While there is probably some disagreement around here on how much involvement the US should have in regime change in Iran, I don't think there is too much disagreement that it would be in our interests if the current regime in Iran was replaced with one more open to the ideals of liberty and freedom.
I tend to fall on the side that we should not be completely isolationist in this regard, and should help to some degree those fighting to bring about regime change. However, I tend to not like those who are supported by or supportive of Marxists or socialists. I see that as replacing one problem with another problem that is not necessarily better (and due to the turmoil during a revolution, probably worse).
It is for this kinship there seems to be with the TransNational Radical Party that I am starting to wonder about the SMCCDI, whose goals and alliances to date I had thought to be totally compatible with the goals of our country.
For example, here we see that the TRP has set up a complete section of their website just for the SMCCDI. You can see over on the right, the following ad:
Here is a complete photo gallery of the SMCCDI with the TRP. Here is an appeal from the TRP and SMCCDI, published on the SMCCDI's website. Here is a press release detailing some of the coordinating activities the TRP and its umbrella groups were taking with the SMCCDI.
http://www.radicalparty.org/iran/banner.gif
Here is a press release from the TRP in Italian. The translation, courtesy of babelfish:
RADICAL IRAN /: TOMORROW MANIFESTATION In front of the EMBASSY IRANIAN To ROMEHere's a story showing the involvement of some other leftist organizations:In the light of the events that are having place in Iran, tomorrow 8 July 2003, Left Radical Transnational one, Radical Italiani and Radicaliroma will be present in front of the Embassy Iranian in order to ask the respect for the right of the students to manifest the following day, in all the Iran where day in memory of the tragic events of 1999 is previewed one. In that occasion, the manifestations of the students of Tehran, like in China of Tienanmen Public square in 1989, were repressed in the blood from the teocratico regimen Iranian, from the so-called "reformist government" of Khatami.
Against Hush of this Europe that once again chooses not opporsi to antiliberal governments, isolating and disarming the hopes of the young people Iranians, the radicals will manifest raising the faces of the killed students, and will deliver one letter to the ambassador sanctioned Iranian in order to remember the obligation from the Universal Declaration of the rights of the man.
They will be present:
MARK PANNELLA and MARK CAPPATO, European deputies,
SERGIO STANZANI, President of the PRT,
SERGIO Of ELIA, Secretary of Nobody Touches Caino
DANIEL CAPEZZONE, Secretary of Italian Radicals
NICOLE SADIGHI, journalist Iranian and exponent of the Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran (SMCCDI)
It was to an audiance composed of Italian officials, activists and journalists that, on Saturday, Mr. Kaveh Mohseni, the SMCCDI's Special Representative to the Cagliari (S. Italy) Conference, called for the support of the "Iran's Freedom Process" and its "Secularist forces" by Italy and its European partners of EU...That was not 100% correct though, as this Italian girl pointed out on her blog:This meeting, coordinated by Ms. Stefania Lepanna and Mr. Michele Demontis, was organized by Italy's "Radicali Sardi" and the "TransNational Radical Party", and several Italian deputies from groups such as, the "Democratie-Socialisti", were among the supporters and speakers.
However,In the text that SMCCDI has published there is something incorrect:Love the smiley. Ahem.The event in Italy has been organized by the "Transnational Radical Party" and Association "Radicali Sardi"
The "Socialisti Democratici Italiani" did not organize the event, they will be there as special participants.
It's very important to modify this piece of text..
So who exactly are the TransNational Radical Party? It's a bigger, more powerful leftist organization than you would expect for a group you have never heard of. Their website is here. Gandhian, socialist, "libertarian socialist" (which is also often known as "anarchist". Here's how they described themselves back in 1998.
Here is some info on one of the leaders.
In his political career, Mr. Pannella co-founded a series of organizations such as the League for divorce, the League for objection of conscience, the League for the abrogation of the Agreement between the Catholic Church and the Italian State (Concordato), the Centre of legal initiative “Pietro Calamandrei”, as well as the Italian Association for Demographic Education (AIED). He has been at the forefront of the promotion important reforms regarding narcotics, facing incarceration on various occasions for his civil disobediences. He played a prominent role in the pro-choice movement in Italy that led to the legalization of abortion in the early 1980s...I think this flirtation or marriage (depending on just how tight things are between them) is a tragic mistake on the part of the Iranian students.Engaged in the defence of civil rights in Eastern European countries, in 1968, he was arrested in Sofia for having distributed leaflets against the Communist regime. He is one of the first promoters and founders of the “Green” and “ecologist” political movements in Europe....
Mr. Pannella was one of the first European Federalists and fought, through non-violent means, for the creation of the European Union...
He is honorary President of the Party of the Rom (ROI) in the Czech Republic and he is also honorary member of the Socialist Slovene Youth. The KKL, Karen Kalehm Le Israel dedicated him a reforestation area in the desert of Negev in Israel.