VOA

To Jamshid...

You seem to have bought into all the accusation that I'm defending the IRI against US propaganda; that I'm an IRI supporter. I'm not and if you read what I have written in the past, you will see that. I have consistently condemned IRI.

Western propaganda was bad for Iran in 1953 and 1979, andhas been bad for Iran ever since. THAT IS MY POINT. Don't let all the finger pointing distort the debate. The VOA and BBC propaganda since 1953 (that includes 1979) damaged Iran. And the same propaganda is damaging Iran now. My point is that Iranians should solve Iran's problem, and that can only be done if Iranians have access to the truth. IRIB is propaganda and so are BBC, VOA, etc. However, Iranians seem to treat the two differently. They rightfully identify IRIB news as lies and distortions, while they view VOA news with far less skepticism. This is a fact, and all you have to do is talk to people in Iran.

There is an assertion here that in a democratic society, all points of view are some form of propaganda! Again, that speaks volumes about the mental state of those who say such things. Propaganda shows you a debate between lies and a different version of lies. A good example was CNN's Crossfire! A democratic, free debate gives you a wide spectrum of views. Something, that is definitely lacking in VOA/Radio Farda broadcasts.

We CANNOT bring freedom and democracy to Iran based on a pack of lies and half-truth. VOA is damaging our country again.

I can be accused of being this and that. Fine! Just respond to the points that I have made, instead of name-calling. Remember, in a debate, two things are the hallmark of a lost position:

1. An appeal to patriotism, gratefulness, etc.

2. An accusation of treachery, aiding the enemy, etc.

Finally, and this is for all those who accuse me of being anti-American, some of the greatest, loudest critics of VOA have been American members of Congress. Read the record! Are they anti-American too? I'm not anti-American, I cannot be! But, the people who support programs and the agenda pushed by VOA do NOT have the interests of the average American at heart. Again, history proves that point, only if you care enough to look.

Re: A few questions for Tinoush

Tinoush, what is your opinion of the western (American and British) propoganda against the Shah 29 years ago? You may be too young to remember, but I do remember BBC among many other Western media used against the regime.

That propoganda served the Islamists and the leftists well at the time. It served them and helped their cause.

Why can't I remember one, JUST ONE, Islamist or leftist in those times that would say a single, JUST A SINGLE, negative comment about the "Western propoganda" back then?

It is a funny thing, don't you think Tinoush? "What was good for Islamists/leftists back then was good for the West too"???? Could it be Tinoush? And the Islamists and leftists claimed that it was good for the Iranians too. Was it Tinoush?

How times has changed Tinoush, hasn't it? Now you say "what is bad for Islamist is good for the west". Why the change of heart Tinoush?

To you what is good for Islamists/leftists is "good". Period. And what is bad for them is "bad". Period. To hell with what is good or bad for the Iranian people, right Tinoush?

Re: Niki

You are accusing those who didn't like Tinoush's article of many lies. You can't just accuse without any proof.
.
For example, I could always accuse you of being a high mileage whore. But you wouldn't like that, would you?
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Or I could accuse you of being a leftist feminist lesbian. You wouldn't like that either, would you?
.
So can you see how nice I am not to accuse of these terrible things? You too, be nice and don't accuse people. Ok? Good girl.

Hi again Tinoush- As I'm

Hi again Tinoush- As I'm sure you've noticed, most of the people who have attacked you here have provided have engaged in baseless ad hominem accusations and are afraid to even sign-in with a psedonymous account.

From what I have learned in my blogging experience, and what one of the administrators of this site can probably verify to you, usually one obsessive (and bikar) person leaves a number ofcomments with different names to make it seem like the comment section is skewed in their favor. (The saddest thing is when the authors of articles make positive comments for themselves and attack others using pseudonyms, but that is a whole othe story).

In any case, when you piss off the kinds of people you seemed to have pissed of in writing these pieces, it surely means you are doing something right. Keep up the good work.

Tinoush, in any democratic

Tinoush, in any democratic system, there will be voices and media that perpetuate propaganda. Freedom of speech guarantees freedom of ALL speech, not only the ones that we agree with, or are neutral, or serve our interest only. It includes partisan and biased ones also. Please note that you will not be able to find that in the communist manifesto. It is out of limited vision to paint Western media as biased. Look at all the tremendous amount of anti-Bush, anti-U.S, and anti-U.K popular media in the western countries. How do you explain that? Are those also somehow assisting the so called “imperialism agenda”? Plus, please explain how you define racism. You stated that western media is “racist”. Please quote one phrase of lets say the top 50 popular U.S or U.K media outlets that clearly promotes the idea of the superiority of U.S or U.K races (Because the definition of racism is when you believe that you’re race is superior to other races). Unless you would claim that broadcasting news of a suicide bombing by a young Muslim is racism! Hopefully you’re not suggesting that next time they use “young aliens from planet X-90”).

You are not grateful

Tinoush, I hope that the message is clear. As you can see, most of the comments regarding your article are unfavorable. The fact is, that you are simply anti American which is not a crime in this country, but it is distasteful. Most Iranians who live and work in this great country are decent and hard working people and are grateful that they are here and not in that hell hole place called IRI. Therefore they resent individuals such as you who extract the good life out of this country, but yet are always negative regarding American way of life and politics.

past being fooled

Nothing smart, intelligent, well-informed, and well-connected is in this article. Dr. Moulaei in his defense of the IRI forgets we are past being fooled by such disconnected arguments.

It's Quiet interesting !!

Anyone who knows anything about the Islamic Republic knows the whole government is set-up as one big propaganda machine functioning on several fronts.   In fact that is the only thing they are good at.   Now - we come across this article complaining of the mullah regime to be the victim of propaganda !!  wooow

There is one word that pretty much sums-up the sentiments of these mullah supporters:  "Vaghih" - These people have gotten so used to fooling the uneducated masses (omat) and the silence of the scared majority inside Iran, they have lost touch with the realities of who the Iranian population is and what it thinks. 

Dear Jesus - Your response was just masterful.   Congrats

As many have said

she is regurgitatin nonsense. In any discourse, the objective is to convince the other side, or a neutral third party of one's point of view. In all these cases, opinions, and statements can be considered to be "propaganda".
There are some Iranians, particularly on the left who live in the west, but have a very uneasy relationship with these societies. They use the capital, money, and resources these countries have to offer to advance their own lives, yet they are always in the mode of attacking these countries for the methods of gathering these resources.
They understand and see this hypocracy in their own lives, and they can not come into terms with it, so they project this constant hate for the societies they live in. It seems to ease and comfort their guilt.
By the way, this in-depth, and personal analysis should be credited to my daddy's divine power. Believe me, psychology is not my field, so I could not possibly come up with this stuff. It must have been a miracle happening right here on Iranian.com. Just like the miracle that our intellectual writer here has actually read Orwell, yet once again in a rage of hypocracy makes no mention of the biggest animal farm being run by true animals on this planet.

Please list the countries that will accept IRI agents

when the IRI falls!!!

من این نویسنده

من این نویسنده را نمی شناسم، اما جالب است که هر که کوچکترین علاقه ای به ایران دارد و با سیاست های آمریکا مخالفت می کند جاسوس و مبلغ جمهوری اسلامی خوانده می شود اما تمام کسانی که رک و راست و بدون رودربایستی از رادیو فردا و صدای آمریکا پول می گیرند و سیاست های آنها را پیش می برند مبغ و جاسوس خوانده نمی شوند و مبارز آزادی ها ی مدنی تلقی می شوند.

shame on you

Niki Akhavan and her usual idiotic remarks are all over the place. Khoskhol, you work for NIAC - National Iranian American Council's sister company.

Daryush change your name to Ruhollah. To ro cheh beh Daryush boodan.

You are bunch of pacheh varmalideh mullah Supporters. Iran gonna be free of akhund and you have to find a holofdooni. shame on you.

What a great discovery

Again our smart, intelligent, well-informed, well-connected scholar made an new discovery and unveiled the truth form the enigma of the VOA and Radio Farda. WOOOW, we owe her a lot. These radio stations were made for propaganda and from the first day they stated that they try to spread the democracy in the world and in Iran through propaganda in these and other radio stations and media. Sorry Tinoosh jan that you are the last person to know. Every state or political radio station, including your beloved IRIB radio and TV stations, is a propaganda station. Even the Democratic or Progressive radio dispatches are classified as propaganda by LAW.
It seems that you have a problem with Western propaganda. Say it. Don't be shy. Say you don't like West. Say you am here just to enjoy the benefits of this country and by regurgitating these nonsenses you are trying to dodge your paybacks as a responsible citizen. It is OK, we understand it even if you don't say it. No need to make great discoveries anymore.

Another point of view

VOA and Radio Farda provide another point of views for their listeners. News and analysis that are censored in Iran can be heard from them. If these news and analysis are "propaganda" (e.g. bunch of lies), people can figure it out themselves. The existence of VOA and Radio Farda is far better than their non-existence...specially for listeners in Iran.

Tinoush IRI Agent?

absolutly unreasonable idea. If IRI needed to work with Agents, well, the nation could not have been able to resist from 1978/79 till now the devilish attacks which it has had to experience. So nobody CAN be IRI Agent. In Iran itself are Living 70 Millions Inhabitants. they are all "fanatic Mullahs" they protect their IRI, if needed even through sacrificing of Blood and Life. As they work unhidden so they are no agents but honourable Human beings who resist on respecting their humanrights by strangers. they protect Rights first. then comes their own material interesst which are then protected automatically. Greeting.

Propaganda Onion and IRI Agent?

As what is Propaganda and what is reality can be allready recognised by nations from Indonesia to Andalusia, so think one can let them continuing barking and grunting.
And as the IRI Agent writes in his last sentence we can all be happy, we do not need to worry at all. Just let them bark. Greeting

IRI Agent?

OK, let's say the author is a IRI agent, are you disagreeing that VOA and Radio farda, to name the two only, are spreading propaganda? If so then state your openion instead of blindly accusing someone. Guz beh shaghighe che marboot? IRI agent has nothing to do with the facts out there. Are you so naiive? really? Am I an agent too? then watch out I am gonna get you. BOO. Just kidding, don't get scared.

Thanks for the article. But if anyone didn't know that already they are a lost cause and you don't have to worry about them.

Hi Tinoush- Thanks for

Hi Tinoush- Thanks for another timely article. In a time of global war, it is particularly important to have a sense of how propaganda works and who is taken as its targets.

As you've pointed out in citing US law in your last article and drawing from British documents in this latest piece, the work of VOA and Radio Farda are part of systematic efforts for establishing specific agendas and spreading misinformation.

The more people like you unpack the messages and systems that produce this propaganda, the more likey will be the chances that others will be able to discern what you have. Nice job.

Tinoush Moulaei

you are an IRI agent.

Bashful Islamist Republic supporters

This type of generalization is typical of arguments the bashful supporters of Islamist Republic make. Cite example, example!