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Reza Pahlavi at CPAC? Big mistake
American Thinker ^

Posted on 02/16/2025 9:07:27 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET

The mullahs in Tehran know that a truly democratic opposition movement could threaten their grip on power. That is why they deliberately tolerate weak, ineffective exiled figures like Pahlavi — allowing him just enough visibility to distract from real threats to their rule.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: concerntroll; concerntrolling; harvardhack; majidrafizadeh; nonotamistake
It's been 45 years. The people are tired of the mullahs but this guy doesn't appear to be the answer. Too much baggage and he's not a good looking crown prince-type-fella waiting in the wings anymore. Too much fatherly baggage. Most Iranians are not old enough to remember the Shah but those that do cannot be too nostalgic as they are living overseas now and won't return.
1 posted on 02/16/2025 9:07:27 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: DIRTYSECRET

I remember this fella offering to fight in the war against Iraq. Brave but more than naive. They wouda killed him first.


2 posted on 02/16/2025 9:08:36 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Yeah, we need to make Iran into a democracy just like Vermont or New Hampshire. That has worked throughout the Middle East, hasn’t it?


3 posted on 02/16/2025 9:23:08 AM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: Fiji Hill

It was working in Iran in the 50s until the CIA and British intelligence overthrew the democratic government that the people overwhelmingly supported. Might be tougher to recreate now.


4 posted on 02/16/2025 9:26:46 AM PST by Defiant
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Iran will never be governed by enlightenment principals. Whatever form of “democracy” it comes up with will be a sham.


5 posted on 02/16/2025 9:28:15 AM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

“Most Iranians are not old enough to remember the Shah but those that do cannot be too nostalgic as they are living overseas now and won’t return.”

I nominate Kim Kardashian for Shah.


6 posted on 02/16/2025 9:28:16 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz (Privatize the administrative state!)
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To: Defiant

Like China, the mullahs play the long game.


7 posted on 02/16/2025 9:33:33 AM PST by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: Defiant
It was working in Iran in the 50s until the CIA and British intelligence overthrew the democratic government that the people overwhelmingly supported.

Yep it was the first color revolution brought to you by the CIA. All the succeeding revolutions since have followed the same pattern.

Covertly supporting which ever side is the most anti American.

8 posted on 02/16/2025 9:39:49 AM PST by usurper (AI was born with a birth defect.)
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To: Defiant
It was working in Iran in the 50s until the CIA and British intelligence overthrew the democratic government that the people overwhelmingly supported.

Yep it was the first color revolution brought to you by the CIA. All the succeeding revolutions since have followed the same pattern.

Covertly supporting which ever side is the most anti American.

9 posted on 02/16/2025 9:39:49 AM PST by usurper (AI was born with a birth defect.)
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To: DIRTYSECRET
Yes, he is rather ugly, which is surprising considering his mother was an international beauty:


10 posted on 02/16/2025 9:45:13 AM PST by nwrep
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To: DIRTYSECRET

*I remember this fella offering to fight in the war against Iraq.*

It means he’s a patriot. There just might be a place for him in a coalition government where he’s a figurehead. The PI elected the son of Marcos. There is room for nostalgia.

Now if the son of Khadafy could just take over Lybia.


11 posted on 02/16/2025 10:11:38 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: DIRTYSECRET
But you accept the words of the author:

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a political scientist specializing in U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East and is a Harvard-educated scholar. He can be reached at Dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu or on X at @Dr_Rafizadeh.

Other than that, what is actually known about him?

Before judgement is passed, we should hear what the speaker has to offer.

Only then should we formulate an opinion as to the validity of the claim this author is making.

12 posted on 02/16/2025 10:13:24 AM PST by Robert DeLong
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To: DIRTYSECRET

CPAC - who shivs a git?

Maybe the guy who runs it needs to get his own house in order first.


13 posted on 02/16/2025 10:18:07 AM PST by bigbob (Yes. We ARE going back!)
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To: Defiant

Aha, the Mosaddegh fallacy.

Mosaddegh was a socialist who stole US and British properties.

And besides, democracy and socialism are “one and the same”, per Woodrow Wilson, which is why the USA was established as a republic instead.


14 posted on 02/16/2025 12:06:53 PM PST by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Looks like the American Thinker is turning neocon.


15 posted on 02/16/2025 12:58:47 PM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: BenLurkin

“Iran will never be governed by enlightenment principals. Whatever form of “democracy” it comes up with will be a sham.”

That’s what I’m thinking. The only country less likely to ever become a democracy again in our lifetime is Ukraine.


16 posted on 02/16/2025 1:50:37 PM PST by BobL
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