friends of a free Iran

Invasion of British Embassy Invasion of British Territory

2011-12-03T22:13:00.000-08:00

Last week there was an attack on British Embassy in Tehran. Islamic Republic characterized the attack as being spontaneous and referred to the attackers as "revolutionary university students" or, as it is popular these days, "Basijis university students". Obviously what the regime; I intentionally draw a distinction between this regime and the people of Iran and it is imperative for us in the West to underline this point whenever such unacceptable behavior occurs in Iran, in Tehran fails to appreciate is that university students do not normally behave this way; but Basijis do. This hence leaves us with only two options. The first is that we had in this case university students who were not aware of the fact that a diplomatic mission is the territory of the guest country and any such violation would be perceived as the actual invasion of the guest country territory; and also not knowing the fact that such behavior damages the reputation of a country and its people beyond repair. Further he or she does not understand that his or her country is responsible to paying for any damages inflicted.

The second option alternatively is that the invaders were not "university students" at all. They were only thugs whom regime uses the post-fix just to purport that it enjoys the support of the Iran's educated people. The regime has been using the tactic for years now. Using the tactic however exposes the real problem this regime has been faced and tried tackling for years; a new educated generation. This regime knows very well that its real problem lies at the heart of this generation which it tries to fight back by way of using the post-fix after their Basijis thugs they have been using as its plain-cloths pressure groups.

Nevertheless the attack may be translated as an attempt by a desperate person running out of options. Islamic Republic may have chosen attack as its best and only defense these days, but the question remains; does it work? My simple answer is, not at all; it only reveals the desperation of the Islamic Republic.

Islamic Republic Enters Danger Zone

2011-11-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

"Britain cannot expect acting against the Islamic Republic's interest without any consequences", said yesterday the Chair of the Foreign Committee of the Islamic Republic Parliament. This is surely a clear indication that the invasion of the British Embassy yesterday in Tehran has been discussed and decided at the highest level of the country political and military apparatus. This also underlines the urgency of dealing with a dangerous few seriously threatening the international peace and stability. They are none but those small numbers of military people who orchestrated the presidential election coup against the people of Iran over two years ago. They have taken Iran; its national wealth; and of course its people hostage. What do they really want? They basically want to be left alone to do whatever they want to whoever they see fit to only serve their own interests. They did it to the people of Iran and their country. They have been working hard to bring the Middle East and wider region under their clout. And now, with their intention to acquire the big B; they have targeted the international community. Invasion of an embassy and taking its diplomatic staff hostage is no difference than taking the international community hostage in wider scope.

Final Exam

2011-11-28T22:03:00.001-08:00

I have finally done the final exam of my LLB (Bachelor of Law) course last Friday. Having sat at an exam you know that is your final exam of the final unit of your study feels like a marathon runner sees the finishing line few meters away. The course has been part of a combined Arts (major politics which I received in 2008) / Law degree I entered in 2005. It was a 5 years full-time course and I should have finished it sometimes in late 2010, however, I deferred the course in 2010 and studied Post Grad immigration law for almost a year. Nevertheless, there will still be 6 months spending in the College of Law NSW for a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.

All these do not suggest a bit that I ignore the dictator and his collaborators.

Back to the old design

2011-09-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

Many visitors of this site were apparently not using, and/or unable to use, the Dynamic View of this page provided by Google. Therefore I decided to reverse it to the old view version. I hope this would help. I am sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Why should the people of Iran eschew any future election held in the country?

2011-09-11T17:50:00.000-07:00

The military controlled regime in Tehran; seriously uncomfortable watching the Libyan-Syrian developments, has embarked on a parliamentary election-campaign. It has released over 70 political prisoners mostly reformists politicians and encouraged the opposition participation in the coming election. The regime desperately needs the people participation. It is crucially important for the regime to depict a different political picture of Iran than to that of the Libya-Syria's and/or the ones of Egypt earlier. But the bad news for them is that the Iranian people are much smarter than them in a sense that what the people did; by the participation of close to %80 in the last disputed presidential election; was to put the regime at an election point.

That was electing between the return of the sovereignty to its rightful owner; the people of Iran OR standing against them ie a soft military coup. The regime wrongly elected the latter. The regime, say Ayatollah and his military people, was, however, right on anticipating that the road Iranians were putting them on was the same road as Mubarak of Egypt gone; Ghaddafi of Libya is almost there; and Assad of Syria must reach. But what Ayatollah and his military should ask themselves now is this; was it worthed? Only a few years more in power? At what costs to the Iranian people and their country?

They are now in a rather worse position than before; dire indeed, when talking about the parliamentary election and even future presidential one. Ayatollah is in desperate need to depict a different dictator than those mentioned above, he is right, to be fair to him, to the extent that he doesn’t speak Arabic! And he has no choice but to encourage Iranians to participate in the election. That was the reason behind the release of over 70 political prisoners recently, mostly reformist politicians. They even displayed the former president Khatami to speak about the importance of the election.

I seriously believe that Ayatollah and his military culprits gravely underestimate the Iranians’ political astuteness. That is obvious for they still do not realise the gravity of the ball people put into their court. They illusionary credited the people’s participation in that election to their own political smartness. But they may come to grasp the reality this time around, when Iranians stay at home for any future election to the same effect of what they did over two years ago. That is simply because the last time we, and the outside world, were being shown by the people what they want; and they will demonstrate the same want by sitting at their homes; on any days called the election-day; in future.

The people of Iran planted the seeds of human rights and democracy for the people of the Middle East and Africa whom are now enjoying the fruits.

Iranians are deserved the same fruits and they are going to taste it soon-I am positive.

Gaddafi gone; Assad faces the same fate; Khamenei has panicked

2011-08-27T03:26:00.000-07:00

Before the Friday Sermon in Tehran last week, President Ahmadi Nejad has addressed the prayers. In his speech, he has questioned the Holocaust, again, and threatened Israel. While his appearance in the sermon and the threats made against Israel should be examined in the context of the political developments in Libya and Syria, it still has its old link to the 2002-2003 invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Tehran has been using the rhetoric since 2005. At the time the Islamic Republic seriously believed that, after Mola Omar and Saddam, it is the next US' target. It appeared that they needed a deterrent against any possible future aggression. Particularly when their friendly gesture by the former president Khatami had been dropped on the deaf ears of the then US President George W. Bush and Dick Cheney whom rather aggressively rejected the gesture. Since then whenever pressures on Tehran increase, whether it be political, nuclear or military; President Ahmadi Nejad repeats the threats. The over usage of these threats, however, somehow turn them into an empty rhetoric. What makes the rhetoric more ridiculous today is the fact that Bashar Al Assad, Tehran's strategic partner in the region, is awaiting his fate to be handed down by the Syrian people. It is pretty clear, from the daily news coming out of the country, that now that Gaddafi has departed, Assad is in the departure lounge waiting! One can only hope that Tehran familiarises itself with these realities sooner than later.

However, if Tehran still insists that spending billions of dollars of Iran's money on the Middle Eastern terrorist organisations such as Lebanese Hezbollah or Palestinian Hamas or country such as Syria is their insurance policy against their human and democratic liabilities owed to the people of Iran; they are fatally mistaken. By Assad's departure, when it comes, Tehran would face the people of Iran and their democratic demands. Regime in Tehran would then neither be in a position to dictate its terms to its own people nor to the outside world.

Finally the only message one can relay to Tehran is that: instead of shouting threats, it would be wiser to simply acknowledge the new reality of the Middle East; a Dictator-Free Middle East. The new Middle East would not entertain dictators, and it would be embarrassingly naive to think otherwise. Millions of new generation Iranians have already handed down their verdict on the legitimacy of the regime in Tehran. Hence Tehran, take the Iran's political system into the operating room and get on with the well-over-due critical surgeries! Otherwise it would be a costly exercise to make you realize the new order.

Notwithstanding of the foregoing Tehran's shouting is not a bad thing in itself after all. It tells us that; they are worry.

Islamic Republic Only Responds to Real Power

2011-08-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

President Ahmadi Nejad of Iran has signalled the Islamic Republic's positive view towards Russian step-by-step nuclear offer. The offer has been on the table for a long time but the Islamic Republic had categorically rejected it before. The question is what has forced Tehran to change its view now.

Perhaps we should search for the reason on the other side of the globe in Washington. The US State Department is reviewing its terrorist organisations list. And the People's Mojahedin E Khalgh (MEK) of Iran, the most organised opposition group to the regime of Tehran, has a real chance of being removed from the list. While the Tehran's recent response may well be a tactical one to derail the possibility of the MEK removal from the list; it once again corroborates the true nature of a regime which is extremely vulnerable against its own people, internally.

Conscious of this reality combined with the fact that the MEK is the only group among the opposition of the IRI abroad capable of standing against the Tehran's military machine; the IRI had no choice but to take a much more prudent approach. Especially after Egypt; now in Libya and imminently in Syria; the Iranians are witnessing how easy is to get rid of a dictator. The IRI therefore decided to utilise its main bargain chip, the disputed uranium enrichment, against the US. However, at the time of writing the IRI mobilizes its former president, Muhmmad Khatami, the West-sweetheart, as well to publicly announce his intention to run for the presidency in the coming presidential election next year. Both the nuclear signal and the Khatami's announcement are designed to cloud the State Department's mind. But what the IRI also flagged inadvertently was its vulnerability and apprehension. The IRI will do, I believe, whatever it takes to hinder the possibility of the MEK's removal from the list first. And it will also go to any extent necessary to keep the flares of the Egyptian; Libyan; and the Syrian revolutions away from the highly flammable Iran's society.

But the US must be very cautious in dealing with President Ahmadi Nejad and his friends in Tehran. Their announced readiness to discuss the Russian nuclear offer is only that; "readiness to discuss", nothing more. It does not necessarily mean anything. They have over played this tactic before and are known for using such tactics as long as it serves their purpose. It is now up to the US as to whether it falls into the same trap once again or not.

The MEK's members are the only people determined enough to stand and fight back the kind of atrocities committed against the peaceful Iranians by the Revolutionary Guards; its paramilitary branch(Basijis); police; and their plain cloths organised pressure groups over two years ago. The IRI therefore sees the MEK as the only credible threat, in a sense of fighting its fully-armed military machine, to its existence. As a matter of fact, since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, it has done all it could through its proxies in Iraq to eliminate this group in Camp Ashraf.

The US has a golden opportunity to remove the group from its terrorist list now; and assisting itself by assisting the Iranians in their battle towards human rights and democracy.

Thank you

2011-08-09T22:20:00.000-07:00

Something good and interesting has happened this week. I don't know how but it is extremely encouraging. Number of readers on my both blogs English, here, and the Persian, Farsi, here, has jumped by almost two hundred percent. I thank you all for your time spent here. That gives me extra needed energy to up-date my blogs more regularly.

I believe we are going through a period of political transformation in the Middle East, Africa and the wider world. While few dictators of the regions have already been toppled; the Libyan; Syrian and the one who speaks my language are desperately resisting. That is why I strive to write as much and as often as I possibly can here. We need to monitoring the situation on the grounds in those countries constantly and continuously. We then convey unfolding events and information to the wider audience promptly. That is my intention.

Ex-Dictator In Cage

2011-08-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

No comment!

Bashar Al Assad's Time Is Up

2011-07-20T17:37:00.000-07:00

The Assad's regime in Syria is at the verge of collapse. Reports, however, suggested that the Revolutionary Guards and Police of the Islamic Republic are desperately trying to save his regime. I am not particularly concerned about Assad, his regime or the Syrian people; that is their problem. But when it comes to reasons for Tehran to get behind its strategic partner; I am very concerned. Simply because those reasons directly link to the human and democratic rights of the people of Iran.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union over two decades ago, in 1989-90, it seems that Syria and the Islamic Republic have tied their convenient alliance to such extent that it now appears the livelihood of one is a prerequisite for the other's. This has become even more evident after the military arrival of the United States and its allies in the Middle East-the invasion of Iraq. The Islamic Republic feels vulnerable and seriously exposed. That is why it has always used the vulnerability of Israel in its neighbourhood as the only lever available to it against the US military might. Perhaps that explains the Tehran's mentality to send its military and police advisers; even though reports suggest that their forces are on the ground as well, to assist the Assad's regime holding on to power.

Furthermore, both Tehran and Damascus have smelled the scent of Jasmine all over the Middle East and Africa! It was only two years ago when reports from Tehran suggested some tall; ugly faced; Arabic speaking forces were on streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities crushing the peaceful Iranian demonstrators. It now seems that Tehran is paying back the Damascus' favor!

However, the both capitals are missing a critical point. The change of political systems in the Middle East is inevitable. People of the region are now, thanks to the powerful and pervasive social networks available to them, aware of their basic rights and the true value and rights of being a citizen in a country. Change-Train is heading forward full-steam; and is unstoppable. What indeed is unfolding before our eyes is a developing fact that "the Iranian Nuclear-Train" - which President Ahmadi Nejad has long been referring to as not having a break and/or a station along its route - is in fact the Democracy-Train. It is moving ahead fast and needless to say that anyone with sound-mind should not stand on its track.

p.s. By the way; I am not naive of the fact of Neo-liberalism existence and its global agenda, however, on the balance; I believe we should rely on our people only!

Generals Rule Iran

2011-07-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the head of the Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, has made it clear that Iran is being officially ruled by military. In an interview this week he has outlined the requirements for a politician, in particular he mentioned former president Mohammad Khatami, to participate in Iran's politics!

While generals being the ushers of Iran's politics since the last rigged presidential election has been a widely perceived fact both inside and out of the country, this is the first time that the top general has publicly drawn lines for politicians in Iran.

The general was speaking after president Ahmadi Nejad had dropped a bombshell on his military organisation earlier in the week accusing it of smuggling goods into the country using its many ports operating independently and undetected by the country's custom authorities. President Ahmadi Nejad suggested that the general and his colleagues may have other interests, rather than their ideology, to protect after all. "Iranians are smoking close to two billions US dollars value of cigarettes each year; the amount is so big motivation for first class smugglers in the world including "our revolutionary brothers", president Ahmadi Nejad gave an example at a conference for fighting against smuggling held in Tehran last week.

Generals were not happy at all about the remark. Mohammad Ali Jafari denied the suggestion and defended his organisation assuring the proper running and the legitimate use of their controlled ports. It is no secret, nonetheless, that the Revolutionary Guards Corps has been involved in all sorts of business activities in recent years. They have bought into a wide range of money making businesses from the telecommunications and infrastructures to win oil and gas projects without tender! They now, according to reports, control close to 80% of the country's economy. Yet the president revealed their appetite for money and the extent to which the generals were prepared to go to make more. While there have always been rumors about the generals' involvement in the business of drug smuggling into Iran and through to the European market for a long time; president Ahmadi Nejad now adds the smuggling of goods into the country to his "revolutionary brothers'" portfolio. The president certainly exposed the scope and scale of their operations.

Damages have been done; and the top general is angry. Perhaps that was the reason for him to signal the former president's, Mohammad Khatami, "return to politics" as he put it. But his conceit deludes him of his position in Iran today. He and his colleagues should remember the fact that Iran is not Burma and it certainly is not in Southeast Asia. They are in a wrong country; a wrong region; and certainly dealing with wrong people and above all their name is not 'Junta'! Our good generals are mistaken.

A Worried Leader

2011-07-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

He was speaking a day after the United States sanctioned his top Police and military people including the Police Chief and his deputy along with a number of his Revolutionary Guards generals for their involvement in the violent-crackdown of civilians by the Assad's regime in Syria. Ali Khamenei, the so-called Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, addressed a group of selected people this week. During his speech, he was visibly worried--and he should be. After all, he is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic; and nothing would be materialised, military wise, before his approval and order. Therefore there would have not been any deployment of his forces to Syria, whether it be official or unofficial, without his blessing. Hence if the U.S. has enough evidence to accuse his Police and generals of being accessory to crimes committed against the Syrian Civilians; he is surely the one who has ordered it. The Chain of Command could then possibly link him to the alleged crimes committed by people under his command. That is a valid reason for him to being worried. During his speech, he was seemingly nervous. Last time that I saw him uncontrollably shaken was after the last rigged-presidential-election when he had seen millions of Iranians on streets chanting "down with Khamenei". This time he may have read general Ratko Mladic's story!

What is happening in Iran?

2011-06-30T02:20:00.000-07:00

Basically, few reactionary Mullahs led by Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, with the assistance of their cronies at the Revolutionary Guards Corps and a public support of less than ten percent of Iran's 70 millions population, have hijacked the country's resources and its people. This is a short and concise answer to the above question.

But the real dilemma in relation to this little minority is to find out if they are really capable of delivering what they have been pretending for quite sometimes--endangering the stability of the Middle East and/or beyond; if troubled hard. They very much like us to believe that proposition. They have been vocal about it since the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq by the US; and they are surely walking in the same direction today. For instance, days ago there was a missile attack, after a relatively quite period, on Camp Victory, a US military camp outside Baghdad in Iraq. As a result, five US personnel believed to have been killed. Robert Gates, the US Secretary of Defence, has indicated, in an interview with CNN, that Iran is the source of the hardware used in the attack---but we should always remember not to mistaken the Islamic Republic Revolutionary Guards Corps for Iran! Iran belongs to the Iranian people and until such a time they speak their view in a free referendum on what this little minority and their generals are doing in their name and the name of their country; one should be careful when attributing these actions to Iran and its people.

Leaving this aside, an Iraqi Shiite group has interestingly claimed the responsibility for the attack. It is interesting because we, confidently, know that Iraqi Shiite has not had a bigger; stronger; and richer backer than the Islamic Republic since the creation of the regime in Tehran over 32 years ago. Tehran helped Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim, a prominent Iraqi Shiite figure, both financially and militarily to form the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq in the early 1980s. The council was one of the biggest opposition group to the Saddam's regime for two decades. After the demise of the Saddam's regime in 2003, the council and other Shiite groups close to Moghtada Al Sader and its Mahdi Army joined forces almost dominating the entire political and military structures of Iraq today. Therefore it would not be a wrong assumption to suggest that; Tehran has no difficulty to pursue its political and military goals, both regional and international, using its elements in Iraq. Thus the missile attack on the Camp Victory, regardless of which Shiite group claims responsibility for it; can be seen as a direct message from Tehran to the White House. But the question is; why? What has caused Tehran to go to such extent to authorise the killing of the US personnel today?

I am not sitting at high political, military or intelligence positions having access to that sort of information to know what has really forced them to make such a move. Therefore in searching for the reason or reasons behind the attack, I can only rely on my imagination, hopefully a good imagination though!

Tehran is under immense pressures, economically; politically; and perhaps militarily--if needed to be. Day after day there come more and more economic and personal sanctions against the regime and its highest political and military figures. Recently US has named some of its top military brass as supporters of the Assad's regime in Syria and accused them of assisting the Syrian regime in its killing spree of civilians in Syria. Military people in Tehran must have surely felt the heat. Simply because this could be a starting point toward accusing them of committing crimes against the Syrian people today. While Tehran and its Revolutionary Guards may well be aware of the consequences of their actions in Syria; they may have been left with no choice but to defend the Assad's regime. They have stuck between rock and a hard place--I believe. Before their eyes, their biggest ally, Bashar Al Assad of Syria, in the Middle East is at the verge of removal. They see the possible demise of the Assad's regime as a stride toward their own. Because they are conscious of the fact that a huge percentage of Iranians are against them; internally, it makes them badly vulnerable. Externally, however, Syria was their only, known, strategic ally, as a nation, in the Middle East; which they now see its survival as a matter of do or die of their own.

Needless to say that they have used this alliance of convenience with Syria to compensate their political, economic and military weaknesses against the West over decades. And now what other choice do they have? None; except fighting along Assad and its regime. And at the same time send the strong message of that kind to the White House; they are ready to fight to death!

But I would like to put this question to politicians and generals in Tehran; doesn't a suicide make you look silly (?); just because you are not good at maths!

Pervasive Heart Disease Among Journalists and Political Activists in Iran

2011-06-15T03:47:00.000-07:00

Death of journalists and political activists while in custody in Iran has become part of daily business of the Islamic Republic. The striking similarity of all dead, however, is their heart disease only to be diagnosed after their death.

Islamic Republic has earned itself a place in the Guinness World Records this week. Three political activists have died in one week in Iran, two in custody while the third one at her father funeral believed to have been beaten by security officials and left to die at her father grave. Mrs. Hale Sahabi was the fifty-one years old daughter of Mr. Ezzat Alah Sahabi, leader of Nationalist-Religious Coalition , the first victim who has died in the notorious Evin jail's clinic last week.

The second person died in custody was Mr. Huda Saber, a journalist and political activist. Before his death, he had also been transferred, owing to his chest pain, to the clinic. But instead of being taken to a hospital immediately; he was savagely beaten by the security officers disguised as medical staff at the clinic. That is what over 63 of other political inmates, whom were told by Mr. Saber himself before his death, have said in an open letter to the media. Mr. Saber, at the time, had been on hunger strike; protesting the suspicious death of Mrs. Sahabi.

On the wake of these deaths comes the belated appointment of the UN Human Rights Council's special envoy for Iran. The council has appointed Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, former Maldivian Foreign Minister, to report on the violation of human rights by the regime in Tehran. However Tehran is not a stranger to the condemnations for its decades-long violation of human rights; without teeth of course. Tehran is the World Champion and the record holder of the human rights violation.

Nevertheless, today, considering the reform-train steaming through the Middle Eastern and African countries; Islamic Republic as a whole, regardless of being its political body; security; intelligence; military; militia; or otherwise; must be very careful. The violation of human rights is no longer tolerated by the international community. It is no longer acceptable for a minority few; just to hold into their political or economical powers and advantages; to use torture; rape and killing of innocents. I am hopeful!

Lack of Kevin Rudd on the Syrian Human Tragedy

2011-06-12T02:33:00.000-07:00

Kevin Rudd, our Foreign Minister in Australia, has the ability of seeing the international political scenery in details. He has been showing this quality soon after he became a shadow Foreign Ministry spokesperson long time ago. He showed it then; and he surely demonstrates it today as the Australian Foreign Minister.

He was very active in the Egyptian affairs during the demising days of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. He occasionally met with the opposition activists back then, and he openly expressed his view and of the Australian Government on the need for transition to democracy in that country. He supports human rights and democracy for the Egyptian people.

He was also supporting, and perhaps more than Egyptian case, the freedom seeking people of Libya in their uprising against Gaddafi. Mr. Rudd stood with the innocents who were targeted by Gaddafi’s killing machine. He was a vocal advocate of a no-fly zone against the Gaddafi’s Air Force which was bombarding defenceless people in Libya. He played his role in the passing of the UN resolution 1973 against the Gaddafi’s regime.

These stands proved his quality and ability in playing the international political chess game which is being played in Africa and the Middle East.

However, he has been quite lately over the Syrian development. I wonder why. Syria is located in the Middle East. She also plays the terrorism card along with her Middle East renegade trouble maker and human rights violator, the Islamic Republic in Iran. She, with the Tehran's assistance, have been killing Syrian civilians for quite sometimes now. And one would have expected to hear more from Mr. Rudd on the issue of dealing with Bashar Al Assad. That would perhaps constitute hitting two or even more birds with one stone–or at least this is the way I see it.

Are they playing us?

2011-06-06T21:42:00.000-07:00

Of all political news out of Iran recently, the conflict between president Ahmadi Nejad and Ali Khamenei, the leader, has been dominating the media, both inside Iran and abroad. The clash appeared to have been triggered over their constitutional powers.

Consequences of such unprecedented clash, however, could not understandably be contained at the executive limb of government. They fast transcended to the other branches, the parliament and the judiciary, as well as unelected bodies such as the Guardian Council all of which are Ali Khamenei's toys--or have a mutual understandings and benefits to consider. One should not expect for Iran to have -yet- a system of government as we know it in the West. There is no such thing as independent branches of government--they run the country like mafia. Therefore in addition to these more official and purported independent political bodies; Ali Khamenei mobilised his top brass military personnel in the Revolutionary Guards, its paramilitary militia Basijis, pressure groups (say street thugs) to attack president Ahmadi Nejad and his supporters. It was an all-out verbal war. They even threatened the president with physical confrontation. One could then only assume that a bomb explosion at the Abadan Refinery--Abadan is an Iranian city at the southern point of Iran next to the Persian Gulf--during a visit by president Ahmadi Nejad recently was a very loud message directed at the president!

Political assassinations have been, and is, a routine business in Iran's politics since its birth. A group of, eight to ten, high ranking revolutionary guards officers believed to have been close to Hashemi Rafsanjani died when their plane crashed months before the last presidential election. Months prior to that another military plane crashed over Tehran with over 100 top brass military and revolutionary guards personnel on board, all dead-and it wouldn't be hard to guess which side of politics they would have associated with. A young 26 years old general practitioner died at his dormitory recently; he had treated two young protesters, they had been arrested after the presidential election unrest, for their injuries received under barbaric torture, and appeared before a parliamentary inquiry-both young died. An academic believed to had been associated with the Iran's Green Movement died in a bomb explosion when he was leaving home for work. There is no shortage of the stories of this kind, 32 years of political assassinations in the history of the Islamic Republic is an interesting subject for a research study; for a very brave person though!

The parliament also, on leader's signal, threatened the president with a possible impeachment. After all in the Islamic Republic; the parliament is "the leader's parliament", said the speaker, Ali Larijani.

In first glance, for an observer and of course the people of Iran, these unfolding events portrayed a different president than the one who kissed the leader's shoulder years back in his inaugural ceremony!

Notwithstanding it now appears, strangely, that Ali Khamenei wants president Ahmadi Nejad to stay on for the remaining two years of his second four years term in office. Hence as much as the questioning of the leader's untouchable authorities by president Ahmadi Nejad was a new and an unprecedented move in the history of the regime in Tehran, the leader's move casts serious doubt over their noisy altercation. Basically in short and midterms, if president Ahmadi Nejad and his government stay on and the leader's overriding authorities, as his camp interprets it, remain intact; then nothing really happened after all! Except the implied message sent by the president challenge that the leader is not a sacred person who represents god on earth rather he is a human being like any other and his authorities can, and must, be questioned. Apart from this, all the noise meant nothing and a little group of people who calls themselves 'the Islamic Republic' remains happy!

If it actually happens and president Ahmadi Nejad stays on and things back to normality somewhat, we left with the question that, as I wrote here before, was the conflict real? The answer is either 'yes' or 'no'. Given president Ahmadi Nejad caved in and admitted to the leader's wish and authorities; a 'yes' answer does not really change anything and is not my real concern. However, a 'no' answer raises different questions. Why did they need to stage such a play? What factors did force them to do that? And what are they going to achieve from it?

Generally from the people's reaction to the rigged presidential election two years ago, both Ali Khamenei and president Ahmadi Nejad have learnt that they have no place among the majority of Iranians. They saw millions of them on streets chanting against them and the Islamic Republic. They also remember that they had to crackdown the peaceful opposition brutally and put its leadership under arrest. These daunting facts, they know, have transformed Iran into an explosive device awaiting a trigger. They are also aware of the fact that denying the people of Iran a domestic opposition force the people to search for an alternative opposition elsewhere. And when one adds this to the unhappiness of a Western world which is tired of irresponsible behaviour of Ali Khameni and president Ahmadi Nejad; it would be a dangerous mixture for them.

Yet I still have not mentioned the wave of revolutions against tyrants of the Middle Eastern and African countries. Ali Khamenei and president Ahmadi Nejad know that it is only a matter of time before the people of Iran loudly demand their human and democratic rights as well! Perhaps, remember we are still talking about the 'no' answer to the question of their conflict being real or otherwise, Ali Khamenei and president Ahmadi Nejad felt the need for a domestic but controlled opposition to the tyrannic regime of Ali Khanmeni--if this speculation is right, I think they are desperate. In this way they might at least try to tackle some of their serious challenges ahead. But the question is that for how long more would they be able to deny the people of Iran what the Egyptians achieved, and the Yemenis; Tunisians; Libyans; and Syrians are in the process of achieving? My answer is; not very long; not very long at all.

Mr Khatami, you are not the Iranian people's speaker!

2011-05-16T22:23:00.000-07:00

Mohammad Khatami, former Iranian president, has suggested a reconciliation between the leader camp and his killing-machine and the people! I was wondering whose people he was referring to. Because if it was the people of Iran; he has no right to speak on their behalf and/or their demands.

Referring to the post-presidential-election clashes between the leader's killing-machine and the people over two years ago, he suggested the both sides to disregard what has happened and reconcile their differences. What Mr. Khatami, as an individual, was suggesting is in fact to ignore all crimes committed against the people. Crimes such as rapes; extra-judicial killing; medieval tortures; arbitrary arrests; and/or mass graves in which perhaps hundreds, if not thousands, of the best children of this country have been buried unknown. Those crimes are not fully identifiable until such time that they being investigated by international bodies. Mr. Khatami was somehow too generous to individually spending from the pockets of thousands of Iranian families who have lost their loved ones in the hands of criminal gangs--organized at the highest level of the Islamic Republic political and military apparatuses.

Mr Khatami must remember that he is an individual who is entitled to his opinion. However, he has no right to speak on behalf of the people of Iran and their demands; particularly not those who have paid the ultimate price!

Does It Matter?

2011-05-13T23:08:00.000-07:00

After almost two weeks that the Islamic Republic's political-ship encounters stormy weather, it seems that president Ahmadi Nejad has backed down from his challenge to the leader's authority. But the question is; does it really matter?

Ahmadi Nejad may now sit beside his sacked Intelligence Minister, Mr. Moslehi, at his Cabinet meetings, but the leader's authority has already been dented in an unprecedented way. Except Messrs. Mosavi and Karobei, the presidential candidates in the last election, challenging the leader's verdict over any matter, both domestic or internationally, in the Islamic Republic used to be a 'No Go Zone'. However, we are now more often witnessing one. This very last time was in fact the second time in the last few years that president Ahmadi Nejad has done it. First time was when the leader signaled his wish to see the president's current, at the time Vice-President, Chief of Staff, Mr. Rahim Mashaeei, departure. President Ahmadi Nejad moved him into his office with greater prerogatives. That was seen by many as a direct challenge to the leader.

This time around was even bigger and noisier challenge. I wrote about it on this space.

President Ahmadi Nejad refused to accept the leader's verdict by not attending his duties for almost 10 days. He had even, after resuming his duties, asked the minister, in his first few meetings, to leave the Cabinet room. There were rumors that he has suggested that "following a leader does not mean that one has to give up his constitutional authorities as president"! If that is true, which seems to be, at the face value of violent verbal attacks he received from the leader's camp; it would be a big and new development inside the Conservative Islamic Republic. The Supreme Leader authority has more and more been questioned and undermined; his myth is being faded.

Notwithstanding of the president Ahmadi Nejad's back-down against the leader temporarily; the wheel for the removing of such figurehead is in motion now. And despite his thugs best attempts to save his face and authority; he is now a badly cracked-leader. People can now see how weak and feeble this poor-man is. In the hindsight Iranian people have shown it before on streets of the Iranian cities. They had damaged the image of this fragile leader after the election-coup two years ago. They brought down his posters marched over and burned them. In some cases-I heard-they even pissed over his images. A poor old-man at the end of his despotic road.

So that was it!

2011-05-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

Iran's leader has been spying on president Ahmadi Nejad for a while, reported by TheEconomist. Ali Khamenei has apparently used Mr. Heydar Moslehi, the Intelligence Minister, to bug the president's office. An outraged president then sacks his minister. The rest I wrote about down here.

I am now more concerned about the reason behind the move, spying on someone whom the leader went to a great extent to rig an election and put him into office. The first indication is that the main target had been Mr. Mashaei, the president's Chief of Staff who has been a controversial figure for quite sometimes now. He has been associated with a new idea of an Iranian Islamic-Culture, say an Iranian version of Islam, as opposed to an Arabic Islamic-Culture.

Traditional Iranian clerics have responded fiercely to such idea and understandably so. They see the idea a great danger to their religious authority; social status; political power; economic power; and above all their relevance to the new Iranian society. For them the killing and burial of the idea is a battle of 'to be or not to be'.

That was perhaps--I am pretty sure it was--behind the move by the leader over a year ago to order Mr. Mashaei's removal as the Vice-President. However, as a defiance, president Ahmadi Nejad kept Mr. Mashei close by moving him into his office. That was the first sign of unprecedented challenge to the leader.

This time around, however, over the bugging issue and the Ahmadi Nejad's refusal to comply with the leader decision of reinstating the Intelligence Minister, was a decisive moment for both the traditional clerics and the leader in one side and the president and his camp on the other. While the leader's side is attacking the president's camp at full-stem; perhaps for president Ahmadi Nejad and his supporters a contemplation of a remarkable opportunity they have is a must.

A Genuine Or Bogus Fight?

2011-05-03T08:39:00.000-07:00

Two years after Iran's election-coup which landed president Ahmadi Nejad in office, a new political conflict emerges in Iran, this time; between president Ahmadi Nejad and his most powerful backer so far, Ali Khamenei, the so-called Supreme Leader.

The conflict came to light over a week ago when president Ahmadi Nejad pushed his Information-Intelligence minister, perceived to be the Ali Khamenei's man, the leader, to resign. Ali Khamenei, only hours after the acceptance of the minister's resignation by the president; reinstated the minister unconstitutionally. A humiliated and publicly embarrassed president has then refused to attend the Cabinet meetings for more than a week now. He has even refused to go to his office and stayed at home for the past week or so. Furthermore he is said to have threatened to speaking-out about the affair and appeal to the public. This suggestion has, however, angered the leader's supporters, thugs, and instigated some nasty attacks on the president and his supporters from the leader's camp, mostly loudmouthed thugs, including the conservatives MPs. Because there is no such thing as an independent parliament or MPs in the Islamic Republic. The MPs went on and threaten to impeach the president over the matter.

However, president Ahmadi Nejad "has done nothing wrong", said himself. He has been constitutionally conferred with the power to appoint, subject to the parliament approval, and/or remove his cabinet ministers. Ali Khameni has gone far beyond his constitutional powers to publicly spurn the president. But then again in the Islamic Republic of Iran; law, whether it be the constitutional or any other law, and its application has no meaning whatsoever.

There is no such thing as the independent branches of government. The country is being run by a bunch of buddies headed by the leader and his pressure groups, mostly thugs. This recent event in hand is a perfect example of an independent executive branch where the president has no real power over his cabinet. And when president Ahmadi Nejad stayed home for over a week, as a way of protesting and defending his constitutional power; the leader unleashed his thugs using the most vulgar language to threaten him to death.

The so-called legislature's response to threaten, with just a telephone call from the leader's office, the president was yet another example of another branch of government being a puppet legislature. This was not however a surprise at all. Right after the disputed presidential election two years ago, the house's speaker, Ali Larijani, was under attacks from the leader's pressure group; he then called the house, the "Ali Khamenei's Parliament"!

What about the judiciary? Come on! That is a joke! We remember the extra judicial killings. We remember the arbitrary arrests; and the medieval tortures and rape used as political tools to break the resilient protesters. We remember the Political Show-Trials during and after the disputed presidential election. We remember the political prisoners' wives, children, fathers, mothers and the relatives being kidnapped and kept hostage just to silent their loved ones. Here again, like the Legislature, the leader's thugs running the show! That judiciary must be burnt down and rebuild from the scratch.

The only questions remain unanswered are that: is this conflict for real? Is there any attempt by president Ahmadi Nejad to undermine the leader? His reluctance to accept the leader's verdict could certainly be interpreted as such. And this was not the first time either. He has, despite the leader's opposition, kept his current Chief of Staff, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaeei, before. That was interpreted as a defiance of the leader's wish at the time.

What we see unfolding in Iran as a power struggle between the leader and the president has in fact a bigger and deeper element at its core. That is what the leader's camp has claimed to be a revolution against the Mullas' dominating political authority, orchestrated by Mr. Mashaei, the president's Chief of Staff, and his associates. Now regardless of who is the winner of this recent wrestling match between president Ahmadi Nejad and the leader; I would like to see a cocktail of future matches with the political cyclone currently passing through the Africa-Middle East regions. It gets us all drunk with a lovely feeling! Trust me.

2011-04-05T01:52:00.000-07:00

In light of the political unrest in Bahrain and the military involvement of Saudi Arabia to assist the Sunni political establishment in the country with the majority Shiite population, the timing was right to write on the Sunni-Shiite relationship since the creation of the Islamic Republic in Iran over 32 years ago. I posted a lead on the issue here.

Unfortunately, the time has been hectic recently, both at work and study. Therefore I had to remove the lead for now. I am sorry for that. I am still interested to write the piece, however, don't set a time.

Compromise? At What Price?

2011-03-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

The Islamic Republic's political-battle-ground has seen some significant turnarounds in the past week or so.

The most significant development was the replacement of Hashemi Rafsanjani, the chair of both the powerful Expediency Council and the Assembly of Experts, up to last week, and one of the most prominent architectures of the Islamic Republic, from the Assembly last Tuesday. He himself, not contesting, cleared the way for Mahdavi Kani, a reactionary cleric close to Ali Khamenei, to basically occupy the chair on behalf of the leader!

Earlier in the week in yet another Hashemies' back-down, Mr Mohsen Hashemi, the son of Mr Rafsanjani, had resigned from the management of Tehran's Underground Metro. The control over the blessed asset has always been the subject of an ugly feud between the Rafsanjani's family and the conservative government of president Ahmadi Nejad. Mohsen Hashemi and his father were widely perceived as ardent oppositions to president Ahmadi Nejad.

Days prior to these, leader's thugs had attacked Faeze Rafsanjani, the daughter of Hashemi Rafsanjani and once a member of parliament, and threatened to kill her, her family and his dad. It sounded like the ultimate message to the Rafsanjanies, left them to choose between only two options; either you are with us or against us--familiar phrase, though Iranian version.

Given the seriousness of the internal political-crisis of the Islamic Republic compounded by the effects of the recent social upheavals against dictators in Tunisia, Yemen and Egypt; both Rafsanjani and Khamenei were aware of their options and the ensuing consequences. For Khamenei the only way forward, after putting Mr Mosavi and Karobi, the Green's leaders, under house-arrest, and at the same time threatening Mr Rafsanjani, was to, in fact, materialise those threats. However this would have had dire consequences for him and his generals; and perhaps led to the implosion of the Islamic Republic political establishment, if not immediate, in the short-term. That was more like a suicidal option. Besides, they had to ask themselves a question, say they manage to survive the implosion, what good does the removal of the local oppositions bring for them? The answer was simple; none. In fact, such move would force Iranians and the West to search for oppositions elsewhere! Khamenei and his fellows would not want that; that was a given.

Hence they were more inclined to compromise. The unusual and rather quick response by Ali Khamenei to publicly embrace Rafsanjani's move and happily congratulating him on the matter of the Assembly's election was a clear indication of his relief. Khamenei went further and denounced what he had orchestrated himself, using the most vulgar language by his thugs against Rafsanjani's daughter just few days earlier. If all these were not enough to show his jubilation; Khamenei signaled his thugs to move Mr Mosavi and Karobi along with their wives back into their homes, they had been moved to safe houses since Bahman 25, Feb 14. By these quick concessions to the Rafsanjani's moves, he was hopeful to cement some sort of going back to normality after close to two years of the tense political situation in Iran.

For Rafsanjani and the Green's leaders, shielding in the same trench, on the other hand, the consequence of differing could have been more dangerous and immediate. They could be physically eliminated i.e. thugs may invade their homes and kill them by the name of Jihad (an Islamic call to fight against the god's enemy). That way Khamenei could wash his hands and blame the revolutionary people. For example, Nephew of Mr Mosavi has been shot dead in a peaceful demonstration in Tehran last year. That was a clear warning at the time. Moreover, Rafsanjani, Mosavi and Karobi all knew that they are in the same Islamic Republic Ship as are Khamenei and the generals after all. The ship has now encountered the worst heavy seas in its 32 years old voyage; Iranians are demanding their freedom and democracy; and the West is worrying with the regime's nuclear ambitions and its support and links with terrorist organizations. In addition, the recent demise of the dictators in Tunisia and Egypt has mirrored Khamenei's fate. From the three's view points, there was no logic in their actions if they were to be thrown off the board with the prospect of the ship itself being wrecked only later. After all Mr Mosavi and Karobi have all along shown their commitment to the Islamic Republic Constitution. Alike Khamenei and his camp, Rafsanjani, Mosavi and Karobi also knew the destiny of the Islamic Republic should harm come their way.

Having this picture in mind and given the importance of the Rafsanjani's move, giving up the Assembly's chair where the Assembly is constitutionally conferred the power to dislodge the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamnei; the move was received by the Khamenei's camp as a good gesture. They appreciated it very much and readily expressed their willingness to accommodate the other side reasonable demands. But in all these political maneuvers between the Islamic Republic political factions; an absolutely imperative element is lost. That is the people of Iran. Where do they stand in the Iran's political-equation? Are these political factions able to ignore the people's demand? Do the Iranian people admit to the totalitarian regime should the political rivals reconcile their differences? Do the most educated people in the Middle East accept living under whims of a despot while the rest of the Africans and the Middle Easterners are getting rid of their dictators? I don't think so.

Dictators' Appetite For Power

2011-03-04T06:04:00.000-08:00

What we are witnessing unfolds in Libya and Iran today is a display of appetite for power. That is the dictators’ appetite to stay in power a bit longer at whatever cost. Their appetite is apparently peculiar among all dictators; much stronger than any other form of appetite we, the ordinary people, maybe aware of; that it forces them to such extent to even hire foreign mercenaries to kill their own people! Interestingly, they pay their hired guns from the pockets, their country’s resources, of the very people they are killing.

For the people living in a free and democratic society where they are born and grown up with their human and democratic rights already guaranteed under a strong constitution; story of this kind is hard to conceive. They are as much strangers to a one-man-political-show as to see military and police personnel become involve in politic. Even more strange to them would be watching the country’s judiciary acting as a tool of trade in the hand of a dictator. But that is what the dictatorship is all about. After all the only distinction between the democracy and dictatorship is the 'rule of law' as Hon KITTO J of the High Court of Australia puts it so eloquently in Ziems (1957):

"Without the rule of law, democracy is but a misleading and empty phrase, for the contrast between a democracy and the totalitarian State lies essentially in the reliance, by people wedded to the democratic ideal, upon the law. The substance of democracy is that the State should be subordinate to the needs and welfare of the common individual, and that subordination can only be achieved when the structure of the State ensures that all are bound by a system of law that is defined and ascertainable; which is capable of change in accordance with the wishes of the majority constitutionally expressed; and which is publicly and effectively administered by judicial officers drawn from a profession trained in traditions of impartiality and incorruptibility."

And now when we see positive signs of end to the dictatorship era; a dictator such as Col Ghaddafi of Libya proves the extent of brutality he is prepared to go; hiring foreign mercenaries against his own people. Fortunately civilised world is not going to sit ideal and watches while he butchers his own people. The UN Security Council and the NATO both responded promptly and accordingly. Since his action is not without precedent; his Iranian counterpart, Ali Khamenei has done it before many times; the international bodies should be willing and prepared to act should Ali Khamenei desperately decide to go down the same route. He has imported Lebanese terrorists, from his terrorist group Hezbollah, to suppress Iranian people in many occasions. The very recent one was on 25 Bahman, 14 Feb this year, when he imported 1500 Lebanese terrorists to Iran, reported by the London-based Al Shargh Al Osaat Arabic-English newspaper. He used them in the crackdowns of the Iranian Green’s gathering on the day called by Messrs Mosavi and Karobi. The importation was in addition to those tens of, if not hundreds, Lebanese terrorists who are being trained at the Ghods Forces', a branch of the Islamic Revolution Guards, camps inside Iran at any one time.

While behavior of this kind by these remnants of dictatorship era is a shock to those living in a democratic society; it has been the dictators’ usual business, albeit clandestine, in decades. Tens of thousands of Libyans and Iranians, just in current cases, who dared to politically oppose these dictators' ruling have been tortured and killed in summary executions whom we haven't heard much about in the past decades. Today, however, there is a positive side to all these shocks and horrors. Both the Libyans and Iranians have exposed the brutality of their dictators. They forced the dictators to bring out to the surface what they have been doing in secret for all these years; arresting; torturing; raping; and extra judicial killing of their political opponents in dark places away from our eyes.

Nonetheless the dictatorship era is visibly coming to end. After the former presidents of Tunisia and Egypt, Bin Ali and Mubarak, have given up their power under their people's pressure; it is only a matter of time before Ghaddafi of Libya and Ali Khamenii of Iran have to go too. The only good the killings of Libyans and Iranians is doing for them is to add to their long list of crimes that they have committed against humanity during their years in power.

IRANIANS AGAINST THEIR DICTATOR

2011-03-01T14:13:00.000-08:00

Iranians came to streets to demand the release of Messrs Mosavi and Karobi, the Green Leaders. They are chanting against their dictator in tune of "after Mubarak of Egypt and Bin Ali of Tunisia it is now Syd Ali's, first name of the so-called Supreme Leader, turn to go".

IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC?

2011-02-28T15:28:00.000-08:00

Iran's dictator and his generals arrested Messrs Mosavi-Karobi, the Green Leaders, along with their wives.

IRAN UNDER SIEGE

2011-02-26T19:36:00.000-08:00

Iran's dictator thugs are attacking the daughter of Hashemi Rafsanjani 's, ex-Iranian president, the chair of both the Expediency Council and the Assembly of Experts. They use the most vulgar language possible against her!

Iran's Dictator and Generals at the Same Familiar Two Ways Road

2011-02-25T06:52:00.000-08:00

A year and a half ago, before the rigged presidential-election in Iran, Iran's dictator,Ali Khamenei, and his generals had reached the end of a two ways road and had to make a hard and chilling decision. They either had to let people exercise their democratic right and impose their will of change which would have gradually and eventually undermined the dictator's position; or stand on their way by force. They chose the latter. They grossly underestimated the people's resoluteness; and now are paying the price, while find themselves at the same spot. This time, however; they neither have the discretion to simply choose between the ways nor an unlimited time.

Last time it was one year before the rigged election in Iran, when the dictator and his co-culprits reached the conclusion that in order to hold on to their political power and privileges; they must bypass the people’s vote. It was despite the election of president Obama into the White House earlier and that he has extended his unclenched fist toward Tehran. It was also, and more importantly, at the time when a young, and long-awaited, Iranian generation has sensed the opportunity to materialize their aspiration for democracy. However, having ignored the significance of the timings the dictator and Co went ahead and executed their coup project–they made a selfish unforgivable strategic mistake.

By doing that, Khamenei and Co not only denied the Iranians an historic opportunity to taste their freedom and democracy after almost 100 years of struggle but also botched the chance of repairing the well-dented US-Iran relation after 32 years of hostility. Such relationship was, and is, more important and beneficiary to Iran and its people than to the US. The main unanswered question remains; why? Why did Khamenei and Co jeopardize the historic opportunities? There could only be two logical explanations for their irresponsible behavior.

First is that they were, and are, honest about what they are claiming to be. That is that they are a group of magnificent holly men who are only holding to their Islamic regime as their theological beliefs command. Khamenei has argued all along that the West and “the US in particular are in the region to topple their holly regime.” Therefore they had no choice but to stand firm and defend their religious beliefs. They justified this as a duty under god upon themselves. They accused the opposition, Green leaders and the people who voted for them, of not being politically astute.

This was an old ware-out justification, though, rooted back to a period after the 2003 Iraq’s invasion. Back then when the Khatami’s, former Iranian president, letter of cooperation to the White House ended up into the rubbish bin under the Dick Cheney’s desk; the Islamic Republic clenched its fist. It considered that as a matter of national security necessity. In fact the then US president G.W. Bush, his vice-president Cheney and his Defense Secretary, Ramsfield had all implied that the Islamic Republic and its dictator were heading in the same road and direction as Saddam did. Since then those threats have been significantly played in the hand of the Islamic Republic’s reactionaries under Ali Khameneei’s leadership. They brought in Ahmadi Nejad, simply a puppet with big mouth only, to dealing with those threats. The rest we all know about; questioning the Holocausts; threat to destroying Israel should Iran be attacked; moving Israel to Alaska etc he used to talk since he has been put into office.

But the biggest challenge Khameneei and Co are facing is the selling to the Iranian public the holiness of their actions. It is particularly challenging in the face of the crimes committed against people in the aftermath of their coup. Crimes such as rape; torture; and extra judicial killings committed against peaceful demonstrators; orchestrated by the dictator and his generals are all considered unIslamic. That means they are against the god and its book’s, Quran, teaching. In other words whoever commits such crimes cannot possibly claim to be a true Muslim let alone predicate them to save Islam, Quran or even god’s will. Many of those crimes are punishable by death in Islam. Holly men fighting for god and the survival of his religion are not to commit crimes punishable by death in his book! Ali Khamenei and his generals cannot even claim to be a true Muslim.

This leaves us only with the second logical explanation for their election-coup; that is Khamenei and his generals are just bunch of ordinary belonged-to-past politicians–mafia criminals–and money hungriest. And that they sensed a potential for a new US-Iran relation and simply tried to get rid of their domestic rivals to usher that relation with the West and in particular with the US and claim its credit.

Nevertheless, as politicians, they were not as smart though. To start with; they have mistaken the president Obama’s offer. President Obama and his administration sought a new and sound beginning with Iran and its people. They have never meant to have a new beginning with a dictator supported with a bunch of criminals. President Obama and his advisers were well aware of the difference between the 20th and 21st centuries relations; they knew the Cold War era, when a president of the United States and his advisers had an extra overriding element to consider, has long past! Khamenei and Co were well behind the time though! They misconceived the Obama’s offer badly and when at the two ways road; headed full-steam in the wrong way.

What Ali Khamenei and Co did before the rigged presidential-election was a huge mistake on their part. A mixture of arrogance, miscalculation, not knowing the scale and scope of the people’s determination; and wrong historical perception led them to incompetently ignore the aspiration of millions of Iranian for freedom and democracy. While they were conscious of the fact that the new Iranian generation is a silent resister; yet dared to ignore them. They have now found themselves trapped in their own created mess. They are facing an angry young Iranians who had initially come to streets asking for their ignored vote; but now chanting “Down with Khameni”; “Down with Dictator”; or “No to Gaza No to Lebanon I only give my life for Iran”; and “long live the Iranian Republic-as oppose to the Islamic Republic”!

One and a half year after the rigged election, the Islamic establishment has found itself at the same two ways road; it was before then. Only this time has no discretion to choose which way it should take; and not much time to think. If it makes a mistake; soon we won’t have such thing as the Islamic Republic which we used to know in the past 32 years.

BREAKING NEWS; Another Islamic Republic Diplomat joins people against the dictatorship in Iran

2011-02-20T17:32:00.000-08:00

Mr Ahmad Maleki this week has left his post in Milan, Italy, in protest against the killing of people in Iran.

Surgeries of the Cancerous Dictator-Tumor

2011-02-17T03:41:00.000-08:00

Recent people uprisings in Tunisia, Yemen and Egypt against their dictators are not just about some political wounds needing a temporary bandaging or to be cured by small surgeries here and there. They rather have the common characteristic of an advanced cancerous tumor which required an immediate surgery. The surgery was belated, however a must in order to have a new and healthy political environment in Africa and the Middle East--it seems the White House and the West in general are agreed too.

Now after those countries' dictators ran for cover, Iranians learned that how easy is to get rid of a dictator; they came to streets this week demanding their dictator removal. While learning may not be a right word in this context; since Iranians were on streets after Iran's rigged presidential election over a year and a half ago, well before the Tunisians and Egyptians, their demand is the same; they want to see the demise of Tehran's dictator after more than 20 years; or indeed 32 years of the Islamic establishment.

Iran's Green chose Bahman 25, Feb 14, wisely, just three days after the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic revolution in 1979 held on Bahman 22, every year. Choosing a different day was intentional; because they did not want their protest against the Iran's dictator, in line with the Tunisians and Egyptians, being hijacked by the regime. They successfully came to streets chanting in a tune of "after Bin Ali (Tunisian Dictator), Mubarak (Egyptian Dictator); is Syd Ali's, the first name of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic; Iran's Dictator, turn to go." While they faced and dared strong armed paramilitary Basijies (a branch of the Revolutionary Guards), and two young students have been shot dead; they achieved their goal.

Their presence on streets against the dictator and his supporters has served two purposes. First and foremost, they proved that their movement is very much alive. Contrary to what the regime and its military establishment have been trying hard to prove otherwise. Secondly, they sent a clear message and ultimatum to the dictator and his camp. The message was conspicuous; we are young and educated; the dictatorship era is over; acknowledge it before it is late.

While the Green Movement means the young new Iranian generation which is without a doubt invincible; it needed yet another ignition after over a year silence. They are illuminating. The angry responses we have been getting; since the protest in the past three days, from the dictator's camp are self-evident. Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Islamic Republic Parliament, has angrily threatened to initiate a committee investigating the Green's leaders, Mr Mosavi and Mr Karobi for "their anti-revolutionary behavior." It should be noted here that after the last year presidential coup; Mr Larijani, the so-called Speaker of the house, had called Iran's Parliament; "the leader's Parliament". He does not even know what parliament means; and to whom it belongs. He is simply not fit for the position. Moreover, the so-called members of the Parliament have gone further; demanding the executions of Mr Mosavi and Mr Karobi. In response; different students and university organizations have threaten a revolutionary response should any harm comes to the leaders or their families.

The dictator and his camp are now facing a serious challenge with unknown, or perhaps known, consequences. They have had the Green's Leaders, Mr Mosavi and Mr Karobi, under house arrest since Bahman 24, a day before the demonstration. They have also severed their connections with the outside world. And at the time of writing there are reports suggesting that organized-thugs, governmental, have surrounded their houses.

The last card for the dictator and his thugs to play is to arrest or try to harm them in the name of the revolutionary people's response--the way with which they have been executing their crimes against humanity in the past one and half years at least. However, that would be their last mistake--I strongly believe. Just to be sure, I would like to see; and it is extremely necessary, the West directly and openly warns the dictator and his thugs against any such crimes now!

A Failed Negotiation; Now What?

2011-01-27T07:21:00.000-08:00

It ended with no result. It was doomed even before it begins. But I sometimes wonder whether the representatives from the Islamic Republic and the 5+1 countries, the US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany, would like to get together and; talk just for the sake of talking.

I am curious to know if these two negotiating sides had envisaged any real solution to their prolonged nuclear dispute when they agreed to talk again after almost a year. Basically their talk is more like a hostage taking negotiation than a nuclear one. On one side of the table is sat a man, Mr. Saeeid Jalili, who represents an illegitimate government; read it a small group of people who has taken Iran and its people hostage and turning the country into a big prison. And just to be sure, he and his friends have been, accelerated in recent years, stretching their terrorist limbs around the Iran's immediate regions, since the Islamic Republic inception over 31 years ago, and more recently in Africa. Their recent arms shipment to Nigeria goes without saying. Questions have also been raised over their ability to have planted their terrorist cells in Europe or North America as well. Notwithstanding, when at the table, or from their tribunes in Iran, they surely try to communicate that message; clearly asking a huge ransom. They essentially say; your idea of prevalent human rights and democracy for the Middle East, Iran specifically, does not work; we want to be in charge of the country as we have been in the last almost 32 years; we want to run Iran, the most strategically important country in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, as the most barbaric dictatorship of the Middle East history; and you accept that! They also say that since we do not trust you; we want to have the Big Bomb handy as well!

On the other side of that table, however, the 5+1 is vividly conscious of those crucial propositions. But at the same time is very much attentive to the fact that in such hostage crisis situation; one cannot trust hostage takers. The stake is too high, and the embracement of a compromise at any price may prove catastrophic. Therefore for the US and its allies, Russia seems moving to become one and China is facing a hard choice-- my guess is that she has to come along as well, the single fact of the Iranian people's inspiration for freedom and democracy overrides the other dim factors. That is perhaps why since the coup last year, US and friends have been hammering this little group of Mr. Jalili and associates, mostly military persons plus Khamenei, with sanctions. The 5+1 cannot possibly entertain this little people's demands.

Now it shouldn't be hard to guess the single; but very dangerous question, the 5+1 has to find an answer at the table; can you give the hostage takers such a prize? I would say that is inconceivable--Tony Blair (former British Prime Minister) agrees, in his recent appearance in the committee investigating British involvement in the Iraq war; he reiterated the absolute necessity to have this people stopped. No wonder the 5+1 has sent Mr. Jalili home empty-handed. There was no other viable option. This only leaves open the door for serious implementation of the existing sanctions; expanding the scale and scope of them; and/or introducing more painful sanctions. Or else which is not my expertise!

Is the Supreme Leader Dead?

2011-01-20T05:09:00.000-08:00

It was last week all over the Internet, web sites, blogs and social networks that Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has died.

If it turns to be only a false rumour, it doesn't really matter, a media sensation has been created and everything will go back to normal soon. However, if true, he has been a known cancer patient for quite sometimes, his death puts an already fragile military regime in a daunting position. It is a widely known fact that after the rigged presidential election last year, the military regime is visibly apprehensive and unstable. It has experienced streets protests by millions of Iranians chanting against the leader and his military associates. There were even occasions, unofficially reported, when aircrafts had been taxied to the runway to take Khameneei and many of his generals out of the country. We also know that the only way this military machine was able to manage the situation since last year was to literally turn Iran into a big prison!

Now after his death, if true, this military machine needs to coronate someone, discussions have been around for quite sometimes, as his replacement. But this by no means is an easy task. Nominating and appointing a Supreme Leader has constitutionally accorded to the Expediency Council*, currently headed by the renowned pragmatist politician, Hashemi Rafsanjani. Rafsanjani enjoys the support of the majority of the council members, and he himself is a known foe of the appointed president Ahmadi Nejad. Legally, in this situation, any attempt by the generals to shun the council puts them in a collision course with the country's constitution. Having said that, during the aftermath of the generals' coup we have learned that law is the last thing they are concerned about!

Basically this situation leaves the generals with only two potions. First is to try to crown a new leader of their own choice, something similar to what they did in the presidential election, with no regard for the constitutional procedures. However, such action creates a constitutional crisis in the country. Given the semi-revolution demonstrations displayed by the Iranian people last year, such move by the generals possibly creates an environment where people would be able to force them into unpredictable bold responses, bringing their military hardware into streets. That is what they have been able to avoid so far, at least in an apparent way. Because that could have potentially triggered the beginning of their end at the early stage of the coup.

Their second option, however, is to ostensibly follow the council's line, but threatening the members behind the scene to support their preferred candidate. Since this doesn't sound like a viable option for the generals, I tend to believe that the council and those of pragmatists politicians in the system will succeed to convince this little, and not very wise, group of generals that if they don't change course; perhaps it wouldn't be long before their pictures end up on the playing cards!

Nevertheless, in the event of Khamenei's death, the most influential party involved is the people of Iran. While their Green Movement has been violently suppressed in the past one and half-year; it is still very much alive. The movement means over 70 percent of the country's 70 millions population; they are not to being shepherd by force for an unforeseen future!

This military regime may have been able to hold the country and its people hostage for now. But should Khameneei dies, a created leadership vacuum would force the generals and their reactionary clerics allies to try to appoint a replacement. That would once again place them in direct clash with the country's constitution and the sovereignty of the people. This sounds as the beginning of the end to me!

*Article 107 of Chapter VIII of the Islamic Republic Constitution

Referendum For Iran

2011-01-09T21:23:00.000-08:00

What Ali Khamenenei, the so-called Supreme Leader, and his little group of reactionary mullahs did during last year's presidential election in Iran and the ensuing street-protests by millions of disgruntled Iranians was a clear indication of the urgent need to assess the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic system of governance, which can be done only by consulting the Iranian people in a referendum.

Ali Khameneei, with the assistance of his few appointed, unelected clerics and his Revolutionary Guard buddies, executed a plan, that signaled Ahmadi Nejad to set his government's policy for the next five years; a year before the election. This act constituted a coup against the will of close to 25 million of Iran's 40 million eligible voters.

Last year, Ali Khamenei and his billionaire generals and disciples basically had only two choices. They either could give up their lucrative business deals, which amounted to over 80% of the country's economy, and relinquished their political powers in the short or medium term, or stand against the people with their guns drawn. They opted for the latter because they very well knew that their political and ideological views were, and are, at odds with those of the new generation of Iranians. They also knew that the former option entailed the prospect of being investigated for any crimes committed against humanity. What they didn't know, however, or perhaps knew but proceeded anyway, was that doing so fundamentally changed the election's character from a simple presidential election to a significant referendum on the Islamic Republic's legitimacy.

What actually happened was, in essence, a clash between the people's will and the Supreme Leader's power and authority granted by the Islamic Republic Constitution. Khamenei and his appointed few have always maintained that they merely are exercising their constitutional power and authority, but we now know that millions of Iranians were in the streets last year chanting against his authority, tearing his posters down and burning them in disgust. Those actions were a consequence of his still asserting his distorted powers under the constitution and leading the coup against the people's sovereign right to elect their president, despite his control over the candidates' vetting through his appointed Guardian Council. People felt insulted by his arrogance. The following national protests by the Iranian people have dislodged him already, in a sense; he has lost his legitimacy. And because he derives his authority from the Islamic Republic's constitution, the protests also have rendered that constitution illegitimate.

I should say here that I am not a fancy person, nor are these claims bold and fanciful. Iranian's 80% participation in the election, the highest in recent history, was an astute political move on their part. They did it on purpose because they wanted a change, mainly constitutional, in the powers of their leader and his unelected appointees. Their unprecedentedly high turnout cornered that leader and his gangs, forcing them to make a difficult decision. The result completely disenfranchised the Supreme Leader and his unelected appointees under the Islamic Republic's constitution.

The message for us is that the new Iranian generation does not recognise the Islamic Republic's constitution or this guy as its sole powerful tyrant. The referendum was the mean by which the new generation of Iranians desperately tried to get rid of this little guy, Ali Khameneei, and his reactionary followers and generals. In other words, the people are telling us that the constitution is where the real problem lies. They also are telling us the 98% support for the constitution, which this group claimed from the old Iranian generation over 31 years ago, is now irrelevant. This new generation of Iranians is now in charge of its destiny and a new official referendum is a must for the country to both rectify and ratify its highest legal document, the constitution, by its sovereign people.

But we know very well that Khamenei and his colleagues have no intention to respect the people's sovereign right - they proved this by the election coup last year. Therefore, I like to believe that the international community has a moral duty to assist Iran's people with their attempt to regain their sovereignty. The alternative is a civil-war somewhere along the way. The French fought one, Americans did it; and I am sure that the Iranian people are also capable of doing it for their freedom. The international community has an opportunity at the nuclear negotiation table to demand a referendum as a requirement for establishing the regime's legitimacy. I am not sure how realistic this would be, but I can only say that the timing is right and such referendum would serve the best interests of both the Iranian people and the West. After all, whom does the West really want to negotiate with, and what guarantees can it get from them? Can this little guy and his associates really offer the West assurances? I really doubt it. Iran, as a unified nation, must give these sort of guarantees; no one can offer them except Iran's sovereign people.

After a clear majority of Iran's eligible voters demonstrated their dissatisfaction by rejecting this guy and his Guardian Council's authority, he and his disciples cannot, and must not be allowed to, make the absurd claim of representing Iranians and their country on the international stage. Iran's new generation has registered unequivocally its 'No' vote on the Islamic Republic's constitution. If Khameneei and his conspirators are to repudiate this claim, there is only one way to settle the dispute, there must be a real referendum, observed by independent international observers, on the Islamic Republic constitution's content.

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T18:37:00.000-08:00

Sydney last night in a spectacular fashion celebrated the start of the 2011. Estimated one and half million Australians and tourists from all around the globe had gathered around the world-famous Sydney's icons, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, to watch a well-done creative fireworks--it costs the NSW residents 5 millions dollars though.

Nevertheless, people experienced a joyful night to carry with them its pictures through the year.

I would like to wish you and your families all a safe, happy and prosperous year.

Who Is The Real Human Rights Violator?

2010-12-24T20:15:00.000-08:00

The UN General Assembly last week has passed yet another resolution to condemn the egregious violations of human rights in Iran. The resolution was also to underline the international community's concerns over the Islamic Republic treatment of Iran's dissidents.

While the Islamic Republic is not a stranger to such condemnations, it has been condemned almost every year since its birth over 30 years ago, it is a mistake to attribute the violations to the state of Iran. After all states do not commit crimes; individuals do. Just a quick look at the history of the last century, shows us that the history has not been in shortage of dictators. There have been many people in the past who considered themselves as political leaders, revolutionary leaders, head of states ... etc; and they all committed worst possible crimes against humanity that one could not even imagine. Examples are people like Joseph Stalin of Russia, Pol pot of Cambodia and more recent one, Saddam Hussein of Iraq.

In these cases it was not the state of Russia, Cambodia or Iraq which committed crimes but the individual leaders did. This view has been supported by the ICC (the international Criminal Court) in recent cases of Charles Ghankay Taylor, former Liberian president, and Omar Al-Bashir, the current president of Sudan. Both have been indicted for their committed crimes in the respective countries. Furthermore, while the UN itself, since its inception in 1945 and for whatever reasons, mainly politics which may have been justified in the past, had always restrained from directing its criticisms or condemnations to individuals, it has been slowly but surely drifted from this approach in recent decades.

Today however, the UN has condemned the state of Iran for the violation of human rights. But according to the foregoing examples, the state of Iran is not, and has never been, able to violate human rights or commit crimes against humanity. But the individuals in power such as Ali Khameneei and his Revolutionary Guards generals are, and most probably have been. They are those whom must be held responsible for their actions and condemned; not the state of Iran.

Tragedy at Sea

2010-12-20T19:19:00.000-08:00

30 people have lost their lives, 18 more are still unaccounted for, and 42 have injured in a horrific sea-disaster last week just meters from the shores of the Christmas Island, Australia. Heavy waves smashed their boat on rocks on the Island on Wed 15, December. They were Iranian and Iraqi refugees, 90 in total, on board of an Indonesian wooden fishing boat.

It is said the trip was arranged by an Iranian people-smuggler. These people believed to have paid thousands of dollars each, including number of children, to secure their passage to Australia.

While the blame game was on--as usual, the underlying reason behind the tragedy of this magnitude was untouched. Politicians regardless of their affiliations were all jumping into race to make some mileage out of it. The relevant policies, immigration and processing of refugees reaching Australia, which could or could not avoid this kind of tragedy were discussed.

What was not discussed, however, was the situations on the ground of countries where these people had come from, Iran and Iraq. Iran, a country under a militarised despotic regime in which, only since the last year uprising, thousands of people arbitrarily arrested, tortured, killed and disappeared. There are still thousands in prisons, and their family are being threatened and harassed. Iraq on the other hand, 7 years after its regime change, is still unstable. The country hasn't had a government in power since its last parliamentary election in March. The religious and factional killing are still going on daily bases. Only months ago its Christian population were threaten to either leave Iraq or facing death.

Therefore before jumping to the conclusion and label these may well be 48 dead people as illegal immigrants or queue jumpers ... etc; Australian politicians may need to take a matter of this kind to the UN and its relevant bodies such as the Human Rights Council and the Human Rights Committee for the investigation of those countries' human rights record.

What now?

2010-12-17T19:29:00.000-08:00

Well, more than a year ago, after experiencing over 30 years of dictatorship, a new generation of Iranians decided to take the helm of its destiny. They went to the polling booths to elect a new president. They did that on the backdrop of the irrelevancy of their participation; had the leader and his unelected buddies chosen their own candidate. However, the young Iranians were clever. They purposely decided to participate and by doing so put the ball into the dictator's court. It was done in a unique way as well--by close to 80% participation. They basically left the dictator and his associates with no choice but to have the result rigged. For the people, the timing was right too. It was after the US presidential election and the international community had focused on Iran and its presidential election. In that sense Iranians sent their message loud and clear to the outside world; we are sick of dictatorship. The world received the message and responded accordingly.

Not only president Obama has so far refused to talk to the leader-appointed president Ahmadi Nejad; but he has also utilized the toughest sanctions yet against the regime of Mullahs in Tehran. The so-called Supreme Leader and his associates had wrongly perceived president Obama's message, when he offered an olive branch to the would-be Iran's president before the election. There was a little technicality, I perceived, surrounding the president Obama's offer. He was ready to talk and shake hand with a freely elected president by the people of Iran; not just 'any president'. That was a mistake on part of the Iran's dictator. My perception, up against the dictator's one, is supported by all of harsh treatments of the appointed-president Ahmadi Nejad and his government. The toughest sanctions yet have been drawn against them both by the UN and individual states such as the US are the direct results of the dictator's misperception.

What now?

Both the Iranian people and the West are against this little group of the so-called leader and his appointed government; for different reasons however. There are some facts to be considered first. This group has turned Iran into a big prison and the Iranians into prisoners. At the same time, in order to ensure their security, the group is eagerly pursuing a nuclear device. Simultaneously it has also activated all their terrorist networks both regionally and internationally. They had recently shipped two cargoes of weapons concealed as building materials into Africa which have been sized by the respective African governments. They are worried of their position against the Iranian people and the outside world.

But an interesting development this week added to the excitement of the Iran-West game. A recently released Wikileaks document suggests Australia believed that the Islamic Republic's nuclear activities are of the deterrent nature only. What does that mean? It may be interpreted as "we can talk to these people." This is a dangerous proposition. While from a westerner view-point, who has been involved in two wars for too long, it may look an attractive proposition; it doesn't work. The price is unimaginable. This little group has no hesitation of killing its own people by any means just to hold to their position. They have been threatening Israel and the rest of the world by their long-range missile capabilities. They have been actively pursuing nuclear bomb. They have an army of terrorists based in Lebanon--Lebanese Hezbollah. They have their connections with Syria, Hamas, Al-Qaeda and all the terrorists organizations you can name. Whoever wrote and suggested that 'we can talk to these people'; must answer a simple question. Does he or she really think if it comes to this group political livelihood; they will hesitate for a second to use a nuclear bomb on Israel or any European targets Or hand a device to their terrorist associates?! These kind of political analysis are just gross miscalculations.

In a simple hostage taking scenario; you cannot and should not negotiate with hostage takers. If you do; you will put yourself in a very awkward and vulnerable position in future. Now imagine a terrorist is going to acquire a nuclear device and have the Middle East and Europe and the rest of the world as his hostage. Do you talk to him or just simply stop him attaining the bomb? It does not really mean, in Iran scenario, attacking the nuclear sites is the answer. A big NO. Because these people considers it as their best possible scenario; since they still stand on their feet and they then can easily massacre their political opponents in Iran. That would be a disaster for all parties concerned. The best option is to leave the task to the Iranian people. How? By implementing the already measured sanctions on their full capacities. Given tens of millions of Iranians denounced the regime and wanted it changed, the economic sanctions give them enough impetus to finish the job.

On the other hand this little group is controlling billions of dollars of oil and gas revenues from Iran. Their livelihood and their terrorists associates are depended on the revenues. Well, put as much pressure economically as possible on them to make them realise that they have to choose between two options only. Either submit to the people's will Or go to war with the prospect of paying the ultimate price!

Sending any other signal may cause you getting what you may have not planned for.

Islamic Republic Is Neither Iran Nor Republic; And Not Even Islamic

2010-12-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

The outside world has been deceived for so long to recognise the Islamic Republic Regime in Iran for Iran. The regime has also purportedly presented itself as a republic and an Islamic state as well.

Is it really a Republic?

The Islamic Republic of Iran is not, and has never been, a republic. It would be simplistic to call the Islamic Republic's system of government a republic; just because it has a president as its head of state instead of a monarch. Republic as a system of government has its own conceptual meaning. Oxford dictionary defines the republic as "a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote", emphasize added, whom directly or indirectly elect their leader. This profound right of citizens is then supposed to be protected by law. That is the constitutional law of such state which translates to the contents of the constitution itself. In that sense a quick examination of the Islamic Republic's constitution, however, reveals boundless flaws which render it effectively worthless than the paper it has been written on. Article 57 of the constitution provides "[T]he powers of government in the Islamic Republic are vested in the legislature, the judiciary, and the executive powers, functioning under the supervision of the absolute wilayat al-'amr"*, emphasize added. The article impliedly brings all the three branches of government under the realm of the leader. An example of the leader exercising this over-arching power was in 1981 when Ayatollah KhomeiniIn, the founder of regime, found his relationship with Dr. Abolhassan Banisadr, the first president of the Islamic Republic, lapsed; he had the president impeached by the Parliament and then removed him from the office. But article 110 of the constitution more explicitly, and without a doubt, removes the people's sovereignty all together and bestows it wholly in the hand of one person, the leader. It astonishingly confers the following powers and authorities to him:
"110 (1) Delineation of the general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran after consultation with the Nation's Exigency Council.

(2) Supervision over the proper execution of the general policies of the system.

(3) Issuing decrees for national referenda.

(4) Assuming supreme command of the armed forces.

(5) Declaration of war and peace, and the mobilization of the armed forces.

(6) Appointment, dismissal, and acceptance of resignation of:

     (a) the fuqaha' on the Guardian Council.

     (b) the supreme judicial authority of the country.

     (c) the head of the radio and television network of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

     (d) the chief of the joint staff.

     (e) the chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.

     (f) the supreme commanders of the armed forces.
...

(9) Signing the decree formalizing the election of the President of the Republic by the people. The suitability of candidates for the Presidency of the Republic, with respect to the qualifications specified in the Constitution, must be confirmed before elections take place by the Guardian Council, and, in the case of the first term [of the Presidency], by the Leadership; " emphasizes added.

According to the article 110(6)(a) above, the leader appoints the members of the Guardian Council. The council then in turn, provided by the article 110(9) above, over looks the presidential candidates' qualifications and the suitability. Then after the citizens cast their vote; both the leader and his appointed council reserve their assenting power over the result. Basically the whole process is nothing but a sham. Presumably Ayatollah Rohollah Khomeinei, the founder of the regime, loved to assume such notorious powers--as all dictators do.** In addition the leader, more officially by appointing and the power to remove, holds his domination over the judiciary as well, article 110(6)(b). However, during his ascendancy except that of president Banisadr case, Khomeinei has never, at least in an apparent and obvious way, interfered with the the government's branches. By contrast his successor, Ali Khamenei, the current so-called Supreme Leader, has exercised those powers in many occasions --the recent ones were before, during and in the aftermath of the last year rigged-election.

A year before the election, when president Ahmadi Nejad was in his final year of his first term in office, in a meeting with him and his cabinet; Khameneei had instructed him to plan and study his government policies the way as he would be president for the next 5 years! What he was signaling then was simply determining the result of future presidential election! The rigged-election therefore was his own play to ensure the Ahmadi Nejad election. And after that, his rejection of the demands for the investigation of election irregularities was obviously predictable. So was his orders to savagely crush the peaceful protesters on streets; extra judicial detentions; barbaric tortures; raping and the killing of innocent people.

The Islamic Republic is not and has never been a republic.

Is it Iran?

Having a president doesn't merely make Iran a republic. According to the country's constitution the people's vote has no effect on the final determination of a presidential election result. Appointing president Ahmadi NejadAhmadi Nejad into the office of president in a direct contempt to the people's will was a clear demonstration of constitutional power of the leader in action. On the other hand ensuing demonstration of power by tens of millions of Iranians on streets wanting their votes back was a clear indication of a clash. That is a constitutional clash between a dictator sitting on the top of the country's constitution and the people. This is a new generation of Iranians, almost 50 millions under 35 years of age, whom are against the constitution which was cemented in by the last generation of Iranians, their parents! In contrast supporters of the constitution, however, have always argued on 98% votes for the constitution. What they don't like to answer though is that who were those 98% people and; where are they now? The answer is simple. They are either dead or perhaps over 55 years of age. Those who are still alive in comparison with the new young generation of Iranians will form less than 30% of the 70 millions Iran's population. That was the leader and his associates dilemma when they tried to put Ahmadi Nejad into the office of president against the people's will. The new generation of Iranians had no role in the creation of the country's constitution. They ardently denounced it last year. When you are in a situation where people of a country are against the establishment in its entirety, the constitution; you cannot possibly relate the system and its government to the country. The Islamic Republic is not Iran.

Nonetheless, so far international community has granted this regime and its appointed governments, through out its history, their international status and recognised them as Iran. But we, the friends of free Iran, believe this attitude towards this people must be changed. They have no mandate from the people of Iranian and until such a time they do; they are not representing Iran and its people. Their representative therefore is only representing a dictator and his close associates.

Is it an Islamic state?

How Islamic is the regime? I am not sure, since I am not a religious scholar. But I only know that, by Islamic rules, rape, especially boys, is punishable by death. And we have been witnessing a systematic rape of political opponents has been adopted as a political tool against Iranian young during and aftermath of the rigged-election by the regime. In addition medieval tortures, in many cases people killed under tortures, and extra-judicial killing have exercised just for the leader to hold into his political power. We learned through the history of the regime that the highest or sometimes, again I am not an expert to know how and under what circumstances, a lower ranking clerics has the authority to issue a Fatwa*** for such crimes to be carried out. A Fatwa such as the one Ayatollah Khomeneei, when he was alive, issued against Mr. Salman Roshdi, the British author, to be killed. However, I haven't heard that such Fatwas can be issued for rape or barbaric tortures under which a victim can be killed too. Many Islamic scholars inside the country saw these actions unIslamic, condemned them and distanced themselves from them.

p.s. The statistics provided on the demographic of Iran's population are the authors' personal view only. However, the percentage of under 35 years of age is in fact registered statistic which compromises over 50 millions people.

* The so-called Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
** Nevertheless, those who had anything to do with the drafting of such constitution are guilty of treason, treason against the Iranian people and their sovereignty. It is a matter for future investigation.
*** Fatwa is a religiously issued order. It can be issued to kill someone in the name of god or religion.

A nuclear negotiation Or just A time wasting exercise

2010-12-06T19:17:00.000-08:00

I initially intended to present here my insight on the issues that - I think - may be on the negotiation table between the Islamic Republic and the 5+1 powers (the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany). However, owing to a hectic week I had, I was unable to finish it. I apologise for that. Nonetheless, since the meeting is already underway, I am going to briefly express my view on what I think would happen in Brussels.

In doing so properly it would be a good idea to look back at the history of the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and when and how it started. It was Mr. Mohammad Khatami, former Iranian president, who on Feb 9, 2003 announced Iran's program for building sophisticated facilities at Natanz and several other cities that would eventually produce enriched uranium. February 2003 was a month before the invasion of Iraq, on March 2003, by the US and the Coalition of Willing Forces. Just a simple coincidence? May be or may be not. I found it hard to believe, considering the intelligence and diplomatic world, that a big neighbour such as Iran was supposed to sit dully and witness the mobilisation of a huge military forces around its long, over 900 kilometers, border with Iraq without being informed about it in advance. I would argue that Tehran had most probably known that the invasion was inevitable at the time of Mr. Khatami's announcement. It is also probable that, even before that, Iran had been given assurances over its security. Mr. Khatami's announcement then may be interpreted as what Tehran would have thought deters any future adventurer.
When we trace back Tehran's behaviour in regard to its nuclear matter in the past 7 years, it certainly points to that direction. The Islamic Republic, not Iran, we should remember that, during this period has always been vocal about its security--that is of course the security of a bunch of power-hungry unelected people like Taliban in Afghanistan or Saddam and his fellows in Iraq--and asked for a security guaranty from the US in return for abandoning its enrichment program.

If this is a correct assumption to draw a link between the Mr. Khatami's announcement and the invasion of Iraq in 2003; then it leads us to believe that Tehran considers its uranium enrichment capability along with its parallel long-range missile program--it is tirelessly pursuing--as its insurance policy. For Tehran, in that sense, nothing has really changed since the last meeting they had with the 5+1 over 14 months ago. The only change occurred in this period is that since the last year rigged-election and the following protests by tens of millions of Iranians chanting against the Islamic establishment; the regime has lost its legitimacy domestically, if not internationally for now. The 5+1 is now conscious of that fact; they heard the Iranian people's fervour for democracy. This single fact, I strongly believe, was behind the US' boosted confidence to successfully pursue and convince the Security Council, the European Union, Japan, South Korea and the rest of its friends in the world to tighten the sanctions' noose.

The noose is now tightened badly around the neck of Revolutionary Guards generals and their political associates such as Ali Khameneii (the leader) and their appointed president Ahmadi Nejad, whom jointly overtake 80+ percent of the country economy. They are desperately trying to offer themselves as a viable partner at the negotiation table. But they are not; the 5+1 is attentive of that fact. It knows that this government and its representative cannot give what they don't have. They are unstable. And an unstable regime in Iran and the Middle East for that matter has no credibility to offer anything. Therefore the 5+1 cannot possibly afford to risk any compromise without guaranteed human rights and democracy for the people of Iran. Simply because it is the people who can give you guaranty and stability.

In this sense, any compromise on the side of the regime must force it to return to the same position as it was before their last year election-coup. This is, I trust, the desirable out-come for the 5+1. And perhaps the new sanctions were designed to achieve that goal. But Tehran did not expect it, and the scale of sanctions caught them by surprise. Very least--I would say--Ali Khameneei (so-called Supreme Leader) and his associates have been fooled by the president Obama's friendly gesture before the last year presidential election in Iran. They wrongly interpreted the president gesture as a green-light to bring the country under their clout, while--I believe--president Obama only intended to gauge their popularity and standing in Iran. When they failed the test, it came the most stringent sanctions against them.

These developments have changed the setting for this meeting, the parameters have been changed, said the White House Spokesman recently. The significant difference is that the Mullahs' regime has received a no-confidence vote from the people of Iran. The election-coup and the ensuing unrest undermined the very sovereignty of this regime. Iran now officially runs by mafia which has gone on rampage and indiscriminately eliminate their opponents. Now imagine this mafia has an ambition to acquire a Big Bomb too; the result is unimaginable! The new-sanction regime was a consistent response to this fact. What the mafia wants, other side of the table, is to be left alone and be given a security guarantee by the US. In fact they have always wanted it since the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Nonetheless, the US, its allies and the world community, understandably, have always been more cautious in dealing with Tehran for a single and simple reason; the young Iranian generation. The generation which forms close to 50 millions of the total 70 millions Iran's population. These are those who mostly were on streets chanting 'death to dictator', the so-called Supreme Leader. They are the crucial elements to be considered by the West at the table.

In conclusion and considering foregoing, this negotiation is not going to yield any meaningful out-come. The 5+1 has no choice but to tighten the noose and eventually, if it is necessary, use other means as well to hit many Middle Eastern birds with one stone. It also needs to stand with the Iranian people in their battle against a tyrannic regime which in a sense is for its own benefit!

A Screwy Supreme Leader Who Lost Touch With Time

2010-11-27T08:14:00.000-08:00

More than a year later with thousands of victims many of whom raped; tortured to death; and killed, the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader, Ali Khameneei, was talking to his co-culprits Militia Basijis - the killing machine - this week.

It was during the Ghadir Khumm Eid - an annual festival which commemorates an event happened on March 10, 632 AD at a place called Ghadir Khumm in Saudi Arabia. He was telling this little but fully armed forces, against unarmed and defenceless civilians of course, that his political opponents were, and are, acting against Iran's national interests. A pious deception by a self-righteous person who last year dared to stand against the will of tens of millions of Iranians whom peacefully tried to retake their country back at the ballot boxes. But what he did was not only an election-coup but also a display of his inability to digest the reality of the real-time Iran. On the eyes of those millions; he is irrelevant. He is angry about that. The anger reflects on his further arrogant threats against people.

Whilst he and his co-culprits are extremely worried about the potential people's reactions to future ramifications of the UN-US sanctions and the danger it may pose to their illegitimate authority, they moved this year ceremony to a remote small area out of Tehran. Their purpose was to force a very small number of Basijis, probably in hundreds or thousands, into a closed area in front of their own cameras, taken photos and films purportedly showing a large numbers of fervent disciples. However, this kind of political gimmicks will no longer fool anyone in or out of the country; they only further prove that how desperate their situation is. Needless to mention, this regime has been in the business of feeding photoshop created photos and/or manipulated films to the outside world for years. I would not be very wrong if I explain their business as of the necessity of compensating steady drop in their popularity due to Iran's demographic changes during the last 15 years at least. As the population of young educated Iranians grew so did the numbers of whom ridicules his nonsense authority. That was exactly what he met last year on streets of Iranian cities.

Nonetheless, and regardless of their desperate manipulative attempts, to see the uncertainty of his shaky holding to power, one only needs to read between the lines of his remarks this week. "Our outside enemies were happy to see people protesting on streets and now they are trying to help them out", he said. He was referring to the sanctions and the following pressures for a democratic Iran in which human rights are protected. An Iran where there is no prisoners of conscious. An Iran where law rules. An Iran where there is no arbitrary arrest. An Iran where there is no torture. An Iran where there is no extra judicial killing. But the fact that he is an alien to all of these was depicted on those barbaric bashing; torturing to death; and the killing of peaceful Iranians last year. It further illustrates his incapability of appreciation of Charles Darwin teaching some 150 years ago that human beings need adaptation and variation in order to survive new times and circumstances.

But the good news for the Iranians and the outside world is that he and his co-culprits are nervous. They are worried about the unknown. That is the unknown results of would-be devastating economic sanctions against him, his generals and his close associates; the mafia which controls over 80% of the country's economy.

Now such a little guy in Iran walks around the region and world spending billions of dollars of Iran's money, belonged to the Iranian people, on terrorist or alike organizations just to inflate his feeble image and claim his credential in the Shiite Islamic world. However, scholarly, he is effectively nobody in the Shiite Islamic world. He is nowhere close to the prominent Shiite scholars such as Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Iraq, or of the Lebanon's late Sayyad Mohammad Hussein Fadl-Allah, or even many other Ayatollahs in Iran. Yet he self-declared himself the World Shiite Muslim Leader. In that sense he is pretentious too.

World has got nothing to be worried about this guy, his ability or his co-culprits in Iran or his terrorists networks around the region or elsewhere. Internally, they are weak and vitally vulnerable against the Iranian people. Externally, all terrorists groups they have been, and are, supporting are living on the monies coming from Iran's oil and gas fields. If you hit an octopus' head; his arms are of no use!

Friends of Free Iran

2010-11-23T09:39:00.000-08:00

As you may have noticed, I have been actively updated this blog recently. There is a reason for that. I, and the Friends of Free Iran, strongly believe Iran is now officially a lawless country. A country in which the concept of 'separation of powers' does not exist. Just because a constitution drafted so corruptly which confers in a single person - Wali Faghih (Supreme Leader) - such an absolute power that can only be described as fraudulent. A single person - today Ali Khameneei - who acts god. This is madness. A person at his 80+ years of age; yet by himself alone decides over the lives of tens of millions of Iranians and their country! A person who along with a bunch of well-paid loyalists, read a number of Revolutionary Guards generals and their Basijis militia, holds Iran and its people hostage and denies them their sovereignty.

This small group of people, perhaps, numbering less than 20 with a minority supporters of 10 percent or less out of the total of 70 millions people; have no right whatsoever to enforce their will upon the majority. Notwithstanding these figures are not scientifically produced, until such a time when an independent international body holds a referendum - simply because this regime has no credibility to conduct such a referendum - asking all Iranians, regardless of where they live, their views on the current system of government; no one is in a position to repudiate these numbers. Thus the very sovereignty of the Islamic Republic in Iran is questionable.

Friends of Free Iran is advocating such a referendum and strongly believes Iran must be returned to its sovereign; the people.

Counting Down for the Tyrannic Regime in Tehran

2010-11-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

President Obama this week has urged the US Senate to pass a bill - currently is being debated in the Senate - to clear the way for signing a nuclear pact with Russia. He called the treaty "imperative for the US national security."

Interestingly the debate in Washington has coincided with other - apparently separate but well-woven - developments at the world stage. First and significant for us in Australia was the visit by the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, along with her Cabinet colleague the Secretary of Defense - Robert Gates. They were here to discuss a greater military coöperation between Australia and the US. Both sides emphasized on a stronger military ties which may be translated to a stronger US military presence in South-East Asia. This, based on China's global activities including in the region, should have understandably happened earlier. However, my guess is the White House had been carefully studying its arch rivals and calculating proper responses accordingly. What it meant is the US foreign policy-making-machine had been mixing all the available economical and security ingredients and put them into its foreign-policy-oven. What Ms. Clinton announced last week in Australia, and the president adamantly said on the importance of the nuclear pact with Russia are both - I believe - the end products out of the oven. The products are finally presented to world for tasting. There is a fundamental shift in policy regarding Russia though; and understandably so.

Comparing the Missiles-Defense-Shield-Program of the Bush presidency, seen by the Russians as a direct threat to their national security, president Obama has apparently walked away from it. Not only did that, he has also invited Russia to join a similar program which expands all over the European countries to protect them from evils in Tehran. But I would suggest it is not the president by himself alone behind the idea today. It was - I believe - probably the entire US political machine that reached a turning point in 2008 - at the time when Russia invaded Georgia. Projected by the current Prime Minister of Russia Viladimir Putin - president at the time - back then by his uncompromising action over Georgia; the alternative was unimaginable. That caused the US to change course in relation to its arch rival of the Cold War. Since then it has received good - but calculated - responses from Moscow.

And today in light of increased feasibility of using force, in order to stop Tehran's generals making a Big-Bomb and consequently endangering the world peace and stability, against the tyrannic regime of Mullas in Tehran, Russia's role has been magnified. In any event relating to Tehran, Russia would, undoubtedly, be a serious player. US now seems to acknowledge that fact, and accords Russia with incentives - rather than deterrents in case of China - such as the nuclear pact with a further option to coöperate with or even joining the NATO in future. The incentives may also deem necessary in the wake of a recent new development - the deployment of M1 Tanks to Afghanistan by the US after almost 10 years war - reported by the Washington Post. Russia needed its insurance policy in case of any significant escalation in the existing war in Afghanistan or should a new conflict with the tyrannic regime in Tehran triggered. The bell is ringing loud and clear for the regime in Tehran.
Notwithstanding of existing hurdles the tyrannic regimes are unacceptable in the Middle East and must be dealt with accordingly; especially Iran. Counting down for the regime in Tehran has long been started.

Are we heading towards a new conflict?

2010-11-14T21:21:00.000-08:00

After a lengthy delay, the next nuclear discussion meeting between Iran and the 5+1 countries (the US, the UK, France, China, Russia plus Germany) is scheduled for December 02. Before that, I would like to draw some attentions to some existing discrepancies.

After the rigged presidential election last year, the legitimacy of the president Ahmadi Nejad's government has been stripped off by the Iranian people. Tens of millions of whom, world was witnessing, on streets of Iranian cities chanting against Ahmadi Nejad and the Islamic establishment. Now, a representative coming from Iran to represent the country has no mandate from the people of Iran. He would then be only capable of representing an illegitimate government. He should therefore be received as such only. He comes in his capacity as representative of Ali Khamenei - the Supreme Leader - Ahmadi Nejad and a small number of military and security people who orchestrated the election coup last year. These are the people whom committed enormous crimes against Iranians since then; and international and human rights law would define them as criminals against humanity. Iranians do not recognise the government runs by these people. The US has also recently signaled that "changes in circumstances" have affected any future negotiation; which probably should be interpreted as of meaning of the foresaid.

Furhermore and as a matter of fact, the very legitimacy of the Islamic regime itself with Ali Khamenei, as Wali Faghih or the Supreme Leader, has been undermined by the majority of people. And the legitimacy of this regime will never be restored unless the regime agrees to hold a referendum under a UN's mandate asking the Iranian people if they want such theocratic regime in Tehran. The chance of regime entertains such a demand is zero; simply because it knows better than anyone else that it has no legitimacy whatsoever. It knows very well that as soon as it removes the lancet from the people's throat; there wouldn't be an Islamic regime in existence anymore. This view is supported by the fact that close to 70+% of the Iran's current 70 millions population are under 35 years of age. This corresponds to more than 49 millions of the country's population whom had not been born, or must have had been under age of 5 years, at the time of so-called revolution in 1979. Notably this huge chunk of the population have got nothing to do with the establishment of the current Islamic regime except being oppressed by it. These people mostly formed those millions on streets of Iranian cities last year protesting against Ali Khameneei, the Supreme Leader, and the very existence of the Islamic regime. Iran belongs to them; they are the true owners of the country. And they did not vote for Ahmadi Nejad.

Considering the view point of the 5+1 countries at the coming up meeting, it would be imprudent by any standard to ignore these numbers; and think such an unstable government is capable of holding any meaningful negotiation on behalf of these people and their country. Nonetheless, according to signals already received from the world community since the election, I tend to believe that the 5+1 heeds the same view, though it ostensibly negotiates with this government. It has visibly avoided actions which inimically affect the interests of the Iranian people. I trust the new sanctions measured against the regime have been designed to serve that goal too.

At the negotiating table the 5+1 is facing some serious questions. Questions are included but not limited to: what an illegitimate government of Ahmadi Nejad has or is indeed able to offer without the support of its people? How stable such a government or regime are? How much can we bet on an old horse? Can we afford to be complacent in light of their active pursue of nuclear device?

All in all, an illegitimate government or its regime can not give what they don't have. The guarantee and authority lie with the people of Iran.

Please don't ever try again!

2010-11-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

Islamic Republic Generals Are Contemplating A Dangerous Game

2010-11-12T02:32:00.000-08:00

It was in news today that Mr. Manochehr Mottaki, Foreign Minister of the Islamic regime of Iran, has traveled to Nigeria. The purpose of his trip was to sorting out the recent crisis of heavy-arms shipment to the country which is believed to have been loaded in the port city of Bandar Abbas, south of Iran.

Reports suggested that two Iranian business men were purportedly behind the shipment. However, whoever has a little knowledge about Iran tells you that these individuals have not been in a position to simply ship such a military cargo out of the country. Unless of course they had the shipment authorised beforehand. Such authorisation could have only been given at the highest level of government and military - most likely the Revolutionary Guards Corp (RGC). That is why, perhaps, the request made by the Nigerian authorities to have access and interview the individuals involved, now took refuge in the Islamic regime's Embassy in Abuja, was categorically denied by Mr. Mottaki. His government and his fellow revolutionary guards friends in Tehran are worry, and they should be, about the out-comes of such interviews.

Nevertheless, I am neither really concerned about the real shipper or shippers of the cargo nor its contents. It is simply because being concerned about these are just time wasting exercise. What really concerns me though is the mindset of military people in Iran. That is those who last year did the coup d'etat against the people of Iran. Those who took Iran and its people hostage. Those who complacently think that they have established themselves as a tainted military regime; and the game is over! Those who by the support of their regional terrorist organisations led to believe that they have the instability of the Middle East at their finger tips; and now try to reach out their fingers at the instability-button of Africa and beyond.

That is a dangerous game this little minority in Tehran is contemplating. This game is my real concern; and I strongly believe that it should be the concern of the peaceful world as well. I am sure; it is. But there is a simple enough solution for the dilemma; only Tehran tries to depict it as unthinkable.

A Terrorist's Blunder

2010-11-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

It seems to me that those billions of dollars of Iranians' money the Islamic regime in Tehran has spent to create and maintain the Lebanese Hezbollah, terrorist organisation, over the last three decades has returned its dividend. Beside sponsoring terror operations, it has also made the Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrollah, confused. Two days ago, he called Iran an Arab country! "There is nothing Persian about Iran", he said.

I can only envisage two possibilities for such a blunder. First, since Hezbollah is the main suspect in the investigation currently undertaken by the UN tribunal commissioned to investigate the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafigh al-Harriri; Nasrollah himself is under immense international pressure. Nasrollah has recently rejected further access to his lieutenants. However and regardless of his rejection the tribunal is closing on his lieutenants, and he has visibly panicked. After all he is the head of this terrorist organisation and understandably under his command nothing would have been executed without his blessing. He has all motivations to have simply wanted to divert the international attention away from himself - or perhaps his godfathers in Tehran!

The second possibility on the other hand may well be related to the pressure on his godfathers in Tehran. Representative of whom, appointed president Ahmadi Nejad, was in Lebanon recently. While he was there, tension was on the rise all over the region. President al-Assad of Syria, Nasrollah himself and even the current Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Harriri, the son of the late Rafigh Harriri, all talked about the fragile political situation of the Middle East. Ahmadi Nejad has taken his government domestic troubles to the region - mainly Lebanon. His government and the Islamic regime are under pressure both domestically and internationally. On the domestic front, since the last year election coup they have lost their legitimacy. Millions of Iranians on streets of Iranian cities were chanting against the so-called Supreme Leader and his appointee president.

At International level they are on the collision course with the international community over their nuclear stand off. The interesting point however is that they are unable to divorce this challenge from their domestic problems - human and democratic rights for the Iranian people strongly demanded at the last ballot boxes. Undoubtedly the international community has heard the Iranians' wish and responded accordingly. The UN Security Council and the US have drawn the yet toughest sanctions against the regime of Tehran. The new sanctions have mainly targeted the Revolutionary Guards Corp and its generals. However, since the generals have their hands all over the country's economy, these new measures will have negative effects on almost all aspects of the life of ordinary people on streets. And perhaps this is the nexus which connects the dots between Ahmadi Nejad's recent trip to Lebanon, talks of rising tension in the region and the Nasrollah's blunder.

Notwithstanding of these possibilities and/or the intention behind his nonsense talk about Iran; Hassan Nasrollah must seek new fathers elsewhere. Because human rights and democracy for Iran are inevitable. And a democratic Iran does not need a terrorist and his organisation; and will definitely not spend a single cent on them!

Millions who opposed his authority are microbes; uttered the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader

2010-10-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

The Islamic Republic Supreme Leader, Ali Khameneei, has recently visited the holy city of Ghom–the Vatican City of Shiite Muslim in Iran. And there he called the Iranian people; "microbes".

The visit was his first after 10 years. It came amid his legitimacy crisis in which he is battling since the last year presidential election in Iran. Since the election and his siding with president Ahmadi Nejad and the Revolutionary Guards' generals, he has been seen responsible for all the atrocities committed against young Iranians. He is also known as the master mind behind the generals' soft coup d'etat. Because of these, his reputation in and out of the country has been dented beyond repair. During the last year protests people on streets of Iranian cities have torn his posters down, burned them, and shouted; "death to Khameneei".

This forced the organizers of his trip to take paid-people, this has become a normal exercise for him and his president Ahmadi Nejad wherever they travel inside Iran, to the city before his arrival just to make a welcome parade! It was during one of his appearances in the city when he dared to call his opponents, the people of Iran and their Green Movement, "microbes". It wasn't the first time, however, his appointed president Ahmadi Nejad and many of his generals have done the same before; insulting the people of Iran and calling them names!

Nevertheless, and regardless of his insult to the people, the visit has been seen by many as a desperate attempt on his part to reaffirm his authority and legitimacy by seeking the Clergy support. He now, in the face of unknown repercussions of the most stringent sanctions yet taken against his tyrannic regime by the UN-US, more than ever needs the support. It is vital for him. But his authority and leadership have both been undermined by many of the same clerics whom he sought their support. And while so far he and his gangs have managed to oppress those clerics; he and his generals seem visibly anxious. Their anxiety reflects in his out of control calling millions who opposed him "microbes". He and his president Ahmadi Nejad are extremely worry about the consequences of the new UN-US sanctions. They have in many occasions threatened people against any possible civil unrest resulting from the sanctions.

Nonetheless, he certainly knows that selling of the bashing, stabbing, torturing, raping and the killing of hundreds of Iranians, in the name of securing the so-called Islamic Regime, to many prominent clerics in the Iran's Vatican is not an easy task. Many of these clerics have publicly denounced him. After all most of them had formed the view over decades, or at least purport it, that the Islamic Regime is a holy regime! And they have apparently been preaching the god's words for their entire life. And now they are witnessing such a brutality against people in the name of god and his religion, Islam!

To sum up, while it is true that so far he has been able to silence those clerics who oppose him using his gangs including militias, Basijis (under control and the direction of the Sepah Pasdaran (the Revolutionary Guards), which have constantly attacked, damaged properties, and injured the clerics' followers; there is not much time and surely not many tricks left up his sleeves. Martin Luter king Jr is absolutely right "that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality ... that is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."

Islamic Republic Revolutionary Guards threaten the World Peace

2010-08-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

Following this-week Supreme Leader's remarks about the possible retaliations against the western interests world wide, should the Islamic Republic regime(the Shiite Taliban) in Tehran being attacked, number of high ranking military and political figures have also threaten the West in the last 72 hours. The new threats came amid growing speculations over using military means against the regime in order to stop it acquiring a Big Bomb.

Among them was the unelected president Ahmadi Nejad who as usual used his antique rhetoric and suggested that on such event "the entire earth would be a battle ground!" He sounded more like a child playing a war game with his peers than the president of the most educated and politically conscious country in the Middle East. No one, should, takes this guy seriously.

Others such as the Shiite Taliban Joint Chief of Staff and his head of Revolutionary Guards were amongst those who came out and made the same empty threats as their president did. All of whom reminisced Saddam Hussein and his generals before they went on hunting holes.

Nevertheless, weeks ago there was more action than talk when a Japanese Oil Tanker carrying 270000 tons of crude oil had been attacked by an unknown object discharged from an unknown source in the Hormuz Strait-the entrance to the Oman Sea from the Persian Gulf. The attack was not considered significant then since it had not caused serious injuries to crew or damages to the ship. However, implied message was clear.

The attack happened just days after the European Union countries had unanimously passed their strongest measures yet against the Taliban regime of Tehran. Taliban in Tehran knew that the new measures were designed to cripple its economy which is controlled by the Revolutionary Guards and their associates. The economy which finances the biggest terrorist organisations in the world. Terrorist organisations such as the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas.

All in all Taliban in Tehran and its generals must understand a simple fact; Iranian people, their country and the world peace are not to be taken hostage by them!

Regardless of intention behind the President Lula's offer; it is a joyful news

2010-08-01T22:52:00.000-07:00

President Lula of Brazil came in rescue of his Taliban friends in Tehran. He this week offered to accept Sakineh Ashtiani, an Iranian woman under a death sentence by stoning for murky adultery charges, as a refugee in his country.

The offer came amid an outrage reaction, expressed by world wide protests, over the Ms Ashtiani's, a mother of two, punishment. The protests forced the Taliban-like regime of Iran to suspend her sentence, at least for now. However, Ms Ashtiani's plight is not over yet. Whether it was the Taliban in the past Afghanistan or their current Shiite brothers in Iran, we all are familiar with their gruesome treatment of women in such situation.

Whether the real intention behind the president's gesture was to relieve his milking cows in Tehran or it was simply a pure humanitarian one remains a mystery to us. Regardless, and so long as it has the potential to save Sakineh's life; it is a joyful news.

Mr. Mosavi, I am going to be kind and only suggest that you have got it wrong!

2010-07-10T23:14:00.000-07:00

Mr. Mir Hossein Mosavi, the leader of the Iranian Green Movement, has recently released a brief and expressed his view on new round of sanctions imposed against Iran by both the Security Council and the US. In it, he has given his view on the impact of such sanctions on the ordinary Iranians as well as the Taliban-like regime of Iran. He has also talked about the possibility of using military force as the last resort against the regime in Tehran.

Mr. Mosavi generally condemned the sanctions and suggested that they are only added salt on the wound of millions of already struggling Iranian families. In terms of troubling the regime itself, he suggested that those sanctions have no or little effects. However, this view contradicts the consequences of the austerity measures put in place by the regime to minimise the daily petrol consumption, Iran imports close to %40 of its daily petrol consumption and one of the major US sanctions against the regime is the imported petrol, in Iran over two years ago. At the time Iranian authorities were trying to gauge their vulnerability against such sanctions should they be ever imposed. That experience was a nightmare for the Iranian authorities. In an outburst, Iranians witnessed hundreds of cars queuing behind every single petrol station all around the country. As a result Iranian cities turned into a battle ground between the desperate people and the terrified authorities. Angry Iranians burned down many petrol stations in Iranian cities.

An interesting adding point to all of that is that it had happened a year before the presidential election in Iran. When there was no disputed election. There was no sign of millions of Iranians on streets protesting against the rigged election result. But today is different. For the past 12 months or so, we have seen millions of Iranians that used every occasion to come to streets and protest against the illegitimate Ahmadi Nejad government. We have also seen a terrified regime shuts the country down for days with funniest excuses, just recently because of the Tehran's Bazzar strike, the government announced a 3 days public holidays for hot weather, just to avoid streets protests. Now Mr. Mosavi should explain how he does not see the regime's vulnerability against the petroleum sanction. He only needs to imagine millions of Iranians on streets use the petrol shortage as an excuse to protest against the illegitimate government!

Mr. Mosavi, in his brief, also attacked the use-of-force idea as well. He gave the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as unsuccessful examples. He not only rejected the idea but also went further into the Iran's history and mentioned a so-called coup which had brought down the government of Dr Mohammad Mosadegh, the Prime Minister of Iran at the time, some 56 years ago. That coup has been attributed to the CIA. And the result was to bring back the late king of Iran, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, into power. Now Mr. Mosavi was somewhat suggesting the current military threat made against the regime in Tehran is a reminiscence of that coup. He was assuming that the US is trying to enforce a regime change in Iran.

Nonetheless, what Mr. Mosavi forgot to mention is a single fact that; it is the Taliban in Tehran that since last year election has declared war on the Iranian people and the civilized world. It is the regime that killed young Iranians. It is the regime that used rape as a political tool against young Iranians. It is the regime that tortured young Iranians. It is this regime that has been puring billions of dollars of the Iranian families' money into the belly of the most notorious terrorist organisations in the world for the last 31 years. The money that otherwise must have been spent on the well-being of the Iranian families and their children.

The important point Mr. Mosavi is missing is that the world correctly chose to stand with the people of Iran in their battle against the Taliban in Tehran. Taliban is unacceptable whether it be in Afghanistan Or Iran!

Iran's Taliban do not have much time

2010-06-28T00:38:00.000-07:00

United States is tightening the noose around the neck of the main supporter of the world terrorism–the Taliban-like regime of Tehran–to deny it the unthinkable idea of acquiring a nuclear device.

US Congressmen and Senators this week have unanimously passed the belated petroleum sanctions against the regime. The sanctions were long expected however, it has been put on hold many times. The delay has been justified by lessons learned in Afghanistan and Iraq. Such sanctions could potentially be a trigger for yet another conflict, this time possibly involving the whole Middle East region. And because of the significance of apparent repercussions for Washington, it has been forced to first exhaust all diplomatic avenues. Washington gave the regime in Tehran every proper chance to change its course from its hostile position. But a little minority of Islamic fundamentals who took Iran and its people hostage failed to understand the gravity of the situation.

And when prior to the 2009 Presidential election they grossly miscalculated their status in the Iranian society, the society exploded in their face. They badly exposed their vulnerability to the outside world. These siblings of the Afghan Taliban in Tehran were foolish enough to display their illegitimacy in the eyes of the Iranian people. And mainly because of this reason–not to mention the retirement of the US Eastern Europe Missile Defense Shield plan and the recent US-Russia agreement on the reduction of nuclear missiles– the US diplomatic machine had been successful to bring Russia and China on board in the UN Security Council.

So looking at the number of votes in the US Congress and the Senate, 408 and 99 respectively, in favor of the petroleum sanctions–and perhaps more–recently, it signals the time for action. It then would be enough to add a recent joint military exercise by the US, UK and France, and the dispatch of the US aircraft carrier Harry Truman to the Persian Gulf, to comfortably claim that the Taliban regimes will not be tolerated whether it is Afghanistan or; Iran.

Iran's role behind the phony show

2010-06-07T03:49:00.000-07:00

The Israeli commandos' attack on the aid flotilla bound for Gaza this week has dominated the media all around the world. But the propaganda surrounding it seems suspicious and the whole front becomes more like a phony show. Questions have been raised about the real motive behind it.

The flotilla was apparently organised by a Turkish Muslim-NGO to supply much needed relief to the Palestinians trapped in Gaza. However, when we saw pictures of arms such as knives, clubs and machetes carried on board of a Turkish ship; it raises valid questions which require clear answers. Who did carry those weapons on board and what would have they anticipated when they did that? What exactly was going through their minds? Were they going to fight? Were they going to war? Were they going to attack any one in this so-called peaceful and humanitarian mission Or; were they going to provoke someone to attack them?

The suspicion grows more when we see the Islamic Regime in Tehran tries to weigh behind this ugly show. The regime involvement is also favored by the fact that it all happened at the time when new series of the Security Council sanctions against it are on its way. The almost-certain possibility of passing the sanctions makes the regime anxious. The new sanctions are potentially fatal to its very existence. One element of new sanctions inter alia is the inspection of the commercial ships bound for Iran. This is critically important and handy for the US when it tries to impose its own petroleum sanction on the regime of Iran. Iran imports close to 40% of its daily petroleum consumption. The livelihood of millions of Iranian families depends on the petrol that goes into their cars' tank every day.

Petrol for the regime is pivotal; it is its Achilles heel. Over two years ago when the US Congress and the Senate started talking about the possibility of imposing sanction on the Iran's petroleum imports, and the regime started a counter measure to limit its daily consumption; streets of the Iranian cities turned into a battle ground between people and the authorities. Now you only need to add the battle of the families' livelihood to those millions of young Iranians, belong to the opposition Green Movement, on streets chanting death to dictators. A tiny imagination is then required to realize the nightmare this regime will have on its hand. It can not survive it.

That was why this regime went to a great extent recently and tried to derail the sanctions. The so-called Tehran-Nuclear-Agreement between Iran, its Muslim neighbour Turkey and its economic-strategic partner, Brazil, has been designed to impress the West and hinder the sanctions. It failed. It was ignored; and the sanctions are still on.

All of these left Iran and its Muslim ally, Turkey, with no choice but to look for other options. One option was to divert the world attention from the danger this regime poses to the world peace and stability. Such diversion could well serve Iran's ill purpose.

1389 Is Here

2010-03-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

The Iranian New Year 1389 has arrived. According to Iranian calendar a new year starts at the first day of Spring in Iran. This year started at 4:32am AEST on 21 March.

I wish a happy and prosperous year for all Iranians currently reside out of Iran and of course those inside the country. Above all I wish and am hopeful that the 1389 be the Freedom Year for the Iranian people.

IMPUNITY AND IMMUNITY? PROSECUTING HEADS OF STATE

2009-08-05T19:14:00.000-07:00

Last night in Sydney, the Australian Red Cross in conjunction with the school of law of the University of Sydney conducted a seminar on international law. The topic was ‘the prosecution of heads of state’.

The panel members were comprised of associate professor Steven Freeland, associate professor in International Law at the University of Western Sydney; and

Graham Blewitt, the Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague between 1994 and 2004. He was involved in the prosecution of Slobodan Milosevic. Prior to this, he also was the Director of the Nazi War Crimes Unit in Australia; and

Mark Ierace SC, the Senior Public Defender at the NSW Public Defender’s Office, and an expert in International Criminal Law. He was a Senior Trial Attorney at the UN Criminal Tribunal in the ICTY, leading the prosecution in the trial of General Galic. He is a Visiting Fellow in International Criminal Law at UNSW.

The panelists discussed the possibility of the prosecution of heads of state for the crimes committed against humanity and the international law during their terms in office. The political and legal obstacles to achieve this goal were widely discussed.

The issue of the current situation in Iran after the presidential election there has been raised. One of the main concerns was the crimes committed against the Iranian people in the aftermath of the election. Questions have been raised about the responsibility of the Supreme Leader, as the head of the armed forces and their paramilitary divisions, and also the president and his responsibility and control over the police force.

The seminar was informative. The panelists along with the audience were all optimistic for the prospect of the future prosecutions. They were hopeful to see more heads of state indicted by the International Criminal Court for their crimes committed while in office.

WELCOME TO IRAN, A NEW POLICE STATE OF THE MIDDLE EAST

2009-07-22T20:03:00.000-07:00

Mohammad Kamranni, a young 18 years old, is the latest victim of the state orchestrated criminal activities in Iran.

Mohammad had sustained horrific injuries while in custody; on 20 July, he died in hospital in Tehran.

In the aftermath of the presidential-election so far, scores of people have been killed, injured and hundreds more detained by the authorities.

Official dead count by the government authorities grossly contradicts the non-official sources, independent sources put the numbers much higher. The authorities, in many cases, have kept families of the victims in dark for days or even weeks.

United Nation and its human rights and judiciary annexes must investigate the crimes committed by the official and/or non-official authorities in the post-presidential-election in Iran. This is the least the international community could do in respecting the young Iranians who have sacrificed their innocent lives for freedom.

Hassan Nasrollah, Terrorists are not allowed in Iran

2009-06-19T06:41:00.000-07:00

I was coming home yesterday afternoon. In my car I was listening to the BBC on the radio and there was an interview with a Lebanese journalist, the topic was the last year presidential election in Iran.

The journalist was asked about rumors that the Islamic Republic has conveyed undisclosed number of Lebanese terrorists - from the terrorist group Hezbollah - to Iran in order to quell the people's protests against the autocratic regime in Iran. “Mollas and Hezbollah are close friends,” he replied. Mollas being a friend of the terrorist group was not news to me; however, the transportation of the terrorists to attack Iranian people on streets of Iranian cities was a shock.

When I got home, I went online and check the BBC news, I could not believe my eyes; Hassan Nasrollah – the Hezbollah leader – has commented about the Iran’s election. “Forty million Iranians have voted for the Spiritual Leader of the Islamic Republic – Ali Khameneei,” he has claimed in his speech the night before in Beirut. I was outraged and disgusted.

How dare you, you little terrorist, to comment about the people of Iran and their country?! If Mollas have been paying you hundreds of millions of dollars of Iranians’ money each year for decades just to use your little terrorist group as leverage against the world; it does not mean that a terrorist, like you, is allowed to talk about the Iranian people affairs.

Iranians must slap this little creature so badly that he never ever again dares to butt into their affairs.

Ahmadi Nejad Blocks Facebook

2009-05-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

President Ahmadi Nejad of Iran is always consistent to give us something to poke him in the eye. His government has blocked the Iranians' access to facebook since yesterday.

Apparently Mr. Ahmadi Nejad has been worry about the way his opponents were capitalising on the facebook for the purpose of the presidential-election campaign against him. Since yesterday the blockage has outraged the Iranian Young and created a backlash inside the country. They reacted angrily by posting comments all over the Internet.

One only wonders that who are the brains behind such a political blunder. The simple question is that if Mr. Ahmadi Nejad and his colleagues think they can ignore the Iranian Young, their right to use the Internet freely, deny them the right to express and sharing thoughts with their fellow citizens and the outside world; and getaway with that? It seems that Mr. Ahmadi Nejad has shot his own foot.

Iranian Young will respond at the polling booths!

The Belated Release of Roxana Saberi Is Welcomed

2009-05-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

Common sense has prevailed and Roxana Saberi, the US-born Iranian journalist, has been freed from custody in Iran.

Since 2003, she has been living and working as a freelance journalist in Iran. However, since January this year - citing some blurry charges by the Iranian authorities - she had been imprisoned in Iran.

Although I personally am a little bit disappointed at the belated freedom of Ms Saberi, nevertheless her release was well overdue and it is welcomed.

Now that the Ms Saberi’s predicament and the political fervor surrounding it are over, we can concentrate on the most important issue for the Iranian people, the country, and the outside world, the 2009 presidential election in Iran. It is a mission which left in the hand of the Iranian people. The mission has three main objectives as follow:

1. It will send a clear message to the outside world that Iranian people are well capable of handling their national political calamity.

2. Iran is a peaceful country and its people are friendly and responsible citizens of the world.

3. They are going to offer the Iranian version of Obama with an unclench fist to shake hand with his American counterpart, President Obama.

YET ANOTHER SHAMEFUL POLITICAL BLUNDER IN IRAN

2009-05-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

In our life we sometimes witness such an acute injustice which makes us feel hopelessly useless; that is when we left with no choice but to cry.

I had the feeling yesterday when I read the last telephone conversation Delara Darabi, the poor girl who has been hanged in Iran, had with her mother. “Mother, I can see the hangman’s roping, they are going to execute me, please save me”, said Delara. Imagining the helpless status of the poor girl against those heedless predators around her; I cried hopelessly!

She was not supposed to be hanged for at least the next two months. The head of the Islamic Republic Judiciary had ordered to hold her dead sentence, while her parents try to get the plaintiffs’ consent. In the Iranian legal system, the consent of the victim's family is the last resort to spare the convict life.

The prison authorities have acted against the order of the head of the Judiciary. They have also breached the law by not informing her lawyer at least two days prior to the execution.

Thanks to her art works, the Delara’s case had generated such international interest that the more moderates in the political establishment, through the head of the Judiciary, have successfully responded to the international community’s concern.

However, the hardliner in their attempt to sabotage this latest move by the more moderates to have a meaningful communication with the western world sacrificed the poor girl! That was yet another shameful political blunder in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

This time, they preyed upon the Delara’s frail body.

An old Farceur Who Is Not Funny AnyMore

2009-04-15T19:08:00.000-07:00

Mr. Ahmad Jannati is the chair of the Guardian Council of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran and he has been a funny man for decades; but not anymore.

Recently he has been talking to the Friday Prayers in Tehran, and in his remarks he referred to the up-coming presidential election in Iran. He has been quoted as saying that 'Iranian presidency is not such a trivial matter which we just give it away.'

His political sense of humor has been the subject of the Iranian Young's jokes for years and now; I realise why! He, in fact, was suggesting that it is him and a bunch of his colleagues in the Guardian Council who elect president for the Iranian people and Not the Iranian people themselves! He is a farceur. Nevertheless, the only inference I can derive from the funny comment is that he might have been implying the election of the current president Ahmadi Nejad into the office almost four years ago; or for that matter, the entire presidential elections have been conducted in the life-time of the Islamic Republic in Iran!

However, no matter how funny this guy is, at this crucial time when Mr. Obama is waiting for the new Iranian president, offered by the Iranian people, to shake hand with, he does not sound funny at all.

Another implication of that suggestion, however, is that he and the rest of the old farceurs of the council can swim - in the current world-political-ocean without a life jacket; called 'Iranian People' - and not sink.

I have a simple message for them: I am much younger than all of you, and I am also a good swimmer; it is scary!

Saving Lives Is Their Business

2009-04-13T20:10:00.000-07:00

Australian Red Cross Blood Bank(ARCBB) has several thousand regular donors, I am proudly one of them.

We will be qualified to donate almost 500ml of our blood every three months. Knowing our little gift can save lives, we donate our blood by joy and satisfaction.

Today was my turn, I went to the Parramatta's, a Sydney suburb, branch of the ARCBB and they took my little gift.

Wherever you live, you can also save lives by donating your blood. It is easy and simple. You can go to the ARCBB's website here, or call them on 13 14 95 in Australia.

Khatami Has Given Way to Mosavi

2009-04-10T05:19:00.000-07:00

Now that Mohammad Khatami - former Iranian president - has withdrawn from the country's coming-up presidential-election; he has introduced Mr. Mir Hossein Mosavi - the first and the last Iranian prime-minister of the revolution's time as his favourite candidate.

Mr. Mosavi is - more or less - an unknown figure to the new generation Iranian voters inside the country. He has not been a public personality - at least in the Islamic Republic political-landscape - for the last 20 years. He had been the first and the last prime minister of the country in 1980s - the Islamic Republic changed its executive system of government during his term and removed the prime ministership position. He had served under Mr. Ali Khameneei's presidency - then president and the current Spiritual Leader of the Islamic Republic.

Beside of being unknown to the Iranians however, Mr. Mosavi certainly is, in comparison with Mr. Khatami, a stranger to the outside world as well.

This could somewhat justify the Mr. Khatami's action to be the first person to name him as a potential candidate - "if Mr. Mosavi is ready to run for the office then I will not come", said Mr. Khatami. It was Mr. Khatmi himself who brought him to the fore. Now that Mr. Mosavi is a candidate, Mr. Khatami is gone.

Nonetheless and regardless of who is who and who is going to compete in the coming election, it is the Iranian people who are responsible to offer their best candidate to the world. After all, the well-being of the Iranian people and the country economically, the security and national interests of the country, the Middle East peace and stability and in a broader sense the world peace are somewhat depended on the way in which the next Iranian president and his administration engage the outside world.

Former Iranian President at La Trobe University

2009-04-03T05:42:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday Mr. Mohammad Khatami - former Iranian president who is visiting Australia - was at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

He had been invited to the University by professor Joseph Camilleri - chair of the Centre for Dialogue.

Mr. Khatami was Iran's president for two terms between 1997 to 2005. During his second term in office in 2001, he originated the theory of Dialogue Among Civilization - a response to Samuel P. Huntington's theory of Clash of Civilization . His idea thus was to facilitate a world-stage where world political rivals could sit and work-out their differences. His idea has been since well-received around the world.

The La Trobe Centre for Dialogue is one of many such centres established around the world. The Melbourne's successful experience was an example. A strong, over 2000, assembly of enthusiastic people - both of Iranian origin and the Australian - have embraced Mr. Khatami. Mr. Khatami talked about the need for peaceful dialogue through out the world. At the same time, he also touched the political issues between Tehran and the west - specifically the US. He suggested that all of the standing issues between the two could easily be addressed provided both side genuinely willing to come at the discussion table. That was a positive message for the White House.

Nevertheless, Iran will go to a presidential-election in two months time and Iranians have a burden on their shoulders - responding to their American counterparts. Iranians are expected to respond to the American people whom sent president Obama into office. A president who talks different and ready to shake hand with the Iranians chosen president.

There is light at the end of the tunnel; at least I hope.

Iranian New Year Is Here

2009-03-20T04:42:00.000-07:00

The Iranian New Year - Nourooz - has officially started. It starts with a widely celebrated festive event mostly at homes of Iranian people wherever they are, it called Eid Nourooz.

Millions of Iranian inside and out of the country celebrate the Eid.

I wish all the Iranian living inside and out of the country a happy and prosperous year.

Khatami is coming to Melbourne

2009-02-24T04:35:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since my last post. I have been busy preparing for the first semester of the year 2009. However, now that the preparation is done and the units are up and running, I would like to write about an event which - I believe - is a matter of importance to us all. Mohammad Khatami - former Iranian president - is due to come to Australia on 26 March.

He has been invited to the La Trobe University in Melbourne by professor Joseph Camilleri - a senior lecturer on International Relation Studies. He will be talking about the importance of dialogue between the world political rivals for the purpose of finding solutions for their differences.

Attendance is open to the members of public with a very reasonable entrance fee of $5. I will be there.

You can find the relevant details here!

Khatami is back into the presidential election-race again

2009-02-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

After months of speculation, Mohammad Khatami, the former Iranian president, is back into the next presidential election-race in Iran, and for a good reason.

He has already been in office for two terms between 1998-2006, later in 2005-6, he has been succeeded by the current infamous Iranian president - Ahmadi Nejad. The invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq by the US came right in the middle of his terms in office. At the time of the Iraq's invasion, his government had offered its cooperation to the US and also its readiness to talk with the then Bush's administration over their differences. However, it has been suggested that Mr. Cheney, the US Vice President at the time, had thrown his government's offering letter into the rubbish bin - not a wise move at all. However, the Cheney's unwise move has been matched by Tehran when it produced the current president Ahmadi Nejad to handle the unwise people in the White-House; and ever since the Bush-Cheney's team had met their match.

It took more than 3 years and lots of effort by Tehran to turn the tide against the White-House - and it did it well. Since the acquisition of the presidential office, Ahmadi Nejad and his government - read it Tehran - has constantly been in business of creating more headaches for the US than the both wars in Afghanistan and Iraq together.

Now, however, the election of Mr. Obama as the new tenure of the White-House for the next four years has such significant effect on the Tehran-Washington relation which Tehran can not possibly afford to ignore. This has made Tehran cautious in its responses to the White-House's signals over the past three weeks.

And this latest news out of Iran - the Khatami's candidacy - is a proper response to the Obama's comment days ago in which he had emphasized that "now, it is Tehran's turn". After 30 years of mistrust between the two countries, I am sure both American people and the Iranian young generation would like to see the mistrust fade away.

Mr. President, there is no need for rush

2009-02-02T05:28:00.000-08:00

The Obama’s administration has been beaming encouraging signals toward Tehran this week.

However, one would safely expect their studies and planning stages on how to engage Iran take a little bit longer just to see through the Iranian presidential-election first.

It all started in an interview with the Al-Arabia TV Network in which president Obama asked Iran to unclench its fist in order to make it possible to shake hands. He wants Iran to show its interest in a meaningful way. However, the meaningful-way is open to the interpretation, it encompasses a wide range of activities on the Iran's part. For instance, the Iran's nuclear ambition and its stand on the Arab-Israeli predicaments are the prominent ones.

A day prior to the Mr. Obama's interview, Ms. Susan Rice, the new US’ delegate to the United Nation, has been quoted as saying that the US will enter a ‘vigorous diplomacy’ with Iran. Hillary Clinton, the new Secretary of States, was playing the same tune since she has been appointed to her position.

Nonetheless, the Obama’s stand against Iran was clear through out the US election-campaign - he had explicitly expressed his willingness to talk to Tehran directly and without any preconditions. That was a step in the right direction; however, it is important not to send a wrong message to Tehran. Tehran should not be under such perceived illusion that the Tehran-Washington game is over in its favour. Washington and Tehran should both be pragmatic and realistic – I am confident that they are – they both are aware of their own national interests and their security’s concerns.

Nevertheless, the Obama’s administration is just two-weeks old whereas the Ahmadi Nejad’s government has less than 3 months in office and it is facing an election. For Mr. Obama, it would be unwise to approach a government which may well be out of office soon. He and his advisers can surely do more studies and planning to be well prepared just in time to then engage a new and more stable administration in Tehran.

President Barack Obama has made the history of the United States of America

2009-01-21T03:49:00.000-08:00

In front of almost two million jubilant Americans president Barack Obama has been inaugurated into the highest office in the United States of America. It was a great moment not only for the American people, their country and its history, but for the rest of the world as well.

The Cheering crowd welcomed the 44th US president to lead them through many problems, or as the president put it ‘crises’, their country is facing.

During his inauguration speech president Obama articulated the crises into the both domestic and international ones. The domestic ones are apparently concerned with the US financial crisis, economic recession, lose of jobs etc. The international ones, however, if not more challenging, are as equally important.

One of the renowned international challenges of president Obama and his neonate administration is dealing with Iran and its nuclear ambition. For the past 8 years, Iran has been one the major obstacles to the implementation of the United States’ foreign policies, particularly in the Middle East. It still is and it remains to be, unless the Obama's famous oratory comes handy at the negotiation table with his Iranian counterpart.

During the US election-campaign, president Obama has been talking about a change-over to meet the US’ political challenges in the world. He was talking about talks, dialogues, understandings and more respect towards his political rivals rather than being a tough guy and the world’s bully as his predecessor, George W Bush, used to act.

Those talks about his new ideas worked beautifully, he made the history, and the US people gave him an opportunity and a mandate to implement his ideas for a new United States.

We have to wait and see.

Mr. President, world is watching impatiently.

Madness at the highest level of the Israeli-Palestinian politics

2009-01-06T08:57:00.000-08:00

Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip for a while now. After days of heavy bombardments, from air, sea and the artillery, its ground troop along with their tanks and armored vehicles has now moved into the territory.

This is madness. A madness which is laid right at the top of the both sides of the Israeli and the Palestinian political apparatuses. Israel and the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, Hamas, have had a truce in place for many months. The truce had expired just 6 days prior to this incomprehensible madness.

Apparently after expiring the truce, Hamas had started firing rockets over to Israeli towns. And in response, Israel has started the imprudent actions in Gaza. The dispropotionate response of Israel is dangerous. It has been tried before, it has not worked, and most likely it will not work this time around too. It only creates a furor of hatred and revenge. No-one will be benefited from the calamity in Gaza, and it has the potential to turn the entire region into a cauldron.

Furthermore, if we add the current situation in Gaza to the strategical importance of the Middle East to the broader world, then we have a serious problem on our hand. That is why the Security Council of the United Nation has immediately called for an emergency meeting to discuss the situation. However, the only irresponsible member, in this occasion of course, of the council with the veto power, the United States, was naive enough to ignore the gravity of the situation. But needless to say, it is the same administration which after 8 years in office has managed to get the United States into its current miserable international status.

One can only hope and should desperately search for more talented people in the new US administration, president-elect Obama certainly proved to be one. we need more.

Sydney celebrates the New Year in its own style

2008-12-31T18:19:00.000-08:00

Sydney does it again, it celebrates the start of the new year in its own fashionable style.

Last night, close to 1.5 million people had gathered around one of the most known Sydney's landmark - the world famous Sydney Harbour Bridge - to celebrate the new year 2009. They enjoyed a spectacular display of fire works. According to the City of Sydney Council, the whole ceremony - fire works included - has a total bill of around 5 million AUD. Nevertheless, Mayor Moore believes the cost was well justified. She believes this kind of ceremonies has the potential to bring people together regardless of their beliefs, religions or the political affiliations - and I think she is right.

I wish a happy, prosperous and above all a peaceful new year for all.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T00:06:00.000-08:00

Today is Christmas-day. The day on which Jesus-Christ is born. He was a prophet of peace. He sacrificed his life to save his people. However, what some of his contemporary followers in the United States, and for different purposes, has been doing in the last 8 years was contrary to the Jesus' message-peace.

One can only hope that the real Christians send a strong message to those who violate their prophet's wish. One would then be able to write a much more positive note for the Christmas-day next year.

I wish a merry Christmas for all the Christians in the world.

Honorable Judge Will Be Retired Next Year

2008-12-17T22:23:00.000-08:00

Justice Michael Kirby of the High Court of Australia will be retired from the bench next year. Why should we, all Australians, be proud of having the honorable Judge among us?

Well, in a democracy such as Australia and in certain circumstances; there is always a possibility to have an infamous political times, such as the Howard's era. An extraordinary political environment of the era shed light over role of the High Court of Australia and its judges; the role of protecting the Constitution, rule of law, citizen’s rights and the society in general from tyrannical actions of rulers.

It is when we, Australians, need judges like the honorable Justice Kirby at the bench of the High Court of Australia.

And now, regardless of his honor being at the bench or retired, it is a great honor to live in a country where his honor lives as a citizen.

Best wishes and regards to his honor.

Americans have elected their Obama and now, it is Iranians' turn

2008-12-11T21:31:00.000-08:00

The US presidential-election is over, and the American people have re-written the country's history. They chose a black person to be their 44th president for the first time in the American history. And now, Iranian people are looking forward to their next year presidential-election seeking their own version of Obama. Today and facing a volatile world political terrain, their task is a crucial one.

As it has been predicted here long before the US election, Mr Obama was the only option America and, for the world peace, the world had. By electing Mr Obama, Americans have shown their disapproval for the Bush administration and policies which have been implemented by it, or at least tried to, in the past eight years in the office, policies such as invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. America has plunged into the political mine-fields in Iraq and Afghanistan. Political mine-fields which, perhaps, are only comparable to those of the Korean war of 1950s and the Vietnam war of 1950s-70.

After many years, not being able to bring the precarious situations in Iraq and Afghanistan under control, let alone elsewhere in the world, has already had a detrimental effects on the US international status. The situations vivify an old saying from the president Johnson era in regard to the Vietnam War which says: "The United States has the power to destroy but no power to control". The failure badly dents the image of the world only Superpower to such extent that the notion of 'the world's only Superpower' is no longer relevant.

Nevertheless, I strongly believed, as was predicted here long before the election, Americans had no choice but to elect Obama. Why? firstly, Because electing yet another Neo-conservative war-mongering republican was out of the question. And secondly, between the two democrat candidates, Obama and Clinton, the choice was obvious.

Now that, they did their part, it is the Iranian people turn to search for their own version of Obama. They are facing the exact dilemma which the American people were facing. However, their task is somehow bigger and more important than their American counterpart, they have to produce a capable Iranian-Omaba and to do it in an un-democratic environment!

بذلگویهای آقای جنتی

2008-11-19T17:59:00.000-08:00

با مشخص شدن نتیجه انتخابات امریکا و ریاست جمهوری آقای باراک اوباما، بحث داغ انتخابات سال آینده ریاست جمهوری ایران بالا گرفته و هر روز خبرهای جدیدی از گوشه و کنار بگوش میرسه.

یکی از این خبرها، در مورد اظهار نظر آقای جنتی(رئیس مجلس شورای نگهبان) بود، که در خطبه های نماز جمعه تهران انجام شده بود. در خطبه ها، آقای جنتی در مورد کاندیداهای ریاست جمهوری و در کل احراز پست ریاست جمهوری در ایران گفته بوده است که، مگر ریاست جمهوری چیزی است که ما دودستی تحویل یه نفر بدیم! وقتی این اظهار نظر رو برای اولین بار شنیدم برای مدتی بی اختیار می خندیدم، می دونید چرا؟ چون این آقا گفته که منو شما(مردم ایران) نیستیم که با رای خودمون رئیس چمهور انتخاب می کنیم، این؛ این آقا و چند نفر دوستانشون هستند که برای ما انتخاب می کنند! شاید هم منظورشون انتخاب احمدی نژاد بوده!

اما بعد از خندیدن، یه خورده هم تعجب کردم. تعجب به این خاطر که؛ در شرایطی که ایران در مقابل شدیدترین فشارهای بین المللی قرار داره، تحریمات اقتصادی شورای امنیت که تاثیرات آن مستقیما بر روی وضعیت معیشتی مردم عادی کوچه و خیابان است- مردمی که صدای خرد شدن استخوانهای آنها رو زیر فشار اقتصادی میشه شنید- و تهدیدات نظامی علیه ایران که هنوز بر روی میز آمریکا و متحدانش است؛ اینگونه بذلگویها از جانب افرادی امثال آقای جنتی زیاد هم خنده دار میتونه که نباشه!

معنی اینگونه شوخیها امروز، در زمانی که آقای اوباما رئیس جمهور آمریکا شدن و منتظر اوبامای ایرانی ما هستند، اینه که شاید هنوز افرادی در ایران باشند با این باور سیاسی، که می شه در اقیانوس در گیریهای سیاسی بین اللمللی، بدون جلیقه نجاتی بنام مردم ایران شنا کرد و غرق هم نشد؛ من که خیلی از آقای جنتی و دوستانشون جوانتر هستم و شنا هم بلدم، از چنین تصوری وحشت دارم. حالا باید منتظر باشیم ببینیم، ما که خبر نداریم، شاید آقای جنتی اون لحظه که این بذلگویی رو کرده یه لحظه پشت تریبون ایست مغزی بهشون دست داده بوده!

مردم ایران بدنبال اوبامای ایرانی

2008-11-11T21:49:00.000-08:00

پس از انتخاب آقای باراک اوباما به عنوان رئیس جمهور آینده آمریکا، ایران در تلاش برای جایگزینی احمدی نژاد است.

پس ازهشت سال حکومت جمهوری خواهان محافظه کار(نئو- کانزر-وتیو) به ریاست آقای جورج بوش در کاخ سفید، و تلاش آنها برای به اجرا در آوردن ایده جهان گلوبال با 2 جنگ افغانستان و عراق، که موجب تحمیل خسارات جانی و مالی سنگینی به مردم افغانستان و عراق گردید، مردم آمریکا به این نتیجه رسیدند که باید جلوی سیاستمداران بد خود را بگیرند. این کار را با شرکت بی سابقه خود در انتخابات ریاست جمهوری و با انتخاب بی سابقه یک فرد سیاه پوست به ریاست جمهوری آمریکا انجام دادند؛ رئیس جمهوری که از تغییر روش در راه رسیدن به اهداف استراتژیک آمریکا صحبت می کند.

این مطلب اهمیت بسزایی پیدا می کند، زمانی که بدانیم؛ شاید کلیدی ترین منافع استراتژیک آمریکا در منطقه خاور میانه و فراتر از آن از کشور ما ایران می گذرد. تضمین منافع استراتزیک آمریکا در این منطقه و برای آینده دراز مدت، بدون کشور ایران امکان پذیر نیست، هر دو طرف درگیر، آمریکا و ایران بخوبی به این امر واقف هستند. ایران انتخاب زیادی ندارد، همانطور که شاید آمریکا با محدودیت انتخاب روبرو باشد. هر دو بطرف مقابل اعتماد ندارند، و به دلیل قابل فهم؛ در دنیای سیاست خودکشی خواهد بود که شما اهداف و کارتهای طرف مقابل خود را ببینید و بشناسید و با این حال به او اعتماد کنید. پراکسی درگیری و مقابله ایران و آمریکا در پنج سال گذشته گویای این وضعیت بغرنج است.

اما امروز، آقای اوباما و حزب دمکرات-من پیشتر میروم و ادعا می کنم، کل نظام سیاسی حاکم بر کشور آمریکا اعم از دمکرات و یا جمهوری خواه-به این نتیجه رسیده اند که اگرچه برای یک مدت کوتاه، شانس خود را با روشی دیگر با ایران امتحان کنند. خطوط قرمز امریکا، که همانا منافع کلیدی و استراتزیک آمریکاست تغییری نکرده اند، اما پنجره ای بسوی ایران باز شده است. علائم ارسالی از تهران بعد از نتایج انتخابات، نشان از توجه ایران به پنجره باز شده دارند. این علائم در پیام تبریک رئیس جمهور احمدی نژاد و اظهار نظرهای مختلف کاندیداهای احتمالی رقابتهای انتخابات ریاست جمهوری سال آینده ایران قابل شنیدن است. این وظیفه مردم ایران است که در جواب مردم آمریکا اوبامای ایرانی خود را به دنیا ارائه دهند.

در مقابل؛ این وظیفه نظام حاکم بر کشور ایران است که به حقوق بشری و دمکراتیک مردم شریف ایران احترام بگذارد. این امر؛ تنها با برگزاری انتخاباتی آزاد با مشارکت حداکثری مردم و نهایتا تمکین در مقابل خواست اکثریت مردم امکان پذیر است. باید منتظر شد و دید.

آمریکا انتخاب کرد

2008-11-04T21:33:00.000-08:00

مردم آمریکا تاریخ این کشور را بازنویسی کردند. با انتخاب آقای باراک اوباما بعنوان اولین فرد سیاه پوست در مقام ریاست جمهوری این کشور، آنها نشان دادند که آگاه به شرایط داخلی و خارجی کشورشان هستند.

بواسطه عملکرد زورگویانه و قلدرمابانه دولت آقای بوش ظرف 8 سال اخیر، چهره مردم و کشور آمریکا در سطح بین المللی شدیدا خدشه دار و ارزش و ابهت خود را بکلی از دست داده بود. مردم امریکا و بویژه آقای اوباما و همکاران ایشان این مطلب را بخوبی درک کردند. تلاش آقای اوباما و مردم آمریکا، آمروز در نتیجه انتخابات و اتنخاب آقای اوباما که با اکثریتی بی سابقه در تاریخ انتخابات امریکا انجام شد، جلوه کرد.

من بنوبه خود این نقطه عطف تاریخی را به مردم آمریکا و بویژه شخص آقای رئیس جمهور-باراک اوباما-از صمیم قلب تبریک می گویم.

انتخابات ریاست جمهوری سال 2008 آمریکا

2008-10-31T18:30:00.000-07:00

انتخابات ریاست جمهوری سال 2008 امریکا در راه است، نظرسنجی ها نشان می دهند که سناتور باراک اوباما به مقدار 8 تا 11 درصد از رقیب جمهوری خواه خود-جان مکین-جلوتر است.

سناتور اوباما، در طول مبارزات انتخاباتی خود، همیشه از تغییر در سیاستهای داخلی و خارجی امریکا صحبت کرده است. او، از آمریکایی صحبت می کنه، که برای مردم آن برابری و عدالت بیشتر فراهم خواهد کرد. و از طرف دیگر، از آمریکایی که در انتخاب سیاستهای خارجی خود و برای حفظ منافع استراتژیک آن کشور، مذاکره و سازش با رقبای استراتژیک خود را، راهکار سیاست خارجی خود قرار خواهد داد، چیز دیگری هم از یک حقوقدان با هوش، مثل اوباما انتظار نیست.

در مقابل، جان مکین، رقیب آقای اوباما از اعمال زور و قدرت نظامی برای دستیابی به هدفهای استراتژیک آمریکا صحبت می کند. بالاخره آقای مکین یک سرباز پیر 70 ساله است! فکر میکنم که به اندازه کافی از مکین گفتم، نتایج نظر سنجی ها هم همین پیغام رو دارد!

در هر صورت از زمان آغاز مبارزات انتخاباتی آمریکا، مردم آمریکا بشدت از سناتور اوباما حمایت کرده اند. این حمایت یک پیغام دارد، و آن این است که مردم از سیاستهای خشونت آمیز کشورشون در راه رسیدن به اهداف استراتژیک خسته شده اند. آنها بخوبی از چهره بد آمریکا در چشم مردم دنیا آگاه هستند، و خواهان اصلاح این چهره هستند. نتایج نظر سنجی ها گواه این مطلب است.

اجازه بدید امیدوار باشیم که حدس ما درست باشد، و انتخاب سناتور اوباما به عنوان چهل و چهارمین رئیس جمهور آمریکا، نقطه عطفی در تاریخ سیاسی داخلی و خارجی آمریکا باشد.

The US Election

2008-10-26T21:25:00.000-07:00

The 2008 US election is under way, and the polls' results are promising. Senator Barack Obama is in front of his republican rival by an average 9 to 11 percentage points.

Senator Obama has been talking about a new direction towards - both domestic and foreign - the policy making all along his campaign. He has promised more equality and fairness for the American people on the domestic front. And in regard to the international affairs, as a rational and pragmatic person - an obvious characteristic of an intelligent lawyer - he has been offering dialogue and compromises to the US' international rivals for solving challenges his would be new administration is facing.

On the other hand, his republican challenger - John McCain - has been talking about tougher actions to secure the US' international interests - after all, he is a 70 years old feeble solider. I think I have said enough about him. And the polls' results suggest the same thing!

Nonetheless, since the onset of the election campaign, American people - mostly the new young generation - have shown their support for the reconstruction of the badly disfigured US image, internationally. They did that by rallying behind Senator Obama. By doing this, they sent an encouraging message to the world that it reads; we are worry about our international status. The early polls' results reflect this message. Lets hope the rationale of the American people and the election of their intelligent candidate - Barack Obama - as the 44 president of the United States become the ultimate result of a historical turning point in the US domestic and international politics.

پایان تاریخ و آخرین مرد

2008-10-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

پایان تاریخ و آخرین مرد، نام کتابیست از پرفسور فرانسیس فوکویاما-استاد روابط بین الملل(مطالعات پیشرفته) در دانشگاه جان هاپکینز واشنگتن. فوکویاما این کتاب را در سال 1989، در زمان فروپاشی اتحاد جماهیر شوروی سابق نوشت.

قصد این نیست که در اینجا، این کتاب را تجزیه و تحلیل کنیم، اما با توجه به اتفاقات و یا بهتر بگوییم، بحرانهای بین المللی حداقل 7 سال گذشته در دنیا، اشغال نظامی افغانستان و عراق توسط آمریکا و متحدان غربی آن، بحران اخیر در منطقه قفقاز و واکنش روسیه، و از همه مهمتر خطرات بلقوه که کشور و مردم ایران را تهدید می کنند، و نگاه فوکویاما در این کتاب- که اگر ریشه در تمام این بحرانها نداشته باشد- قطعا قسمت اعظم آنان را در بر می گیرد، بد نیست که نگاهی به این کتاب بیندازیم. این کتاب به 5 بخش تقسیم شده است و دارای 328 صفحه می باشد، و همانطور که در بالا اشاره کردم قصد تجزیه تحلیل آن را ندارم، اما خواندنش را به علاقمندان به سیاست جهانی توصیه میکنم. کتاب به زبان انگلیسی است و از ترجمه شدن و یا نشدن آن اطلاعی ندارم.

و اما دلیل نوشتن از این کتاب و پروفسور خوب ما چه بود؟ چندی پیش در ناحیه قفقاز، رئیس جمهور گرجستان-آقای سکشویلی-دستور حمله به اوستیای جنوبی-استان جنوبی و همرز با روسیه- را صادر کرد، بلافاصله روسیه با قدرت نظامی کاملا برتر به این حمله پاسخ داد، نیروهای نظامی گرجستان را قلع و قمع کرد، بنادر حساس و استراتژیک گرجستان را اشغال کرد، تا 30 کیلومتری پایتخت گرجستان-تفلیس-پیشروی کرد و خواستار برکناری سکشویلی شد. علاوه بر اینها استقلال استان اوستیای جنوبی و دیگر منطقه مورد اختلاف- آبخازیا- را هم به رسمیت شناخت. اما، تمام اینها موضوعاتی نبود که به این سادگی شروع شده باشد و به همین سادگی هم تمام شود.
اینجاست که پای پروفسور خوب ما و نگاه ایشان در این کتاب وارد این بحران می شود. البته می توان رد پای نگاه پروفسور را در پشت دیگر بحرانهای اشغال افغاتستان و عراق هم دید. و از همه مهمتر پتانسیال بحران برای مردم و کشورمان ایران هم به اینها اضافه خواهد شد.

خلاصه نگاه پروفسور فوکویاما این است که بعد از بیش از 40 سال جنگ سرد که در واقع جنگ ایدئولوژیک غرب و شرق بر سر اداره کشورها بود، از زمان فروپاشی اتحاد جماهیر شوروی، دیگر رقیبی در مقابل جهان غرب وجود ندارد و سیستم حکومتی لیبرال-دمکراسی باید که در کل جهان حاکم شود. اما، فکر میکنم مشکل پروفسور عزیز ما از جایی شروع می شود که سیستم حکومتی لیبرال-دمکراسی را با نظام اقتصادی بازار آزاد-Laissez-faire-مخلوط می کنند.

در اینجا، پرفسور، موفقیت نظام اقتصادی غرب و یا همان اقتصاد بازار آزاد و یا چیزی که امروزه بنام اقتصاد گلوبال شناخته می شود را به داشتن حکومتهای دمکرات ربط می دهند، اما، از موفقیت برای که، چیزی نمی گویند؛ موفقیت معدود افراد و یا شرکتهای چند ملیتی، که در مقابل منجر به نابودی اقتصاد کشورهای جهان سوم و یا کشورهای در حال توسعه و گرسنگی میلیاردها انسان در سراسر جهان شده است.
و از طرف دیگر ادامه می دهند و حکومتهای مستبد حاکم بر کشورهای بلوک شرق در طول جنگ سرد را دلیل عقب ماندگی و نهایتا فرو پاشی آنها اعلام می کنند. و دلیل آن را بنوعی مربوط به آگاهی شهروندان آن کشورها و نیاز مردم آن کشورها رو به آزادی در انتخاب و داشتن حکومتهای دمکرات، معرفی می کنند. و باز اینجا، آزادی، دمکراسی و حقوق فردی شهروندان یک کشور را با آزادی عمل کرد اقتصادی مخلوط می کنند.

بنظر من این نگاه، نقش تایین کننده ای در پایه گذاری سیاستهای خارجی ایالات متحد آمریکا بعد از فروپاشی اتحاد جماهیر شوروی داشته است. بحث دمکراتیزه کردن منطقه خاور میانه و حضور نظامی در این منطقه با اشغال عراق، از این نو نگاه سرچشمه می گیره.
پیشنهاد ایشون همان تبدیل دنیا به بازاری آزاد برای سرمایه، سرمایه گذاری و نهایتا سرمایه داران است و با توجه به این نگاه بود که پروفسور ما از اشغال عراق توسط آمریکا حمایت کردند.
اما بعد از زمین گیر شدن آمریکا در عراق و فاجعه انسانی پدید آمده در عراق، نظر ایشون تغییر کرد و دیگه از حضور امریکا در عراق حمایت نمی کنند. و اما جالبتر اینکه، بعد از درگیری روسیه و گرجستان که تقریبا منجر به اشغال نظامی گرجستان توسط روسیه شد، آقای پروفسور در مقاله ای که در روزنامه واشنگتن پست منتشر شد می نویسند که "آقای پوتین و برو بچه های ایشون تلاش کردند که نظر 20 سال پیش ایشون رو باطل اعلام کنند."
در زمان انتشار مقاله، من به ایشون نوشتم و خواستم که همین الان و بدون معطلی بگن که با آقای "پوتین و برو بچه های ایشون چکار باید کرد و چطور جلوی آنان را بگیریم؟!"، و اگر جوابی ندارید (!) که من مطمئن هستم که ندارید(!) باید اعتراف کنید که 20 سال پیش اشتباه کردید، و پایان تاریخ را اشتباه دیدید!

چرا اینکارو کردم؟ چون باید میدونست که اشتباه کرده؛ با نظر ایشون، آمریکا باید بعد از افغانستان و عراق، سرش رو مینداخت پایین و میرفت همین بلا رو سر مردم و کشور ما، ایران میاورد!

چرا عراق اشغال شد؟

2008-10-16T05:34:00.000-07:00

برای جواب دادن به سوال، "چرا آمریکا عراق را در سال 2003 اشغال کرد؟" هفته ها تحقیق می کردم. این هفته جوابی رو که آماده کرده بودم تحویل دادم.

خیلی برام جالب بود که ببینم چه اهداف و دستهای پنهانی پشت پرده این اشغال بوده است. این اهداف مخلوطی از هدفهای استراتژیک آمریکا به عنوان منافع ملی این کشور و اهداف شخصی بعضی از افراد صاحب قدرت و با نفوذ در آمریکا بوده است. پرداختن به تمامی این هدفها و منافع در اینجا امکان پذیر نیست و تنها به چند مورد کلیدی، قبل از اشغال اشاره می کنم.

مهمترین نکته این است که آقای پل اونیل(اولین وزیر خزانه داری آقای بوش) گفته اند که حمله نظامی به عراق در اولین جلسه اعضای ارشد دولت آقای بوش در تاریخ 30 ژانویه سال 2001 مطرح شده بوده است.(1)
بعد از آن سناتور مارک دی تون(مینسوتا) در جلسه کمیته سنای آمریکا که در جهت بررسی صلاحیت خانم کاندالیزه رایس برای پست وزارت خارجه تشکیل شده بود، از ملاقات خودشون با خانم رایس در ماه اکتبر 2002 قبل از اینکه استفاده از نیروی نظامی در مقابل عراق در مجلس به رای گذاشته شود می گویند که: "من دوست ندارم که بمن دروغ گفته بشه ... این اشتباه است ... غیر دمکراتیک است ... غیر آمریکایی است ... و این خطرناک است."(2) ایشون در مورد اطلاعاتی که خانم رایس در مورد صدام حسین و عراق بهشون داده بوده صحبت می کنند.
آقای پل ولفویتز(معاون آقای رامسفلد، وزیر دفاع آن زمان آقای بوش) هم می گویند که "سلاح کشتار جمعی، هرگز اولین دلیل حمله به عراق نبوده است"(3). این قضیه رو جالب می کنه، چون اون موقع باید بگن، پس دلیل چی بود؟!
آمریکا تقریبا 4% جمعیت دنیا را دارد، با این جمعیت این کشور 25% تولید نفت خام دنیا رو مصرف می کنه. در سال 2004، آمریکا روزانه 19 میلیون بشکه نفت را مصرف می کرده است. این مقدار در سال 2006 به 16 میلیون کاهش یافته، 10 میلیون از این مقدار(یا بیش از 60% مصرف) را از خارج تامین می کند.(4) این وابستگی به نفت، نفت را به یکی از پارامترهای استراتژیک سیاست خارجی آمریکا بعد از جنگ جهانی دوم تا به امروز تبدیل کرده است.
این پارامتر، در کنار سیستم اقتصادی متکی بر سرمایه و بازار آزاد، شرکتهای نفتی عظیم و چند ملیتی را به غولهای بی شاخ و دم تبدیل کرده است. و هر کس بنوعی ارتباطی با این غولها داشته باشد، هم می تواند که ثروتمند باشد و هم پر قدرت. حالا نکته جالب اینجاست که آقای بوش از اواخر سال 1980 تا اوایل 1990 سالها عضو مدیران شرکت نفتی هارکن بوده اند. آقای بوش تنها نیستن، آقای دیک چنی معاون ایشون هم در سالهای 1990 مدیر عامل شرکت هالیبرتن بوده اند که در آمدی بیش از 50$ میلیون برای ایشون داشته، خانم رایس هم قبلا عضو هیت مدیره شرکت عظیم نفتی شورون بوده اند.(5)
موضوع جالبتر می شود، وقتی که می بینیم لابی(گروهی که برای تاثیر گذاری بر قوانین و سیاست مداران فعالیت می کند) شرکتهای نفتی به رقابتهای انتخاباتی آقای بوش در سال 2000،1.8$ میلیون و در سال 2004، 2.5$ میلیون کمک مالی می کند.(6)

این اطلاعات و شرایط امروز منطقه خاور میانه و کشورمان ایران، تهدیدات بر علیه کشورمان، باید که یک ایرانی وطن دوست و نگران مردم و کشورش را بفکر فرو ببرد. حداقل من رو وادار به فکر کردن می کند.
1.Fawn, Hinnebusch. 2006. The Iraq War: Causes and Consequences p. 1

2. O’Huallachain, D. L, Forrest Sharpe, J. 2005. Neoconned Again: Hypocrisy. p. xvii

3. Fawn, Hinnebusch. 2006. The Iraq War: Causes and Consequences p. 27

4. Leech, Garry. crude interventions. 2ed. New York: Zed Books, 2006. p. 1

5. Leech, Garry. crude interventions. 2ed. New York: Zed Books, 2006. p. 2

6. Fawn, Hinnebusch. 2006. The Iraq War: Causes and Consequences p. 29

ملاقات و از هر دری سخنی با سفیر ونزوئلا در استرالیا

2008-09-30T05:13:00.000-07:00

امروز، آقای نلسون داویلا-سفیر کشور ونزوئلا در استرالیا- به دعوت انجمن دانشجویی به دانشکده حقوق وعلوم سیاسی آمده بودند.

قبل و بعد از سخنرانی ایشون کلی با هم گپ زدیم. مرد بسیار جالبی هستن، با هوش و انقلابی. خیلی با شور و شوق از 10 سال در قدرت بودن آقای چاوز(رئیس جمهور ونزوئلا) صحبت می کرد. از وضعیت مردم قبل از انقلابشون صحبت کرد، که چطور وضعیت معیشتی اکثریت مردم خوب نبوده، قشر ضعیف جامعه تحت فشار و قشر اقلیت ثروتمند در رفاه بوده اند. نظام سابق کشورشون حامی سرمایه داران و توسط غرب، بخصوص آمریکا، حمایت و پشتیبانی می شده اند، و چطور آقای چاوز که یک فرد نظامی بود ه اند رهبری انقلاب رو در دست گرفتند و با حمایت مردم دولت مردمی تشکیل دادن. از تغییر کامل قانون اساسی ونزوئلا و به رفراندم گذاشتن آن، و اینکه با اکثریت بالایی به تصویب مردم رسیده صحبت کرد. از ملی کردن منابع طبیعی کشورشون از قبیل نفت و گاز، از آزادی مطبوعات و آزادی بیان و انتخابات گفت. از روح انقلابی چاوز و همراهانش، از خودش و از مردم ونزوئلا، تمام این صحبتها رو با شور و هیجان و جسارت یک فرد انقلابی میگفت. این رو هم اضافه کرد که امروز، آمریکا تنها به این دلیل که دولت انقلابی آقای چاوز قدرت رو از دست اون اقلیت سرمایه داری که کشورشون رو غارت می کردند و بیشترین منافع اون رو به جیب شرکتهای عظیم آمریکایی سرازیر می کردن گرفته، آن رو متهم به نقض حقوق بشر و نبود آزادی می کنه و قصد سرنگونی آن رو داشته و داره.

بعد از سخنرانیش کلی با هم گپ زدیم. گفت که اخیرا یک هفته ای ایران بوده و کلی هم از مهمان نوازی و غذاهای ایرانی تعریف کرد. من هم ازش در مورد تصمیمات رادیکال دولت آقای چاوز در موارد مختلف از قبیل: همکاری نظامی با روسیه، خرید های تسلیحاتی میلیاردی، اخیرا اخراج سفیر آمریکا از کشورشون، پیشنهاد خطرناک آفای چاوز در مورد مستقر کردن موشکهای روسی در خاک ونزوئلا و اعلام تصمیم کشورشون مبنی بر راه اندازی برنامه هسته ای صلح آمیز به کمک روسیه سوال کردم. و صریحا پرسیدم که می دونید چکار می کنید و از عواقب احتمالی این کارها اطلاع دارید؟ خندید و با شجاعت یک انقلابی گفت که برای تغییر دنیا به یک دنیای بهتر که همه بتونیم به اندازه هم از امکانات موجود در دنیا استفاده و زندگی کنیم، باید که آماده پرداخت هزینه هم باشیم! بهش گفتم اگه بشه، خیلی خوب میشه، اما من زیاد مطمئن نیستم! خنید، من هم خندیدم، کارتش رو داد و گفت به کشورش سری بزنم.

چند نکته

2008-09-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

یک هفته ای میشه که بلاگ رو آپ دیت نکردم. هفته ششم کلاسهاست و کم کم تکلیف ها داره دییو میشه، به این خاطره. اما یک خبر خوب، با یک دوست خوب ایرانی در حال راه اندازی یک سایت خبری، فرهنگی و سیاسی هستیم. نام سایت ثبت شده، کارهای طراحی و تکنیکی سایت در حال انجامه و به محض آماده شدن، شروع می کنیم. با وضعیت اطلاعاتی ما ایرانیان خارج از کشور و بخصوص در استرالیا، نیاز به یک سایت خبری با اطلاعات بروز شده از تغییر و تحولات بین المللی در رابطه با ایران، احساس می شد.

خبر خوبه دیگه اینکه، آقای اوباما از طرف حزب دمکرات آمریکا رسما کاندیدای اتنخابات ریاست جمهوری آینده معرفی شد. دور از انتظار نبود، یعنی تقریبا قطعی بود، خیلی وقت قبل اینجا پیش بینی کرده بوذم. اما نکته قابل مکث، مدت زمان باقی مونده از ریاست آقای بوش در کاخ سفید است، خیلی دلم می خواست که به همون راحتی که کاندید شدن آقای اوباما رو پیش بینی کردم، میتونستم بگم که آقای بوش بدون یک دردسر دیگه از کاخ سفید میره! اگرچه احتمال اینکه دردسر دیگه ای قبل از رفتن درست کنه بسیار ناچیزه، اما همین ناچیز هم منو نگران می کنه! امیدوارم نگرانیم بی مورد باشه.

قهرمان یا تروریست؟

2008-08-23T20:54:00.000-07:00

ظاهرا چند روز پیش سالگرد ترور فردی بنام اسدالله لاجوردی(برای مخالفین سیاسی جمهوری اسلامی، قاتل و جلاد سالهای سیاه 60، و برای حامیان جمهوری اسلامی فردی با ایمان و قهرمان) بدست شخصی بنام علی اکبر اکبری، عضو فرقه رجوی بود. دلیل انتخاب این موضوع، برخورد طرفین بالا با این سالگرد بود. جمهوری اسلامی، این را فرصتی یافت که در شرایط موجود بین المللی-فشارها و متهم کردن جمهوری اسلامی به حمایت از تروریزم برای اهداف سیاسی-خود را مظلوم و قربانی ترور قلمداد کند، و نه حامی آن. و از طرف دیگر اما مخالفین جمهوری اسلامی در خارج از کشور از این ترور بنام حرکتی انقلابی یاد کرده، و عامل آن را قهرمان انقلابی معرفی کردند. فکر میکنم ایراد کشور و مردم ما نداشتن تعریف درست از واژهاست. زمانی که یک فرد تروریست، یک محفل تروریستی، یک فرقه و یا گروه مذهبی تروریستی به خود اجازه میدهد که در نقش شاکی، دادستان، قاضی و مامور اجرای حکم اعدام ظاهر شود، یکجای کار ما ایراد اساسی دارد، آن فرهنگ ماست. البته مایلم امیدوار باشم که این فرهنگ متعلق به نسل گذشته ما بوده باشد. علاوه بر این کوچکترین فرقی مابین، برای مثال این آقا-لاجوردی- و آن آقای تروریست نیست، چرا که هر دو در جایگاه مشابه مخالف ایدئولوژیک خود را دشمن میدانند و بخود اجازه حذف فیزیکی آن را میدهند. در این مورد بخصوص، من میدانم که میتوانم علی اکبر اکبری را بجرم قتل، محاکمه و از دادگاه تقاضای مجازات وی را داشته باشم، اما برای محاکمه و مجازات اسدالله لاجوردی و امثالهم نیاز به مدارک مستند دال بر نقش وی در جنایت و قتل خواهم داشت. اینگونه برخورد، در کشورهای آزاد دنیا-که اکثر هموطنان سیاسی مخالف جمهوری اسلامی زندگی میکنند، حکومت قانون نامیده می شود.

من خواهان حکومت قانون در فردای ایران هستم.

زنان نویسنده ایران نیازی به حمایت سیاسیون بازنشسته خارج از کشور ندارند

2008-08-20T21:53:00.000-07:00

اخیرا کانون نویسندگان ایران انتخابات هیئت دبیران خود را برگزار کرده است و فرقه رجوی در خارج از کشور واز زبان فردی بنام مصداقی-که خود را زندانی سیاسی سابق مینامد و به شکل معجزه آسایی (بخوانید مشکوکی، زیرا تنها افرادی از آن کشتار جان سالم بدر بردند که حاضر به توبه و قبول سر سپردگی جمهوری اسلامی کردند) از کشتار زندانیان سیاسی سالهای 60 جان سالم بدر برده اند- به کانون، انتخابات و ترکیب اعضای دبیران آن، حمله کرده است. این حمله را اما باید در قالب موضع گیریهای سیاسی داخل و خارج از کشور بررسی کرد.

این فرد-مصداقی- نمیتواند خشم خود را از روشهای متداول امروز، روش انتخاب آزاد و دمکراتیک-و البته مستقل- در انتخابات کانون و جدای از هر گونه روشهای کپی برداری شده و تزئیناتی خارج از کشور، پنهان کند و بی مهابا به اعضای کانون میتازد. خود این فرد و نظراتش اهمیت چندانی ندارند، چیزی که مهم است اما تفاوت موضع گیری فرقه رجوی- مبارزه با جمهوری اسلامی و با قدرت نظامی(که البته بخوانید قدرت نظامی خارجی-آمریکا) با موضع گیری فعالین داخل کشور که اعتقاد به مبارزه با روشهای مستقل و متکی بر مردم داخل کشور دارند.

ایرادات به انتخابات کانون نویسندگان توسط این فرد، نه به منظور دفاع از حقوق زنان-چرا که زنان داخل کشور نیازی به حمایت اینچنین افراد و فرقه ایشان ندارند- بلکه گویای وحشت بیرون افتادن از گردونه تاثیر گذاری بر تحولات سیاسی داخل کشور میباشد. ایشان و فرقه متبوعشان خبر ندارند که از زمان حضور در عراق و همکاری با صدام حسین در جنگ بر علیه کشور ایران، دیگر نقشی در معادلات سیاسی کشور ایران ندارند. علاوه بر آن نسل جوان این کشور و در این مورد بخصوص زنان-و آن هم زنان مبارز و آگاه ایرانی در کانون نویسندگان- مسلما نیازی به کمک این چنین افرادی ندارند. قطعا این نویسندگان، حقوق دانان، دانشگاهیان، فرهنگیان، کارگران و دیگر اقشار این کشور و در کل مردم ایران هستند که سرنوشت سیاسی آن را رقم خواهند زد و نه بیگانگان.

بله، حق با خانم حاجی زاده است که بدرستی بیان میکنند

"فراموش نکنيد که کانون نويسندگان ايران نهاد صنفی نويسندگان مستقل ايران است که پس از چندين سال تهديد، اضطراب و گذر از موانع متعدد، نه با امکانات قدرقدرت‌ها و نه مطابق ذوق و سليقه‌ی قدرت‌های داخلی و خارجی دست به کاری شگرف زده و طبيعی است که در چنين شرايطی نتيجه انتخابات آن نيز تابع مقتضيات کنونی و درونی جامعه باشد. ترکيب هيئت دبيران نيز بر اساس آرای رای‌دهندگان است نه ملاحظات ديگر. و درک اين شرايط به‌درستی ميسر نيست مگر آن که از نزديک دستی بر آتش داشته‌ باشيم و منتظر نمانيم تا لقمه‌ی همه مسايل هنری، فرهنگی، سياسی، اجتماعی و غيره را اروپا و آمريکا برای ما بگيرند و ما آن را بی‌ چون و چرا قورت دهيم"

خانم حاجی زاده و دیگر اعضای محترم کانون نویسندگان ایران جایگاه ویژه خود را دارند، و اگرچه ایشان پاسخی به این فرد داده اند، شاید نوشته این فرد نیازی به پاسخ هم نداشت!

آهای بی بی سی، با ایران و مردمش شوخی نکنی!

2008-08-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

دیروز یک خبری رو روی سایت بی بی سی فارسی دیدم که دهنم از تعجب باز موند.(البته شوخی کردم، همچین تعجبی هم نداشت آخه چون انگلیس همینجور الکی سالیانه صدها میلیون پوند خرج بی بی سی نمیکنه که!) اما خبر، این تروریست آدم کش-ریگی- رو که سر آدمها رو جلوی دوربین میبره که بتونه براش پول بگیره، راهزنی میکنه و آدمهای بی دفا رو به گلوله می بنده و باز فیلم میگیره که بتونه براش پول بگیره و بمب میگذاره توی کوچه و خیابون که باز بتونه براش پول بگیره رو آقا خطاب کرده بود. از این هم وقیح تر، درخواست یک تروریست رو گزارش کرده که از ایران خواسته با گروه تروریستش مذاکره کنه! باید از این آقایون و خانمهای خبرنگار سوال کرد که نظرشون در مورد بن لادن چیه؟ اون رو هم آقا خطاب میکنند؟ و بروند از آمریکا هم سوال کنند که نظرش در مورد درخواست مشابه ای از طرف بن لادن چیه؟ فکر میکنم ما ایرانیها باید به عناوین چنین گزارشاتی به عنوان زنگ خطر نگاه کنیم و توجه آقایون و خانمهای خبرنگار بخش فارسی بی بی سی (و یا بهتر بگم دولت انگلیس) رو به اینجور اخبار و حساسیت آن برای مردم ایران جلب کنیم. هیچکس نباید در محاسباتش در رابطه با مردم، کشور ایران و منافع ملی آنها دچار توهم و اشتباه بشه و خودش رو، رو در روی مردم ایران قرار بده!

ایران و مردم، و یا جمهوری اسلامی، کدام مهمترند؟

2008-08-07T03:26:00.000-07:00

چند هفته از ارائه بسته پیشنهادی غرب برای تعلیق غنی سازی اورانیوم توسط ایران میگذره و جمهوری اسلامی هنوز جواب واضح و روشنی به دنیا(5+1) نداده. یعنی خودش فکر میکنه که هم داده و هم نداده(!) یعنی چی؟ یعنی اینکه، چون میدونه که توان ایستادگی در مقابل عواقب احتمالی جواب رد مستقیم رو نداره: قطعنامه دیگری در شورای امنیت و تحریمات سخت تر- و یا از آن بدتر- فاجعه حمله هوایی به سایتهای هسته ای ایران که پتانسیل تبدیل شدن به هر چیز دیگه رو هم داره، رد نکرده. قبول هم اما نکرده. تنها کاری که کرده--من فکر میکنم--بازی برای خرید وقت بیشتر و امتحان طرف مقابل بوده. اینجاست که من رو به عنوان یک ایرانی مردم دوست و نگران منافع ملی ایران، نگران میکنه! چرا؟ چون در این وضعیت بسیار حساس و خطرناک منطقه و کشور ایران، درمقام تصمیم گیری در این مورد، هیچکس حق اشتباه محاسباتی در توان طرف مقابل رو نداره. خطوط قرمز و قدرت طرف مقابل کاملا روشن هستند. خطوط قرمز جمهوری اسلامی هم مشخص هستند. اما، امیدوارم جمهوری اسلامی هر چه زودتر به این واقعیت برسه که خطوط قرمز آن، لزوما خطوط قرمز مردم و کشور ایران نیستند!

گفتگو، بهترین و شاید تنها انتخاب غرب و ایران برای برون رفت از بن بست هسته ای و استراتژیک منطقه خاور میانه

2008-07-23T04:14:00.000-07:00

روز شنبه این هفته، نشست 5+1 و ایران برای بررسی پاسخ ایران به بسته پیشنهادی غرب در مسئله هسته ای و اینبار با حضور نماینده ای از وزارت خارجه آمریکا - آقای ویلیام برنز - در ژنو برگزار شد.

این بسته پیشنهادی، و در مقابل آن بسته پیشنهادی ایران و در کل انتخاب راه تعامل و مذاکره برای حل مشکل هسته ای ایران، راه و روشی است که با رفتار و گفتار حاکمان کاخ سفید با تهران در سال 2003 و پس از سرنگونی صدام کاملا متفاوت است. امروز ناتوانی امریکا در برخورد نظامی با ایران، و البته نه بخاطر ناتوانی نظامی در تخریب و نابودی توانایی نظامی ایران و در صورت لزوم نابودی تاسیسات زیربنایی کشورمان، بلکه بدلیل تجارب عراق، افغانستان و اهمیت اینکه بعد از بمباران های وسیع و مخرب هوایی چه اتفاقی خواهد افتاد(؟) بازی تازه شروع خواهد شد(!) باعث این تعامل است. علاوه بر این، عجز تحلیلگران استراتژیک در پیش بینی عواقب درگیری نظامی با ایران برای کشورهای منطقه، منجمله اسرائیل، آمریکا را بر آن داشته که حداقل تا زمانی که ایران به نقطه غیر قابل برگشت توانایی هسته ای-غنی سازی اورانیم با در صد قابل استفاده در مقاصد نظامی- به استفاده از ابزار نظامی در مقابل ایران فکر نکند. عامل بازدارنده دیگری هم در معادلات امریکا و متحدان غربی آن نقش خواهد داشت، در صورت درگیری نظامی، آنها دشمن مردم و کشور ایران محسوب خواهند شد(!) و هیچ سیاست مدار غربی-امروز- نخواهد خواست که در چشم مردم ایران دشمن قلمداد شود.

طلوع خورشید روابط تهران-واشنگتن بعد از 30 سال تاریکی

2008-07-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

خبرهای خوبی در مورد بسته پیشنهادی غرب، مسئله هسته ای و واکنش تهران شنیده میشود. بعد از تقریبا سه هفته که از تحویل بسته پیشنهادی توسط آقای سولانا به تهران میگذره، و فشارهای سیاسی و تهدیدات نظامی و البته خبرهایی مبنی بر برقراری روابط دیپلماتیک نا محسوس در سطح افتتاح دفتر حفاظت از منافع ایالات متحده آمریکا در تهران شنیده شد، آقای علی اکبر ولایتی مشاور امور بین الملل ولی فقیه جمهوری اسلامی آخرین جواب را دیپلماتیک و مستقیم از جانب تهران دادند.(به قول آقای محمد علی ابطحی اینجا، "جمله طولانی رو حال کردین"!) جواب تهران از زبان آقای ولایتی اما ساده بود و روشن، شعارها، بد اخلاقیها و تهدید های چند سال گذشته آقای احمدی نژاد-رئیس جمهور- را جدی نگیرید! این رهبر است که با مشورت مشاورین با تجربه ای امثال همین آقای ولایتی در مورد مسائل حساس و کلیدی حرف آخر را میزند. و اما حرف آخر در مورد بسته پیشنهادی و در کل روابط ایران و آمریکا در سطح منطقه و دنیا را عقل و خرد میزند، این خلاصه پیغام تهران بود. پیغام واضحی بود و باید با عمل همراه شود!

من فکر میکنم که ایران میتواند بعد از اسرائیل به بهترین هم پیمان استراتژیک آمریکا در منطقه تبدیل شود.

جواب بسته پیشنهادی غرب طول کشیده، و بدلیل قابل فهم

2008-06-24T01:34:00.000-07:00

بیش از یک هفته از ارائه بسته مشوقهای هسته ای توسط گروه 5+1(آمریکا، چین، روسیه، انگیس، فرانسه و آلمان) به ایران گذشت. در این فاصله اظهار نظرهای متفاوتی از زبان افراد مختلف و از جانب طرفین شنیده شد. تا امروز تهران هنوز جواب روشن و واضحی نداده و همون لحن قبل رو داره، که داریم بررسی میکنیم و بعد جواب میدیم. اروپا و امریکا هم بیکار نشستن، آخه اگه این آقایون در تهران بازی رو 10-15 سالی باشه که یاد گرفتن غربیها یکم تجربشون بیشتر، اروپا برای اینکه وقت تلف نشه و بموقع آماده باشه (!)داره تحریم مالی بیشتر رو بررسی میکنه ، آمریکا هم در مجلس سنا طرح تحریم مالی بیشتر رو از همین حالا تصویب کرده و آماده منتظر جواب آقایون در تهران نشسته! حالا بیخود هم نیست که تهران کلی وقت لازم داره برای جواب دادن، چون آخه نمیشه جواب بچه گانه ای داد که!

تهران باید بدونه که 2 2 تا 4 تا میشه، هم آسان تر است و هم کم هزینه تر

2008-06-17T01:24:00.000-07:00

امروز آخرین امتحان این ترم (سیمستر) تمام شد. یک نفس راحت کشیدم. فعلا تا چند هفته ای وقت آزاد بیشتر دارم، یک کمی بیشتربه کارهای آقایون در جمهوری اسلامی بپردازیم، خدا رو چه دیدی شاید گوش شنوایی پیدا شد.

اتفاقا بحث داغ هسته ای هم دوباره از اوایل همین هفته، با رفتن آقای خاویر سولانا (نماینده اتحادیه اروپا) و گروه همراه (نمایندگانی از وزرای خارجه 5 کشور دارای حق وتو در شورای امنیت) به ایران و برای ارائه بسته جدید مشوقهای غرب در قبال تعلیق غنی سازی اورانیوم، شروع شده. روز شنبه، آقای سولانا بسته پیشنهادی را تحویل مقامات مسئول جمهوری اسلامی داده و به اروپا برگشته. وقتی تهران بوده با چند نفر از این آقایون صحبت کرده و بر اساس صحبتهایی که ردوبدل شده، نظرش اینه که جمهوری اسلامی 2 2 تا 4 تا رو بلده. اما از گوشه و کنار زمزمه هایی مبنی بر جواب منفی به این بسته شنیده میشه. اطمینان دارم آقای سولانا هم مثل من امیدواره که این نق زدن ها از جانب دهن لقانی باشه که وقتی مدرسه میرفتن همیشه در امتحان حساب نمره بد میگرفتن! البته آقای علی لاریجانی ریاست کنونی مجلس و آقای بروجردی ریاست کمسیون امنیت و روابط خارجی تاکید کرده اند که عجله ای در دادن پاسخ منفی نیست و پاسخ، پس از مطالعه و بررسی دقیق محتویات وهمچنین بررسی شرایط کنونی منطقه و دنیا داده خواهد شد. من شنیده ام که رشته تحصیلی آقای لاریجانی ریاضی بوده، این نگاه ایشون به بسته پیشنهادی نمیتونه که با رشته تحصیلیشون بی ارتباط باشه. حتما باید بدونن که 2 2 تا 4 تا میشه!

توضیح در مورد غیبت

2008-05-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

از آخرین پستی که کردم چند هفته ای میگذره، در این فاصله اتفاقات زیادی افتاده از جمله (تهدیدات لفظی واشنگتن، اما همزمان با ارائه بسته جدید مشوقها در مورد بن بست هسته ای- درگیریهای نیروهای مقتدا صدر با نیروهای دولتی عراق و آمریکا-درگیریهای اخیر حزب الله لبنان) که قاعدتا باید در مورد هر کدوم یک مطلب کوچیک مینوشتم. اما تقریبا آخر سیمستر(ترم) است و کلی تکلیف باید انجام بدیم، یکی دو هفته دیگه تموم میشن و بعد یک جمع بندی از تموم این اتفاقات و تحولات احتمالی آینده میکنم.

UNWISE CANDIDATE

2008-04-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

This week, Hillary Clinton, one of the two Democrat's candidates for the next US presidential election, has threatened Iranian people and their country.

She was quoted as saying: in case of Israel being attacked, she - as a US president - will order a retaliation against Iran and the US has the capability to remove Iran from the world's map. It sounded like the same unwise rhetoric by the Islamic Republic's president Ahmadi Nejad against the Israel, last year. She might well had the images of the two US atomic bombs in mind which have been dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the World War II. The bombs which killed hundreds of thousand of innocent civilians, and affected millions more for the last 60 years, even today.

Apparently she has been carried away by the election's ambiance, and it seemed that she has a little idea about Iran, its people, and its geographical location. One should bring this to her attention that - Iran is a big country with a population of 70 million people in the Middle East. Moreover, it is 21th century and after 5 years in Iraq, the US desperately is looking for a way out of the mess they have been in for at least, the last 3 years. Now, one would wonder why on earth would the US people vote for an unwise candidate to be their dangerous president!

I wont!

حرکات بچه گانه تهران-واشنگتن

2008-04-21T03:05:00.000-07:00

چند روز پیش بمناسبت روز ارتش، جمهوری اسلامی رژه نیروهای مسلح ارتش را در تهران انجام داد. دیگه یواش یواش، حرکات سیاسی تهران-واشنگتن در مقابل هم داره به بازی بچه ها شبیه میشه، در صورتی که این بازی، بازی بچه ها نیست و ایران و آمریکا هم اسباب بازی نیستند! در این رژه نظامی جمهوری اسلامی تمام تلاشش رو کرده بود که زور بازوی خودش رو به دنیا--یا بهتر بگیم به آمریکا--نشون بده. یک نکته قابل توجه هم بپرواز در آوردن بقولی نزدیک به 200 هواپیمای جنگنده و پشتیبانی بود. چرا این نکته اهمیت داره؟ چون وقتی که ایران 27 سال پیش با این ارتش در مقابل نیروی نظامی کشوری در حد و اندازه عراق، 8 سال بدون هیچ نتیجه ای جز تلفات جانی و مالی برای هر دو کشور مجبور به قبول آتش بس 598 میشه، امروز با این ادوات و تجهیزات نظامی، قدرتمند ترین ارتش دنیا رو تهدید کردن همان کار بچه گانه ای است که ازش صحبت کردم. در مقابل آمریکا هم به همون اندازه یک کار بچه گانه ازش سر زد، مانور نظامی کوچکی با مشارکت کویت، قطر، بحرین در آبهای خلیج فارس! چرا؟ چون هم جمهوری اسلامی خیلی خوب باید بدونه که امریکا، در زمانی بسیار کوتاه، توان نابود کردن تمام نیروی نظامی، اعم از هوایی، دریایی و زمینی بعلاوه تاسیسات غیر نظامی ایران را دارد، و هم امریکا خیلی خوب میداند که نابودی نیروی نظامی و تاسیسات زیر بنایی ایران لزوما پیروزی در جنگ نیست! تجربه عراق و افغانستان کاملا گویای این مطلب است! البته در مورد امریکا یک استثنا میتونه که قابل تصور باشه، و اون تمایل به خسارت وارد کردن به کشورهای منطقه-و اینبار ایران- بمنظور نابودی اقتصادی آنها و سپس سرازیر شدن شرکتهای بزرگ چند ملییتی به منطقه برای سرمایه گذاری و باز سازی، شاید برای 50 سال آینده! این فرض، اگر درست باشد بچه گانه بودن حرکات امریکا را خیلی کمرنگ میکند، در مورد کشورعراق و افغانستان انجام شده است! نگرانی من در مورد مردم و کشور ایران است، هیچ دوست ندارم که این فرضیه در مورد کشور من هم عملی شود! بنابر این مجبورم که بیشتر بر روی بچه گانه بودن حرکات تهران تاکید کنم، با این امید و اصرار که تهران مراقب بچه ها باشد که وارد بازی بزرگترها نشن! چون همانطور که اول گفتم نه این بازی، بازی بچه هاست و نه مردم و کشور ایران اسباب بازی!

گره مشکلات تهران-واشنگتن به دندون احتیاج نداره

2008-04-09T04:07:00.000-07:00

الان 5 سالی هست که عراق در اشغال آمریکا است و به جرات میشه گفت که در این مدت، هر اتفاقی که در عراق افتاده، می افته و یا خواهد افتاد، تاثیراتش، یجورهای مستقیم یا غیر مستقیم کشور ما رو هم درگیر میکنه. حالا باز این هفته چند تا اتفاق افتاد، ایران اعلام کرد که شروع کرده که 6 هزار سانترفیوژ دیگه برای غنی سازی سریعتر اورانیم در نطنز نصب کنه، هنوز حملات ارتش مهدی مقتدا صدر ادامه داره و حمله به منطقه سبز بغداد هم باعث کشته شدن چند سرباز امریکایی شده و تعداد زیادتری هم زخمی کرده و گروه 5+1 هم قرار است که ملاقاتی داشته باشند برای ارائه یک بسته پیشنهادی جدید، و به قول وزیر خارجه روسیه و امریکا، شیرینیهای زیادی توی بسته هست که شاید تهران رو قانع کنه که تعلیق غنی سازی هم کار زیاد سخت و غیر ممکنی نیست! حالا اگه بگیم، که امروز، ایران مهمترین مهره بازی در منطقه است ، خوب، میشه این گره مشکلات تهران-واشنگتن رو بجای به دندون متوسل شدن با دست باز کرد! اصلا کدوم آدم عاقلی گره ای که به راحتی با دست باز میشه رو میبره نزدیک دهنش؟

جمهوری اسلامی، بازی تازه شروع شده

2008-03-31T05:32:00.000-07:00

چند روز پیش که دیک چنی معاون جورج بوش(رئیس جمهور امریکا) آمده بود خاور میانه، یک مطلبی روی سایت تابناک خوندم که بنظرم با درگیریهای اخیر نیروهای مقتدا صدر با نیروهای دولت آقای مالکی در عراق یجورهایی مرتبط بود. توی این مطلب، نویسنده کلی امریکا رو تهدید الکی کرده، فکر میکنم شوخی کرده بود، چون آدم عاقل سیاسی توی ایران امروز، که امریکا رو تهدید نمیکنه. علاوه بر این مطلب، صحبتهایی هم آقای جنتی از تریبون نماز جمعه تهران کرده بود، بر این مضمون که "دنیا سر عقل بیاید". آقای جنتی هم که با اینهمه که نصیحتش کردن و کردیم که این انتخابات، با همه انتخابات قبلی در جمهوری اسلامی فرق میکنه و امروز حتما "مردم" باید انتخاب کنند، نه ایشون و نه دوستانشون، حواسشون نبود و گوش نکردن! همین صحبتهای چند روز پیش در نماز جمعه هم، بازهمین نکته رو تایید کرد. تمام این اتفاقات رو من به حساب همون اشتباه محاسباتی جمهوری اسلامی که اینجا ازش گفته بودم میگذارم. اون اشتباه ایته که آقای جنتی و دوستانشون چنین تصوری داشته باشن که انتخابات کردند و بازی تموم شد! نه آقا جان، بازی تازه شروع شده!

احساس رضایت آقای خامنه ای و دوستان محافظه کارشان از انتخابات، درست یا غلط؟

2008-03-24T01:01:00.000-07:00

انتخابات مجلس شورای اسلامی به پایان رسید، و گمانه زنی ها در مورد تسلط بلاع منازه ولی فقیه(آقای علی خامنه ای) بر مجلس بالا گرفته است. اما به نظر من این، چیزی بیشتر از یک اشتباه محاسباتی و یا فراتر از آن استراتژیک، آقای خامنه ای و دوستان اطرافشان نیست.

البته در ظاهر اینگونه خواهد بود که با رد صلاحیتهای به اصطلاح غیرخودیها، زمینه برای یک دست کردن مجلس و در دست گرفتن کنترل آن توسط نیروهای وفادار به جبهه محافظه کاران فراهم شد. و اینک مجلسی کاملا هماهنگ با دولتی محافظه کار تشکیل خواهد شد و آقایان با خیال راحت برسرنوشت مردم-مردمی که حق مشارکت و دمکراتیک آنان در یک انتخابات را توسط 10-12 نفر به عنوان شورای نگهبان از آنان سلب کردند-و جان و مالشان به اضافه منافع ملی این کشور قمار و حکمرانی خواهند کرد. نادیده گرفتن و دور زدن مردم در ایران امروز-حتی با وضعیت شکننده امریکا در منطقه-یک اشتباه محاسباتی و استراتژیک است. آقایان محافظه کار باید این را بدانند، این خطر امریکا نیست که به لحاظ شرایط خوب اقتصادی، سیاسی، نظامی و جهانی-برای مثال قبل از اشغال عراق-میتوانست که مرگ آور باشد، و اینک بواسطه بدی تمام این شرایط، دیگر این خطر آنان را تهدید نمیکند و بنابر این میتوانند که با خیالی آسوده انتخابات کنند! باید بدانند که این تنها، مردم ایران هستند که باید از آنان ترسید، از سلب کردن حقوق انسانی ، شهروندی آنان و سهم تک تک آنان از منافع ملی کشور ایران. اگرچه مردم شریف، با هوش و آگاه به مسائل سیاسی ایران با توجه به خطرات در کمین کشور، تمام تلاش خود را کرده و میکنند که بهانه را از دشمنان این مرز و بوم برای غارت و نابودی ایران بگیرند، این بزرگترین و نابخشودنی اشتباه و خیانت در حق این مردم و ایران خواهد بود که آقایان این را به حساب موفقیت سیاسی خود بگذارند. این موفقیت نیست، اعلام خطر است، اعلام خطر مردم به فرد سیاسی ناتوان در امر محاسبات و معادلات ریاضی!

HAPPY NEW YEAR عیدتان مبارک

2008-03-19T03:20:00.000-07:00

سال 1387 از راه رسید.

سال نو را به کلیه هموطنان عزیز داخل و خارج از کشور تبریک گفته، سالی همراه با سلامتی و موفقیت برایتان آرزو دارم.

Finally, the Iranian New Year is here.

I wish a happy and prosperous year for all Iranian wherever they are.

قطعنامه سوم شورای امنیت سازمان ملل، مانعی بر سر راه خرید زمان توسط جمهوری اسلامی ایران

2008-03-05T04:05:00.000-08:00

قطعنامه سوم تحریمات تنبیهی برعلیه ایران به دلیل سر پیچی از خواسته های شورای امنیت سازمان ملل، روز دوشنبه همین هفته به تصویب رسید. از15 کشور عضو شورا، 14 کشور به این قطعنامه رای مثبت داده اند. این شورا تشکیل شده است از 5 عضو دائمی(آمریکا، انگاستان، فرانسه، چین و روسیه) که دارای حق وتو هستند - حق وتو قدرت فوق العاده ای است به این معنی، که رای منفی هر یک از این اعضا مانع تصویب هر گونه قطعنامه مطرح در شورا خواهد شد - و 10 عضو غیر دائمی که برای مدت 2 سال انتخاب میشوند. برای تصویب قطعنامه های مطرح در شورای امنیت به حداقل 9 رای مثبت نیاز میباشد، با توجه به این نکته که 5 عضو دائم با حق وتو حتما رای مثبت داده باشند. در حال حاضر، اعضای غیر دائم کنونی شورای امنیت را کشورهای (آفریقای جنوبی، اندونزی، ایتالیا، بلژیک، بورکنا فاسو، کرواشیا، کاستریکا، لیبی، ویتنام و پاناما) تشکیل میدهند. و در این قطعنامه اخیر تنها اندونزی در رای گیری شرکت نکرده است و بقیه اعضا همگی رای مثبت داده اند.

تصویب قطعنامه دور از انتظار نبود. چرا که دنیا اجازه خرید وقت را به جمهوری اسلامی نخواهد داد. همانطور که قبلا اینجا اشاره کرده بودم، دنیا خود را برای زمانی که واقعا در مقابل بلند پروازیهای جمهوری اسلامی احساس خطر کند، آماده میکند. و این جمهوری اسلامی ایران است که باید این موضوع ساده را تشخیص دهد، که این غنی سازی اورانیم و یا تضمین امنیتی آمریکا نیست که امنیت او را تضمین میکند، چرا که این تنها مردم یک کشور هستند که امنیت سیاسی آن را تضمین میکنند. سیاسیون حاکم بر کشور ایران باید بدانند که بدون مردم، تنها غریقانی هستند در میان اقیانوس و بدون جلیقه نجات! خواسته های مردم هم کاملا روشن و واضح هستند، آزادی، حقوق بشر و دمکراسی، و البته خیلی زود!

هفته اول کلاسها، و بحث امنیت جهانی

2008-02-28T22:22:00.000-08:00

کلاسها شروع شد. دوشنبه برگشتیم سر کلاس و الان هفته اول تموم شده. حالا دیگه مشخص شد که این ترم باید با این واحدها چکار کنیم. یکی از واحد ها مربوط به دولت استرالیا و سیاست خارجی آن است، خیلی جالب و دوست داشتنی است، یا حداقل من دوست دارم. استاد این واحد، دکتر علوم سیاسی، دکتر والتون است و قبلا واحد هایی رو با ایشون گذراندم همدیگرو خوب میشناسیم، میدونه که من ایرانی هستم و بخاطر کارهای بد سیاسیون در ایران آمدم استرالیا! بعد از لکچر خواست که بریم یک کافی با هم بخوریم. سر میز شروع کرد و گفت که به دعوت دانشگاه آکسفورد باید بره انگلستان و در یک میزگرد در مورد امنیت جهانی شرکت کنه. خوب دیگه، بلافاصله یکی از مشکلات بزرگ امنیت جهانی (جمهوری اسلامی)، که هر چه مایل باشیم آن رو جمهوری اسلامی بنامیم، باز نمیشه چون داریم از کشور ایران و مردم آن صحبت میکنیم، مطرح شد. اصلا پیشنهاد کافی هم بهمین موضوغ برمیگشت، دکتر سیاسی دیگه کاریش نمیشه کرد. lol

خلاصه 1 ساعتی گپ زدیم. پرسید که من در مورد وضعیت بغرنج فعلی بین ایران و غرب چی فکر میکنم؟ گفتم از کدوم صندلی میخواهی جواب بدم، صندلی مردم ایران یا صندلی احمدی نژاد؟ گفت: از هر دو، گفتم باشه اما شما هم از صندلی غرب صحبت کن، کلی خندیدیم و قبول کرد. گفتم که از صندلی مردم میگم که دتیا علاوه بر اینکه دردسر خودش رو زیاد کرده، سردرد منوهم زیاد کرده و کارم رو به تعویق انداخته. و از صندلی احمدی نژاد، میگم که تهدید نکن و بدون قید و شرط بیا بشین سر میز کافی بخوریم ببینیم که مشکلمون کجاست و سر میز صحبت، همه چیز ممکنه!

از صندلی غرب گفت که حاضره! گفتم حین صحبت در میزگرد لندن یادت نره که بگی! خندید و گفت: حتما!

کار سخت آقای البرادعی در میان درگیری هسته ای جمهوری اسلامی و غرب

2008-02-22T08:57:00.000-08:00

امروز سازمان بین المللی انرژی هسته ای گزارش خود را در مورد همکاری ایران اعلام کرد. این گزارش هم مثل تقریبا تمام گزارشات قبلی با احتیاط کامل نوشته شده بود، که قابل درک است. این سازمان و ریاستش، آقای البرادعی، باید بسیار محتاط عمل کنند، چرا که مسئولیت نظارت بر عدم گسترش سلاحهای هسته ای را بر عهده دارند. من شخصا آقای البرادعی را فرد حرفه ای، آگاه به مسائل سیاسی و در عین حال انسان شریفی میدانم که تمام تلاش خود را میکند که در کنار کار حرفه ای خود، مراقب سو استفاده های سیاسی به هزینه ایشون و سازمان مطبوع خود هم باشد. این خیلی کار ایشون رو مشکل تر میکنه. در مورد مسئله هسته ای کشورمان که تمام قدرت های بین المللی حساسیت فوق العاده ای دارند و مقتنم شمردن این فرصت از جانب جمهوری اسلامی برای به گرو گرفتن غنی سازی اورانیوم برای رسیدن به خواسته های بزرگ سیاسی خود، آقای البرادعی بر روی زمین مین گذاری شده قدم برمیدارد. از یک طرف باید مراقب باشد که در دام جمهوری اسلامی نیفتد و از فعالیتهای غیر صلح آمیز احتمالی غافل نشود که نهایتا متهم به کمک به هسته ای شدن جمهوری اسلامی گردد. و از طرف دیگر باید مراقب تبدیل نشدن به ابزاری برای اهداف سیاسی قدرت های بزرگ در منطقه خلیج فازس و کشورمان ایران باشد. بهر روی اگرچه این گزارش محتاطانه نوشته شده، جمهوری اسلامی از آن بنفع خود صحبت میکند و غرب آن را دلیلی بر اعمال فشار بیشتر بر تهران و تصویب قطعنامه دیگری در شورای امنیت میداند. نظر من این است که قطعنامه دیگری تصویب خواهد شد. چرا؟ چون این ابزار غرب در مقابل ابزار مورد استفاده تهران در منطقه است و غرب تا این اندازه بی تجربه نیست که به رقیب زمان بدهد! غرب میداند که باید از طریق این قطعنامه ها به موقع و سر بزنگاه آماده باشد! حال باید منتظر شد و دید که جمهوری اسلامی این واقعیت را درک خواهد کرد یا نه!

پس نوشت:
آقای احمدی نژاد در مصاحبه ای با سیمای جمهوری اسلامی یکبار دیگر در مورد قطعنامه های شورای امنیت اظهار نظر کودکانه کرده اند بر این مضمون: صد سال دیگر هم قطعنامه صادر کنند، ما را نگران نخواهند کرد. باور کردنی نیست!

از این پس نظارت استصوابی شورای نگهبان در انتخابات موضوعیت ندارد

2008-02-20T01:26:00.000-08:00

این چند روز گذشته اتفاقاتی در ایران افتاده که بنظرم باید بهشون اشاره کرد. تایید بیشتر صلاحیتهای کاندیداهای رد صلاحیت شده، که البته قابل پیش بینی بود و همینطور که قبلا اشاره کرده بودم شاید که تمام این دعواها بر سر صلاحیت و رد صلاحیت برای داغ کردن تنور انتخابات بوده باشه. اگر اینطوره و حدس من درست، و جمهوری اسلامی باز یک قدم از من جلوتر، و این بار یک قدم جلو بودن معنیش حمله به نظارت استصوابی شورای نگهبان و زیر سوال بردن مشروعیت دخالت 10-12 نفر در صلاحیت مردم در انتخاب کاندیدای خود، چیزه بدی که نیست هیچ، خیلی هم خوبه! این حمله به مشروعیت شورای نگهبان، با سر و صدایی که در دفاع از نوه خمینی و در مقابل موضع گیری سیاسی فرمانده سپاه پاسداران بوجود آمد و نهایتا با مرگ این حجت الاسلام توسلی (توسلی) رئیس دفتر خمینی همراه شد، به اوج خود رسید. دیروز هم حجت الاسلام محتشمی پور در مراسمی که به مناسبت مرگ توسلی برگزار شده بود با تندی به این 10-12 نفر که بخودشون اجازه میدن نقش غیم مردم رو بازی کنند حمله کرده.

خوب، این قدم خوبی برای جلو بودن از من است، به نظارت استصوابی شورای نگهبان در امر انتخابات احتیاج نداریم!