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AIC-Another Iran & American politicians link

 
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ViaDrEtebar



Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 91

PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 11:38 am    Post subject: AIC-Another Iran & American politicians link Reply with quote

http://www.american-iranian.org/

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-34,GGLG:en&q=AIC%2CIran



THE TRUTH ABOUT IRAN

By Kenneth R. Timmerman *

http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles_2002/Mar_2002/khalilzad_iran_17302.htm

WASHINGTON 17 Mar. (IPS) A top advisor to President Bush for Afghanistan told the American-Iranian Council (AIC), a pro-Iranian government lobby, that Iran is sheltering "Al Qa’eda" terrorists and continues to support other international terrorist groups, despite explicit U.S. requests to stop.

Afghan-born Zalmay Khalilzad, who recently returned from his native Afghanistan, delivered a blistering condemnation of the Iranian regime in a speech Wednesday night to the group in Washington DC that clearly had been hoping to hear a different message.

The AIC claimed that major U.S. corporations, including Chevron Texaco, CONOCO, and Exxon Mobil were "co-sponsors" of the one-day conference, but most of the hundred-odd participants gathering at the U.S. Chamber of commerce were Iranian.

"We had hoped that after the 11 September attacks, the Iranian regime would end its support for terrorists", Mr. Khaliazad said. "But Iran did not stop its support for terror. Indeed, the hard-line elements of the Iranian regime facilitated the movement of Al-Qa’eda terrorists escaping from Afghanistan".

For months, Iran was insisting that American allegations that members of the Al-Qa’eda and the defeated Taleban are in Iran are "baseless" and "undocumented".

But after Mr. Khalilzad disclosed that he had passed on information to Iranian diplomats, an unidentified "intelligence" source suddenly appeared at the leader-controlled television to confirm that at least 150 Arabs, Afghans and some Europeans suspected to be members of Al-Qa’eda and Taleban had been detained at Iran-Pakistan borders.

Washington also accuses Iran to send professional saboteurs, money and weapons to local Afghan commanders in the Western province of Heart in order to destabilise the interim government of Mr. Hamed Karzai.

Mr. Khaliazad warned that the Iranian regime was "aggressively pursuing" nuclear, chemical, biological and ballistic missile programs, which coupled to Iran's support for terrorism, created "a threatening mix".

"It is a particularly dangerous prospect for an Iranian government, not accountable to the Iranian people and supporting terrorists, to acquire nuclear weapons", he added.

Blasting the Islamic Republic for its human rights abuses and repression of women, the American Envoy assured that America "will stand beside all people, – including Iranians – who seek a freer future".

"Nearly 65% of Iran's population is under 25. This group has been the driving force for change. But the voices and protests of Iran's young people have been repressed – at times violently", Mr. Khalilzad further noted.

But Khaliazad pointed out that the Iranian government has chosen "not to engage the United States in a dialogue free of preconditions."

The Iranian government and major U.S. corporations seeking to remove U.S. trade sanctions on Iran finance the American-Iranian Council jointly. The group, which is chaired by Dr. Hooshang Amirahmadi, regularly calls for a "dialogue" between the U.S. and the clerical regime in Tehran, with the clear suggestion that the roadblocks to dialogue are in Washington.

It was at this one-day conference that Senator Joseph Biden (D, DE) suggested a meeting between Iranian and American lawmakers.

"If there is any problem for them to come to Washington, we can meet somewhere else", the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee added.

The proposal split both conservative and reformist camps in the Iranian leadership in groups favouring or rejecting the invitation, as it was formulated after President George W. Bush characterised the Islamic Republic as an "evil State", alongside Iraq and North Korea.

"I believe than an improved relationship with Iran is in the naked self-interest of the United States of America", Mr. Biden told the gathering.

However, he also criticised the regime for its support of terrorism and human rights abuses, stating: "we are squarely with the Iranian people in their desire for a democratic government and a democratic society".

The senator was strongly criticised by Iranian-Americans for attending a fund-raiser held by members of the AIC and another pro-Tehran lobbying group in California last month, according to well informed sources.

Also addressing the group was Senator Robert Torricelli (D, NJ), who until recently has been an outspoken supporter of the outlawed Iranian Mojaheedin Khalq Organisation, an Islamic Marxist group that is based in Baghdad and supported by Saddam Hussein.

Senator Chuck Hagel (R, NE) gave a rambling keynote speech emphasizing the need for opening trade with Iran. When asked by Insight if he realised that the AIC was a pro-Tehran lobbying group, Hagel said "Hmpf" and walked off without further comment. ENDS KHALILZAD ON IRAN 17302

* Kenneth R. Timmerman is a senior writer at Insight and other leading American publications, specialising in the Middle East and Iranian affairs.

AIC, Exposed and Withdrawn!



http://mehr.org/AIC_CIRA.htm



Due to the widespread protest by the Iranians residing in the US, the California State University, Northridge withdrew the American Iranian Council (AIC) as the CIRA conference co-sponsor. Overwhelmed by the magnitude of the protest and numerous phone calls and e-mails, a university representative met with the political and human rights activists in LA. The arguments made and the documents presented regarding the AIC lobbying activities for a terrorist regime were instrumental in removal of the AIC.



The following letter and documents regarding AIC were forwarded by MEHR to the University President .

_________________________________________



3/25/03



Honorable Jolene Koester, President

University Hall, Room 200

18111 Nordhoff Street

Northridge, CA 91330-8230



Dear President Koester,

We are writing to you to express our concerns about the disturbing news that California State University, Northridge is hosting a conference sponsored by the Iranian American Council (AIC) on 3/28/03.


The AIC is a known lobby group for the Islamic Republic of Iran and has been an advocate of unconditional relations with that regime, a terrorist regime that has tormented the Iranian people and the whole world since its inception. The IRI has been recognized as the most active terrorist regime in the world and is on the top of the terrorist list of the US State Department. Although the US Anti terrorism Act prohibits any aid to and
association with terrorists, the AIC has made use of every possible outlet to promote its agenda.



The AIC has the full support and backing of many financial institutions who will profit from such ventures. The AIC's goals go beyond academic, social, or cultural interests. As a group of scholars and human rights activists, we at MEHR encourage and promote cultural, academic, political, and social exchange with scholars from diverse backgrounds and ideologies. However, we strongly believe that we should not allow such forum to be manipulated by a lobby group for advancing its' political and economical goals.



AIC’s agenda regarding the unconditional re-establishment of relation with Islamic Regime of Iran, is well known and documented. The 3/29/02 Editorial of Washington Times states partly that:



“ Mounting evidence that Tehran is shielding hundreds of fleeing al Qaeda terrorists and is working to destroy what's left of the Arab-Israeli peace process have made it increasingly difficult to push for "closer" U.S.-Iranian ties with a straight face. Nevertheless, a number of high-powered folks in Washington seem determined to try.


The designated vehicle for their campaign is an organization calling itself the American Iranian Council (AIC). The AIC's board of corporate "sponsors and collaborators" includes prominent oil and gas companies that have been effectively shut out of exploration in Iran as a result of U.S. economic sanctions. “



In another article published by Daily Insight on 4/01/02, Kenneth Timmerman writes:



“The American-Iranian Council is financed by major U.S. corporations seeking to remove U.S. trade sanctions on Iran. The group regularly calls for a "dialogue" between the U.S. and clerical regime in Tehran, with the clear suggestion that the roadblocks to dialogue are in Washington.

…. Biden was strongly criticized by Iranian-Americans for attending a fund-raiser held by members of the AIC and another pro-Tehran lobbying group in California last month, as Insight recently reported.”

AIC itself is not shy in demonstrating its delight to appease the Islamic Regime. AIC’s brochure titled “Identity, Track Record & Growth Plan 2001-2005” contains eight photos of AIC’s members and directors that are happily socializing with the representatives of the Islamic Regime. Some of these photos may be viewed at: http://mehr.org/photos.htm


Economical interests drive the AIC and as such, these are the organization's motives in pursuing the re-establishment of US relations with a terrorist regime. Majorities of the people in charge of the coordination of this conference are known to be in favor of friendly relations with IRI. Many renowned scholars will take part in this conference as a result of their academic pursuits, not realizing how the forum will be manipulated by the
AIC; many others have deliberately stayed away as they did not wish to promote AIC's non-academic goals.

We believe that the academic community should be at the forefront of promoting the human rights values and exposing the human rights violation whenever possible. Unfortunately, the role of the AIC so far, has been to conceal such violations and to rationalize the clerics' actions by falsely portraying a possible change in the behavior of terrorists through making deals with them.



Please do not help them to reach this inhumane goal by misusing the prestige of the California State University and do not allow this conference to be held under AIC’s sponsorship. We would welcome the possibility of any other organization, independent of the Islamic Regime, to sponsor this conference. Several thousands of freedoms loving Iranians/Americans expect you to kindly address their concerns regarding this sensitive issue.



Respectfully,



MEHR Iran



P.O. Box 2037
P.V.P., CA 90274
USA



Tel: 310 - 377 - 4590
Fax: 310 - 377 -3103
E-mail: mehr@mehr.org
URL: http://mehr.org




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Iran and its apologists
House Editorial

Published 3/29/2002

http://mehr.org/AIC_Washington_Times.htm




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mounting evidence that Tehran is shielding hundreds of fleeing al Qaeda terrorists and is working to destroy what's left of the Arab-Israeli peace process have made it increasingly difficult to push for "closer" U.S.-Iranian ties with a straight face. Nevertheless, a number of high-powered folks in Washington seem determined to try.
The designated vehicle for their campaign is an organization calling itself the American Iranian Council (AIC). The AIC's board of corporate "sponsors and collaborators" includes prominent oil and gas companies that have been effectively shut out of exploration in Iran as a result of U.S. economic sanctions. The board includes representatives of energy firms such as ARCO; Ashland Oil Inc.; BP; Chase Manhattan Bank; Chevron; Conoco Inc.; Exxon; Shell, as well as George Soros' Open Society Institute. Its various boards of directors include such luminaries as former Assistant Secretary of State Robert Pelletreau; former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala; Democratic Party bigwig Sargent Shriver; Under secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering, now a vice president with Boeing Corp.; Judith Kipper of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Gary Sick, a former member of Jimmy Carter's National Security Council staff and leading purveyor of the "October Surprise" fraud — the scurrilous charge that Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign plotted to drag out the Iranian hostage crisis to embarrass Mr. Carter. The head of the AIC is a Rutgers University professor named Hooshang Amirahmadi, who suggests that President Bush's characterization of the current Iranian government as part of an "axis of evil" could result in "colossal death and destruction."
On March 13, the AIC held a conference in Washington, which was addressed by Zalmay Khalilzad, a member of President George Bush's National Security Council staff, Sens. Joseph Biden, Robert Torricelli and Chuck Hagel. In his remarks, Mr. Khalilzad delivered a forceful critique of Tehran's support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and its sheltering hundreds of al Qaeda terrorist operatives fleeing from Afghanistan. The speeches by the three senators, however, verged on the surreal at times. Mr. Torricelli (who has come under fire in the past for receiving campaign donations from supporters the Mujahedin-e-Khalq, a radical Iranian opposition group which has been listed by the State Department as a sponsor of terrorism) criticized Mr. Bush's "axis" reference, asserting that this is "not true" and that the president's statement "did not serve American interests." Mr. Hagel, who received an award from the AIC, delivered a rambling speech that, aside from calling for world peace, was remarkably devoid of substance. On June 27, 2001, however, Mr. Hagel, addressing another AIC gathering in Washington, denounced U.S. sanctions against Iran and Libya, asserting that they "isolate us."
Mr. Biden, who in October suggested that the United States might be viewed as a "high-tech bully" in attacking terrorist targets in Afghanistan, this time urged that the Bush administration "acquiesce" to Tehran's demands to join the World Trade Organization. Insight magazine reported several weeks ago that Mr. Biden raised $30,000 at a fund-raiser held Feb. 19 at the home of Dr. Sadegh Namazi -Khah, a Los Angeles activist pushing for a softer U.S. line toward the ruling regime in Tehran; the magazine added that Mr. Biden, in private discussions at that fund-raiser, delivered a sweeping condemnation of Mr. Bush's "axis of evil" remarks.
The central problem with the AIC-Biden-Hagel-Torricelli view of Iran is that it is completely out of touch with reality. On March 18, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is by far the most powerful man in Iran, responded derisively to Mr. Biden's call for closer U.S.-Iranian ties and launched into a lengthy tirade about U.S. "imperialism," slavery and other sins. Earlier this week, the New York Times ran an article showing how last May, Iran and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat formed a new terrorist alliance against Israel — the very one that is carrying out suicide bombings today with such devastating success. So much for Iranian "moderation." Mr. Bush would do well to listen carefully to the advice of Mr. Biden et al. — and do precisely the opposite.

John Kerry's Iranian-American Fund-Raisers
By Kenneth R. Timmerman
http://www.kentimmerman.com/2004_03_01kerry-iran.htm

Among Sen. John Kerry's top fund-raisers are three Iranian-Americans who have been pushing for dramatic changes in U.S. policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Most prominent among them is Hassan Nemazee, 54, an investment banker based in New York. Nominated to become U.S. ambassador to Argentina by President Bill Clinton in 1999, Nemazee eventually withdrew his nomination after a former partner raised allegations of business improprieties.

Nemazee was a major Clinton donor, giving $80,000 to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) during the 1996 election cycle and attending at least one of the famous White House fund-raising coffees.

In 2001, at the invitation of Mobil Oil Chairman Lucio Noto, whom he counts as a "personal friend," Nemazee joined the board of the American-Iranian Council (AIC), a U.S. lobbying group that consistently has supported lifting U.S. sanctions on Iran and accommodating the Tehran regime. Nemazee tells Insight he "now regrets" having joined the AIC board and resigned his position after 12 months when he was vilified by Iranian exile groups.

"I've never, ever given a speech suggesting rapprochement with the regime," Nemazee tells Insight. "Kerry is not calling for a resumption of relations with Iran, nor is he ignoring the regime's human-rights abuses, its ties to terror, or downplaying the nuclear issues. I haven't seen that he's said anything to date that warrants all the concern."

But Nemazee also acknowledged that he was rethinking his position in the wake of the recent parliamentary elections in Iran. "There is a legitimate argument to be made that the regime has crossed a line and shown they are undemocratic and incapable of reforming," he says, "and so there is no benefit to relations or to trading with them."

The Kerry camp has identified Nemazee as having raised more than $100,000 for the senator's campaign.

A Nemazee friend in Silicon Valley, Faraj Aalaei, has raised between $50,000 and $100,000 for the Kerry campaign. Aalaei has worked in the telecommunications industry for 22 years and is the chief executive officer of Centillium Communications, a publicly traded company.

Last year, Aalaei married a 35-year-old recent immigrant from Iran named Susan Akbarpour, whom the Kerry campaign also lists as having raised between $50,000 and $100,000 for the campaign.

In just six years since coming to the United States on a tourist visa from Iran, Akbarpour has started a newspaper, a magazine and, most recently, a trade association whose goal, she tells Insight, is to get sanctions lifted and promote U.S. business and investment in Iran.

"Susan Akbarpour was a journalist in Iran, where she was close to Faezeh Hashemi, the daughter of [former president Ali Akbar] Rafsanjani," says student activist Aryo Pirouznia. "She has done programs on Iranian television praising Faezeh Hashemi, and demonstrated against pro-freedom groups in California when Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi came to Los Angeles in September 2000." Rafsanjani's daughter was a member of the Iranian Parliament until recently. Her faction, while hailed as "reformists" by pro-regime activists, has never pressed for an end to clerical rule and is widely believed to have served as a foil for hard-liners such as Hashemi's own father.

Kharrazi's trip to California was part of a failed Clinton administration effort to renew ties with the Islamic republic. Iranian-American Jewish organizations were outraged by his visit, which followed on the heels of the show trial of 13 Iranian Jews in Shiraz. Akbarpour was filmed by several Los Angeles-based Iranian TV networks insulting the protesters and supporting Kharrazi. In the Persian-language edition of her monthly newspaper, Iran Today, she printed numerous anti-Semitic articles, Iranian Jewish activists tell Insight.

Akbarpour's latest trade effort, SiliconIran, was planning to host a gala at the Ritz Carlton's Laguna Niguel resort in Orange County, Calif., on March 3 as Insight went to press. Among the guests will be fellow Kerry fund-raiser Nemazee.

"I am an actor in U.S. politics," Akbarpour boasted to Insight in an interview. "I am a fund-raiser for all candidates who listen to us and our concerns."

The two candidates Akbarpour said she would "never help" are President George W. Bush and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), because both have taken a no-nonsense approach to the Iranian regime. Federal Election Commission records show that Akbarpour contributed $1,000 to the Kerry committee in June 2002 and another $2,000 in June 2003.

Akbarpour tells Insight she is not a U.S. citizen. "I came here in 1997 as a tourist and changed my status several times. At one point, I had an H-1 visa. Then I got married last year and got my green card." Under federal election laws, permanent residents are allowed to make political campaign contributions. But her June 2002 contribution to the Kerry campaign appears to have been made before she acquired status as a permanent resident.

One immigration lawyer Insight consulted in Los Angeles doubted that Akbarpour could have obtained an H-1 visa, which is reserved for foreign workers sponsored by U.S. companies that need their specialized skills. "At the time, the INS [Immigration and Naturalization Service] was applying a very strict interpretation of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act and was not allowing any hiring of Iranian nationals. And you couldn't convert from a tourist visa to an H-1 visa, especially if the tourist visa had already expired."

Because the United States has no embassy in Tehran, Iranians seeking to visit the United States must travel to Turkey or the United Arab Emirates to apply for a tourist or student visa, then wait several months while a background check is performed.

That experience still rankles Akbarpour, who has put loosening visa requirements for Iranians on the top of her political agenda, along with lifting U.S. sanctions on Iran and getting the U.S. government to open a dialogue with the regime in Tehran. Just by coincidence, those are the top three priorities of the Tehran regime, as well.

"I do believe in getting rid of the clerics," she tells Insight, "but not overnight. That would not lead to stability in Iran. I see this as an evolutionary process."

The FBI opposes loosening visa requirements because the Iranian intelligence ministry (MOIS) has a proven track record of sending intelligence operatives - and even assassins - overseas posing as refugees or legal immigrants. MOIS operatives have murdered Iranian dissidents living overseas, and helped plan and carry out the July 1994 bombing of the Argentine Israeli Mutual Association Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing 86 persons.

But Akbarpour did not think security was a legitimate concern. "I don't think the MOIS is very good. You give too much credit to these people. They're not that intelligent," she says.

Nor does Kerry worry about loosening visa restrictions. "We have to support the idea that someone who is an American citizen has a right to have their family visit them from anywhere in the world," he told Akbarpour at a Jan. 14, 2004, fund-raiser in San Francisco.

Kerry's Iranian Sugar Daddies


By Kenneth R. Timmerman
Insightmag.com | March 2, 2004

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=12411

Among Sen. John Kerry's top fund-raisers are three Iranian-Americans who have been pushing for dramatic changes in U.S. policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Most prominent among them is Hassan Nemazee, 54, an investment banker based in New York. Nominated to become U.S. ambassador to Argentina by President Bill Clinton in 1999, Nemazee eventually withdrew his nomination after a former partner raised allegations of business improprieties.

Nemazee was a major Clinton donor, giving $80,000 to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) during the 1996 election cycle and attending at least one of the famous White House fund-raising coffees.

In 2001, at the invitation of Mobil Oil Chairman Lucio Noto, whom he counts as a "personal friend," Nemazee joined the board of the American-Iranian Council (AIC), a U.S. lobbying group that consistently has supported lifting U.S. sanctions on Iran and accommodating the Tehran regime. Nemazee tells Insight he "now regrets" having joined the AIC board and resigned his position after 12 months when he was vilified by Iranian exile groups.

"I've never, ever given a speech suggesting rapprochement with the regime," Nemazee tells Insight. "Kerry is not calling for a resumption of relations with Iran, nor is he ignoring the regime's human-rights abuses, its ties to terror, or downplaying the nuclear issues. I haven't seen that he's said anything to date that warrants all the concern."

But Nemazee also acknowledged that he was rethinking his position in the wake of the recent parliamentary elections in Iran. "There is a legitimate argument to be made that the regime has crossed a line and shown they are undemocratic and incapable of reforming," he says, "and so there is no benefit to relations or to trading with them."

The Kerry camp has identified Nemazee as having raised more than $100,000 for the senator's campaign.

A Nemazee friend in Silicon Valley, Faraj Aalaei, has raised between $50,000 and $100,000 for the Kerry campaign. Aalaei has worked in the telecommunications industry for 22 years and is the chief executive officer of Centillium Communications, a publicly traded company.

Last year, Aalaei married a 35-year-old recent immigrant from Iran named Susan Akbarpour, whom the Kerry campaign also lists as having raised between $50,000 and $100,000 for the campaign.

In just six years since coming to the United States on a tourist visa from Iran, Akbarpour has started a newspaper, a magazine and, most recently, a trade association whose goal, she tells Insight, is to get sanctions lifted and promote U.S. business and investment in Iran.

"Susan Akbarpour was a journalist in Iran, where she was close to Faezeh Hashemi, the daughter of [former president Ali Akbar] Rafsanjani," says student activist Aryo Pirouznia. "She has done programs on Iranian television praising Faezeh Hashemi, and demonstrated against pro-freedom groups in California when Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi came to Los Angeles in September 2000." Rafsanjani's daughter was a member of the Iranian Parliament until recently. Her faction, while hailed as "reformists" by pro-regime activists, has never pressed for an end to clerical rule and is widely believed to have served as a foil for hard-liners such as Hashemi's own father.

Kharrazi's trip to California was part of a failed Clinton administration effort to renew ties with the Islamic republic. Iranian-American Jewish organizations were outraged by his visit, which followed on the heels of the show trial of 13 Iranian Jews in Shiraz. Akbarpour was filmed by several Los Angeles-based Iranian TV networks insulting the protesters and supporting Kharrazi. In the Persian-language edition of her monthly newspaper, Iran Today, she printed numerous anti-Semitic articles, Iranian Jewish activists tell Insight.

Akbarpour's latest trade effort, SiliconIran, was planning to host a gala at the Ritz Carlton's Laguna Niguel resort in Orange County, Calif., on March 3 as Insight went to press. Among the guests will be fellow Kerry fund-raiser Nemazee.

"I am an actor in U.S. politics," Akbarpour boasted to Insight in an interview. "I am a fund-raiser for all candidates who listen to us and our concerns."

The two candidates Akbarpour said she would "never help" are President George W. Bush and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), because both have taken a no-nonsense approach to the Iranian regime. Federal Election Commission records show that Akbarpour contributed $1,000 to the Kerry committee in June 2002 and another $2,000 in June 2003.

Akbarpour tells Insight she is not a U.S. citizen. "I came here in 1997 as a tourist and changed my status several times. At one point, I had an H-1 visa. Then I got married last year and got my green card." Under federal election laws, permanent residents are allowed to make political campaign contributions. But her June 2002 contribution to the Kerry campaign appears to have been made before she acquired status as a permanent resident.

One immigration lawyer Insight consulted in Los Angeles doubted that Akbarpour could have obtained an H-1 visa, which is reserved for foreign workers sponsored by U.S. companies that need their specialized skills. "At the time, the INS [Immigration and Naturalization Service] was applying a very strict interpretation of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act and was not allowing any hiring of Iranian nationals. And you couldn't convert from a tourist visa to an H-1 visa, especially if the tourist visa had already expired."

Because the United States has no embassy in Tehran, Iranians seeking to visit the United States must travel to Turkey or the United Arab Emirates to apply for a tourist or student visa, then wait several months while a background check is performed.

That experience still rankles Akbarpour, who has put loosening visa requirements for Iranians on the top of her political agenda, along with lifting U.S. sanctions on Iran and getting the U.S. government to open a dialogue with the regime in Tehran. Just by coincidence, those are the top three priorities of the Tehran regime, as well.

"I do believe in getting rid of the clerics," she tells Insight, "but not overnight. That would not lead to stability in Iran. I see this as an evolutionary process."

The FBI opposes loosening visa requirements because the Iranian intelligence ministry (MOIS) has a proven track record of sending intelligence operatives - and even assassins - overseas posing as refugees or legal immigrants. MOIS operatives have murdered Iranian dissidents living overseas, and helped plan and carry out the July 1994 bombing of the Argentine Israeli Mutual Association Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing 86 persons.

But Akbarpour did not think security was a legitimate concern. "I don't think the MOIS is very good. You give too much credit to these people. They're not that intelligent," she says.

Nor does Kerry worry about loosening visa restrictions. "We have to support the idea that someone who is an American citizen has a right to have their family visit them from anywhere in the world," he told Akbarpour at a Jan. 14, 2004, fund-raiser in San Francisco.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From SMCCDI: daneshjoo.org

http://daneshjoo.org/article/publish/article_2399.shtml

Urgent Actions
Protest against the support of the Islamic regime by some of the US policy makers
SMCCDI (Urgent Action)
May 22, 2003

Dear Freedom Lovers,

Once again, the Islamic republic's Lobby group in the US, is organizing events in order to buy time for the bankrupt and collapsing theocratic regime with the desire to influence the US policy in reference to Iran. Three meetings have been scheduled, in Northern and Southern California, and some US policy makers have been invited as guests, by the so-called NIAC, in hope of staging a bogus US Support for these middlemen.

Congressman "Mike Honda", U.S. House of Representatives (CA, 15th District) and "Elaine Alquist", 2004 Candidate for California State Senate are scheduled to take part in these new shams as official speakers, during such critical times when finally, voices have risen from inside the US administration and the Congress in support of the Iranian Secular Movement.

It is noted that the primary organizer and host is non other than the self appointed "National-Iranian Council" (NIAC) which is the new creation of the ignoble and self proclaimed "American Iranian Council" (AIC). NIAC was created following the fiasco the AIC encountered, headed by the corrupt Houshang Amir Ahmadi, and its mediatic collapse. It is noted that NIAC is presumably headed by a so-called Titra Parsi who was on the official Board of Directors of the AIC and has employed one of Khatami's admirers, called Babak Talebi, known for his demagogic comments in the Los Angeles Times, praising the so-called "reformers of the regime" and their incompetent president, as its treasurer. More concerning is that the young Mr. Parsi who has made several trips to Iran is actually employed as the "Foreign Policy Advisor" of Congressman "Robert W. Ney" of Ohio. Mr. Ney who's fluent in Persian, seeks the establishment of formal relations between the US and the Clerical leadership. He's known for having qualified the daughter on an imprisoned Iranian journalist as "crazy" following her formal protest against Ney's controversial relations.

A secondary host is the alleged "Society of Iranian Professionals" (SIP), of N. California, headed by the so-called "Ladan Afrassiabi" who's a promoter of the terrorist regime in Iran and the sister to "Kaveh Afrassiabi", an employee of the Harvard University who's been dismissed by that educational facility and a former candidate in the last Islamic Presidential sham election.

AIC-NIAC and SIP have so far organized several meetings and speeches in order to deceive the US policy makers about the possibility of the Islamic regime, deemed unreformable, to become a Democracy. In their illegitimate task they are helped by Iranian businessmen, mainly based in the Silicon Valley (Home of Mike Honda & Elaine Alquist), who take advantage of the degrading situation in Iran and the predicament of its people, to increase their illegitimate profits by making deals with the regime's plunderers. Moreover, several former US public officials, such as Robert H. Pelletreau are on the Board of Directors of these groups. The likes of Pelletreau, are known to be hired for their lackluster performances while employed by Petroleum companies, such as, Conoco, which itself is targeting the Iranian Oil fields, and appear as one of the main sponsors of the AIC. (See the AIC sponsors on their website located at: ).


Under these Circumstances,

More than ever, you are OBLIGATED to intervene and to denounce such actions at a time that our fellow countrymen are subject to the regime's persistent Repressive measures, such as, Public executions of our brothers and sisters in their daily struggle for freedom.


There are 2 ways you can help in making the world hear the cry of freedom of millions of Iranians, who're calling for liberty and their legitimate and violated rights:

1) By demonstrating in order to protest against such meetings:

a) 1st meeting (N. California): All those who reside in the San Francisco area are invited to gather on Friday May 30th from 06:30 PM in front of the Santa Clara Convention Center, Room 210, located at 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA, 95054. Tel: (408) 748-7000

b) 2nd meeting (N. California): All those who reside in the San Francisco area, are invited to gather on Saturday May 31st from 02:00 PM, in front of the Sheraton Hotel located at 1108 N. Mathilda Ave. in Sunnyvale, CA, 94089.
Tel: (408) 752-8000

c) 3rd meeting (S. california): All those who reside in the Orange County area are invited to gather on Sunday June 1st from 02:00 PM, in front of the Wyndham Hotel Orange County located at 3350 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa, California 92626 (across from South Coast Plaza). Tel: (714) 751-5100


2) All others are invited to contact the following US policymakers and candidates in order to protest against their support of the Islamic regime and its lobbyists. Their constroversial actions are intending to make forget the real aspirations of the Iranian people seeking freedom and secularity as they are insulting the memories of those Americans murdered in Terrorist attacks:

-The Honorable Michael Honda, Congressman at the U.S. House of Representatives (CA, 15th District)
Phone: (202) 225-2631 & (408) 558-8085;
Fax: (202) 225-2699 & (408) 558-8086
E.Mail: mike.honda@mail.house.gov

-The Honorable Elaine Alquist Candidate for California State Legislature.
Phone: (408) 985-4124
Fax: (408) 985-4172
E.Mail: alquist2k@aol.com

- The Honorable Robert W. Ney, Congressman at the U.S. House of Representatives (OH, 18th District)
Phone: (202) 225-6265 & (740)699-2704
Fax: (202) 225-3394 & (740) 699-2769
E.Mail: bobney@mail.house.gov


These speakers MUST UNDERSTAND that NIAC-AIC, SIP and the Islamic republic regime are not representative of the American Iranian Community and nor the Iranian Nation...

They MUST UNDERSTAND that the only way of establishing a relation between the US and Iran is to back its repressed people and to support them in their quest for SECULARITY and DEMOCRACY....

They MUST UNDERSTAND that supporting the Islamic regime's lobby groups is equal to supporting the "Mother of All Terrorists" and trying to make forget the memories of all those killed in terrorist attacks...


It is YOUR conscientious DUTY to ACT.
Acting TODAY is to help the creation of the Free Iran of Tomorrow.

Remember that more than ever, MILLIONS of Iranians are counting on your help to protect them against the conspiracies of the Islamic regime and its agents.

ACT NOW....YOU ARE their only HOPE...."

The "Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran" (SMCCDI)

Hillary Clinton to be Invited for Fundraising by Controversial Iranian Circles
SMCCDI (Information Service)
Mar 10, 2005

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1359911/posts

Circles close to some of the most notorious 'former' Islamic regime's apologists in the U.S. intend to consolidate their position among the highest levels of the U.S. Democratic Party, following the debacle they witnessed with the victory of George W. Bush.

The self-called "Iranian American Political Action Committee" (IAPAC) have some founders and members that were close to the Clinton Administration intend to invite Senator Hillary R. Clinton to a fundraising in Northern California, later this week. It's believed that the group plans to raise around 50 thousand dollars and is looking, also, to increase it's influence and is already betting on the 2008 U.S. presidential elections. read more

IAPAC was initially founded by Hassan Nemazee, Akbar Ghahary and Faraj-Alai who are still its' main contributors.

Nemzaee, who's a close friend of the Clintons was nominated to become the U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, In the same period Nemazee was also sent by the Clinton Administration to the World-Cup Soccer games played in France where U.S. and Iranian teams competed. The role of the Islamic regime in the 1992 bombings of Jewish centers in Buenos Aires still has not been totally determined.

An article published in Forbes Magazine lead the then U.S. Senate to not confirm him. Later becoming a board member of the so-called "American Iranian Council" (AIC), which is headed by the infamous Houshang Amir Ahmadi believed by many Iranians to be the "Broker of Death." Nemazee continues to publicly promote resumption of ties between the U.S. Administration and the Mullah regime.

Through Nemazee the way has been paved for his colleagues to reach the highest levels of the U.S. Demrocratic party. AIC has at its' dark credit the formal apology offered to Iran (meaning the Mullahs) by Madeleine Albright, the then Secretary of State; Sen. Joe Biden's 2000 fundraising at the IMAN Islamist Center in Los Angeles that is headed by Sadegh Nemazikhah who still a AIC Board member; and, various meetings organized between members of the Mullahs' regime like Mehdi Karoubi, and several U.S. lawmakers and members of the Clinton Administration. Senator Biden is well known for having tried to use of his influence within the U.S. Senate's Foreign Relations Committee to push for resumption of ties with the illegitimate Mullahcracy.

Soon afterward, Nemzaee co-founded IAPAC and became one of the main fundraisers for Senator Kerry's Presidential campaign. Despite his claims, he's suspected to have been one of the masterminds behind John Kerry's offer to re-establish ties with the Mullah regime and even to make a nuclear deal, if elected.

Exposed by SMCCDI, Nemazee sued the Movement and its' coordinator for 10-million dollars, in May 2004. Seeking to muffle the SMCCDI, Nemazee's obvious legal maneuvers kind of backfired on him and his colleagues. The SMCCDI and its' coordinator will file a counter suit for damages and it's hoped that he'll be fined by the court for abusing the U.S. legal system.

These cases are still pending in Dallas.


Hiring the services of a money oriented and unscrupulous public relations person named Eleanor Benador, to calm the scandal raised over the affair, Nemazee continues to make anything he is associated look bad. The New York based Benador who sells her services' despite claiming political integrity and benefiting from high profile names of distinguished scholars found on her website - was accused by several prominent journalists of conducting a smear campaign against SMCCDI, just before the Movement's Press Conference held at the National Press Club in Washington DC on October 14, 2004.


In Nemazee's first deposition made under oath in the presence of SMCCDI's defense team in mid-October of last year, he acknowledged hiring Benador and was forced to condemn the Islamic regime for rights abuses and underlined the dangers that it can create for the World.

He must legally make another but more detailed deposition, upon request made by SMCCDI's legal team. Mandatory mediation is to take place on March 15th in Dallas (Texas).

Nemazee recently threatened to sue Jerome Corsi writer of the famous and seven weeks best selling book entitled "Unfit for Command." The book had a major role in the defeat of Senator Kerry's Presidential campaign and Corsi has just finished another book entitled "Atomic Iran" in which he describes some of Nemzaee's activities and links. The new book will be released on March 22nd already pre-sold of over 150 thousand copies.

The second IAPAC co-founder and treasurer is Akbar Ghahary founder of SAFAS Corp. and also a former AIC board member. He's known for having tried to raise fear among Iranians and desperately tried to rally them around Senator Kerry by making suspected paid TV appearances on Channel One TV and Tamasha based in Los Angeles.

He's also suspected of making frequent trips to the UAE, which is considered a key economic door to Iran that has been placed under U.S. embargo.

Despite claiming not having any role in another questionable entity calling itself the "National Iranian American Council" (NIAC), Ghahary is known for having contributed financially to NIAC and at least financing their electoral advertisements. NIAC's leader is Titra Parsi who's also known for having tried to promote Khatami and his corrupt gang both in Sweden and the US, while a board member of the AIC.

In addition to some questionable Iranian financial sources, the group received financial contributions from organizations affiliated to Theresa Heinz Kerry's Tides Foundation and George Soros' s Open Society Institute.

Playing on the nationalistic feelings of young Iranians, NIAC claims not to target U.S.-Iran policy but in reality its' leader still pursues somehow acquiring the legitimization of the Islamic regime.

It, the NIAC, has recently promoted the creation of a Persian Studies at Maryland University where one of its newly Appointed board members. Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak, has become its' director and is seeking 'cultural exchanges'. Another of NIAC's former board members and for a while treasurer, Babak talebi, was also at

Maryland University while it was using the name of the University to promote Khatami. Discovered, he was forced to cease his activities and close the website and illegally using the name of the university.

The third IAPAC co-founder, Faraj Ala-i

who is also co-founder of Centillium Corporation and husband to Susan Akbarpoor who's aliases include Zahra Mashadi., Susan or Zahra Know for some very close ties to members of the Islamic regime and, especially, Hashemi Rafsanjani's daughter. The latter came to the U.S. as a refugee and soon showed her partisanship for the Islamic regime by advocating for an end of U.S. sanctions and even defending the regime's FM who was visiting Los Angeles.

She, Akbarpoor, was exposed at the end of 2004, for her activities and ties by the investigative reporter Kenneth Timmermann. In an article entitled Dirty Moolahs, Akbarpoor/Mashadi activities have been drastically reduced, since the publication of this article. Openly managing and coordinating IAPAC's activities in Northern California, she has chosen to keep a very low profile. She's also the founder of "Silicon Iran" and "Iran Today".

Another controversial IAPAC figure is Gita Kashani who's a former head of the "Society of Iranian Professionals" (SIP) of N. California. Involved in the organization of some very controversial activities, Kashani was one of the main planners of "Technological trips to Iran", by unscrupulous U.S. researchers, scholars and businessmen, and a well known organizer of official exchange seminars in cities, such as, Esfahan.

It's to note that such actions are known to require the collaboration of the highest levels of the Islamic regime's Intelligence and Government, in order to take place.

She has since joined IAPAC and has increased her activities in a different way and which are more adapted to the current sensible circumstances.

The Honorable Clinton's contact references are:
Fax: 202) 228-0282, Phone: (202) 224-4451
E.mail: http://clinton.senate.gov/email_form.html

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



http://www.publiuspundit.com/?p=2151





HILLARY CLINTON TAKES MONEY FROM THE MULLAHS



Hillary Clinton, on her latest rumble and tumble of speeches aimed at the Bush administration, has accused it of downplaying Iran as a threat to national security and has subsequently called for sanctions against the regime. But in the wake of so many lobbying and corruption scandals in Washington, is Hillary playing a game of double standards? According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Clinton has received $5000 in campaign contributions from a PAC called the American Iranian Council, which is known to be against sanctions and in favor of restoring diplomatic and trade relations between America and Iran — something that would only further prop up the regime.

The money was raised from Hassan Nemazee and Faraj Aalaei, with further solicitations to Gati Kashani, all figures linked to AIC and the mullahs. Here is more factual information from John Spencer regarding Clinton’s pandering to this group in exchange for their money.

On its website, the Iranian American PAC noted, “On Friday June 3rd, Iranian American friends of the Hillary Clinton Senate re-election campaign hosted a fundraising event in honor of Senator Clinton. The event took place at the home of Gita and Behzad Kashani in Los Altos Hills, California.”

The PAC favors looser Visa rule for Iranians coming to the United States. The FBI opposes liberalized visas for the terrorist state. But in full pander mode, the PAC reported Clinton attacked United States Visa policy. “Senator Clinton went on to address the audience on topics specifically relevant to the Iranian American community. She discussed immigration and acknowledged the difficulties Iranian nationals have in obtaining visas to visit family members residing in America. ‘Our visa policy is not only unfair but it’s not good for America.’”

Pathetic. If taking on the mullahs is truly your conviction, you shouldn’t be taking money from them. Though skeptical, I had started to get a better image of her on the international stage because of her very in-your-face support of the democratic revolutions sweeping the world this past year. But this seems to prove what we already knew in the first place: it’s all for show.

UPDATE: Jim Hoft investigates further into the AIC’s fundraising activities.

Robert Mayer



http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2006/01/hillary-bashes-bush-while-banking.html



Hillary Bashes Bush While Banking Iranian Donations!
** She Even Held a Fundraiser with Iranians Accused of being Pro-Regime Supporters! **

Robert Mayer at Publius Pundit found this amazing news today...

At one fundraiser Hillary discussed immigration and acknowledged the difficulties Iranian nationals have in obtaining visas to visit family members residing in America. "Our visa policy is not only unfair but it’s not good for America. We’re losing out by keeping out keen minds and ideas, which is having a negative impact on our competitive advantage." (Payvand)

We're also keeping out the Mullah suicide recruits!

Here is a photo of Hillary at a fundraiser on Friday, June 3rd, 2005, at the home of Gita and Behzad Kashani in Los Altos Hills, California. (Payvand)

Senator Clinton accepts money from supporters of Iranian Mullahs

Senator Clinton has accused President Bush of downplaying the threat from Iran while she has been accepting money from supporters of the Iranian regime.

Wealthy businessmen Hassan Nemazee and Faraj Aalaei are associated with the American Iranian Council, a pro-regime anti-sanctions group. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Namazee has contributed $4,000 to Clinton's reelection while Aalaei has given $1,000.

The press describes their lobby this way "the American-Iranian Council [AIC], a pro-regime lobbying group trying to get Congress and the Bush administration to lift the trade embargo on Iran." (Insight, 3/25/04)

Hillary Clinton is also raising money from Gati Kashani, another figure linked with the Mullahs.

On its website, the Iranian American PAC noted, "On Friday June 3rd, Iranian American friends of the Hillary Clinton Senate re-election campaign hosted a fundraising event in honor of Senator Clinton. The event took place at the home of Gita (pictured on the left) and Behzad Kashani in Los Altos Hills, California."

Oh... and Hillary is not the only one... Senator Joseph Biden held a fundraiser at the home of Dr. Namazi-khah. The doctor is well-known in the Los Angeles area for his support of the ruling clerical regime in Tehran and is one of the regime's leading unofficial lobbyists in America.

The event hauled in an estimated 30,000 dollars into Biden's re-election coffers.

Here is more on the Biden event.

John Kerry's Iranian campaign contributor Hassan Nemazee tried to silence the SMCCDI, a pro-democracy Iranian student group.

During the 2004 presidential debates, John Kerry insisted as president he would provide Tehran with the nuclear fuel it wants for a pledge to use it for peaceful purposes only. (How was this forgotten this past week? No wonder JFK has been silent on the latest developments in Iran!)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



by Jim Kouri, CPP

Sen. Hillary Clinton Takes Money from Pro-Regime Iranians

January 20, 2006 10:36 AM EST

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/articles/article.html?id=11672#



Senator Hillary Clinton yesterday accused President George W. Bush of mishandling the threat from Iran while she's been accepting money from supporters of the renegade Iranian regime.

Wealthy businessmen Hassan Nemazee and Faraj Aalaei who are associated with the American Iranian Council, a pro-regime, anti-sanctions group, are vocal Clinton supporters and contributors. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Namazee has contributed $4,000 to Clinton's reelection while Aalaei contributed $1,000.

Insight Magazine, published by the Washington Times, describes their lobby this way: "the American-Iranian Council [AIC], a pro-regime lobbying group [are] trying to get Congress and the Bush administration to lift the trade embargo on Iran."

According to reports in Hillary Clinton's home state, she's also raising money from Gati Kashani, another figure linked with the Iranian Mullahs and who also supports the regime.

On its website, the Iranian American Political Action Committee (PAC) noted, "On Friday, June 3rd [2005], Iranian-American friends of the Hillary Clinton Senate re-election campaign hosted a fundraising event in honor of Senator Clinton. The event took place at the home of Gita and Behzad Kashani in Los Altos Hills, California."

The PAC favors relaxing or eliminating Visa rule for Iranians coming to the United States and believes that Clinton would be helpful in achieving their goals. The Federal Bureau of Investigation opposes such liberalization of the visa process for the terrorist state.

But in full pander mode, the Iranian PAC reported that Clinton attacked United States Visa policy. "Senator Clinton went on to address the audience on topics specifically relevant to the Iranian-American community. She discussed immigration and acknowledged the difficulties Iranian nationals have in obtaining visas to visit family members residing in America. She stated, 'Our visa policy is not only unfair but it's not good for America.'"

During her speech yesterday Senator Clinton attacked the Bush Administration, charging that the US government has wasted precious time in dealing with the looming Iranian nuclear threat.

"I believe that we lost critical time in dealing with Iran because the White House chose to downplay the threats and to outsource the negotiations," Clinton said during a speech at Princeton University, referring to American willingness to allow European powers to handle talks with Teheran.

"We cannot and should not -- must not -- permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons," Clinton added. "In order to prevent that from occurring, we must have more support vigorously and publicly expressed by China and Russia, and we must move as quickly as feasible for sanctions in the United Nations."

This is the exact opposite of what she's said regarding the run up to the Iraq war. Democrat Party bigwigs accused Bush then of not working with our allies -- France, Germany, Russia -- and not allowing the United Nations more time to deal with the Saddam Hussein regime.

According to critics, Senator Clinton's modus operandi is to tell audiences what she believes they wish to hear. Tell Americans to get tough on Iran so as to present herself as tough on national security, then tell Iranians she wants to help them.

At least she did use the "plantation" word which I believe was calculated to bring about controversy as was her latest diatribes against Bush. The release of the Barrett Report brings up questions of her and her husband's own -- excuse the phrase -- culture of corruption.

She's done this before when she criticized the Bush Administration's lack of resolve to stop rampant illegal immigration and to increase border security. However, when a bill went to the senate that would increase funding for border patrol agents and additional detention facilities, she and the senior Senator from New York, Chuck Schumer, voted no.

Then when speaking before a Latino group in California, Hillary told the audience that she would work to get them healthcare and education assistance.

John Spencer, the former Yonkers Mayor and Vietnam combat veteran who will challenge Senator Clinton in November, made the following statement, "Senator Clinton voted against the very munitions necessary to avoid a nuclear confrontation with Iran while at the same time accepting money from supporters of the Iranian Mullahs. Senator Clinton lacks the credibility to keep New York safe and she should return this tainted money."

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he's a staff writer for the New Media Alliance (thenma.org). He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer for TheConservativeVoice.Com. He's also a columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Kerry's Fund-Raiser Worries Advocates Of Iran Democracy

http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1066568/posts
NY Sun ^ | Tue, 27 Jan 2004 | ELI LAKE

Posted on 01/27/2004 9:52:39 PM PST by F14 Pilot

WASHINGTON -- Iranian American supporters of the effort to bring democracy to Iran are raising concerns about the resurgence of Senator Kerry's campaign for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, questioning the role of a Kerry fund-raiser who wants to normalize ties with Tehran.

Hassan Nemazee, an Iranian American financier based in New York, was on the board of the American Iranian Council when that organization arranged for President Clinton's secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, to apologize for America's role in the 1953 coup that brought the Shah to power in Iran.

Kerry’s campaign seemed in disarray after he fired his campaign chief, with last week’s first-place finish in the Iowa caucus, Mr. Kerry has emerged as the front runner in his party’s race to field a challenge to President Bush this November.

In a December 3 address to the Council on Foreign Relations, Mr. Kerry said that if he was president, he “will be prepared early on to explore areas of mutual interest with Iran.”In that same speech he chastised the Bush administration for failing to hand over Iraqi-based insurgents to Tehran in exchange for members of Al Qaeda. “It is incomprehensible and unacceptable that this administration refuses to broker an arrangement with Iran for a mutual crackdown on both terrorist groups,” he told the council.

Mr. Kerry and his fund-raiser have drawn the criticism of many Iranians pushing for America to support Iranian democrats. “Unfortunately Mr. Nemazee is still advising Mr. Kerry,” a spokesman for the Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran,Aryo Pirooznia, told The New York Sun yesterday. “Everyone remembers in the last of year of the Clinton administration when Mr. Nemazee gave a speech at the AIC calling for the removal of all sanctions against the Islamic Republic. We will be asking any Iranian-American of principle to vote for President Bush knowing that Mr. Kerry has recently said that Iran is moving toward democracy.”

Mr. Pirooznia has in the past organized protests against the American Iranian Council, whose board Mr. Nemazee used to sit on. Iran’s hard-line council of guardians yesterday vetoed a proposal from the Parliament that would curb the council’s power to screen candidates for the legislature. Earlier this month, the council barred thousands of “reformer” candidates from running in next month’s elections for that body.

Mr. Nemazee, who did not return three phone calls yesterday from the Sun, helped form the Iranian American Political Action Committee in 2002. That organization says it does not take a position on Iran’s relations with America. Its Web site says, “We have seen time and again that as soon as foreign policy issues are raised, great divisions appear within the community.” The PAC focuses primarily on civil liberties issues affecting Iranian-Americans and on loosening barriers for Iranian citizens who want to get visas to visit America.

In 1999, President Clinton nominated Mr. Nemazee to be his ambassador to Argentina.The Senate Foreign Relations Committee blocked his confirmation after Forbes magazine ran a story critical of many of his business relationships. Inside the Iranian-American community, Mr. Nemazee has a reputation for supporting the opening of trade relations with Iran.

“This is not personal, just a political difference of opinion, but Mr. Nemazee is in favor of dialogue with moderates, as far as I have observed,” a friend of the Nemazee family and an Iranian democracy activist, Shahla Samii, told the Sun. “I have been in contact with many in the younger generation. Many of the people I have contacted and most of them within Iran and outside the country do not want America to normalize ties with the Islamic Republic.”

Another activist in New York, Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi,told the Sun Mr.Nemazee “is promoting a certain kind of relationship between the American government and the Islamic Republic that is completely inappropriate. He seems to put his money in places where he supports candidates who basically are not interested in confronting a government that is becoming armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons and that has admitted to holding major members of Al Qaeda.”

Mr. Kerry voted in July of 2001 in favor of renewing the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, which authorizes American sanctions on foreign companies investing in Iran’s oil and gas sectors.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Gary Sick
From SourceWatch
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Gary_Sick

Gary Sick is Adjunct Professor of International Affairs and Acting Director of the Middle East Institute at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University.

"The acting director of the SIPA's Middle East Institute, Professor Gary Sick is a Senior Research Scholar and adjunct professor of international affairs at SIPA.

"He is the author of All Fall Down: America's Tragic Encounter With Iran (Random House, 1985) and October Surprise: America's Hostages in Iran and the Election of Ronald Reagan (Random House/Times Books, 1992).

October Surprise Book Review (http://wjcohen.home.mindspring.com/otherclips/sick.htm).
"Gary Sick received his BA from Kansas University in 1957 and a Master of Science from George Washington University in 1970. In 1973 he earned a PhD from Columbia.

"Professor Sick served on the National Security Council staff under Presidents Gerald R. Ford, James Earl Carter, Jr. and Ronald Reagan. He was the principal White House aide for Iran during the Iranian Revolution and the hostage crisis. Mr. Sick is a captain (ret.) in the U.S. Navy, with service in the Persian Gulf, North Africa and the Mediterranean. He was the deputy director for International Affairs at the Ford Foundation from 1982 to 1987, where he was responsible for programs relating to U.S. foreign policy. He is also a member of the board of Human Rights Watch in New York and chairman of the advisory committee of Human Rights Watch/Middle East.

According to the last internet update (July 16, 2002), Sick is listed as co-chair (http://www.hrw.org/about/info/board.html) with Lisa Anderson of the Middle East Advisory Committee at Human Rights Watch.
"He is the executive director of Gulf/2000 Project, an international research project on political, economic and security developments in the Persian Gulf, being conducted at Columbia University in 1994-95 on behalf of the W. Alton Jones Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Middle East Institute's Gary Sick Says 'Axis of Evil' Label Promotes a Pentagon, Not State Dept., Agenda: Gary Sick, acting director of the Middle East Institute, says the phrase axis of evil, used by President George W. Bush to refer to Iran, Iraq and North Korea, marked an attempt by the Pentagon to put the issue of nuclear non-proliferation back on the public agenda. The administration views the three nations as potential proliferators of nuclear weapons." Quote published April 4, 2002 (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/vforum/02/us_iran/).


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following was extracted from the archived article Gary Sick & "Gulf 2000". Masquerading in Academia (http://www.middleeast.org/archives/lie.htm) published online by Mid-East Realities (http://www.middleeast.org) (MER):

"Masquerading as an academic (now associated with Columbia Univ.), Gary Sick has always maintained his government, military and CIA ties in one way or another. Sick's involvements go back at least to the James Earl Carter, Jr. Administration when he was one of the major operatives attempting to prevent and then overturn the Iranian revolution."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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AmirN



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PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 2:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you, Dr Etebar, for this very informative post.
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