The US has for 10 months been stalling over an Iranian offer of landmark talks that would see the Islamic republic address Washington's concerns on nuclear weapons, terrorism and Israel - because of divisions within the Bush administration. US officials and go-betweens say the talks, which could in return establish normal diplomatic relations between the countries, have been resisted by hawks in Washington who adamantly oppose opening a dialogue with the clerical regime in Iran, which George W. Bush, the US president, branded part of the "axis of evil". ... What has become known in diplomatic circles as Iran's "grand bargain" was first communicated to the US State Department through the "Swiss channel" on May 4 last year. ... Under the plan, Iran would address US concerns over nuclear weapons and terrorism, co-ordinate policy on Iraq and consider a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In return, Iran expected a lifting of sanctions, recognition of its security interests, dropping of "regime change" from the official US lexicon and eventual re-establishment of relations. "There was a lot of detail to be worked out," said one American familiar with the proposal. "They proposed concrete steps on how to work on this. The substance of the agenda was pretty reasonable." ... However, Washington has given no formal response to the offer. Instead, the Swiss foreign ministry received a rebuke from the US for "overstepping" its mandate. ... One high-level figure involved is Brent Scowcroft, a former national security adviser and retired general, who has held talks with Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations. Both men declined to comment.

On the eve of the U.S. invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, officials here say Iran's Islamic leaders could hardly believe their luck. Washington, heretofore the "Great Satan," was about to do Iran a great service -- by taking out the man whose troops, often using chemical weapons, killed more than a half million Iranians during the 1979-1989 Iran-Iraq war. ... Next door in Iraq, meanwhile, the American military is stretched too thin to contemplate taking on Tehran. And international support for another "regime change" by Washington is nonexistent. But that hasn't exactly emboldened the hard-line clerics either. The Bush administration's "war on terror" has hemmed in Iran, forcing the mullahs to take a pragmatic approach to their policy toward the United States. ... Right or wrong, American policy toward Iran has recently been the focus of diplomatic flirtation: After the Dec. 26 Bam earthquake, which killed over 40,000, Iran received its first direct American aid in 25 years; congressional leaders recently proposed a friendly visit to Iran; and Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has become a regular in Washington political circles. ... Officials here say the parliamentary elections last month, though heavily stacked in the favor of the mullahs, were designed to hijack the agenda of popular reformers like Yousefian, who had called for diplomatic relations with the United States."[The hard-liners] stole our slogans," the 36-year-old reformer complained. "But maybe we should take it as a compliment, or a sign of things to come."

3/17/2004 09:36:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Asthma 80% of my students have asthma. What the hell is up with that? Update: This does not imply that 80% of Egyptians have asthma|W|P|107954677674438614|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/16/2004 06:07:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Sick Nick: Cartoons by Nikahang Kowsar Simply put, one of the best Iranian cartoonists out there. |W|P|107944787130866011|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/16/2004 08:48:00 AM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Conservatives Hooman has a couple of great posts up concerning his thoughts on neo-conservatives and conservative blogs. The concept of neo-conservatism and its ideology is of significant importance to Iranian bloggers particularly because most of us are supportive of non-violent internal change. Whereas, the neo-con approach has balanced in favor of complete regime change similar to the war in Iraq. Hooman highlights this point well by stating:

You depsite an eloquent and intellectual facade, have an ideology that is deep down based on a very simple -- dangerously simple-- view of the world: black and white, evil and good. This undertone is just too simple for the complexities of this world where we live. One cannot expect to have this ideology and be successful in the long run.

On one of my students exams I included an article for reading comprehension about the evolution of left wing and right wing mentalities. The article goes into detail about how during Vietnam, the conservative, right-wing mentality was reflected by a mentality of "my country right or wrong." The modern conservative has been more identified with the famous Bushism "your either with us or against us." This compared to left wing thinkers who during Vietnam attacked both the administration and soliders, but who now recognize that soliders are simply the product of administrative goals and therefore have limited criticism. Regardless of what you might think about this transition, what is becoming abundantly clear is that conservatives adopt the rhetoric of "them" versus "us" in order to justify unilateral militarianism. In a world which is becoming more and more integrated, it is precisely this type of personality which fuels dissent amongst the world and furthers the cause and aims of terrorism. |W|P|107941428828593643|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/15/2004 05:51:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Permalink Yes people I finally have permalink. No more need to link back to this site via the monthly archives. Now you and I can get more specific. See how easy it is to get to Natasha's post on the Passion of Christ!|W|P|107936046069575076|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/13/2004 12:26:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|The Adjective This has nothing to do with Iran. Rather its a product of me being a nerd and a high school english teacher (a nasty combo). This article discusses the problematic nature of adjectives in formal writing. Something this author has done all to often, which from my understanding is the achilles heel for legal writing as well. Example:

I acknowledge, moreover, that when writers commit the sin of showing off -- of being flowery or obscure for no reason other than to call attention to themselves -- adjectives are most often the tools of the crime. There is no reason to use "rebarbative" instead of "unpleasant," "annoying," or some other negative epithet, other than to be fancy.

Well isn't that an unpleasant conundrum. The authors concludes that most writers abuse adjectives:

But some writers' abuse of adjectives has led to the defamation of an entire part of speech. I believe that a resourceful and creative use of adjectives is one of the most important, if not the most important, marks of a first-rate essayist or critic. It is an indication of originality, wit, observation -- indeed, the cast and quality of the writer's mind.

For blogging, this might not be a problem given that this is an informal setting to begin with. But for scholarly writing, particularly legal writing, abuse of adjectives can lead one to the bottom of their class. Therefore, the adjective falls under a general principle of life: too much of anything, is always a bad thing...except Iranians. |W|P|107916820226530383|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/13/2004 11:52:00 AM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Introducing Ali In the beginning this blog started out with me, myself and I; in which I slowly realized that its better to diversify the opinions of this blog if I really wished to achieve the raison d'etre of this blog...Truth. As a result I invited Natasha Behbahany to write whenever she had the chance and it was a great success. She's offered amazing insight, particularly from her perspective of "identity." Well ladies and gents, I now present you Ali. Any details about himself, I'll leave up to him to offer you. But I will say that he's marvelously opinionated, to the point, and well informed. With his help we hope to cause more controversy.|W|P|107916617489882774|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/13/2004 11:47:00 AM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Another Great Lawyer Anthony D'Amato: first American lawyer to argue (and win) a case before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and a legal expert on customary norms of international law. He started a trend which we should all hope to continue. |W|P|107916582613322092|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/12/2004 05:20:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Nose Jobs in Iran 'Kill me but make me beautiful' Iranian proverb "There have reportedly been more nose jobs in Iran during the past year than in any other country in the world. For more than 20 years strict social rules have demanded modest dress and covered hair. Laws forbid women to publicly sing, dance, or wear make-up. But today, frustrated with their lack of freedom, Iranian women are redefining what it means to live in an Islamic fundamentalist society. Iran, and Tehran in particular, has a female population that is pursuing rhinoplasty with the same passion that they're pushing for government reform." courtesy of The Iranian and Zed Nelson See also: - Seattle Times: Iranian Males Indulge in Nose Jobs - Christian Science Monitor: In Iran, Search for Beauty Leads to the Nose Job - Free Thoughts on Iran: The Divine Nose|W|P|107909943666524611|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/12/2004 03:11:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Egypt and Norouz There are approximately 6 Iranians I know of in Egypt at the moment and I plan on spending Norouz with every single one of them!

Norouz strengthens the ties of oneness among the present day Iranians, who have the bitter memories of suffering the invasions of many kinds, cruelties of both insider and outsider enemies, executioners who made minarets of their heads and mass acred many generations. It melts the thick ice of the walls of being strangers among our nation and sows the seeds of being related to each other, flesh and blood. Thus, it fills the deep gaps of forgetfulness which often separate the hearts of different groups of the nation had it not been filled with the kindness of Norouz. And we, in these happy moments, light the holy Ahouraian fire of Norouz once again, and deep in our conscience, tread the black death-stricken deserts of hollow centuries, and get ready to celebrate Norouz along with al the men and women, who once celebra ted this glorious national ceremony on this land. Their noble blood runs in our veins, our hearts beat happily with it and their souls once again start life in our bodies under the clear skies of Iran. Thus, we proudly proclaim our lively existence as a happy wise nation, standing tall amid the heavy winds of horrendous incidents which are capable of uprooting any strong tree, but not our nation's.

|W|P|107909168817381964|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/12/2004 02:53:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Mullahs and Mel Brooks I'm a huge fan of Mel Brooks, and particularly of his famous film "History of the World: Part I." I literally grew up on this film and "Airplane." History of the World closes with coming attractions of "History of the World, Part II" that includes Hitler on Ice. The one that stands out the most, and if not the funniest, is his scene of Jews in spaceship modeled after the star of davis, called "Jews in Space", a parody of Star Wars parody (anticipating Space Balls). The feature includes a theme song:

We're Jews in Space, Flying around protecting the Hebrew Race!

The song was then adapted and used in Brook's later film "Robin Hood, Men in Tights":

We're Men! We're Men in Tights! We roam around the forest looking for fights! We're Men! We're Men in Tights! We rob from the Rich, and give to the Poor, that's Right! We may look like sissies, But watch what you say, or else we'll put out your lights! We're Men! We're Men in Tights! We go all around defending the people's Rights!

Anyway, before I continue rambling, let me get to the point. Based on this news, we may have Mullah's in space. Inspired by Brooks, I have to take a stab at a theme song:

We're Mullahs! Mullahs in Space We pray Quran while looking for segeh's at night! We're Mullahs! Mullahs in Space We teach the Quran while suppressing your thoughts outright We may look like villians But watch what you say, cause now we can launch from space....

Ok, ok. The last part didn't rhyme, or make sense. But you get the jist.|W|P|107909058063388776|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/12/2004 02:27:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|A Blog Makes a Difference Mohammad Ali Abtahi has a blog and now he's making headlines. Go figure.|W|P|107908904804715352|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/12/2004 01:42:00 AM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Iran/South Korea Theocratic and Democratic Disorder MPs tried to physically prevent the vote being called An altercation between hard-line legislators and their reformist colleagues in a parliament session|W|P|107911156822818607|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/11/2004 10:02:00 AM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Jewel of Persia courtesy of Pink Fable|W|P|107898674588394291|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/11/2004 09:53:00 AM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|A Pakistani Threat Apparantly, a nuclear Pakistan wasn't so high on Israel list. Quite the contrary, newly declassified State Department documents reveal that Israel mulled over attacking Pakistani nuclear facilities in 1979.

According to reports, Israel and India collaborated in the 1970s, and intelligence and military officials from the two countries considered secret plans for a pre-emptive strike against Pakistan to prevent it from attaining nuclear arms.

Clearly Osirak wasn't the first target after all. PS: Forget air raids on nuclear facilities. Its time to use pig fat for suicide bombers.|W|P|107898623982487041|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/10/2004 03:19:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Shared Values In line with the theme of identity which this blog is so interested in, Natasha Behbahany has an article in the Iranian. Here's an excerpt

The rejections I have experienced from Iranians in the US, my father felt in Iran as well. I don't think my dad was ever called a walking disgrace to Iranians like I was, but it was always made clear to him that he was not welcome, no matter how perfectly he spoke Persian or tried to assimilate. And so, even though my father made some very close friends in Iran, most Iranians never accepted him.

This entry was posted on this blog last month and immediately became an issue of debate. Its strong and explicit and has something for every "Iranian". The rest can be read here.|W|P|107891937880850031|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/10/2004 11:22:00 AM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Election trick or Suttle Reapproachment I've been confused with the current rhetoric between Washington and Tehran, simply because there are so many variables. The fact of the matter remains that the current administration has not adopted any policy or stance with respect to Iran. However, the following, when combined with the acceptance of the Iraq-Iran pipeline project agreement, appears to signal a change in US-Iran relations:

Accepting painful compromises, the United States agreed with key European nations on Tuesday to tone down criticism of Iran for its continued nuclear secrecy. Washington also accepted a draft resolution containing some praise of Tehran's willingness to open its nuclear programs to outside inspection. Both sides signed off on the draft document prepared for a high-level conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency after days of grueling negotiations aimed at finding the proper mix of praise and criticism. The United States insists Iran is interested in making nuclear weapons. Washington wanted the meeting to condemn Iran for not fully living up to pledges to reveal all past and present nuclear activities while keeping open options for future involvement by the U.N. Security Council...

Here's where I'm stuck. Does Washington believe that Iran's acquisition of nuclear technology has passed the "point of no return"? Or, does it understand Iran's substantial influence in both Iraq and Afghanistan where Bush's electoral hopes are riding. Or, does Washington have an Ace up its sleeve that we simply don't know about. The first two seem to make more sense. It does seem that Iran is past the point of no return. It clearly has the technology, knowledge, and resources that would inevitably allow it to become a nuclear state. This doesn't mean it would acquire nuclear weapons. As it is there are over 40 threshold states which have the power to enrich uranium, and only 9 of them have nuclear weapons. Therefore, making Iran as transparent as possible is really the only way to restrict its access to nuclear weapons. As it is, it already seems that Iran is ready to continue uranium enrichment:

Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani told reporters that Iran's military industries, which also build parts and machinery for the civil sector, had produced the relatively unsophisticated P-1 centrifuges. But he said Iran had not been involved in producing more advanced P-2 models, used in producing weapons-grade enriched uranium.

I think its time for a treaty on a nuclear free Middle East.|W|P|107890516917141621|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/09/2004 08:36:00 AM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Mousavi Khoeini Ali Akbar Mousavi-Khoeini, one of several dozen reformist legislators barred from standing for reelection, called on Iran's Assembly of Experts to decide whether Khamenei had acted properly over the election dispute. The Letter N, has provided a link to Mousavi's speech. As with all dictatorial mentalities, Mousavi's request caused some pushing and shoving as conservative factions were eager to either tear away his microphone, make him deaf with yelling, or make his shin bleed through kicking. Here are some notable quotes:

"Was the performance of the supreme leader and bodies under his control compatible with honesty, prudence and fairness in the recent sham legislative elections?", Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoeini Shut up!" lawmaker and hardliner Mousa Qorbani shouted. "You can't tolerate listening to a clause from the constitution," shouted Mohammad Reza Khatami, a vice speaker of the parliament and the leader of Iran's largest reformist party, the Islamic Iran Participation Front.

Am I suprised that an institution which denies the right to speech and opinion by its own people would be tolerant of hearing the opposition?... No |W|P|107880877453095597|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/08/2004 05:43:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|A Message to the Women of Iran Albeit that today is International Women's Day, and many notable bloggers have contragulated you, praised you, and so on. But lets get one thing straight. I'm jealous of you. Oh ya, you heard me right. Going around, strutting your stuff and winning the Nobel Peace Prize for human rights work. The same type of work I'm trying to get into. Changing Iran for the better. Making leaps and bounds, whilst being oppressed in some way, some form in almost every country around the world. Don't think I didn't notice how you're able to combine both brilliance and beauty. Or how you were able to shape the eloquence of words into a performance that caught the attention of the world. I may be in Egypt, but I heard these words still. Yes, I saw your activism Mrs. Kar, and your dedication to Iranian-American issues Ms. Fassihian, or your fantastic insight Ms. Behbahany. I know these things, and for the past year you have triumphed and shown the world the strength and beauty of Iranian women. But guess what, I'm jealous and want a piece of the action. For the rest of the year, your going to see Iranian men making strives and leaps for just causes. While we might not be beautiful, and a bit hairy, and often egocentric, damnit when we get mad...things happen. So enjoy your day, your earned it. But never give up the fight, because the moment you let down your guard, it'll be Iranian men you'll see in Canada, Norway, the US, and Iran pushing human rights. |W|P|107875520437270818|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/08/2004 05:18:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Truth Ranking Apparantly Google ranks me 100 out of 20,600,000. With your help we're bound to break the 90's!|W|P|107875373699180341|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/08/2004 02:39:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Who is Nema? Apparantly, he's either the smooth faced young man from Iranian.com; or the bearded guy with the wicked smirk from Urban Low Down. I have a feeling he's somewhere inbetween. |W|P|107874415313625779|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/07/2004 08:38:00 AM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Tick, Tock Three weeks and counting before I make my first trip back to the US in over a year and a half. I'll be in the Washington DC area for at least a week competing in this. Let it be known that I look foward to meeting, then beating, these guys. Sorry Kaveh, no hard feelings. |W|P|107863611389452221|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/06/2004 11:41:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Molavi and Riots Two more stories of note for the inspiring iranophite. In the Washington Post, Afshin Molavi chronicles the prospects for democracy and dissatisfaction by the Iranian youth. he states:

. . . .Today, the radical experiment in religious governance that [Khomeini] launched is viewed with widespread disillusion. Khomeini and his allies created a system that gave only limited democratic spaces to the people and granted decisive power to the new inheritors of the Iranian realm -- the clergy. The traditional authoritarianism of Persia held. This time, however, the king wore a turban. It is often noted that Iranians are frustrated with their isolation and deteriorating economy. But something deeper is going on in Iran -- a wide-ranging repudiation of the mingling of religion and politics, and a growing movement for secular democracy. . . . For inspiration, Iranian youth would do well to turn back to the era of their great-grandparents and the 1906-11 Constitutional Revolution, Iran's first attempt at democratic reform. That era produced a constitution that embraced democracy, secularism, women's rights and a strong parliament. Ultimately, the movement was snuffed out by royalist reactionaries and foreign powers (namely the British and Russians). But the dream of that movement -- of a fair society based on just laws and of an independent, democratic, secular and prosperous Iran -- has not died. It lives even stronger among today's "children of the Islamic revolution." That, in the end, might be the Islamic Republic's most lasting -- and ironic -- legacy.

Indeed...this of course on the eve of riots in Bam as the population becomes frustrated by difficult living conditions:

They burned cars and destroyed containers after a demonstration on Thursday degenerated into violence, the reformist daily Shargh reported. It quoted provincial authorities as saying that agitators on motorbikes incited the demonstrators, prompting police to intervene during the night. The authorities said there were no casualties, but the Fars news agency quoted Bam's Friday prayer leader, Asghar Asgari, as saying that two people were wounded by bullets fired in the crowd. Shargh said the demonstrators, who numbered 500 at one point, protested at the indifference of the authorities, saying promises of officials had not been kept while they continued to live in tents and with inadequate sanitation.

For Persian readers, the original story can be found here. Just another day in Iranian news.|W|P|107860390183459518|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/06/2004 10:30:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Interviews with Farah Pahlavi I think Pedram already posted this one but i couldn't resist posting it myself (admittingly a week late). While promoting her memoirs ''An Enduring Love: My Life With the Shah" Farah Pahlavi has been on an interview binge. 'NPR's Scott Simon visited with Farah Pahlavi this week at her home in Potomac, MD. The interview will air this Saturday... between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Go to npr.org tomorrow morning for more on the net. I won't say what I think about her, cause I think the following is fairly self-evident about my opinion. Observe if you may: New York Times: A Life in Exile Tell me about your day-to-day life in the United States. At my office in the palace in Tehran I had 60 people helping me. Here I have two people. I have a lady who cooks for me and cleans up and also a driver. It is difficult for me. Sometimes I have asked friends for money. Did you get a large advance for your book? No! They gave me $200,000, and it was $150,000 after taxes. I keep a picture of the check because it is the first money I ever earned. Washington Post: Iran's Empress in Exile Finds "A Way to Go On": I always wanted to travel without maids, or cross the Iranian desert on camel back. Apparently, it is an unbelievable experience," she said longingly. (Note from Nema: I love reading this line with respect to the previous statements) My advice to advent monarchists out there: Farah is not good publicity for your ambitions! Nevertheless, I'm curious what other points of mularcky she'll rattle with NPR.|W|P|107859964557315142|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/06/2004 08:47:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|The Islamic Republic and the International Criminal Court I believe in liability for human rights violations; however, as a student of international law when I see grave ignorance with respect to the law I can do nothing more then cringe. According to this article:

The Iranian Think Tank, a NGO led by Dr. Mas’ood Ansari, an Iranian university professor in Washington, registered officially a criminal file against the Islamic Republic with the ICC on 27 of February, accusing the ruling Iranian theocracy of gross violations against the Iranian people and human rights, Mrs. Homa Ehsan, a veteran Iranian journalist and political activist told Iran Press Service from The Hague, where ICC is based.

There are a few problems from the offset concerning this submission. To begin with, pursuant to article 25 of the Rome Statute the jurisdiction of the ICC only has jurisdiction over individuals, not state or state actors. Consequently, a case per se cannot be brought up against the Iranian government. Rather, the prosecutor of the ICC may only investigate those crimes alleged by individuals. Second, according to article 12(2), the ICC may only have jurisdiction over individuals if the issue is referred to it by the Security Council, or if the accused is a national of a state party, or whose conduct was on the territory of a state party. Whereas Iran has signed the Statute, it has not ratified it, and is not a state party. This has other ramifications of course, including that the ICC would not have jurisdiction rationale temporie subsequent to article 11(2). To top it all off, I talked to the director of the ICC prepatory commission, Cherif Bassiouni, who was very conscious of the fact that the ICC is a vunerable court, and would begin strictly with non-controversial, non-political cases, particularly those involving the Congo region. One must assume, therefore, that the individuals who filed a brief with the ICC Prosecutor were either unaware of the court's jurisdiction limitations, or whether its just a publicity stunt.|W|P|107859342363627086|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/06/2004 11:58:00 AM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Fashionable Oligarchy Too be quite honest, I'm not very into the American version of democracy. Never have been. I simply cannot understand how we can strip away personal characteristics and individuality, in order to choose amongst two parties, both of which may not represent any of our needs. And yet this is precisely the system that has been ingrained in our minds. Consequently, its ok to attack Nader supporters who despite knowing that he won't win vote for him on principle, because we live in a two-party system. Or do we? I'm not daf on American history. I'm actually very familiar with it. Therefore, I know that the framers nor the Constitution envisions a two-party system. Rather it is an unintended consequence of Duverger's Law beginning with the first opposition between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, and of course today's Republicans and Democrats. In fact, every president since 1856 has been either a Republican or Democrat. Since the 1860s, the Republicans and Democrats have dominated electoral politics. However, many analysts have argued that in the modern age the distinction between the two parties, particularly in terms of presidential candidates, has become blurred, as candidates now fight in order to attain a"moderate" position. It is for that reason I really haven't fought for Kerry or the Democrats. There isn't much of a difference between him and Bush. In almost everything I disagreed with relative to the Bush campagin, Kerry supported. Summary:

- All the Democratic presidential candidates supported the invasion of Iraq, except Howard Dean; Kerry not only voted for the invasion, but expressed his disappointment that it had not gone according to plan and called for another "40,000 active service troops" - In 2001, when Kerry voted for the Patroit Act, he stated he was "pleased at the compromise we have reached on the anti-terrorism legislation." - In 1997 Kerry voted in favor of a successful Senate resolution (95-0) that stated the U.S. "should not be a signatory [to the Kyoto Treaty]." - Kerry sponsored a bill to cut the CIA budget for intelligence gathering by $1.5 billion, but after 9/11 he questioned why U.S. intelligence wasn't of greater capacity. - Kerry also voted for the No Child Left Behind Act, and now he attacks it.

With respect to US unilateralism and the Bush's big stick policy, Kerry's rhetoric is different, but the reality is still the same. Bush's mentality of American foriegn policy has always corresponded with the wishes of the Project of the New American Century in "maintaining global US pre-eminence, precluding the rise of a great power rival, and shaping the international security order in line with American principles and interests". Kerry, on the other hand, has relatively maintained the same line of thinking as part of the the Progressive Policy Institute in calling for the bold exercise of American power" at the heart of "a new Democratic strategy, grounded in the party's tradition of muscular internationalism". Consider again that Kerry has agreed with virtually every exercise of power by the Bush administration despite its unilateralist nature and one can only conclude that Kerry symphathizes with the current administrations policies, but utilizes seemingly contrasting rhetoric in order to appeal to the more liberal voter. And what about Iran? Too date, the Bush administration hasn't really adopted any stance. Its been a confusing battle between the state department, the Pentagon, and the neo-cons in determining exactly how to approach the situation. Consequently, the past four years have been relatively chaotic foreign policy on a case by case basis, rather then an overarching approach. Kerry, on the other hand, has discussed taking a "softer approach" with Iran. In his own words

I believe it is important to have dialogue with governments, even those with which we have disagreements. In the case of Iran, there are some areas of mutual interest such as drugs. I would support talking with all elements of the government.

While I know most Iranians would love greater ties with the United States, I wonder how appropriate it is though in the long run to associate oneself with a government which is by and far seen as illegitimate by its own people. This of course isn't in defense of Bush. Kerry at least has some sort of policy, Bush is as yet indecisive. I for one have more comfort in knowing what a man plans to do, compared to one who remains ambigious. But then again, given Kerry's record, can we really say he's reliable? Consequently, my only conclusion is that this election is slowly becoming another episode of the Simpsons:

Homer: America, take a good look at your beloved candidates. They're nothing but hideous space reptiles. [unmasks them] [audience gasps in terror] Kodos: It's true, we are aliens. But what are you going to do about it? It's a two-party system; you have to vote for one of us. [murmurs] Man1: He's right, this is a two-party system. Man2: Well, I believe I'll vote for a third-party candidate. Kang: Go ahead, throw your vote away. [Kang and Kodos laugh out loud] [Ross Perot smashes his "Perot 96" hat] Marge: I don't understand why we have to build a ray gun to aim at a planet I never even heard of. Homer: Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.

|W|P|107856173952624033|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/05/2004 07:14:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|"Iranian-other" in North America My mom would love it if I married a girl from Kashan. Its interesting that Sarah's post in a large part compares to what Natasha wrote about last month:

Sarah: Now that I've had the chance to grow up, to revisit, and to choose, I've become a lot stronger in my sense of who I am and where I belong. I've come to terms with my ambivalent dualities: the pieces that conform, the pieces that don't. Personally, I like my many-sided identity. I keep the parts I like from each culture, and discard the rest. Easy...But I don't mind. Here's to multiple layers of being! It's often an uncomfortable state, but I think a very privileged one. And I am very glad to have been born into mine. Natasha: And so, I don't fit the mold of being an Iranian or a Pakistani- if there is one. And slowly, I am becoming okay with that because I am learning to fit into my own ideas of an Iranian and Pakistani raised in America...I don't know what it means to be Iranian or Pakistani to you or the next person and I will never pretend to know what it is like to have grown up or lived in Iran or Pakistan. But that is not my concern. What does concern me are the values and customs that I share with someone: an engrained tendency for respecting elders and even stronger compulsion for family, genorosity and awareness of others, learning of your ancestoral past and feeling pride without being ethnocentric... One thing I have learned is that by simple virtue of having an Iranian or Pakistani background, I cannot assume that these values always exist.

I for one am truely honored to say I am connected in some way or form to both these individuals. Now if I could only find my 10 degrees of seperation with Philip Alston...|W|P|107850149687141667|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/05/2004 06:56:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Al-Ahram and Mohammed Reza Khatami A friend of mine works for Al-Ahram and sometimes contributes to their english weekly by writing stories on Iran, so she knows some of the ins and outs and isn't reserved about sharing them. Nevertheless, about two weeks ago I see her sprinting out of the AUC hostel, which also hosts a commuter computer lab with great internet connections. On her way out, she saw me typing away and yelled in my direction "I have an interview with Mohammed Reza Khatami right now!" In the end though it was only Khatami's secretary who she spoke to, because Khatami would not be interviewed without reviewing the questions beforehand. A tactic used often by politicians I believe. In the end the bullshit was too much, and I believe she never was able to get the interview. Thats not to say that Al-Ahram didn't get its story. Cause it did. Mustafa El Labbad, another writer for the paper, recently traveled to Tehran and spoke to Khatami. The story can be found at this link.|W|P|107850040895723216|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/05/2004 06:47:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Thought of the moment Hey I didn't know the Letter N was also a teacher. Not to mention a great blog. Certainly becoming a daily read for me.|W|P|107849984610424972|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/05/2004 02:03:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Foucault and the Internet A friend of mine who's interested in Iranian politics sent me the following two articles to read. I found them extremely interesting and decided to share it with a broader public, i.e. you (oh you know who you are): Foucault on Revolutionary Iran

During the 1979 anti-imperial Iranian revolution, Michel Foucault went to Iran and was fascinated by the force of the image that he witnessed: "on the one side, the entire will of the people, on the other the machine guns." Unlike most Western analysts of the revolution, Foucault refused to see the role of religion as indicative of the movement's primitivism; in fact, he described the Iranian revolution as "the most modern form of revolt" and dismissed the popular idea that the deposed Shah was too modern for a predominantly backward country. Instead, he wrote: "The Shah is what is old here in Iran. He is fifty, even a hundred, years behind. . . His is the antiquated dream of opening up his country by means of secularization and industrialization. His project of modernization, his despotic weapons, his system of corruption are what is archaic today."

Cyberdissent: The Internet in Revolutionary Iran

This paper argues that the internet, as an advancing new means of communication, has played an important role in the ongoing struggle for democracy in Iran. While outlining its history in Iran amidst an ambiguous state response to its rapid development since 1993, the paper also attempts to show how the internet has opened a new virtual space for political dissent. The paper claims that the internet is an innovative method for resistance in that it essentially defies control and supervision of speech by authoritarian rule seeking to undermine resistance.

|W|P|107848281014440360|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/05/2004 01:29:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|The Iranian Student Alliance in America began a couple years ago and has been an amazing resource for Iranians in Northern California, and slowly, around the states. My parents and friends have raved about their events in bringing about knowledge and enlightenment on issues concerning Iranians, and so it is a privilege for me that they have submitted a brief summary of their success. History of the Iranian Student Alliance in America by Pouya Alimagham Tired of the apathy and the low level of consciousness regarding the Iranian identity, culture, community, and history amongst Iranian students at UC Berkeley, a group of inspired Iranian students sought to do something different to address these important issues. They built the Iranian Student Alliance in America, which was established in the fall of 2002. Inexperienced, but motivated, these Iranians tested the waters for the 2002-2003 academic year. They sought to promote a better sense of identity and community and advocate a better understanding of Iran and its culture. What’s more, they felt that Iranians lacked a presence on the historic campus of UC Berkeley with 32,000 students and worked to remedy it by being loud and organized. They organized poetry nights, movie nights, brought attention to the INS detainees by demonstrating in their support, launched a semester journal titled: “Goftogoo: A Dialogue on Iran and Iranians,” and a lecture series titled: “Iran and Iranians after September 11th.” The group gained much experience after its first academic year in operation. Thus, over the summer of 2003, the active members revamped the entire organization. The following fall, ISAA exploded onto the scene as one of most organized and active student groups at UC Berkeley. ISAA had planned 24 events for the fall semester including, three poetry nights, four movie nights, an open forum, a music night, ten lectures and documentary screenings regarding Iranian history ranging from the Iran-Iraq War to the Iranian Revolution, an Iranian-American night, a book signing by the author of “All the Shah’s Men,” Stephen Kinzer, and a lecture series pertaining to the CIA coup of 1953 in Iran, which drew an audience of 450 people. What’s more, our publication, “Goftogoo: A Dialogue on Iran and Iranians,” was published for its second semester and T-shirts and sweaters were made promoting the Iranian identity. At the end of the fall semester, ISAA was ranked the most popular and one of the most active student groups at UC Berkeley. In other words, ISAA and Iranians had a presence; they were loud and organized. This accomplishment was made in ISAA’s third semester in existence. Over the winter break, the tragic earthquake at Bam struck. Although ISAA members were on vacation, they constantly sent emails updating its viewers on the tragedy, relief efforts, and informing them of how they could help, all the while planning their own fundraiser for when the semester began. Therefore, on the first week of the semester, ISAA screened Tahmineh Milani’s new film: “The Fifth Reaction” to an audience of 375 people. Afterwards, sister Maryam Milani who worked on the film gave a brief lecture on the women in Iran. The proceeds went to Bam as ISAA tried to do its part. In addition, ISAA organized over thirty events for the semester including three poetry nights, three movie nights, a backgammon tournament, a book signing by the author of “Funny in Farsi,” Firoozeh Dumas, a language night, two open forums, two music nights, two Iranian dance workshops, nine documentary screenings and lectures regarding issues ranging from the Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War, to the drug addiction and minorities in Iran. What’s more, ISAA coordinated a Multi-campus Iranian Awareness Week with more than eleven Iranian groups at various campuses ranging from MIT to UCLA participating. To maintain a presence, we been tabling in front of Sproul Hall on behalf of our student group for the entire school year thus far, with the exception of the rainy weeks. Additionally, we’ve hung a huge banner from one of the most visible buildings on campus (MLK) bringing attention to our student group and proudly displaying an outline of Iran’s geographic shape and national colors. As of now, ISAA is ranked number one as the most active and number two most popular student group at UC Berkeley (http://live.berkeley.edu/rankings.cgi)! This achievement was reached in ISAA’s second year of existence. All in all, ISAA has organized over 50 quality events for the 2003-2004 academic year (fall and spring). Pouya Alimagham is President of ISAA at UC Berkeley|W|P|107848079735659353|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/05/2004 01:21:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Incompatible courtesy of the Iranian|W|P|107848031375118124|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/05/2004 01:15:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|In Thought I'm sitting here desperately trying to flow-chart my arguments and rebutals for genocide but I can't concentrate. More importantly I know I won't be able to until I can establish some closure on the last couple days. The last post was about the death of one of my students. The boy, whose name I won't mention out of respect and privacy, was one of our 9th graders who happened to also be in special need. He has muscle atropy so was restricted to a wheelchair, but his mind was brilliant. In our literature class he was always the one most interested in political affairs. It came to no suprise since his father was a former ambassador to the United States. In the past couple months which I had the privalege of teaching him, the child was by every means a pleasure. It was one of those situations where you had someone of immense intellectual curiosity, and had the opportunity to feed it. And so I tried. I gave him Mark Twain to read, although I assigned no other books to the others. In class, or even after, we would chatter about current affairs and history, and though it might be egocentric, the child pointed out with a smile "Mr. Nema you seem to know everything." I told him, "its my job to make you think that I do." Had it been just him that was directly hurt by death I would have been able to reconcile the issue much easier than at present. But he also has a sister. A girl in 11th grade also endowed with intellegence, gentility, and above-all strength. She deeply cared for her brother. She believed herself as his protectorate. When the boy missed began missing school days I asked her sister, "how is he?". "He has a cold Mr. Nema." Ok just make sure he gets the missing the assignments, they're always posted behind my desk. A few days later, I asked her again about his health. "He's still sick, its not very good, so I don't think he can do the late assignments anytime soon." Thats ok I said, just remember if you ever need them, you know where they are. Three days ago, she didn't come to school. A student with impecable attendence didn't come to school. I remember now how sad I was that day. I remember how one of my students in 9th grade asked me if the boy was ok. I told her that he was sick with a cold. But I remember I said it with a voice trembling. There was also a look of sadness and worry on the child's face. After class I sat in a students desk, with a pen in my class scratching off a piece of vulgarity a child had left on his desk with whiteout. My head down and laying across my arm, a teacher passed by and asked me if I was ok. I said yes. But I will not lie, I had the premonition that the boy was dead. It was the day after that I found out that he had passed away, a victim of a cold. A common cold, the type we take NyQuil for and is cured overnight. The boy's immune system had passed away, and with it allowed his body to die as well. By the next morning, the entire school knew. I have been told that there is no way a teacher can prepare for death. There's no way to explain it to their students, or learn how to react. When I walked into my 9th grade class, I will tell you, I did not know what to do. I was scared. I saw them sitting in their desks, with Qurans laid out in front of them, some of the 12th graders reading verses for the children who were closest to the boy. The girls were sitting on the ground against the wall of the classroom, with their faces in their hands, while a sheikh sang verses outloud from one of their cellphones. The scene was too surreal for me; too unexpected. I stepped out to breathe, and when I went back in I told them to rise and walk with me outside. I couldn't handle being closed up in a classroom. I had no right to be their teacher today when I was as lost as they were. And so we did, and we talked. Some of them laughed in remembrance, and others went off on their own to be in solitude. I didn't teach them anything about literature or english. Instead, I remembered what death meant when you are young. That same night, I reluclantly went to his funeral. I didn't see his sister, nor did I want to. I don't think I could handle that; no, I know I wouldn't. In accordance to custom, I met his father and introduced myself. My name is Mr. Nema, and your son was one of my best students, he was a pleasure to teach. "Yes, I know you, my son talked about you a lot in the past couple months. Thank you very much for having him in your class and being a teacher to him." I told him that I ought to thank him for having such a son...all while I was lost for words and confused in thought. There isn't much to say. Its noon now in Cairo, and the wind has picked up. The sand has filled the air. In part I am as confused as the weather. In whole though, after writing this, I know now that there is nothing to be worried about. I am confused...but then again so is life.|W|P|107847990121793036|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/03/2004 05:54:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Confused One of my students died today. I don't know what to think or feel.|W|P|107832387836198168|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/03/2004 01:54:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|Oil Deals and Industrialization I find it heavily ironic that Hadad Adel, the newly elected conservative to the Iranian Majlis, has used the term "Islamic Japan," to describe, what has now become staple in the conservative rhetoric, of Iran's new industrialization drive. This of course on the heels of Iran's new oil deal with Japan for a part of the giant Azadegan field, worth approximately $2 billion. It is clear that the US has objected to this plan from the start. But why relent now? Why not the hoopla after the agreement. As one scholar has questioned

Has Japan gotten a green light from the US? Particularly with regards to the Azadegan's contract; Or, have the Japanese decided to depart from US and follow their own course of action? Could the conservatives rely on Japan to impose their vision of a new Iranian political economy?

US officials have already stated that while the oil field deal could make Japan subject to U.S. sanctions, the State Department did not plan on rushing to judgment. One publication has stated that:

the Japanese government went ahead with the project probably because it believed two things: the United States would yield because Iran agreed to accept compulsory inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency at the end of 2003, and Japan's dispatch of Self-Defense Forces units to Iraq would soften U.S. concerns.

I have no doubt that US concerns have become less. However, from that there ought to be more analysis in terms of effects in Iran's domestic situation. Is it ultimately in the US's best interest to befriend conservatives in Iran? And if so, does that mean that the China Model, as envisioned by new conservatives, is successfully running its track? I'm open to discussion.|W|P|107830945048667970|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com3/01/2004 07:15:00 PM|W|P|NMilaninia|W|P|What It Means To Be a Human Rights Scholar An email from my roommate

hey guys, just in case anyone was wondering..... am in Uganda for the next couple of weeks.... will be moving the northern side of the country in a few days. for those of you who are in the know, northern Uganda has been a war-zone for the last 18 years. between 21st feb when I stepped here and today, there has been at least two massacres involving no less 200 deaths. as for why am going there, no worries: I hope to be back in time to finish the course.......... -Me

Crazy bastard|W|P|107815595186411963|W|P||W|P|nmilaninia@gmail.com