Congressman Brad Sherman Hosts Reza Pahlavi of Iran

Payvand ^ | 4/07/03 | Payvand

[freedom44]

Washington, DC] -- Congressman Brad Sherman, a senior member of the House International Relations Committee, hosted Iranian opposition leader, Reza Pahlavi of Iran, for a discussion on Capitol Hill with members of Congress and staff. Sherman and Pahlavi focused on ways the United States could encourage a free and secular democratic future for the people of Iran.

"The people of Iran are good people with a rich cultural history, but they are suffocating under a repressive regime that supports terrorism," said Sherman. "The United States needs to lead civilized nations in an organized effort against the clerical regime, for the benefit of human rights, as well as bringing an end to the regime's pursuit of nuclear weapons, and its support of terrorism. We also need to take a strong moral stand in our support of the Iranian people who are yearning to be free."

"The winds of change are gaining strength in my homeland," said Pahlavi. "My compatriots have today reached a critical cross road, sensing that their quest for secularism and democracy is within reach. The clerical regime's end is inevitable and will come in no other way than by means of a nonviolent civil disobedience campaign at the hands of Iranian people themselves. In our national pursuit of liberty, we demand and deserve nothing less than what the free world holds dear and guarantees for its citizens."

The State Department has consistently named Iran as the number one state sponsor of terrorism. In fact, Tehran's generous support of terror groups surpasses that of Iraq, Sudan, and Syria.

Sherman is particularly concerned about Iran obtaining nuclear weapons and he has been a lead advocate of a tough line against the clerical regime in Iran and countries that invest in Iran. In particular, he plans to introduce legislation to reduce US funding to the World Bank if it proceeds with new loans to Iran.

Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran, leads a campaign of political defiance against Iran's clerical regime. An accomplished fighter pilot, and a graduate of USC in political science, he currently resides in the United States.

[freedom44]

on or off iran ping

[xJones]

Do Iraqis really want a monarchy back? If so, why? All the Iranians I've ever known (and that's been a lot) hated the late Shah and his Savak.

[freedom44]

I dont think Iraqis want the monarchy back.

But Iranians like Reza Pahlavi because he doesn't wantt o bring a dictatorship like his fathers regime.

He wants to install a constitutional monarchy similar to Spain, England and Japan.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

He wants to install a constitutional monarchy similar to Spain, England and Japan

You mean that old line Monarchy that extends back a whole generation?

[xJones]

I dont think Iraqis want the monarchy back.

Whoopsie, repeat after myself: Iraqis are Arabs, Iranians are Persians. Sorry, it's that one different letter ("n" not "q")..... Sorry, :D

[geedee]

I met Reza Pahlavi once when he was taking his flight training at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas in the late 70's. I only talked to him for about five minutes but a friend of mine dated him for a few months. She said he was a fervent George Washington fan. He had high-dollar copies of American historical documents bound in leather binders and read them nightly before he went to bed.

She asked him about his father one time -- this was a year before his father was dethroned. He paused for a long time, then said . . . "If one has to rule at the point of a bayonet, it will eventually be taken away and thrust into your heart. America is the greatest country the world has ever known because she needs no bayonets."

He was a youngster then and, theoretically, still the Iranian "ruler in waiting" . . . that's why I remember his quote so vividly. It was almost as if he knew the end was near . . . and he was right. His father was kicked out of Iran a year later in, I think, 1979.

[dsutah]

From what I've read about this man; I think you're right! There aren't really all that many absolute monarchs left in the world. Most of them are going into a 'constitutional' monarchy now. But whenever we talk about a monarch on this site; we seem to get some 'anti-monarchy' people on here that think there should be no kings or queens anywhere.

In our country, we've had a republic. And that's suited us just fine for 230 years. Most of us wouldn't have it any other way. Republics will work with a lot of dedicated effort. But some only lead to tyranny.

Our country, with all of it's warts; is an excellent example of what a 'good', or 'constitutional' republic should look like. Not perfect, not the only one, but a very good example of a successful one. But in the case of many countries; they actually seem to thrive with a "Constitutional Monarchy". They might've had a republic of some sort. But unfortunately, those turned into a dictatorship!

I read in "John Adams" somewhere; where he said (not quote) that although he found a republic to be the best, the people should decide the type of goverment they want, whatever it was. I think that the citizens of a country should be free to decide what goverment they want, even if it's not what we have, or would want for them. But, they should be free to decide for themselves; not to have one imposed on them!

[BfloGuy]

Jimmy Carter orchestrated the downfall of the Shah and the accession to power of the Ayatollahs.

Call me simplistic, but if Carter wanted him out, I wager he should've stayed.

[Valin]

She said he was a fervent George Washington fan

A person could do a whole lot worse in the choice of role models.