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Atomic Akhond
10-Apr-2009
To the sound of an abba rustling over the floor, a white turban bobs in and out of view. A pulpit militant is surrounded by his entourage, awaiting the arrival of the Supreme Leader. At the sight of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the crowd parts, yielding every inch of the space to every movement of the white-turbaned Misbah Yazdi. He proceeds forward with ardent agility and swift strides only to fling himself on the ground. Humbly, he kisses the Supreme Leader’s feet, refusing to rise until he has dutifully paid his utmost respect to the Faqih (the Guardian).
A few years ago, Ayatollah Misbah Yazdi shocked the Islamic Republic’s inner circles with this performance conducted in front of flashing cameras and rolling camcorders. Publicly, the conservatives admired his selflessness but envied his prudence behind closed doors; the moderates snickered and dismissed the news of the event with curt replies. The shock, however, must not be attributed to the publicly captured humility of any ayatollah towards the Supreme Leader. On the contrary, such scenes are entirely common and dully expected. What caused the jolt was not the act itself but the stature of the man behind the act, his existing ominous authority and decisive clout, and more importantly, the absence of any apparent gain bestowed upon him.
To an outside observer, Ayatollah Misbah Yazdi might appear as a foolish opportunist seeking favors from the Supreme Leader. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, the white-turbaned pulpit militant needs anything but tokens of boon from the Faqih. For thirty years, Ayatollah Misbah Yazdi and brethren have incorporated an Islamic realm at the center of which sits the vision of a nuclear Iran, a dream that was born forty-two years ago to another man.
The Pahlavi Dynasty
In 1967, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, bought a five megawatt research reactor from the United States of America. Several Western powers including the United Kingdom, France, and Germany supported Shah’s nuclear energy program and provided reactors and technical training to young ambitious Iranian scientists. After signing and ratifying the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty in 1970, the Shah of Iran initiated a clandestine nuclear weapons foray parallel to the civil program.
Before long, Iran’s explicit intention to covertly develop weapons grade fuel and technical know-how to design and manufacture nuclear weaponry was reported by CIA and eventually by other intelligent services around the world. Although Western powers were aware of Iran’s clandestine nuclear program, subsequent U.S. administrations looked the other way while the last Persian monarch dreamed of attaining the role of Persian Gulf protectorate for his nation in the near future.
In the momentous summer of 1975, two weeks before the beginning of fall semester, forty two Iranian students arrived at Cambridge, Massachusetts and registered at the nuclear engineering department of MIT. The Nixon-Ford administration had instructed the United States Atomic Energy Commission to pave the way for their success. This elite group of young men was chosen by Dr. Kent Hansen, Professor of Nuclear Engineering, to attend one of the United State’s most prestigious schools in order to foster the first generation of nuclear scientists in Iran. In exchange, the Iranian government endowed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with an unspecified sum of money in addition to furnishing all the required expenses. Three years later, after an intense course of study in the master’s program, the unholy union between MIT and the Shah of Iran gave birth to thirty five nuclear science graduates.
The Revolution
After the fall of the Pahlavi Dynasty in February of 1979, Iran’s civil and covert nuclear programs lay dormant until Hojateah, a secretive and ultra conservative Shi'a society, attempted to revive the endeavor. Emboldened by the rise of an Islamic theocracy, Hojateah set out to capture key political and administrative positions throughout the country in order to gain control over Iran’s local and national affairs. Unlike other active political groups yearning to capture headlines, Hojateah leaders were rarely seen or heard of publicly. Instead, they diverted their attention and abundant energy to build an elite army of faithfuls equipped with ironclad spiritual devotion and temporal nuclear weaponry.
In the years immediately following the revolution of 1979, under the leadership of its founder, Sheikh Mahmoud Halabi, Hojateah refused to recognize Imam Khomeini as such and ridiculed his aspiration to be the lone emissary of the Hidden Imam. Since its inception in 1953, Hojateah leadership has motivated its members by advocating an apocalyptic vision of the world, appearing to be resolutely awaiting the arrival of the twelfth Imam of Shi'a. This ploy has been most effective in mobilizing the Shi'a faithful against the Bahá’í religion. Not surprisingly, the brutal oppression of the Bahá'í faith has been and remains to this day one of the top priorities of this ultra conservative Shi'a society.
Oddly enough, Imam Khomeini disapproved of Hojateah and its apocalyptic clamor and ordered its dissolution in 1984. Faithful to the rank and file, the leadership of Hojateah once again went underground in order to escape yet another era of persecution but continued to bide its time to resurface. In the ensuing months, the secretive society was brutally crushed by Imam Khomeini until the Islamic Republic became entangled in a military stalemate with Iraq.
The Plan
In 1981, Saddam Hussein, with the implied blessings of the international community, unleashed his army’s chemical and biological wrath on innocent Iranians for the first time. As the war progressed, the images of mangled bodies flashed on every television set around the country, and the death toll began to rise exponentially. By 1985, the talk of ending the war plagued Imam Khomeini’s inner circle. Spurning the peaceful advances of Iran’s moderate clergy, with a singular nod of his head, the Supreme Leader eventually paved the way for the hardliners to cement their power in the key positions of the government. In exchange, the war with Iraq was to be continued indefinitely.
When the news reached the top lieutenants of Hojateah, a blazing flash of relief trickled down their spine. Their nuclear aspirations would no longer be hindered by a regime that was now entangled in two fronts: fighting a war against an outside aggressor while crushing political opponents within. The stage was set for the conception of atomic akhond.
Despite leaving the crumbling façade of moderation behind, Imam Khomeini’s distaste for the secretive society remained intact. Consequently, instead of making a direct attempt at seizing power, the prudent leaders of Hojateah relegated their ambitions to four main projects while awaiting Imam Khomeini’s inevitable demise due to old age.
The first project was to obtain nuclear weapons technology from the international black market in order to build a uranium enrichment facility and purchase centrifuge components. In 1986, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan’s nuclear program, visited Iran to lay the foundation for the illicit nuclear weapons technology transfer. By the end of 1987, Iran had established a large uranium enrichment facility using gas centrifuges identical to Dr. Khan’s Pak-1 model.
The tightly interlaced web of international black market responsible for the proliferation of nuclear technology to Iran spans the globe. From American companies to Israeli businessmen, from Dubai computer corporations to German middlemen, from Malaysian government to Dutch exporters, they have all been implicated in defying the international restrictions and legal bans. The world at large has been complicit in selling nuclear devices to the Islamic Republic. The collective deeds of this proliferation ring have nourished and hence fostered the full development of atomic akhond in the womb of our motherland.
The second project focused on gaining control over the politico-economic, Mafia-like, authoritarian force creeping into existence since 1979. Prior to the establishment of the Islamic theocracy in Iran, Shi'a clergy’s lifeline was supported by the donations of devout Muslim businessmen who voluntarily endowed 20% of their profits to local mosques and charity organizations. After the revolution, various Islamic foundations (bonyads) were formed to seize and redistribute the accumulated wealth of apostate capitalists. Before long, a handful of bonyads became multinational conglomerates and commercial enterprises generating billions of dollars in annual revenue. Once bonyads became more than slush funds for mullahs and their cronies, Hojateah took notice and sought its share of the pie together with the real levers of authority to sustain the flow of income.
The third project was to build the necessary infrastructure to identify, recruit and retain upper and middle class Iranians with strong religious convictions. For the success of this endeavor, Hojateah leadership had to literally look down the street towards Tehran’s Alavi Institute. Since its inception in 1956, the only objective of the Alavi Institute has been to breed an intellectual religious elite whose sole purpose is to contend with and pacify the secular erudite of Tehran.
True to its original goal, the admission committee of the Alavi Institute has opted for the cream of the crop through intense background checks, entrance examinations, and a discriminating interview process. In the last thirty years, by funneling unlimited funds to the Alavi Institute, Hojateah has successfully created a fraternity of intellectuals fortified with impenetrable religious core and passion. Amidst the ever changing face of the contemporary world, the Alavi Institute has become the modern bastion of Shi'a resilience and morphing image.
To sustain the long term needs of these elite members, societal security and safety nets together with lavish luxuries have also been conjured. For example, the largest and most specialized hospital in Iran, Khatam ol Anbia, has been fortified with an isolated floor that caters only to the upper echelons of Hojateah and their families. Trustworthy doctors are summoned to treat the admitted patients who still live with the fear of being poisoned or murdered unexpectedly, a fate that abruptly ended the lives of Shi'a Imams centuries ago.
The fourth project was to create a cobweb of blood brethren whose intertwined interests will forever bind them together. Through carefully orchestrated marriages and appointments, the key political, military, and financial positions in the Islamic Republic of Iran are awarded to the members of one big, happy family at the head of which sits the secretive, ultra conservative Shi'a society, accountable to no one and immune from the reaches of mere mortals.
Conclusion
Today, destiny continues to pause at the crossroads of history, contemplating the fate of our nation. Meanwhile Iranian political activists are grimly plunging deeper and deeper into a tailspin, attempting to unravel the phenomenon of atomic akhond. Some have joined the neo-conservative choir of “bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.” Others are emboldened by the prospect of a nuclear homeland, puffing their chests with national pride. Yet, there are those who are utterly bewildered and are admittedly unprepared to confront the new face of a formidable foe. Many prescriptions have been written, and much energy has been devoted to the topic.
Similar to thirty years ago, Iranian political activists have been caught off guard by the resourcefulness, sheer survival skills, and momentum of the Shi'a machinery. Intellectuals from all walks of life have been reduced to mere pawns in the hands of mullahs who continue to receive the brunt of jokes and ridicules from the secular community. Once again, the joke is on us: Come hell or high water, the Islamic Republic of Iran will attain nuclear armaments. The question that still remains unanswered is this: What can an ultra conservative Shi'a government do with nuclear weaponry?
An intelligent answer to this question necessitates not only a deep understanding of the past and the present political environment in Iran, it also demands a non trivial knowledge of the Shi’a history and its political ambitions. Only through a concerted effort, it becomes possible to step away from the existing hype and fear mongering of Western analysts and media, the so-called experts who not until recently were aware of the centuries-old chasm between Islam’s two major sects.
Historically, the Shi'a clergy has proved to be the consummate survivor, the nimble, cunning power player outlasting its ideological and political opponents, constantly adapting to the turmoil of any era through ruthless pragmatic maneuvering. From the very outset of the current nuclear initiative, Shi’a clergy was preparing for turbulent times accurately predicted by Hojateah leadership. Nonetheless, we must not allow the profound paradox that exists between Shi'a’s prophetic forecast, on the one hand, and mullahs’ aspirations for survival, on the other hand, cloud our judgment.
Although the hardliners’ vision of tomorrow is shrouded in secrecy and apocalyptic rants, one thing is clear: Those who run the Islamic Republic of Iran have no desire to die. Contrary to their end-of-days rhetoric, they crave an everlasting earthly life to savor the fruits of their labor. Along the same lines, the apocalyptic ramblings of Hojateah together with Ahmadinejad’s pious messages dropped down Jamkaran’s holy well are for the public consumption in order to rekindle the Shi'a fervor amongst the rank and file. This end-of-days oratory is meant to mend the broken pieces of Shi’a emissary shattered by thirty years of corruption, thievery, mass murders, cruelty, and greed.
Similar to the war with Iraq, atomic akhond will use the attainment of nuclear technology to rally the masses and infuse much needed pride into the hearts of an entrapped nation yearning freedom from the dark ages of inquisitors. Simultaneously, the secular voices within the society will be isolated and their nationalistic urges pacified. Furthermore, with the accomplishment of nuclear technology and weaponry, Shi'a intellectuals will forever interweave their legacy with the glory of scientific achievements albeit stolen or purchased. Last but not least, in the international arena, the possession of nuclear weaponry will eventually solidify the Islamic Republic’s rank amongst reluctant foreign powers and will serve as a deterrent factor towards outside aggressors.
At the end, while Iranian political activists are debating the merits of supporting or opposing the dawn of atomic akhond, Hojateah is preparing to leap forward into the next chapter of its history, a fate furtively perceived to be inevitable but uniquely exposed by a kiss: After all, Ayatollah Misbah Yazdi’s kiss was not a trivial attempt at self-effacement. That kiss was the ultimate affirmation of a Faqih’s celestial power and the final indication that Hojateah has its eyes on the office of the Supreme Leader.
For Iran’s moderate Shi'a clergy, that kiss might have also been the kiss of death…
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Sources (Updated)
by LalehGillani on Tue Apr 14, 2009 08:31 AM PDTDear readers: I was away over the weekend and didn’t have easy access to my notes. When I came back, I updated the list of posted sources. I am including them below.
The Kiss:
//www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=URZN...
Iranian students at MIT:
//www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articl...
Iran’s Nuclear Program:
//www.payvand.com/news/03/oct/1015.html
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_program_of_Ir...
International Nuclear Black Market:
//www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Focus/cqr_prolifera...
//www.isis-online.org/publications/southasia/...
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Qadeer_Khan
Khatam ol Anbia:
The information about Khatam ol Anbia is an insider tip. Someone in the hospital has been nosing around.
Bonyads:
//online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB11807...
//www.forbes.com/forbes/2003/0721/056.html
//www.bbc.co.uk/persian/business/story/2008/0...
//30yasat.blogsky.com/?PostID=279
Alavi Institute:
//www.ido.ir/a.aspx?a=1385090811
//www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/story/2006/11/06...
//www.hamshahrionline.ir/hamnews/1382/820609/...
Hojateah:
1. //www.oursouthazerbaijan.com/English_hoj.htm
2. //www.mardomak.org/news/mohtashami_pour_mesba...
3. The State and Revolution in Iran 1962-1982 by Hossein Bashiriyeh
4. Parliamentary Politics in Revolutionary Iran by Bahman Baktiari
5. Iran’s Second Islamic Revolution: //www.jcpa.org/text/iran_page_44-61.pdf
6. The Spirit of Allah by Amir Taheri
7. Who Rules Iran: //www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1554780/p...
8. Factional Politics in Post-Khomeini Iran by Mehdi Moslem
Hojateah & Imam Khomeini
//www.aftab.ir/articles/religion/religion/c7c...
//www.nasirboushehr.com/Journal-01-issue36-48...
//www.baztab.com/news/21338.php
Jaleho. Who helped you write that letter to obama??
by KouroshS (not verified) on Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:41 PM PDTIS that so?
Now all of a sudden it is perceived to be OK to kiss another person's hand, since it is religiously justified? There is nothing worse in this world than to be a moron. This was a sign of the absolutesubordination, does not matter whether it was to the shah or another f... sob leader.
Seriously. Who helped you in writing that letter to obama? your ESL 101 teacher MS. olga gonzales? I highly doubt that someone like you could have anything to with writing such letters. AT ALL!!
Dear Laleh
by IRAN PARAST on Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:36 PM PDTThank you very much for your response. I have read it, and although I do not necessarily agree with all of it, nevertheless, I do respect your choice.
In reading some of the comments by others, I noticed a comment by this person sickofiri, implying that I may be this present regime's apologist! To be honest with you, nothing can be further from the truth.
My Political inclinations are more towards the establishment of The Greater Iran, with a total separation of Government and Religion. In my suggestion to you to be more balanced in your list references, I was trying to encourage you to have a work product that is more credible.
I hope that this has clarified things. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Again, Best Of Luck :)
Facts Weren’t Disputed
by LalehGillani on Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:11 PM PDTSickofiri: Thank you for your support and elegant final recap. I agree wholeheartedly.
No one on this thread provided me and the readers with any facts to dispute the account of the events as described in the article. I expected a more vigorous fight but had to settle for complains such as a "misspelled" name, a “misplaced” phrase, and a “stupid” picture.
“The kiss” was disputed, but the video put an end to that argument. Until the next time… Take care, my friend.
Dear Laleh: The regime
by sickofiri (not verified) on Mon Apr 13, 2009 04:30 PM PDTDear Laleh: The regime apologists are demanding balance.
In a factual article one should not seek any sort of artificial two-sides-of-a-story "balance" at all, and no critiques of lack of such "balance" be entertained.
This sort of "balance" would require that the allegation that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer be offset with a denial of this simple and well-established fact. This is not a game. A variety of points of view is all to the good, but a mere opinion not backed up by facts, well-reasoned analysis is unlikely to be believed.
Facts are facts and you can't fudge them to artificially sound fair or appease a certain group of people who for example think they are right when they subscribe to vile acts such as stoning and raping virgins, or mass mudreres of young kids in 1988 or those who whitewash IRI's corruption and so on.
I look forward to more articles from you.
Dear Fatollah:
by LalehGillani on Mon Apr 13, 2009 03:04 PM PDTThank you for your interest. Please glance through the comments below to find a post titled “Sources.” I submitted a list of my sources in this comment. The suggested sources are a good place to start. Of course, do expand your search and google further… Happy hunting!
Dear Laleh
by Fatollah (not verified) on Mon Apr 13, 2009 12:53 PM PDTThis is the first time I hear of Hojatieh cult! Interesting blog, I need to google this subject ...
Thanks and take care :) -F
Wrapping Up
by LalehGillani on Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:10 AM PDTI would like to thank everyone for their contributions and comments. It has been a pleasure to visit with you on this thread. Without a doubt, we will meet again…
Dear IRAN PARAST
by LalehGillani on Mon Apr 13, 2009 03:10 AM PDTThank you for your feedback. I always strive to improve my knowledge and the quality of my work. Although I appreciate your suggestions, I agree with neither one of them. Here is why:
First, when I write a piece, I intend to make a point and convey a message to readers. I have a specific political agenda, and I am not shy about it…
My goal isn’t to represent both sides of the argument, and I have no intention of satisfying the opposite side. That task is simply impossible. Consequently, I use sources that agree with my message.
A direct result of this approach is controversy: You can always find something wrong with someone. There are skeletons buried in everyone’s closet. Dig deep enough and long enough, you’ll find something somewhere. I do it to the other side, and they do it to me. It is called political maneuvering…
Second, when a reader sets out to criticize my work by pointing out that I misspelled someone’s name (A Farsi name may be spelled in different ways when using Roman alphabet.), used the phrase “Shah of Iran” after the king’s name, or had a “stupid” picture associated with my article, I simply smile and move on. No amount of editing can satisfy a critic like that. Such a reader has another agenda…
Have you heard of the saying “Seeing is believing?” If a reader can’t even watch a video and admits that he now believes what he had emphatically denied before, how can I make him happy with anything? As you advised me before, take it with a grain of salt and move on…
In an audience with the
by Meehan (not verified) on Sun Apr 12, 2009 08:06 PM PDTIn an audience with the members of the British Parliament
in 1984, his Excellency late Mr. Meftah said the followings:
1- Every brick falls in this war, we hold Britain responsible. [1]
2- Every blood shed in Iran, we hold Britain responsible.
3- Every single life perishes in Iran we hold Britain responsible.
4- You have imposed khomeini's madness on Iran.
5- You have created this mess for us.
6- You brought the Mullahs to power.
7- You are responsible for the pain and suffering our
people are subjected too.
8- You have created this war and you are prolonging it. [1]
9- You are destroying Iran and we will hold Britain accountable.
Iranians will not forget nor forgive.
His Excellency Late Abod-Houssein Meftah 1899-1991.
Senior Iranian diplomat & Ambassador in many countries including Tunisia, India, Holland, Germany & Norway. Acting Foreign Minister under Mossadegh & late General Zahedi.
A Great Iranian thinker, a legendary figure, politician and patriot.
May God bless his soul.
"Every single life perishes in Iran
we hold Britain responsible".
Dear Laleh
by IRAN PARAST on Sun Apr 12, 2009 06:28 PM PDTI have looked at some of the references that you have provided below, and with your permission, I would like to make a couple of suggestions:
When you are writing a piece that tends to be controversial, like this one, you need to put together a more comprehensive list of references. By that I mean, a list that both sides of the argument can respect, and not just one side.
The second thing that I would like to share with you is, that although you write well, and there is plenty of raw talent there, nevertheless, your writing needs to be refined. If you look at some of the negative comments that are left below, they essentially stem from the nit-picking of your work for a lack of refinement. Next time, when you are writing a piece like this, have it reviewed by a friend or an associate with a critical eye, and then send it to JJ for publication.
I hope that you find these suggestions useful. Best of luck!
My Oversight
by LalehGillani on Sun Apr 12, 2009 05:40 PM PDTI would like to apologize to all readers for not including the list of my sources at the end of the article. I am quite embarrassed for such an oversight.
I will ask Jahanshah to add them for me since I no longer can edit the article myself.
Ostaad
by Khoda Parast (not verified) on Sun Apr 12, 2009 05:24 PM PDTAre you calling a clear attempt to fall on the ground in front of the Great Khamenei an “animated attempt” to kiss his hands??? What is an “animated attempt” anyway??? Perhaps the criminal defense lawyers could use that term from now on in their attempted murder cases jurisdiction!! It seems you also belong to the same Tehrani’s class as Khamenie!! Such a class has explanations for everything. Answer these questions then for me please. If Khmenie is so God fearing then how in the world he allows to be called “MOAZAM” & his ruling “MOGHADAS?” God in Bible, Torah, and Quran assigns those attributes to himself exclusively. Have you also noticed the pictures of Khamenie & Khomeini are hung above the Imam’s head on Jomeh prayers in Tehran. Is the crowd’s prostration under those pictures also an animated one? Time to wake up my dear Ostaad.
Did He or Didn’t He? That’s the Question…
by LalehGillani on Sun Apr 12, 2009 05:20 PM PDTOstaad: The video is 3 minutes and 45 seconds long. The struggle between the two of them starts at 00:08. Ayatollah Yazdi first attempts to kiss the Supreme Leader’s left hand. By frame 00:10, he has given up on the hand and is getting ready to kneel down. Three frames (00:10, 00:11, 0012) are proof positive that he stooped down forcing the Supreme Leader to bend down with him. (Supreme Leader’s hands don’t reach down below his knees.)
I have watched another private video that is taken from a different angle. There is also a picture of both of them proving my original account of the event. I neither fabricated nor exaggerated the incident.
However, I could understand your shock. It is simply not possible! High ranking IRI officials reacted the same. I did mention the “jolt” in my article. No one believed it until they saw the video.
Yes, I have listened to the conversation between the two very carefully. Both are educated men and very well read. I am a regular reader of Ayatollah Yazdi’s writings and follow his published work closely.
Laleh Jaan
by Editor (not verified) on Sun Apr 12, 2009 04:01 PM PDTNext time, incorporate your references at the bottom of your article. By putting them in the comment section, one has to scroll up and down all the time.
An interesting read.
oh yeh the video, I sure did watch the whole enchilada
by Ostaad on Sun Apr 12, 2009 09:33 PM PDTThere certainly was no paa boosi (foot kisssing), but an animated attempt to kiss Khamenie's hand which resulted in bizarre yet customary dance between two old hacks. I really did not have to watch the video to tell you that, but thank you for senting me that way, because I found out some interesting tidbits.
I watched Khamenie, who was visiting the temsah, excuse me Mesbah, at Mesbah's home. I was shocked! I grew up during the Shah and seeing the "rahbar" in that purely middle class Iranian kind of environment was very interesting - seeing the kids and the women folk in the room. I also listened to what he was talking about. Did you get a chance to listen to his remarks on that clip? I was kind of surprised how "Terhrani" he sounded - most of the religious big cheese usually have an accent of sorts. Khameni, although he is ethnicly Turkish, sounded very educated upper class Tehrani. Cool stuff. Ahmadinejad, on the other hand speaks kind of Tehran "stree" or more folksy. Cool.
Do gang members in Los
by civony (not verified) on Sun Apr 12, 2009 03:07 PM PDTDo gang members in Los Angeles have a right to have nuclear weapons???
Does the Mexican Drug cartle have the right to nuclear weapons?
The IRI is no different.
To all codoners of the Islamic Fascism
by Meehan (not verified) on Sun Apr 12, 2009 02:56 PM PDT... Ignore the fact that the Taliban murdered school teachers and hung women from goal posts at a UN-built soccer field during a brutal, oppressive rule in which ALL human rights were violated. Forget the fact that the Taliban sheltered Bin Laden while he plotted MANY terrorists acts against the U.S. (including 9/11).Let's ignore the fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been an active sponsor of terrorism around the globe since 1979 and has murdered, maimed,tortured,raped mumerous Iranian men,women and even children. Oh, and let's also ignore the fact that 99% of terror victims are pecefull muslims that are killed by fanatical muslims.
agreed Ostad
by Anonym7 (not verified) on Sun Apr 12, 2009 01:55 PM PDTAgree with you Ostad. That is why I said 'If' they are ....
Ostaad: Have You Watched the Video?
by LalehGillani on Sun Apr 12, 2009 01:53 PM PDTPlease forgive me for bringing up this topic again, but I am simply curious to find out whether you have had a chance to watch the video. Does the link that I provided work? If it is broken, please let me know. I have checked the link several times to insure that it is a valid one.
If you have watched the video, I would appreciate your take on it. Perhaps you can educate this culturally semi-literate Iranian something. I am eager to learn.
Anon...7 and Kurush
by Ostaad on Sun Apr 12, 2009 01:35 PM PDTA. 7 - By "nukes", are you referring to nuclear weapons?
Iran's "nukes" policy was publicly announced by Rafsanjani when he was Iran's pres. He clearly said Iran wanted to be "a screwdriver" away from the bomb. That option leaves computer simulated testing, which the US is currently using to keep its nuclear arsenal upgraded and kept ready. Iran may even want to keep unassembled parts laying around just in case.
I believe Iran will not build "the bomb" as we know it.
Kurush - whatup with that?!!! Why so harsh on the good old US? Look, you have jam packed your post with facts about the US. You pose a very important question if Truman could be depicted with the mushroom cloud. Remember "history" is written by the victor.
I get the feeling that you maybe thinking about the US in a negative way. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I think anyone who's interested in peace should follow the events in the US and by the US very carefully because the US has decided, under Obama, to make a come back. I live in the US and I feel it. If you pay attention a lot of good things are going to come out the US. Trust me.
Lay me start from the premise that I hate, HATE, nuclear weapons no matter who has them. I'm sure the you know the reason. What bugs me a lot is your assertion that Iran's nuclear facilities or "programs" are run by an "all-Iranian team", whereas the US at Los Alamos - we're talking about 70 years ago, right? - was "dependent" on the "foreign-born scientists". Dude, you mean you haven't noticed the Russians, the Ukeranians and people from other nations, who have been working on Iran's nuclear facilities?! I wonder WHERE the Iranian nuclear scientists learned their skills? OK, I'll leave it at that.
It may be a good fact for you to know about the US scientists, in all branches of science and technology, majority of the US scientists ARE "foreign-born" Americans. I say Americans because one can become a Naturalized Citizen, this means you become an AMERICAN. So if you're looking for a "all-American" team, this is as good as it gets, baby.
Keep it up and Peace.
An Islamic Coup D’état
by LalehGillani on Sun Apr 12, 2009 01:04 PM PDTKurush: Your post seems to ask, “Does Iran have a right to pursue and attain nuclear technology and weaponry?” After reading your comment, I feel that your answer is a resounding yes. Mine is a distinct no. Please allow me to explain:
Although I appreciate your historical recap of American nuclear venture, I don’t base my answer on Western political, military, or cultural facts. They don’t apply to the conditions in Iran.
Iranian government is a dictatorship comprised of religious fanatics. This government doesn’t represent the best interests of our nation and our future. To the contrary, the long term goals of IRI are to transform our nation’s identity and instill a completely different type of pride in our hearts and souls. We are facing an Islamic coup d’état against our Persian heritage.
A similar transformation took place in the first century immediately after the Arab invasion. Long after the military conquest was over, Persians resisted the Muslim invaders not by their weapons but by their beliefs. At the end, Arab military victory was completed only by an ideological triumph: Islam became the dominate religion in Iran.
When faced with the prospect of a nuclear Iran, I don’t hit my chest with patriotic pride because our homeland is enslaved by Shi'a thugs. These religious fanatics aim to chip at our heritage and national identity little by little until the day that we are nothing but Muslim puppets dangling in the air. The current nuclear initiative is just another one of their tactics.
To some of my simple minded brothers and sisters
by Meehan (not verified) on Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:54 PM PDTWhy Keep your head stuck in the dirt?. If you do not think the Islamic Republic of Iran entity is an enemy to the the whole world and you have been "stuck on stupid" since the 1979 revolution. The islamic republic is responsible for the empowerment of all terrorism in the world. Hamas and Hezbollah keep the Palestinians from any real chance at peace and a homeland, all fed with weapons and financing from Iran. Syria is kept as one big terrorist training camp by Iranian command. If Iraq is not allowed to be set free by the Coalition forces, Iran will control the whole region and Europe will then be the next target. Of course, the EU will raise the white flag immediately.
well said Kurush
by Anonym7 (not verified) on Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:19 PM PDTWell said Kusrush, these Israelis/pro Israelis demonize Iran while the Zionist extremist are building their houses on piles of dead or destitute Palestinians and Piles of money from poor American taxpayers who have lost their jobs and can't pay their mortgage. I guess they are impatient to duplicate their building architecture with Iranians as its foundation.
The Truth
by Kurush (not verified) on Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:02 AM PDTI wonder if the author of this rambling essay would be honest enough to showcase a picture of Harry Truman with the mushroom plume emanating from HIS palms. That image would be of course highly accurate since Trueman approved of the nuclear bombings of the Japanese civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For the author's information, Trueman was an American (no kidding, he was). Why distort the reality and associate the mushroom clould with a Moslem, in general, and an Iranian, in particular? This strikes one as a very crude propaganda ploy ( (for crude minds of course). Given the indsputable historical fact that Iran does not at this time possess a single nuclear warhead & has therfore, never tested, let alone use it, whatsoever, would you not say that the author is putting the cart before the horse ( some people do that, you know?) I know this hard logic is too trying for the biased & warpped mindset of this author, but basics must be stated for those whose minds can not grasp let alone retain such elementary truths, called otherwise, facts. Another elemntary truth, fact, The US has stockpile of more than 10000 nuclears warhead many times more deadly than those the Americans dropped on the innocent civilians in Hiroshima & Nagasaki. I would be worried about Americas's huge nuclear stockpile rather than the nonexisting nuclear bombs of Iran. I also highly recommend the author to read a biography of General Le May, the American who conducted the firebombings of Tokyo ( kileed 100000 Japanese in March 1945), and the nuclear bombings as well. General Le May by anyone's account would emerge as a sadist and a racist. It would be good to read the biography of James Byrnes, the US Secretary of State, a Southerner, who beleived in the superiority and supremacy of the English speaking Anglo-Saxons, in short a KKK. James Byrnes made sure that none of Japanese pleas for peace would be accepted, since these American KKK were eager to show the world what the Americans were capable of. It would be noteworthy to know that the Americans did not construct the nuclear bomb themselves. The European scientists at Los Alamos did, the likes of Hans Bether, Klaus Fuchs, Teller, Bohr, Peierls. Without them the US would have had to wait years before possessing this awesome weapon which the humanity naievely handed over to them. These scientist worked in complete secrecy at Los Alamos. No, to answer the author's question, there was no IAEA, no intrusive cameras filming these foreign-born scientists working at Los Alamos. Nor would the Americans have allowed such shenanigans as the IAEA monitors in the heart of their most prized weapon center. In contrast the Iranians have been pretty transparent, given the complete secrecay with which other nulear states,the Americans, Russians, Chinese, French, British, Israelis developped their nulear projects. the IAEA watchdogs would not even have gotten a hundred miles close to, say Chinese, or French, nulear sites. Moreover, it should be a source of pride for all Iranians who love their country that Iran's nuclear programs, watched by millions around the world through the intrusive IAEA cameras, is run by an all-Iranian team of sceintists, unlike the American Los Alamos which was totally dependent on the foreign-born scientists. A true Iranian would have never written such an essay. Period.
The Driving Force…
by LalehGillani on Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:29 AM PDTI would like to thank posters who have honored me with their support and encouragements. Your kind words sustain me.
I wish them total success
by Anonym7 (not verified) on Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:23 AM PDTIdeologically I have nothing in common with them, I don't believe in god, let alone their religion (Islam), I don't like their "cultural revolution" and force feeding Islam to people, and I find their neglect of poor and middle class Iranians appalling, ......, and I did my best to even get rid of them when I was young. BUT if they are really building the nukes I wish them total success.
Khoda Parast: I'm waiting
by sickofiri (not verified) on Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:08 AM PDTKhoda Parast:
I'm waiting for those answers too. Great questions.
Laleh jan: Fantastic
by sickofiri (not verified) on Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:04 AM PDTLaleh jan: Fantastic article. The mouthpieces are livid everytime the truth is revealed by anyone or any source. They are the Islamists neocons in the pocket of IRI. Everyone already knows their agenda on this site. Some belong to a particular IRI lobby in London and others are just agents provecaeuterus.
Keep exposding the messianic IRI. You're a wonderful writer and I hope to see more articles from you.
Some say why are other
by Meehan (not verified) on Sun Apr 12, 2009 09:27 AM PDTSome say why are other countries rather than Iran are allowed to have Nukes but when it comes to the Islamic ,double standard plays a role? The difference is that other not run by looney tunes. Khamenei might just decide it's time to sacrifice the country for the greater glory of Allah, and take as many infidels with him as possible.
Iran is a rogue nation run by a dictator who believes in the distruction of Israel first and the west next. Should we try to reason with them?Of course I left out the most important question:
If deterrence fails and the Islamic Regime actually uses nukes on someone, are you willing to carry out the genocide of the Iranian people? That's the big one. Without a "yes" answer, it means you don't support deterrence. And if Americans don't support deterrence, the entity of Islamic Republic won't be deterred.
It appears Israel will take care of it for us, and we'll show our gratitude by complaining about it while benefitting from it. Just like we did with Iraq and Syria.