Questions to Professor Mammad Regarding NIAC, CIA, and American Funding

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Masoud Kazemzadeh
by Masoud Kazemzadeh
28-Oct-2010
 

Dear Mammad, 

1. According to Eli Lake’s article

//www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/13/exclusive-did-iranian-advocacy-group-violate-laws/

"Mr. Parsi has been called to the White House, lectured at the CIA and visited Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton."

2. NIAC did get money from NED. NIAC got 3 grants from NED. The 2002 money from NED was for NIAC to use inside Iran and was $25,000.

//www.ned.org/for-reporters/statement-on-grant-relationship-between-ned-and-niac

3. NED is funded largely by the U.S. Congress and it is monitored by U.S. Congress and the U.S. State Department. It is set up as a "unique institution" that gets its money from U.S. tax payers but is independent and private so that it could fund organizations in sensitive areas.

//www.ned.org/about

4. Actually what Fred wrote in his blog appears correct to me. //iranian.com/main/blog/fred/niac-lobby-answer

NIAC opposed funding for democracy promotion but itself got money from NED to go inside Iran and do such work. NIAC says that American support for opposition would taint them, but the President of NIAC lectured for the CIA. Why is it bad for the American president to publically say dictatorship is bad and he supports the establishment of democracy and democrats in Iran, but it is perfectly fine for the President of NIAC to provide his analysis to the CIA??????

Am I missing something? Are the above basic facts or are they disputed assertions?

I have the following questions for YOU.

1. Do YOU support Dr. Trita Parsi presenting his lecture (information and/or analysis) for the CIA? Please yes or no.

2. Would YOU go and present a lecture for the CIA?

3. Do YOU support getting funded indirectly by the U.S. government (i.e., funds coming from U.S. Congress to NED to one’s group)? Yes or no?

Best regards,

Masoud

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more from Masoud Kazemzadeh
 
MOOSIRvaPIAZ

Speak for yourself seanewyork

by MOOSIRvaPIAZ on

NIAC is smeared because they DO represent iranian-americans and people like you are trying to silence them the same way MEK is trying to claim mantle of the opposition movement. 

thanks to MM, a list of NIAC accomplishments:

//iranian.com/main/blog/mm/sorry-mind-if-...


seannewyork

NIAC Lies and is hated by Iranian Americans

by seannewyork on

30000 emails which they have 3 of mine, doesnt count for anything when they say they represent iranian americans. they have under 3000 members and represent IRI interests. Trita has looked so foolish now that the people have risen up and have not accepted IRI. Trita is now a human rights supporter. Give me a break, how can he be an HR supporter when he wanted the oppressors to have free reign all around the world and no sanctions. Someone explain that to me.


Farah Rusta

Marhoum jaan

by Farah Rusta on

 

You are being too kind to me. Me? Sea Goddess? Well, to be honest with you, there are similarities between me and Calypso (like being harsh and untamable though there has been a recent calm within me - my tsunamis are much less roaring).

So if I am your Calypso, you must be my Davy Jones! Then, where is our Flying Dutchman? :)

FR


Masoud Kazemzadeh

Thank you MM

by Masoud Kazemzadeh on

MM,

 

 

Thank you for posting the claimed response from NIAC. No where in your initial post, you indicated that the response was from "the NIAC organization itself." I ignored your initial post because I assumed that it was merely from you. Now, your new post claims that the response is an official response from "the NIAC organization." Could the person speaking on behalf of "the NIAC organization" identify himself or herself? I want to make sure I am not wasting my time merely with MM. The reason I am asking this is the weird similarity in making strange personal attacks instead of professional answers.

This what you MM wrote: "

Nonetheless, after some digging in with friends, here are some answers to the 11 questions to mammad. As I eluted to before, I am sure that these answers will trigger more questions from our failed professor at hand."

 

 

This is what was in what you say in from NIAC:

 

Of course, the person asking the question is a failed academic. He is not invited to give lectures and as a result may be a bit jealous.

 

This raises questions that you faked your way through college and through your PhD thesis.

 

 

These are very strange personal attacks containing obvious lies instead of providing simple honest professional answers makes me think that perhaps you (MM) and not an official of NIAC composed these. It is very hard for me to imagine that an actual official of an organization would make these weird OBVIOUSLY categorically false personal attacks.

So, could you please forward this e-mail to the person claiming to speak for "the NIAC organization" and ask them to provide the name or names of the official who composes this answer so that I could be sure that in fact the response in from NIAC.

 

Thanks,

Masoud

 

 

 

 

P.S. I will compose a new blog asking these questions from NIAC. Hopefully, their officials would provide their official answers.

 


MM

The answers from NIAC on lectures / grants / 11 questions

by MM on

Sorry,

The answers to the questions on lectures and grants were also in the email on the 11 questions to mammad and I forgot to post.

Read them and see how NIAC is being CLEAR and of course, NOT HOLDING BACK!!!!!!!!!!

BTW, the answers to 11 questions to mammad (a few comments down, posted yesterday) were from NIAC as well. After posting, the blogger and others have cleverly steared away from those discussions, posted looooong meaningless posts to hide the answers, and now come back to the 11 questions to mammad as if no response has ever been posted on their endless quest and are bugging mammad and Q as if they would know better than the NIAC organization itself.

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

So, here they are:

Do YOU support Dr. Trita Parsi presenting his lecture (information and/or analysis) for the CIA? Please yes or no.
It is a common practice that prominent scholars are invited to give lectures at the CIA, FBI, State Dep and beyond. This is what scholars and academics do. Of course, the person asking the question is a failed academic. He is not invited to give lectures and as a result may be a bit jealous.

Do YOU support getting funded indirectly by the U.S. government? Yes or no?

re this question, the entire answer to the nonsense they are throwing out can be found here on T. Parsi's article on Huffington Post about this entire issue:

//www.huffingtonpost.com/trita-parsi/smells-like-desperation-m_b_73575.html

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

I am re-posting NIAC's answers to the 11 questions to mammad regarding the Siamak Namazi issue:

1. Is it true or false that a person with the name Siamak Namazi was among the top leaders of NIAC? Please simply write whether Siamak Namazi was or was not one of the top leaders of NIAC.

False.  Siamak Namazi is not a NIAC founder and has never had a leadership role in NIAC. He doesn’t have a role in NIAC at all!

2. It is true or false that Siamak’s brother, (Babak Namazi) was top official of Atieh Bahar company in Iran?

Not sure  - who cares.

3. Is it true or false that Siamak Namazi’s sister (Pari Namazi) and her husband Mr. Bijan Khajepour were top officials of the Atieh Bahar company?

To the best of my knowledge,  Pari is not Siamak’s sister

4. Is it true or false that Atieh Bahar was one of the top (if not THE TOP) company in IRI connecting, helping and consulting foreign corporations with opening operations in Iran?

AB is a consulting firm. They do the same work in Iran as consulting  firms do in DC – so no, you do NOT need that type of connection with the government. Furthermore, Bijan was ARRESTED last summer as part of the wave of Ahmadinejad’s arrests against the green movement and beyond!

5. Is it possible to have such operations like those of Atieh Bahar and have no major relationships with high officials of the Islamic Republic regime?

 Yes, it is absolutely possible – they are just a consulting firm!

6. Did Atieh Bahar have a relationship with Rafsanjani’s group? Please either yes or no.

 No, to the best of my knowledge.

7. Did Atieh Bahar have a relationship with other top official of the regime? Please either yes or no.

No, as far as I know, no Iranian official is part of AB, and further more, AB has nothing to do with NIAC!!!!!!! This is Macarthurism at its best – what the (*&(*&(*^*%&^%&^%&^% has that got to do with NIAC??

8. If Siamak Namazi was among the top leaders of NIAC, and his family members (Babak Namazi, Pari Namazi, and Bijan Khajepour) were the top officials of Atieh Bahar, does it logically follow that this constitutes a connection between NIAC and the regime officials?

Your logic falls apart at the first step since Siamak wasn’t a founder nor a leader of NIAC!  

9. Please correct me if I am wrong: If Atieh Bahar is connected to Rafsanjani’s group, does it logically follow that NIAC is connected to the Rafsanjani faction of the regime?

Your logic falls apart since AB has nothing to do with NIAC!

10. If NIAC was able to get rid of the U.S. sanctions against the IRI, do you think these individuals (Trita Parsi, Bijan Khajepour, Siamak Namazi, Babak Namazi, and Pari Namazi) could make huge amounts of money in making connections between American companies and the Iranian officials?

 NIAC’s position against broad indiscriminate sanctions is per the decision of its membership. In fact, more than 70% of Iranian Americans oppose broad indiscriminate sanctions according to Berkeley University’s study. Per your twisted logic, all of these Iranian Americans must be working for the regime since they oppose broad sanctions. That includes of course Shirin Ebadi and Akbar Ganji.
 

11. In your opinion, is it reasonable or it is irrational to think that a possible motive for NIAC officials (e.g., Trita Parsi and Siamak Namazi) was for personal financial gain?

It is completely irrational, illogical and insane since not a single one of your premises were accurate. Based on 10 disconnected and false premises and assumptions, you wish Iranian-Americans to buy your illogical conclusion. This raises questions that you faked your way through college and through your PhD thesis.


marhoum Kharmagas

my bet? (to mammad)

by marhoum Kharmagas on

Mammad, as you know the old fox has found common grounds with the monarchists, Freds and such, I wonder if he is probing to see if he can find similar common grounds with our Khoraasaani friend, ............., fancy that?!

My bet is that as shaky here and there our khoraasaani friend has been (e.g, his yes to sanctions), ..., in final analysis a common ground with him will not be formed on the basis of servicing others (AIPAC/US), i.e., I bet on principles of our Khoraasaani friend, says you I win?


Masoud Kazemzadeh

Dear Farah

by Masoud Kazemzadeh on

Dear Farah,

1. As far as I am aware, Dr. Trita Paris has not refuted Lake’s report on Dr. Parsi’s lecture for the CIA. As far as I am aware NIAC has not refuted Lake’s report on Parsi’s relationship with the CIA. And in this blog, those close to NIAC and Dr. Trita Parsi (e.g., Professor Mammad) have not refuted the Lake report on Parsi’s CIA lecture.

Based on the above observations, it is safe to assume that Trita Parsi has a relationship with the CIA. What I do not know is exactly what is the kind of relationship.

 

2. One of the most, if not the most, vociferous defenders of NIAC at Iranian.com is Q.   I was hoping to hear his answers to these questions.  I am wondering where is Q?  And if he is reading this blog, why is he silent??????

Mammad has disappeared in the middle of the discussion.

 

I am asking a few simple factual questions. WHY are NIAC affiliates and supporters unable to provide simple and honest answers to these simple questions.

 

3. On why and how Lake found out about the CIA link with Dr. Parsi. My guess is that someone in the CIA leaked that info to Lake. I doubt the CIA made a decision to reveal that.

4. I agree with your opinion that one of the main reasons that the CIA wanted to have a relationship with Dr. Parsi may be for connections to individuals inside Iran.

5. You also mentioned Dr. Amirahmadi connection with the CIA. Do you have any sources on this? I think Kambiz in the VOA Parazit should have done some homework and if he found out some info on this, he should have asked Amirahmadi directly about any relationship between the CIA and Amirahmadi.

6. Lets hope Mammad, Q, and others who are supporters or members of NIAC would provide honest answers to these questions.

 

Best,

Masoud

 


marhoum Kharmagas

Calypso (to FR ...)

by marhoum Kharmagas on

FR says: "I love your teasing us monarchists by this AIPAC business. ... Needless to say that I
hold you in special affection too :)
"

Khanome Rusta, ofcourse you know that you Monarchists and this old fox (AIPACzadeh) have more than protecting AIPAC interests in common, you guys also have your neocon/ultra right /right connection in common (support for sanction/war against Iran,  Michael Ledeen's business, Hillary's business ...)! 

BTW, my dear Khaanome Rusta, I hold special affection for you too, can this hagheer (and Marhoum) pirate call you Calypso ( //pirates.wikia.com/wiki/Calypso )?

 


MM

WOW, DK - your last comment puts a new kink into a king!

by MM on

.


MM

monarchist must not mention treacherous alliances run in family!

by MM on

If so, we really should watch out for a repeat of history.

Just another angle, my angel - DK


Farah Rusta

Sorry Darius jaan

by Farah Rusta on

My typing is my weakest point but you are an angel nonetheless :)

 

thanks for the link.

 

FR


Darius Kadivar

Farah Jaan I guess you meant Interesting "Angle" ...

by Darius Kadivar on

I'm No Angel ;0)

 

Copy and paste to watch: 

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UbqZ_oN5do&p=97865C6A91355539&playnext=1&index=9  

Farah Rusta

Very interesting angel Darius jaan

by Farah Rusta on

The title of Dr Parsi's book finds a new meaning when it come to his family's background.

Nice play on words.

 

FR


Farah Rusta

Marhoum-e aziz

by Farah Rusta on

I love your teasing us monarchists by this AIPAC business. I sure Dr Kazemzadeh appreciates your sense humour too. Needless to say that I hold you in special affection too :)

 

FR


Darius Kadivar

Well ... Treacherous Alliances seem to Run in the Family ;0)

by Darius Kadivar on

Go to  approx: 1 min 50...

          Trita Claims his Father was not a political activist but was Arrested for being Critical of the Shah's policies before the Revolution ...       Then Immediately After the Revolution he is again arrested accused of being a collaborator of the Savak ( The Shah's Secret Police) ...     True or False ...        Can someone explain to me How do the Parsis ( Father and Son) manage to carry a reputation of suspicious individuals and Get themselves in Trouble All the Time generation after generation ? ...    


marhoum Kharmagas

Indeed Khaanome Rusta!

by marhoum Kharmagas on

Yes Khanome Rusta, despite all the past khordeh hesaabeeha, you Monarchists and this version of "JM" have had a common ground (protecting AIPAC interest)!

PS: Despite our political differences I like you a lot, at least personal wise you are not anything like AIPACzadeh (you are more or less honst).


Farah Rusta

Dear Dr Kazemzadeh

by Farah Rusta on

As you see support for your inquisitive pursuit of Mr T Parsi is coming from unexpected corners (our common friend Marhoum Kharmagas delegated this task to me which I'd gladly oblige).

Based on my long association with the boys from Langley (as a good head of your cabinet's intelligence service should :)) I suggest you consider the following possibility (more likely a probability):

As you say the, CIA being a clandestine organisation, it cannot allow such events like Parsi's presentation to be disclosed publicly unless its intelligence value is insignificant or nil. CIA is fully aware of Iranians super sensitivity to any association with the agency (your good man Dr Mossadegh's legacy, as you know, is still very much alive on the public's conscience). Therefore, from the Iranian point of view any Iranian's, hyphenated or otherwise, involvement with the Agency is the same as  political suicide.I can't imagine if Mr Parsi could realistically have harboured any political ambitions in Iranian politics but even if he had any  the chances of him being taken seriously is now zero (assuming he had actually done the talk). But from the Agency's point of view he may have a different value (same as Amirahmadi and a few others). These people can act as middle men for the Agency to make inroad into the otherwise unknown and unidentified  sectors of the regime who are willing to make a compromise deal with the Americans.

Regards

FR


Farah Rusta

Marhoum jaan

by Farah Rusta on

Thank you for delegating your support for Dr Kazemzadeh to me. I have no problem with supporting Dr Kazemzadeh in his pursuit to smoke out those who may have confused the national interests of Iran with their own self promotional agenda - to put it mildly.

As I have stated on other threads we are all children of the same land and as long as we put the interests of that land before our self, our ideology or our faith's interests we should be able to find common grounds for cooperation.  

FR


marhoum Kharmagas

Khanome Rusta!

by marhoum Kharmagas on

Mossad says: "When those who support the IRI attack me, it shows that I am doing something right. I would be extremely worried if I see kharmagas supporting me"

Khanome Rusta, his article is not about one's support for him, but CIA etc. relation. However since this poor soul needs some support, can you please support him instead of me? ..... I realize it may not be that pleasant for you to support AIPACzadeh ...., but at least you monarchists don't mind the AIPACis that much!?


Masoud Kazemzadeh

بانو فرح

Masoud Kazemzadeh


I, too, hope that we can continue our discussions with mutual respoect.

Best,

Masoud


Farah Rusta

Thank you Masoud

by Farah Rusta on

This must have been our first civilised exchange for a long time. I hope we can continue along the same basis in future. As you appointed me as the head of SAVAK in your shadow cabinet I need to consult my American controllers at Langley VA before I can comment on your latest reply.

So watch this space. :)

 

 

FR


Masoud Kazemzadeh

Kolah Makhmali jaan

by Masoud Kazemzadeh on

shoma sarvar maeed. 

 


کلاه مخملی

  مسعود جان

کلاه مخملی


عذر می خوام - بلاگ عوضی زدم :)

 

 


Masoud Kazemzadeh

FR on the CIA

by Masoud Kazemzadeh on

FR,

 

The CIA is a spy agency. It is also tasked to carry out clandestine operations overseas (e.g. coups, sabotage). They collect information from open sources, from their field operatives, agents, and all sorts of informants. They also have their own and also get intelligence from electronic surveillance from the NSA. There are about 16 or so intelligence agencies that are supposed to share their intelligence with the CIA (and since 9/11 reforms the DNI and DHS are supposed to be bureaucratically above it receiving the intels).

Theoretically, the CIA is not supposed to make policy. The CIA is not a policy making entity. They collect and analyze intelligence. Then, they provide their analyses to various policy making bodies (e.g., the President, other White House officials, National Security Advisor, NSC, the Congress and the like).

My point was that the CIA usually seeks to hear as much information as possible. The CIA usually pays various individuals for various tasks. I have NO idea the CIA paid Dr. Trita Parsi for his serves or not. I ONLY ask questions to find out. It is possible that the CIA paid money to Dr. Trita Parsi. It is possible that the CIA did not pay Dr. Trita Parsi. I do NOT know what the CIA wanted from Dr. Trita Parsi. Was it his analysis, was it his information, was it to make connections with other NIAC members, was it to make connection with people Dr. Trita Parsi knows inside Iran (officials or non-officials inside Iran).

The CIA is not monolithic. Various CIA officials have disagreements. I think if the CIA folks would believe anything from anybody, then they would be really stupid. I do not think they are soooooooo stupid that they would believe anything that everybody says to them.

 

 

FR:

So do you think that the boys at Langley would always get it right?

 

MK: No. Some times they are right. Some times they are wrong.

 

FR: Did they get it right in 1953?

MK: If I am not mistaken, the CIA Chief of Station in Tehran opposed the Ajax operations. Also several other CIA analysts opposed the coup plan (if I am not mistaken including the Iran Desk officer in Langley). The CIA was ordered by President Eisenhower to overthrow Mossadegh’s government. From THEIR point of view, they got it right in 1953. So, from perspective in 1953, they served the national interests of the U.S. as they saw it in 1953.

From the Iranian nationalist perspective, the coup destroyed Iran’s independence, freedom, and infant democracy. So, from MY point of view, the CIA did a terrible thing for Iran.

Many including in the CIA and U.S. foreign policy circles have come to the conclusion that the blowback from the 1953 operations harmed the national interests of the U.S.

 

 

FR: How about in 1979?

 

MK: The CIA failed to understand what was going on in Iran. The inability to predict the revolution is one of the main mistakes of the CIA. The overthrow of the Shah was a huge damage to the U.S. The CIA utterly failed to provide President Carter good intelligence and good analysis. And President Carter made terrible mistake after terrible mistake. The rise of Khomeini was not inevitable. Mistake by many including the Shah, the CIA, and President Carter played major roles.

 

my 2 rial,

MK

 


Farah Rusta

A question for Masoud

by Farah Rusta on

You say:

"I do not think folks at the CIA are so stupid that they would believe everything that anyone tells them. 
"

So do you think that the boys at Langley would always get it right? Did they get it right in 1953? How about in 1979?

FR


Sargord Pirouz

Yeah, Farah, I'm in a good

by Sargord Pirouz on

Yeah, Farah, I'm in a good mood. The World Series is about to start (our local team is up 2-0) and I'll be off to watch it with friends.

Good one, BTW, with the 1492 crack. :) You're sharper and better humored than most here.


Farah Rusta

Was it 1942 or later Sargord joon

by Farah Rusta on

when your the "Pirouz" clan started grinding their axe?

 

Just curious   - good to see you in high sipirt :))

 

FR


Sargord Pirouz

Hey, let's get something

by Sargord Pirouz on

Hey, let's get something straight here: MM isn't agreeing with me, I'm agreeing with MM.

You see, that's the beauty of having an open mind: you're free to accept and reject opinions based on their relative merit, rather than any preconceived notions.

You folks ought'a try it sometime. No wait...you'd have to rid yourselves of that axe you've been grinding since '79. Without that, what would you be left with? Not much. 


Masoud Kazemzadeh

responses

by Masoud Kazemzadeh on

Rostam jaan,

I am glad you liked my blog. Are you asking me those questions?

Best,

Masoud

 

============================

 

FR and VPK,

I do not know whether the CIA is using Trita Parsi (and NIAC) or Trita Parsi is using the CIA. There might be a Chalabi quality to the relationship. I would like to see how others explain the relationship between the CIA and Trita Parsi (and NIAC). It appears to be a very interesting relationship.

I do not agree with your assessment that the CIA is the loser in this relationship. The CIA is a SPY agency. Therefore, they get involved will all sorts of individuals and groups. I do not think folks at the CIA are so stupid that they would believe everything that anyone tells them.

What is the possible agenda of the CIA regarding Trita Parsi and NIAC? I do not know. But I am interested in reading about it.

MK

 

===========================

 

Dear G. Rahmanian,

Yes, I am actually waiting for Mammad to return with his answers to my 11 questions. That is why I wrote him the 11 Questions.

I agree with the rest of your post.

Best regards,

Masoud

 

===================================

 

 

Vildemose jaan,

I agree with you. They are hypocrites.

Best,

Masoud

 

============================== 

 

AI jaan,

Thank you.

Best regards,

Masoud

 

======================

 

 

Bavafa/Mehrdad,

Please answer this one question.

Do you condemn or support the relationship between Dr. Trita Parsi (NIAC’s President) with the CIA?

Please do not go to sahray Karbala. Please just tell us whether you condemn or support the relationship between Trita Parsi and the CIA. To make it easier for you, I will make it multiple choice.

A. I, Bavafa/Mehrded SUPPORT the relationship between Dr. Trita Parti (President of NIAC) with the CIA, the American SPY agency.

B. I, Bavafa/Mehdad CONDEMN the relationship between Dr. Trita Parsi (President of NIAC) with the CIA, the American SPY agency.

 

 

I look forward to your answer.

MK

 

 

============================= 

 

Roozbeh jaan,

When those who support the IRI attack me, it shows that I am doing something right. I would be extremely worried if I see kharmagas supporting me.

Best,

Masoud