Home >> Middle East >> Iran

     Email   Print 

The Iranian People Are Not Alone

Prof. Kazem Kazerounian - 1/17/2012

The struggle of the Iranian people against the tyranny of the religious fundamentalist rulers of Iran is more than three decades old. The reign of ayatollahs have left more than 120,000 executed, and one million killed or wounded in the pointless, avoidable and tragic war with Iraq.

Torture of political prisoners , child execution, suppression of views not in full agreement with the government, eradication of personal freedoms, and export of terror and Islamic revolution became dominant tools of governing for the ayatollahs. Most of the one trillion dollar (that is $1000 billion) of Iran’s income from oil over 30 years has found its way to terror groups globally, Iran’s nuclear weapon enterprise, IADs killing American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, or Ayatollahs’ private accounts or businesses. Poverty, drug abuse and prostitution (led by government affiliated cartels) is prevalent. Words cannot describe the misery of the Iranians under the current regime. Has the world heard the cry of the Iranian people?

Five US administrations (Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush senior, Clinton, Bush junior and now Obama), along with their European counterparts, over a span of three decades, have followed a path of confusion, illusion and lack of a cohesive policy against Iran. Despite what the proponents of the engagement and appeasement policy with Iran tell you, all of these administrations have negotiated with ruling mullahs and offered carrots by the tons. The results have been embarrassment of the US administrations on one hand and emboldened theocratic dictators in Tehran and their terrorist proxies in the region on the other hand.

Peak of the illusive dream of finding moderate ayatollahs was during the tenure of Mohammad Khatami-President of Iran for two terms from August 2, 1997. Khatami masterfully portrayed his presidential agenda as one of reform, freedom of speech, tolerance, civil society, and constructive diplomacy. World now knows how much nonsense was all that. Within 3 months after Khatami took power, in an apparent move to appease Iran’s government, the US State Department tagged the Iran’s main opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

The result was a huge smile on Ayatollahs’ face. But beyond that no sign of moderation in Tehran - not the slightest evidence that Tehran’s beasts became more civilized or developed a love for peace in the region. No sign that they cut down on their terrorist activities. On the contrary, by inhibiting their main adversaries, Ayatollah’s hands were left open to suppress the students in the universities, the workers in the factories, the teachers in the schools, and the young on the streets. The unjustified listing paved the way for the theocratic dictators and their Iraqi proxies to repeatedly attach Camp Ashraf, where more than 3,400 members of MEK reside, inflicting casualties on unarmed civilians, a crime against humanity.

The FTO listing was an assault, not only on MEK, but also any other group or individual who opposes the mullahs. The message of the FTO listing is that if any opposition group becomes strong enough that mullahs find it a serious threat, we will find a way to stop it.

However, the Iranian people are not alone in their struggle against the ruling regime. On one side, there areTehran’s Mullahs and their band of lobbyists, advocates and those who benefit from Mullahs continuing economic corruption. On the other side, are renowned experts, lawyers, judges, professors, scientists, European government officials, European high courts, American high ranking officials, American Representatives and European Parliamentarians and above all , the Iranian people.



I have had the distinct honor of being able to personally meet and discuss these issues with many of these American officials, Congress members and Senators. These are men and women with profound knowledge and experience, who have served the United States with integrity and diligence. They are unanimous in asking US administration for a strong stance against the Iranian theocratic government, in asking for delisting the Iran’s main opposition group MEK, and in honoring the US commitment in protection of the unarmed Iranian dissidents in Camp Ashraf from the terror of the Iranian regime and its proxies. These honorable men and women include:



* General James Jones, U.S.M.C. (ret.), Former National Security Advisor to President Obama and Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

* Governor Howard Dean, Former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Governor of Vermont.

* Rudi Giuliani, Former Mayor of New York, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

* Tom Ridge, Former Secretary of Homeland Security, Governor of Pennsylvania, and U.S. Representative.

* Andrew Card, Former White House Chief of Staff, Secretary of Transportation.

* General Wesley Clark, U.S. Army (ret.), Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

* Louis Freeh, Former Director of the F.B.I., U.S. District Judge.

* Lee Hamilton, Former Vice-Chair of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

* Michael Mukasey, Former Attorney General of the United States and Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York:

* Gen. Hugh Shelton, U.S. Army (ret.), Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

* Ambassador John Bolton, Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

* Porter Goss, Former Director of the CIA.

* Ambassador Bill Richardson, Former Governor of New Mexico, Secretary of Energy, Ambassador to the United Nations, and U.S. Representative.

* Ambassador Dell Dailey, Former Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Department of State.

* James Woolsey, Former Director of Central Intelligence.

* General Richard Myers, U.S.A.F. (ret.), Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

* Patrick Kennedy, Former United States Representative, Chairman of the DCCC:

* General Peter Pace, U.S.M.C. (ret.), Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

* General James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps (2006-2010).

* Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat, Former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union.

* Robert Torricelli, Former U.S. Senator from New Jersey.

* Ambassador Mitchell Reiss, Former Director of Policy and Planning, U.S. Dept. of State and Member of the National Security Council.

* Frances Townsend, Former Homeland Security Advisor to President Bush.

* Ed Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania (2003-2011).

* John Sano, former Deputy Director of CIA for National Clandestine Service.

* General Anthony Zinni, U.S.M.C. (ret.), Former Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Central Command.

* Dr. Philip Zelikow, Former Executive Director of the 9/11 Commission, Counselor of the States Department.

* General David Phillips, U.S. Military Police Commander (2008-2011).



You can find a selection of their recent speeches and positions on these issues on (www.delistmek.com). These officials are joined by the numerous members of the US congress in their resolutions. Some of the recent House Resolutions are:



* H.RES. 60, 112th CONGRESS, 1st Session

* H. RES. 704, 111th CONGRESS, 1st Session

* H. RES. 1431, 111th CONGRESS, 2d Session

* H. RES. 231, 112th CONGRESS, 1st Session

* H. RES. 231, 112th CONGRESS, 1st Session



Despite the customary confusion in the five past and current US administrations, and the resulting policy of appeasement and bending against Tehran’s rulers, the Iranian people and their legitimate democratic opposition led by MEK, are fortunate to have the US Congress, and such a prestigious list of American high ranking officials with diverse political views on their side.