Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Attache Farzad Farhangian urges Iran to 'overthrow' the regime (another abandons the sinking ship)
The Australian ^ | September 16, 2010

Posted on 09/15/2010 8:03:37 PM PDT by nuconvert

AN Iranian diplomat has called for an uprising against his government after he became the third of his colleagues to defect this year.

"I want (the regime) to be overthrown," press attache at the Iranian embassy in Brussels Farzad Farhangian, 47, told a press conference in Oslo yesterday, before seeking asylum in Norway

He fled Brussels at the weekend after his decision to quit triggered threats of reprisals against him and his teenage son.

Mr Farhangian, a diplomat for 23 years, wanted to "take a stand in support of the Iranian people and the (opposition) movement".

His announcement came barely 24 hours after the second-most senior diplomat at Helsinki's Iranian embassy, Hossein Alizadeh, quit his job.

In January, Mohammed-Reza Heydari, Iran's former consul in Oslo, resigned after demonstrators were killed in Tehran.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: belgium; farzadfarhangian; iran; iraniandiplomat; israel; norway; waronterror

1 posted on 09/15/2010 8:03:43 PM PDT by nuconvert
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Fred Nerks; AdmSmith; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; bigheadfred; blueyon; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks nuconvert.


2 posted on 09/15/2010 8:07:39 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Democratic Underground... matters are worse, as their latest fund drive has come up short...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

Change the word “Iranian” to “American” and the story would be just as believable.


3 posted on 09/15/2010 8:10:21 PM PDT by CapnJack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

Are they going to take Islam out of the govt? Are they going to end their nuke program?


4 posted on 09/15/2010 8:10:21 PM PDT by Islaminaction
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

I appears that some within the government are tired of the lunacy. May the defections continue.


5 posted on 09/15/2010 8:14:35 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Army Air Corps
Not all defectors are worthy.
6 posted on 09/15/2010 8:27:51 PM PDT by Beowulf9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Islaminaction

I don’t trust any of the characters mentioned in the article, until they clearly prove themselves beyond ‘defection’. The trackrecord of Iranian regime & supporters (often in disguise) is that they are masters of deception, propaganda, publicity & double talk.


7 posted on 09/16/2010 12:05:51 AM PDT by odds
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Islaminaction

Also note the source for the article “The Times”. Although, The Australian is a right-wing Australian newspaper.

Besides, I wouldn’t encourage a single Iranian to “rise up” against IRI in Iran, unless & until they’ve completely organized themselves, have a robust plan, have backup & can fully & effectively implement their plan(s), which should be to usher in a Secular, non-Islamic govt. There is always a notable difference between bravery & stupidity - otherwise, it is best to live & fight another day.


8 posted on 09/16/2010 12:19:51 AM PDT by odds
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: odds

Me either, and only looking overseas is a big mistake. The fight is within our borders now.


9 posted on 09/16/2010 3:08:21 AM PDT by Islaminaction
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Islaminaction

Am afraid as long as America & its allies are in ‘their’ countries, not just Islamic Iran, but broader muslim world, some arguments can be tenuous.

The West can remove an impediment or a few, for them, BUT can Not fight an ideology w/guns or military, for them or us. The West, also, can’t build a nation in their countries, that’s their job. Nor can the West reform Islamic ideology.

The more accommodating the West becomes, the more emboldened & demanding the Muslims will be, within or w/out the West.

America & the West, imo, need to sever ALL relations w/muslim countries very soon. Hold, within their borders their own values/culture/updated laws (cautiously) to suit present circumstances, and stipulate, for example, that muslims either adhere or move on to their choice of a muslim country & sort things out within their own lands w/their own people & govts.

We, in the West, can not on the one hand claim to fight muslims & their terrorists, and on the other hand, give them latitude, appease or encourage them. This has been the order in the West so far, and a very confused one.

There is a saying in Persian (paraphrase): “ham Khoda, ham Khorma”, roughly means “your cake & eat it too.” - Nope, this approach, am fairly sure, will work to our detriment.


10 posted on 09/16/2010 4:11:35 AM PDT by odds
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: odds

America & the West, imo, need to sever ALL relations w/muslim countries very soon.

This will make procuring fuel rather difficult.


11 posted on 09/16/2010 5:59:54 AM PDT by rahbert
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: rahbert

Where there’s a will there’ll be a way too. Anyhow, that isn’t the ‘muslim’ problem.


12 posted on 09/16/2010 6:02:17 AM PDT by odds
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: odds

No but it should be. It should be their problem that they can’t get any money for oil if they so choose to cut it off. Being at the mercy of Islam is the worst position to be in - if you are not a Muslim (and frequently even if you are).

Energy alternatives will be rolling out here if the American spirit can find a way. Let Iran strangle them all by blocking off the Straits of Hormuz — and they will have to just sit and watch the world go by on their computers while they sit in their caves and tents with rapidly depreciating computers and cellular phones and no money left to buy new ones.


13 posted on 09/16/2010 12:04:13 PM PDT by Amwiser
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Amwiser

>>>”Energy alternatives will be rolling out here if the American spirit can find a way.”

Exactly. It is the West that needs to take the initiative & find alternative ways for energy, at least for our own consumption - therefore at least significantly reducing our dependence on Oil from the ME Muslim countries. Once that happens, then, for example, their blocking off the Strait of Hormuz, raising crude price, or denying export, etc.. will only hurt Them. And, they’ll change their behavior. But, so long as we are in their countries, and dependent on them for their Oil, have other trade relations with them, then, they’ll take advantage of what is Given to them by us.

Islamic terrorism & taking it to Western countries is not a new phenomenon. It’s been going on for decades & we’ve let them. Has the USA, for example, had the will & spirit to spend as much money & body counts on finding alternative energy as it has done in waging war in the ME or appeasing dictatorships? Or, is it not just for Oil?


14 posted on 09/19/2010 5:43:28 AM PDT by odds
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson