Trita Parsi on the Iranian Opposition
Washington Independent / Spencer Ackerman
02-Jul-2009 (23 comments)

I asked Parsi if the opposition’s goal was still to overturn the election, given that its legal recourses are few, and if not, what a new goal might be. “The goal at this stage remains” a fair election result, he replied, since the “wiggle room is still extensive” for overturning the election. Contingencies could emerge, compelling an overturn of the results, such as “a large number of senior ayatollahs com[ing] out to criticize the legitimacy of the electoral results” or if the opposition could “get a majority of 86 people on the Assembly of Experts to come out, that can really threaten Khamenei and his institutions.”
Parsi further explained ... that the critical constituency would be conservative clerics who feel threatened by Ahmadinejad’s consolidation of power. In an irony from the perspective of the American debate about Iran — which conflates reformism with secularism — the clerics see Ahmadinejad “as a dangerous element, quite correctly, who tries to undermine the clergy as a whole.” That might compel some of them to resist Ahmadinejad, or to place pressure on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to find some compromise with the opposition.
But if a compromise can’t be found, then the opposition enters a new phase, having to face a choice between accepting Ahmadinejad and moving to a more radical position. “There are people loyal to the system, who don’t want to bring the system down but at the same time believe the system is q... >>>

recommended by IRANdokht

Share/Save/Bookmark

 
Kaveh Nouraee

It's Not Over

by Kaveh Nouraee on

But it has certainly lost a lot of its original energy and momentum.

I disagree with Parsi's assertion that the goal remains a "fair election result". It appears that at the moment at least, there is a lack of cohesiveness and focus that would determine what the goal actually is. The desire is for change, but a change to what? Fair elections? Regime change? Are we so sure?

It appears that the protesters are seeking leadership and guidance, and need that to regain the momentum that we have all seen.

Fred, I agree, the statement that there is any "wiggle room" with the IR is indicative of a possibility I find repulsive, which is to continue to accept the IR as a legitimate government, no matter how "reformed".

 

The more I read these posts, the more vivid some people's true colors stand out.


default

By the way

by KouroshS on

Irandokht

i just noticed an eerily similar line that you used in replying to parham... the same line that q sometimes uses as well... what a shame for someone who is all in support of democracy and all those good stuff, would turn and say " i don't care for what you have to say" and please do not spam the blog with your comments... talk about not having any ideas what democracy is.

Call me whatever you want, but parham never insulted or threatened you. You and mazdak just felt like making a big deal out of nothing.  NOthing new.  

 


default

Irandokht

by KouroshS on

 

Whoa! whoa! wait just a second here. Do not be putting words in my mouth. I never said that anything was over, yet at the same time if this man can not follow up his assertions with more specific instructions then he sould just...put a cork in it.

I mean. does he realize the ramifications of what he is saying? It is not just about making suggestions! anybody can do that. Like i asked before. Who is supposed to be taking the lead? With all the on-the-spot arrests and eventual killings of those who have been deemed to have the most activity, Who is going to be the frontrunner? And more importantly HOW this convincing can be done? besides, with shaky-ass dissaproval and all the statements that were issued by the Olama! do you think it is a practically possible to get up or even anywhere near 86% that he is talking about?

The situation is not the same as 1979. Don't you realize the difference? shah did not "srakoob" like this pastfetrats are doing. they literally are nipping the movement in the butt. Shah, despite all the killings, had not closed off just about every routes where people could show their dissent. These arazel, on the other hand have. They have infiltrated ever more deeply into social, economical and industrial institutions that shah's arazel had ever been able to do.

You should read the article. I think mazdak's one-line assessment of it, is not even close to reality.

Fred has already proven to you how he feels about dr. parsi, has he not? Do you still have any doubts? I am sure that if he disagreed, he would have definitely let everyone know in here.


Parham

By the way

by Parham on

All, that PDF file in my link (below) is highly recommended.


Parham

See?

by Parham on

That's it, run away now.


IRANdokht

what's the point?

by IRANdokht on

obviously "divar-e hasha bolandeh".

Seriously though, I couldn't care less what you think. I would just appreciate it if you didn't spam important posts with your propaganda links.

IRANdokht


Parham

Very obviously you are

by Parham on

Need I even say more?
Anything else?


IRANdokht

mousavi bye bye recommended by Parham

by IRANdokht on

//iranian.com/main/news/2009/06/27/iran-u...

and that was June 27th

who's doing the "maghlateh" here?

IRANdokht


Parham

Irandokht

by Parham on

You better back your claims, because I'm going to take you up on this one:
"undermining the sacrifices that the Iranians are making, every chance you get. You even announced this movement over while there were Iranians still fighting on the streets."

In any case, thinking both sides --meaning you the supporters of the IR, and the neo-con side-- are very much alike (without really using the deserved attributes there!), and using your claims against each other when they're true (while what I posted below wasn't even neo-con) doesn't mean I support one side or the other.
Again, your maghlateh only shows the strength of your argument and says something about you -- with no surprise, of course.


IRANdokht

Parham

by IRANdokht on

it doesn't matter what you claim to be, it's what you say and do that shows where you stand.

you've been downplaying the election, the voters and Mousavi's stance, undermining the sacrifices that the Iranians are making, every chance you get. You even announced this movement over while there were Iranians still fighting on the streets.

chizi keh ayaan ast keh haajat be bayan ast

IRANdokht


Parham

Mazdak

by Parham on

Perhaps that's the stench (not stink) of a rotten 30 year-old establishment that's rising from your side! Think of that.


Parham

Irandokht

by Parham on

I don't support AIPAC.
Take your "maghlateh" elsewhere.


default

Shame on you, Parham

by Mazdak (not verified) on

The stink of your rancorous ego has filled this site. Who has defended the "bunch of thugs" you're talking about? You're the one who can't wait for the movement inside Iran to die to prove your so-called point, that Iranians elected AN and that they deserve him. Where the heck were you at the height of the demonstrations? I don't have any stake in the NIAC as I'm not even an American citizen, but apparently anything more subtle than “Death to the IRI, kill them all, send in the troops”, kind of jingoism is not ok with you and your new found buddy Fred. Instead you recommend a link with dubious research and full of innuendo with a scary looking picture of Parsi in front of the IRI flag. And, btw, crap is what crap says. I think you get my point.


IRANdokht

vay vay tarsidam!

by IRANdokht on

I am being threatened and bullied by Fred and Parham, oh no...

just kidding! :o)  

If Dr Parsi says he thinks this is not over yet and people like me read it, feel hopeful and like the idea that there will be changes in Iran, there is always a couple of AIPAC supporters who'd feel paranoid enough to throw temper tantrums and start khat-o neshoon for people.

if you're truly concerned about Iran and Iranians' well being:

barkhiz barkhiz keh vaghteh ettehad ast

leave AIPAC to worry about their own country and join Iranians. You'll feel more satisfied for taking part in Iran's future and will definitely be less grumpy.

IRANdokht


Parham

Irandokht

by Parham on

It's not the contradicting (as if you didn't know), it's supporting a bunch of thugs, torturers and assassins for furthering one's own agenda.
Some people have no shame.
And keep this in mind, because it applies to you too -- shahnameh akharesh khosheh.


Fred

Cork it!

by Fred on

Professional acolytes including non-Iranian ones with Persian screen names need to collectively put a cork in it!


Bavafa

Very good analysis

by Bavafa on

Well worth reading it

Mehrdad


IRANdokht

Thanks for your comments Kourosh et al

by IRANdokht on

What is Dr Parsi supposed to do? Tell everyone to go home, the show's over? Are we so sure that it is over? How long did it take for the 1979 revolution? did people give up after the black friday at meydoon Jaleh?
I can't even imagine what Fred would have said if Dr Parsi gave an interview and repeated the point in your comment here.

Parham,

thanks for the comment but after reading Mazdak's reply, I realized I didn't need to click on the link. You don't need to insult everyone who contradicts you.

Fred,
don't you feel embarrassed of bashing Iranians for no reason except to support AIPAC?

 

Thank you Mazdak

IRANdokht


Parham

Honestly...

by Parham on

... none of the two sides give any "baaj" to the other.
I put the information there, up to you to disseminate. As far as I'm concerned, you're all crap.


default

One mouthpiece

by Mazdak (not verified) on

criticizing another "mouthpiece." At least Parsi is not aligning himself with those in the bankrupt neo-con clique who are trying to carve up Iran into more manageable bits. And it seems Parham has finally shown his true colours. That was a picture of Frank "I'll tell any lies for Israeli power" Gaffney on the sidebar advertised as the expert in the link you'd recommended. Gaffney is the guy who is still insisting that the Oklahoma bombing was financed by Saddam Hussein. Welcome to Fred's world, Parham. You two deserve each other.


Parham

Very much worth reading

by Parham on


Fred

In a New York minute

by Fred on

The lifetime president of the NIAC lobby’s revelation about the existence of an extensive “wiggle room” within the confines of the Islamist cutthroats’ republic is indicative of his lobby’s intention.

 After all NIAC lobby and its conjoined twin the CASMII lobby along with other likeminded lobbies have been and are doing all they can to lift the sanctions on oil conglomerate that are slowly draining the life out of the IRI.  

For these lobbies anything but seeing the back of the Islamist cutthroats’ republic would do. In the absence of the Islamist cutthroats’ republic their raison d’être would vanish in a New York minute.

 


default

Dreaming...Dreaming...

by KouroshS on

With all the respect that i have for Dr. parsi, I seriously think that in case the expression of "nafas az jaye garm boland shodan" applies so deftly to his assertions.

AN despite not having started its second term officially (masalan) has already started to strenghten his position and has tightened all the screws that were once loose, and he is talking about The "possibility" of convincing of conservative akhoonds in the so and so council... 86% of them to be exact? So that they "might"be able to  strike up a deal with the Government? I guess he just loves to talk about all these lofty and noble goals... overturning the election's results...Emerging contingencies...

So who is going to lead the way? mousavi himself, while he is under house arrest? Karoubi maybe? do you doubt for a second that they can put his excellency's behind under house arrest as well? Or maybe we should count on Mousavi's campaign staff, who are in jail sadly, and his newspaper staff, who also happen to be in jail?:((

I mean ...where does he get off coming up with these recommendations?

At this point i don't think that even the most radical of the radicals in this movement, would even consider remotely engaging in such radical phase that our dooste Amrica neshin so fondly speaks of. They have incurred enough casualties for now, and i doubt they are ready for more beating and ... additional rounds of Killings and imprisonment and torture.

Then comes the role Obama needs to play in all this! He has not even been sworn in and already has declared EU as being unqualified to continue with negotiations with iran. You don't think that he can do the same or something even more stupid and dumb, with US? Obama should not give his government any chances to establish its legitimacy? AN To obama: Boro jelo boogh bezan Haji.