Iranian Liberal Democrat

Aghaye Irandoost,

Didn't you recently wrote an open letter to the Secretary of United State on behalf of the Iranian-American community

//iranian.com/main/blog/arash-irandoost/pdmi-open-letter-secretary-state-hillary-rodham-clinton-decision-send-trita-par

May I ask how you came about to write on our behalf? Did you ask us if you can speak for us or isn't that a form of forgery and lie? In that post, your own blog I might add, you did not have the decency to come and respond to so many who had asked this question.

I suggest before jumping on every one who has challenged Mr. Kazemzadeh for his motive and tactics, you get your own house in order. Maybe then you will have some thing worth hearing.

Mehrdad

Mr. Kazemzadeh, Guess who wrote the following

Statements and is now arrogantly accusing you of "sophistry"? He has to attack you personally and come up with bull shit about you working for the federal government.

Guess who?

1) “So we have to admit, there is such a thing as a continuom...... The system as it is designed currently can deliver much better democracy. For example: if the Guardian Council starts vetting candidates less and less. The Supreme Leader could show less and less initiative. The foreign policy council could be dominated more and more by the popularly elected President (That's Ahmadinejad by the way). The system can move very far toward perfect democracy. “

2) "The fact that there is strict eligability requirement is not a reason to call it undemocratic."

3) "Even though I agree the candidate vetting process in Iran is unusually subject to abuse, it is only a few degrees different than other democracies. And in any case continued participation of people in the system also legitimizes it. That's just a fact of life we may not like but it won't go away.
That's just a fact of life we may not like but it won't go away."

4) "I believe the revolution gave us "Esteghlal"."

5) "Since when is having a democracy dependnet on Parties? The US constituion doesn't have any provision for political parties. The definition of what is a "party" is extremely vague anyway. What we have in Iran now could be considered parties"

6) "In Iran, the role of Supreme Leader is closest to a "chief justice" since he has no proper legislative functions."

7) "A referendum is not a bad idea, if the people of Iran want it. A majority would have to demand it. But personally I think if even 30% of Iranians go on record supporting such a referendum it would happen and I would support it."

8) IN RESPONSE TO THE FOLLOWING POINT:

"The point is that the IRI and its supporters will not allow such refrundum to take place since they know its results."

THE PERSON WRITES:
"I'm not sure if that's true, but where is the proof that such a referendum is demanded? When a large majority of Iranians come out year after year to vote inside the system, and support its positions (like Nuclear Power, anti-Iran terrorism, etc) in international polls, why should they think that anybody other than Monarchists and the MEK are calling for this referendum?"

9) IN RESPONSE TO THE FOLLOWING COMMENT:
"The majority of Iranians want the same things than any other normal human being would want: freedom, progress, prosperity, peace, security, happiness and so on."

PERSON WRITES
"no doubt. But IRI claims to provide these and a lot of people believe them. Contrary to popular belief in California, all those people ren't and really couldn't be on the "IRI payroll". You must face the fact that not everyone interprets these values the same way as you do or you understand them.

In fact since 65%+ of the Iranians routinely participate in elections, we can conclude that they have decided the system is reformable and good enough. They have decided they don't want the kind of chaos that comes with a revolution, especially since there are many foreign wolves waiting to attack. I know you don't accept this, but that's why you are not in charge."

10) "As far as IRI has imposed its ideological supremacy, I fail to understand how a government can do that based on a national constitution that was voted for by 90%+ of Iranians"

11) "IRI has neither occupied ("hegemony" by the definition that is relevant here)nor "forced an ideology through government"

12) "If Iranians want to put their lives on the line, they can remove the government right now"

13) The Iranian Revolution is more successful than the French revolution

You can not escape from these statements Q! They will follow you to IRI's grave.

total sophistry, Kazemzadeh

You are literally dependent on Federal government because your University couldn't operate without it. That is a fact for most Universities, but specially state institutions. Any graduate program or department in Arts and Humanities or Social Science is very dependent on Federal support of many many forms, including grants and student tuition which is heavily subsidized (specially at military schools) some of the other forms I spelled out for you.

Your analogy about public roads fails. As a private tax payer, you have no choice in them and you are not getting paid by them in any way. But you do have a choice as to where you work and who pays that paycheck.

For example, you could be working for a private company that receives no US contracts and you would not be "dependent" on US Government. Likewise you could be working for a private defense contractor that relies on the Government for a big part of its income, and you would therefore also be dependent on the government. Now, a sophist could say "No! my paycheck says my companies name!" But of course that person would be laughed out of any serious discussion.

As reference, Noam Chomsky, the same full tenured professor who gave a lecture to the US Military academy also says (Because he is honest) that since his school receives federal aid, he is also financially dependent on the government. Of course MIT is private, but still he is honest enough to say this, you are not. Actually nobody in Berkeley and University of California would deny this simple truth either.

To say that a professor teaching at the Department of Political Science at Berkeley is exactly like a person who provides consultation, or lecture, or information to the CIA

LOL! It's not exactly the same which I never said. I just said, they are dependent on US Government funds which is true. Simply lecturing at CIA does not make you dependent! You have a stronger financial tie to the US Government than TP!!! But even so, many many University professors at Berkeley and other places have lectured at all kinds of US Government institutions, which I'm sure includes the CIA.

The bottom line is the if there was a lecture by NIAC to the CIA, you can say about that exactly the same thing as you can say about Noam Chomsky who gave a lecture to the US Military, which he criticizes all the time.

It's pure, textbook sophistry. Nice try.

Q on the Relationship between NIAC and the CIA

Q:  You are also lying when you answer "I'm not working for the Government" to my observation that "You have a financial dependency on the US Government", something even NIAC does not. You are part of a public university in a state with no income tax. Without massive US FEDERAL spending on your school, your program through the department of Education, research grants, the GI bill and ROTC assistance, NSF, NIH, NEH, as well as federal student aid you would be out on your ass in less than a semester. You are much more dependent on US FEDERAL government for your PAYCHECK than Trita Parsi ever has been.

Masoud: The budget for state universities comes from state legislature and student tuition. The State of Texas gets a lot of tax revenues from companies, especially oil and oil refineries. The property taxes are also very high here (some of the highest in the U.S.). All the major research universities get some money from the U.S. Federal Government.

My salary comes from my employment as a PROFESSOR (to be more precise tenured Associate Professor) in a university. My employment is NOT with the U.S. Federal government.

To say that I am dependent on US Federal Government is like saying I am dependent on US Fed Gov because I drive on inter-states highways because the US Fed Gov pays for the construction of these highways!!!!!!!!

The US Fed Gov is NOT my employer. Period.

US Fed Gov research grants to scholars is DIFFERENT than U.S. Congress funds via NED to activities of policy or political GROUPS.

There are a lot of military programs at UC Berkeley.

//navyrotc.berkeley.edu/

//army.berkeley.edu/

//airforcerotc.berkeley.edu/

And UCB is one of the MOST liberal campuses.

To say that a professor teaching at the Department of Political Science at Berkeley is exactly like a person who provides consultation, or lecture, or information to the CIA is engaging in the same behaviour because Univ of California and the CIA get some of all of their money from the U.S. Federal government is absurd. You are too intelligent to confuse the two.

Since when all the professors in all state universities were like agents, collaborators, or those who provide lectures to the CIA?????!!!!! Are YOU kidding me or are YOU serious?????

If you insist, I will compose a new blog and ask several questions on the nature of providing lecture to the CIA. I will address the questions to you. So, please check here in a day or two.

I do NOT provide my services to the CIA. Period.

I have never ever given a lecture for the CIA. Period.

I have never ever provided consultation for the CIA. Period.

Can Dr. Trita Parsi simply state the above statements I made? Can NIAC simply provide honest answers to the 6 questions that I asked in this blog?

Let me thank YOU again for providing YOUR answers to my questions. Here is what YOU, Q, wrote:

1. Did NIAC and/or Dr. Trita Parsi disclose and publicize his lecture or consultations for the CIA?

Q:. Maybe it did. I don't know. I fail to understand why you're entitled to know his schedule and his business.

2. How many times did Dr. Parsi give a talk or other consultations for the CIA?

Q: I have no idea. Let's say 300. What now?

3. Were these (Dr. Parsi’s engagements with the CIA whatever they may be) PUBLIC and BROADCAST on any television program?

Q: If it was at CIA, I'm sure it's taped!

5. If you are a member of NIAC: Were you told by NIAC that Dr. Parsi has a relationship with the CIA? In other words, was it a secret to YOU (as a member of NIAC if you were or are) that Dr. Parsi has been involved with the CIA in any way (assuming that Dr. Parsi did provide his information or analysis or thoughts to the CIA)?

Q: . LOL! NIAC already has a "relationship" with the US Government, the Boss of CIA: the White House and the Congress, all of which him and his organizations have been present in and talking to. If he spoke to the CIA, then, he has a relationship in the exact same way Noam Chomsky has a "relationship" with the US Military, or YOU have a financial dependency on US Government through your job.

6. Would you please provide the answers to the 6 questions in this blog. You may not regard these questions, quintessential. And you may regard them as boring, making you yawn. But for me they seem interesting and educational. Would you please teach me (and possibly others at iranian.com) who may be interested to learn about NIAC from one of the most vociferous supporters of NIAC at this site.

Q: Yes, and I do regard them exactly as you say. This is a waste of time and a (badly executed) smear attempt at your part to use CIA as a "bogey man". The fact is, if you are in Washington and engaged with the US Government, the way NIAC organization is, then it's perfectly natural to speak to any member of that Government for whatever reason

Masoud: By the 6 questions, I meant the 6 questions of this blog at the top which begins the blog. They are a bit different than the question I directly asked you.

READ what YOU wrote and THINK. You are stating that it is perfectly fine with you to be a member of an organization that its President has "let’s say 300" talks for and consultations with the CIA. You are saying that ALL people should provide consultations to the CIA because the US Fed gov pays for something (roads). I will elaborate more in my blog for you. I look forward to reading your responses.

Best,

Masoud

A question for you "Irandoost"

You're a doctor, right? What field?

Why are so many pro sanctions doctors so increadibly inept at basic reading comprehension and elementary reasoning skills?

You wrote:

That is a typical answer from IRI, CASMII  and NIAC supporters.  When they are confronted with the facts, they burst into laughter as a defense mechanism, because facts are stubborn things.

Apparently you missed the fact that I was referring to Dr. Kazemzadeh laughing. He's the one who said:

I laughed soooooooooooo hard when I saw the video about my university 

You see I agree with you. Facts are stubborn things, that's why you really should make sure you have some before you open your mouth. This blog is totally devoid of any facts and even the good "dr." Kazemzadeh admits he is only operating on a rumor. 

what does this have to do with anything?

Massoud asked very simple yes or no questions and NIAC operating as a TAX exempt 501c should answer those questions.  Massoud as an Iranian American has the right to ask such questions.  I wish more Iranians were smart enough to ask questions, rather than busting into "laughter.". AIPAC does not clain to be an Iranian American organization, NIAC does, and theefore should answer questions from Iranian American community if it claims to represent our interests.?????

by the way:

Putting NIAC in charge of Iranian American interests, is much like putting Dracula in charge of the blood bank!

Cheers!

NIAC should be held accountable

Thanks for the article, we have been asking NIAC for similar questions, including their annual audit reports, but they refuse to comply.  As a 501c3 organization tax exempt organization, NIAC is responsible to answer questions, especially when it claims to represent Iranian American Community.

NIAC has systematically lied to its constituence and Congress.  www dot iranian dot com has a wealth of information using NIAC's own internal memos.  Trita brags about his visits to CIA when it suits him but is silent about them when questioned by Iranian Americans.

They need to be held into account!

I'm sure TP is laughing too

That is a typical answer from IRI, CASMII  and NIAC supporters.  When they are confronted with the facts, they burst into laughter as a defense mechanism, because facts are stubborn things.

The problem with NIAC apoogists (IRI supporters) is that they are like Ostriches, they have stick their heads in the sand thinking that nobody can see them, but they leave a delicate part of their anatomy exposed and it usually is not a very pretty sight and stinks.

Keep laughing and the world will laugh at you!

I'm sure TP is laughing too

I laughed soooooooooooo hard when I saw the video about my university that Ari posted. It is great; they digged for dirt and found NOTHING. Heee heee.

Rostam jaan

Rostam jaan,

Thank YOU for your kind and generous words.

I laughed soooooooooooo hard when I saw the video about my university that Ari posted. It is great; they digged for dirt and found NOTHING. Heee heee.

:-)

We learned a lot from the reactions of the NIAC supporters.

Best wishes,

Masoud

P.S. You should write more.

Kazemzadeh, Mossadegh would be REAL proud of you!

I'm sure Mossadegh would be very proud of your sadly transparent tactics!

You and the confessed AIPAC cheerleaders at FredCo are so easy to read you always make the same mistakes: 1. You think this is FOX News where it's all about 30 second sound bites and no possibility of in-depth exploration (which you are not interested in). 2. You always think your audience is stupid, as to not realize what you are doing.

Lies, insinuation, wisper campaign, dishonest interrogation, attacks and "tohmat" without slightest evidence thinly veiled as "conern for NIAC members" and some BS Orwellian newspeak when you get confronted about it. You are a liar: if you are truly concerned about the answers, you could have written to Trita yourself. this means your true motivation is character assassination which will happen no matter what the answers are. 

You are also lying when you answer "I'm not working for the Government" to my observation that "You have a financial dependency on the US Government", something even NIAC does not. You are part of a public university in a state with no income tax. Without massive US FEDERAL spending on your school, your program through the department of Education, research grants, the GI bill and ROTC assistance, NSF, NIH, NEH, as well as federal student aid you would be out on your ass in less than a semester. You are infinitely more dependent on US FEDERAL government for your PAYCHECK than NIAC is.

Ari explained to you what you're doing. Making a character assassination in guise of a "question", just like chef spitting into food example that he provided:

Innuendo example: "Do you think the chef spits on his desserts before serving them, yes or no?" The dessert is spoiled for the customer even if the answer is "no."

Your "hero" Mossadegh must be rolling in his grave. Not only are you doing the digital equivilant of chomagh zani, you are doing simply because your organization has joined forces with AIPAC to bring sanctions upon Iranians and NIAC is a problem for you.

Dear G. Rahmanian

Dear G. Rahmanian,

If we love Iran, freedom, and democracy, we have to be willing to bear the costs. A few insults are NOTHING.

Those who think insulting me would intimidate me into silence do not know me. My hero Dr. Mossadegh was not intimidated. My hero Dr. Fatemi was not intimidated and gave his life for our beliefs. Parvaneh Forouhar and Dariush Forouhar were slaughtered for their beliefs.

Best,

Masoud

Kazemzadeh

You are wasting your time. You will never get a straight answer from these guys. Look at the supposedly "direct" answers from NIAC posted by MM. A bunch of meaningless but politically correct jiberish. And the rest of the comments are personal attacks against you. You should prepare yourself to hear next that you are a monarchist too. That's how it goes.

But the regime has always preyed on individuals with good intentions such as MM and Ari, who could be influenced by sweet talkers like Parsi. In the process, they fall prey to the regime's schemes and fall in line with its policies without even knowing it. This is a successful way of recruiting "useful idiots" who think they are against the regime but are actually advancing the regime's cause.

We got some very smart folks in vezarate etelaa'at, wouldn't you say so?

The bottom line on NIAC is that it is just a middle-man organization serving both the US and IRI's interests and politics, and does so under the disguise of "Iranian-Americans" interests. Going all the way back to the Ghajars, our history is littered with sellouts like these.

Once again, thank you for this great blog. I must admit that one could learn a lot about NIAC by reading the comments left by its supporters. As I said in the other related blog, the more they struggle, the more they sink, just like in a quicksand. And your to-the-point questions have done a good job of making them struggle and kick in NIAC's quicksand.

Ari

Thanks for investing your time digging dirt on Kazemzadeh. Is that all you could find? Were you exited at first that you might find a nail for his coffin? Are you disappointed that you couldn't?

Your "below the belt" comment was borderline pathetic.

Sahimi

"NIOC Grant: There is no such grant. My university has never ever received a grant from NIOC, Shah or without Shah! "

Sahimi, did you or did you not get money from the Pahlavi Nirooye Atomi Organization, to come here to the US and study (but instead particiapted in anti-shah's activities as well)?

Is this not eating from both toobreh and akhor?

Khanoome Anahid Hojati

"Dear Masoud, the way you write your questions, is starting to approach the questioning done by IRI officials."

If only this way of asking questions was more common when Khomeini took over... Only if... Things could have been quite different today, right?

Haven't we learned our lessons from 30 years ago? Since when asking questions and making people think about certain flaws in a certain ogranization in a public forum is the same than IRI's methods?

I remember 30 years ago, when someone would "repeat" his questions about the legitimacy of Khomeini, hezbollahis would immediately accuse him of starting to approach the questioning done by SAVAK officials.

You dont want to sound like those hezbollahis, do you?

Dr. Kazemzadeh, I salute your presistence. Keep the questions coming. What we needed in 1979 was more alert people like you.

And what we don't need today is to silence voices like yours.

By Now, everyone has "Given a Speech" to the CIA

Please don't ask questions like this. You investigate these allegations, then when you have proof, you publish the proof and nail them with it.

Asking these childish questions is like asking a porn star (or Trita), "Are you still a Virgin?"

If talking to the CIA is a crime, then every Iranian in the US since 1979 is guilty. By now if you haven't had your annual "visit", you're not doing it right, or you're due one any minute.

Ding! Dong!

Talking to the CIA about Iran is like taking a piss. You are always happy when it's over and that you didn't get any on your shoes!

If you are unsure what to do when "Jeff" calls to take you to lunch, do what I do whenever they come around (usually NoRouz), pick a reasonably expensive but not outrageous restaurant, somewhere you always wanted to try. Because they're buying lunch, and you might as well get a good meal (and laugh) out of it. Right around dessert, tell them you can't really help them, because you don't believe that they are competent enough to do a proper job.

Then when they say, "Why?" ask them to name the 2 agents who put the Shah in power (Roosevelt and Schwarzkopf). If they know the names, ask them if what they did was good for America or bad for America.

This is a trick question which should get you your free lunch, and about a year or 2 of phone-tap-free peace and quiet.

While Trita is the most irantelligent person the CIA ought to be talking to on a daily basis, from the evidence so far, I doubt seriously that they are bright enough to do so. And I am sure that Trita knows this as well. Not because he is in contact, or a pop-secret agent or spy-let, but because there is absolutely not one shred of a sign of intelligent life anywhere near Langley Virgina.

If UPS can deliver a bomb all the way from Yemen, clearly the CIA has no clue as to "What Can Brown Do for You".

Note: In the UPS metaphor above, we're "Brown".

Dear Masoud,

As for the insults you mentioned below, what else can be expected from a bunch of paid an unpaid IR supporters?

Roubahe kakal, spot on MM!

MM say to Roubahe kalak:  "and with your looooooong answers to wipe the track of previous answers...."

And the poor AIPAC foxy thinks we don't see it!

Mr. Ari Siletz Wrote:

"The robustness of an organization(or government) in the face of dissent is a measure of its democratic nature."Based on such notion, last year's brutal crackdown of post-election dissent by regime's goons in Iran was "a measure of its democratic nature."PS: Sorry, Masoud to barge in like this.

MK

Regards

Can you imagine paying for

Can you imagine paying for the kids' college education and they end up with an academically compromised and corrupt instructor such as this?

Man, how educational standards have come down in this country since the 1970s. 

from NeverEnding Story (film) to NeverEnding Questions (MK).

Let's not jump from branch to branch or better yet, throw Shtuff at the wall and see if it sticks. 

Is NIAC an IRI agent, as your previous blog suggested, based on Namazi/AB connection?  Is securing US grants a crime, as your other sets of questions hinted.  Or, giving lectures at high profile US institutions by an American organization which happens to represent a portion of Iranian-Americans a crime?  We got you answers for the first three sets of your never-ending questions regarding Namazi, grants, AB...., and every time you turned around and devised a new set of unrelated questions with new accusations/innuendos, so No More. 

As I predicted, the answers to your questions automatically trigger more questions (mostly un-related) and with your looooooong answers to wipe the track of previous answers, you pretend like none of your questions have been answered.  So, you can email NIAC and ask them yourself.  And, now you have questions for those who question your motives and poor debate techniques!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mr. Doctor Professor Kazemzadeh ....we are not your bloody students.

I am with Ari on this one.  We are Iranian-Americans and it is highly desirable for an organization we are members of to be invited to consult with the Congress, the White House, the FBI and your nemesis, the CIA.  How many times?  I hope it took as many times as needed to, e.g.,

* explain the power structure in Iran - who is in charge – human rights violations in Iran, OR 

* convince the US government not to give a green light to Israel to bomb Iran, OR

* convince the US government to sell Boeing parts to IranAir so that their planes do not fall like flies, OR

* simply to convince them that when my siblings come here not to treat them as terrorists while close members of Khamenei's family come and go here as they please.

PS, The CIA does not need NIAC to give them state secrets, e.g., the location of nuclear sites.  They already get those secrets and probably more from MKO, IRIG defectors, and those who hope to get out with any information useful for CIA in order to get automatic political asylum.

Ari

Ari,

You are confusing several issues either on purpose or inadvertently.

I already know that YOU have no problem with Dr. Trita Parsi having a relationship with the CIA or NIAC to have a relationship with the CIA, or you yourself to have a relationship with the CIA. In the previous blog, YOU already wrote that:

Ari: "I support anyone with an intelligent global perspective speaking to the CIA or the US Secretary of State, particularly if he/she happens to be Iranian--NIAC member or otherwise"

Masoud: If YOU get an invitation to provide consultation to the CIA, will YOU accept? Please either yes or no.

Ari: Yes...

Masoud:

So, lets NOT confuse the issues. I am not any more asking YOU if you consider relationship with the CIA appropriate or not. THAT issue about YOU is known. In this blog, the question is about exactly what is the nature of the relationship between Dr. Trita Parsi and the CIA and the relationship between NIAC and the CIA. Again, I am NOT asking of you, Ari, that you support such or oppose such relationship. I am asking objective questions. These are the questions of this blog:

1. Has Dr. Trita Parsi given a lecture or lectures for the CIA? Please a simple "yes" or "no."

2. How many times has Dr. Trita Parsi presented talks for the CIA? Please a simple number like "1," "2," "20."

3. How many times has Dr. Trita Parsi provided consultations for the CIA? Lets define "consultation" as "any question and answer session." Please a simple number like "1," "2," "20."

4. Is the decision to provide a talk to the CIA by the President of NIAC, a personal decision by Dr. Parsi or is it an organizational decision by NIAC?

5. Before the article by Lake, did the NIAC organization inform its members that the President of NIAC has presented lecture or lectures for the CIA? Please either "yes" or "no."

These are objective questions. I am waiting to get answers to these questions.

On the KKK. Please answer the questions. You asked a question: can logically someone with little knowledge have strong opposition to something. I provided the logic and several examples. 

Do you agree that it is logical to have little knowledge and based on this to form "strong opposition"? Do you still insist that only one has to have vast knowledge on the KKK before he or she has to form "strong opposition" to the KKK? Please please be HONEST and please do not waste your precious time and my precious time. We are both highly educated persons with busy schedules and we should not waste our time.

Masoud

Moosir va Piaz (thank you and a question)

Dear Mossir va Piaz,

The purpose of this blog was to see whether that charge was baseless or not.

I suggest that YOU send an e-mail to the NIAC leadership with the questions in this blog. What do you got to lose? Then, you can decide for yourself if the charge was baseless or not. Fair?

A question on the exchange between you and Hoshang:

Do the MEMBERS of NIAC have the right to elect the President of NIAC? In other words, do YOU (Mossir va Piaz) have the RIGHT to vote for or against who should be the President of NIAC?

Again, thank you for your response.

Best,

Masoud

MK

As for KKK and such, there is an overwhelming amount of evidence to solidly document the accusations. So why rely on rumor, hearsay and band wagons when you can easily find out for yourself and put your intellectual conscience at ease?

Hamsade jaan Thank You; Sohrab jaan Thank You

Hamsade jaan,

Thank you for you comments.

Best,

Masoud

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

Dear Sohrab Ferdows,

Thank you for your kind comments. And thank YOU for your contributions. I think many of your points are valid.

1. Monarchists and JM oppose each other on many issues. But we both agree in our strong opposition to the fundamentalist terrorist regime. Similarly, monarchists, democrats, and Marxists have our disagreements, but all of us are strongly opposed to the fundamentalist terrorist regime.

2. You and I personally have some disagreements with each other, but both of us strongly oppose NIAC.

3. Actually, I have not been following the court case of Parsi vs. Dai. Of course, I heard about it and read a few things on.

4. This is the FIRST time that I read that Dai won the court case. Could you please provide a link to the news.

5. Could you please write a different blog and place a link to the documents. I would be interested is reading the documents on Atieh Bahar and Parsi connections. I also think it would be good for the readers of this site to have access to those documents and read them.

6. I know very little about this issue. I hope you would write a few blogs on this and share your knowledge and analysis. More sources, more knowledge, and more perspectives would benefit the readers of this site.

Again, thank YOU sooooooooooooooooooo very much.

Best regards,

Masoud

Ari

Ari,

1. Lets grant that Lake is neo-con. Lake has printed the following:

//www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/13/exclusive-did-iranian-advocacy-group-violate-laws/

"Mr. Parsi has been called to the White House, lectured at the CIA and visited Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton."

Dr. Trita Parsi could issue a statement explicitly stating that "He, Trita Parsi, has never ever lectured at the CIA, Dr. Parsi has never ever provided consultation for the CIA." Or NIAC could issue a statement tomorrow: "NIAC explicitly and categorically denies the Lake statement that Dr. Trita Parsi lectured at the CIA."

The FACT that Dr. Parsi has not denied this, and the FACT that NIAC has not denied, these allow one to conclude that Lake’s assertion stands. Let me repeat: Lake has made a very serious assertion. No denials whatsoever has come from Dr. Trita Parsi and NIAC.

Moreover, apparently NIAC issued an official statement on Lake’s article challenging several issues, BUT IGNORED the sentence "Mr. Parsi has .... lectured at the CIA." This adds to the credibility of Lake’s assertion.

This blog is showing that YOU, the members and supporters of NIAC, have NOT produced a document by Dr. Parsi or NIAC against Lake’s statement that Dr. Parsi lectured at the CIA.

If Eli Lake asserted that 2 + 2 = 4, the attack on him that he is neo-con does not make Eli Lake’s assertion false. If he is a neo-con, you could doubt some of his assertions, and demand others to either deny or confirm his assertion. In this blog, I am asking NIAC officials, NIAC members to provide OFFICIAL NIAC response to Lake mentioned statement. Instead of providing a direct answer, keep saying that Lake is neo-con does not prove that his statement is false.

Even worse, insulting me, does not change the fact of any relationship between Dr. Parsi and the CIA.

Ari: I will critique your analysis of reading material with a rhetorical question:

You state in your blog, "From the very little I know about your organization, I strongly oppose it." By which method of scholarship or clear thinking does knowing very little about something justifiy strong opposition to it?

Masoud: I know very little about the KKK, but from the very little I know about the KKK, I strongly oppose it. I know very little about the Khmer Rouge, but from the very little I know about the Khmer Rouge, I strongly oppose it. I know very little about the Shining Path, from the very little I know about the Shining Path, I strongly oppose it.

Do YOU strongly oppose the KKK? How many books have you read about the KKK? Have you ever attended their meetings? Have you exchanged e-mails with their leaders? Instead of the KKK, substitute the Taliban, or al Qaeda, Khmer Rouge, Shining Path, xyz.

Logically speaking, one may form an opinion or feeling or position (e.g., strongly support, support, neutral, oppose, strongly oppose) on something based on very little, some, great, or a lot of research on that subject. Regardless of how much one has researched something, one should always have an open mind and be open to change his or her mind if new knowledge would so indicate.

You might have "a little knowledge" on the Shining Path and "strongly oppose" it. But later on, you do further research and question its leadership and members and then change your position to [mildly] oppose, neutral, support, or strongly support them. Or you might remain the same and still "strongly oppose" them.

MK

sorry for typos, I quicky wrote and posted it (if there are any major errors, let me know)

Solid point, MM

Bavafa: I'm with you regarding sticking with NIAC as long as it represents the membership. To take the point further, this does not mean I would quit NIAC as soon as it no longer represents my view; the idea is to stay active in the organization as long as it is democratic, even though my opinion may be in the minority for a time. The robustness of an organization (or government) in the face of dissent is a measure of its democratic nature.

A knowledge seeking query from both sides on TP debate