Dear President Obama,
We would like to congratulate you on your becoming the 44th President of the United States of America as such historic event of unprecedented proportion has now transpired. In your inaugural address, you eluded to extending a dialogue with Iran. Most Americans including many in the Iranian-American Community of nearly a million strong keenly welcome this noble idea. It is, therefore, in the spirit of supporting your bold leadership to reinvigorate the American credibility worldwide, including the Near East, albeit Iran, that we the undersigned scholars would take the opportunity a few key suggestions that we believe when implemented in our rapprochement should mutually benefit both nations:
First, from the historical perspectives, allow us to review the US involvement in Iran for the past 60 years. The US has in essence practiced post World War II colonialism and intervened covertly on the Iranian internal affairs; as a result this has decimated the very democratic fabric in Iran that was once flourishing for eighty years until 1953.
The US military Industrial, congressional, intelligence, PAC, and media complex embarked in the most atrocious misconducts and in violation of American statues, against the Iranian people. Such capricious malice has ranged from overthrowing the democratically elected government of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, the downing of a civilian airliner in the Persian Gulf leading to 300 dead, the support and direct involvement in the eight-year war by Iraq under Saddam Hussein imposed on Iran, allowing the use of biological and chemical weapons on the Iranian civilian population and against the Geneva Convention, the U.S. military altercations in the Persian Gulf threatening [Iranian] regime change, threatening the use of Nuclear weapons against 70 million inhabitants, and the congressional approval of nearly 70 million dollars for subversive activities in the hope overthrowing the Iranian government.
Mr. President, the Iranian people cannot tolerate any more of such ill-driven policies of the past. The Iranian revolution was the direct result of the US wrongful policy towards Iran. What is direly needed is a genuine direct and transparent resolution to alter the course of such behavior and start fresh as allies to cultivate the rich Iranian culture and enormous natural resources Iran has to benefit both nations. What is more needed is an honest policy of friendship not rhetorical threats and military and negotiating scheme under the barrel of gun. The gun diplomacy that have been, and still is wrongly perceived the option, will not work. Iran has enormous economical challenges, but also the country has enormous external problems with Al Qaeda and many other terrorist organizations attacking it on a daily basis.
Mr. President, the best way to deal with Iran is not through the threat of force as a precondition to talk, or bullying Iran into subjugation. The political awareness of the Iranian people is well known and cannot be any longer ignored. The best way to proceed is to shift the US policy in true sense and without the use of failed conventional modalities. Negotiations must remain transparent and primarily focus on the plights, aspirations and mutual benefits of both nations.
Respectfully submitted,
Board of Directors
Iran Heritage Organization
www.iran-heritage.org
Alliance Organization
www.iranalliance.org
Persian Gulf Organization
www.persiangulfonline.org
