Ron Paul: An Opening to Iran?

FYI - From Dr. Ron Paul/The Ron Paul Institute.

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-ADY "A Regular Guy On The Issues"


       

An Opening to Iran?

Sunday October 6, 2013

Last week, for the first time since the 1979 Iranian revolution, the US president spoke with his Iranian counterpart. Their 15 minute telephone call was reported to open the door to further high-level discussions. This is a very important event.

I have been saying for years that we should just talk to the Iranians. After all, we talked to the Soviets when they actually had thousands of nuclear missiles pointed at us! The Iranians have none, according to our own intelligence services. I even suggested a few years ago that we should “offer friendship” to them. Unfortunately, so many so-called experts have a stake in keeping tensions high and pushing us to war. They did not want to hear what I was saying. It seems, though, this is beginning to change now with these recent events.

The phone call was one of the most important moves away from war and conflict in a long time. Taken with the Obama administration’s decision to hold off on bombing Syria, we should be encouraged.

It is also probably a good sign that this phone call has infuriated the neoconservatives at home, the pro-war faction in Israel, and the hard-liners in Iran. Now that a process of negotiation has begun, the chance of war has been significantly reduced. The US is very unlikely to bomb Iran while it is talking with them, and Israel is also unlikely to start a war while the US is at the negotiating table with the Iranian leadership.

But we should also remain very cautious. Obama’s war on Syria was only stopped because the American people finally stood up and said “enough.” The message was received loud and clear and it shocked the neocons pushing war. They were used to being in charge of foreign policy.

In a recent CNN poll, more than 75% of Americans favored negotiations with Iran. This is very good news, but those pushing for war will not give up that easily. Believe it or not, some Members of Congress have recently introduced legislation to authorize war on Iran – even as these first steps toward a peaceful resolution of our differences begin to bear fruit!

So no, they will not give up that easily. There are many in the president’s own Cabinet who do not want to see US/Iranian relations improve. Even the president himself seems unable to avoid provocative statements -- such as his claim that the Iranians are only willing to talk because the sanctions have been so successful in bringing them to the table. That is a false and unnecessary boast, and if he continues in such a way he will destroy what progress has been made.

But we are in the majority now. There are more than three-quarters of us who do not want war on Iran. It is essential that we keep the pressure on the Administration to ignore the war demands in both political parties and among the so-called foreign policy experts. There will be much more war propaganda coming our way as the warmongers get more desperate. Americans must see this propaganda for what it is. They should educate themselves and become familiar with alternative news sources to gain the tools to counter the propaganda. We do have a better chance at peace, but this is no time to let down our guard!

Copyright © 2013, Ron Paul. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted provided full credit is given and a live link provided.  

Restore Our Civil Liberties, No War With Iran - My letter to the President.

FYI - My letter to the President.

-ADY "A Regular Guy On The Issues"

November 14, 2012

The Hon. Barack H. Obama

The White House

1600 Pennslyvania Ave,  NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

Good morning.  I hope this letter finds you doing well.  I want to start off by saying congratulations on your reelection.  I wanted to take some time to write to you concerning a couple of different topics.

First, I will admit, I am a former Democrat, turned left leaning (Small "L" libertarian) independent voter.  I did support you in the previous election, but I could not in good faith this time.  Instead,  I voted for Gov. Gary Johnson.  I thought long and hard about this choice, but in the end, I did so over civil liberties and foreign policy.  

I ask that you please restore America's faith in your administration by restoring our civil liberties.  A good start would be to ask Congress to repeal the Patriot Act or pass S. 1686, the Justice Act, that was originally introduced in 2011 by former Senator Russ Feingold.  Also, ask them to amend the National Defense Authorization Act, striking out the Indefinite Detention clause.  

I am a former U.S. Marine and Iraq War veteran.  I'm still serving, now, as a medic in the Army Reserve.  I say that because I care deeply about defending our great nation, and I know that it can be done while still upholding our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Secondly, I ask that you take a different approach concerning Iran.  Simply, I think that your administration should, as President Kennedy did with the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis, deal directly with the Iranian government. There is really no need for other countries to act as "middle men."  There seems to be a lot of propaganda in the media, and sadly, it looks like we are headed down the same path that we were leading up to war with Iraq.  

In closing, Mr. President, I want to, again, congratulate you on your reelection victory, and thank you for taking the time to read this.  I ask that you consider my suggestions as your new term begins.  Any response is greatly appreciated.

Very respectfully,

Aaron D. Yeargan

Iran To United States/IAEA: Let's make a deal, with conditions.

FYI - From F. Michael Maloof/World News Daily's G-2 Buliten.

-ADY "A Regular Guy On The Issues"

Iran: Let's make a deal, with conditions

WASHINGTON – As negotiations have dragged on over Iran's nuclear program, and the West continues to tighten the sanctions screws, Tehran wants to make a deal.

The Iranians have offered to cap uranium enrichment at five percent and allow the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, to undertake intrusive inspections of its facilities if the West drops its sanctions.

Up to this point, Iran is assessed to have developed the capability to enrich uranium up to 20 percent, which is necessary for medical research. This assessment is backed by the IAEA at this point, although Israel believes Iran will reach a uranium enrichment level for nuclear weapons – 90 percent – within a few months.

The intriguing thing, however, is the red line Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu literally drew on a cartoon of a bomb with a lit fuse at the 90 percent level in his recent speech before the United Nations.

His demonstration either inadvertently or purposely undermined all of his brinkmanship comments over the past several months of an impending Israeli military attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Until now, the Israeli government has claimed that Iran is approaching a "zone of immunity" in which a conventional military attack may not be possible and is looking to destroy Iran's nuclear sites, believing the Islamic republic is using its nuclear program to make nuclear weapons.

However, Iran as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT, and as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, or the IAEA, has a right to undertake uranium enrichment.

Currently, Iran is assessed by the intelligence community at being able to enrich up to 20 percent. Analysts say that to achieve the 90 percent level of weapons grade enrichment requires technology levels which Iran has not yet achieved.

Under the NPT, Iran could make all the components to make a nuclear weapon, but not put together all of those components into a nuclear bomb.

Analysts say that Iran isn't even near the stage of constructing an actual bomb which would have to undergo underground testing to determine its reliability. They add that Iran also lacks yet other technologies needed to then miniaturize a reliable nuclear weapon that could fit on a missile to deliver the weapon. Analysts estimate that Iran is years from such a capability.

Iran contends, however, that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Because of the international concern over Iran's use of its nuclear program to make nuclear weapons, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued fatwas, or religious edicts, against making nuclear weapons. Such fatwas carry the weight of law in the Muslim world.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has stated that Iran is prepared to "institutionalize" Khamenei’s fatwas.

"We are willing to put in place further mechanisms," Salehi recently told the U.S. think-tank Council on Foreign Relations, referring to the five percent cap on enrichment and allowing intrusive IAEA inspections which it hasn't allowed to date.

In exchange, he wants the West to rescind its series of four sanctions it has imposed on the Iranian economy until Iran halts its nuclear enrichment efforts.

By intrusive inspections, the IAEA can enter a facility without first notifying Tehran.

Iran has begun to feel the effects of the sanctions on its economy as the value of its own currency, the rial, has plummeted against the value of the dollar and euro.

If Israel doesn't attack Iran prior to the U.S. elections in November, and if President Barack Obama should win, it gives him more flexibility to work with the Iranians which Israel contends is just buying the Islamic republic more time to develop enrichment up to the 90 percent level.

Ironically, it is the Western nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT, to which Iran is a signatory – but Israel is not – that allows the Islamic republic to enrich up to that level, along with building other components that could comprise a nuclear weapon. The NPT forbids signatories from putting those components together into a workable nuclear weapon.

F. Michael Maloof, staff writer for WND’s G2Bulletin, is a former senior security policy analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He can be contacted at mmaloof@wnd.com.

Iran Hangs Two Convicted Opposition Members

The people of Iran need civil liberties and freedom from their tyrannical government! A Free Iran...Now More Than Ever!

Iran hang 2 convicted opposition members


-ADY "A Regular Guy On The Issues"

Iran To Introduce Cyberwarfare Crack Teams

FYI -

The TelegraphUK - Iran to introduce cyberwarfare crack teams

-ADY "A Regular Guy On The Issues"

Iranian Government Bars Opposition Leaders From Leaving The Country

FYI -

Iranian Government Bars Opposition Leaders From Leaving The Country


-ADY "A Regular Guy On The Issues"

Iranian Woman Sentenced To Death By Stoning Confesses ‘Sin of Adultery’ To Iran TV.

HELP FREE IRAN!

-ADY "A Regular Guy On The Issues"


*From FreedomMessenger.com

Iranian state TV broadcast a statement last night by the woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery, in which she described herself as a “sinner”.

Appearing on TV for the third time since her case caught the world’s attention, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, also accused Mina Ahadi, an activist of the German-based International Committee Against Stoning (Icas), of spreading her story around the world.

The report also broadcast purported statements by two men whose faces were blurred. State TV identified them as Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad Qaderzadeh, 22, and her lawyer, Houtan Kian, both of whom were arrested last month.

Ahadi has highlighted Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case through the committee and has been successful in bringing it to the world’s attention. The broadcast, on Iran‘s Channel 2, portrayed Ahadi as “a communist dissident exiled in Germany”, who had taken advantage of Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case for her own benefit.

Two German journalists arrested on 10 October also “confessed” during the broadcast that they had received orders from Ahadi.

During the programme, Mohammadi Ashtiani reiterated her previous televised “confessions” that she was involved in the murder of her husband. “I am a sinner,” she said.

Her face was blurred and the interview, conducted in her native Azeri language, was subtitled in Farsi. Previously, Iranian officials have tried to distract attention from the sentence of stoning by portraying Mohammadi Ashtiani as a murderer and not mentioning the charge of adultery over which she has been imprisoned since 2006.

The programme said that Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case was promoted around the world by her lawyers, Mohammad Mostafaei, and later Kian, because “they were looking for excuses to claim asylum in western countries”. Mostafaei, Mohammadi Ashtiani’s first lawyer, was arrested and subsequently forced to leave Iran after giving interviews to foreign press including the Guardian. He is now in Norway.

Kian, a government appointed lawyer for Mohammadi Ashtiani, began to represent her after Mostafaei, but contrary to the government’s will, became outspoken and defended her.

Kian, who has been jailed since October, claimed that Mohammadi Ashtiani was beaten and tortured before appearing on TV for the first time.

Qaderzadeh, a bus conductor in Tabriz, said in the programme: “He [Kian] told me to say she [Mohammadi Ashtiani] was tortured … Unfortunately, I listened to him and told lies to the foreign media.

In response to his remarks, Kian said in the programme: “Telling lies to foreign media was my recommendation to Sajjad.”

Ahadi told the Guardian last night: “They are not just attacking me, they are attacking our committee and everybody who successfully brought her case to the world’s attention and, at least for now, managed to stop Iran form stoning her. If it wasn’t for the world’s attention, Sakineh would have been executed by now, that is what’s making them angry.”

She added: “I can’t understand what they mean by ‘the normal procedure?’ Is stoning someone to death a normal procedure in their opinion? Sajjad knew he might be forced to confess on TV by defending his mother but nothing stopped him until he was arrested, I’m not surprised at all to hear these confessions from him and I can imagine how much all of these people were tortured to do so.”

The two German journalists who appeared on the programme, who were not identified, admitted to their “illegal acts”. One of them said: “Mina Ahadi sent me to Iran because she knew she would benefit from my arrest and I’ll sue her when I get back to Germany.”

Iran’s English language TV channel, Press TV, reported on Monday that according to Iran’s East Azerbaijan Prosecutor Malek Ajdar Sharifi “the behaviour of the Germans showed they entered Iran as spies and tried to create negative atmosphere against Iran and the East Azerbaijan judiciary.”

Iran has repeatedly said that it is yet undecided over Mohammadi Ashtiani and that her case is still under review.

Iranian Film Maker Arrested And Tried For A Film He Hasn't Even Completed?

HELP FREE IRAN!

-ADY "A Regular Guy On The Issues"

*From FreedomMessenger.com

November 11, 2010

Several Iranian websites, including “Gooya,” have published the full text of the defense statement of internationally acclaimed Iranian film director Jafar Panahi, whose trial was reportedly held over the weekend.

Panahi was jailed in March in Iran and charged with unspecified crimes. He was released in May on bail following international calls for his release and after he went on a hunger strike. The authorities had said that Panahi, who sided with the Green opposition movement following last year’s disputed presidential election, was working on an antistate film.

In his defense statement, Panahi who has won several international prize for his movies, says that whatever sentence he is given would be a sentence against art and artists in the Islamic republic. He also says that despite all he’s been through he will remain in Iran.

Excerpts from the statement:

“You’ve put me on trial over a film that at the time of my arrest even 30 percent of it had not been shot yet. You have certainly heard the example that if you only say 50 percent of ‘La elaha elllalah’ [There is no God but God] which is a testimony to the unity of God, it is considered blasphemy. How can someone be charged over a film that [has not been completed]? Allow me to produce the rest of the film, then make a judgment about it.

“I’ve been accused of attending [public] gatherings. In the social cinema a filmmaker is an observer of social events. With regard to this view I should have been an observer of the events that were happening in my country. Even though a filmmaker observes through his camera, they didn’t give permission to use cameras to any filmmaker. An artist sees so that maybe one day he would be inspired to create art. I was an observer and it was my right to see. No one has the right to force an artist not to see. Why is an artist deprived of this right and charged with a crime?

“I’ve been accused of signing statements. I signed one statement and that was the statement of the 37 Iranian filmmakers. During those days any group would express its opinion about the events that were taking place in the country, 37 of the most prominent filmmakers of our country expressed their concern over the future of the country and I was one of them. Unfortunately, instead of paying attention to the concerns of those artists, who love their country, parts of the statement have been selected and they’ve turned into evidence of a crime.

“It’s been said that I was in charge of organizing demonstrations outside the country at the time of the opening of the Montreal Film Festival. Any charge needs to be backed by a bit of truth and fairness. I was the head of the jury at the Montreal Film Festival and I arrived there only a few hours before the opening ceremony. I who didn’t know anyone there, how could I have done such a thing? Have we forgotten that during those days, wherever in the world there was a ceremony, our compatriots living abroad would gather and make their demands? It was even happening at sports events. Do we have now to charge the soccer players who were wearing green wristbands or the head coach of the team of organizing the behavior of the spectators?

“It was said that I gave interviews to media based outside the country. Where in our laws have we been banned from giving interviews?

“Whatever history forgets, be sure that it won’t erase from its memory the way artists are being dealt with. The sentence you will give will be not be a sentence against me, but a sentence for Iran’s independent cinema. The cinema of Iran has in the past 30 years brought this country honor and a [good] reputation. You are giving your vote to that reputation.

“This is not my trial only. It’s the trial of the art and artists of this country. The witnesses to any country’s history are artwork and the way artists are being dealt with. Therefore any sentence that will be given by the court will be a sentence against all the artists, particularly the filmmakers of this country. And even a sentence for the Iranian society that has been for years the audience of that art. My sapling and the saplings of all the artists of Iran have their roots in the soil of this country and the fruit of our art tree is the result of the beauties and ugliness of this land. Therefore, any sentence that you give for my thought is a sentence against the people of this country.

“Despite all the unkindness, I, Jafar Panahi, announce that I am Iranian and that I will remain in Iran. I love my country and I have paid the price for it and if needed I will pay it again.”

HELP FREE IRAN!

The citizens of Iran have spoken!...over and over! Like us, they should have the right to control their own destiny. Help them as they stand up to their repressive, tyrannical government, and strive for Democracy!

I'm looking for Persian language copies of the U.S. Constitution. Anyone with any feedback or info, please e-mail me at Comments.RGI@gmail.com

-ADY