National Iranian American Council

Waxman is doing this? Is something more going on?

I'm shocked that Waxman is leading this move.  I have to do some research on this topic, but could something be happening that we can't see?  Why the sudden moves? Perhaps, the reformists in Iran are close to change of regime. 

When I see the Europeans moving forward with their own sanctions, I wonder if they see that the pressure on Iran is working.

I don't understand why the Democrats in Congress are moving on Iran at this time.  Maybe, they want the Iran situation settled before Obama takes over.  I just can't understand their motives.

congress/obama

By the way, if anyone who isn't familiar with US politics is wondering why so many democrats seem to be in a rush to get this down now... it is because they expect Obama to win the election in November, and they want to be able to blame the pending "Iranian mess" on Bush in the coming years. I'm guessing this suits Bush just fine, since he's been humiliated by the IRI and would likely prefer to leave office having delivered a swift kick in the ass to the people who've been spitting in his eye all this time.

It's just the way things works. If Jimmy Carter had any balls he would have done the same before Reagan took office.

Khar

And here you go again my friend, trying to spread the "Libertarian"
ideas as you call them by kicking the world's ass to submission!

And I already explained my "don't mess with me, I won't mess with you" attitude towards foreign affairs. Has the IRI been messing with the US? Are you capable of giving an objective answer to that question?

If you answer "yes" then I don't ever want to be called a warmonegr by you again. And if you answer "no" then you are part of the problem, so to hell with you.

something on my mind

question to anybody who can answer:

If IRI collapses tomorrow, what do you think will happen?

jamshid, q has a good point

you are doing nothing now. that much we can see.

but even if you don't believe it will make a difference why do you have to put down other people who do it? this shows that you are not honest about what you say.

Re: Q

Staying home benefits the corrupt and criminal IRI as well.

History is proof that when it comes to oil and foreign policies, the powers to be in the US do not care about public opinion. In fact, they can turn the public opinion into what they want it to be almost overnight. Who has control of media in here?

You claim that I am sitting on my ass doing nothing. How the hell do you know what I may have done or may be doing right now for my country?

And what about the links I sent you? Are you going to write and ask them to change their behavior? To free the political prisoners? To respect human rights? To release their monopoly on the economy?

Of course you won't. We both damn well know that they are "khodi" to you.

The traditional Iranian

The traditional Iranian leftist in the US have a magnificent blindspot where the worst IR's crimes and corruptions are concerned. Regarding Khamanie's torture regime, the criminal policies of cruelty and embezzlment, they've given us their usual silence interspersed with blinkered or fake anti-war rhetoric. we never hear from them about the illegal proxy wars against US, Israel, and Sunnis in Iraq; you never hear about the horrendous torture methods in Evin prison or the workers who have not gotten paid over a year, we never hear about the cutting of the tongue of the leader of Bus Union, Osanlou or other dissidents rotting in secret dugeons. We never see a letter written to The Supreme Leader of Ignorance on this site demanding him to stop his warmongering, thieving, and flat out raping and pillaging the country. Feigning concern over the lives of Iranian people only when IR's interests are in danger; When IRI's existance is secured and guaranteed via "grand bargain", then those Iranian lives are conviniently forgotten. If this is not hypocrisy, I don't know what is.

Above all, we rarely hear anything from apologist for the Islamic Jihad about how the IRI has instituted a systematic regimen to degrade the psychological state of Iranian nation in order to instill pain, fear, emotional and financial suffering, and childlike dependency.

Parthian Jamshid!..hiss it,s "critical time".. How dare you?

 it,s been like that for 30 yrs.Every day is "Critical day" for occupied Iran

I totaly agree with NIAC how ever  on the Issue of military intervention (how ever far fetched) being a disaster for Iranians.

Eventhough I don,t support & condone most of NIAC rethoric & one sided preachings The change has to come from whithin Iran,A big chunk of Iran,s problems have nothing to do with IRI.Getting rid of Khaliffate regime  to me is only a minute 1st step on ridding Iran from centuries old cultural occupation .Iranians have a huge dilema to  surpass which existed way before IRI and gave birth to it & I,m afraid will exist way after it,s gone. and that is the fundamental question of "Iranian Identity" & which side of history are we on as Iranians and who are our foes & friends. Once figured out for masses , then & only then We can re enter the world as one respectable proud nation. As long as there are masses of ignorance & culturaly brainwashed colons in Iran or elsewhere on this thread who indulge in the same repetitive nonsensical ideology, there will be more IRI regimes to come once this one is history.I,m afraid it won,t come soon & Peacefully. Because to them as a collective group (Mullahs,Mujahed khalghi,Fadaii khalgh & Islam,tudeh..etc) we are the enemy camp because We don,t  worship no foreign ideology like them and put Iran,s interest 1st & the feeling is mutual.it might take 30 more yrs but the choice is very clear.

Regards!

Programmer Craig is a warriar who fights for

SPPPAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

hey, Mr. Programmer, you may want to read up on the concept of "international law" something that the US is obligated to follow by treaty. That's why things that violate treaties such as the UN charter are illegal.

To Mr. Prog. Craig.....

As Ronald Reagan used to say: "Here you go again"! And here you go again my friend, trying to spread the "Libertarian" ideas as you call them by kicking the world's ass to submission! Dude come down John Wayne is long dead! remember this historical fact; WAR IS HELL! For both the defeated and the victor you can ask our 35000 wounded kids or the families of the 5000 killed or the hundreds of thousands of innocent who are dead and caught in the crossfire. I ask you for what and in what name these many young lives sacrificed on both sides? I hope is not just for oil, controlling resources, in the name of God and religion, nationalism and and and………….. I have lost family members and childhood friends in the 10 years of Iran-Iraq war, for what? why did they have to die???? Let’s hope one day there will be no reasons scared enough to kill or die for!!!!    

PS. Your home work for tonight is to write WAR IS HELL…..  For one thousand times!!

 Peace!

Jamshid, you're a complete waste of time

mardake ahmagh, why do you accuse and label me as a warmonger?

mardake bi-shoure bi-savad, I did not label you a warmonger. Bi-ensafe badbackt, I gave you enough credit to take you on your word when you said you are against the war.

What I said in two seperate places was that staying home benefits the warmongers. Because that's what they want from you and me.

You did not claim to be an expert, but you did claim that millions of anti-war activists are going to fail, since you know already that they "don't make a difference." Damn right, you are not an expert.

This is not about luck or gambling. You may operate that way, but I don't. I'm hopeful that the bill would be amended and watered down before adoption, same thing that happened to the Lieberman bill last year (something that you would call another "useless" victory, I'm sure) but ultimately I don't know the future. You think you know the future, I'm not stupid enough to make such claims. There is only one thing for certain that you have to live with the rest of your life. If this does happen, I did what I could, but you sat on your ass and complained like an old man conspiracy theorist who has given up all sense of respect and self-empowerment.

Since we've already established that you are an illiterate, let me just copy my previous answer to you, which is what I'll do from now on. You're not worth a second of my time.

ma'salam.

------------------------

If I live in the US, the only way I can affect the IRI is to encourage US to take steps in that regard. I have no power to actually affect IRI, unless it is through making it easy for other countries to do this. Unfortunately, this seems like a very natural thing to most Iranians who are used to a holy father-figure type that can solve all their problems. In their minds, all they have to do is complain and the "big grown up" will make the bad guys go away. But I don't trust Bush and the Warmongering necons to do iran any favors and magically to do the "right thing", can you understand this or not?

If I was living in Iran, it would be a completely different story. It is a duty of all citizens to hold their own governments accountable.

Now, please, pick up the phone and do something that could actually make a difference.

NIAC

The US would lose the hearts and minds of the Iranian people, one of
our greatest strategic assets and a bulwark against anti-Americanism in
the region.

That's a bit of a stretch, don't you think? The only "strategic" reason why the US government would need Iranian hearts and minds is if teh US and Iran were to be at war. And yet in the same sentence you confirm that if the US performs any kind of act of aggression against Iran, we will lose that asset - before we even need it. Circular argument.

I'm not saying it doesn't matter whether there is ill will between the people of Iran and teh people of the US, or not. I'm just saying that it doesn't work, in this context.

By the way, you sure like the word "illegal", don't you? Are you a lawyer? :P

Maybe we should just do it, and then deny we are doing it. Like the IRI does. We can just keep denying it, even when confronted with hard evidence. What are they gonna do, refer us to the UN?  Doesn't seem to bother the IRI when that happens, does it?

"Blockade? What blockade? This is a health and safety inspection".

"Authrization? I don't need no steenkin authorization! Your vessel poses a hazard to international waterways!"

And seriously, if you are trying to convicne the US congress (who is responsible for MAKING LAW in the US (that's what "legislation" means) that they are writing illegal laws, you are going to get a very cold reception. Law makers don't like to be told they are breakling the law.

Re: Q

I did not claim to be a political expert nor did I issue any fatwas. I simply expressed my opinion, something that doesn't sit well with you and your ilk in the IRI. Just pay a visit to Evin and you'll know what I mean.

"so there's nothing anyone can do about anything, even in a "democracy", how wonderful for all the war mongers."

mardake ahmagh, why do you accuse and label me as a warmonger? How convenient and how IRI-like. Again, pay a visit to Evin and you'll know what I mean. There are many in Evin who are accused of being "warmongers" because they dared oppose the IRI.

Why the war hasn't happened already? Because the US got tied down with Iraq. And because the IRI hadn't made so much progress in nuclear technology. That's why.

These two resolutions are going to be passed no matter what Barney boy does. Get it? Do you want to make a bet on it? or are you going to ghod ghod ghodaaa instead?

It is not those who oppose the IRI that are taking Iran to yet another war, but self-thankful imbeciles like you who have historically always hurt the interests of the people of Iran by means of your bankrupt ideology.

Now here are some links for YOU to write to.

Write and ask for change in IRI's foreign policies in order to save Iran from another war.

Ask them not to endanger the Iranian people by constantly threatening Israel.

Ask them to stop funding terrorists in the region.

Demand the observation of human rights in Iran.

Write and ask for the immediate release of Iranian political prisoners.

Demand a stop to all kind of tortures. 

Demand a stop to all political executions.

Demand equal rights for women.

Ask for the corrupt IRI leaders to be brought to justice.

Demand that barbaric Sharia not to be practiced in Iran.

Demand the abolishment of velayate faghih and the Guardian Council.

Demand the abolishment of bonyaads and the return of its funds to its rightful owners, the Iranian people.

//www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter

//www.majlesekhobregan.ir/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=3

//www.judiciary.ir/

//www.ahmadinejad.ir/

//www.jameehmodarresin.org/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=3

//www.majlis.ir/majles/

I have a strong feeling that you are not compelled to write because you consider them as "khodi". So keep your head "shoved in the sand" in the face of IRI's atrocities against your own people, as you have done for years. It is befitting you.

Or do you think that there is nothing anyone can do about anything, even in a great democracy such as the IRI?

Jamshid jaan

One of your problem, along with others such as our dear friend Free Thinker is that you guys want evidence, you are doing "root cause analysis". You think a dumb ass like molla nasredin, or his brother Q can comprehend such subjects. I very much doubt it! The root cause of Iran's problems is no doubt IR, and no one else. These people can talk about neocons, old cons, neoliberals, old....they can throw all kinds of fancy terms around, Mullahs, and akhounds in Iran are destroying the country by implementing policies that have forced the country on a path to destruction. These policies while benefiting the oligarchy in short term have also left little space for change, or flexibility. Even now, if IR cadre on top want to change their position on the nuclear issue, they really can not. There is no way to save face. In essence, they have crossed their own red lines. This is why you get this incomprehensible, confusing message coming out of Tehran.

People of Iran will pay a heavy price for this as Germans did during NAZI Germany. This is not a comparison of IR to Hitler, but a comparison of governments that took their nation to the abyss.

Jamshid, thanks for the lecture justifying idiocy

Jamshid,

We all understand that you really are the political expert here. I'm sorry your highness, I didn't realize you are the professor of politics and economics. Didn't know your own successfull mastery of the political system, entitles you to lecture others about how to spend their time.

You have issued a decree saying everyone else working for peace is really wasting their time and money. They don't know shit, only you understnd politics from the corner of your home behind a keyboard, you have figured it all out and decided that we are all losers. Not NIAC, not anybody else who actually (i don't know, work in politics and dedicate their lives to peace), understands how this works. Only you do, right?

THE POWERS TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY, DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOUR PHONE CALLS, OR YOUR LITTLE DEMONSTRATIONS. THEY WILL GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT THEY WANT, NOT WHAT YOU OR I WANT.
Get it?

No, I don't get it. Are you pretending you understand how the political process works? Am I supposed to accept your word over everyone else? Who the hell are you again?

Perfect, so there's nothing anyone can do about anything, even in a "democracy", how wonderful for all the war mongers. One question genius, why hasn't it happened already?

Given that one prominant AIPAC supporting representative (Barney Franks) already changed his mind in the past two days partially because of the efforts of us "stupid" activists, and they agreed to do a mark-up of a bill next week, a bill that was supposed to have been voted on this week, you and your whole world view have already been proven wrong. Of course if you don't follow these things like a real expert would, you're just talking out of your behind, as usual.

Consider how many times this country was ready to invade and bomb Iran in the past 5 years and they had to pull back because of political ramifications and exposure by whistle-blowers and activists. How did it happen?

What happened to the nuclear proof that they were supposed to produce? Where are all the weapons they were supposed to show the world that the IRI is sending into Iraq?

Jamshid jan, how convienient that something you have decided not to participate in is deemed "useless" in your mind. The fact that you choose to waste people's time in this crucial moment speaks volumes about you. Could it possibly be guilt?

It is you who are in a cacoon. A cacoon so deep and so ignorant that you are dancing like a monkey to the very tune of the war mongers. Who wins if people like you sit on their ass all day and say "we are powerless"?

In 2003, a good majority of American supported the action against Iraq. Including the 40% who thought Saddam was behind 9/11. Ignorance and good timing was the reason they succeeded back then and it is happening again.

Of course, if take your holy advice and shove our heads in the sand (like the Iraqi Americans did), they can get away with saying anything and building any kind of case they want in favor of bombing.

So, please, either lead, follow or the get the hell out of the way.

Henry Waxman's Numbers
//www.house.gov/waxman/contact.htm

In Washington, D.C.
2204 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-3976 (phone)
(202) 225-4099 (fax)

In Los Angeles
8436 West Third Street, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 651-1040 (phone)
(818) 878-7400 (phone)
(310) 652-3095 (phone)
(323) 655-0502 (fax)

Re: Q

Let me tell you something. There is no disagreement between us in that war will only bring devastation to Iran. What you fail to understand, maybe perhaps because you want to live in your cocoon fantasy, is that, now I am going to put it all in cap letters to get it through you:

THE POWERS TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY, DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOUR PHONE CALLS, OR YOUR LITTLE DEMONSTRATIONS. THEY WILL GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT THEY WANT, NOT WHAT YOU OR I WANT.

Get it? Did it go through? Or did it just came out of the other ear?

I know you said once that you believe what people think in this country controls the government decisions. I firmly disagree with you when it comes to oil and foreign policies.

Look at all these website: Historians against war, Envrionmentalists against war, Youth against war, Women against war, US labor against war, Bay Area against war, Asians against war, Veterans against war, and hundreds more "man dar aavordi" websites, all of them against war.

Then look at NIAC, CASMII and other Iranian lobbies. After that, look at the "Global Research" type of folks, and on and on, all against war.

Then after all these efforts, all the sudden just out of nowhere, comes 362 and 580? Just like that? Makes you think twice about to whom the House and the Senate's loyatly really "belongs", doesn't it?  Sure, there may be a few whose loyalty is where it should be, but they are the minority.

You don't get it do you? The neo-cons here and the hardliners in Iran, hand in hand, are going to take YOUR country and YOUR people to war because both sides happen to be retarded in their own ways.

Did you really think the American people are going to feel any discomfort in the event of such war? Maybe $10/Gallon prices? Oh, I am heart broken... Compare this to what YOUR people in Iran are going to feel. Hundreds of times worst. The IRI leadership is going to do fine, but the people you have abanonded are going to feel the pain.

Have you forgotten the worldwide demonstrations against US war with Saddam in 2003? That had a whole lot more hype than anything I am seeing today. Did it do any good? NO.

The IRI's irresponsible policies are taking Iran to another long term war coupled with hard sanctions. The Americans and the IRI leadership are going to be fine, as the Saddam and his entourage were fine despite of war and sanctions. The people of Iran however, are going to pay.

At the end of the day, you are not serving the Iranian people's interest, but only the IRI's.

So what must it be done then? I answer the question by asking another: What is the root cause of all our problems? The IRI. Fifty years from today, the IRI would still be in a stand off with the US. The IRI must be destroyed for Iranians to have any meaningfujl chance to have peace and happiness.

How do you explaingt

How do you explaingt this;

US exports to Iran rose in Bush years:
//rawstory.com/news/2008/US_exports_to_Iran_r...

Maghze khar khordeha

Like this last one, MargbarIRI,  wetting himself from the excitement of a probable attack against the people of Iran.

Viva Blockade! And Viva More Sanctions as well!

The pro Islamists who are always first to advocate for sanctions against the Zionists for the mistreatment of the Pals (who are none Israeli citizens by the way) have never once advocated for the same against the brutal IRI bastards who have been killing/murdering Iranian citizens with no due process for the past 30 years.

Time to put more pressure on these turban heads. In the long run, more Iranians will be saved. Freedom is not cheap.

thank you NIAC and thank you Q for the phone numbers

I am calling Waxman right now.

Jamshid, really? This is the time you play these BS games?

Jamshid,

I can only suspect that you have a deeply rooted mental block against my words, because this has been explained to you dozens of times and not just by me. Yet sadly you are still ignorant about it.

If I live in the US, the only way I can affect the IRI is to encourage US to take steps in that regard. I have no power to actually affect IRI, unless it is through making it easy for other countries to do this. Unfortunately, this seems like a very natural thing to most Iranians who are used to a holy father-figure type that can solve all their problems. In their minds, all they have to do is complain and the "big grown up" will make the bad guys go away. But I don't trust Bush and the Warmongering necons to do iran any favors and magically to do the "right thing", can you understand this or not?

If I was living in Iran, it would be a completely different story. It is a duty of all citizens to hold their own governments accountable.

Now, please, pick up the phone and do something that could actually make a difference.

My congressman has not signed on H.Con.Res. 362 and I am

proud of him. He is a democrat from Bay Area, CA. I did send an email to my congressman when I found out about the situation. We need to get more involved in the political process here. We need to educate ourselves and take part in it.

The warmongers' childish hot air must not stop us. Warmongers on this website are drowning in their hatred or maybe they are paid agents who knows? That 400 million dollars that Seymour Hirsh talk about should show up somewhere.

Keep on calling and writing your representative because this aggression will continue for a long time. We owe it to the next generation of Iranians who are born here and in Iran. They will ask us what we did to stop the war between Iran and USA. 

Re: Q

"there are many types of Iranians in Tehrangeles including some who have decided it's OK for the rest of Iran to suffer, so they sit home silently"

Some of those Tehranjelesis reminds me of you Q who are sitting  silently in the face of atrocities committed by the IRI against the people of Iran.

You do not want to protect the people of Iran. Spare us the hyprocrisy. You only want to protect the IRI. Let's be clear on that. There is a big difference between the two.

I support the blockade..

Lots of ridiculous people here who love to throw Israel into the mix. No different than IR, the escape goat is always Israel for all the problems. One look beyond the surface, and one can see that this policy is very much aligned with U.S interests in the region, and has nothing to do with Israel. From a strategic view, this move is another tool in the U.S tool box to force IR's hands. I support it. Not one shot will be fired either. In my view, this is a win-win situation. Here are the reasons:

1-Prevents IR to further exploit Iran's oil reserves. 2-Stops and prevents the merchant mullahs, and bazaris to continue their trade with the Gulf nations. 3-Oil prices will rise dramatically, which will make green substitutes economically feasible, and hasten the drive to explore alternative energy. 3-No one shot will be fired because IR's navy is no match to the United States, and this move might even instigate the overthrow of the regime. 5-Yes, there might be trouble in Iraq, and Afghanistan, but in long run, Iran is bound to lose those battles, as Iranians are almost hated as much as the Americans, and Israelis. Actually, amongst the lawmakers of the Gulf countries, there is no love lost for Iran. People would be more than happy to see Iran bombed back to the stone age.

Actually, NIAC, you are on the right track, we can do this

NIAC: it's not over. Do not give up. You say the markup has been scheduled for next week. There was no markup supposed to be scheduled at all, this is already a victory.

We have already turned one of them. Representative Barney Frank, a major AIPAC ally has already caved. He changed his mind saying "blockade is going too far."
//www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=7937

Pedram is right, there are many types of Iranians in Tehrangeles including some who have decided it's OK for the rest of Iran to suffer, so they sit home silently. Some (like a pair of commentators on this blog) sit on their ass and pass "expert" political advice without lifting a finger to help the people who will immediately suffer from this blockade.

The blockade is an act of war, this must be repeated over and over again.

I don't think Waxman wants war. He just thinks he is covering himself with this clause saying "nothing here means war." But the problem is that Bush will interpret it as authorization and then point to Democrats saying "they voted for it." It's a losing game they already played in '02 elections.

Dear readers: Call Representative Waxman's office right now. It's real easy, just call this number, and say to his staffer that you do not approve of this blockade legislation. Say specifically that you don't think the "no war" clause is enough. Urge the representative to follow the lead of his colleague Barney Frank. They do keep track of these calls.

Do it, especially if you live in his district. It's only 5 minutes of your time, but it could prevent a war.

//www.house.gov/waxman/contact.htm

In Washington, D.C.
2204 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-3976 (phone)
(202) 225-4099 (fax)

In Los Angeles
8436 West Third Street, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 651-1040 (phone)
(818) 878-7400 (phone)
(310) 652-3095 (phone)
(323) 655-0502 (fax)

If you live in the San Francisco Area, go to this protest today at 3 PM (in 2 hours) scheduled specifically for this issue. Please attend if you can, numbers matter.

Here is a PDF flyer: //www.stopaipac.org/july8thprotestv3.pdf

Shotor dar khaab binad panbeh daaneh

The Israeli funded bunch can scream as much as they want, what else is new ;)

They all have one boss and one constituent and that is Israel

That's all.

Deletion ax

Fred, the deletion ax is looming over your comment. It's just a matter of time... I give your comment half an hour before being axed.

Re: NIAC

Let this be a lesson for your organization that the US government will not change. Doesn't matter what branch. It hasn't changed in more than 50 years, with either a democrat or a republican at helm.

When the powers to be make a decision, all these people you have lobbied so hard will jump on board, as though you never existed.

What we need is change from within Iran. We can't have the US to make the changes for us in Iran. It is the IRI that needs changing, or better yet being overthrown.

Phantom "allies"

When the twin lobbies ignore the reality of the Islamist regime as being an anathema to the Iranians and the world community and choose to believe their own hype many more disappointments awaits them. NIAC/CASMII lobby should look at this “quite disappointing” Rep. Waxman’s “fallen prey to the influence of the war-hawks” on top of Senator Obama proving not to be as amenable as first thought of as ominous signs of the urgent need to practice their back paddling techniques.  The Presidential election season’s verbal jousting should not be misinterpreted as acquiesce to the Islamist regime’s blatantly Anti-Iranian and region wide destabilizing policies. Before others do it their way, there is still precious little time left for all Iranians to band together and get rid of this Iranian devouring Islamist monster.