Who is an "Iran Expert"?

Balatarin
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Farhad Kashani
by Farhad Kashani
31-Mar-2009
 

What does qualify someone to be an “expert” on a matter? In the era of Internet and Globalization and flow of information and access to higher education, how do some people, allegedly, exceed the level of knowledge that others have and become an “expert”?

During the last few years, we saw that the leftist media invites some now-famous Iranians to talk about Iran and U.S – Iran relations as “experts on Iran”. The most notable one lately was when World Focus got Trita Parsi to talk about Pres. Obama’s message to the Mullah regime. He and his group NIAC, which act as a lobby for the IRI regime, are portrayed by the leftist media as “Iran experts”! So I like to brainstorm here and see what are some of the possible qualifications that they have which makes them “Iran experts” and the rest of us Iranians not. How are they getting the airtime and the attention to talk about Iran and speak on behalf of Iranians and influence U.S and Iranian public opinion and U.S decision makers, and the rest do not?

Here are some of the possibilities:

- They are college educated: That does not fly. Iranians are one of the most highly educated ethnic groups in this great country. There are many other Iranians who have higher or equaling degrees than what Parsi and Amirahmadi and Reza Asalan have, so why them?

- They are Iranians and know about Iran: Well, we are too!

- They are Americans and know about this country: Well, we are too!

- They take frequent visits to Iran and see things first hand and talk to people and get their opinion and see reality first hand: Well, we do too!

- They have inside access and information about the IRI regime: Very likely. However, that raises a question. If that is the case, IRI being what it is, one of the closest and secretive regimes in the world, would not let any outsider that it feels will not work for its benefit get that inside access and information, so doesn’t that make NIAC take positions in favor of the IRI? If so, why is the leftist media giving airtime to them, but not to the opposite side? Does that mean Leftist media is unfair and biased! (The answer offcourse is YES).

- They are involved and/or aware of the political process in the U.S: There are many other Iranian Americans in the same category. Again, why NIAC then?

- They speak on behalf of the Iranian American community: where is the proof? And we all know that’s not the case in any way, shape or form.

- They are organized and are “Political Activists”: Very likely, but that also raises a question. What logic says that solely because they are “activists”, they are experts? Also, there are many other Iranian activists that have been snubbed by the leftist media as being “extremists”. Why aren’t their views expressed?

- They are not “extremists”!: I love that one! A group that calls for the continuance of IRI regime, the most extremist regime in the world, is not “extremist”, but someone who calls for a free Iran (not by war, but by the world, including the U.S, helping Iranians remove the regime), is labeled as “extremist”! Furthermore, shouldn’t the media give equal access to ALL views, including extremists? What ever happened to Journalism responsibility and ethics and fairness? Offcourse we know the left does not have any of those!

- That segment of the media that engages in NEWSterntainment, find these groups “entertaining”: I don’t think so, unless I’m the only one not getting entertained by Hooshang Amir Ahmadi!

- They are ideologically similar to them: I think that is most possible scenario. We all know that left’s influence in universities and media have been growing steadily for the last 15 – 20 years or so. Although there is a backlash now and people are waking up, but most of the time, the leftist media only gives airtime to ones who are politically and ideologically in agreement with them. They do that so they can ask the obvious question and receive the obvious answer. When they claim they are being “fair”, they find a stooge like Rush Limbaugh and portray him as the entire non-left! As result, the majority who are moderate get no voice and are labeled “neo cons” or “Islamo phobes” or extremists! (Some Iranians will call you a “Zionist” also!)

I tried to come up with as many possibilities why these groups which in no way represent the Iranian voice, are getting so much attention, and the rest do not get a chance to express their opinion in the same playing field as groups like NIAC do. And by rest, I do mean the moderate majority who wants to see a free Iran and peace between Iran and U.S, not FOX or Rush Limbaugh.

The conclusion is that the left does not play it fair. It never has and never will. And also, IRI has done a great job employing groups such as NIAC to lobby for them and to improve their image among the public and decision makers.

We need to speak out and change this. This is a democracy, and we shouldn’t let those who are clueless about the interest of the Iranian people hijack our voice.

Balatarin
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more from Farhad Kashani
 
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answer to mort

by babak123 (not verified) on Tue Mar 31, 2009 09:33 PM PDT

mort,
i am saying the people who have not been to iran can not make any judgment of iranian moods, for example do people drink more alcohol, yes. do people have more sex before marriage, yes. more people are secular, yes. have some poeple become mre radical during ahmadinejad, yes. iran is changing so rapidly that if you are not there you can not understand it, it is not about have they made anything or not. people are changing, politic is changing. there is dubai factor, individualism that bring bit of greed. the liberal are migrating to other countries. some people are so rich and becoming richer. an apartemant which cost 2 milion . voa and bbc and opposition tv are braging that their tv is most popular. you know what is popular? spice platinium.
so unless you go there and see the life of real people you can not be an iran expert, it does not matter how much iran analysis you read, it is like if you are movie critic but you have not seen the movie but you read so much on it, now you want right an article on it.


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F.K.

by L.K. (not verified) on Tue Mar 31, 2009 08:16 PM PDT

In my college school, I’ve learned these points that someone has to fulfil before he/she claims that he/she is an Iranian patriot
1- Love your country beyond Akhoonds,
2- Respect if you want to be respected: for example don’t label people who disagree with you as IRI fascist leftists all the day long
3- Praise Iranians as what they do and what they are
4- Stop making friendships with the enemies of Iran
5- If you can’t do one of these things just put an UC between your initials and go back home


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Mort Gilani

For Babak123

by Mort Gilani on Tue Mar 31, 2009 07:52 PM PDT

Could you please enlighten us what changes in the nature of Islamic Republic have been made in the past 20 or 30 years?

 


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Mammad

True experts do not see the world through your imaginary angle

by Mammad on Tue Mar 31, 2009 07:44 PM PDT

FK is upset why he is not considered an "expert on Iran." The reason, aside from anything else, is the devoid-of-substance analyses that he puts up here. He is so disconnected from the reality that it is baffling.

1. Outside FK's world, most objective experts believe that the U.S. media is dominated by the right and center-right, yet FK rants about the left. He just cannot get over his hatred of the left, but he always tells us the he is not a right wing.

2. For every truly leftist website, there are at least 2-3 right wing websites. Yet, FK rants about the left.

3. He rants about NIAC. But, have you ever read him ranting about AIPAC, for example? Even if NIAC is a lobby for the IRI (which it is not), so what? All major nations and groups in the US have lobbyists, from the absolutely worst of them - AIPAC that has cost this country dearly and represents the views of the far right and neofascist elements in Israel - to the Turks, Armenians, Greeks, Italians, Mexicans, Arabs, etc.

4. He claims to know a lot about Iran, but I have yet to see any evidence for it. FK is totally disconnected from this world. Anybody who gives credit to Bush for "good intentions" (Bush did not even have that) to embellish his horrendous presidency, cannot be living in a real world.

You want to change what you are complaining about, FK? Start from your own views.

 

 

Mammad


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Ali A Parsa

Neither left nor right!

by Ali A Parsa on Tue Mar 31, 2009 07:40 PM PDT

Amusing piece, but how about thinking Gray instead of Black and White and how about Middle instead of Left and Right? I am sure you can write the same thing about every country and their leaders and every organization, but where would that end and where will you take us?In your conclusion you state that Left is always Left is never Fair which means that Right is always Fair. Is it? You are better off to stick with neither Right nor Left, but Middle and save yourself and us much time. This approach is statistically and logically the best. Good luck!

 

khody


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With All Do Respect,

by Damon Jaan (not verified) on Tue Mar 31, 2009 07:37 PM PDT

In begining...

An expert can be whom you consider an expert, for example just because you call yourself an expert on fine Wine, doesn't mean I'd agree that you're an "expert". Maybe I'd think of you as a wino maybe something a little less demeaning. Furthermore, the internet, news, higher education is full of 'Ideas' rather than facts. I'd consider someone an expert if they brought facts to the table rather than ideas.

So why are these people considered "experts"? Well their main job, not hobby is studying 'peer reviewed' material on the subject. Although, many such as Seymour Hersch, Herch, HerschliengeR? or Bobby Baer might be considered more or less reliable. These peoples main job is to study said subject, which happens to be the Islamic Republic of Iran. If nothing else, they most likely have more time and resources to study said subject. Therefore, that is why they are considered "experts". Rather than me, who hears stories from my uncle, and reads last years news in today's headlines.

The main problem being, many Iranian Americans ( and Iranians in general) aren't exactly supportive of the regime. Therefore, they may not exactly jump out of giddiness that Obama, wants engage diplomatically ( meaning work with the Iranian regime). As an American you have your right to protest (unless your military or bureaucracy employee). However, you must ask yourself, is it to the best interest of the U.S. to currently continue to confront Iran? As an American? Or you may have a humanitarian approach which historically has been strong in the U.S. with many still sporting, "free tibet" tees.

I am not saying you are wrong sir, just providing a possible argument that ( is not from the "left" ,communism is dead, seriously. even though the Shah had the S.A.V.A.K the entire northern Iranian border was U.S.S.R, and the Ruskies have been known to 'visit' Iran)

In supporting Iranians for freedom? - military ,I ask how exactly? When the US even states support of so called 'democracy' in Iran even more Iranians are needlessly arrested...

In ending...
"It ought to be considered, therefore, how vain are the faith and promises of those who find themselves deprived of their country. For, as to their faith, it has to be borne in mind that anytime they can return to their country by other means than yours, they will leave you and look to the other, notwithstanding whatever promises they had made you. As to their vain hopes and promises, such is the extreme desire in them to return home, that they naturally believe many things that are false and add many others by art, so that between those they believe and those they say they believe, they fill you with hope, so that relying on them you will incur expenses in vain, or you undertake an enterprise in which you ruin yourself..... A Prince, therefore, ought to go slowly in undertaking an enterprise upon the representations of an exile, for most of the times he will be left either with shame or very grave injury." - Machiavelli


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farhad i can feel for you

by babak123 (not verified) on Tue Mar 31, 2009 06:56 PM PDT

farhad
i can feel for you beacuse they do not call you iran expert.but let face it when you want to classify an iran expert you made some conditions. one of them which i found the most importnat one is expert must be frequnet visitor to iran. i can say you are not and if you are the name is farhad kashani.probebly you go visit your family, eat some kebab and come back. probebly you see taxi driver grumbeling about the akhound and you come back and blog about the unpopularity of the regime. but the real expert goes with his real name, probebly has some connection to influential people which get them inside info, have some connection with reform movement, have friend in sepah. have friend in bazrar.when he come back he has broad knowlege of ups and downs of power.
about why the media does not give any voice to opposition, personally i think someone who has not been in iran for 20 yaers should not talk about iran, practicaly their opinian about iran is worthless.


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