AFSHIN

..

آقای کاظم زاده، خسته نباشین، با شما کاملا موافقم.

btw , is  Arsalan Barmand, mentioned in the NIAC emails our very own abarmand, here on IC? too much of a coincidence!!!

VPK: This is exactly how I

VPK: This is exactly how I feel. The IRI has shown itself to be an ideological menace in the region not at all pragmatic despite a few pragmatic move here and there throughout their history. This is cleary evident now to the Sate department and Pentagon and Obama...

...

From NIAC:

Take Action: Urge President Obama to fix the Single Entry Visa Policy for Iranian students once and for all.

"Our call for the U.S. to fix the Single-Entry visa policy is gaining ground.  But we need your help to build on this momentum so that Iranian students in the U.S. are no longer prevented from visiting their family, attending academic conferences, or leaving the country without losing their visa"

"In the past two years, we have educated the Obama Administration and Congress, mobilized grassroots action, collected and shared the personal stories of Iranian students with top U.S. officials, sent thousands of letters to President Obama and Secretary Clinton, and advanced legislation requiring the White House to investigate a solution to this issue.  And, with NIAC’s support, the California Democratic Party recently passed a resolution calling for fixing this policy.  

With President Obama looking for new ways to build goodwill with the Iranian people, we have urged him to start by fixing the Single-Entry visa policy.  Now, we need you to help us call on the President to end the unfair treatment of Iranian students once and for all.

Take action to help us build the momentum to end the unfair treatment of Iranian students. Tell President Obama to fix the Single-Entry Visa policy today."

https://secure3.convio.net/niac/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=183&JServSessionIdr004=r9rasxqhu8.app333b

Mehrdad Jan

I have tried to be open minded on NIAC. I have recognized their good work. I have criticized their bad work. I have noted their opposition to sanctions does not mean they work for IR. 

People have very strong feelings on this. I understand it. I want VF regime gone and a real nationalist regime. I rather have it be democratic but I would even take the Shah over VF. 

Right now I am observing what is going on and am learning. Personally I think IR regime change is on Obama second term agenda. He is a systematic man. First he calmed Iraq. Next is Afghanistan. He managed Egypt.

Now it is Libya. Next term is Syria and Iran. Not sure in which order. However Iran is the key to stabalizing ME. Obama knows this. He is going to do it NIAC or not. Obama will likely win a second term and VF will be gone.

We must be prepared for that. When it happens someone needs to move in power. The Iranian diaspora is very important. Specially in USA. We have to be organized and lobby for the best results.

We must keep Iran not just in tact but allow for its expansion. Obama will be only too happy to turn the Afghanistan problem to a stable Iran. But the British will want to break us. We have to resist; any organization that helps is welcome.

VPK jaan: NIAC and their role vis a vis Iranian or VF

The type of Yes/No question [IMO] is too black and white and does not leave room for discussion nor identification of finding ways to improve things.

I think it would be helpful if we are more specific regarding NIAC policies vis a vie VF to objectively determining if they are [NIAC} really a front to specifically help VF, indirectly helping VF, unknowingly helping VF or is it simply perceived and falsely advertised about their relation to VF in order to discredit them.

Learning about those specifics will help each individual to determine a course of action, whether is worth to get involved to fix it or flatly oppose them.

There is a wide set of examples of their work that clearly shows their action has helped the Iranians in America, whether is related to visa, discrimination/demonizing of Iranians, human rights violation in Iran or against a broad sanction which most believe it will only help the regime and hurt Iranian people. But I yet to see any specifics of their work that shows their aim is specifically or covertly to help VF.

Now, we are either to take a responsible approach, one that each of us would apply in our day to day life in finding facts and in turn helping Iranians, both inside and outside of Iran, or just blindly following what I perceive/characterize to be a witch hunt.

Of course there are some who have already made up their mind and no amount of facts is going to change it… I like to think I am not in that category and I believe you are not either.  So, I would be all ears if you or any one has objective information to show that NIAC is a front for IRI or VF. Such information along with other info would help me determine my course of action, if I want to continue to support them, oppose them or stay involved and try steer them in direction that I would believe it will help Iranians but not IRI.

And then there are other groups, on both extreme side that I believe have a wider agenda and belief and NIAC either hurt or help their agenda and as a result they will do what ever to distort facts in order to accomplish their goal. It is a shame that any body, IRANIAN will do such thing.

Mehrdad

..

And so has everyone else.

Mola

The Mollahs have been doing their *** on Iran without permission. Why ask now?

...

"thank you teacher, now can I go for Das Be AAb?" raised his hand, Hazrate shotor

Thank you VPK and MK.

Thank you VPK and MK. Well-done gentlemen.

MK Jan

Dorood Bar Shoma

You are a good; honest and a kind man.

Thank you for your kind words. You are welcome to write anything about our discussion. It has been very helpful and educational. I really hope one day we meet in Iran run by a democratic regime.

Ba Sepasse faravan,

VPK

VPK on NIAC: Thank YOU

VPK jaan,

You are a man of great HONESTY and integrity. I am very proud of YOU. I thank you for your HONEST response.

NIAC policies help the VF regime?

Yes, some of NIAC policies do help the VP regime. Yes.

Other NiAC policies are neutral.

None of NIAC policies really hurt the VF regime.

================================== 

Ba sepaase faravan,

MK

P.S. I have to go and grade a bunch of final papers exams. Next week I will write a blog and discuss issues related to our exchange with you (with your permission).

VPK aziz

Agreed. Your other post's title is Dead MK; I am sure you meant Dear mk.

My typo about MK: I apologize for my mistake

I meant to say "Dear MK" but the "edit" tab is gone. Would admin PLEASE change the title on my post from "Dead" to "Dear". 

Paykar: thanks for the good catch. I was thinking of saying "jon" but then I tend to make a lot of typos. What is I typed "k" instread of "j" for jon"?? That would be even a worse mistake :-)

VPK

Dear Paykar

I hope MK is fine and lives a long time to see the downfall of IR. The point is that we may disagree but respect one another. We may have a debate and even manage to change others point of view!

If we manage that we are half way to freedom already. The problem with us Iranians has been that we are unable to disagree with respect. Now after all these years we are getting there: good for us.

Holy mother of love

Did MK die? VPK change it to dear fast!

Dear Siavash

Remember cinema Rex? 

How could I forget Cinema Rex? Hundreds of innocents burned alive by Mollahs. Then blamed Shah to pave their way to ill gotten power. Once VF regime is gone there must be a "Cinema Rex" day. A national day of remembrance of crimes of Islamists. 

There must be a day of not mourning but remembering. To remind people not to be fooled by schemes of our enemies. That there are power which will stoop to lowest deeds in order to gain power and to be weary of not falling for it.

We lost one of our most partiotic {although arrogant} leaders. Instead we got arroagnce and evil. Yes, I remember.

Dead MK

You are welcomed and I hope to have many other debates. It is important that we conduct civil debates when we differ. Before I proceed I note that may of my friends side with your position.

Some of the strongest NIAC supporters are regime supporters. I am not going to mention names. But we all know who they are. That I find very disturbing. Others say Mehrdad are decent people whom I agree or disagree with depending on issue.

When I see many people that I like opposing NIAC it makes me think twice. Maybe they are on to something that I am missing. I like to have an open mind willing to change it if evidence requires it. Now getting to your main point:

NIAC policies help the VF regime?

• Yes, some of NIAC policies do help the VP regime. Yes.
• Other NiAC policies are neutral.
• None of NIAC policies really hurt the VF regime.

Hence we could say that NIAC provides a net albeit small support for VF. Now to my question: Is the NIAC's intention to help the VF regime? If so then it would make NIAC a net opponent of anti-VF people like you & I. To be honest I do not know.

Therefore as I said in a blog about 5 months ago I will observe NIAC for a year. At the end of that year I will make my decision. If by some chance {we may dream} the VF regime is gone then the issue is moot. I somehow doubt that dream will be realized before a year is up. So at this point I am watching and taking notes: as any good researcher should. I will write another blog in December informing IR as to what I have observed and where I stand.

I hope that until then we will continue to have discussions. Meanwhile there is nothing to stop us from making our own groups. Or from conducting anti IR activities. 

VPK: Would the policies promoted by NIAC help the VF regime?

Dear VPK,

Let me thank you for your willingness to conduct a civil debate. I really appreciate that you are willing to provide HONEST answers.

In my question, I asked: "

Would you also agree to the following proposition?

"NIAC policies help the VF regime"

You answered: "I am not sure NIAC has the power to help VF regime."

You provided an honest answer, but it was to a DIFFERENT question. You talked about POWER and capability. That was NOT the question. It is like I ask you would you agree to the following proposition? Basij policies help the VF regime"

And write: I am not sure Basij has the power to help VF regime.

It would be an interesting discussion whether NIAC or Basij have the "power" to help VF regime or not. But that is a DIFFERENT subject. We might agree or disagree, but that was NOT the answer to the question that I asked.

The question I asked is does NIAC promotes policies that help the VF regime. As you know groups and individual promotes various policies in order for others to adopt them. One of the major questions always is who benefits from the policy so promoted and who loses from the policy so promoted.

So, let me ask the question one more time.

Would you agree to the following:

NIAC policies help the VF regime?

In other words, if implemented, would the policies promoted by NIAC help the VF regime?

As already discussed, the policies we are discussing are about policies that NIAC promoted in regards to the fundamentalist regime. For example, is providing BILLIONS and BILLIONS dollars directly into the hands of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, good for the VF regime? In other words, providing BILLIONS and BILLIONS of dollars to those who will use that money to hire more Basij, IRGC, Ministry of Intelligence torturers, good for the VF regime?

Again, let me say I appreciate your HONESTY.

Best regards,

Masoud

Thank you Soosan Khanoom for the info

.

Thank you NIAC

California Democrats Endorse Iranian Student Visa Fix, Human Rights
Friday, May 6, 2011 

//www.niacouncil.org/site/News2pageNewsArticle&id=7330&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=-1 

...

Why is NIAC being defamed by supporters of military confrontation with Iran?

"NIAC opposes war with Iran, and has been very successful pushing for diplomacy on Capitol Hill. NIAC's efforts lend Iranian Americans a voice in Washington, D.C.; but like all successful political organizations, it is impossible to be effective without garnering critics.

NIAC's critics often equate opposition to war with support for the Iranian government. Nothing could be further from the truth. NIAC opposes a US-Iran war because it would be detrimental to US national interest and likely prolong the reign of the current Iranian government.

NIAC's critics include neo-conservative activists like Kenneth Timmerman and Michael Rubin, who prefer military confrontation over diplomacy. Critics in the Iranian-American community include groups like the terrorist-listed People's Mujahedin of IranPeople (also known as the MEK or MKO).

NIAC welcomes a debate on how to best deal with the challenge that Iran poses to the United States, but we deplore the practice of resorting to ad hominem attacks and character defamation, rather than addressing the issues in good faith"

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

Thanks VPK

Thanks for informing me. That group of people that you mentioned needs to grow up, the same as I was grown up. Remember cinema Rex? They should accept their mistakes and learn from it. It is not too late. It is better for Iran.

Siavash

Obama

Himself is not exactly a peacenick. He has basically continued Bush policy but done better job. The Republican "candidates" are so bad Obama looks good. If Republicans want to win they need good candidates.

Going in bed with MKO is hardly going to get them to the White House. Getting rid of Medicare is not a popular thing. Nor is getting rid of Social Security. Therefore they are barking the wrong tree. 

Dear Siavash

Not all IR supporters get money from the IR. I know that as a fact. Many are old revolutionaries who refuse to accept they blew it. I know one who just is not able to face reality.

If they do face reality they must accept they betrayed their nation. By overthrowing the Shah they ruined Iran. It is hard for people to accept reponsibility. Therefore they want to find virtue in IR. 

I know one woman who still insists that IR is better than Shah. This person gets no money from IR. Just an ex-communist who refuses to face truth. So before we put it all on money we need to seek other reasons.

These Iranians........???

Once we say "traitors" Massoud Rajavi who shaked hands with Saddam Hossaine comes to our mind. But that is not the whole scenario. Shame on those who sell Iran for few bucks receiving from stinky mullahs. I am ashemed to call these bastards my country men and my country women. Margetan Bad. Back stabbing your own kind of people for $$$. Nangetan bad.

Payandeh Iran  

MKO

The pro Israel people will do well do reject MKO. They should ally themselves with real Democratic Iranian movements. Many Iranians such as me do not hate Israel. We do not want to destroy the Jewish state. 

Rather I view them as a potential ally and a good one. It would be a big mistake for them to get in bed with MKO. That would alienate people like me and most Iranian people.

...

FACTS:

"The campaign against NIAC is coordinated by far-right neo-conservatives and figures associated with the Iranian terrorist organization the Mujahedin-e Khalq. While their attacks have been directed against NIAC, the larger target of the campaign is President Obama and his efforts to pursue a new foreign policy in the Middle East.

The aim to prevent Iranian Americans from contributing to US foreign policy on Iran was clarified by neoconservative Middle East scholar Martin Kramer at a panel at an AIPAC conference in the spring of 2009."

"Neoconservative activists and the MEK supporters working with them long for a resurgence of the heavy-handed, pro-war and anti-diplomacy approach of the Bush years - an approach that is sure to fail and destroy any real chance of democracy in Iran. That is why they are engaging in a smear campaign: to win back political influence by any means necessary. By destroying the reputations of individuals and groups that support Obama, the goal of neoconservative activists is to undermine Obama's whole presidency and begin paving the way for their own return to power"

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

MK response NIAC

2. Would you also agree to the following proposition?

"NIAC policies help the VF regime"

I am not sure NIAC has the power to help VF regime. They should concentrate on other things like:

• Student visa issue. I want it to be simpler for students to go back visit Iran.
• Preservation of Iranian heritage like Persepolis Artefacts.
• Removing policies targeting Iranian American people.

I rather that NIAC keep out of politics altogether. If they do that then they are not a problem. They should not try to normalize relations with IR. 

If they do the above then they provide a net benefit. If they try to interfere with politics then they may be a problem. I am observing and will make a decision.

We need an Iranian American lobby. Someone to protect interests of Iranians living in America. We need protection against ignorant politicians.

Aghaye Majid Zahrai: I share much of your sentiments

In your last post, specially about our so called intellectuals.

Cheers

Mehrdad

لابی‌های جمهوری اسلامی در خارج کشور

هر کسی‌ که فکر میکنه که جمهوری اسلامی در خارج، و مخصوصاً در آمریکا جاسوس و لابی نداره مغز مش قاسم خورده.  یک روز که آین آخوندها به فاضلاب تاریخ انداخته شدند، پرونده‌های وزارت اطلاعات شون باز میشه و خواهیم دید که چه کسانی‌ سالهای سال جیره خور اینها بوده‌اند.  جای تعجبی نباید داشته باشه که اکثریت طرفدار‌های NIAC در ایرانیان دات کام طرفدار‌های جمهوری اسلامی هستند.  نمونه اش: "مولا نصرالدین" که تا حالا پنجاه تا کامنت به تعریف و تمجید از NIAC در این بلاگ گذشته.  

البته آین را باید عرض کنم که من تا حالا دلیلی ندیده‌ام که نشان دهد که آقای جاوید با این دلقک تریتا پارسی‌ دست به یکی‌ کرده باشه.  اینجا یک سایت آزاد هست.  همه میتوانند که مطلب پست کنند.  NIAC هم آزاد است که همچین کاری را بکند.  باکی نیست.  مگر ما از آزادی بیان میترسیم؟