Lee Smith has published another personal attack on us in The Tablet. To rebut, point by point, Mr. Smith’s allegations by innuendo would not be appropriate here, and would distract us from addressing the many important Iran-related issues currently on the public agenda. However, because Jeffrey Goldberg has again used the platform that the prestigious The Atlantic has given him to give wider circulation to Mr. Smith’s attacks against us, we feel compelled to respond to the title of the post in which Mr. Goldberg links to Mr. Smith’s piece. That title is, “Are the Leveretts trying to do business with Iran?” It is categorically untrue that we are “trying to do business with Iran”. For us, as Americans, to “do business with Iran” would be a violation of U.S. law. We have not broken the law, and we will not do so. For Mr. Goldberg to insinuate that we might be breaking the law, simply because he disagrees with our analysis, is untrue, vicious, and the essence of McCarthyism.
–Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett
Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett: “For us, as Americans, to “do business with Iran” would be a violation of U.S. law.”
True but yet: http://tinyurl.com/yelbnm7
I don’t get it, Georgeann Gaskey
I understand your choice to not rebut Lee Smith point for point but how about a rebut on just TWO of his points.
First on his suggestion that you (Flynt Leverett) have: “neither an academic background in the field [Iran] nor the ability to speak Farsi.”
Second on his suggestion that both of you: “subscribes to the realist school of foreign policy, which holds that knowing the internal mechanisms of a regime and the particular characteristics of a language and culture are largely irrelevant to understanding its geopolitical actions.”
How did Lee Smith gain access to the “emails,” including the email communication with Trita Parsi from, I believe, 2007?
Liz says:
“Ignore them.”
Flynt and Hillary essentially did – responding with just enough to let Mr. Goldberg know they hadn’t overlooked his latest smear.
Wig Wag’s job is to make sure that the bate set by Goldberg is bitten, and looks like the principals are biting since they felt compelled to respond again, have you noticed how every time he inserts a sentence at the end of his posts “Flynt and Hillary have some explaining to do. If they don’t, Smith’s charges will eviscerate their credibility.”
Otherwise Wig Wag with his junior high mentality believes that Levretts silence is a proof of their own conviction to the charges leveled by their accusers, in another words the Goldberg and Associates are hoping that the Leveretts take the 5th with regards to this charges, which incidentally since in this blog we are on the subject of Iran and the Shih Islam and this same subject has came up before it’s similar to what there is called “Taghieh” otherwise to protect yourself you keep silence or you will decent from the truth, and you all know how taking a 5th resembles in the court of public opinion.
Hillary and Flynt Leverett are trying their best to solve the problems by peaceful means for the sake of America, Iran and the entire world, while Goldberg and Smith are using lies and propaganda to demonize them in order to please their Zionist masters.
The Zionist policy is this;
Israel can:
A) use force
B) steal lands
C) slaughter women and children
D) commit genocide
E) violate international laws
for its existence and if Iran or any country oppose this policy, we will destroy them.
American people should ask themselves this simple question:
“Why do we all have to suffer because Israel wants to exist by force and occupation?”
Thank you, b, that is an interesting editorial. I hope the president and the secy. of state have read it!
Off topic: A good (official) Chinese Editorial:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2010-02/24/content_9493589.htm
Iran ‘solution’ a trap
Liz is right. At some point you just have to let it go. Smith and his ilk are preaching to the converted; they aren’t converting anybody who has an open mind. Stick to your purpose and don’t let the scat-throwers concern you.
Ignore them.
“In an Impotent World Even the Bankrupt Can Prevail”
Threatening Iran
By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts07202009.html
What’s your take on Goldberg (and possibly Smith; not worth the time to check) not even acknowledging your point-by-point response to his attacks as he continues to pass along slander?