Posted on 12/31/2003 12:34:26 PM PST by regimechanger
Iranians Oppose their Islamic Republic
The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) on Wednesday, December 03, 2003 hosted a panel of Iranian American democracy advocates. One panelist, a KRSI radio talk show host, involved Iranian democracy activists by calling Iran. The AEI called it “Voices From Inside Iran” and likened the event to an international town hall. KRSI Radio broadcast the meeting via satellite to Iranians all over the world. To safeguard Iranians willing to speak out, they were asked not to give their name or location just a vague description of their occupation.
Each of the Iranian citizens that addressed the audience was asked a series of questions. They were encouraged to elaborate. The first question was about the reform movement in Iran. Each Iranian emotionally argued that reform was dead. One disabled veteran of the Iran-Iraq war said he was confident reform was dead because these days the so-called reformers openly admit it.
When asked about what form of government they want, all replied secular democracy. Separation of church and state appeared to be the heart of their ambition. That theocracy has always been and always will be incompatible with a free society. One Iranian activist currently works as a university professor and said that a referendum is the only solution. He said that only the Iranian people could answer what government is to come to power. The only bloodless way this can come to be is by referendum.
A referendum is the practice of submitting authority to a popular vote. In Iran’s case the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei would submit his autocratic authority to a popular vote. His track record suggests he has no will to do so. In any case, the question exposes the regime for what it is, a theocratic dictatorship.
Another question asked of these activists, likely on the minds of many concerned Americans was what should the United States do to support the democratic aspirations of Iranians. The response was clear. End the ongoing dialogue with this regime and encourage the Iranian people with words of support. The university professor said that the Iranian people are ready to sacrifice their money and their lives if necessary to bring about democracy. This level of commitment requires clear and consistent support from the United States.
For those of you who regularly read about Iran in the media you may recognize some of the members in the audience. Michael Rubin of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Kenneth Timmerman of the Foundation for Democracy in Iran, Robert Einhorn of the Center for Strategic & International Studies to name just a few. With such attention paid to the Iranian dissident movement one must wonder what Washington insiders are thinking.
One has to wonder if AEI and the panelists were either forgetting or trying to avoid certain opposition groups. No mention was made of the recently outlawed organization the National Council of Resistance. An organization that, more than any other appears to have their finger on the regime change trigger.
The Washington Post reported Nov 26 that any future serious Iranian violations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty would trigger a vote to send the matter to United Nations Security Council. An example of such a trigger according to a US official would be any credible report from the Iranian opposition group, the National Council of Resistance, which has in the past year produced a stream of reports on Iran’s nuclear program that have been confirmed by IAEA investigations.
In any case the closing commentary was about what this sample of Iranians inside Iran are doing to bring a democratic government to Iran. They said that they are raising the level of awareness in the streets, planning demonstrations and are boycotting the upcoming sham elections. They intend to mark the walls of Tehran with the word “NO” meaning no to the Islamic Republic and no to these undemocratic elections. They are risking imprisonment and torture for their political beliefs.
The Iranian people’s beliefs are not unlike ours. It is time to heed their message and send them clear and consistent support from the United States. The US should stand up with the Iranian people and say “NO!” to these sham elections and call for an internationally monitored referendum!
How would you fight for democracy if it wasn't provided when you were born. I sometimes wonder how many Americans are willing to work (not just carry a gun) for democracy these days. Got any statistics?
Is a recording or transcript (translated into English) available anywhere? I would have liked to have heard this...
Uhmmm... we don't have diplomatic relations with Iran so anything we have to say about the subject will go in one ear and right out the other. As it has for decades.
This is something the Iranians are going to have to solve internally. So far, the willingness is not particularly apparent. Oh sure, there are some that will protest and risk imprisonment but the vast majority appear to be apathetic and haven't even been showing up at the polls for years allowing the hard-liners to take over. As I see it (along with many others), it doesn't appear the vast majority of Iranians really care who's in charge. Iranians overthrew their government once before without our help and held 52 American hostages for 444 days. Iranians celebrate the storming of our embassy by holding rallies on the anniversary dates with thousands shouting "Death to America" and have built an anti-American shrine in remembrance and honoring that action. If the Iranians truly want regime change, they can do it again without our help.
Our administration publicly supports reform in Iran. However, it is also on record as stating it does not favor a regime change for Iran.
Mr. Ramezanzadeh was responding to comments made Tuesday by Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage, who signaled American willingness to hold limited talks with Iran. Mr. Armitage, striking a conciliatory tone, also said that the Bush administration did not favor "regime change" in Iran. (see Iran Demands Consessions From U.S. in Return for Cooperation, Oct 30 NYT)
From Newsweek:
Whether or not they enjoy American support, the students are portrayed as Washington's stooges by Iran's hard-liners. And that dark suspicion about American motives is not confined to the clerics. Among ordinary Iranians, mistrust of America dates back to the 1953 coup that placed the shah in power. "What can America do for us?" said the gaunt-faced student near his Tehran dorm last week. "They're only looking out for their own interests." Times may be changing in Tehran. But Washington can expect little thanks, no matter what it decides to do next.
Maybe the Iranians who want reform should be appealing to the Europeans more for support. Also from this Newsweek article:
The only people making the case for talks are Bush's friends and allies in Europe. But White House officials believe the Europeans are both naive about the reformers and cynical in profiting from their extensive trade with Iran. So far, the transatlantic rift over Iran seems even deeper than it was over Iraq. While some in Washington flirt with regime change, France last week closed down the Iranian opposition, arresting more than 150 members of the Mujahedine Khalq (MEK). French officials insist the arrests - which prompted a wave of protesters outside French embassies, including some who set themselves on fire - were the result of a judicial crackdown on terrorists. But some European diplomats believe Paris was cozying up to the ayatollahs and undermining the students in Tehran. "The timing was entirely suspect," says one.
Support their struggle how? Waging war with Iran? Invading Iran to depose the regime? You keep calling for support but what kind of support do you mean, exactly?
Never mind fighting for democracy. Could the average voter at least be informed? When the poll numbers for Al Gore go up eighteen points because he french-kisses his wife onstage at the nominating convention, you know something is wrong with the depth of knowledge inherent within the mind of many American voters.
Good Question!
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