U.S. Consulate General (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) sponsors talks/interviews by Trita Parsi of NIAC

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U.S. Consulate General (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) sponsors talks/interviews by Trita Parsi of NIAC
by MM
24-Oct-2010
 

There has been a lot of back and forth arguments on Iranian.com on whether NIAC really represents the Iranian-American interests or is really an agent of IRI in disguise.  It was refreshing to see a bid of news yesterday that the U.S. State Department had sponsored several talks/interviews by Trita Parsi, the President of NIAC, in several venues in Saudi Arabia.  These talks/interviews ranged on issues from US-Iran relations to advocating issues on the Capitol.

19th Annual
Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference

Arab-U.S. Relations: Going Where?

October 21 - 22, 2010

While there are some folks that will think that this whole episode was a trick or something sinister in disguise, I hope that news that the U.S. State Dept. sponsored Tita Parsi's talks/inerviews in Jeddah on various issues should put to rest any crazy idea that NIAC represents IRI.  One need to ask whether the U.S. government would really give a podium to an IRI agent to talk anywhere, especially in Saudi Arabia?

Here is the video of the event from CSPAN (01:14:45, //www.c-spanvideo.org/program/296144-101). Trita's talk is from 25:40-37:30 minutes.

-------------------------------

//jeddah.usconsulate.gov/

//jeddah.usconsulate.gov/trita-parsi.html

Dr. Trita Parsi on U.S.-Iranian Relationship

This week, U.S. Consulate General Jeddah hosted Dr. Trita Parsi, founder and President of the National Iranian American Council.  Dr. Parsi, a noted scholar in the fields of Iranian politics and U.S.-Iranian relations, participated in several events while in Jeddah.  In addition to an exclusive interview with a reporter from Al Madina newspaper, Dr. Parsi chaired a roundtable luncheon hosted by CG Tom Duffy.  This event was very well-received by the audience, a mix of prominent academics, businesspeople, journalists, and  intellectuals.  There was significant audience participation and interest in the topic.

 -------------------------

//www.niacouncil.org/site/News2pageNewsArticle&id=6787&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=-1

U.S. Department of State Hosts NIAC President Dr. Trita Parsi in Saudi Arabia

Dr. Parsi was invited to speak and share his expertise on U.S.-Iranian relations and Iranian politics during the first week of October at several events in Riyadh, Dharan and Jeddah.

The U.S. Department of State recently hosted Trita Parsi, President of the National Iranian American Council, for a series of events in Saudi Arabia coordinated by the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh. Dr. Parsi was invited to speak and share his expertise on U.S.-Iranian relations and Iranian politics during the first week of October at several events in Riyadh, Dharan and Jeddah.

Dr. Parsi took part in a variety of talks on US-Iranian politics, including discussions at the Institute of Diplomatic Studies, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, and with journalists at Al Eqtisadiyah News. Consulate General Tom Duffy hosted a roundtable luncheon chaired by Dr. Parsi which, according to the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah’s official release, “was very well-received by the audience, a mix of prominent academics, businesspeople, journalists, and intellectuals. There was significant audience participation and interest in the topic.”

As part of the US government’s public affairs outreach, the State Department tours prominent US-based experts and academics in the region to provide an opportunity for officials from foreign ministries, academics, journalists, and members of the business community to engage with them.

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more from MM
 
MM

Q/Mehrdad - I agree

by MM on

Q and I may not agree on many things, but here we are in agreement on the attitude of some ICers towards NIAC.

As one of the original contributors to NIAC when it formed in 2002, I was devastated to learn that some here think that NIAC is an IRI lobby.  I had NO plans to support an organization that represented IRI.  So, I did a little digging in to the accusations and then, last year, I invited Trita Parsi to put up a blog in Iranian.com, explain NIAC and answer questions of ICers. 

Trita defended himself well and all questions were answered honestly and to the point, unlike some here are claiming.  It was really interesting to see that at the end of the day, the questions that some folks were asking were like "where did you go to elementary school" at which time I had enough.

As I said in earlier comments:

One need to ask whether the U.S. government would really give a podium to an IRI agent to talk anywhere, be it in Saudi Arabia, DC and especially on the Capitol hearings/White House consultations?  Is it maybe because the US government trusts Trita Parsi to be genuine and NOT be tainted with IRI undercurrents?


Bavafa

Thanks for the blog and information MM jaan

by Bavafa on

I am going to have to agree with Q completely on this. Folks like Fred are not interested in truth nor any amount of information will convince them otherwise unless it follows their agenda.

NIAC so far has done a great job representing the Iranian-American community and interest. They often conduct virtual town-hall meetings, put issues to vote and rank them in their importance to its members and those issues that are most important gets pushed to the top. I am very proud to have been part of this process and the minute I see they steer away from the wished of the community I will be walking away from them. But so far, they have my full support.

Mehrdad


Q

Thanks for the info MM

by Q on

should be interesting.

But if this is done to "put to rest" any accusations, as you say, I have to repeat what I said to Trita myself: It's a waste of time.

Propagandists and Israel cheerleaders like FredCo below, don't care about truth. The accusations are a weapon, a smear campaign. It's like the mafia trying to take out a business that didn't pay protection money.

It doesn't matter at all if they are true, they are made for a different reason. This is the AIPAC MO, it should not be surprising to NIAC.

If you are a credible threat to their agenda you either get accused of being antisemetic or an IRI agents, or some kind of sexual pervert. It's what they do, when their agenda is threatened. It has nothing to do with "truth", and trying to disprove it means nothing to them.


MM

1 mistake on d video venue, but it re-enforces my blog-point!

by MM on

One mistake on the video venue, but it re-enforces my blog-point!  I just realized that the video I posted was from ANOTHER US sponsored event in DC and not in Jeddah.  So, this is NOT the first time that the US government has sponsored Trita Parsi in a US sponsored event!

Is it maybe because the US government trusts Trita Parsi to be genuine and NOT be tainted with IRI undercurrents?


marhoum Kharmagas

Dariush O kharash .....!?

by marhoum Kharmagas on

Dariush O kharash,

which one az pol gozasht?


Sargord Pirouz

Darius, kharesh az pol gozasht ;0)

by Sargord Pirouz on

More irrelevant YouTube clips from a sad, defective character living in exile.


Darius Kadivar

Engadar Joosh Nazan SPink Azizam ;0)

by Darius Kadivar on

I know it's hard to concentrate in your Academic circles these days ...

 


//www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6dm9rN6oTs

 


Sargord Pirouz

Still sore about being

by Sargord Pirouz on

Still sore about being wrongs over French socialist non-equality of arms deliveries to Iran, huh Darius?

Man, grow up. Everybody mistakes. You admit it and move on, being that much more educated in the process.

Unless, of course, you've a character defect over such. But what am I saying? Being an irrelevant, out-of-touch-with-reality monarchist is- in itself- a character defect! 


Sargord Pirouz

Oh, and regarding Israelis

by Sargord Pirouz on

Oh, and regarding Israelis like the people at "Fred", they put down NIAC because at times NIAC has been able to put together temporary blocking efforts against AIPAC and the Israel lobby's efforts to make things difficult on the Iranian people living in Iran. NIAC has also put up temprary roadblocks to a war against the Iranian people.

Of course, Israelis like the people at "Fred" are going to be sore with NIAC over that. 


Darius Kadivar

SPink Jaan How are your Exams Going these days ?

by Darius Kadivar on


Sargord Pirouz

"Put to rest crazy ideas"

by Sargord Pirouz on

"Put to rest crazy ideas" here at IC? Are you kidding, MM?

Crazy ideas are fundamental to the Iranian exile community. Without their crazy ideas, these exiles have nothing. Nothing!


Fred

NIAC lobby

by Fred on

Whenever NIAC lobby becomes transparent about:

Its relationship with the Islamist Rapists Republic’s officials, as the disclosed emails between the Head NIAC lobbyist and IRR UN ambassador proves.

Whenever NIAC lobby discloses its relationship with CASMII lobby, as Alex Patico, the Co founder of NIAC lobby is also in CASMII lobby.

Whenever NIAC lobby discloses the true nature of its longstanding working relationship with Namazi of Atieh Bahr, a front for the Rafsanjani gang,

Whenever the NIAC lobby answers difficult questions not by suing as it has done,

And many more unanswered questions, then NIAC lobby can register as a lobby and do whatever it wants to do.

BTW, State Dept. is looking after American interests as it should and not Iranians, so their using the Head NIAC lobbyist proves nothing.