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C’mon Senator Barack Hussein Obama
04-Jun-2008
Dear Senator Obama;
These are some of your quotes I have collected in my head on Iran. You see, I am a bit sensitive on Iran as my grandmother’s house is less than a block from what will probably be one of the first targets against the Iranian “nuclear facilities” in a precision targeted bombing attack, and seeing how imprecise some of them worked in Iraq, it worries me. It is actually just a university, but most of their research is done there and I really love my grandma. You have said:
“[T]he big question is going to be, if Iran is resistant to these pressures [to stop its nuclear program], including economic sanctions, which I hope will be imposed if they do not cooperate, at what point, if any, are we going to take military action?” [1]
“[W]e must preserve our total commitment to our unique defense relationship with Israel by fully funding military assistance and continuing work on the Arrow and related missile defense programs.”…“This would help Israel maintain its military edge and deter and repel attacks from as far as Tehran and as close as Gaza.” [2]
“[Iran] is a genuine threat” to the United States and Israel. [3]
Have you reconsidered any of the above statements Senator Obama? Is Iran still the big threat you described last year after reading the latest NIE report? If it is not, don’t blame me for wondering, but why are you not addressing the topic? After all, you promised to run on a platform that started with your opposition to the Iraq war from day one. Like many of us, from way before it started. You said you did not believe Iraq was posing any immediate threat to the United States and its allies. And it obviously did not. We knew it then about Iraq and know it now about Iran. But somehow this case is not the same? Why?
I will apparently never be granted your security clearance, so perhaps you’ve seen the proof of this upcoming “mushroom cloud” that the rest of us do not get to see. And I can only assume this cloud has Ahmadinejad’s beard in it instead of Saddam’s big moustache. Or maybe the McCain base of support is far more important to you than millions who don’t vote as they all paint you politicians to be the same. Didn’t you plan to bring them into the political arena instead of the ones who will never vote for you regardless, even if it is only based on your middle name alone?
Senator, like many students, artists, writers, dreamers and just middle of-the-road good hearted Americans, I too want to believe you in your campaign of Hope and Change. But I need more. I want to hear you pronounce these words bravely and dare them to call you weak. C’mon Senator Barack Hussein Obama of the South Side of Chicago, be brave and read this with me in your next major campaign stop, then add it to your stump speech so it is repeated often;
“I was against the Iraq war and for similar reasons am against a war with Iran today. We have no convincing argument or compelling evidence that justifies involving our youth and wasting our resources in yet another fruitless war that will be detrimental to both sides. My future administration will also oppose any hostile action by our allies in this regard and will act swiftly against spreading the hostilities in an already hostile region. The United States of America will forever and as always reserves the right to act on its own defense and with maximum force while working towards finding solutions and spreading peace around the world under a new leadership.”
And if you are ever on Oprah again, please add “Grandma, Pedram says Hi!” She watches the show everyday. Now you won’t do the speech part, will ya?
This piece was originally prepared for and later rejected by the Los Angeles Times. Pedram Moallemian is an Iranian writer and activist based in Los Angeles, currently working on his first book.
[1] Senator Barack Obama, interview with Chicago Tribune, September 26, 2004
[2] Senator Barack Obama, AIPAC policy forum in Chicago, March 2 2007
[3] Senator Barack Obama, AIPAC sponsored forum in DC, March 12, 2007
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Senator BHO
by Ahmed from Bahrain on Fri Jun 06, 2008 07:54 PM PDTWar is an old-fashion way of settling disputes. One does not bomb the whole school yard to punish a bully. We teach our kids in kindergartens to share their toys and not to hit another kid if that kid 'borrows' their toy. We teach them to be kind and treat others with respect and sometimes we teach them to be loving to others.
So how come when we are grown up, the only tool our leaders want to use to settle disputes is WMD? What about talking? or even sharing the toys?
Am nearly sixty years old and still remember those early school lessons. BHO is much younger and from what I have read, his early schooling surely had similar teaching;
So, ma man; would you shock and awe us or would you rock and roll us? And if it is change you are after, then let us go to the bazar and talk this over a cup of tea. Leave your bombs at home; we don't do suicide bombing in Iran.
War is so yesterday, it must be banned as a form of settling disputes. Fill that cup and speak to me about love and the new frontier this love is going to conquer. Now that will be a change for better but do you have the heart for it? Oh, yes you do and stop beating around The Bush.
Ahmed from Bahrain
GDP in Europe vs USA
by DemocracyRules (not verified) on Fri Jun 06, 2008 01:05 PM PDTTo: Obama da man
"EU is now no.1 GDP in world. Thank you Repulsivians. The red states are a drag on USA. Time to let them go their separate way. I suggest Charleston SC as their Capital"
USA GDP per capita, according to purchasing power parity in 2007 was $46,000. This is the highest in the world, by a wide margin.
Feel free to look it up. (I am Canadian)
Pro Patria
Dialogue among the Godless Barbarians?
by Abol Danesh (not verified) on Fri Jun 06, 2008 09:23 AM PDTIs Obama in Christian countries the equivallent of Almahdi in islamic countries when God has become an extremely unreachable or an obscure mental construct...
kaleh dar
by Dariush (not verified) on Thu Jun 05, 2008 04:36 PM PDTYour remarks reminded me of some of the Americans! They also smile at you, shack your hand and cut your head off. Of course, Israelis first cut your head off then smile and shack your hand.
Obama ,Iran
by kaleh dar on Thu Jun 05, 2008 03:34 PM PDTObama remindes me of another fool, Carter, that remindes me of revolution , KHomeini and millions of lost lives and tourchered Iranians, God help us with this fool. You can't negotiate with mullas,because they shake your hand ,smile at your face , while cutting your head off.
Kaleh dar
Our best chance for peace
by Poirot on Thu Jun 05, 2008 03:18 PM PDTto consider obama as the a true candidate for change is simply imposible. His lack of experience is a very important factor however to chose McCain would mean Bush policies all over again.And i for one would chose anything over that.ANYTHING!! furthermore i am realistic and i do not believe that the zionist government will allow in peace negotioation with iran,especialy not with ahmagynejad in iran.
US interests
by Ari Siletz on Thu Jun 05, 2008 01:58 PM PDTI took Obama's "...if and only if it can advance the interests of the United States." to be a shot across the bow to AIPAC. Traditional AIPAC expectations may have to be downgraded in an Obama administration.
Also Obama's mentioning of the "grassroots" component of AIPAC power signals the Israeli right wing that his support among many American Jews can counter-balance hard line agendas.
Obama is flexing muscle, despite appearences.
who is using who?
by Dariush (not verified) on Thu Jun 05, 2008 01:43 PM PDTStill Obama is the best candidate for peace by far.
Zionists think they are playing him, but I don't think so.
Obama and Iran
by ourworld (not verified) on Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:25 PM PDTthank you pedram.
good piece however senetor obama would have to be crazy to "oppose any hostile action by our allies ".
Replies
by PedramMoallemian on Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:31 AM PDTThank you for your comments. I will attempt to address some of your points:
samsam1111, I'm not sure who you are addressing, but I have never promoted Obama. but if you expect the inheritor of bush' middle east policy to be wise and cause no bloodshed, one of us is certainly helucinating.
Dariush, I'd never give anyone within the democrat-republican machine too much credit.
Pissed Off, I think I wrote my first piece for iranian.com over 10 years ago. Although I believe in working within our own community and those who are following our affairs, I also strongly believe in reaching out and trying to get our message to a broader audience. That's why I have tried to write for as many larger newspapers and magazines as possible.
David ET, I will not translate those words for my grandma as I doubt it will be too comforting to her. Or for that matter, anyone who values peace above all else.
mm, sad but true points.
shirazie, I'm glad you are clearly sold on the differences between the two. some of us are obviously not.
Gilda, thank you!
Wonder, I have no expectations from McCain, so why write to him? he has made it clear that his policies won't differ much from those of the bush administration. I am writing to someone who claims to be the champion of change and yet won't committ to be against obliterating my homeland, before or after meeting with any Iranian of his choosing. As for using his middle name, I think he should also do it more and not less. Let Husein become as regular as Jack and maybe Pedram won't sound "foreign" either.
did you forget the real issue?
by Wonder (not verified) on Thu Jun 05, 2008 01:56 AM PDTWhy haven't you addressed your letter to McCain? He was the one who started with the "bomb Iran" song. You have also seemed to use Obama's middle name "Hussein" in a very insinuating way, what if his middle name was Jack or John, would you still have written this letter? Though, your letter is very touching and I agree with your points, I believe it should be addressed to all politicians and the gullible American public.
Shameless
by Gilda (not verified) on Wed Jun 04, 2008 07:51 PM PDTWhat a sorry bunch of losers you are. Sitting in LA, getting high on whatever, you are such 'be-gheyrats' that you don't give a damn about Iran. Shame on all you parasites.
Thank you Pedram. Damet garm
Obama da man
by shirazie (not verified) on Wed Jun 04, 2008 07:48 PM PDTSimple
Mcain = angry, bitter, has been white men of 1950's
Obama= New America, true melting pot, next Generation and progressives
No Room to go back. EU is now no.1 GDP in world. Thank you Repulsivians. The red states are a drag on USA. Time to let them go their separate way. I suggest Charleston SC as their Capital
Clearer choices, since the Nixon year
Barack Obama strode on to
by mm (not verified) on Wed Jun 04, 2008 05:34 PM PDTBarack Obama strode on to the international stage for the first time as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee-elect and vowed to use “all elements of American power” to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat.
He told America’s powerful pro-Israel lobby: “I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything.”..
Mr Obama’s speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington was designed to assure sceptical Jewish voters — who could be decisive in swing states such as Florida this November — that his pledge to hold talks without preconditions with Iran’s leadership is not a soft option.
In previous speeches Mr Obama has played down the danger of Iran, even likening it to that of Venezuela and Cuba. But yesterday he said that there was no greater threat to Israel than the Islamic republic.
The Democrat had already begun to draw back from his promise of talks with Iran, saying there would be "preparations" before any such meeting and that it would not necessarily be with President Ahmadinejad - who has promised to wipe Israel off the face of map.
//www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and...
Good call on part of LA times
by David ET on Wed Jun 04, 2008 05:16 PM PDTObama's policy on Iran is obvious for those who care to find out. Here is what he said TODAY :
“Contrary to the claims of some, I have no interest in sitting down with our adversaries just for the sake of talking,” ... “But as president of the United States, I would be willing to lead tough and principled diplomacy with the appropriate Iranian leader at a time and place of my choosing — if, and only if, it can advance the interests of the United States.”
Pedram,
by Pissed Off (not verified) on Wed Jun 04, 2008 05:00 PM PDTYou wrote:
"This piece was originally prepared for and later rejected by the Los Angeles Times."
As you may have realized by now, you have found the best place to publish your pieces.
You can get all the support you need for whatever you write on this very site.
Pedram
by Dariush (not verified) on Wed Jun 04, 2008 04:46 PM PDTThank you Pedram.
I have said this before. We shouldn't get our hopes too high over Obama because we don't know how he will act under pressure. Giving him too much credit when credit is not due might turn against us and harm us.
Ha Ha Ha !
by Zion on Wed Jun 04, 2008 04:27 PM PDTThis is getting really fun! :-D
I told all you gallible fools to support Mccain
by samsam1111 on Wed Jun 04, 2008 03:58 PM PDTbut you kept promoting Imam Obama...now are you trying to "khal-eh lebas" him. Is he a fake Imamzadeh?
to all you newbies...He is just another opportunistic Liberal Democrat...heyhhhaat.
Mr Mccain is the right choice for America today.He will run a wise policy on Iran without bloodshed or loss of lives unlike his helucinating opponents.