer solution but I also saw with time as the supreme leader, how he started to lose that and his speech turned into typical leader preaching about his greatness and complete lack of substance. We need people like khatami that understand democracy and don't want to be the hero and learn to support the idea not the individual. Ganji was the great hero when he went to jail and was on hunger strike but now he is dismissed as a political commentator since he is not a hero anymore. read the comments about his blog on BBC.