Current Events

Timing is the thing

The trick is to ride it up and get out before the inevitable crash

Agreed, but knowing when to get in and when to get out is the tricky part. I recall in the dotcom bubble Yahoo's stock went up by 8 times  and amazons by 9 in a SNGLE year. It was totally crazy.

As for Gold, a friend of a friend who works in an investment back thinks Gold will hit $5000 an ounce within a couple of years or so and we might even go back to the Gold Standard. He is given to a bit of hyperbole though.

I never use financial advisors. Apart from a select few who are very expensive to use, the rest are no better informed than the average ordinary investor. You can pretty much do most of the research yourself to be as knowledgeable as a typical financial advisor.

Definitely start that financial column. South Mogadishu doesn't sound a fun place to retire to.

VPK's free financial advise

Maybe I should start a financial column on IC. The American financial market has become a "bubble" market since Greenspan took over.

• Tech bubble.
• Real Estate Bubble.
• Next stock bubble
• Gold and commodities bubble.

The trick is to ride it up and get out before the inevitable crash. I remember asking a "financial adviser" about Gold in the 1990s. He laughed at me in front of 200 people. Well I am laughing now! Got it for 300 an ounce selling now at 1800 $! I did sell some at 1500 but I guess you don't win them all. While you cannot time the market you can tell when things are out of whack. My one free advise is to ignore the advise of financial advisers. They are full of ***. Go get yourself educated then make your own decisions. You will be hard pressed to do worse than they do. Plus you are presumably not out to cheat yourself!

Yeah, get that passport sorted out

And good job on doing well out of the stock market, especially under these dire economic conditions (I read your exchange with RG :) ).

My stocks are in free fall, so looks like I'll retire to Somalia instead of South America....<sigh>.

Cheryl Bentov

Vanunu fell for that! Boy he must have been desperate.

RB

We are on the same page regarding the hikers and Sharzad. I am not going to comment on BoosBoos since I don't know enough. I reserve judgment on that matter. Besides I need to get my passport renewed :-)

VPK

Just to be clear, when I talked about peole defending the IR I didn't mean you.

Also for the record, in none of my comments did I accuse the Iranian woman of being an IR agent or not. Just like the hikers's case, we don't have access to the detailed facts of her case, so everything say here is speculation, unlike BoosBoos who is quick to pass judgement as to who is guilty and who is innocent, which word for word follows the IR judiciary's line.

Soosan, question answered ... SPYING

 1. Governments always need boots on the ground (real people); Why?  To deliver cash to fund operations; to deliver instructions or items (sometimes they are put in containers and buried at a contact point); for testing border security (satellites don't do that); for delivering weapons (bombs and pistols with silencers were used to kill Iranians - they had to come from somewhere; they were not the types of weapons common in the region). 

2.  Why dressed as "Hikers"?  Did you know that that Putin was a KGB spy disguised as a student (he's a very short and thin man - doesn't even "look like a spy" - that's the idea !). See the story below: 

See this: //www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/russiagov/putin.htm 

Let me show you a former Mossad (Israeli spy) -- Cheryl Bentov is the Mossad agent that arrested Vanunu (the man that revealed Israel's nuclear capability) ... here's her picture below.  Does she look likek a spy?  

//www.danheller.com/hungary-grp-bentov.html

The first-step is to ignore preconceptions about what a spy looks like, how hold they are, how strong they are, etc. ... because the whole idea is to not be detectable.   

---------

It just does not make sense to me

by Soosan Khanoom on Wed Aug 24, 2011 12:00 AM PDT

Why on earth U.S want to send Americans,not to mention a jew, to spy on Iran dressing them as hikers?  Like U.S needs them while it owns the most sophisticated technology on earth 

SK

You are probably right but IRI won't because of reasons already discussed. IRI wants to milk this for all it is worth. Not to mention the internal dynamics of IRI are at work. Plus the de-listing business.

For decades I guess around 40-50 years Soviets and West were in a cold war. But the West showed some respect towards the Soviets. They don't show that towards the IRI which is in a similar cold war. That has a lot to do with the response they get. They are not a whole lot different. Lots of ideology; political prisoners; spies and so on. But while West treated Soviets as "equals" they treat IRI as ***. So they get the same treatment. To get these kids back US needs to give something. I don't think Obama administration is willing to give anything. In fact I doubt they really give a *** about getting them back.

I am guessing IRI said give us "something". Obama or Hillary responded "keep them!". So they stay until either IRI gets sick of it or someone gives them something. Maybe the families will come up with a suitable bribe. 500 K per person? Remember IRI is not exactly above taking money or making deals.

RB

This whole things gets strange but for your responses:

• I already said I don't think these guys are spies. They are young people pushing their lucks who went too far. Literally and got in deeper than they should. I also don't feel any particular sympathy. No more than for someone who jumps the fence in the loin den.
• I also doubt this lady was or is an IRI operative. If so why did she walk into ISA on her own accord. Just to be taken to jail never to come out again? It sounds pretty stupid. I figured IRI operatives (the real ones) would have warned her. 
• Not all groups defend their operatives. That was my point on MEK. They are one groups who tortures its own operatives. 

I am actually not that aware of IRI operations. I do know they likely killed Bakhtiyar; Farrokhzad and many others. Mostly in Europe. But I don't know what they are up to now in USA. Sorry I really do not know; I am not in the loop. As for reporting on me they probably do. That is why I have not even sent in my papers for renewal. They probably won't send it back. On the other hand I am most probably too small a fish to matter.

It just does not make sense to me

Why on earth U.S want to send Americans,not to mention a jew, to spy on Iran dressing them as hikers?  Like U.S needs them while it owns the most sophisticated technology on earth that can Provide the U.S with any possible information with out even a need of anyone crossing the boarders !!

Besides, U.S has MEK at its service who are local and speak the language and ready to go ....

I think these hikers are innocent.... they are for sure retarded to pick such a place for hiking but they are not Spies .   I wished IRI would have just released them and took them by their words but of course it won't . 

Gotta love how this discussion has turned

Now we've got people defending the Islamic Republic Judiciary and attacking the Amnesty International, lol.

btw VPK jaan, who said anything about whether IR should defend their operatives or not? We already know most, if not all, regimes try to help their operatives. And why bring up the MEK suddenly in this discussion?

As someone who is against the IR, you are well aware of the activities of IR operatives (I'm talking about operatives in general and not about Sharzad's case) in helping the regime to suppress people against the IR and report on people like you and I. So, what's with giving IR credit in helping their operatives?

.............

Boosboos,

    Stop calling other people liars!.......... It is not my job or our job to defend an IRI operative! It is your job! I don't work for IRI!

You are not familiar with the case and you got caught for your discrepancy! Nobody will stop you from fighting for Shahrzad! Apparently you have not done anything for her yourself, so stop lecturing on other people!

Well at least

Boos Boos has managed to bring the issue of Sharzad to forefront. Now the discussion is revolving around her. Which in my opinion is more relevant than the hikers.

Disclaimer: the below is based on assuming Shahrzad is an IRI operative. This has not been proven to me.

If IRI is using the hikers as a trade card then it makes sense. Assuming Shahrzad is their operative (a big assumption) why shouldn't they look after her. Better than leaving her to rot in jail. The Soviets used to do this all the time without anyone complaining. It is a duty of a government to look after its operatives. At least the IRI shows more care than MKO does for its own people. Here is a question from all: why shouldn't IRI use these guys as a bargaining chip. Wouldn't USA do the same.

IRANIAN WOMAN ARRESTED - Didn't *Hike* Across a War Zone

Look at the appalling character asassination of this Iranian woman  by the Miami news; she was arrested because her husband bought binoculars (legal to own but not to ship); and still the people on this thread say nothing .... shocking.  Imagine if the hikers were described in this way.

These are all quotes from the Miami Newspaper below -- it sounds like Geert Wilders wrote the story (remember she is accused of buying a pair of binoculars that are legal to own but illegal to take with you to Iran).  Law enforcement "forgot" to tape the evidence.  And you still complain about the 3 hikers instead of this Iranian-woman. 

QUOTES FROM THE MIAMI PAPER - APPALLING JOURNALISM & CHARACTER ASSASSINATION:  

"She dressed stylishly, in Western clothes, with makeup and jewelry."

"her shady ex-husband's international plot, an unwitting victim of both Muslim traditions "

"She was a slick operative"

"Gholikhan wanted to meet for an interview, but jailers at the Federal Detention Center in Miami forbade it."

"Sexual urges are accommodated by "temporary marriage"."  

"  If a stranger man would ever see only one hair of yours," her grandmother would say, "you are going to be hanged in Hell forever and ever with only that one hair, because you sinned!" "

" When she disembarked, five officers fingerprinted her and seized her passport and thousands of dollars in jewelry. "

HERE'S THE AGENTS TESTIMONY AS TO WHAT HAPPENED TO EVIDENCE OF HER GUILT:

"At the time, I believed it was recorded. Did I check to see that the equipment was functioning? That someone pressed record? I requested assistance from the Austrians to provide the evidence. I couldn't demand it. I could only ask for it." Later, Kriske (the witness against her) contradicted himself, saying he didn't record the meeting because it would have been illegal under Austrian law. 

Gholikhan said she felt "the prejudice of the American nation." 

-----------------------------------

Actually Yolanda, I didn't contradict myself, the person I quoted was the prosecutor -- where is Amnesty International's world wide media blitz concerning the treatment of this Iranian woman (like they provided for the hikers) ?  Where are the protests of the so-called "Iranian" bloggers objecting to the news media engaging in an obvious game of character assassination against this Iranian woman (and mother of two).  And I noticed you lied about the fact that law enforcement never turned over the evidence of her guilt (the recording) and that's why I quoted the officer above.  Continue making excuses for non-Iranians while you stay silent on the plight of Iranians.   Seriously, shame on the Iranians who remain uncritical of bigoted prosecutions and double-standards; keep staying silent Iranians and in a few years these same bigots in the U.S. will turn on your kids in the same fashion after they're done using you to promote an anti-Iranian agenda on this site.   

"by yolanda on Tue Aug 23, 2011 06:58 AM PDT BoosBoos, You wrote 2 posts, but you contradict yourself big time." 

............

Hi! Reality-Bites,

    Yes, she had a trial. She defended herself in the trial......the lady is very eloquent and aggressive! She made US government look like they botched the sting operation!

Yolanda jaan

Being busy with work I haven't had a chance to follow Shahrzad's case closely yet. So, contrary to BoosBoos's claim, Shahrzad has had a trial, correct?

Still, if she's claiming innocence, as an Iranian national, at the very least her case deserves publicity.

.............

Shahrzad case is like James Bond movie! It involves pretty girl, sexual tension, drug, abortion, man with secret wife and girlfriends, rape, divorce, unpredictable twists......I read the case 2 days ago:

//www.miaminewtimes.com/2009-01-08/news/the-agent-from-iran/

Here is the excerpt, it sounds like a movie script:

More unusual was the tale Gholikhan told when she took the stand. It became a bizarre recounting that painted Seif as a sadistic and unimaginably powerful man. He manipulated her over and over again, she explained, enabled by Islamic law.

Shortly after her marriage to Seif in 2000, Gholikhan said, she discovered he had another wife. That woman threatened Gholikhan with a gun, but Gholikhan calmed her down and suggested they confront Seif together. When they did, he promised to divorce Gholikhan and set her free. Two days later, however, he said he would divorce the other woman instead.

****************

OMG!

...........

BoosBoos,

    You wrote 2 posts, but you contradict yourself big time:

1st post

"Mike Walleisa described Shahrzad, 26 at the time of her trial, as intelligent, resourceful, cunning, manipulative, deceitful, and independent" according to the Miami Times."

2nd post

And exactly what resources did Amnesty require to post a 1 minute entry on their website about an Iranian-woman (and mother of 2) imprisoned in the U.S. without trial and on the basis that husband tried to buy some night time binoculars ?  

************************

Please read your own posts! Not just copy and paste newspapers!

BoosBoos joon

Regarding this comment of yours:

"...what is interesting is that individuals such as yourself are using this forum to advance non-Iranian causes - including constantly making excuses for non-Iranians (the *hikers*..."

Not for the first time you have taken to distorting and misconstruing what I said (you still haven't pointed out where I dismissively made passing reference to Shahrzad Mir-Gholikham, as you claimed).

First, I never made any excuses for the hikers. I repeatedly stated they said they could be innocent or guilty, but we don't know because we haven't got access to the facts.

Second, you go on about me spending the bulk of my time on the issue of hikers and you come to yet another hachal-haft conclusion about my motives. What the hell do you know about my time or never mind the bulk of it? You've spent at least as much as me on this blog. So you worry about your time and I'll worry about mine.

Third, and pay attention here, if you had a modicum of perceptiveness (or open-mindedness), you'd know the whole point of my exchanges with you over the case of the hikers, is not so much about the hikers, but about the IR judiciary and standards of "justice" under the IR.

Forth, it is the IR that is anti-Iranian, since it holds so much of the Iranian national identity and the rights of the Iranian people in contempt. By far the largest numbers of the victims of the IR "justice" have been the Iranian people. You support the IR judiciary, as you have made clear in several posts here. I regard the IR judiciary as unfair, unjust, cruel and part of the entire anti-Iranian people IR apparatus that represses Iranians. So now, which one of us is advancing "non-Iranian causes"?

Fifth, no I'm not Iranian. I'm from Mozambique. We are a poor people, but we enjoy posting on foreign websites and trading blows with narrow-minded people and supporters of tyrannies.

Sixth, put some paragraphs in your posts, for crying out loud. It will make your ramblings easier (if still painful) to read.

Seventh, you keep criticizing AI, me etc regarding the case of Shahrzad Mir-Gholikham, what have YOU done about her plight? Have you contacted Amnesty and posted a blog about Shahrzad Mir-Gholikham yet? If not, why not? It only takes a couple of minutes.

What makes you

an IRI agent? Not being paid money by the IRI. Here are examples of people getting money from IRI:

• A retired teacher getting pension from IRI.
• A person whose property was confiscated. Goes to Iran; petitions a court and gets compensation.
• A person who does a legitimate business say exports books. Overpays their dues and is compensated for overpayment.

Are these IRI agents? So there are very reasonable situations. I know of all these actually happening.

How Forums About Ethnic Groups Are Sometimes Manipulated

  TO Reality-Bites:  My view is that under any government and under any judicial system, there appears to have been enough evidence to detain, charge, and convict the so-called *hikers* -- I can very easily see how a Judge in another jurisdiction could reach a conclusion that they were guilty.  That doesn't mean I agree with every case tried before the courts of Iran - that's simply a ridiculous lie. But that's how propagandists like you operate.    Secondly, what is interesting is that individuals such as yourself are using this forum to advance non-Iranian causes - including constantly making excuses for non-Iranians (the *hikers*) and foreign governments that may have been acting in a manner that poses a danger to the safety and well-being of all the Iranian people. I understand if someone leaves a comment or two on the subject of the hikers, and has a difference of opinion (e.g. thinks the hikers were innocent), but with a proviso:     I don't have a problem with an Iranian thinking the hikers were innocent.   However, Sara Shourd really has very little to do with the issues directly facing the Iranian community. So it's inherently suspect for anyone to repeatedly keep blogging on the subject of the *hikers* (as you do) while brazenly ignoring the plight of an Iranian woman (and mother of 2) who never got a trial in the U.S.; access to her family; was abused in prison; and has been sitting in prison for several years for something her husband supposedly did.  In contrast, the 3 hikers were caught in in a border area war zone - where the U.S. and Israel carry out military operations and fund terror groups (like PJAK & MEK).  It makes me wonder if you're even Iranian or care for the well-being of Iranians when you devote the bulk of your time and energy to these three non-Iranian *hikers* and are glued to this thread for that purpose: For me it's like, someone who constantly blogs in an iranian forum about how it was excusable that the U.S. Navy shot down an Iranian passenger jet.     You also don't know whether or not I informed Amnesty of her plight.  I can see that I am the only person on this particular post who has written anything of substance about this Iranian woman. What did you do?  Nothing - just kept harping on about the 3 hikers.      This site, wether true to its name or not is called: "Iranian.com."  I posted about the plight of an Iranian.     Your repetitive posts, however, are better suited this web page: //www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2010/09/147102.htm

Simorgh

The word is "trial". And a fair one without "secret evidence and with the right to confront her accusers. I don't like all the secrecy about "national security". Also being an IRI agent by itself should not mean throw away the keys. There must be an actual crime. 

Say a person takes money from IRI and does absolutely nothing. Sits on their rear end and maybe at most writes a blog. This to me is no reason to put away someone. In fact they are doing us a favor by siphoning money out of IRI. Money that may be used for real harm! 

The punishment must fit the crime. I really do not know what buying night vision goggles takes. I know they sell the kids version at Toys R Us. So I assume she was getting the "high grade" version. But I do not know this. What if someone buys a couple of hundred Slinky Science Spyhawk Night Vision Goggle. Available from Amazon for 10.88 $ with free shipping! Does this merit jail term? There are a lot of unknowns in this case which I obviously do not know! Therefore an open no secret trial is required to find what is going on. After all if she was an IRI agent why would she enter the USA on her own accord just to be arrested.

VPK

I am actually quite appalled by the lack of coverage of Shahrzad Mir-Gholikham's trial in the mainstream media. I say this as someone who is staunchly anti-IR. I believe that even if she is an agent of the IR she should be given a fair and transparent trial. The manner and process by which the Gholikham's trial has been carried out undermines the opposition movement against the IR and makes a martyr out of a possible IR agent. It also does not help the US's image abroad on the human rights front. I make no excuses, the Iranian community should have better publicised her ordeal.

Howevever, referring to your 'big if', if Gholikham is indeed a spy and double agent for the IR, I could not care less if the US government jails her and throws away the keys (I exaggerate for effect).

Give her a trial and if she is indeed guilty beyond reasonable doubt then she should be punished like any other supporter of the IR.  

VPK jaan

First, thanks for the links you posted. I'll look at them in detail later.

Fair enough, I understand about the gut feel. I can't argue against that. I have them myself sometimes about people or orgnizations.

As regards to their US/UK bias, I'm not sure how accurate this is. One would have to look at AI's entire range of activities/cases to make a sound judgement, but you also posted a link about AI's support of a Taliban advocate (one of the cases that, imo, they got wrong), which is surely against US interests.

Anyway, here are some examples where AI has been very critical of US.

//www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/msg01581.html

Dear Reality-Bites

We may disagree in Amnesty. I just don't trust them; maybe I am too mistrusting. But as others mentioned they should at least put a 2 line post in their web site. I am not asking for a full scale legal defense. 

Here are my reasons:

• They are London based and I don't trust anything out of UK. This may sound simplistic but it is a gut feeling. I do put a lot of value in my gut feeling and it has served me well for over 50 years.
• Amnesty has shown a bias in its selection of cases. Where its agenda tends to be in line with American and UK agenda. Please see: //cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/articles/...
• AI has some very questionable positions for example support for a Taliban advocate. Please see statement by Rushti: //www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article70...

These are just a few examples. I could write a whole book on AI's problems. But I will just say for me when it comes to AI: no thank you!

BoosBoos joon

Do you know for sure Amnesty has not taken up the case of Shahrzad Mir-Gholikham?

And if they haven't, why don't you take a little time from supporting the IR judiciary and inform Amnesty of her plight? They depend on supporters of Human Rights like yourself to inform of them of various cases, you know.

And btw, what happened to my suggestion that you start a stand alone article on Shahrzad Mir-Gholikham on IC? Can't you take 1 minute of your time to do that?

Amnesty didn't have money ... yeah right

" by Reality-Bites on Tue Aug 23, 2011 03:04 AM PDT I disagree with you on Amnesty... they don't have the resources to cover every case .... "

 And exactly what resources did Amnesty require to post a 1 minute entry on their website about an Iranian-woman (and mother of 2) imprisoned in the U.S. without trial and on the basis that husband tried to buy some night time binoculars ?  Don't you think Amnesty could have diverted $2 of the budget they allocated to the world-wide media blitz they devoted to these underserving *hikers* ?  

VPK jaan

I disagree with you on Amnesty.

Yes, they do get it wrong sometimes and they don't have the resources to cover every case (they depend on donations for funding), but for the most part they do a damn good job and they have taken on cases against many regimes including the US and other Western nations.

Regarding Shahrzad

This is a very interesting case. I did not know much about it until recently. But it does proves a few things:

• Amnesty International is full of ***. It selectively picks on cases which suits its true purpose: to advance its goals under guise of human rights. I stopped supporting; then paying attention to them years ago.
• USA as we know has just as many kangaroo courts as IRI. In these secret "evidence: read non-existent" is used. The accused is not presented the evidence nor is their lawyer. That is if they are lucky and get a trial. More often they don't even get a trial. Just shipped to some invisible prison in God knows were or "buried at sea".
• If Shahrzad is indeed an IRI operative and that is a big if. Then IRI at least stands up for its operatives. Meaning you are a lot better off as an IRI than a MEK operative!

BoosBoos joon

Where did I make a passing reference (dismissively or otherwise) to Shahrzad Mir-Gholikham? Point it out please.

Having said that, this could indeed be a case of miscarriage of justice and deserves a blog of its own. So, as the person who raised the story to bring her predicament to our attention, may I suggest you start an article on Shahrzad Mir-Gholikham?