Comments on: Ranting Against Iran Won’t Help Reform

By: JohnH

JohnH — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:06:12 +0000

What Paneer describes is exactly what is happening in Iraq today–500 candidates got disqualified from running for office. And the expats are running the show. Now there’s democracy for you!

As to that expat Khomeini and his ilk running the country, how can we be sure that another expat community is not waiting in the wings to replace the current group? Or that the regime in waiting would behave any differently from the current Iranian regime or the current Iraqi regime? I’m all for self-determination, but I’d be extremely wary of outsiders agitating on behalf of “the Iranian people,” particularly when outside powers are lurking like vultures.

By: paneer

paneer — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:58:51 +0000

To johnH and all the supporter of : For the past 30 years, the regime has made a concerted effort to prevent another another leader from emerging to unify the various opposition groups inside and outside of the country. They have been concentrating on this effort because they know that this may be the “winning formula”, as they successfully used it in 1979. After all, Khomeini and his mafia was an “exile” bunch, and Khomeini in particular was residing in an enemy country, Iraq. So, for the past 30 years they have been infiltrating opposition groups outside of the country, have been spreading propaganda and have been sticking to their talking points, that ALL opposition groups and personalities outside of Iran are “out of touch” exiles (that’s their newest propaganda word, and you see it all over this and other sites used by their operatives) who are “foreign agents” of “Zionists” and the “west” (as if Khomeini was not an enemy agent, given refuge in Iraq for decades).

If the IRI really wants to show that it’s not afraid of these “foreign agents” then it should allow them all to return to Iran without arresting, torturing and executing them and allow people to voice their opinions as to whether or not they give these “exiles” any credit. Otherwise, it should STFU with its propaganda. But we all know that there’s a better chance of hell freezing over than this happening. After all, if they do so, they will not be able to call them “exiles” anymore, can they?

By: paneer

paneer — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:52:00 +0000

JOHNH: Self-rithgeous much?? You also seem to be psychic..

Where are your facts?? Substantiate your assertion with verifiable fact..until then, your mudslinging and character assassination will only discredit you further. You are clueless btw.

By: Jon Harrison

Jon Harrison — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:31:01 +0000

Hamilton’s thesis is spot on; the only piece I disagree with is his feeling that the Greens will prevail. I doubt that — at least in the near term. If we’re talking the next five years, I don’t see a Green victory. If more than five years, well, I don’t think anybody can see that far on this issue. In any case, would a Green Iran really reverse the Islamic Republic’s policies toward Palestine, nukes, and so forth? I rather doubt it.

By: KOOSHY

KOOSHY — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:43:15 +0000

JH
You are right on point regarding the expats feelings, most of our community here in US including expat Iranian commentators and lobbyist
get their info through a filter of affluent high educated families, if you travel to less affluent educated parts of the country you will not hear any of this,
This is thru poll after poll as well as Leveretts correct analysis of where and who demonstrates (locations and the class of demonstrators).
Iranian community in US believes by convincing you and the western community here they will reverse the revolution in Iran;
I think if the expat Iranian community really wants a reversal of the revolution or a new one they need to start a grass root campaign
Inside Iran for the type of Iranians they never meet or regarded to meet.
At the end there is a Persian proverb that goes like this “ba halva halva goftan dahan shireen nemishavad” perhaps Dr. Levreets can translate that for you
So you understand

By: JohnH

JohnH — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:50:57 +0000

Paneer–show me facts, not anecdotes. Spinning tales about the feelings of your extended, probably affluent family does not impress me.

By: paneer

paneer — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:24:53 +0000

JohnH: I guess you’re happy with your knowledge and have no desire to learn more.

By: JohnH

JohnH — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:16:49 +0000

Well, Paneer, odds are that the Iranian expat community, like most expat communities, is comprised primarily of the Westernized former upper crust. Otherwise, they never would have gotten here. It certainly describes the Iranians I know here. Their sympathies naturally lie with people who live in west and north Tehran. Unless you can show me reliable evidence, I don’t see how you can claim that the Westernized, secular elements of Iranian society represent the country as a whole.

In any case, your disparagement does not change the validity of the point I was making–unless you have good polling or election data, you have no idea what is going on in Iranian society at large. All you have is cherry picked anecdotes.

By: paneer

paneer — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:56:13 +0000

The Battle for Iran
The Nation
14-Jan-2010
There is little doubt that Iran’s clerical oligarchy has been severely stunned and badly bruised by events following the disputed June election. The regime has suffered a huge blow to its legitimacy, and its management of the crisis has made matters worse. At the elite and societal level, unprecedented dissent and opposition have emerged as a confused regime increases state-sanctioned violence and begins a slow drift toward hard authoritarianism/semi-totalitarianism. However, despite this body blow, we are still a long way from witnessing the demise of the Islamic Republic.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100201/hashemi

By: paneer

paneer — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:13:30 +0000

JohnH: What do you know about the Ex-pat community in the US? Do you want to know? Do you care to know??