Abarmard

ایراندخت عزیز؛

با کمال احترام برای هممیهنان دلاور و شخص شما،  بندۀ حقیرهرگز از چنین عروسکی که به فرموده لغو گفته و به فرموده گفته را باز پس گرفته و در آینده هم چنین خواهد کرد سپاسگزاری نخواهم کرد.  رزمتان پیروز که فرزندان راستین ایران هستید. 

با سپاس

My mistake!

I misread IAPAC as AIPAC. My apologies. All of these acronyms become a blur after a while.

I'm not sure of the position (if any) they have on her. But, I'm intersted in finding out. Thanks for the heads up, and of course, the correction.

Thanks Kaveh

Ari

Usually, I'm the one accused of being overly cynical!

Other than AIPAC's statement denying any "quid pro quo" with respect to Harman and the Intelligence Committee chair, I read  that there is an NSA wiretap from before the 2006 elections where Harman is telling an "Israeli agent" that she'll look into lobbying the Department of Justice on behalf of AIPAC. That was a while back, and I don't recall the rest off the top of my head.

The problem with a "politician being for sale" is that there's always the chance of someone else being out there who will come out of nowhere with more resources, clout, money, etc. who can derail whatever progress you make with that politician. And usually, it happens at the time when you need the influence of that politician the most.

Kaveh

By the way, I asked NIAC if they were involved in efforts to organize the unseating of Harman. Their response was as follows:

"No there are no efforts on our end to vote her out of the office, however we have informed the community of her statement and naturally the reaction has been negative. As we aren’t a PAC, we cannot do that."

Do you happen to know  if IAPAC's has issued a statement on the Harman controversy?

Ari

I understand fully where you're coming from.

However, Jane Harman is an extremely shady character. Her retraction amounts to nothing more than her looking to save her own skin. She is under intense scrutiny for her role in the AIPAC/Rosen/Wasserman mess, with her lobbying on AIPAC's behalf to the DoD in exchange for AIPAC lobbying Nancy Pelosi to appoint Harman as chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

Her original statement about breaking up Iran demonstrated her contempt for Iranians, while her retraction demonstrates that she's for sale. In a situation like that, ultimately, as constituents, we end up irreparably harmed.

Kaveh

See how easy it is to defeat certain criminals in AIPAC?

I am happy! AIPAC should have stopped her right there and then but nevertheless, we corrected their errors anyway. Well done to everyone!

BFD

One can un-screw a light bulb.

This, is a different matter entirely.

Expressed regret? Don't be ridiculous. Someone set her straight about how much money and clout Iranians in her district have, and the mid-term elections are coming up.

As to signing on to a letter thanking her for her retraction, it will be a cold day in Hell before I'll ever thank her for taking back something she should never have said in the first place.

After this, if any Iranian-American in her district were to cast their ballot in favor of her re-election to the house in the 2010 election, then they deserve her completely.

Got the email

In case you did not get the email

Harman retracted her statement:

//capwiz.com/niacouncil/issues/alert/?alertid...

UPDATE: NIAC is pleased to announce that Congresswoman Jane Harman has, after discussions with NIAC, retracted her statement and expressed regret for the concern it has caused.

Below is NIAC's press release welcoming the Congresswoman's retraction.
Rep. Harman's swift response is a testament to her openness and to the increasing political engagement of the Iranian-American community.

NIAC is only able to impact the debate on Capitol Hill because of support from our members. Join NIAC today and help to ensure that the Iranian-American community has a strong and effective voice on Capitol Hill!

Also, sign on to a letter to the Congresswoman expressing your appreciation for her retraction.

IRANdokht

Mr. Kurdu;

Where in the United States more than sixty percent of voters have voted to begin with?  In which country more than seventy percent of voters have voted in an election?  Problem is not in Iran only.  It is with voting system all over the world. 

Second, Where is the line that you draw between Kords and other Iranian people?  Do you know that if Persian words are taken away from Korish, you will be left with almost nothing?  If Kordish words are taken away from Persian, almost nothing is left either.  Where do you want to put the barriers between Kords and Lors?  If Persians take away Nowrooz and the rest of the Iranian custumes, what are you left with to base you separation upon?  Can you show me a place in Iran without Kords being somehow present?  Do you know over one million Kords live in North of Khoraasaan and all of them are Shee'a?  How do you want to separate them from the people with whom they have mixed for centuries? 

Third, please do not tell me that it was central government in Tehran who declared war on Kordestan in 1980.  A large portion of Iranians still remember who overran militarty garrisons in Kordestan during the Revolution and took arms against central government and started collecting taxes from people and recruit their youths for the sake of so-called Khodmokhtaaree.  Plenty of Persians and other enthnic groups were amongs them.  Even they did not want to let the military to move to the border with Iraqt.  Do you remember the ambush in "Darreh Ghaasemloo"?

Fourth, Mrs. congresswoman will use you as a cheap tool until she divides Iran (if she is capable), and then she will divide you again and again in the exact manner that they first divided Ottoman Empire and promised Arabs a united country.  Then, they divided them into more than a dozen rival nations only to be easily controled. Do not sell this to the people that Kords are all one ethnic group with one religion, one language, and one land.  Such a myth does not exist.  

کرمانشاهی جان؛

بنده ناچیز کرمانج هستم از خراسان.  به شمال خراسان بروند و ببینند چه سروهایی که در راه ایران عزیز درخون نخفته اند.  آنان که می خواهند ما را ریز ریز کنند در فکر هیچ کدام از قومیتهای ایران نیستند. گویشها و سنتهای گوناگون ما به همراه زبان رسمیِ فارسی زیباترین جنبه حیات ملی ماست و مایه مباهات. ما با این گوناگونی زیبا و زنده ایم.  آنان که جهان بینی خون و عشیره را بنام سیاست ازفرنگ دریوزه می کنند و بنام علم نشخوار البته ایران را نشناخته اند.

The Answer is Federalism..Kurdu, Amireh & Anonymous Kermanshah

Kurdu and Amireh, Seperation won't benefit either of us. And majority iranian Kurd don't support it HOWEVER as far as I know us Kurds support federalism...Its our rights. Iran without having a secular federal system won't survive.

Anonymous Kermanshah;
Its not Kermanshah but Kermashan

She can be brought down

there's already tension due to her existing AIPAC espionage case.
//walt.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/04/20/on_...

These types of pressures also bring that unfortunate episode to mind.

Don't let them tell you it doesn't work. This is California, we have power.
//blogs.laweekly.com/ladaily/election/marcy-w...

Keep signing!

My Petition is Better

Fix Iran First, complain about everyone else later...

CLICK HERE  to sign the petition to end all useless petitions.

Shame

Throughout our glorious history whenever we have suffered a setback, whether at the hands of Macedonians or Arabs or Mongols, the outcome predominantly resulted from the collaboration of traitors among us with our enemies. Such acts of high treason and treachery have changed the course of our history and affected our lives today.
I am sadly reading some voices of treachery on this page, emanating from those who have no dignity or shame. As far as I am concerned, AIPACs and Harmans and those of similar venomous creeds do not pose any threat to our Iran, but these treacherous voices do. Regardless of the government being liked or disliked by the people, IRAN is a sanctity which transcends any government at the helm in our capitol. IRANzamin is a nurturing mother, whose integrity protects all her children. IRAN is an entity, whose separated offsprings will rejoin her for a greater unified motherland. IRAN is a sacred soil bequeathed to us by Koorosh, thus it's our divine duty to bolster it for posterity.
The wrath of Ahuramazda and eternal shame be upon those the wicked voices of which rise to aid the evil intentions of Iran's enemies. Crushing you and your masters on the battlefield will be a pleasure.
Farshad Z.

Focused

You've earned that ID indeed! good catch!

IRANdokht

PS: Anonymous Kermanshah please read "Focused"s comment

Kurdu and amirieh

As a kurd myself, I'm very ashamed to have you from the same region and from the same ethnicity. Iran is our land for 1000s of years and some vatanforosh like you think that kurds are from a different land and soil. Selling your land to ajnabee is like selling your namoos(mother and sister) to ajnabee.

Excellent Point Kurdu

I mean aren't we Iranians the champions of self determination? Especially the self determination of Palestinians and the expense of the Israelis? Doesn't Ahmadi Nejad ask that there be a referendum in Palestine so that the Palestinains can chose if Israel should be abolished?

In all fairness, we should than also give the Kurds, Baluch, Azaris the same referendum rights since we are so much about fairness and justice. And if it means dividing up Iran, well we all about self determination and more Palestinian than the Palestinians. I like Ms. Harman's view and logic.

Irandokht

Thanks very much for providing a background here, I am sorry, and i don't want to insult you or your precious NIAC or your political beliefs in general, But there is always a chance that there is an slight amount of misinformation and to some degree dishonesty, have been incorporated into documents presented by a political organization. Has there been an independent inquiry, as to where they are really getting their funding from? I doubt that.

 I am saying that it applies to all organizations with various affiliations and motos. SO just the fact that NIAC makes certain data available to the public, does not on its own justify their righteousness in all arenas that they are involved in. What about the stuff they are not telling you about? can you deny that there are no behind the close door and unpublicized activities?

Innocent compliants are just that, Innocent. Why would you want to make them to be what they are not? IS it wrong to be inquisitive about the origins and goals of an organization, a little more than usual? WHy getting defensive about this? IT does not mean they are being discredited. I am not offended at all,. It is just unbelievable to me that you are over-glorifying mr. parsi and his efforts.

Why such unifying efforts would or should have to do anything with anybody in iran? I thought you said that there were many of these organizations who have branches and representatives abroad, so... what would be the problem if they are approached and asked for their cooperation? And from what i gather, Foreign countries are the major activity hub for many of these groups anyway, since the IRI has tightened the seal big time and watches them like a hawk.

Why not Separation

As it happens you have a president called Mr. Ahamdi Nejad, who by all accounts was elected with 60% of the votes, if you take into consideration the 10% or so Kurds in Iran whom by enlarge do not participate {or vote} in Iranian politics ever since a war was declared on them started in 1980, that bumps the percentage to about 70%. Now please tell me what percentage of the Iranian nation excluding I suppose Kurd and Baluch supports this government.
Please keep your Islamic Republic. Kurds don't want your Khomeinis or Shahs and I hope this eventually sinks in.

As a Kurd I commend Congresswoman Harman views be it self serving. The right of self determination is an inalienable right of every human being.
Why not put that to a VOTE by the minorities .

nothing to be scared off..

Some people are here only to distract and discredit

Their aim is a pathetic hope that people will not sign the petition by trying to discredit Abarmard or NIAC using false accusations and half-truths. I see a pattern here. Using psychological warfare. Wait, it's coming to me.... MKO...., ZioNazis (Israel right-wing). Hmmmmmm, interesting.

Abarmard

Unfortunatly, I missed your last blog about the so called NATIONALITIES IN IRAN. I could teach you many useful historical facts about my country Iran. How could you write such a low and naive blog, low in content and low in intellect.

NIAC Rocks

AIPAC sucks. Sign the petition and get on with. If you have any reservations it belongs to a different thread and not here.

Sheeshakee

Maybe a little background info is missing here.

There's been a lot of little cries and nagging voices here and there on every post about NIAC. They either want to know who is supporting the organization (although the information is available to all) and where the finances come from (again available online).or they're questioning NIAC stance on human rights in Iran (those are also available for anyone who needs to know)... 

So many other complaints and sometimes they even sound very innocent too.  Innocent questions and inquiries that are all aimed at discrediting this group and painting the people who support them as pro-IRI. 

Now I am sorry if I offend you when I am insulted by such insinuations. 

As for uniting the voices of the minority ethnic groups in Iran, I already answered KW why it's such nonsense to expect a US based organization to try and unite groups inside Iran!!!  you really don't know how the gov feels about outside interference with domestic politics? Do you want them all to be punished as US spies? Should they risk it? or should they all speak up and agree that separation is not their goal?

IRANdokht

Time for a break.

Mahi sefid

This is not the time to needlessly alienate people of different backgrounds. I don't think you know enough about this person to just open your mouth and let things come out.

Irandokht

You, Again, have started to react extremely harsh when faced with another point of view. Gosh. People are making suggestions here only. not issuing decrees. You slammed MasoudA for his opinion and SUGGESTIONS and now you are doing it to KUrdish..IS defending mr. paris and his organization worth allof this? and why are you suddenly interpreting this running excuses in finding faults with niac's actions??? Perhaps one big reason that NIAC Should be the unifiers and the center of gravity here is that they are the one with the bIggest cofer in town and they are the ones who receive the most attention, Why should not they take a step and reach out to others, since even if those other parties have their own independent operations, are still small in size and scope of influence, as compared with NIAC.

Where is the Sense of Unity if every group and organization would make a statement against being separated On its own? Would that not defeat the entire purpose of getting united for a common cause? Has it not been this exact way of thinking that led us to where we are now? That why should one organization care whether another one raises awarness for a particular cause or not.

That is why there is no unity among iranians, since Har ki mikhad saze khodesho bezane va mige be manche. Are we concerned about NIAC or iran? Let's make up our mind here.

Thanks Abramard,

In my letter, I also made a reference to Harman having her job thanks to AIPAC Israeli Spies, and thus it is natural that she would try to shove the AIPAC line down the American throat, albeit at the expense of a high cost to US security. The only solution is for Americans to kick out Israeli traitors out of their job. Here's  brief of her story:

AIPAC controversy

"In October 2006, Time magazine, quoting anonymous sources, asserted that an FBI and US Department of Justice investigation of Harman was underway. The magazine alleged that Harman had agreed to lobby the Department of Justice to reduce espionage charges against Steve J. Rosen and Keith Weissman, two officials at the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). In exchange, Time said there was a quid pro quo in which AIPAC would lobby then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to appoint Harman as chair of the House Intelligence Committee if the Democrats captured the House after the 2006 elections. "

AND, when she denied this and was told that the evidence is captured in wiretap tapes that hitherto she was all for, then she started to prevent them from being used as evidence:

"In April 2009, CQ Politics, also quoting anonymous sources, said Harman had been captured on a National Security Agency wiretap prior to the 2006 elections, telling an "Israeli agent" that she would "waddle into" lobbying the Department of Justice on the AIPAC case. Harman ended the phone call, according to CQ, by saying, "This conversation doesn’t exist."[13] Harman denied the allegations, saying: "These claims are an outrageous and recycled canard, and have no basis in fact. I never engaged in any such activity. Those who are peddling these false accusations should be ashamed of themselves."[14]

According to CQ, then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales pressed CIA Director Porter Goss to drop the agency's investigation of Harman, because he wanted Harman's support during the NSA warrantless surveillance controversy, about to break in The New York Times.[12] Harman called The New York Times and urged them not to publish details on the program.[15] Gonzales and Goss declined to comment.[13]

...... [edit] Warrantless wiretapping

Harman defended the Bush administration's use of domestic warrantless wiretapping through the National Security Agency, saying: "I believe the program is essential to U.S. national security and that its disclosure has damaged critical intelligence capabilities."[18] Harman suggested that both the original "despicable"[19] whistleblowers and The New York Times, which broke the story, should be investigated, and in the case of The Times, "limits on press immunity" should be looked into.[20] Harman repeatedly pressured the Times not to publish the warrantless wiretap story. In October or November of 2004, Harman called Phillip Taubman, Washington bureau chief of the Times, to discourage him from running the story. In December 2005, Harman was among a group of lawmakers who visited Taubman in an attempt to convince him not to run the story. [21] Following reports in April 2009 of her conversations being recorded without her knowledge, she appeared to take a different stance. In an interview with Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC:

That's what I've asked Attorney General Holder to do--to release any tapes, I don't know whether they were legally made or not, of my conservations about this matter.... and to hope that he will investigate whether other members of Congress or other innocent Americans might have been subject to this same kind of treatment. I call it an abuse of power in the letter I wrote him this morning.... I'm just very disappointed that my country--I'm an American citizen just like you are--could have permitted what I think is a gross abuse of power in recent years. I'm one member of Congress who may be caught up in it, but I have a bully pulpit and I can fight back. I'm thinking about others who have no bully pulpit, and may not be aware, as I was not, that right now, somewhere, someone is listening in on their conversations, and they're innocent Americans."

BY others of course she means the other Israeli SPIES like Weisman and Rosen who were also caught on tape to pass US security documents to Israel. ONE ISRAELI SPY PROMISES ANOTHER ISRAELI A JOB IN THE CONGRESS AND THEY KEEP FEEDING EACH OTHER. That's the TYPICAL way AIPAC betrays America.

Two Apologies

Harman must grant Iranians a formal apology and Abarmard needs to do the same thing to Iranian.com members and visitors.

I signed too

Thanks for the link.