Opinion
A sober analysis of Iran
Trita Parsi
Published: 14.10.07, 12:20
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1. A sober analysis from Atilla Karagözoğlu
(10.14.07)
you are worrying too much about Iran ! Yes you are :) we are not ! you know why ? NO CLOUD FOR NOTHING ! anyway ! THERE WILL BE MANY MANY IRANS IN FUTURE even for Iran ! lets see if you get the point :) love Atilla Karagözoğlu
2. of course you focus on the "radicals" who fully control iran
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (10.14.07)
the so-called "pragmatists" of iran are going to continue to do nothing as the mullah-driven crazies carry out their agenda. sure, the "dangerous rhetoric" is there, but it is practically unchallenged and unopposed. why ignore it? war with iran is almost here precisely because the so-called iranian "pragmatists" are nowhere to be seen or heard. they give absolutely no hint that they can, or will, be able to do anything about the problems. what have they done so far? anything at all? because of that, we must take the "dangerous rhetoric" at face value. and since they can't/won't deal with it, somebody else must.
3. Iran won
John ,   London,UK   (10.14.07)
Iran made Israel look the bad guy. Iran showed in New York that it has no problem with US or anyone else. It has only problem with Israel. Iranian leader made his case and protestors only added to his argument. There was no one to rebut President Ahmadinejad's argument against existence of Israel and against holoaust. If you read some of the high end US papers you will see that none of them give proper replies to Iran. They seem scared. Hence, a lot of Americans are now beginning to think deeply about what he told them in their own city. I think its time Israel to stop crying like a baby and actually begin to address the issues raised by Iran.
4. Thw monkey is actually a scarecrow
Obama ,   Washington DC   (10.14.07)
http://www.iran-press-service.com/ips/articles-2007/august-2007/ahmadi_puppet_30807.shtml
5. TO THE RESCUE OF DR.........................
MAHMOOD ,   LONDON-UK   (10.14.07)
Dear DR,........................would very much invite your attention to the first para of this article..................didn't I point it out to you earlier?wasn't I right?Scored a point,fellow!!!!Now, let the US media cary on analyising it further to your detriment,DR.
6. Another search for nonexistent moderates.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (10.14.07)
Sorry, all the moderates are living in exile, mostly in California, or sitting in Iranian prisons (those who aren't dead). The people who govern Iran have the same goals & ideology - only some of their tactics are different. Most would not announce their intentions as does Ahmadinejad but that does not make them moderate. The nuclear program must be destroyed by military action & the regime eliminated. Everything else is a distraction or an excuse to do nothing.
7. Sure, Nothing to Worry About...
David Samson ,   Toronto, Canada   (10.14.07)
It may be true all the big policy makers are onside for the "destroy the jews" policy. It may be that the supreme leader is also a jew-hating, holocaust denying religious fanatic. It may be true that they are pursuing nuclear weapons, and have their fanatical, well armed proxies surrounding Israel. But don't worry - some bit players over there have been quiet. Yeah, great analysis.
8. Iran's pragmatic voices in the gov?
Ehud   (10.14.07)
"Iran opposes Israel d/t a perception that the Jewish state seeks Iran's prolonged isolation...?" "...imaginary Islamic bloc"? The only thing imaginary here are "Iran's pragmatists" An article full of BS
9. It's a misleading analysis
eh-oop ,   UK   (10.14.07)
Like the Iranian leadership, Trita Parsi tries to make the facts fit her views rather than the other way round. The TV series she refers to reflects and does not contradict Ahmadinejad's propaganda. It shows "Zionist" action resulting in the death of a non-Zionist Jew. There is no contradiction between its content and that of Ahmadinejad's Holocaust rhetoric, which, posing as a proper academic point of view, questions the Holocaust, questions the number of victims and attributes to it the Palestinians' situation - without actually denying it outright. Let's take one of Parsi's shining examples of countervailing power within Iran. Mottaki at the UN has accused Israel of state terrorism and crimes against humanity. Speaking to European MPs, he has defended Holocaust denial as a matter of freedom of expression and agreed with Ahmadinejad in blaming it for the Palestinians' situation. Beware.
10. Next we'll hear the Iranians were Ahmadinejad's 1st victims
David ,   Montreal, Canada   (10.14.07)
Same bizarre, self-delusional arguments that were heard in the 30's about Hitler and his nazi thugs (y'mach shemam v'zichronam). Both mamzerim have publicly stated their aims to destroy jews, their homes, and their dreams. We know how it came out in one case. Do you really want to repeat the experiment?
11. #9, Dr Parsi is a man
Danny   (10.14.07)
12. Trita Parsi, Iranian agitprop
Vorax ,   UK   (10.14.07)
..article is quite clear delibearte diversion, written for future dhimmis' consumption. Just look at the title of the book, below. It is not so innocent, the more people here take this conspiracy BS and tales about "not dangerous" mullas seriously, the weaker the position of the West. "..The contradiction between Ahmadinejad’s Holocaust rhetoric and the Iranian TV-drama .." - message is, Jews can only survive under "protection" of Iranian sharia, i.e. getting some rank in Persian slave barn. No word about Iranian proxy war by Hizbulla/Hamas, no word about terror. This way Ynet is used to spread anti-Semitic propaganda. Unbelievable.
13. Our Putin does not believe Ahmadinejad only
Damir ,   Russia   (10.14.07)
There are powers within Iran, different powers. Due to Iran specific not any is heard. But they are in action. Russian government surely uses various sources of information on that country, not the loudest only. I am under impression that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plays a part of eye-poker to Israel and USA. And definitely has success. By the way, I can't recall any Iranian terrorists on Russian soil. Still we have had a bunch of Saudis and Jordanians. Some of them had to be poisoned by FSB. I think their Shia was ever treated as foreign by our Muslims.
14. Alas, alas
Cameron ,   USA   (10.14.07)
This game of brinksmanship the Persian mullahs are playing is going to have a bad conclusion for everyone on the planet. The US and Israelis are going to be forced, inevitably, to go after Iran like a thunderbolt simply to ensure their own safety. You can feel & smell it coming. The sand in the hour-glass is almost gone, and then we shall all see what goes down. Real sorry to see affairs reach this point.
15. To John #3. Iran LOST.
Maansingh ,   The Netherlands   (10.14.07)
You say :"Iran ... has no problem with USA ...". WELL, the sectarian violence in Iraq is being aided and abetted by Iran's Revolutionary Guard's section named Quds. AND you say that "Iran has no problem with America " -- what news channel have you been watching the last years. Al-Jazeera ? The Sunnis and Shiites are killing each other in Iraq at the rate of 2,000 killings per month, from January 2007 till August 2007 -- being aided and abetted by Iran. BTW the President of Colombia University in his introductory speech posted SOME questions to President Ahmadinejad -- none of which were answered by him -- and thus, Iran lost. AGAIN, when the audience at the CU asked those SAME questions to Ahmadinejad, he again stood there smiling like a peasant having toothache -- not answering those questions -- so, clearly Iran LOST.
16. the other shoe
tom ,   toronto, canada   (10.14.07)
1) if there are "moderates" in iran, then it is not unreasonable to depose this regime, and help them take control. 2) the "fanatics" do not need popular support to start a war, especially if they don't intend to win. hezbollah didn't need the support of the majority of lebanese, either. the jihadists' logic is: whether they kill israelis or die trying, allah will be pleased. and if they destroy the world in the process, the mehdi will give them another one. and all indications are that khameini and ahmadinejad (and lots of others in the ruling council) are firm believers in the imminent arrival of the mehdi. 3) israel's attempts, in the 1980s, "to get iran and the americans to talk", were also known as the "iran-contra scandal". that was where the reagan administration illegally sold millions of dollars of advanced american missiles to iran in order to finance an illegal war against nicaragua. not only did it not benefit israel, but reagan tried to lay the blame for it on israel. and this was "good israeli policy"?!?!?!? as another talkback has said, the facts don't support this thesis.
17. Here is the sobering truth: The monkey is of his father
the Devil.Period. ,   CB Israel.   (10.14.07)
18. Parsi's assessment
Brod ,   USA   (10.14.07)
Focusing on Iran is not a loss to the West. It is a necessity in view of the fact that Iran, unlike other countries, has threatened to wipe out israel. And presently, they are feverishly working on their nukes to accomplish their evil goal. What is more significant is that Iran is a fanatical Islamist-Jihadist state and is one of the two main sponsors of Islamist-Jihadist terrorist organizations in the region and the world. Iran's threat should not be taken lightly. The past decade it has been arming itself with missiles and other high tech weaponry. Hence, focusing on Iran means being prepared to defend the nation from Iran's tentacles, ballistics and nukes.
19. BottomLine:: Ahmadinejad not only stupid but an idiot too!!
KMR ,   Middle East   (10.14.07)
20. So why is Ahmadinejad allowed to speak like he does ?
redmiike ,   tel aviv and london   (10.14.07)
We continually hear that the Ayatollahs are in control so why is Ahmadinejad to be a 'firebrand' if he doesn't represent them. Sounds very dubious to me.
21. Trita Parsi
Phyllis K. ,   Pheonix, Arizona   (10.14.07)
It is well-known in Washington, D.C. that Mr. Parsi is a lobbyist for the Iranian government and should have been identified as such.
22. To Mike: Right On
Dave Levy ,   Burbank. CAUSA   (10.15.07)
There is an old saying, you expect the worst and hope for the best. When I see tens of thousands parade in Iran shouting death to the US and to Israel, with Shihab Missiles and jackbooted soldiers, what should I think, these guys are boy scouts? The mad Ahmad is just emulating the rulers of Iran for decades. "Next year in Jerusalem" means just that, why deny the reality? Some say the Columbia incident was insulting. I say, Ahmad is both insulting, AND dangerous. He should never have been allowed to speak, and been arrested the moment he left the airport. If someday, the moderates and reformers gain control, fine. In the meantime, one's survival cannot depend upon wishful thinking. Ahmad is the real Iran. Holocaust movies on TV do not govern thinking. Iran is not manufacturing enriched uranium at billions of dollars for pleasure. They want to control the M.E...and marginalize Israel, one way or another. He tweeked our (Jewish) nose, and we tweeked him back. Good, I say. He should know how millions of US feel about him and his policies. Had Hitler been invited in 1939, I hope his fate would have been sealed then.
23. Mahmood, you are funny!!
DR ,   Florida, USA   (10.15.07)
You choose one article that backs your point and are elated/ Why don't I pick one oout of the hundreds of articles from all over the world that contradict everything the author (whom i assume is Persian) says here. iran does have many problems with the US and with Israel. As long as they don't recognoize Israel's right to exist in Israel, don't stop working on uclar weapons etc etc, then there is a big problem.
24. Moderates?
Susan ,   Philadelphia, USA   (10.15.07)
Yes, let's focus on the "moderates" like Rafanjani who recently said that the Holocaust happened and it was a good thing because it rescued Europe from the Zionists which in this case means all Jews.
25. Germany had some very high up moderates, but look at how the
Stewart ,   USA   (10.15.07)
Nazi's took over the country.
26. 3 & 5 thats why in the opening of irans parilment they chant
jack bauer ,   laughing at you   (10.15.07)
Death to America Death to Israel? the great satan and the little satan!! lmao you guys (3&5) need to start taking your medication again.....I thought your DR told you to make sure you dont stop taking it......you will start being delusional again!
27. the brits arrested pinochet, why not arrest achmadisjad?
J B allupinyourgrill ,   slappinallyouhoes   (10.15.07)
28. AM I? OR, ARE YOU,DR?..#23
MAHMOOD ,   LONDON-UK   (10.15.07)
DR,I have not chosen this article only.These are only few of the examples you need to understand.Which now brings me to a good conclusion...................you hardly read anything.Anyway,you are totally mistaken if you believe what you write in your last para.Trust me,totally mistaken.
29. 28 - why should anybody trust you?
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (10.15.07)
you don't explain yourself, speak in cryptic terms, act like you know things everyone else doesn't, but you don't prove you know anything more than the rest of us. and all you have to offer is "trust me". that's it? give us a reason to believe you what you say. until then, no thanks.
30. denial
zichron   (10.15.07)
iran will never be able to deny that the palestinians from 1882 murdered jews returning to their promised land when there was more than enough room for both peoples .
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