Peter Kohanloo

Poor baby!

I am glad ya'll keep close tabs on even the twitter accounts of NIAC members.   

Funny that for a long time, the likes of you have been poo-pooing NIAC and her members, and now that someone twits, your world is turned upside down and become an IC member to blog it. How many other sites did you become a member of to scream "fire"? 

Poor baby!

PS, You... I don't know, since you don't even appear in the book review nor the MEK support article, but the fact remains that Sohrab Ahmari (a neocon wannabe) wrote an article in favor of MEK, basically saying that regardless of the activities of MEK, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.  Here is the first sentence from what Sohrab wrote "One man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter"........According to this view, the acts of radical Islamists, ultranationalists, and other violent groups and states are morally abhorrent only when judged from our perspective as citizens of powerful liberal democracies and beneficiaries of "entrenched interests." The designation "terrorist," under this line of thinking, is a purely political one.".

REALLY?  //www.rferl.org/content/moral_convolution_grips_the_organized_iranian_american_community/24298534.html

Camp NIAC

Despite all their claims about the other Iranian cult, MEK and the poor souls at Camp Ashraf, NIAC followers, the "Cut and Paste Brigade" are exhibiting the same pattern of behavior that they ridicule in MEK.

When was the last time, a devoted follower of Trita's Red Book came out and said, "you know, I disagree with Herr Parsi about his stance on Velayat Faghih or something like that?" I mean the guy is not a prophet or the son of god!

C'mon folks, it is ok to think independently and have your own opinion.

Ron Paul's 20%

Ron Paul, who has no chance to win the nominee has average vote of 20% consistently. Not because he is presidential, because he promotes antiwar. It resonates with American people and also Iranian American community.

The fact is one can try to diminish an existing organization, or as Peter suggest in this piece "Instead of inspiring and leading its purported constituents toward the common goal of ending theocratic tyranny" he should have continues -all of us should unite and gain even more strength to do just that with the help of already existing organization. Of course NIAC is not a political opposition but it's a voice that can send our message to the White house. Who goes against it? a writer and so called activist who his partner complains why when Parsi is IRI agent, Ahamri is not MKO?

Childish and rubbish. Grow up activist.

So the story continues. Try to kill any functional organization(s) because of unfounded rumors, jealousy, third world mentality, gaining funds or salary from specific “competitors” and once it’s down climb up for a day and declare that we have nothing, no organization, no voice after three decades. How’s that been working out for us?

hoo hoo hoo Parazit ;)

Stop implying Libel!

Iranian pundits-du-jour need to really get a hold and handle on their egos. When Ahmari critiques Parsi's book, it isn't libel, it is an opinion based on the intellectual weight of Ahmari. Marashi's tweet on that weight isn't libel. It is an opinion on the opinion of Ahmari.

We all need to take and give criticisms without getting upset. Or worse, getting even.

The more we talk to, or even at each other, the better!

That gives us all more chances for the truth to come out.

But, if we stifle an opinion, or try and silence one with a libel claim, we only silence Truth, and that ultimately hurts everyone. And we have been hurt by silence long enough.

I read and don't agree with some of Ahmari's opinion on TP's book. And I found TP's book to be more of a statement of the obvious rather than unearthing anything earth shattering about the best way forward.

My opinion is that I found TP's book to be nothing more than your everyday, usual, standard, under 300 page attempt to bolster the image as a credible American media pundit on the topic of Iran.

And if he is anything, my opinion is that Trita is most certainly considered to be a credible American media pundit on the topic of Iran.

Don't like him to be that? Go write the American media and tel them why. Or write your own book on the most obvious historical details of the US-Iran relationship, and become one yourself.

To read more bahmani posts visit: //brucebahmani.blogspot.com/

Overestimating

NIAC or what they do is not a very good strategy to counter them. Their attack on any individual gives credibility to the attacked. The below the belt strategy and smear is par for the course from NIAC.

Those who are gullible enough to believe NIAC are going to go along with the smear. Rest will listen a bit harder when Sohrab Ahmari writes. The same goes for lobbies and funders for or against.

As for Marashi, paid talking heads, are dime a dozen. From his style of 'reason' , 'logic', the picture heading the article, and framing his argument in anti-war, anti-Necon he seems to be a stand in for trita. I can't tell which I dislike more, NIAC et al or Neocons but they certainly complete each other:

//www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/01/19/a...

"contested 2009 presidential election"

"rampant
popular dissatisfaction has yet to evolve into a sustainable and coherent
challenge to the system"

Oktaby

VPK

Want to see the fruit of NIAC? Just look at who is against them, even in this page. The choice is a good thing and it's yours.

Cheers.

How does it go? hoo hoo hoo Parazit

I have not seen any of the replies mentioned here and having Mr. Peter instead of Ahmari complaining makes one wonder!

Ahmari in his article, instead of focusing on issues assumed the position to discredit Mr. Parsi as if he has something personal against him. And he does. NIAC being the most powerful non profit organization and a powerful voice for Iranian Americans has been on the spot light for pro war, neo cons, pro Israeli extremists, and AIPAC supported Washington Institute of ME studies. No surprised there. Now that Mr. Peter is so angry and frustrated at a alleged twitter post by an individual, he needs to clearly define why Ahmari personally attacked Mr. Parsi and in his piece suggested that even if MKO is bad, still should be used by the US government!!! What a wonderful logic.

Best advise to Ahmari and his partner Peter is to find better ways, human ways to gain popularity among the majority of Iranians.

What's an activist? Here is what NIAC has done:
-Defeated a Congressional resolution that would have paved the way for a US-Iran war

-Blocked a Congressional resolution green-lighting Israeli strikes on Iran

-Championed the establishment of a United Nations human rights monitor on Iran to investigate human rights abuses.

-Ensured human rights were on the agenda when the U.S. began talks with Iran in October 2009.

read more details about each

(//www.niacouncil.org/site/PageServer?pagename=About_accomplishments )

More:

Because NIAC opposes a US-Iran war, does it support the Iranian government?

No, NIAC does not support the Iranian government. Opposition to a US-Iran war does not equate support for the Iranian government. NIAC opposes war because it is not in the national interest of the United States. NIAC believes that war would impose tremendous suffering on the American (and the Iranian) people. NIAC also believes that war with Iran will most likely fuel radical elements inside Iran and strengthen Iran's current government.

Why is NIAC being defamed by supporters of military confrontation with Iran?

NIAC opposes war with Iran, and has been very successful pushing for diplomacy on Capitol Hill. NIAC's efforts lend Iranian Americans a voice in Washington, D.C.; but like all successful political organizations, it is impossible to be effective without garnering critics.

NIAC's critics often equate opposition to war with support for the Iranian government. Nothing could be further from the truth. NIAC opposes a US-Iran war because it would be detrimental to US national interest and likely prolong the reign of the current Iranian government.

NIAC's critics include neo-conservative activists like Kenneth Timmerman and Michael Rubin, who prefer military confrontation over diplomacy. Critics in the Iranian-American community include groups like the terrorist-listed People's Mujahedin of Iran (also known as the MEK or MKO).

NIAC welcomes a debate on how to best deal with the challenge that Iran poses to the United States, but we deplore the practice of resorting to ad hominem attacks and character defamation, rather than addressing the issues in good faith

---

The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) condemns in the strongest possible terms the execution of five political prisoners on May 9 by the Iranian government. Evidence suggests that these individuals were tortured to force false confessions, did not receive fair trials, and that their executions were politically motivated and timed to coincide with the run up to the one year-anniversary of Iran’s disputed June 12 elections.

NIAC urges the United States and the international community to publicly and proactively press Iran to refrain from escalating its campaign of repression ahead of the anniversary of the June 12, 2009 elections. The international community holds a collective responsibility to address the human rights crisis in Iran. NIAC is deeply concerned that the focus on the nuclear issue has proved an obstacle to carrying out this international responsibility to provide protection for Iranian victims. NIAC calls on the United States and others in the international community to turn their attention to the human rights situation in Iran as a matter of real urgency.

The May 9 executions follow a pattern in which Iranian authorities have issued threats and carried out executions ahead of anticipated anti-government protests. The execution of these five individuals indicates that Iranian authorities are continuing to utilize executions as a means to intimidate and deter would-be demonstrators. Previously, four individuals were executed under similar conditions prior to 22 Bahaman, February 11, when large protests were expected.

Among those executed on May 9 was Farzad Kamangar, a teacher and social worker whose trial took place behind closed doors and lasted only seven minutes; according to his lawyer, no evidence was presented against Mr. Kamangar. The other four individuals executed were Shirin Alam Holi, Ali Heidarian, Farhad Vakili and Mehdi Eslamian. The families of the individuals were not alerted by authorities prior to the execution.

Since the disputed 2009 elections and subsequent protests, thousands of Iranians have been detained and at least thirteen individuals have been sentenced to death for their role in the protests. Eleven of these individuals are still alive but could face execution at any moment.

I wish more of us...

Eyranians could be like VPK........being big enough to admit past mistakes and mone on...

Dear Ali P.

Ali jaan,

This is Reza Marashi.

//www.niacouncil.org/site/PageServer?pagename=About_marashi

Mr. Kohanloo, Welcome to IC

Dear Mr. Kohanloo,

Excellent blog. Welcome to IC. The editor had featured your blog, but it is no longer featured. This happens when the author of the blog makes changes to the blog which automatically de-features it. Make final revisions if you need to and then send an e-mail to the editor and request your blog to be featured.

I really liked the book review by Sohrab Ahmari. He did an excellent review.

You and Sohrab Ahmari should be prepared to be the victims of a potential demonization campaign of vicious attacks and rumors by the supporters of NIAC and the terrorist regime from now on.

Most people on this site are very intelligent and thoughtful. They will not fall for vicious lies and rumors. But you should NOT ignore the attacks by the supporters of NIAC and the terrorist regime. Stand up to them and present your evidence and arguments. There is a core group of NIAC posters here (aka NIAC Internet Response Team, or "NIAC Cyber Army" to some).

You will have the support of the opposition posters (i.e., pro-democracy, socialists, monarchists, independents) in your struggles. Again, welcome and good luck.

Best regards,

Masoud

O NIACis, where are you?

The normally extremely vocaly NIACis on Iranian.com are MIA at the present time. Please show your lovely faces on this blog. It would be nice to see you.

What is so bad about Monarchists

I am not exactly a Monarchist but pretty much in line with them. I do not find being called a Monarchist in any way insulting. NIAC is welcome to call me a Monarchist! Go for it!

If they think it bothers me they are nuts. More people realize the good Pahlavi did. We get more appreciation for what Pahlavi did for Iran. As for Zionist I don't have a problem with them either. I am not one but hey it is none of my business.

NIAC is blown it and lost its credibility. I gave them a chance; I admit to being wrong and now have withdrawn my support. It is a shame but you got to accept reality. It is better than being stubborn and insisting on being wrong.

??

"This was a shameful smear on Marashi’s part."

"Regrettably, Marashi has thus far refused to retract his libelous statement or apologize to Ahmari."

Who is this Marashi, you keep refering to?

 NIAC has vilified those

 NIAC has vilified those who dare challenge their false narrative of US-Iran relations as part of an unholy alliance of Zionists, Persian monarchists, and MEK cultists—a myth more suitable for an audience attending Friday prayers at Tehran University than for savvy Iranian-Americans

 Informed analysiz. Sums up NIAC's dishonest and fatal disconnect from the topic that Terita is promoted as to be expert in.  

tyranny.--Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

Bravo Mr. Kohanloo

Indeed, you have exposed the M.O. that NIAC has been using since it began its operation.  And of course, this M.O. is straight out of IR's handbook.  Connecting all oppsition to foreigners, by calling them Zionists and MEK--which implies foreign connectionc because of MEK's connections to Iraq--is the oldest trick in the book used by every single dictator on this planet, the most recent ones being Bashar Assad of Syria.   

Plus, I don't know how often you visis IC, but you see the same thing done by IR supporters on IC on daily basis.  And I can speak from experience as I have been called a Zionist, etc. by this gang many, many times.

Lastly, you may be interested in watching this video of another NIAC operative, Babak Talebi, trying to silence other Iranian groups.  He even tried to get the police involved---thankfully with no success:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=och26QdEEF8&feature=player_embedded

Dear Mr. Kohanlou

Thanx for your post......I don't think many of us here would be surprised by yet another sad conduct by Mr. Parsi and his heard.   What is sad is the fact that because of our lack of ability to socialy organize -us Iranian-Americans have allowed Trita Parsi to be our speaker and representative - a guy who is neither Iranian nor American. 

The good news is NIAC has been exposed......and is not taken too sriously - not amongst the American policymakers - not amongst Iranian Americans.......all they can do (as they are doing) is play parts in the anti Iranian-American propagand.