Iranian Liberal Democrat

Thank You Divaneh

Divaneh jaan,

Thank you, and you are most welcomed.

Best,

Masoud

Dear Masoud

Thanks for your replies and the wealth of information that you provided. With respect to support for democratic parties, I think it already exists. They just need to reach for it with a good plan of actions.

Dear Divaneh

Divaneh jaan,

D: I said other Iranian parties, groups and individuals should not support the delisting initiative without demanding democratic changes in the PMOI. This is then their choice to do so and enjoy a wider support from Iranians or stay the same VF party.

MK: I do NOT want the PMOI to enjoy wider support from Iranians. I do NOT like the PMOI. I am very critical of the PMOI. I am not interested in any alliances with the PMOI.

The issue at hand is about the U.S. govt de-listing. I use the three criteria in general discussion. The main point for me is who benefits and who is hurt by the de-listing.

D: I can't see much validity in your question when you ask has PMOI killed more people or IRI? Going 32 years back to the time when Khomeini was in Paris, it is like someone asking has Khomeini killed more people or Shah? Opposition to the existing regime is not enough justification. This is like a wolf and a bear fighting over eating you. Do we know what are their principles? Do we know their plans for the future Iran? Do they have any of these two?

MK: Your point is valid. We do not know what the PMOI would do if they ever got power. I strongly oppose the PMOI getting into power. I do not see any scenario under which the PMOI would have power with a serious likelihood.

D: I understand that US does it for its own interests but as their interests are not always aligned with ours, we should not help sinister plans by Neocons whose track record is known. I give you a scenario.

US attacks Iran and bomb it 50 years back. They use their massive media power and introduce the PMOI as a democratic party and install them in power. Any resistance by freedom loving Iranians is portrayed to the world as resistance by IRI supporters.

This is not an unlikely scenario and the first step is to delist the PMOI. This is why I think we should not lend any support to groups who are not democratic and transparent. If it looks like a dictatorial group, it is a dictatorial group. You can not expect it to bring you democracy or be faithful to the democratic process.

MK: You are sort of using the Iraq model of invasion whereby the U.S. did almost all the work in overthrowing Saddam and installing some sort of govt. WHY in the world the U.S. would do all the work and put PMOI on govt. The U.S. would certainly put Reza Pahlavi on the throne instead. RP is less hated than PMOI. Moreover, I think RP (like his dad) would do whatever the U.S. told him to do.

RP has not been elected (even) by his monarchists supporters. He is their KING merely due to bloodline!!!!! RP’s sources of money is also fishy. And the Pahlavi dynasty is responsible for brutal tyranny in Iran, and RP has not condemned those dictatorships. Even worse, recently, RP supported the actions of his father and grandfather. So, if we are concerned about democracy, RP is NOT the person.

I think if there is an invasion, then the U.S. might use the model of Afghanistan. Then, the U.S. could use the PMOI as well as other groups such as the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, the way the U.S. used the Northern Alliance (the group under the leadership of Ahmad Shah Masoud. In that model, the U.S. did not impose the Northern Alliance on Afghanistan. The U.S. held an election whereby the people of Afghanistan voted (with many many problems).

The PMOI social base of support in Iran is about 5% or so. Therefore, there is no way that the PMOI could ever win any elections.

In my opinion, the de-listing of the PMOI would allow the U.S. govt to use the PMOI for many tasks that it needs to be done. The PMOI has the ability provide those tasks for the U.S. These tasks include gathering intelligence, sabotage, and the like.

D: I finally think that the US politicians can not be grouped into one lump and Neocons are trying to put up PMOI to counter the green movement that was starting to have the US administration's support. To the Neocons there is nothing worse than a democratic Iran and hence their new game.

MK: I disagree with you on two points.

First, many liberals also support de-listing of the PMOI. Howard Dean is one of the most liberal leaders in the Democratic Party. Same with Patrick Kennedy. The same for another top PMOI supporter Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (Dem. TX). Gen. Wesley Clark in not a neo-con. He is a Democrat.

Second, I do not think that the neo-cons would necessarily oppose democracy in Iran. I think the neo-cons want to get rid of the terrorist regime. I do NOT agree that the neo-cons would be opposed to democracy in Iran. The neo-cons are simply against the terrorist regime. They were initially close to Reza Pahlavi. But RP was not able to capitalize on that support. The neo-cons also did support the protests after June 2009 election. The neo-cons want the regime be changed. They think that the best way to do so in by military means.

You and I might oppose the neo-cons. But we should know what is it that they want and why.

President Obama really really wanted to reach an agreement with Khamenei. Obama sent Khamenei at least two private letters. Right after the protests in June 2009, Obama was silent and then only minor words of support. Only later Obama lent his (very small) support to the pro-democracy movement. The Obama administration seems to have reached the conclusion that the terrorist regime is not interested in serious negotiations and only when it feels threatened engages in deceptions to undermine sanctions or other actions. By de-listing of the PMOI, the Obama administration is gaining a group to provide the U.S. with benefits at virtually no cost to the U.S.

=========================== 

Finally, if we Iranians want democracy and freedom, we need to do our work. We need to work harder in organizing and working to get rid of the terrorist regime. We need to support DEMOCRATIC organizations like the JM and NAMIR and Iran Liberal Party and the like. The stronger our democratic parties are the higher the likelihood of having democracy in Iran.

Of course anti-democratic groups (e.g., PMOI, monarchists, etc) want to have their own group in power. Of course the various factions of the terrorist regime want their own group in power.

It is in this environment that we need to have wise policies. We need to ask what policies will benefit which group and harm which group. As I have mentioned, in my opinion the de-listing of the PMOI will seriously harm Khamenei and his gang. It will NOT in any major way harm the pro-democracy movement.

Best wishes my friend,

Masoud

There is a realist or

There is a realist or pragmatic or cynical aspect to this. The reason the ANC was regarded as terrorist was because the U.S. was allied to the racist apartheid regime. The reason the PLO was all-of-the-sudden regarded as good was the peace process. The realists call this amoral. This is a simple calculation of interests.

The PMOI was placed on the list in order to reward Khatami. The PMOI was kept in the list in order to convince the IRI not to arm the extremist groups in Iraq.

Dear MK, that in and of itself enough reason to de-list the group..with conditions. That is if the US is still not allied with the fundamentalist kleptocracy.

Dear Masoud

I think I have been misunderstood and I only have myself to blame for not being clear enough in my comment. I did not say that any group which is not democratic or not transparent should be placed on the FTO. I said other Iranian parties, groups and individuals should not support the delisting initiative without demanding democratic changes in the PMOI. This is then their choice to do so and enjoy a wider support from Iranians or stay the same VF party.

I can't see much validity in your question when you ask has PMOI killed more people or IRI? Going 32 years back to the time when Khomeini was in Paris, it is like someone asking has Khomeini killed more people or Shah? Opposition to the existing regime is not enough justification. This is like a wolf and a bear fighting over eating you. Do we know what are their principles? Do we know their plans for the future Iran? Do they have any of these two?

I understand that US does it for its own interests but as their interests are not always aligned with ours, we should not help sinister plans by Neocons whose track record is known. I give you a scenario.

US attacks Iran and bomb it 50 years back. They use their massive media power and introduce the PMOI as a democratic party and install them in power. Any resistance by freedom loving Iranians is portrayed to the world as resistance by IRI supporters.

This is not an unlikely scenario and the first step is to delist the PMOI. This is why I think we should not lend any support to groups who are not democratic and transparent. If it looks like a dictatorial group, it is a dictatorial group. You can not expect it to bring you democracy or be faithful to the democratic process.

I finally think that the US politicians can not be grouped into one lump and Neocons are trying to put up PMOI to counter the green movement that was starting to have the US administration's support. To the Neocons there is nothing worse than a democratic Iran and hence their new game. 

Dear Divaneh: The Pros and Cons of De-Listing the PMOI

Divaneh jaan,

Your demands are excellent but they do not pertain to a group being listed on the U.S. State Department FTOs. Your demands are germane to what groups need to do in order to be regarded as democratic, decent, non-violent, and transparent.

You are demanding the PMOI to be a democratic, decent, transparent group like JM. You are confusing conditions for democracy with conditions to be or not to be included in the U.S. State Department FTO. If the U.S. State Department were to place on the terrorist group those who do not have internal elections, then the State Dept would have to include in its terror list almost all American allies in the Middle East and north Africa. 

As far as I know, the members of NIAC do not have the right to vote for President of NIAC.  So according to your demands, the State Dept should place NIAC on the terrorist list merely because it does not allow its members to vote for president. 

Your wonderful list is good for choosing one’s ally. They are NOT germane to what group should be included in the US State Dept terror list.

The criteria I use are the following:

1. Is the inclusion objective, fair, consistent with similar cases? How a group previously regarded as terrorist had its status changed in American foreign policy?

The U.S. placed the PMOI on the list in 1997 in order to reward Khatami. The Bush administration kept the PMOI on the list because they feared that if they removed them, then the IRI would supply weapons to extremist groups in Iraq to kill Americans. The IRI went ahead and did supply weapons to extremist groups (e.g., Moghtada sadr’s Jeish al Mahdi), and others who killed Americans.

Compare the PMOI with Khatami, Mousavi, Rafsanjani. Did the IRI kill more Iranians or has the PMOI? Did the IRI kill more Americans or the PMOI? Khatami, Mousavi and Rafsanjani have been part of the IRI leadership from 1979 and responsible for the crimes of the IRI.

Khatami, Mousavi, Rafsanjani have done a zillion times more violence against the Iranian people (including the pro-democracy Iranians) as well as the IRI assistance to Lebanese Hezbollah under their leadership which killed so many Americans.

Compare the PMOI with PLO, ANC, IRA.

2. Advantages and disadvantages to various groups in Iran.

I have already discussed this extensively in my blog in Feb. As an Iranian pro-democracy activist, the questions is what are the potential ramifications for us. What are the advantages and disadvantages? Who benefits and who loses? What are the ramifications for the national interests of the Iranian people (as opposed to the interests of the vf regime)?

In my opinion, the biggest loser will be the VF regime. If an action will greatly harm the vf regime and has little impact on the pro-democracy movement, then why should we oppose it?

The IRI was offering $80,000 to someone to write an article stating that the PMOI is terrorist. That is the policy of Khamenei.

//iranian.com/main/news/2011/07/10/activists-say-spy-chief-right-china-spying

Ask yourself why Khamenei’s regime is willing to pay $80,000 for one single article? In my opinion, because Khamenei strongly wants to have the PMOI on the terrorist category. Khamenei knows full well that the de-listing of the PMOI will hurt him and his regime.

ALREADY, yesterday, the Foreign Minister of the terrorist regime announced that IRI will be willing to negotiate with the U.S. WHY all of the sudden now? Is it because Khamenei is petrified about the de-listing and wants to fool (or influence the Obama administration)?????

The de-listing of the PMOI will scare the daylight out of Khamenei that he would be more likely to offer concessions to others (U.S., EU, reformist members of the fundamentalist oligarchy, other opposition groups).

In sum, the de-listing of the PMOI is a huge loss to Khamenei. The weaker Khamenei is, the better will be the Iranian people who want to send him to the garbage can of history. The weaker Khamenei is, the better it is for the Iranian people and the Iranian opposition. Therefore, the de-listing of the PMOI benefits the Iranian people.

3. The American national interests.

It is the U.S. government that will be making this decision. If de-listing is viewed to be in the American national interests, it will be done. If de-listing is viewed against the national interests of the U.S., the it would probably not be done.

The PMOI is willing to help the U.S. government. The PMOI has actual assets on the ground which it could utilize to help American policies against the terrorist regime.

Whether you and I like this or not, it is not germane. What is germane is whether the PMOI could help the U.S. government. If the answer is "yes," then the likelihood of de-listing increases and if the answer is "no," then the likelihood of de-listing decreases.

There is a realist or pragmatic or cynical aspect to this. The reason the ANC was regarded as terrorist was because the U.S. was allied to the racist apartheid regime. The reason the PLO was all-of-the-sudden regarded as good was the peace process. The realists call this amoral. This is a simple calculation of interests.

The PMOI was placed on the list in order to reward Khatami. The PMOI was kept in the list in order to convince the IRI not to arm the extremist groups in Iraq.

If the Obama administration believes that there is no hope in reaching an agreement with the ruling TERRORISTS, then the U.S. State Dept will de-list the PMOI to put real pressure on the terrorist regime. This will not cost the U.S. anything. It will correct earlier appeasement of the terrorist regime. It will be consistent with the decisions of the EU and UK courts and governments. It will put tremendous psychological pressure on the terrorist regime. In other words, the U.S. government will definitely gain a huge amount of power by simply de-listing the PMOI. The mere de-listing of the PMOI will compel Khamenei to give concessions.

The realist calculations have nothing to do with morality. It has to do with making an alliance against another foe. For example, FDR made an alliance with Stalin in order to weaken and defeat Hitler. Stalin was not a decent, democrat, transparent dude. Same with Nixon making an alliance with Mao. Nixon regarded the USSR as the enemy, so he made an alliance with China.

The PMOI is enemy of IRI. The U.S. is enemy of IRI. The PMOI does not pose any threats to the U.S. Actually, the PMOI could provide great help to the U.S. Therefore, it is in the national interests of the U.S. to make an alliance with the PMOI against IRI. Whether or not there are internal elections in the PMOI is not germane to the realist calculations of American national interests.

I hope this is helpful.

Best regards,

Masoud

شعبان بی مخ؟

Dear Professor of collusion,

You are the one who said

".......in my opinion our primary enemies are the VF regime and NIAC. My opinion may be right or it may be wrong. It is my opinion. Based on this opinion, my policy recommendations follow. I support the broadest possible coalition against VF regime.  I support the broadest possible coalition against NIAC."

Meanwhile, the fraction you belong to is in bed with IRI, according to Ari's investigative reporting, and probably communicates with the regime everyday.

No freaking shame.

It's only fair for NIAC and its members to release their

financial statements. Both Iranians and Americans need to know where the sources of support to NIAC come from!

Also, as a related note, why is it that the NIAC is so worried about de-listing of MEK?

Is it because;

1. MEK has so much potential to be a contender to IRI once MEK get de-listed,
2. IRI is so weak to implode as soon as MEK gets de-listed, 
3. NIAC is so irrelevant and ineffective to survive as the lobby for IRI once MEK becomes an open game,
4. NIAC thinks that it has the exclusive right to be a contender to IRI eventually and wants to eliminate other potential competitions,
5. Or is this all Jang'e Zargari for IRI to survive another year until the next crisis is born?

MEK should be de-listed! NIAC should release its financial sources. IRI should pack up and leave with zaboon khosh or else...!

Dear Masoud,

You're welcome. Sorry I didn't format those links properly, but by copying and pasting the links one can read the "analyses" of Trita Parsi and other top NIAC people and get a sense of what approach towards the IRI they advocate. I would say that they basically espouse a very, very accommodating approach towards the mullah-led regime, i.e. the U.S. should "engage" the IRI and reach some sort of understanding or settlement with Tehran/Qom. Forget sanctions that will have any teeth (NIAC might support "symbolic" sanctions unlikely to have any real impact on the IRI). Instead, the U.S. should do everything it can to reach a "deal" (or Grand Bargain or "rapprochement" or "detente" or whatever diplomatic-speak word one chooses to employ), so that business can be conducted between the U.S. and IRI out in the open. Regards.

Dear Ari and Divaneh jaan: Thanks for all of your contributions

It is enlighten to read your comments and contributions. It provides us valuable and un-repetitive information, it helps us to build unity and carries a great deal of professionalism and intellect.

'Vahdat' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad

TP and NIAC Helping IRI by ...

Dear Amir 1973,

Thanks for the links.

1. The IRI is a "TERRORIST regime." The State Department has called the IRI the most active state sponsor of terrorism every single year it has compiled its list of terrorist entities. We all know that the VF regime is TERRORIST regime.

NIAC’s refusal to call the IRI a "TERRORIST" regime HELPS the terrorist regime.

Trita Parsi’s refusal to call the IRI, "TERRORIST regime" HELPS the terrorist regime.

As far as I am aware, NIAC has never published an article calling the VF regime a "TERRORIST regime" despite the FACT that the State Department has been placing the terrorist regime as the no. 1 state sponsor of terrorism in the world every single year. WHY???????

MM tries to mislead the readers by posting a private exchange with another person in which TP grants the premise that IRI supports terror in order to push his own agenda. The fact the MM has to resort to this is because he could NOT find one single case in which TP calls the terrorist regime, "terrorist regime." Even funnier was when MM posted speakers in a conference that NIAC sponsored who called the terrorist regime correctly "terrorist," but could not find one single case when TP or NIAC used the correct designation of "TERRORIST" for the terrorist regime.

2. Trita Parsi and NIAC CONSTANTLY call the PMOI "terrorist" but do not call the terrorist regime "terrorist regime." WHY the double-standard??????? The question is WHY NIAC and TP do NOT call the terrorist regime by its correct designation, "TERRORIST regime"??????

WHO benefits from TP and NIAC refusal to call the IRI, "terrorist regime"??????

In my opinion, the main beneficiary is Khamenei.

Best,

Masoud

Dear Mehrban, Shazde, Truthseeker, Roozbeh (and Shazde again)

Mehrban jaan,

Thank you. Of course, I never insulted JJ. Obviously, Ms. Shifteh make a serious error of fact. I am certain that now that I re-posted my words, she has realized that she made the mistake. I am hoping to see Shifteh to retract her false assertion.

MM is a different story. He is NIAC’s Shaban Bi-mokh, who instead of logical arguments has made personal attacks and thrown insults at me.

Best regards,

Masoud

=========================　

Shazde jaan,

Thank you friend.

Best regards,

Masoud

==============================

Dear Truthseeker,

Thank you so very much for your kind words. When NIACis throw insults and make personal attacks, I realize that I am doing the right thing. The wonderful pro-democracy activists in our beloved Iran have been murdered, tortured, and raped by fundamentalist thugs, and the struggle continues. Being subjected to insults and personal attacks by NIACis is nothing compared to what our people suffer from the terrorist regime.

Best wishes,

Masoud

====================　

Roozbeh jaan,

Thank you my dear friend. You are correct.

Best regards,

Masoud

================================

Shazde jaan,

Adib Boroumand is in his 90s. He has been a member and leader of JM since the times of Dr. Mossadegh. Boromand is one of the very top experts on Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh. His own poems have been published in many books.

This is his site: //www.adibboroumand.com/

Despite constant surveillance under SAVAK and then IRI’s Ministry of Intelligence, he has continued his struggles and leadership of JM. To be the no. 1 leader of JM inside Iran, when that fascist genocidal thug Khomeini has called JM "mortad" is a terribly dangerous position. He has been constantly dragged to IRI MOI, gotten phone calls and threatened and warmed. Despite all these he has continued his work and kept JM alive under the terribly dangerous situation in Iran.

We should NOT wait until an activist has been murdered like Dariush Forouhar or Parvaneh Eskandari, to support him or her. The terrorist regime wants the people not to trust the pro-democracy leaders. One of their tactics is to spread false rumors and innuendos about the true leaders. The regime wants to spread the rumor that one can trust only those who have already been killed. This way, the regime undermines the good reputation of great pro-democracy leaders.

Of course the regime sends infiltrators [nofoozi] into opposition groups. It is the job of the IRI’s Ministry of Intelligence to infiltrate the opposition groups and undermine their leadership from inside by spreading false rumors and attacking them from inside. These infiltrators are those who have joined the group relatively recently. If a person joined the JM 4 years ago, or 10 years ago, it is possible that the MOI might have sent him as infiltrator. But a person who has been part of JM since 1949 could not plausibly be a nofoozi. It is the job of the nofoozi to falsely accuse the real JM leaders of all sorts of garbage including allegation that they work with the regime.

I fully trust and fully support the leaders of JM inside. I fully trust and support Ostad Adib Boroumand (Chair of the Central Committee and Chair of the Leadership Council). I fully trust and fully support Dr. Hossein Mousavian (Chair of the Executive Committee).

I do NOT trust Mr. Kourosh Zaim. I do NOT trust Mr. Ashkan Razavi. They joined JM relatively recently. After they failed to takeover JM leadership, they began attacking JM’s leaders. I am NOT saying that Zaim and Razavi are nofoozi. I just do not trust them. I certainly find their actions very harmful for JM. I hope that they will be expelled from JM.

Cheers,

Masoud

Ari - As shortened Fereydoon would say: tabreek.

Great piece of investigative reporting, but you should have stuck with shady emails and innuendo.  You are now promoted to be a member of SAVAMA rather than just a NIAC supporter.  As shortened-Fereydoon would say: tabreek. 

well-rounded populist demagogues

While the well-rounded populist demagogue members of the NIAC lobby/cult are at it, their Reza Marashi was just on Aljazeera.

The NIAC lobby/cult employee was talking about today’s assassination in Tehran and said something along the line that, they are not going to stop their nuke program, may be it is time to forgo the sanctions and come to terms with them.

The indefinite rule of the Islamist Rapists helped by the policies that NIAC lobby/cult advocates should make the well-rounded populist demagogues very happy.

BTW, any justification yet on NIAC lobby/cult leader giving informational talks to the CIA, or taking US government money and other good stuffs with the Islamist Rapists?

Shazdeh jaan,

It may sound like a joke to say that the IRGC will soon bring democracy to Iran, but a recent piece sent out by NIAC considers Mousavi to be the leader of Iran's "pro-democracy movement". Another piece co-authored by one of NIAC's top guys, Reza Marashi, holds out the promise of Ahmadinejad being the "real reformer" within the IRI.

Shazdeh

I do tend to be inquisitive, as it is the only way to have the facts by which citizens can know what and who to support. It is our responsibility as citizens to dig up facts, ask for clarifications, and share the info with other citizens...this latter sharing part is what distinguishes a journalist from an intelligence gathering agent. Otherwise I sympathize with your drawing a parallel; we're both in the digging business.

One other difference is that, to stay honest, a journalist should try to dig even deeper. This is because a little knowledge can damage good people through innuendo. Bouromand is a patron of the arts in Iran, and I would not like to see his reputation damaged. This is why I wish MK would respond to this journalist's (me) questions about the man with some facts in his defense. For example he could argue that Boroumand is simply too old to be taken to jail. Unconfirmed grapewine says the JM split may have happened over more innocent reasons than an IRI compromise. If rumors can be believed (which MK can confirm or deny) Boroumand wanted to have more than one vote in the organization and this rubbed the one-man-one-vote original JM members the wrong way. This is partly alluded to in the disavowal link that I included in a previous comment.

Keep writing the good stuff. One reason we can trust your sincerity is that you get involved in IC's cultural aspects. A Blogger who writes no other blogs than political and make no comments except in political blogs leaves us wondering just what it is about Iran that he loves. Like a girlfriend who complains "you only want me for my body" Iran could ask him if he wants her only to hump her for power. On the other hand, you actually have a love relationship with Iran (however stormy), and it shows in your works.

MM: Thanks for the lead. Will follow up.

Delisting with conditions

Dear Masoud,

With all the respect that I have for you and for the JM (any branch of it) I think your unconditional support for the MEK delisting is wrong. You as a party made a mistake when you left Bakhtiar and likes of Amini in cold and sided with Islamists and you may be about to make the same mistake again.

I agree that anyone who tries to deny the MEK its right to form part of the opposition and have its say, is just unreasonable and dictatorial. I also think they should be delisted, but not without conditions.

-They must denounce violence (truly).

-They must commit to a one member-one vote system and establish some democracy in their own group first.

-They must publish their accounts and reveal the source of their funding.

-They must put a cap on donations from individuals or organisations.

If there is democracy in the West and everyone has a say, it is under such a framework. We can't ignore necessity of such framework when it comes to Iran and just give a blank card to everyone while their affairs are secret. The very same rules should apply to the NIAC and all other parties and groups.

To NIAC supporters and sympathizers:

I have great respect for you guys but unless NIAC publishes its accounts and have elections within its own organisation, it has no credibility and should not be supported, especially as none of their actions seem to have harmed or weakened the regime so far.

From state dept

From state dept report:

The U.S. State Department considers Iran the world's "most active state sponsor of terrorism. ... Iran's leaders, who deny allegations they support terrorism ... international financial bodies, and a number of individual countries .... including one that it says will be used to launch satellites but ...
 

//www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2009/140889.htm

Amir dear don't worry; my NIAC friends tell me that IRGC ...

... (Sepah Pasdaran) is going to soon bring democracy to Iran ... and it will be the nation of milk and honey soon!

"TP/NIAC have many harsh words for the tyranical regime in Iran"

Ari dear: you could have had a promising career with Savama ...

... or maybe you already have ... lol.

Won't be surprised if that guy is soon donating books to the library, from the Evin prison! I guess then and only then, he will deserve some respect from NIAC, eh?

Ari

Did you find what the relationship between Adib Boroumand and the Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation, now administered by his daughters (Ladan and Roya) is?

Remind me to keep you on my good side. 

Shazdeh,

Shazdeh,

Please see a recent blog  (What is the proper stance on Mojahedeen Khagh delisting efforts?) where everyone, including me, showed compassion for the MEK foot-soldiers and set conditions for de-listing.

Analogously, regarding MEK, TP wrote in 2008”

PARSI: Deciding the fate of the Mujahedin

“Rather than debating where to expel the Mujahedin terrorists, help should be provided to the rank and file to break with the cult and make free choices about their future. It’s the only humanitarian solution to this dilemma - and one that defeats rather than protects this anti-American terrorist group.”  Of course, this was before MEK became a tool for the John Boltons of this world. 

Regarding IRI, TP/NIAC have many harsh words for the tyranical regime in Iran, but unfortunately,  none of them reach the level of the words you choose to use:

Iran's Unhappy Anniversary, The Daily Beast, February 11, 2010.

How Obama Can Really Help the Pro-Democracy Movement in Iran, Fox News, February 11, 2010.

Obama Should End Silence on Human Rights Abuses in Iran, Huffington Post, December 7, 2009.

Will the Focus at the UN Be on Ahmadinejad's Human Rights Abuses?, Huffington Post, September 22, 2009.

Unforgiable Crimes in Iran: The Under-Reporting of Deaths, Huffington Post, September 7, 2009.

Of course, if you really want to see how MEK is like, do not believe me, but look at bona fide reports:

MM: I did not accuse

MM: I did not accuse anyone...You might think you're not supporting IRI but being part of NIAC leads me to believe that unbeknownest to you even, you indirectly support IRI or at least prolonging it's existence.

Your trust in NIAC is naive at best and at worst, willful.

Has MK's "National Front" compromised with the Regime?

Here's some data to argue that the "JM group" that MK belongs to may have an understanding with the IRI.

MK states:

On the one side [inside Iran] is the no. 1 leader of JM (Adib Boroumand
who is the
Chair of the Central Committee and the Chair of the Leadership Council).
My group is closely allied with and strongly supports [the group headed
by Adib Boroumand]). 

The secular JM was banned in Iran in 1982 for apostasy and its leaders had to flee the country. Adib Boroumand,
however, is currently in Iran and politcally active unhindered by the regime. Three years ago he gifted a Koran to Iran's
national library, according to his own bio page.

Regarding the rival JM group, MK states:

The above leadership group [Boroumand] is challenged by Mr. Koroush Zaim . 

Mr. Koroush Zaim is currently in jail in Iran for opposition activity. One of his lawyers was Nasrin Sotoudeh (who as many know is now also in jail). 

Opposed by MK's group, Koroush Zaim is standing against the regime while Adib Boroumand
("strongly supported" by MK's group) seems to have an understanding
with the regime to allow the #1 leader to stay out of jail and further to
gift a Koran to the national library, apparently with no political
consequences for the library's management.

Common wisdom would say that the authentic JM is the one that  the
regime sees as a threat (puts its leaders in jail), not MK's group that
says it is anti Velaayat Faghih but apparently with with a wink at the
regime (its #1 leader makig a friendly gestures of a Koran gift).

MK: Please add corrections or clarifications to the above. Specifically, is the JM factional split over whether or not to cooperate with the Regime?

Who is abusive?

Abusive?  Who is accusing VPK, Mehrdad and me and ...... of being IRI-supporters without a bid of proof. 

We are a diverse group of Iranian-Americans who support an organization (Sorry… mind if I mop while you mope?) that accually accomplishes goals and does something in DC to help Iranian-Americans and have some advocacy role in Iranian affairs.  As I said before

"You see, in an industrial setting, we look at record of accomplishments and not what someone is boasting to do, complain and especially playing the blame-game.  And frankly, if I want “speech therapy”, I will listen to a number of Farsi TV satellite channels or hundreds of YouTube videos......to find tangible / measureable accomplishments through the ACTIONS taken by NIAC. "

MM: You are being abusive.

Let the Iranian people decide how they want to achieve democracy. Don't shove what the liberal CIA agents/NGO's envision for Iran down on our people's throat..The way they did in 1979. 

That was my answer. you simply ignored it...why?

MM: You are being abusive. I already told you, it's not up to me how to get rid of the regime...It's up to the Irania people.

Can you read.

I don't want NIAC to micromange an Islamic-light from the outside for Iranians....Let the Iranians decide without misleading attempts by the reformers and their lobby NIAC. No interfernce from anyone...one way or another...

Vildemose - good luck to you

Now, you know why I said that before.

While you asked me about my convictions and I answered honestly, you still have not answered how you plan to get rid of IRI, but then again, in order to answer that, you gotta have reasonable & achievable goals.

The NIAC's proof is in the Terrorist pudding

MM jan: how does US treat the people they consider terrorist? Simple, they kill them or jail them. In all the NIAC articles on IC about this subject, NIAC has asked for nothing less than that type of treatment:

1. Law enforcement action against people whom NIAC deem are Mojahedin affiliates and supporters.

2. Maintaining the Mojahedin in the Terror list and, therefore, treating them as terrorists.

3. Remembering how Mojahedin killed 2 US citizens 40 years ago and, taking action accordingly.

What did the same character request for the US treatment towards IRI? The IRI which has perpetrated some of the worst terror acts against US? Simple and easy: Get Over It!

"We hereby call for the lifting of the counterproductive Iran-Libya Sanctions Act and urge the U.S. to considerably increase its efforts to commence a dialog with Iran."

//iranian.com/Opinion/July97/Dialog/index.html

MM: Read this and read

MM: Read this and read Divaneh's comment.

//iranian.com/main/blog/shazde-asdola-mirza-83