Islamic Republic of Iran's Smoke and Mirrors

June 26, 2010

Islamic Republic of Iran's Smoke and Mirrors
http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/06/islamic_republic_of_irans_smok.html

Since 1977, no two men have contributed more to the erosion of America's credibility and prestige than President Carter and his foreign policy advisor, Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski (with the verdict not yet in on President Obama).  Jimmy Carter, aided by Mr. Brzezinski, introduced new directions in foreign policy that would ultimately trick Russia to invade Afghanistan in a cold blooded eagerness to payback Moscow for Vietnam and betray one of America's closest allies in the Middle East.  By orchestrating the Shah's failure and supporting Khomeini, they created one of the most militant anti-American dictatorships, considered by many as the most dangerous threat faced by the United States today.

Their short-sided and ill-conceived policies have been a source of frustration and disappointment towards America leading to lack of trust and loss of respect for this great nation.  Carter's policies have contributed to making the Middle East an extremely turbulent region giving rise to militant and ideologically-driven Islam that has been reigning terror ever since. Indeed, Taliban and the Islamic Republic are the byproducts of such miscalculated foreign policy decisions. 

Out of character for America in terms of her history, sense of morality and basic decency, policy makers in administration after administration of American continue with their failed policies aided by the intelligence community and liberal ideologues, and orchestrated by Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) financed lobbyists and "so-called: reporters; university professors; opposition and human rights activists; and Iran experts.  America is no longer the nation of Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower or Ronald Reagan. Gone are the days of America standing with democracy and freedom seeking groups." Bending down and bending backward to appease dictators, extending an open hand to terrorist nations, allowing a regime that randomly arrests, imprisons, tortures, stones, hangs and rapes women to have a seat on UN Women's Right Commission and ignoring blatant human rights violations by the United Nations member nations have become routine.  

Such policies of appeasement have not gone unnoticed by various friends and foes.  The United States' continuous acquiescence to IRI leaders has disenfranchised many pro democracy Iranians. Their last glimmer of hope was painfully dashed by Obama soon after his election when he extended his hand and addressed the rapist government of Iran on the occasion Iranian New Year. Frustrated by America's silence, demonstrators risked their lives and chanted "Obama are you with them or with us?", providing the United States with yet another opportunity to redeem itself.   Obama turned his back on them and their cries for freedom and democracy went unnoticed. Sadly, such actions have emboldened the mullahs. Reports of torture, rape and hangings continue to pour out of Iran.

Cognizant that its weapons program and human rights violations might eventually be condemned by the world community, the Islamic Republic has been spending millions of dollars on a campaign of smoke and mirrors to legitimize, justify, and hide its criminal activities and weapons program. 

Lobby groups and IRI agents are hard at work to discredit pro-democracy opposition groups and dissuade the world community from taking a decisive action against Iran.  Deceitfully, they have infiltrated the universities, established foundations and mosques, bought out ethnic television stations to shape public opinion and the US policy.  They appear on American television and news stations, write books and articles, and organize public events and orchestrate rallies. Their concerted and coordinated strategy is designed to fool the United States into thinking that Regime is pragmatic, can be reformed and Mousavi is the man to bring about the needed reforms. They oppose sanctions and claim sanctions only hurt ordinary people. They push for dialogue and diplomacy, and assassinate or smear those who oppose them as CIA, Israeli agents or belonging to MEK. All aimed at buying mullahs enough time to build their nuclear bomb to continue their vile existence.

Such handlers never talk about the elephant in the room, which has systematically monopolized major business and economic sectors of the Iranian community, the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), the real power in Iran. IRGC will not allow any major economic reform to be implemented.  Mousavi and any other "reformist leaders" will be powerless against them. IRGC has a lot to lose and little to gain by reforms. To some degree decisions on the nuclear weapons program indirectly rest with IRGC and not Khamenei.  IRGC drives massive revenues by keeping the nuclear program alive.  Forcing IRI to abandon its nuclear program translates to loss of a great revenue source for IRGC.

The schizophrenic position of IRI and its propagandists is indeed bizarre at best when it comes to sanctions. On the one hand, Ahmadinejad dares the West to impose strictest of sanctions, yet behind the scene he is frantically engaged in preventing it from happening.  Despite what regime's handlers have made you believe, sanctions do work and the majority of Iranians are desirous and demanding of the strictest sanctions.  Those who claim that sanctions will hurt the ordinary people are yet to provide any credible evidence to support their assertions. Such false claims are based on a few fabricated and phony surveys. A closer examination of such surveys reveals that they were sent to very few select individuals sympathetic to the regime. There is evidence now to support that lobbyist intentionally mislead Americans and lied to Congress using fabricated information. The majority of Iranians are angry at the West and the UN by not imposing the strictest sanctions in light of regime's blatant human rights violations.  

Another strategy embedded within the propagandists' mission is to use the potential for war as the scare tactic and portray opposition groups as "war mongers." This is yet another ploy to push for dialogue and diplomacy with the rogue regime.  In my opinion, just the opposite is true. Facts are, despite their differences of opinion, the world community is united on one issue.  They are intent on preventing Iran from going nuclear and will not allow Iran to possess a nuclear bomb.  If successful, it is the IRI propagandists, lobby groups and IRI policies that are inching Iran towards an all out war.  Their strategy of aiding IRI to develop a nuclear weapon will ultimately lead to confrontation between Iran and the West.  

The West was fooled once by Khomeini.  He was sold to American as the great visionary, a Ghandhi- and MLK-like character with saintly qualities by agenda driven propagandists. Many of IRI's criminal activities and human rights violations were initiated by Khomeini and carried out by Mousavi and Mousavi-type characters. Mousavi sees Khomeini as his source of inspiration and dreams of returning Iran to that era. Mousavi is an anti American and a staunch supporter of the nuclear weapons program and was instrumental in establishing Hezbollah.

After the imposition of a fourth round of watered down sanctions to stop IRI's nuclear weapons' program, and anticipating yet another failure, decision makers in the United States must ask themselves whether they want to continue to be hoodwinked by masterful IRI propagandists and buy in their fuzzy and deceptive logic that dialogue and diplomacy is the answer, or change the course and work towards regime change and support pro democracy groups?  They need to consider that:

• Thirty one years of appeasement and failed attempts at dialogue has been a source of frustration and embarrassment for various US leaders at various times from Carter, to Reagan, Bush, Clinton and perhaps in the not so distant future, Obama.
• The regime is intent on developing nuclear weapons. It is a mandate from Khomeini in the aftermath of his failed war with Iraq, and a part of an ideologically driven expansionist agenda to export Islam beyond Iran's borders.
• An examination of IRI's constitution, elections process, and power structure makes it abundantly clear that reform is not possible. In the regime's mind, it is the West that needs the reform. Theirs is a religious duty and a mandate from Allah. They perceive their theocratic system of governance superior to that of any other nation.
• Inaction by the West will have disastrous consequences for the world. With nuclear weapons at their disposal, mullahs are bent on wiping Israel off the map, expand their religion to remote corners of the universe and settle some unsettled issues.

Dr. Brzezinski's strategy of using militant Islam against Russia has been obviously abysmal failure.  IRI not only has not served as a defense against Russia, but has intimately allied itself with her.  Many Iranians, having seen the real face fundamental Islam over the past 31 years, are turning away from it in large numbers and are converting  to Christianity and Zoroastrianism, something which Islamic Republic paid pundits do not tell Americans about. The notion that Iran is going to fall into Communist hands is no longer a valid theory. Iranian Communists and Marxists, after a sequential love and hate relationship with IRI, have now allied themselves with IRI and are working toward regime's survival.

Regime change, if successful, will kill two birds with one stone, and hopefully get rid of both IRI and the Iranian Left.  Iranians during the demonstrations chanted several significant slogans expressing their prevailing views.  Chief among them were slogans directly aimed at Russia, another in solidarity with Israel, and yet another one against Hamas and Hezb'allah.  In reality, this is a great opportunity for the United States to seize the moment and support the Iranian prodemocracy demonstrators, since their political views are closely aligned with that of the United States.

Dr. Arash Irandoost is the founder of Pro Democracy Movement of Iran (PDMI) which focuses on human rights and pro democracy initiatives.  He can be contacted at hakemiat.e.mardom@gmail.com. The pen name Arash Irandoost is used due to his concerns for personal safety. Read more of his blogs hakemiat-e-mardom.blogspot.com.

Terrorism Redefined: Interpol at Islamic Republic’s Service

Arash Irandoost

May 29th, 2010

 http://www.faithfreedom.org/articles/political-islam/terrorism-redefined-interpol-at-islamic-republics-service/

Democratic governments allow acts of dissension and protest by their citizens, whereas totalitarian regimes treat even peaceful dissent and protest, as a criminal act. Since June 12, 2009, the world has witnessed the Iranian police force transformed into agents of terror, against their fellow Iranians.
The Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) has shown an unwavering capacity to intimidate, disrupt, disable, and eliminate its political opponents. Since formation of the Islamic Republic in 1979, IRI has ruled its people by intimidation, brute force and terror. Victimized as well are Iranian dissidents living outside Iran, with over 200 assassination attempts in 21 plus countries targeting this group.
Iranian intelligence agents and their hired Hezbollah and Hamas assassins have murdered political activists in countries as diverse as the United States, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Iraq, Cyprus, Dubai, France, Pakistan and Turkey.  Despite these atrocities, the West continues to misunderstand the unrelenting and sinister mindset of the Islamic regime and, regrettably, by its ill-conceived policies of dialogue and appeasement encourages and emboldens the regime’s twisted and deadly behavior.
The regime’s policy of eliminating any opposition remains unchanged. The only new pattern unfolding demonstrates Iran’s refined tactics. Despite the fact that Interpol has issued a Red Notice on many top level IRI officials, Iran has started using international loopholes and democratic bylaws to perpetuate and widen its reign of terror.
Iranian authorities have manipulated Interpol into issuing arrest warrants for 25 Israeli officials, on grounds of committing war crimes, in the recent 22-day surge against Gaza. In 2009, a “Red Notice” request was issued to Koorosh Modaresi, Secretary General of the Iranian Communist Party. Ali Akbar Gharoosi, Public Prosecutor in Sanandaj (Iran’s Kurdistan Province), asked Interpol to issue the “Red Alert” against 11 political activists. Interpol, as Iran’s arbiter, has listed leading members and supporters of the Worker-Communist Party of Iran-Hekmatist, as criminals and terrorists, publishing their pictures and personal information on its website.
Now, IRI is using and manipulating Interpol to reach out to pursue Americans of Iranian dissent. The public prosecutor in the city of Shiraz recently issued a warrant for Mr. Shahram Homayoun’s (a pro democracy activist and owner of a satellite network in Los Angeles Channel One Television) arrest on charges of terrorism. According to IRI, Mr. Homayoun “encouraged his audience to engage in acts of terrorism against the Islamic regime such as writing slogans (on walls) and resisting the security forces.” The Iranian regime alerted Interpol, about Mr. Shahram Homayoun. Interpol then served him with a “Red Notice” which alerted all 188 Interpol member countries that Mr. Homayoun was wanted for “terrorism.”
At present, there is no internationally agreed definition of terrorism. The United Nations General Assembly has condemned terrorist acts using the following political description of terrorism: Violence against civilians to achieve military or political objectives. Clearly,  peaceful demonstrations, writing slogans or speaking out on blatant human rights violations by the Islamic Republic of Iran which is ranked by Amnesty International as the second most violator of human rights next to China should not qualify as acts of terrorism.
It is rather disappointing and perhaps shameful that Interpol, an organization partially funded by U.S. tax dollars, is helping the Islamic Republic of Iran, a totalitarian regime sponsor of terrorism, track and beset opposition leaders living in the United States.
The police force should play a vital role as providers of law and order in society, providing a feeling of moral strength and confidence to all individuals, who want to live in a harmonious and healthy world.  Interpol’s decision is the first step in providing a “legal” and an “international” cover to a criminal regime to attack and silence its dissidents. At this time, Interpol is complicit in undermining the fundamental rights of free speech for Iranian- Americans.
In 2009, President Obama amended Executive Order 12425 which permitted Interpol the ability to operate on US soil without usual restrictions that apply to domestic law enforcement agencies, like the FBI. By removing the language from President Reagan’s 1983 Executive order, essentially Interpol is given a free reign and will eventually lead to the targeting of more Iranian human rights activists and opposition groups.
Article III of Interpol’s constitution prohibits intervention in political, military, racial and religious matters. Interpol’s web site lists that “everybody is innocent till proven guilty,” but placing Iranian opposition leaders on its “Red Notice” as terrorists or for any other reason, will most certainly have devastating consequences for such individuals. Arrested and extradited to Iran, they would be subjected to torture, mock trials, forced confessions, conviction and execution as is common in the Islamic Republic.
Interpol must be extra cautious in these treacherous times. It is prudent that Interpol, when dealing with Iran, take precautionary steps to assess whether they are being manipulated for political reasons. Secondly, it is essential to evaluate the devastating harm such a notice may have, in the suppression of legal rights of innocent citizens around the world. And finally, refrain from assisting the Islamic regime with its fabricated charges, motivated by the regime’s insatiable desire to obliterate free speech.
Iranian opposition plays a vital role in informing the world about regime’s atrocities and covert activities. They also serve as an essential link in providing Iranians access to accurate news and information via the Internet and opposition satellite televisions.
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Dr. Arash Irandoost is the founder of Pro democracy Movement of Iran (PDMI) which focuses on human rights and pro democracy initiatives. He is an Iranian-American activist, who works to inform and educate about the threats posed by Islamic Republic and radical Islam. He believes that Islamic Republic cannot be reformed and regime change is the only viable option. Dr. Irandoost is a researcher, a literary translator, an essayist, and a political analyst. He writes regularly for online publications such as New Media Journal, The American Thinker, Faith Freedom International, Free Republic, Israel National News, Right Side News, Global Politician and the Iranian Online magazines.

Letter to the People of Turkey: Beware of Islam

Renowned Iranian pro-democracy activist Dr. Arash Irandoost has lately published an open letter to the people of Turkey. The prominent activist who has been fighting corruption of the religion of Islam warns the Turks against the consequences of Erdogan government adventurism.

http://www.panorama.am/en/comments/2010/06/10/irandust/

Our readers can see the content of the three-page letter in English here.

Below are some fragments from Dr. Irandoost letter.

Applying to the Turks the activist said: “Ever since you decided to trade in the Secularism of Ataturk for the Islamism of Erdogan, you also seem to have decided to forego your willingness to coexist with non-Muslims on a peaceful basis. But your affairs are your own. If you want to let a fanatic in a cheap suit destroy Turkish nationalism in the name of Islam, you talk about stolen land, when your entire country is stolen land, from Cyprus to Istanbul, it’s your own business. Islam, that's your business. But when he gets into business with terrorist organizations that attack, rape and murder our mothers and sisters (Iranian pro democracy women demonstrators), then it becomes our business. And when a country that persecutes its Kurdish, Assyrian and Armenian citizens, treat Iranian refugees like 3rd class citizens and hands them over to IRI thugs at every opportunity, and works tirelessly to appease a criminal regime (he implies IRI: Panorama.am), she must remember that we will not forget her erroneous ways.” Speaking about the latest events Arash Irandoost mentioned:

“You say you want an international investigation into the flotilla raid? Sure. Right after you allow an international investigation into that minor matter of Armenian genocide that you've been ducking for quite a while. As the new "standard bearer" in fighting for human rights, I'm sure you will agree that it's only fair that Turkey should undergo the same scrutiny it demands for other countries.”
The Iranian activist reminded Turkey avoiding responsibility for the Armenian Genocide of other cases of violation of rights: “And then we can move on to the more than 10,000 political prisoners in your jails. A number that at times has topped 100,000. An independent investigation could also begin by looking into the torture and murder of political activists such as Engin Ceber.”

The author draws attention to evident facts and shows Turkey’s inadequate position: “In Israel, Arabs are a legally recognized minority. Arabic is taught in schools and used as a legally recognized language. Meanwhile Kurdish identity is all but banned in Turkey and Iranian heritage and nationalism is under attack by the Islamist invaders. Kurdish names, folk songs and even the Kurdish language itself has been repressed. Your regime has actually prosecuted and removed officials for simply incorporating a Kurdish phrase into a greeting. You screech self-righteously about the "Palestinian children"-- perhaps we should talk about the hundreds of Kurdish children arrested for throwing stones at protests. Arrested and charged with terrorism.”

Touching upon Turkish government’s aggressive statements Dr. Irandoost reminded that entire present-day Turkey is stolen land: “You talk about stolen land, when your entire country is stolen land, from Cyprus to Istanbul. Your regime is a racist illegitimate entity based on the oppression of the Kurds, the Armenians, the Assyrians, Iranians, and numerous others.

You went directly from being Imperialists to Fascists to Islamists, a truly dubious achievement for any nation. Your history is filled with slavery, ethnic cleansing, genocide and invasion. And that's just in the last century alone.” The Iranian activist gave a piece of good advice to the Turks: “If you had any sanity or shame, you would dig a hole, crawl into it, and hope that no one mentions words like "Minority Rights" or "Territorial Legitimacy" in your presence, instead of trying to use them as a club against Iranians and Israelis (Two nations whose national history predates yours by thousands of years).”

Speaking about the flotilla raid Dr. Irandoost draws attention to some facts and writes ironically: “But let us get back to your precious Islamist flotilla, decorated with Turkish flags that used to be more than just red versions of the Saudi flag. That ship you filled up with Muslim Brotherhood members and Islamist radicals bound for Gaza. Over in your wonderful nation of boundless freedom, reporters have been put on trial for even interviewing leaders of terrorist groups. You sentenced the head of a Kurdish party to six months in prison for calling the head of the PKK, Mr. Ocalan, instead of just Ocalan. He joins the more than 800 Kurdish politicians you imprisoned in the last year alone. And after all that you actually have the nerve to pretend to be "outraged" when Israel intercepts your flotilla full of political terrorists?”

Arash Irandoost’s letter’s following fragment is entitled this way – “You blockaded Armenia for Sixteen Years.”

“But of course we know how strongly you feel about blockades. Like the time you blockaded Armenia for Sixteen Years,” reminded the author and warned against the consequences of such a position: “Since you've decided to friend Hamas and IRI murderers, then what's good for the turkey, just might be good for the gander. Or perhaps for every boat flying the Turkish flag that is sent to Gaza, Israel should donate a million to the Iranian pro democracy movement and PKK.”

The author also reminded of Republic of Cyprus, mentioned Turkey’s recent military defeats and warned that with Islamic regime Turkey can only get assistance from Saudi Arabia that defends its own security with the help of American marines. The author warns that the ambitions of restoring the empire and establishing Islamic Caliphate, neo-Ottoman policy after all will fill up the cup of the leading powers – Russia, United Europe and U.S.

Armen Minasyan

Iran Election: The Beginning of the End

By Amil Imani & Dr. Arash Irandoost

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/06/iran_election_the_beginning_of.html

Iran's President Ahmadinejad, a veteran of the Islamic Republic's repressive Revolutionary Guard, took office on August 3, 2005, after unexpected win in a sham presidential election -- there are no democratic elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran. All candidates are prescreened by the Guardian Council before they are allowed to run for office.  In practice, a president of Iran is already chosen through a farce process of giving the voters a chance to elect one of the men hand-picked from the regime's functionaries, as was the case with President Ahmadinejad.

During the previous "election," only a small percentage of the voters bothered to vote, since voting under the pre-screening and undemocratic system of the mullahs is more like selection than election. The result of staying away from the polls materialized in the person of the fascist Ahmadinejad.

The great majority of the people of Iran are disillusioned and even disgusted by the mediaeval incompetent, oppressive, and corrupt rule of the mullahs, irrespective of which mafia gang is in power. The votes, more than anything else, are protest ballots cast against the entire system, rather than indications of support for the so-called conservative-moderate coalition.

It took less than 4 years for Iranians to realize that boycotting the so-called elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran can only bring to power even a worse bunch of Islamofascists. This time around the people turned out to vote for the lesser of two camps of evil -- the mullah dominated gang of conservatives and "moderates."

After a fiery month long campaign and unprecedented passions and tensions, the mass rallies, polished campaign slogans, savvy Internet outreach and worldwide televised debates, which revealed rampant corruption, ineptitude, and illegal and criminal activities of all four candidates, on June 12, 2009, the Iranian people went to the polls, challenging not only the incumbent president Ahmadinejad, but the entire establishment of the Islamic regime.

Iran's elections are considered extremely unfair and the Islamist government does not allow international monitors to be present. The ruling clerics put their stamp on the elections from the very beginning by deciding who can run. It is really a joke.  More than 470 people sought to join the presidential race, but only Ahmadinejad and three rivals were cleared.

However, the turnout was massive, a near record high 85 percent of Iran's 49.2 million eligible voters. Based on the information from Mousavi's website , a group of Interior Ministry employees have leaked out the following results which seem to be closer to reality than the one released by the establishment:

Total eligible: 49.2 Million

Participated in the election: 75% to 85%
Mir Hussein Mousavi: 45%
Mehdi Karoobi: 33%
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: 13%
Mohsen Rezai: 9%

Cancelled votes: 3%

It is clear that Mr. Mir Hussein Mousavi won the election by a large margin. Ahmadinejad came out third. But on Friday June 12, 2009, in the Islamic election (selection) something happened. Something beyond what anyone could have ever imagined. Something huge. A daylight coup d'état by the elements of the establishment, particularly, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the Senate designated as a terrorist organization (with Senator Obama not voting). The clerical leadership in Iran has grown increasingly reliant on the IRGC to help it stave off internal pressure for political and economic reform and external pressure resulting from international concern over Iran's nuclear program.

An Iranian journalist said, "The important event that took place in Iran is that it wasn't an election; it was a coup d'état. [They] stole 24 million votes of the nation and took them away for themselves. If there were really a winner, they would have to celebrate, but instead they beat people. They performed a coup, but they don't call it a coup."

He continued, "Please don't use the word "fraud" because it is mitigation of what has happened in Iran. Fraud is what was happening in the past 30 years. This is not fraud. They haven't [counted] people's votes. Using the word fraud is like calling a deep cut a small scratch. There was no fraud; it was a coup."

What the so called reformists call a coup was described today as a great achievement by the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the man who has the final say in all affairs of the country. It was no secret by that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was Khamenei's favorite choice. If an electoral fraud, tantamount to a coup, had indeed happened, everyone believes that it certainly had Khamenei's blessing.

Demonstrators, on Saturday, were shocked and angry by Ali Khamenei's disregard for their vote and apparent coup. "If Mr. Khamenei cannot tolerate even a mild-mannered president like Mousavi, then I really don't know what to do," said a demonstrator, who was among thousands of students on Pahlavi Avenue before she started to chant "Death to the dictator". The day after the election, Khamenei urged the nation to unite behind Ahmadinejad and called the result a "divine assessment."

The political chief of the powerful Revolutionary Guard warned it would crush any "revolution" against the Islamic system by Mousavi's "green movement" -- the signature color of his campaign. However, on Saturday and Sunday, hundreds of thousands of opponents of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad clashed with Hizbollah thugs dressed in police uniforms in the heart of Iran's capital, pelting them with rocks and setting fires in the worst unrest in Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. They accused the hard-line president of using fraud to steal the election victory from his reformist rival.

The ever-conniving mullahs dread the Iranian people. Granted that a small percentage of Iranians, known as the 3Fs -- fools, fanatics and frauds -- support the mullahs. No totalitarian rule can ever survive without a segment of the population, for one reason or another, supporting it. Yet, time is not on the side of the mullahs. By their mismanagement, thievery and oppression of the masses, they have created explosive internal conditions. As I have said over and over, the Mullahs need to have the N- bomb to create a fake sense of security so they can prolong their survival.

It was reported and verified by a Spiegel German reporter in Iran that the regime has brought many Arab speaking Hizbollah factions from Lebanon to attack the Iranian people. Overnight Sunday, police reportedly raided student dormitories at Tehran University where some 3,000 students had earlier held an anti-Ahmadinejad rally. Rooms were damaged, computers smashed, and hard drives taken, and students beaten and arrested, according to the Associated Press (AP). It is that reported 5 students have died in the attack.

The vicious attacks on people by the hired thugs of the regime are failing more and more as the mullahs' instrument of rule by terror. The police and official security apparatus are less and less willing to exercise brute force to suppress the people. That's exactly why the regime has imported Arab speaking terrorist groups such as Lebanese Hizbollah and Palestinian thugs.

In short, Iran is in a state of serious upheaval. Replacing Ahmadinejad with the already tried and proven wanton gang of Rafsanjani-Khatami-Mousavi is not going to change matters much. 

As for the West, it is prudent that it does not embark on a trigger-happy, self interested policy. The mullahs' lease on life, [short of brutal massacre of the Iranian people in the absence of any foreign media] is just about over. A concerted political, economic, and moral support for the long-suffering and valiant Iranian people and the secular opposition can put an end to the shameful and hate-driven Islamofascists of any and all stripes.

An open letter to Turkey

June 4, 2010

Dr. Arash Irandoost

http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2010/6/turkey2686.htm

To: Pro-Islamic Turkish Neighbors and former friends From: Iranian Pro Democracy-Anti IRI Activist Re: Erdogan

Ever since you decided to trade in the Secularism of Ataturk for the Islamism of Erdogan, you also seem to have decided to forego your willingness to coexist with non-Muslims on a peaceful basis. These days all we ever seem to get from you, is video clips of your leader, Prime Minister Erdogan, behaving erradically and barking like a dog that its owner carelessly let off the leash. And if you don't know that Erdogan's master lives in Riyadh, then you don't know very much of what goes on in your own country.

But your affairs are your own. If you want to let a fanatic in a cheap suit destroy Turkish nationalism in the name of Islam, that's your business. But when he gets into business with terrorist organizations that attack, rape and murder our mothers and sisters (Iranian pro democracy women demonstrators), then it becomes our business. And when a country that persecutes its Kurdish, Assyrian and Armenian citizens, treat Iranian refugees like 3rd class citizens and hands them over to IRI thugs at every opportunity, and works tirelessly to appease a criminal regime, she must remember that we will not forget her erroneous ways.

You say you want an international investigation into the flotilla raid? Sure. Right after you allow an international investigation into that minor matter of Armenian genocide that you've been ducking for quite a while. As the new "standard bearer" in fighting for human rights, I'm sure you will agree that it's only fair that Turkey should undergo the same scrutiny it demands for other countries.

And then we can move on to the more than 10,000 political prisoners in your jails. A number that at times has topped 100,000. An independent investigation could also begin by looking into the torture and murder of political activists such as Engin Ceber. They could meet with representatives of TAYAD, the organization representing the families of prisoners. And they would no doubt be fascinated by the more than 1500 children in your prisoners who are there on "terrorism" charges. Like that 12 year old you arrested in 2008 for singing a Kurdish folk song. So by all means wrap yourselves in the banner of "Human Rights" and it will surely turn it into a noose and strangle you with it.

In Israel, Arabs are a legally recognized minority. Arabic is taught in schools and used as a legally recognized language. Meanwhile Kurdish identity is all but banned in Turkey and Iranian heritage and nationalism is under attack by the Islamist invaders. Kurdish names, folk songs and even the Kurdish language itself has been repressed. Your regime has actually prosecuted and removed officials for simply incorporating a Kurdish phrase into a greeting. You screech self-righteously about the "Palestinian children"-- perhaps we should talk about the hundreds of Kurdish children arrested for throwing stones at protests. Arrested and charged with terrorism. Just more of the thousands of political prisoners of oppressed minorities in your prisons.

And perhaps next time your dog Erdogan gets up to bark up about human rights and gets through lecturing us on the use of force against Islamic terrorists, shall we discuss how many times you used jets to bomb Kurdish rebels who were lightly armed at best. Including in 2008 when you invaded sovereign Iraqi soil in order to continue your genocide of the Kurdish people in cooperation with criminal mullahs of Iran.

You talk about stolen land, when your entire country is stolen land, from Cyprus to Istanbul. Your regime is a racist illegitimate entity based on the oppression of the Kurds,www.ekurd.netthe Armenians, the Assyrians, Iranians, and numerous others. You went directly from being Imperialists to Fascists to Islamists, a truly dubious achievement for any nation. Your history is filled with slavery, ethnic cleansing, genocide and invasion. And that's just in the last century alone. If you had any sanity or shame, you would dig a hole, crawl into it, and hope that no one mentions words like "Minority Rights" or "Territorial Legitimacy" in your presence, instead of trying to use them as a club against Iranians and Israelis (Two nations whose national history predates yours by thousands of years).

But let us get back to your precious Islamist flotilla, decorated with Turkish flags that used to be more than just red versions of the Saudi flag. That ship you filled up with Muslim Brotherhood members and Islamist radicals bound for Gaza. Over in your wonderful nation of boundless freedom, reporters have been put on trial for even interviewing leaders of terrorist groups. You sentenced the head of a Kurdish party to six months in prison for calling the head of the PKK, Mr. Ocalan, instead of just Ocalan. He joins the more than 800 Kurdish politicians you imprisoned in the last year alone. And after all that you actually have the nerve to pretend to be "outraged" when Israel intercepts your flotilla full of political terrorists?

But of course we know how strongly you feel about blockades. Like the time you blockaded Armenia for Sixteen Years. Very well then. If you insist on sending vessels flying the Turkish flag to aid Hamas, perhaps Israel should begin sending tanks flying the Israeli flag to aid the PKK. And when a new democratic Iran is established, we surely will cut the flow of gas and oil to your arid, natural resource starved and useless land. We're not big fans of the PKK, but since you've decided to friend Hamas and IRI murderers, then what's good for the turkey, just might be good for the gander. Or perhaps for every boat flying the Turkish flag that is sent to Gaza, Israel should donate a million to the Iranian pro democracy movement and PKK. I wonder how along IRI could last with direct financial help form Israel.

And then there's the Republic of Cyprus. They might benefit from significantly upgraded air defenses. While the US insists on equalizing weapons sales to Turkey and Greece, Israel just might have something tastier to offer to one side. And the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus might actually be able to sleep peacefully in their beds, instead of being intimidated by savages showing off their F-16's over their heads.

Oh I know, what you're going to say. This means war. But you might want to reconsider. And what exactly was the last war you won single-handedly? And no, bombing starving Kurdish rebels from the air, or occupying Cyprus doesn't count. And how long could you fight that war, before a domestic Kurdish insurgency overthrows your little empire. If that doesn't happen, you might want to think about the big Russian bear at your back. The bear has been eyeing you for a long time now. And with your military engaged in a disastrous war for the Great Caliphate, your borders would be temptingly open. And who exactly would bail you out then?

Oh I know you've made many great news friends, such as Ahmadinejad and that fat king in the Arabian Desert, who tells your Erdogan when to jump and how high., but if you think mullahs care about their Sunni brethren, you've got another surprise coming. Meanwhile old Abdullah in the desert can't even protect himself without the US Marines. And if you think Obama would send them in to save your asses, you've got another thing coming. I'm sure if there were Russian tanks headed to Ankara, he'd make a vocal statement about it. And Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would pretend not to laugh while hanging up the phone.

There is of course the European Union. Last time Russia pulled that trick, it was Britain that bailed you out in the Crimean War. But these days Her M(N)ajesty's Empire isn't quite in the same shape it used to be. Sure Cameron, Clegg and Harman will lick Erdogan's feet. But none of them want to be the next Tony Blair either. Germany doesn't like you very much anymore. Perhaps that time when it got enmeshed in WW1 to protect your Ottoman Empire may have put them off. Or your internal campaign of subversion exploiting Germany's horde of Turkish laborers. What are you left with then? France, Italy or perhaps Austria will forget that whole pesky Gates of Vienna thing and this time ride to your rescue.

No, when Russian commandos are ripping off your wife's head scarf-- there will be no one left to save you. Not your newfound allies, or Erdogan who will take the first plane to Riyadh, with as much of the 18 billion in gold and cash he stole from Iran as his sweaty hands can shove into the pockets of his cheap suit. And just think of it, as the Hagia Sophia church that you turned into a mosque, will become a church again. Istanbul will once again be Constantinople, which means a certain catchy 20's song will require a rewrite. Of course it may not happen exactly that way. But something close to it might happen. Erdogan's plan to change Turkey into a Muslim country will not succeed if alert pro democracy and secular Turks who have seen the human rights violation under Islam in Iran, have something to say in the next elections.

So when that day of reckoning comes, you will find that you have made enemies of former allies such as pro democracy Iranians, Israel and the US-- and that the new allies Erdogan has found for you in Islamic Republic and Syria would prefer a Russian controlled Turkey, that has no chance of ever reverting to a Kemalist government. And Erdogan's godfather in Saudi Arabia commands oil money, not troops. And while he might be willing to sink Turkey for the sake of Islam, perhaps there are Turks who value their nation, more than Islamism. If not, you can look forward to Erdogan "reforming" your country, until it has the military might of Pakistan, the literacy level of Saudi Arabia and the poverty rate of Egypt and rapist reputation of Iran’s mullahs. It is of course your choice.

People have the right to choose their destiny, for good or ill. And if you find that this letter is filled with contempt, it is a contempt fully merited by a regime that seeks to cloak its shameful betrayal of a former allies in the guise of human rights, when it brutally suppresses the rights of its own minorities. You may wish to go on dancing to the tune being played by Erdogan, to sheet music composed in Riyadh and Tehran. It is a very good tune. Filled with hate, violence and religious fanaticism. That also is your choice. But know that whatever you have was bought and paid by your ancestors who understood that Turkey would either modernize out of the gutter of Islam, or it would be washed away by the colonial tide. Your power does not come from Islam, it comes from the bread crusts of civilization that fall from the table of Europe and ineptitude of the corrupt mullahs of Iran. Abandon them for the red hued madness of the Jihad, and you will not rule over an empire, but over a wasteland. If you doubt that, look to the south and to the east. Look to the desert. You came from there once. And if you throw away your once secular and democratic country for the fanatical madness of Islam-- you will return there again.

Sincerely,

You secular pro democracy Iranian former friend.

Mousavi, Hero or Villain?

http://www.faithfreedom.org/articles/political-islam/mousavi-hero-or-villain/ 
http://www.iranian.com/main/blog/arash-irandoost/mousavi-hero-or-villain-0 

PDMI Arash Irandoost

Mousavi-Green-Warrior1On April 29, 2010, Ms. Shohreh Aghdashloo (Iranian Actress) wrote a short tribute for the 2010 Time 100 praising Mir Hossein Mousavi, Islamic republic’s presidential candidate for “bringing hope to all generations of Iranians but especially to our youth.”
Either, Ms. Aghdashloo is out of touch with political situation in Iran by believing that Mir Hossein Mousavi could have been the one to bring freedom and democracy to Iran , or she is simply being disingenuous.  Her comparison of Mr. Mousavi known as the Butcher of Beirut  to Dr. Martin Luther
King is indeed an affront to the world community and African Americans.
Dr. King, At 33, was pressing the case of civil rights, at 34, galvanized the nation with his “I Have a Dream” speech, at 35, won the Nobel Peace Prize. At 39, he was assassinated, but left a legacy of hope and inspiration.
Ms. Aghdashloo and her so-called Green allies will be hard pressed to name any of Mousavi’s “heroic” accomplishments. They simply do not exist.
A group of Iranians aided by the American left and liberal media have been trying to portray Mousavi as the true leader of the Iranian opposition or the so-called green movement. This assertion has long lost traction among the Iranians. As I described in my previous article “The Many Shades of Iran’s Green Movement” Iranian demonstrators had bypassed Mousavi and used him as the pretext to show their disgust with the Islamic Republic including the man himself Mir Hossein Mousavi who abandoned demonstrators once he realized the very survival of Islamic Republic is at stake. Mousavi’s role as the leader of the Green Movement officially came to an end when he formed a new social front called the “the Green Path of Hope.”
Ms. Aghdashloo naively or intentionally ignores Mr. Mousavi’s past and proceeds to compare him with Dr. Martin Luther King in lockstep with another Mousavi comrade Mohsen Makhmalbaaf who lived in Iran till recently and knows Mousavi only too well and deceptively compares him to Gandhi to cover up Mousavi’s anti-American and pro Marxist proclivity.
References to Mousavi as a “reformer” a “moderate” and more recently a “hero” are designed to mislead. The characterizations are outright fabrications.  Before Green leaders are allowed to continue their deceptive practices and cheer Mousavi and call him a hero, they must be reminded of Mr. Mousavi’s bloody past.
Mousavi provided financial support to Mr. Khomeini during his exile and was nicely rewarded as Iran ’s Prime Minister during most of the 1980s a time when the IRI fanatics were ruthlessly wiping out internal opposition groups and waging a terrorist campaign against the United States .  Indeed, Mousavi literally has Iranian and American blood on his hands.
As Iran ’s prime minister, he was a hard-liner closely allied with then-president Ali Khamenei, the current Supreme leader, and a firm radical as the Economist described him in 1988.  His reserved tone masks a dark history of religious fanaticism, support for terrorism, and perpetuation of dictatorship.Mousavi’s years as prime minister were marked by many controversial policies-support for the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, a place on Hizbullah’s leadership council, a defense of the taking of American hostages. Mousavi was intimately involved in the creation of Shiite militia Hezbollah in 1982 and during his term as the prime minister almost certainly had a hand in the planning of the Iranian backed truck bombing attacks on the U.S. embassy in April 1983 and the Marine Barracks in October of the same year. Mousavi directly worked with Imad Mughniyah, the man personally responsible all of the Iranian-planned terrorist attacks carried out by Hezbollah.
 Mr. Mousavi has consistently favored state controls over the economy rather than the free-market policies and Iran ’s business class does not like him. Mousavi neither likes nor trusts Americans. He opposed warming relations with the U.S. Mousavi, like all other IRI leaders, is opposed to suspending the country’s nuclear-enrichment program.
Mousavi’s more refined tone and sharper intellect distance him from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Seduced young generation of Iranians are not privy to his radicalism and apologies for terror and bloodshed. But his ideology, faithfulness to the Islamic revolution, economic policies, and his anti-Americanism are akin to Ahmadinejad’s. Mousavi, for obvious political reasons might have signaled a change in tone, but never a change in ideology and policies. As they say: A pig with lipstick is still is a pig.
Mousavi31None of this is to exonerate the other Islamic Republic’s leaders.  Mahmud   Ahmadinejad served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the Iranian paramilitary force responsible for most of the terrorism against the U.S.  Mehdi Karroubi, like Mousavi, was deeply involved in Lebanon in the ’80s and was a patron of Mughniyah’s.
The Green outside but Red inside” watermelon, greeners”  prefer to forget Mousavis past for very obvious reasons. Mousavi and his so called Green allies, perhaps cognizant that his past history would surface eventually, are applying a little proactive balm on his reputation.  But at the very least, it should be a reminder to misguided and delusional Ms. Aghdashloo that when it comes to political leaders, there are simply no good choices within the Islamic Republic.
People like Mousavi, Karuubi, and Khatami are deeply loyal to the ideals of Khomeini and were themselves leaders of the 1979 revolution that resulted in the creation of the current political system. They think that the current constitution has enough tools in it to allow the system to reform itself. But that is foolhardy, since 31 years of Islamic Republics blatant lies, ineptitude, corruption, torture, rapes and killings should serve as a clear sign that Islamic Republic can not be reformed and regime change is the only viable option!
Even if Mousavi had come into office following the June 12 presidential election as Ms. Aghdashloo and her so called green allies hoped for, he would not have challenged the political order. Mr. Mousavi advocates “the full execution of the constitution and a return to the Islamic Republic’s original ethics (Khomeinism). He demands “Islamic republic, not a word less; not a word more.”  I will leave it up to readers to interpret what that truly means.
Those who have blindly joined the so-called Green Movement are strongly advised to examine Mousavi’s past before they continue to prop him up as a hero.  Types of Aghdashloo are advised to seek a more long-term solution and throw their support behind the people of Iran . Having lived through the Islamic republic tricksters, they have come to believe that Islamic Republic and democracy are not compatible.  There is no room for public in Islamic Republic. Iranians will eventually choose leaders outside of it. It is just a matter of time!

NIAC and US Policy toward Iran

http://www.globalpolitician.com/26155-iran
http://planet-iran.com/index.php/news/7298

Dr. Arash Irandoost - 1/14/2010

The White House is in the process of fine tuning its Iranian Policy. On the sidelines, various groups are positioning to shape the plan. Front and center is NIAC, the National Iranian American Council, an organization that presents itself as the Iranian-American voice for Iran. On the surface, NIAC’s statements sound very noble. However, if examined closely, NIAC is actually at odds with the majority of the Iranian-American community. NIAC’s recently published internal documents, which it had to furnish Mr. Hassan Dai, an Iranian expat, who was sued by NIAC for his claim that it is a lobbyist for the Islamic Republic, paints a very disturbing and troublesome picture of the organization. The following information supports these extensive claims:

1. Representation: NIAC does not represent a large constituency of Iranian-Americans. NIAC internal memos clearly show NIAC overstated the true number of its Iranian American members, altered in-house survey results, and mislead Congressional members. With estimates of one million plus, Iranian-Americans in the U.S., NIAC’s membership, as stated at the time of the documentation, is under five hundred members, a very insignificant number.
2. IRI as America’s Friend: NIAC sees no fundamental clash of interests between Iran and US. According to Trita Parsi, there is no justification for US hostility toward Iran. Trita believes that the Iranian regime has always been ready to reach an agreement with the US. The main reason behind US hostilities and refusal to engage Iran, Trita Parsi says, is Israel. The problem with Parsi's assertion is that it contradicts the reality. For thirty years, the IRI has demonstrated a consistent characteristic, a passionate hatred of America. The most popular rallying cry of the Islamic Republic is “Death to America,” through its well financed and highly orchestrated street rallies. America is the “Great Satan” and nurtured enemy of Islamic Republic. It is “the kiss of death" for any Islamic Republic official to show any sign of befriending America. Likewise, seeking mullah’s friendship by the US is naive and foolhardy and worthless.
3. Dialogue and Diplomacy: Despite NIAC’s assertion that dialogue and diplomacy is the best approach, thirty years of dialogue by various US administrations has shown that the regime is interested in dialogue only to buy itself enough time in order to develop its weapon’s program. IRI uses its proxies within the United States to convince various American officials that the regime is desirous of a dialogue. The radical and irrational nature of the regime, intent on its expansionist ideology, makes any honest and meaningful dialogue with the regime an utter waste of time.
4. Use of Sanctions: NIAC has maintained that sanctions are counterproductive and ineffective and will inflict pain and suffering on the ordinary Iranians. Effectiveness of sanctions as a tool can be argued both ways. To those that see Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism and an International threat to world peace, targeted sanctions are a potent tool. On the other hand, for groups such as NIAC, sanctions are to be avoided at all cost to ensure the regime’s survival. NIAC’s campaign against sanctions is not to protect the ordinary Iranians, as it claims, but is an orchestrated effort by Oil Corporations seeking economic ties between Iran and America. Smart sanctions will hit hardest at the regime, and affect ordinary Iranians only incidentally. Targeted sanctions will deepen the divide between the public and the military-religious dictatorship.
5. NIAC as IRI Lobby: There is extensive evidence that NIAC engages with Islamic Republic’s top level officials, facilitating meetings between IRI and various US politicians, despite limits imposed on it as a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt organization. The governmental press in Tehran has called Parsi and his organization NIAC as the "Iranian lobby in Washington". Indictments of Bob Ney and Hassan Nemazie with close ties to NIAC clearly paint a disturbing picture of the organization. Recently, Senator Jon Kyl requested a full investigation of NIAC’s questionable activities, which if successful it might shed more light on NIAC‘s real intentions.
6. Islamic Republic is Rational and Pragmatic: When Ahmadinejad shoots off test missiles while engaged in uranium enrichment, or makes appalling statements about wiping Israel "off the map," one wonders how pragmatic and rational Islamic Republic really is?
7. NIAC as Human Rights Advocate: Despite extreme brutality and crack down and stories of rape, torture and killing, NIAC issued a statement on June 16, 2009 asserting that United States “should not interfere” as its involvement would be counterproductive.” Parsi also took issue with a strong statement of support for the young Iranian freedom fighters expressed by Senator Joseph Lieberman when he urged the Obama administration to "speak out, loudly and clearly, about what is happening in Iran and unambiguously express its solidarity with the brave Iranians. Trita Parsi, unashamedly, has referred to Iran’s blatant human rights violation as “less than flattering human rights record,” and anticipated “a trend towards the improvement of human rights situation” in Iran. The reality is, human rights violations have gotten progressively worse. Iran is second to China on human rights violations and NIAC has never taken a real strong position in defense of human rights in Iran, except for occasional “feel good” and apologetic statements.

Iran has one of the youngest demographics in the world. Over 70% of the population is under the age of 35. On June 12th, they went to the streets, chanting “Where is my vote?” Demonstrations are getting more organized and are spreading to other parts of Iran to form a truly popular movement. Today, the protesters no longer are seeking democratic elections; they are demanding regime change. There are cracks appearing almost daily within the regime. About 27 Iranian diplomats have already defected. Many ayatollahs have declared the regime neither republic, nor Islamic. Any US policy towards Iran needs to seek input from a larger more diverse group of Iranians representing current thinking on Iran in order to develop a more robust, effective and sustainable foreign policy towards Iran. Trita Parsi left Iran when he was four years old. He is not even an Iranian-American which disqualifies him to speak for Iranian Americans. His experience on Iran is rather limited to personalities who are either regime supporters, seek economic ties with Iran, or are Islamic Republic high level officials. Limiting the discussion and input only to NIAC, and monopolization of the discussion by NIAC, and its proxies will have devastating results.

Mullahs are intent on developing nuclear weapons. With a nuclear Iran as a major power in the volatile Middle East and with oil price at 70 to 80 dollars a barrel, the Islamic Republic will expand its presence around the world. In collaboration with allies such as Russia, China and Venezuela, Islamic Republic will flaunt its military power in the Persian Gulf to demonstrate its regional dominance and superiority in the Middle East, challenging Israel into a direct and inevitable confrontation. If mullahs are allowed to realize their nuclear aspirations, its pernicious and disastrous impact will be felt far beyond the Middle East.

By supporting Iranian opposition groups, the world community not only can avert a regional and potentially global catastrophe, it will help establish a democratic system of government in the region. If Iranians are successful in shaking off the yoke of theocracy, their success could herald the failure of a political and militant Islam. Helping Iran become a democracy not only is a moral imperative, but should be considered an essential foreign policy priority. On December 7, Iranians demonstrators shouted loudly “Obama are you with us or with them?” It is time for the United States to place itself on the right side of history. President Obama has no logical alternative but to stand with the people of Iran or shoulder the responsibility for dangerous consequences of propping up a dictatorship bent on expansion of a religious and fanatical ideology.
Dr. Arash Irandoost is an Iranian-American researcher and a political activist who advocates for a regime change for Iran. He has been published in numerous e-magazines and has a blog at http://hakemiat-e-mardom.blogspot.com/. He also serves as the international spokesperson for Iranian Students Solidarity Organization.

A Call on the UN Secretary General to Resign

To:  The United Nations
http://www.petitiononline.com/Iran2500/petition.html 
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/posts/506483?m=cd6a7595 

Thursday, December 31st, 2009
His Excellency Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of United Nations
The United Nations
New York, N.Y 10017

Dear Mr. Secretary-General,

It is our understanding that the role of the United Nations is to “bring peace and prosperity to the people of the world.” The UN, in this age of terror and horrendous human rights violations (i.e. such as Burma, China, Sudan and Iran,) has failed miserably, to meet its obligations and its purpose under your tutelage. Hence, we the undersigned, emphatically request, Mr. Secretary General, that you submit your resignation based on the following points:
• Your loud silence, continuing to ignore the ongoing, blatant and insidious violations of human rights in Iran, is completely inexcusable. Where is the moral voice and authority of the Secretary-General?; missing in "inaction." During this critical period in history, you continue to exhibit counter-productive and pathetically weak leadership skills. The absence of wise leadership and fortitude during your tenure, allows terrorist groups and treacherous Mullahs to thrive. Your complete incompetence and lack of character, Mr. Secretary General, fuels the flames of terrorism, brutal dictatorships, and acts of genocide. Most importantly, your behavior betrays the Iranian people and places the rest of the world at risk.
• Starting June 12, 2009, Iranians have signed and submitted numerous petitions, to the UN. Each time, our petitions fall on deaf ears. Our pleas need to be heard by a more socially responsible individual, one who speaks up for injustices and honors the code of this influential position.
• Despite the Charter of the United Nations, the UN walks away from the men, women and children being beaten, brutalized, raped, run over and shot throughout Iran. Your "quiet diplomacy" and appeasement, is not working! Amnesty International proclaims that human rights violations in Iran, are as deplorable today, as at any time in the past 20 years

• Discontent with your performance echoes throughout the civilized world. The Economist's scorecard, rates you an unacceptable, three out of ten, based on your handling of civil wars and "speaking truth to power". Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, states "The main image people have of him is sitting down with the bad guys and getting nothing." Norway's U.N. ambassador, Mona Juul refers to you, in her memo to Norway's foreign minister, as a "spineless and charmless" leader, who fails to convey the U.N.'s "moral voice and authority." Your own civil servants and diplomats increasingly portray you as an ineffective administrator, whose reluctance to hold outlaw leaders to account for bad behavior, has undercut the United Nations' moral authority.

We do not feel you reflect the integrity and vision nor the resilience, requisite for the position of the Chief of the United Nations. On behalf the severely oppressed Iranians and in the best interest of the free world, we ask you to resign.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned

The Many Shades of Iran’s Green Movement

The New Media Journal

Arash Irandoost

December 5, 2009
http://www.newmediajournal.us/staff/irandoost/2009/12052009.htm

As Iranian demonstrators are quietly gearing up for the next uprising and as the regime is nervously and secretly devising strategies and scare tactics to keep demonstrations under control for the upcoming December 7th, the color Green manifests itself in various forms by various groups to signify their cause.

Green was the color chosen by Mr. Mir Hossein Mousavi during the 2009 presidential elections. However the “Green Movement” refers to uprisings which have been taking place since June 12th elections in Iran.

In part, the Green Movement was conceived after hundreds of thousands of supporters of Mr. Mousavi took to the streets to protest their votes. Demonstrations were met with a brutal crackdown and Khamenei, instead of deferring to the demands of the people, resorted to violence, giving birth to the Real Green Movement of Iran.

True that there might have been strong initial support for Mousavi and his Green campaign. But seizing the opportunity, the campaign quickly transformed itself to the real aspirations of the Iranian people and can no longer be considered as an expression of support for Mr. Mousavi. Mousavi’s Green officially came to an end when he formed a new social front called the “the Green Path of Hope.” Several Mousavi sympathizers have been trying to resurrect the Mousavi Green, but it seems that it has lost traction among the Iranians.

Notwithstanding, there are still many shades of Green lurking inside and outside of Iran, but can be categorized into three:

1) There are those (so-called Greens) who advocate a theocratic political system, and do not want to see the current "regime" overthrown, but "reformed" through peaceful means and by using the current system's constitution to effect change. Last thing people like Moussavi, Karuubi, and Khatami, who are deeply loyal to the ideals of Khomeini and were themselves leaders of the 1979 revolution that resulted in the creation of the current political system, want is for the system to collapse. They think that the current system, specifically the current constitution, has enough tools in it to allow the system to reform itself. In their view, power needs to be transferred to the people gradually. What should be noted here is that the so-called Green leaders are concerned with correcting the wrong direction the revolution has taken.
There's good reason for the so-called Green leaders to seek a gradual transformation of power. The fact is, they, at one time or another, have taken part in brutal repression of the Iranian people themselves and are worried that their own criminal activities will be exposed once the regime is toppled. As the people who helped shape the current constitution, the so-called Greens fully believe in Islamic republic and are fully aware that Islamic republic has intentional safeguards to prevent any meaningful reform and return to democratic rule.

A question for Iranians to ponder is whether real reform can take place by the so-called Green leaders. To answer it, a critical examination of Mr. Mousavi’s background is a must. Even if Mousavi had come into office following the June 12 presidential election, he would not have challenged the political order. Like other reformist, Mr. Khatami, he would have tried to fix the Islamic republic's internal and external crises through slight policy tweaks. Mousavi's rivalry with Ahmadinejad has more to do with internal power struggles and economic policy. No Iranian president could fundamentally change Iran's position on nuclear policy or its regional role because it is fully understood that foreign-policy decisions fall to Iran's supreme leader. Furthermore, Mr. Mousavi advocates “the full execution of the constitution and a return to the Islamic Republic's original ethics (Khomeinism). He demands “Islamic republic, not a word less; not a word more." Some of Mr. Khomeini’s “original ethics might be useful here: [T]hose who study jihad will understand why Islam wants to conquer the whole world. All the countries conquered by Islam or to be conquered in the future will be marked for everlasting salvation. For they shall live under [God's law]. Khomeini: Islam Is Not a Religion of Pacifists (1942)Those who know nothing of Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war. Those are witless. Islam says: Kill all the unbelievers just as they would kill you all! … Islam says: Kill them, put them to the sword. People cannot be made obedient except with the sword! Khomeini: Islam Is Not a Religion of Pacifists (1942)

Those who have blindly joined the so-called Green are strongly advised to examine Mousavi’s past before they jump on his band wagon, otherwise they will be greatly disappointed as many 1979 demonstrators have been after witnessing 30 years of broken promises.

2. There are Iran’s Pro democracy Movement  (Real Greens) that completely oppose the totality of the Islamic republic and a theocratic regime. For them, the idea of "the Islamic Republic" is repulsive, and they advocate nothing short of total eradication of the Islamic republic. They believe that Islamic republic cannot be reformed and regime change is the only viable option. A significant characteristic of the Real Green Movement is that it does not have any specific leader. Its leaders are men and women on the streets. The alternative that these groups propose is quite diverse, and includes the monarchists, leftists, socialists, plus some religious and minority groups. There is no consensus amongst these groups on how they think the regime should fall and what form the new government should take. Some advocate a bloody revolution and mass uprisings while others see it through non-violent means.

3) Finally, there are those who believe in a true Islamic (Caliphate) state, and return to 7^th century pure Islamic principles. Ahmadinejad and Khamenei belong to this shade of Green. Despite the fact that Amnesty International has ranked Iran second to China in human rights violations, they constantly brag about the liberties bestowed to Iranian women under the banner of the Shariia law, and hope for exporting their system of theocracy to other countries. The color green is deceptively used by the Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Intelligence and plain clothes Basij militia not as a separate movement but to infiltrate demonstrators in order to identify and arrest its leaders, subvert the movement and prevent it from gaining strength.

Since June 12th, the political leaders in Iran for a variety of reasons have belonged to either of the three opposition groups at one time or another and have switched sides to suit their purpose.

Today's demonstrations, the people who come to the streets are Iranian youths, university students, women, human rights and political activists who form 70% of the Iranian population and are desirous of a free, independent and secular Iran. They are conscious of failures of past reforms and do not believe that Islamic republic under a supreme leadership that controls both the Islamic and national law can be reformed. The Real Green movement is fueled by the desire for democracy, human rights and secularism, all absent in Iran current constitution. This is why both Ahmadinejad and Mousavi who pretend to lead their respective greens fear the success of the Real Green Movement.

A true democracy and reform cannot be realistically achieved under the Islamic republic banner and by those who give pretense of reform and see Khomeini as the ultimate revolutionary and source of aspiration. It seems that the Islamic regime has entered a phase that whatever tactics it adopts and whatever shade it puts on, it only brings its demise closer. This is the beginning of the end of one of the most brutal, heinous regimes of the 21th century. No doubt its demise will have far-reaching effect on the Middle East and political Islam.