Iranian Alert -- August 20, 2004 [EST]-- IRAN LIVE THREAD -- "Americans for Regime Change in Iran"

The US media still largely ignores news regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran. As Tony Snow of the Fox News Network has put it, “this is probably the most under-reported news story of the year.” Most American’s are unaware that the Islamic Republic of Iran is NOT supported by the masses of Iranians today. Modern Iranians are among the most pro-American in the Middle East.

There is a popular revolt against the Iranian regime brewing in Iran today. I began these daily threads June 10th 2003. On that date Iranians once again began taking to the streets to express their desire for a regime change. Today in Iran, most want to replace the regime with a secular democracy.

The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movement in Iran from being reported. Unfortunately, the regime has successfully prohibited western news reporters from covering the demonstrations. The voices of discontent within Iran are sometime murdered, more often imprisoned. Still the people continue to take to the streets to demonstrate against the regime.

In support of this revolt, Iranians in America have been broadcasting news stories by satellite into Iran. This 21st century news link has greatly encouraged these protests. The regime has been attempting to jam the signals, and locate the satellite dishes. Still the people violate the law and listen to these broadcasts. Iranians also use the Internet and the regime attempts to block their access to news against the regime. In spite of this, many Iranians inside of Iran read these posts daily to keep informed of the events in their own country.

This daily thread contains nearly all of the English news reports on Iran. It is thorough. If you follow this thread you will witness, I believe, the transformation of a nation. This daily thread provides a central place where those interested in the events in Iran can find the best news and commentary. The news stories and commentary will from time to time include material from the regime itself. But if you read the post you will discover for yourself, the real story of what is occurring in Iran and its effects on the war on terror.

I am not of Iranian heritage. I am an American committed to supporting the efforts of those in Iran seeking to replace their government with a secular democracy. I am in contact with leaders of the Iranian community here in the United States and in Iran itself.

If you read the daily posts you will gain a better understanding of the US war on terrorism, the Middle East and why we need to support a change of regime in Iran. Feel free to ask your questions and post news stories you discover in the weeks to come.

If all goes well Iran will be free soon and I am convinced become a major ally in the war on terrorism. The regime will fall. Iran will be free. It is just a matter of time.

Movement protests against AFP's false report

SMCCDI (Information Service)
Aug 19, 2004

The Movement made, today, a formal protest against an AFP report in which this well known French news agency's Bahraini reporter had tried to misuse of the AFP's name in order to promote the false label of (Arabian) Gulf instead of the historically and internationally known name of the "Persian Gulf". The public protest letter was endorsed by Kaveh Mohseni, the Movement's Representative in France, and was sent to Mr. Bertrand Eveno who's the President of the AFP in Paris.

In this letter, while the Movement slammed the desperate tries of some of the Persian Gulf's Sheikhdoms in order to falsificate some established and well known international facts, it warned also the AFP on the consequences of allowing some local reporters to use of the name of the credible news agency in order to promote their illegitimate agenda.

Mohseni, who was writing on behalf of the Movement, hoped that the AFP President will follow up the affair and will avoid such future grave mistake, which while unable of making any real effect, would fuel more anti European and especially hostile feelings against France among the majority of Iranians.

A copy of a detailed document, in French, which proves the demagogy of the AFP reporter was attached to the letter in order to help the news agency's editors to have a better knowledge of the region and its true history. This document treats on the subject of the "Persian Gulf" and the legitimate ownership of three Iranian islands of Abou Moossa and the Lesser and Greater Thombs.

The English version of this document is available at the following link: http://www.daneshjoo.org/article/publish/article_2385.shtml

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_7721.shtml

IRANIAN THREATS MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, ANALYSTS SAYS.

By Safa Haeri
Posted Thursday, August 19, 2004

Paris, 19 Aug. (IPS) Iranian analysts on Thursday 19 August 2004 expressed “serious concern” about Iranian Defence Minister’s latest declaration warning that Iran might launch a pre-emptive strike against the United States or Israel to prevent an attack on its nuclear facilities.

"We will not sit (with arms folded) to wait for what others will do to us. Some military commanders in Iran are convinced that preventive operations which the Americans talk about are not their monopoly", Admiral Ali Mr Shamkhani told the Qatari satellite television Al Jazira when asked about the possibility of a US or Israeli strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.

"America is not the only one present in the region. We are also present, from Khost to Qandahar in Afghanistan; we are present in the (Persian) Gulf and we can be present in Iraq", he said, speaking in Farsi to the Arabic-language news channel through an interpreter.

A day before, a high-ranking Revolutionary Guards commander had stated that in case Israel attack Iranian nuclear facilities, “it should permanently forget about Dimona nuclear centre”, referring to Israel’s best-known nuclear site.

“If Israel fires one missile at Booshehr atomic power plant, it should permanently forget about Dimona nuclear centre, where it produces and keeps its nuclear weapons, and Israel would be responsible for the terrifying consequence of this move”, the acting Revolutionary Guards Commander General Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr warned.

But in his interview with Al-Jazira, Shamkhani said "It's certain to us that Israel won't carry out any military action without a green light from America". So, you can't separate the two".

“Such statements are mirror image of American officials threats against the Islamic Republic, parroting President Bush’s warnings, but the difference is that the United States not only can strike against Iran, but it has pre-emptive plans for such operations”, commented Mr. Hooshang Amir Ahmadi, a professor of Middle Eastern affairs at New Jersey’s Rutgers University.

In the interview, Mr. Shamkhani also said that by their presence in the Persian Gulf, the Americans are in fact “hostage to their own presence”.

"The US military presence in Iraq and the Persian Gulf will not become an element of strength at our expense. The opposite is true, because their forces would turn into a hostage" in Iranian hands in the event of an attack, he pointed out.

According to some Iranian analysts, radical circles in the clerical-ruled establishment are in fact trying their best to provoke both the United States and Israel for limited action against Iran.

“Well aware of their isolation both at home and abroad, hard-line elements in the political establishment think a foreign attack would mobilise the public opinion behind them, as it happened after the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein attacked Iran in 1980”, one scholar in Tehran told Iran Press Service on condition of anonymity.

“However, he added, the big difference is that a good percentage of Iranians, mainly the young generation, is also hoping for such a military action, in the hope to see the Americans topple the present Mollahrchy, as they did with the Taleban in Afghanistan and Saddam in Iraq”.

Other pundits said the danger with the Iranian officials, including the militaries, is that often they do not weigh the consequences of their pronouncements.

“It’s like children when they menace to go over board. It is out of ignorance. This is the case with most of Iranian decision-makers”, an Iranian journalist observed.

Although most Iranian military commanders among the ayatollah’s Praetorian Guards are known for grandiose, if not childish, -- some would say rubbish – statements, but the danger is that their declarations are taken seriously in the western capitals.

“These kind of statements are dangerous because they provide the pretext for the enemies of Iran to launch a pre-emptive strike against Iran”, Dr. Amir Ahmadi noted further in an interview with the Persian service of Radio France International, referring indirectly to a recent declaration by the Defence Minister describing Israel as “najes”, an Arabic word meaning dirty, foul, or untouchable.

“When he says that Iran is present from Khost to Qandahar (in Afghanistan) and can be present in Iraq, this run hundred per cent against Iranian government stated policy of non-interference in other nation’s internal affairs”, he added.

"The moment the Great Satan (America) decides to take military action against us, that moment will be the end of all our nuclear obligations", Shamkhani said, referring to Iran's cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

For his part, Mr. Zolqadr had said that Israeli and American menaces are aimed at introducing a “fear factor” among some Iranian officials, coercing them to abandon Iran’s right to nuclear technology.

“Given the internal crises in the Zionist regime and its military, security and geographical vulnerability, Israel is not capable of attacking Iran and its threats are only propaganda and are aimed at depriving Iran of its “indisputable right” to nuclear technology for peaceful ends.

The points raised by the two senior Revolutionary Guards officer came at a time that the United States and some European nations are pushing hard for taking Iranian controversial nuclear issue from the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna to the United Nations Security Council for possible sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

But international news agencies reported Wednesday that in their report to the next meeting of the international nuclear watchdog’s Board of Directors, IAEA’s inspectors would not single out the Islamic Republic for its nuclear activities nor would they recommend that the case be referred to the UN’s Security Council.

ENDS SHAMKHANI THREATS 19804

http://www.iran-press-service.com/ips/articles-2004/august/shamkhami_threats_19804.shtml

Iran Must Comply with International Laws

August 19, 2004
U.S. Department of State
White House Report

The United States continues to focus on the need for Iran to comply with their international obligations, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters August 19 in Crawford, Texas.

Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran has the right to develop nuclear power with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supervision; however, there are mounting concerns that Iran's program may divert into weapons production.

Recently, Iran has expressed growing disquiet over the U.S. troop presence in Iraq and Afghanistan.

When asked about a statement by Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani, hinting that Iran may launch a pre-emptive strike to protect its nuclear facilities, McClellan responded, "The Iranians say a lot of things. But what the Iranian government needs to do is end its pursuit of nuclear weapons. That's what our priority is when it comes to Iran."

"Germany, France and the British are making it very clear to the Iranians, as well," he said, "They need to fully comply with their international obligations and abide by what they said they would do."

IRAQ GOVERNMENT TOUGH ON AL-SADR

The Iraqi government has made clear that Muqtada al-Sadr must abide by the nation's laws, said McClellan.

"The Iraqi government has made it clear that he needs to leave the Shrine of Ali, that he needs to disarm and disband the militia. And so they're working to bring a resolution to this situation," he said.

Al-Sadr, a radical Shiite cleric, and his loyalists began attacks against a combined U.S.-Iraqi force nearly two weeks ago in Najaf, Iraq. The insurgency remains one of the biggest challenges to Iraq's interim government.

"This is a serious security problem that the Iraqi government is working to address," said the press secretary, "and they are taking a very firm and tough stand with Sadr and his militia."

On August 18, the Iraqi government sent a delegation to the National Conference in Baghdad to negotiate with al-Sadr. Although al-Sadr accepted a peace plan, he defied the agreement on August 19.

McClellan reiterated U.S. cooperation with the interim government and said that multinational forces are actively supporting the efforts of the interim government.

"We need to see action by [Sadr] to follow through on [Iraqi] demands," he said.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=August&x=20040819172226lshsan0.1219751&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html

Local Iranians Counsel Congress

by Karmel Melamed

As Iran’s fundamentalist regime has increased its persecution of Jews and become a major sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East, local Iranian Jewish leaders have stepped up efforts to inform U.S. officials of the increasing danger posed by the Islamic nation.

"We’re at the forefront of keeping the people in the U.S. government aware of what Iran is doing and trying to highlight alternative types of government to the current regime there," said Pooya Dayanim, president of the Iranian Jewish Public Affairs Committee, a nonprofit organization working on behalf of Iranian Jews outside Iran.

Both Dayanim and Frank Nikbakht, public affairs director of the Council of Iranian American Jewish Organizations (CIAJO), have been the primary forces in educating lawmakers on Capitol Hill about Iran, facilitating meetings between several pro-democracy Iranian opposition groups and U.S. officials.

"In April 2003, I helped coordinate informal meetings between Reza Pahlavi and members of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nuclear Nonproliferation and Human Rights," Dayanim said.

Aside from informally advising the Constitutionalist Party of Iran (supporters of a constitutional monarchy), Dayanim said he has also educated other pro-democracy Iranian opposition groups, such as the Marse Porgohar Party (supporters of a secular government), on how seek assistance from key U.S. policymakers.

Last May, Dayanim said he collaborated with Rep. Brad Sherman’s (D-Sherman Oaks) staff in drafting the Iran Democracy Support Act of 2003, a bill calling for an international referendum on regime change in Iran.

"The bill passed in the House. It was supposed to provide $50 million to dissident political parties, people supporting regime change in Iran and opposition media," Dayanim said. "At the last minute, the Rules Committee stripped this funding at the request of the White House, which really took the muscle out of the legislation."

Despite U.S. lawmakers’ and officials’ support for regime change in Iran last year, the current mood for action against the Iranian government has dramatically changed as the U.S. war in Iraq has continued, Dayanim said.

"Iraq didn’t turn out the way the administration wanted it to. They wasted their political capital there, and by this fall everything fell apart," Dayanim said. "Iran is the real hub of terror and is keeping the U.S. tied up in Iraq by supporting [Moqtada] al-Sadr, so the U.S. wouldn’t go after Iran next."

Dayanim also said key U.S. government departments are split on whether to endorse a policy of regime change in Iran or to engage Tehran in dialogue and ease U.S. sanctions. As a result of this division and the war in Iraq, President Bush has yet to take a stronger stance again Iran, Dayanim said.

"The president has always been steady in voicing his support for the freedom of the people of Iran, and actuality it has been a moral support, but we need more action, because Iran could become a nuclear power very soon and destabilize the region," Dayanim said.

Even though Iran’s terrorist activities have taken a back seat as the conflict in Iraq continues, Congress has not totally ignored the country. Recently the House passed a unanimous resolution calling for U.S. action to stop Iran’s nuclear proliferation efforts, Dayanim said. Likewise, a Senate bill has been drafted, calling for regime change in Iran, Dayanim pointed out.

"Two weeks ago, Sen. [Rick] Santorum and Sen. [John] Cornyn introduced a new bill which is more explicit in its terms and will make it the policy of the U.S. government to have regime change in Iran," Dayanim said. "At this time, I’m trying to get other senators to support this legislation."

Iranian government officials are monitoring the U.S. elections closely this year, because they believe that a Kerry administration would be more willing to negotiate with Iran without making any demands on its nuclear and terrorist-sponsoring activities, Dayanim said.

Both Dayanim and Nikbakht broke the historical taboo in the Iranian Jewish community of voicing opposition to mistreatment of Jews in Iran, when in 1999, they, along with numerous other Jewish organization, launched a campaign to publicize the plight of 13 Jews from Shiraz facing execution on false charges of spying for Israel and the United States.

"Generally the Iranian Jewish leaders have had a ghetto mentality by trying to keep everyone silent, because they’re afraid it will make the situation worse," Nikbakht said. "In 1999, we broke that silence with our campaign for the Shiraz 13, and that vocal pressure saved those Jews’ lives."

Nikbakht, who is also director of the Committee for Religious Minority Rights in Iran — an informal local group consisting of Iranian Jews, Zoroastrians, Christians and Baha’is — said that after the international community condemned Iran’s treatment of the Shiraz Jews in 1999, the Iranian government halted its campaign of systematically executing Jews.

"For the five years before the Shiraz 13 incident, the Iranian government was executing one Jew per year to keep the Jews in line," Nikbakht said. "But now all this exposure has caused changes in Iran, and Jewish leaders there have been able to openly write letters to Iranian officials to voice their disagreement with anti-Semitic legislation and Nazi-like propaganda from the regime, which they couldn’t do before."

Nikbakht said that for the past five years, the U.S. State Department has been incorporating his detailed reports about widespread discrimination against religious minorities in Iran into its annual report on Iran.

"We’re demanding equal rights for all Iranians, regardless of their religion," Nikbakht said. "We’re basically asking people in the U.S. government to put any pressure they can on Iran, including intensifying sanctions until they improve human rights in Iran for these minority groups."

Dayanim said his recent request for funding on a project to extensively document the large-scale persecution of religious minorities in Iran was rejected by the State Department, despite federal funds available for such research.

"We can only do this through federal funding, and its obvious that the issue of religious freedom for minorities was not important to them," Dayanim said.

George Harounian, CIAJO president, said the situation for Jews in Iran has deteriorated over the last 10 years. Between 1994 and 1997, 12 Iranian Jews were imprisoned and their fates are currently unknown, Harounian noted. He said they had attempted to flee the country by crossing the border into Pakistan.

Many Iranian Jewish leaders who are in contact with U.S. policymakers said they were optimistic about the U.S. government’s future actions with regards to Iran. They said they will continue to keep the light on Iran’s activities, as long as it continues to threaten the world with terrorism and potential nuclear war.

"I think the [Bush] administration wants to help, but the election has to pass and things in Iraq have to settle," Dayanim said. "I’m also meeting with foreign policy advisers to Kerry to argue that support [for] true democracy in Iran should be their policy as well."

http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=12690

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