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Don't Aid Mousavi
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Hasan Sarbakhshian / AP Photo
President Obama's no drama Iran mantra won't work, says former Reagan National Security Council member Raymond Tanter. He should skip over Mir Hossein Mousavi and instead back parties that are actually willing to overthrow the supreme leader.
Plus, read more insight on Iran's election from other Daily Beast writers.
As the Obama administration debates how, exactly, to react to the disputed election in Iran, it should reconsider its earlier commitment to negotiations with the country’s dictatorship of unelected ayatollahs.
President Obama’s “no drama” mantra seems out of place in messy Tehran, where instability threatens the ruling ayatollahs and raises questions about whether it is the best time for diplomatic engagement over Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons. Diplomatic engagement with a regime that has little support from its own people can provide needed oxygen to a dictatorship that would otherwise be out of breath.
The loyal opposition leader celebrated in the West, Mir Hossein Mousavi, presided over Iranian terrorist activities, including the 1983 U.S. Marine barracks bombing in Lebanon and hostage taking of Western nationals.
Brookings Institute senior fellow Suzanne Maloney endorses negotiations in her article for The Daily Beast, “An Absurd Outcome.” Maloney focuses on evidence of vote rigging, and she assumed voting irregularities would be restrained by the regime’s need to maintain perceived legitimacy over the Iranian political system, of which she claims “representative institutions and popular participation” are a crucial component. Maloney also contends that “Obama has to be prepared to move forward with diplomacy despite the wholesale setback for Iran’s limited democracy. In the wake of this disastrous election, opportunities for progress on engagement may unexpectedly present themselves.”
Although Maloney admits that she and other analysts were wrong in presuming the regime would not resort to cheating to maintain power, she falsely assumes that representative institutions legitimize the rule of the ayatollahs in what she refers to as “Iran’s limited democracy.”
Despite the appearance of representative institutions, Iranian clerics rule by divine right, decide who is able to compete in elections, and dismiss the need for institutions that preserve liberty, such as rule of law, free press, and minority rights. Rather than deriving legitimacy from the people, the ayatollahs rule by claiming they are representatives of God on earth. For them, legitimacy comes from a radical brand of religious jurisprudence that reclaims their “rightful” position at the center of the Muslim world. Their ideology invokes God as cover for repression that allows the regime literally to get away with murder, in the name of God.
The legitimacy of last week’s election is irrelevant to these radicals’ pursuit of a nuclear bomb. The Iran Policy Committee, of which I am president, finds that the Iranian regime seeks nuclear weapons' status as a means of exporting its revolution abroad, ensuring its survival at home, and coercing its neighbors, including Israel.
To motivate the Iranian regime to bargain in good faith, Obama needs leverage. One option is for the West to reach out to the ayatollahs’ internal opposition. But there is a profound difference between the “loyal opposition” that accepts the legitimacy of the Iranian regime and the main opposition organizations that challenge the regime. The loyal opposition leader celebrated in the West, Mir Hossein Mousavi, presided over Iranian terrorist activities, including the 1983 U.S. Marine barracks bombing in Lebanon and hostage taking of Western nationals. And according to other opposition sources, Mousavi implemented Ayatollah Khomeini’s policy of executions, beginning in the summer of 1981.
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Jacob Bernstein is a senior reporter at The Daily Beast. Previously, he was a features writer at WWD and W Magazine. He has also written for New York magazine, Paper, and The Huffington Post.
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Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
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Jeff Madrick is a contributor to the New York Review of Books and a former economics columnist for the New York Times. He is editor of Challenge Magazine, visiting professor of humanities at Cooper Union, and senior fellow at the New School's Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis. He is the author of Taking America, The End of Affluence (Random House) and The Case for Big Government.
Memo to Obama: They Are Not Terrorists
Professor Raymond Tanter is a former member of the National Security Council staff, personal representative of the secretary of defense in the Reagan administration (1981-84), and president of the Iran Policy Committee since 2005. His latest book is President Obama and Iraq: Toward a Responsible Troop Drawdown.
Mr. Tanter,
Hail to you ! You are absolutely right. Regardless of the past policies, it is time to support the true Iranian people and do away with a bunch of bandits ruling a very strategically located country. It is high time that the west would end the apeasement policy towards the enemies of the true Iranian people and the rest of the humanity for that matter. A few more years of the mullahs rule in Iran will translate into disaster for the world. As you know, Iranian people will take their country back no matter what and those governments who supported the mullahs regime will not look good in the eyes of the real Iranian people. It is high time that western democracies stop dealing with the Islamic mafia and start siding with the freedom loving aspirations of the real Iranian people. The Islamic republic is by far a more dangerous regime for the world than any other totalitarian regime in recent history. The danger has nothing to do with their stupid talk about Israel and United states and so on. The danger is their nature. And their nature is to advance their goals by abusing the name of god. No criminals can be more dangerous than those who lie in the name of god. Once again, hail to you for truly understanding the nature of the mullahs and the need for the whole mankind to get rid of them all. Hail to you for understanding their tricks and exposing them. Hail to you for understanding that they are more dangerous than Hilter. Hitler was a crazy man. But the mullahs are a bunch of crazy men who may prove to be much much more dangerous. Hail to you for advising the administration that the right path is to get rid of these beasts. They may tell you that the kind of opposition that you talk about are not very many and inside Iran, they may not have much support. But the same would go for Germans who opposed Hilter. When you have criminals in charge of a very strategic country, numbers don't matter. Mr. Tanter, I have always said that the only good Characteristic of evil is that it is mortal and does not last. So, why not get rid of it sooner than later. Mr. Tanter, you know that we live in a world that is becoming smaller and smaller. A criminal government anywhere is dagerous for the whole world. The world must get rid of the bandit mullahs of Iran and let the real Iranians rule their country. The few Iranians who have resisted this regime from its inception, deserve to now go back to their country and build it anew. Hail to you for insisting on this path and therefore saving humanity from disaster. HAIL TO YOU !
Substitute "Saddam Hussein" for "mullahs" and this argument sounds VERY familiar. Substitute "Iraqi National Congress" for who you call "true Iranians". The similarities are eerie, I mean, down to the Hitler comparisons. Is that you, Meghan, or is it William Kristol?!?!?
I think the US has meddled in the internal politics of Iran enough already. We must not forget that we are the ones who over threw the legitimately elected government of Iran in the 50s in the first place and then blindly supported the Shah regardless of his repression of the Iranian people. We have zero credibility to bringing freedom and democracy in Iran.
Democracy in Iran must be attained by the Iranian people in Iran. Open US or western support of opposition parties in Iran will only legitimize the very parties that would be more favorable towards the US and the west.
Lifting sanctions against legitimate Iranian opposition groups is not "meddling" in Iranian internal affairs. In fact, by having placed the MEK and NCRI on the foreign terrorists lists (particularly on such questionable merit), the US has tilted the playing field in favor of the mullahs. And, in spite of this attempt to curry favor with the mullahs by placing opposition groups on the terrorist list, the West has received nothing in return. Lift the sanctions against the MEK and NCRI. Then do nothing to overtly assist them. The West just needs to get out of the way of legitimate opposition groups and let the domestic politics of Iran find its own level. My guess is the mullahs days will be numbered.
Mr. Tanter is not talking about supporting them. He is talking about taking them off a sham terrorist list that was devised to appease the mullahs whereas they are just fighting for democracy in their own country.
Literally, fighting, like carrying out violent acts meant to de-stabilize a government in order to bring about political systemic change. Like the Contras (are you old enough to remember them)?
Finally the voice of someone neither suckered nor blinded by the false proposition offered up by the persian theokleptocrats!
I think the quota for anti-theo-kleptocratic rhetoric is well-met in our media today, thank you very much. I would rather we listen to our president, who would rather deal with the devil we know rather than invade and destabilize hell.
Yeah you're right, Iran is a paragon exemplar of stability!
More so than if we gave the bum's rush in a grand pincer movement using troops who have quite a lot to deal with already thanks to other well-intentioned interventionists. The fact is they have an extremely well-educated, passionate, yet self-restrained population that has mobilized for almost completely peaceful, yet massive protest. I'd say that's pretty dang impressive. The fact that they have had the same regime in power for thirty years is a pretty good record in the region, as well. If we hadn't sponsored a coup in 1953 (operation AJAX), there could well have been a democracy in Iran for more than fifty years. Let's not repeat our mistakes of Eisenhower and Bush the younger, is my point.
This is an excellent analysis of the developments in Iran. I agree with Professor Tanter that it is most harmful for the United States to keep Iran's main opposition on the terrorist list. The continued terrorist label is a direct help to Ahmadinejad. Is this what America is up to? Strange!!
IRAN ERUPTS IN RAGE
SHAM ELECTIONS
OPPOSITION TO THE ENTIRE SYSTEM
CNGS ANALYSIS
It is obvious that the Courageous and intrepid Iranian protesters and their leaders will not be fooled by the tactical retreat on the part of the insidious Akhond Ali Khamenei. His only aim is to ride out the fury of the suffering people of Iran, having been shackled by a gang of thugs and lumpens, and whose opposition is to the entirety of the system, not only the spurious elections.
Khamenei displayed his Machiavellian skills when he approved the the participation of his archenemy Musavi, who was his intractable vice president during Iran-Iraq war, while Khomeini was still alive, and in most instances, the head henchman sided with Musavi, as opposed to Khamenei. However, his scheme backfired and thus this historic tactical retreat.
This writer is quite familiar with the character of Ali Khamenei and very much conscious of his deceitful and sly fashions he deals with his opponents, not to speak of the savages aiding him in his demonic designs.
It is imperative to note that all the top henchmen of this order of the Middle Ages are up to their neck in corruption, and every one of them is responsible for the murdering of tens of thousands of innocent political prisoners and hundreds of thousands of Iranian regulars, mostly teenagers who were sent to the minefields of Iran-Iraq War without protection or guidance, only with a key to heaven around their neck. THESE CRIMES MUST NOT BE FORGIVEN BY THE CIVILIZED NATIONS OF THE WORLD, PARTICULARLY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO HAD THEIR OWN REVOLUTION AGAINST THE TYRANNY OF THE BRITISH COLONIALISM.
It is even more important for the new US administration not to misread the fury of the Iranian people yet again, and stand on the side of the Iranian people, as opposed to the illegitimate barbaric regime of the mullahs, dominating a land possessing a glorious history and culture that has been wiped clean by the savages.
Today's speech by President Barack Obama can be considered disappointing at best. On the one hand he referred to Ahmadinejad's behavior as "Odious" and on the other he said he is willing to sit at the negotiating table with an odious creature. What a contradiction, all for the sake of pragmatism, and perhaps short-term interests of his administration.
He, in effect, is telling the henchmen that if you are willing to deal, we will kiss and make up and forgive and forget all your crimes and deceitful electioneering. And at the same time he is telling the dead and hundreds of injured protesters, we don't care much about your cause, as long as things don't spin out of control and we are able to maintain our interests in the region and deal with the mullahs. THE IRANIAN PEOPLE AND IRANIAN-AMERICANs WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE COUNTRY, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WHOM, INCLUDING THIS WRITER AND HIS FAMILY WHO VOTED FOR MR. OBAMA, EXPECTED A GREAT DEAL BETTER DELIVERY THAN HE transmitted THIS AFTERNOON.
It is also important to note that many of the past and present leaders of the mullahcracy should be brought to justice in a Nuremberg style tribunal for CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND WAR CRIMES. The civilized community of nations and all the freedom-loving people of the world over, can not afford another Neville Chamberlain miscalculation and naivete'.
And finally, the mafia style savagery amongst the different factions of the regime, has not produced any winners; they have all lost; as such, sooner or later, once they pacify the people, they will get together and reconcile, for all are woven of the same cloth!!!
Mr. Obama do the right thing!!!!
CNGS
IRAN ERUPTS IN RAGE
SHAM ELECTIONS
OPPOSITION TO THE ENTIRE SYSTEM
CNGS ANALYSIS
It is obvious that the Courageous and intrepid Iranian protesters and their leaders will not be fooled by the tactical retreat on the part of the insidious Akhond Ali Khamenei. His only aim is to ride out the fury of the suffering people of Iran, having been shackled by a gang of thugs and lumpens, and whose opposition is to the entirety of the system, not only the spurious elections.
Khamenei displayed his Machiavellian skills when he approved the the participation of his archenemy Musavi, who was his intractable vice president during Iran-Iraq war, while Khomeini was still alive, and in most instances, the head henchman sided with Musavi, as opposed to Khamenei. However, his scheme backfired and thus this historic tactical retreat.
This writer is quite familiar with the character of Ali Khamenei and very much conscious of his deceitful and sly fashions he deals with his opponents, not to speak of the savages aiding him in his demonic designs.
It is imperative to note that all the top henchmen of this order of the Middle Ages are up to their neck in corruption, and every one of them is responsible for the murdering of tens of thousands of innocent political prisoners and hundreds of thousands of Iranian regulars, mostly teenagers who were sent to the minefields of Iran-Iraq War without protection or guidance, only with a key to heaven around their neck. THESE CRIMES MUST NOT BE FORGIVEN BY THE CIVILIZED NATIONS OF THE WORLD, PARTICULARLY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO HAD THEIR OWN REVOLUTION AGAINST THE TYRANNY OF THE BRITISH COLONIALISM.
It is even more important for the new US administration not to misread the fury of the Iranian people yet again, and stand on the side of the Iranian people, as opposed to the illegitimate barbaric regime of the mullahs, dominating a land possessing a glorious history and culture that has been wiped clean by the savages.
Today's speech by President Barack Obama can be considered disappointing at best. On the one hand he referred to Ahmadinejad's behavior as "Odious" and on the other he said he is willing to sit at the negotiating table with an odious creature. What a contradiction, all for the sake of pragmatism, and perhaps short-term interests of his administration.
He, in effect, is telling the henchmen that if you are willing to deal, we will kiss and make up and forgive and forget all your crimes and deceitful electioneering. And at the same time he is telling the dead and hundreds of injured protesters, we don't care much about your cause, as long as things don't spin out of control and we are able to maintain our interests in the region and deal with the mullahs. THE IRANIAN PEOPLE AND IRANIAN-AMERICANs WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE COUNTRY, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WHOM, INCLUDING THIS WRITER AND HIS FAMILY WHO VOTED FOR MR. OBAMA, EXPECTED A GREAT DEAL BETTER DELIVERY THAN HE transmitted THIS AFTERNOON.
It is also important to note that many of the past and present leaders of the mullahcracy should be brought to justice in a Nuremberg style tribunal for CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND WAR CRIMES. The civilized community of nations and all the freedom-loving people of the world over, can not afford another Neville Chamberlain miscalculation and naivete'.
And finally, the mafia style savagery amongst the different factions of the regime, has not produced any winners; they have all lost; as such, sooner or later, once they pacify the people, they will get together and reconcile, for all are woven of the same cloth!!!
Mr. Obama do the right thing!!!!
CNGS
It is obvious that the Courageous and intrepid Iranian protesters and their leaders will not be fooled by the tactical retreat on the part of the insidious Akhond Ali Khamenei. His only aim is to ride out the fury of the suffering people of Iran, having been shackled by a gang of thugs and lumpens, and whose opposition is to the entirety of the system, not only the spurious elections.
Khamenei displayed his Machiavellian skills when he approved the the participation of his archenemy Musavi, who was his intractable vice president during Iran-Iraq war, while Khomeini was still alive, and in most instances, the head henchman sided with Musavi, as opposed to Khamenei. However, his scheme backfired and thus this historic tactical retreat.
This writer is quite familiar with the character of Ali Khamenei and very much conscious of his deceitful and sly fashions he deals with his opponents, not to speak of the savages aiding him in his demonic designs.
It is imperative to note that all the top henchmen of this order of the Middle Ages are up to their neck in corruption, and every one of them is responsible for the murdering of tens of thousands of innocent political prisoners and hundreds of thousands of Iranian regulars, mostly teenagers who were sent to the minefields of Iran-Iraq War without protection or guidance, only with a key to heaven around their neck. THESE CRIMES MUST NOT BE FORGIVEN BY THE CIVILIZED NATIONS OF THE WORLD, PARTICULARLY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO HAD THEIR OWN REVOLUTION AGAINST THE TYRANNY OF THE BRITISH COLONIALISM.
It is even more important for the new US administration not to misread the fury of the Iranian people yet again, and stand on the side of the Iranian people, as opposed to the illegitimate barbaric regime of the mullahs, dominating a land possessing a glorious history and culture that has been wiped clean by the savages.
Today's speech by President Barack Obama can be considered disappointing at best. On the one hand he referred to Ahmadinejad's behavior as "Odious" and on the other he said he is willing to sit at the negotiating table with an odious creature. What a contradiction, all for the sake of pragmatism, and perhaps short-term interests of his administration.
He, in effect, is telling the henchmen that if you are willing to deal, we will kiss and make up and forgive and forget all your crimes and deceitful electioneering. And at the same time he is telling the dead and hundreds of injured protesters, we don't care much about your cause, as long as things don't spin out of control and we are able to maintain our interests in the region and deal with the mullahs. THE IRANIAN PEOPLE AND IRANIAN-AMERICANs WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE COUNTRY, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WHOM, INCLUDING THIS WRITER AND HIS FAMILY WHO VOTED FOR MR. OBAMA, EXPECTED A GREAT DEAL BETTER DELIVERY THAN HE transmitted THIS AFTERNOON.
It is also important to note that many of the past and present leaders of the mullahcracy should be brought to justice in a Nuremberg style tribunal for CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND WAR CRIMES. The civilized community of nations and all the freedom-loving people of the world over, can not afford another Neville Chamberlain miscalculation and naivete'.
And finally, the mafia style savagery amongst the different factions of the regime, has not produced any winners; they have all lost; as such, sooner or later, once they pacify the people, they will get together and reconcile, for all are woven of the same cloth!!!
Mr. Obama do the right thing!!!!
Professor Tanter is not only precisely explicating the true nature of a terrorist with American blood on his hands, but also the crimes committed against the Iranian people when he was prime minister under Ali Khamenei, when Khomeini was still alive.
Mousavi is responsible for the execution of thousands of political prisoners and dispatch of tens of thousands of men and teenagers to the minefields of Iran-Iraq war, without protection or guidance, with only a key to heaven dangling from their neck.
What Tanter is proposing is a FAR cry from Eisenhower, Carter, or Bush!. But keep in mind, the same crowd mobilized for the mullahs in equal measure.
Is your site down? The last comment was posted on 6-17-09 at 10:09 PM. Please let me know!!! I have tried to post several times to no avail!!!
Excellent article..it is about time people begin to understand the difference between the real opposition vs. the regime manufactured opposition. Ahamdinejad and Mousavi are two sides of the same coin..I appriciate the fact this article talks about the NCRI and what US can do to support the Iranian people and their movement for change.
Thank you.
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