Toward a Green Foreign Policy for Iran
Muhammad Sahimi / Tehran Bureau
05-Sep-2010 (5 comments)

There are several reasons why the articulation of such a foreign policy vision has become very important. One is that as the drumbeats of a possible war with Iran get louder and debate over it gets more heated, the Green Movement must make its position regarding possible military attacks on Iran absolutely transparent. Second, neoconservatives in the United States have been busy trying to present the Green Movement as a pro-American development. Michael Weiss of the Weekly Standard, the mouthpiece of the neoconservatives, recently asserted that Shiva Nazar Ahari, the courageous human rights defender and advocate of children's rights is "clearly pro-West and philo-American," an absurd claim. On the basis of this and similar absurdities, some neoconservatives, the Israel lobby, and their Iranian minions speak as if at least part of the Green Movement will support military attacks on Iran as a way of toppling the Islamic Republic. Such claims must be countered. Third, again, as the confrontation between the hardliners and the Western powers centers around Iran's nuclear program and its antagonism toward Israel, it is essential for the Green Movement to articulate its views and remove any ambiguities regarding how it stands on these issues.

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Mardom Mazloom

Akh mordam az khandeh,

by Mardom Mazloom on Mon Sep 06, 2010 03:25 PM PDT

"such a long mostly incoherent -article-" said from Fred jan who churns out 2 blogs a day (like a musing chicken!) which are often incomprehensible... Vay ... I'm unable to read the rest of the comment...




The envious die not once, but as oft as the envied win applause. ~Baltasar Gracian


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MM

mammad - best line in your article that I completely agree w/

by MM on Mon Sep 06, 2010 02:03 PM PDT

The following is your best line in your article:

"2. Foreign policy cannot be separated from domestic policy. In fact, the former is a reflection of the latter in the international arena. One good example is the claim that is often made by Tehran's hardliners that they support "democratic elections and democracy" in Iraq and Afghanistan. The claim is bogus, because the same group commits fraud in Iran's elections, violates the rights of the citizens, and uses violence and even murder to crack down on peaceful demonstrations. A nation cannot claim to be a true democracy and yet intervene in other nations' affairs, attack them unjustifiably, or occupy their territory. Likewise, the hardliners' defense of "Palestinians' rights" is bogus, because they consistently violate the rights of their own fellow Iranians."

I believe that the nuclear issue in Iran has become a distraction from the main issue which is to bring a democratic secular government to Iran.  Once such a government is seated in Iran, western governments will be lining up to sell the latest nuclear technology to Iran.  If Iran IS trying to make a bomb, I for one would like to see the evidence instead of all this back-and-forth hype and war-of-words that takes time and effort away from bringing freedom to Iran.

Overall, a very good job.


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Fred

Upset Haji

by Fred on Mon Sep 06, 2010 01:06 PM PDT

Upset Islamist is allover the place. May be NIOC should give him an extra bonus to clam him down.

As for Dr. Ganjbakhsh, he is a world renowned scientist at NIH. Except your self proclaimed “world renowned scientist” title which you deny saying what is your world class qualification?

Too many are members of Academy, that make you one of gazillion.

As to your claim to know me, here again you are an Islamist liar, if not I challenge you and give you full permission to “reveal” it all right here on IC. Go ahead Islamist liar.

As to the "makeup artist"  aka band-andaz, she is part of the same circle as your dinner companion who you vouched for and she too attended your Islamist Rapist brethrens’ expat show. 

Boro Haji,  try to salvage your nuke lobbying. And try harder to absolve your fellow Islamists who participated in 1953, just shameless.

 

Ps. What about adding the verbatim “crux of the issue” to the nonsensical Islamist articles?


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Mammad

Yeah

by Mammad on Mon Sep 06, 2010 09:36 AM PDT

Correct. That was said exactly, as had been before and after! But, what is the contradiction between that and the article? Any nation that can enrich uranium can potentially make the bomb. One does not need to be Einstein to recognize that!

And, what gives you the qualifications for deciding what is coherent and what is not?

What gives you the qualification to decide who is a "world class scientist" (such as you promoting the neocon Ganjbakhsh to that ranking!) and who is not?

What is your track record, anyway? If no one knows, I do. You have had absolutely ZERO achievement in your entire life. Zero, none, zilch, nada - other than being a confessed AIPAC Mafioso, of course. If you did have any achievement, you would not be on 24 hour/day alert here on IC to attack people.

Mammad

PS: You should keep yourself busy with writing about makeup artists! Do not get yourself involved with issues that you do not have the foggiest understanding of them!

PPS: I know you will, but do not lose your nerves again after reading this. Calm down! Go write a blog about your hair dresser!

 


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Fred

The missing "crux "

by Fred on Mon Sep 06, 2010 03:13 AM PDT

Such a long mostly incoherent “article” with lots vitriol just to say what an Islamist nuke lobbyist has said already. Perhaps to give these types of “articles” clarity, the Islamist’s “crux of the issue"  should be included verbatim as synopsis in all future ones.  

The “crux of the issue “statement:

“"The crux of the issue about Iran's nuclear program is, in my opinion, as follows: If Iran has the ability to make the bomb on a short notice, it becomes unattackable. That is not something that the US and Israel can tolerate. They want to be the hegemone (sic) of the Middle East."


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