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Change we might believe in
20-Nov-2008
Posted on November 19th, 2008 by Scott McConnell
Change we can believe in! Well, maybe a little bit. Washington feels very different. I’m sure there are a lot of things about the Obama administration I will hate. But, for a moment, let’s feel optimistic.
Yesterday Trita Parsi’s National Iranian American Council held a big conference on how the new administration might approach Iran. Not at a hotel or think tank, but on the inside, in a beautiful room at Hart Senate Office building, overlooking the Capitol at sunset. Along with a lot of foreign policy realists and Iran experts (a diverse group, but none of the “bomb bomb bomb Iran” variety), there were wise addresses by Senator Arlen Specter, and Cong. John Tierney, as well as by by Sen. Thomas Carper. These guys aren’t necessarily completely on board with all the NIAC proposals but they all acknowledge that the Bush Cheney don’t talk to them and make lots of threats approach hasn’t been working. So yes, let’s talk to Iran. That Obama proposal that McCain (and Hillary too) tried to depict as naive and radical during the campaign is becoming mainstream thinking.
One sign of NIAC’s influence: I get email from a neocon organization that is always going on about how the Persians can’t wait to blow up the world. They were panicked by this meeting, sending out emails asking people to call their representatives in Congress to IGNORE its recommendations. Some of the beltway’s Iranian Chalabis tried to get the meeting cancelled. Call Joe Lieberman’s office! Call Eric Cantor’s office! Make it stop!
But to no avail. Three hundred people, a classy room on top of Capitol Hill, an administration that wants to turn the page. Trita Parsi, author of a brilliant book (and a TAC contributor) and a lot of energetic young Iranian-American men and women, trying to get us into a new era. And Senators and Congressmen willing to listen. The new era can’t come soon enough.
This and other articles covering NIAC's conference can be found at www.niacouncil.org. The orginal post can be found here.
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| Update-SBA (8a) FAQs | - | Dec 12, 2008 |
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Newspaper, Aftab, recently
by what? (not verified) on Fri Nov 21, 2008 08:15 AM PSTNewspaper, Aftab, recently published an interview with Trita Parsi and in the introduction, the editor wrote that NIAC is doing exactly the same activity as Amirahmadi, the only difference is that NIAC is more influential.
did you know that Iranian newspapers call NIAC the IRI lobby?
Aftab Newspaper August 5, 2008, //www.aftabnews.ir/vdcc10q2b0q4m.html
6- Among them, see the 6 following government controlled newspapers: Ghods://www.qudsdaily.com/archive/1386/html/2/1386-02-01/page61.html
Alef://www.alef.ir/content/view/7756/
Fars News://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8601280492
EmamMehdi://www.emammahdi.com/news/watr.asp?sys=110&subof=1&bakhsh=8&NewsID=857
Tebyan://old.tebyan.net/teb.aspx?nId=28205
Javan://www.javannewspaper.com/1386/860130/world.htm
I have a feeling this post will not be published.
Realist are at it again
by sickofiri (not verified) on Fri Nov 21, 2008 08:03 AM PSTCoddling tyrants and despots have always backfired on us Americans; and it will do so this time too.
When will we learn our lesson?
However, I'm not against talks, diplomacy. I hope they start as soon as possible. The sooner the talks start, the sooner Obama, Baker et al, including R. Gates will understand viscerally that, deal or no deal, they can never trust the mullahs and make their contingency plan accordingly.
A pathetic excuse to exonerate the Islamic Republic
by No wonder (not verified) on Fri Nov 21, 2008 06:05 AM PSTThat has been a pathetic excuse for all you IR apologists, sympathizers, lackeys, and cronies to label whoever who opposes the brutal theocracy ruling over Iran and their murdering policies as a warmonger, Zionist, Mossad agent, etc. etc.
Let us see how long you can keep up this game.
I doubt it very much if you will ever succeed in fooling the Obama administration into believing that mullahs are for peace and coexistance, at least not for the long term.
A panther cannot change its spots and even though Islamic Republic is a deadly snake rather than a panther, rest assured it can never ever change into a civilized law-abiding government capable of coexisting peacefully with the rest of the world. If it ever does, the Islamic Republic will be history.
Hey AnonymousBuddy
by Kurdish Warrior (not verified) on Fri Nov 21, 2008 02:53 AM PSThave you been smoking....... I oppose your Mullah government and I'm nether Mojahed, Leftist or Pro pahlavi or zionist (according to mullahs) .. Just an ordinary Kurdish Iranian whom are fed up with your fascist regime like many others. PS and my family fought Saddam. So pls leave your stupid propaganda some where else....
So-called Iranian "opposition" are Uncle Sam's agents
by AnonymousBuddy (not verified) on Thu Nov 20, 2008 08:27 PM PSTThe so-called Iranian "opposition" (i.e. Saddam's Mojahedin proxy force and Pahlavist cronies) have very little support inside Iran. Their only hope for coming to power is for the U.S. to launch an invasion of Iran and place them on the "Peacock Throne". These people were very disappointed that Saddam's army did not reach Tehran in the 1980s. It's important to know who the so-called Iranian "opposition" really is.
I 'm def for clintons to take part in the administration...
by kurdish Warrior (not verified) on Thu Nov 20, 2008 05:39 PM PSTI hope that with Hilary as S of State, America will take tougher stand against that Shia theocracy regime...And off course another thanks to the so called NIAC for ignoring the acts of that fascist regime and pushing for diplomacy with mullahs..
That's a great start!
by IRANdokht on Thu Nov 20, 2008 03:47 PM PSTThanks for the update! It's good that the bomb bomb crowd were not there but what happens if Hillary has a say as the Secretary of State?
It figures the anti NIAC Iranians would call Lieberman for help!! HA!
Please keep us informed and thanks for all you do!
IRANdokht
The only
by MRX1 (not verified) on Thu Nov 20, 2008 01:57 PM PSTThe only change worth believing is total destruction of the regime in Iran. nothing short of that is even worth talking about.
Call it warmongering or whateva you fancy
by Hopeful (not verified) on Thu Nov 20, 2008 01:32 PM PSTLet's hope you guys are successful in rescuing the Islamic Republic from its inescapable doom at least for a while longer... cheers
Glad to hear that it was a
by Niki on Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:39 PM PSTGlad to hear that it was a success and that the warmongers didn't manage to stop the event.
That is good news, for a change!
by farokh2000 on Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:46 AM PSTThanks for the update on this.
It is good to see some good, positive news from DC, rather than the Warmongering pieces.