OPEN LETTER

Oh by the way, Iranians

very good point, however it seem hard to realize for some Iranian that the first target of any kind of nuclear weapon if Akhonds does achieve, are IRANIAN PEOPLE. All the Mullahs and their Arazelo Obash are criminal unless otherwise proven wrong in the court of law.

Fred, to answer your question

no, the IRI is  definitely NOT on a democratic trajectory. It never was and it never will.

The point Fakharzadeh is making, and you seem to keep missing because of your dogmatic approach, is we should not throw out the baby with the bath water by letting "others" turn Iran into a "democratic" country a la Iraq.

For Iran to become a democratic society with a democratic government, the change must come from within at a pace the Iranian people can manage (remember the too much too fast argument that explained the Shah's demise).

I may be wrong, but completely disagree with your speed requirement for democracy because you seem to be glibly looking for some American general to ram "democracy" down the throats of the Iranian people.

The sins of the current ruling clique in Iran is obvious to everyone, but let me repeat that we must not throw the baby out with the bath water. It should be obvious to even you which baby I'm talking about.

Mr. Fakharzadeh

First, thank you and Dr. Ala (whom, I've read, does some very good work in Iran and is a good man) to take time to answer to people's comments here. It's always beneficial and constructive to have frank and honest exchange on such important issues. So, it's to your and Dr. Ala's credit that you have not shied away from taking part in the discussion here.

In your last response, you stated the following:

"....we have written to President Khatami, Ahmadinejad, and other Iranian officials. In fact, I met Dr. Kharazi at Harvard amongst 20 other Iranian Americans listening to his speech. At the Q&A session, the audeince started questioning the government policies ranging from Iran-US relations to jailing dissidents, lack of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the removal of Velayateh Faghih from the constitution...."

That sounds like very good work and kudos to you for doing so. I hope you will keep this up. But, can I ask why you do not do this kind of thing, i.e. take the Islamic Republic leaders to task on their policies/actions - openly, as you have done with your open letter here to President Obama? And can you post one of your written communications to the Islamic Republic’s leaders for our benefit here?

Thank you in advance.

FYI/A third political prisoner dies a suspicious death (Gooya)

How About an Open Letter to Our President Ahmadinejad demanding an international investigation on this incident like for Zahra Kazemi ...

//iranian.com/main/news/2009/03/06-0

I guess Hollywood is to Blame ...

Oh by the way, Iranians

Oh by the way, Iranians turning once again to left ideology would be that much less likely to happen if the IRI can boast a nuclear arsenal. We will all -- leftists, social democrats, liberals, monarchists, etc. -- be in that much worse of a position when we'd have to deal with the nuclearized IRI. So please, don't be so coy and naive after "40 years of struggle."

If the IRI comes to possess a nuclear weapon, the best case scenario would be the establishment of a permanent security detente, complete isolation of the Iranian people. The civilized world would probably enact a security umbrella all around Iran involving our more reasonable neighbors -- one wrong move and ...

Is that what you want? When will you stop being naive? God knows you're old enough. 

Folly

You take everything the IRI declares at face value, despite the fact that this is a regime which has mastered the arts of secrecy and obfuscation -- yet you demand that the US be "transparent" and "honest," despite the fact that the American Constitution does so much to ensure some degree of transparency and availability of information even in national security matters.

Now he is this fair? How is it that the IRI is always right for you people and the US always wrong? I'll tell you why -- it's because Marxism-Leninism has come to be the opiate of your mind. Smoke a little less, and you'll see the sinister entity is the IRI and not the US. 

Democratic trajectory

Your hearsay about presumably critical letters to the Islamist republic officials from “the board” and those that have been hand delivered to the high Islamist officials by your fellow board member, if substantiated, is of course commendable. As is the type of questions that were posed to the Islamist officials by not you but as you say around 20 Iranian-Americans. What is puzzling is this statement of yours:

“I recall a few years ago meeting an elder American professor in Cambridge who had lived in Iran during the Shah era asking me just how much more time it'll take for democractic(SIC) Iran to be a reality? The professor expected me to answer his inquiry in months, rather than years! And there are thousands and perhaps million people like him who wish a quick turn around to benefit their selfish interests at the expense of the Iranian people." 

Are you saying those who wish the arrival of democracy in Iran to be sooner rather than later are selfish? And why would such blessed happening be “at the expense of the Iranian people”? And in light of the three decades long backward march under the stewardship of the Islamist republic which includes incessant rape, murder, pillage and absolute suppression of free thought, are you claiming the Islamist republic is on a democratic trajectory?

The best way........

is the middle way. As the poets have said:
GOFTAMASH EY PAR ROKHE ZIBA
BUSSE AS LAB KHOSHAST YA AS PA?
GOFT: KHAIRAL UMUREH OOSSATTEHA.

What will Iranians get if Americans become p

What will Iranians get if Americans become pals with akhoonds?
hier can be - with Iranians only "IRANIAN"s and with Akhoonds the 7ty million counting honorable Iranian Nation - meant. Iranians do not need to get anything from those stinky creatures. since they have all what they need. thanks to their Islamic Revolution they enjoy now the Blessings of their sacrificing Blood and lives 1978/79. But what get "IRANIAN"s? They also have allready everything what a deserteur deserves. Or not? Greeting

I am using my real name...and live in the US

I agree with Dr. Ala (who, like myself, is using his real name) with his comments. This is not the first time the board has written to the President. In fact we have written to President Khatami, Ahmadinejad, and other Iranian officials. In fact, I met Dr. Kharazi at Harvard amongst 20 other Iranian Americans listening to his speech. At the Q&A session, the audeince started questioning the government policies ranging from Iran-US relations to jailing dissidents, lack of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the removal of Velayateh Faghih from the constitution. His responses were, of course, politcal answers; especially to the last one in which he declared his powerless position and that it was up to the Majles to pursue this matter. As far as the audince were concerned, they did a good job in addressing issues with the FM in heated discussions. I also attended the Khatami's speech at the UN. And I am not sure what else we could do other than participating in the democratic discussions with the President and the FM and expressing ourselves in civility. Criticising the system in healthy manner is a must as long as other positive activities are conducted alongside a team effort to improve the lives of the people.

I recall a few years ago meeting an elder American professor in Cambridge who had lived in Iran during the Shah era asking me just how much more time it'll take for democractic Iran to be a reality? The professor expected me to answer his inquiry in months, rather than years! And there are thousands and perhaps million people like him who wish a quick turn around to benefit their selfish interests at the expense of the Iranian people. 

Mr. Fakharzadeh

Towards the end of your of comment you stated:

".....Do anything that improves the lives of the people. Instead of bitching, start working on constructive measures to make the system better. No one except ourselves care for our country. Its time we put aside our differences and start working for a better tomorrow for all, not just self. After all, democracy and independence takes time and labor and not easy to achieve overnight like some of us wish to do in a hurry.......".

May I ask: so people voicing their disapproval and criticizing the regime in Iran amounts to "bitching", does it? If that is the case, then surely most of your own main article here should also regarded as bitching about the US, should it not?

On a separate note, you say democracy, independence and let me add, true freedom, respect for human rights, tolerance for all and a prosperous country are "not easy to achieve overnight like some of us wish to do in a hurry". So, how long should they take? Are people, who expect these things to have been implemented in Iran after 30 years, still in too much of a "hurry"? How long should these absolutely fundamental principles vital to the well being of any nation take to put in place? 40 years, 50 years, a century...? Please do enlighten.

I thought this site was inaccessible from inside Iran

How come?

What will Iranians get if Americans become pals with akhoonds?

Pretty much nothing with the current collection of laws, rulers and establishment.

Yes sanctions will be lifted, entry into WTO will be facilitated and MAYBE foreign investments will pour in if Iran's strict shariah laws (ruling over every facet of people's lives) regarding investments, in particular, are completely overhauled and there is also a stable political environment where investers feel their investments and/or their lives are secure but all of the above, more than anything else, need correct skillful mangement, full transparency, technical experience and know-hows to be effective and functional since Iranians cannot expect Americans or foreigners to go and run Iran for them.

I don't see that potential in the corrupt-to-the-core turbaned mafioso ruling over Iran now. Do you?

I am using my real name and I am living in Iran.

I am using my real name and I am living in Iran.  Since the inception of our organizations, we have written five letters to Iranian authorities/officials, two to Europeans, and four to American officials.  I personally hand delivered a letter to IRI Foreign Minister (Kharazi) and another to its President (Khatami) in Iran.

We have run our organizations our own efforts and personal funds.  We have been challenged but no one has come to any court of law to present his or her lie(s).  According to a friend, film-maker Abbas Kiarostami, a Cannes Palme d'Or winner and one of the Middle East's most acclaimed film-maker, couldn't get to the New York film festival to show his latest work in 2002.  In 2003, the renowned film-maker Jafar Panahi was hand-cuffed and arrested at JFK.  (How about scholars from Sharif Univ. and the refusal of visa to Afzali - winner of the prestigious UN Population Award to attend the award ceremony in New York?). Hollywood . . .?  ------------------------------------------Los Angeles Times (December 19, 2008)How Jewish is Hollywood?By Joel Stein (jstein@latimescolumnists.com) As a proud Jew, I want America to know about our accomplishment. Yes, we control Hollywood. Without us, you'd be flipping between "The 700 Club" and "Davey and Goliath" on TV all day. 

So I've taken it upon myself to re-convince America that Jews run Hollywood by launching a public relations campaign, because that's what we do best.

Character development

I think the best way of helping Iranian people is for you and your organization to leave IRANIAN alone, I am tired of these so called Iranian-American organizations that have nothing else to do except teaching U.S president on how to do his international affairs. I as an Iranian who left his country, I came here so I can voice the frustration of my people through out the world< I came here so I can stand up for those brave Iranian who lost their lives in the Mullahs prison for freedom of my country, I came here to tell the world that my people are tired, they are being tortured, hanged, raped, stoned by the most brutal, uneducated, non Iranian government and nobody is hearing them, I want to tell them to stop respecting these animals(mullahs)in Iran for the sake of their economy and all together condemn their inhuman actions, but you on the other hand ignoring all these that are happening in your country and want the world to accept the most inhuman government like you do and start being friendly with Akhonds who are torturing Iranian people in any kind of way for the past 30 years?? You guys have stand in the way of some Iranians who really want to fight for the freedom of that country and I can not believe it. and what do you think Iranian people will get if America become friends with akhonds ?? what did Iranian received when oil was $140 a barrel compare to now ?? and do you know why Iranian got nothing ? because the akhonds in Iran need CHOMAGH in order to stay in power and to have CHOMAGH, you need to spend a huge amount of people's money, 2500 years of straight STEBDAD in Iran, we still have difficulty understanding this ??

خشت اول چون نهد معمار کج -- تا ثریا میرود دیوار کج

In your “few words about some the bloggers' comments for educational purpose” among many eloquently stated lessons you say:
“Instead of bitching, start working on constructive measures to make the system better.”

Unlike you and your likeminded board members there are those who through empirical evidence have come to know your Islamist republic system is averse to “measures to make the system better”.

Character development is the true aim of education

Indeed, much thanks to your kind words and others like
yourself in this blog who have understood the true spirit of the
letter. It took me a month to think about what to say to the President
before I started writing the draft and then it was reviewed by the
board several times before the final version. We are busy people and
don't have endless time to argue. However, I find it now necessary to
say a few words about some the bloggers' comments for educational purpose.

There's a Chinese saying: "Character development is the true aim of
education" What we need in our community is to improve self character
before embarking on other people problems. A sense of personal responsibility,
look inside of ourselves, and not on other peoples on a blaming spree, to start
making improvement in ourselves. Ironically, many bloggers
first attempt is to get emotional, instead of reasoning. Some look for
a leader, a Shah, an Ayatollah, or the like to make a change and not
realizing the power of the people. Change can come (and has been proven) from the people like us and through efforts, painstaking efforts
like writing a good letter to high officials; it takes time, efforts,
and team work (an ingredient seldom found in our community). It has
taken us 10 years developing these organizations because of what we
believe in. And I encourage those who have been too negative, abandon
that mentality and start fresh with new hope, roll up your sleeves and
start working for "your" country. Do anything that improves the lives
of the people. Instead of bitching, start working on constructive
measures to make the system better. No one except ourselves care for
our country. Its time we put aside our differences and start working
for a better tomorrow for all, not just self. After all, democracy and
independence takes time and labor and not easy to achieve overnight
like some of us wish to do in a hurry.

Javad Fakharzadeh

ps: Ba khod kajoh, ba khalgheh khoda kaj

Akhar ghadami raast bedeh aey hameh ja kaj

The Best way by J. Fakhezadeh

Thank you Mr Fakherzadeh

It is refereshing to see people like yourself. I completely agree with you in what you have said. Let us not forgent that what you have suggested not only in sort term, but also secures America's long term interest in the region

They keep talking about the

They keep talking about the 1953 coup but they never say that this regime has imprisoned many friends of Mosadeq and has savagely killed people like Forouhar and his wife. they dont say a word about the atrocities of this regime in Iran the terrorist republic of Islam which rapes teenage political prisoners before executes them.

According to Islamic lay the killing of a virgin woman is prohibited. This reflects the objectification of women. In Iranian prisons under the Republic of Islam, if a virgin woman is to be executed, she is first "married" (raped) by one of the guards before execution. Afterwards the guard goes to the woman's family and declares that she is their son-in-law. It is totally distinct from the process of obtaining confession or to humiliate the prisoner. The prison guards are simply obeying Islamic law.

The following is Just one example of what the iranian government does under the name of Islam. I wonder if any one told Obama about these facts.

Nadereh an Iranian girl was educated in France and had been in touch with opposition groups against the Shah. On the eve of the revolution she returned to Iran to take part in the anti-dictatorial movement against the Shah. For Naderh, like other Iranian intellectuals, it was vital to be present in this decisive historic struggle. During the revolution she worked for a socialist organisation.

She was arrested three years after the revolution. Although others with her alleged crime normally received a few years imprisonment, she was executed after a few month in prison.

In prison her interrogator took a fancy to her. She had more than once complained of her interrogator's advances towads her. When her case went to court, which consisted of one mullah as judge and no jury, the interrogator accused Nadereh of attempting to escape during her interrogation. The mullah accepted this obviously false charge and sentenced her to death. Both the mullah as the interrogator knew full well that this also gave the interrogator permission to rape Nadereh. The interrogator got what he wanted and fulfilled his religious duty in the bargain. Thousands of young women were executed in Iranian prisons), most of them were raped under Islamic law.

.

PSL

The two simply do not compare.

oh but wait...

is this the same group of people who are criticizing the US for AIPAC TELLING the US what it must and must not do?

surely not!!!!  that would be.... oh, what is that word i'm thinking of?

hypocritical?  yeah.  that's the one.

the iranian revolution a direct result of US wrongful policy?  are you serious?  seriously.  are you SERIOUS?  iranians were that happy until the big bad wolf came along and ruined their tea party???  we just popped over there one day and changed eeeeeverything about your great way of life... right?

please. 

Juan Cole

source of my last comment:

//www.juancole.com/2009/03/clinton-slams-isra...

Off topic!

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton slammed Israel on Wednesday for its plan to demolish 88 Palestinian homes in Occupied East Jerusalem, calling it a violation of the Roadmap for Israeli-Palestinian peace. She said after meeting Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, "Clearly this kind of activity is unhelpful and not in keeping with the obligations entered into under the 'road-map'... It is an issue that we intend to raise with the government of Israel and the government at the municipal level in Jerusalem."

Clinton will get lots of critical emails from organized network of far rightwing Revisionist- for her comment. Please consider sending her a supportive message for daring speak out on the issue.

disgusted

Please point out who here is suggesting that change inside here should be brought about by outsiders?

And exactly who has "willingly sacrificed their 'beloved' Iranianship in order to shed light on the wrongs committed by IRI"? Please feel free to explain.

I see some people, including myself, shedding light on the wrongs committed by the IRI, which we have every right to do under the principle of freedom of expression (as is your right to defend the IRI, if that is your stand point), but exactly how are we willingly sacrificing our Iranianship just because we dare criticize the IRI?

The issue at hand here is that there are a number of mainly Western/US based (oh, the irony), such as the three bodies behind this open letter, and others like NIAC and CASMII, who focus their campaigns and criticisms of the breakdown of the relations between the US and Iran, solely at the door of the US and utterly fail to take the IRI to task for contributing more than its fair share for allowing things to get to where we are today.

Now, let me be very clear about this, I’m in no way defending the US. As it’s been pointed out in some sections of this open letter (some other sections are simply overblown) the US’s policies and actions towards Iran, such as the 1953 coup and the shameful shooting down of the Iran air plan with loss of nearly 300 innocent Iranians, have been very harmful and are indefensible. And of course the US usually does what is in its self-interest regardless of the consequences to others.

However, over the past 30 years, in the main it is the IRI that has been the cause of the animosity and difficulties between the two countries. As soon as the IR took power the constant “marg bar Amrika” chants and US flag burning rituals (which continue to this day) became the cornerstones of its approach to America. We had “the Great Satan” long before we had “the Axis of Evil”. Soon after there was the occupation and hostage taking of the US embassy staff in Tehran

Not long after that, a suicide bombing, by a Lebanese extremist group backed by the IRI, killed 250 US peace keeping troops in Lebanon followed the hostage taking of Westerns in Beirut by Hezbollah in mid 1980s to early 1990s. Again all under the direction of IRI. And course the continued sponsoring, harbouring and supporting extremist groups such Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Muqtada al-Sadr and his Iraqi Shia militia to make mischief in the region have all resulted in making Iran a pariah state and needlessly a potential target of external military attack.

In other words my dear disgusted, it takes TWO sides to make a conflict, however all we hear from the likes of Iran Heritage Organization", "Alliance Organization" and "Persian Gulf Organization” is US this and US that and nothing, nada, not a zilch from them on IRI’s culpability towards Iran’s difficulties with the West and their impact on ordinary Iranians up and down the country that have had to endure this endless nightmare of hostility and isolation of Iran.

Of course we want to see an independent and strong Iran, but the reality is that we have a brutally repressive and intolerant regime that not only has made life miserable for most Iranians, but also through pointless intransigence and unrelenting hostility toward the West, has put Iran in harm’s way. This is hardly conducive to making Iran independent and strong Iran, never mind a successful and prosperous one.

I absolutely 100% agree with you that we do not and must now have change in Iran instigated and imposed by outsiders and that any change needs to happened internally. And that is exactly why some of us are asking the so called Board of Directors of these organizations behind this open letter, who I assume are Iranians and not outsiders:

when have they ever, and I mean EVER, also taken the IRI to task for its actions and polices, with an open letter like this?

Is that an unfair question to ask?

KN: The IRI is using the

KN:
The IRI is using the 1953 couup as an excuse pretty much in the manner of the Jewish state using the Holoacaust to continue its domestic and foreign terrorism.

This Letter is a Freakin' Joke

The IRI clearly has more balls that brains. For these miserable uneducated bastards to demand apologies, to demand respect, to demand anything at all is an affront to anything even remotely retated to the concept of civilized behavior between nations.

To "Disgusted", yes, the IRI is indeed our internal problem. If we want something to be done precisely the way we want it, we have to do it ourselves.

But this letter contains pure bullshit. Al Qaeda is not a problem for Iran. Terrorists are not attacking Iran. The IRI is financing the terrorists. For the U.S. or anywhere else to either ignore this fact or pretend it's not the case is beyond absurd.

I see that some people want to heap praise on B.O. while trashing Hillary Clinton. Hey, I'm all for trashing Hillary Clinton, that disingenuous, phony, elitist, carpetbagging piece of crap, but you must have forgotten that B.O. is the one who hired that b***h to begin with! She is doing his bidding! Do not fall into the blissful abyss of ignorance in thinking anything different.

BK...to answer your very good question, if I may take a stab at it, the reason that they completely ignore what is happening now, is that they are tacitly condoning, endorsing, and supporting what's happening now. By repeatedly rehashing 1953, they are drawing attention away from the atrocities going on in the present. They will never realize that what the IRI is doing to Iran and Iranians was, is and always will be infinitely worse than anything that British or the U.S. have ever done.

It's as if you had two guests who were in your home. One of the guests removed his shoes prior to entering, and the other did not. The one who kept his shoes on is pleasant, polite, respectful of your home and family, truly enjoys being in your company and is overall a wonderful person. The one who removed his shoes acts rudely and inappropriately, makes lewd gestures towards your wife, gets drunk and urinates on the rug. But instead of throwing this guy out, you get pissed off at the other guy because he didn't take off his shoes.

That's what these people are about.

Provincialism and xenophobia

Provincialism and xenophobia permeates throughout this diatribe. I do hope Obama reads this letter for he will realize once and for all how the Iranian Islamists/marxists are out of touch. And the gap is too wide to ever be filled with mutual respect and understanding.

Obama also needs to pay a visit to this site and read the comments and posts to get a good sense of the mindset of the IRI leadership, and accordingly set realitstic policies in the ME.

FYI/Iran Confirms US Journalist Roxana Saberi is in Evin Prison

Iran says a U.S. journalist detained about a month ago is being held in the infamous Evin prison north of Tehran.

//www.payvand.com/news/09/mar/1038.html

FYI/Khatami barred from making campaign speech in Shiraz

For You BEEKAR's AT IRAN-HERITAGE Why Not Write an Open Letter to Ahmadinejad and Congradulate him for his upcoming election next June ?

//www.payvand.com/news/09/mar/1056.html

FYI/Iran's Ministers Summoned to Parliament Over Hollywood Team

Members of Iran's parliament have summoned three of the nation's top officials to explain why a Hollywood team is in Tehran, after Iranian officials said they considered several recent Hollywood movies insulting.

Iran's state TV says parliament's cultural commission issued the call Wednesday to the foreign and intelligence ministers as well as the minister of culture and Islamic guidance. Commission member Javad Arianmanesh says he wants the ministers to tell who invited the delegation to the capital and why.

//www.payvand.com/news/09/mar/1052.html