Daniel M Pourkesali's blog

National Interest

Daniel M Pourkesali — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:54:36 +0000

What is occurring in the streets of Tehran is greatly misinterpreted by many in the West some of whom still recall similar images of unrest from 1979 when people revolted against the monarchist regime of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

True intentions

Daniel M Pourkesali — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:49:50 +0000

An article titled ‘Iran's missiles not an existential threat, study says’ published in Haaretz yesterday is a Cliffs Notes guide for anyone trying to understand Israel’s true intentions and concerns as it obliterates the deceptive victim fascia so often portrayed through the Western media and reveals its genuine regional ambitions.

Freeman withdrawal & the 'Lobby'

Daniel M Pourkesali — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:43:59 +0000

Ambassador Chas Freeman who announced earlier today that he is no longer considering the offer to chair the National Intelligence Council, in a statement published by the ForeignPolicy.com has delivered a pointed response to those responsible for derailing his appointment:

Iranian American community and Human Rights

Daniel M Pourkesali — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:17:16 +0000

Below was author's response to a mailing received from National Iranian American Council to all its members on successful initiatives taken in 2008:

Dear friends at NIAC,

Time for behavior adjustment – Ours

Daniel M Pourkesali — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:18:15 +0000

I was encouraged by the title of Trita Parsi's latest commentary 'Why diplomacy and sanctions don't mix' only to be disappointed by the narrative which unfortunately gives credence to the prevailing attitude in the United States that we alone hold the moral high ground to arbitrarily subject any country we choose to punitive sanctions for our own self interest.

The Sinking Ship

Daniel M Pourkesali — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:59:44 +0000

Following article written by Jim Quinn and posted on LewRockwell.com this morning is by far the most comprehensive and superb analysis on this very serious subject:

U.S. Titanic

by Jim Quinn

September 26, 2008

Iran’s PR problem

Daniel M Pourkesali — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:33:48 +0000

Let’s face it; Iran has a major public relations problem when it comes to its perceived image around the world particularly here in the west.

Birth Pangs of a New World Disorder

Daniel M Pourkesali — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:32:20 +0000

Earlier today, American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Polish counterpart finalized a deal [1] for stationing a Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system in Poland.

Crying Foul in Tbilisi

Daniel M Pourkesali — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:43:45 +0000

On a report aired on NPR yesterday, Ivan Watson asked a Russian officer in charge of the soldiers guarding the entrance to the town of Gori whether more fighting could erupt to which the Russian commander responded with an ominous question: "If the Americans can take Baghdad, then why can't the Russians take Tbilisi?"

تحريم و جنگ

Daniel M Pourkesali — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:03:25 +0000

واژه نامه فرهنگ، تحريم را " تحميل محدوديتهاى تجارى و مالى يک کشور بر روى کشورى ديگر به دلايل سياسى" معرفى ميکند. عملى که استفاده از آن در سالهاى اخير به يک وسيله تسلط عمده اى منطقه اى و جهانى براى مشتى از قدرتمندترين کشورهای دنيا ، خصوصا ايالات متحده آمريکا در آمده است.

Sanctions as Warfare

Daniel M Pourkesali — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:18:01 +0000

The dictionary defines ‘sanctions’ as “restrictions upon trade and financial dealings that a country imposes upon another for political reasons”-- A practice that in recent years has become a prime instrument of global dominance by a handful of major powers particularly the United States.

Are you better off than five years ago?

Daniel M Pourkesali — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:55:16 +0000

That was the question posed in the latest Pew Research Center national public opinion survey and the results were dubbed as the most pessimistic assessment of personal progress in the last five decades of polling conducted by the Pew Research and the Gallup organization.

Fool me twice

Daniel M Pourkesali — Fri, 23 May 2008 02:17:02 +0000

In a Haaretz interview published today and titled "Is an attack on Iran a big Risk?" Patrick Clawson seems to weigh the possible outcome scenarios of a hostile attack on Iran in the same cavalier and careless manner a prospective violator would consider speeding his vehicle down a freeway.

'In search of truth'

Daniel M Pourkesali — Thu, 22 May 2008 01:08:40 +0000

These are the words that appear at the top of a web page by an individual who has been writing under the assumed name of "Hassan Daioleslam" for the past 2 years.

Casualties of War

Daniel M Pourkesali — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:10:14 +0000

President Bush marked the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq with a speech at the Pentagon [1] claiming that "The world is better, and the United States is safer" as result of a war that has claimed nearly 4000 American lives, wounded 30,000 [2] and cost well over $500 billion and counting.

America’s Moral Deficit

Daniel M Pourkesali — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 01:12:20 +0000

Trita Parsi begins his 2/27/08 opinion piece in the Inquirer titled 'Negotiating with Iran without Betraying Human Rights' by slapping the wrist of the current administration for its "apparent disregard for the expressed wishes of Iranian human-rights defenders".

Google and the Persian Gulf

Daniel M Pourkesali — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:52:34 +0000

Online petitions are fine for venting frustrations but in practice, even a million notes on a computer screen do not amount to anything for the perpetrators of the wrongful act.

Diplomacy for War

Daniel M Pourkesali — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:56:13 +0000

Reuel Marc Gerecht's opinion piece in the New York Times yesterday titled 'Attack Iran, With Words' advocating diplomacy with Iran may have taken some readers including this one by surprise given his resident fellowship credentials at the American Enterprise Institute.

Help Cyrus the Great Project

Daniel M Pourkesali — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:35:45 +0000

Hollywood's cinematic assault on Persian history in the movie '300' offended many Iranians even before the movie had officially opened in theaters. But as in case of every attack on Persian identity like the National Geographic and Google's mislabeling of the historical Persian Gulf, the outrage is often short-lived and sporadic without meaningful action to counter the ongoing Western propaganda to deride ancient Persia's contribution to human civilization.

Saber rattling us to the next disaster

Daniel M Pourkesali — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:12:51 +0000

Some people still don’t believe that all the implied threats to use force against Iran is anything more than political saber rattling. Perhaps the same were reassured by Condi Rice’s recent remarks [1] that Senate’s approval of the Kyl-Lieberman "sense of the Senate" does not give the "okay" for attacking Iran.