The Tales of the Zirzameen

Iran Policy in US Congress this week

zirzamee — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:14:00 +0000

Dear Brian,

It has been a whirlwind week on Iran policy as the U.S. gears up for new talks with Iran, and I want to give you all the important details from Capitol Hill.

We accomplished a number of goals: we got protections for the Persepolis Tablets, there will be votes to make clear there is no authorization for war with Iran and to support diplomacy, and there was a rejection of shifting the redline for war and placing a “zero enrichment” ultimatum on U.S.-Iran talks.

Jamal Abdi NIAC

https://secure3.convio.net/niac/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=201

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Shamshone, Sun of Assyria by Brian H. Appleton

zirzamee — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:22:00 +0000

Here is what Ambassador Limbert has to say about my new book"Shamshone, Sun of Assyria" coming out in the Fall :

"A moving story, beautifully told. Brian Appleton has painted for us an exquisite portrait of the disappearing multi-ethnic ...society of the Middle East. He captures a reality that unfortunately threatens to vanish under the forces of intolerance and the drive for uniformity."

John W. Limbert, Distinguished Professor of International Affairs at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Ambassador, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iran in the
State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Iran and UN IAEA Talks in Vienna

zirzamee — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:03:00 +0000

http://news.yahoo.com/iran-official-says-talks-iaea-good-environment-constructive-081545405.html

VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog ended two days of talks on Tuesday by agreeing to meet again next week, just two days before Tehran resumes negotiations with world powers concerned it may be seeking to develop atomic bomb capability.

While both sides were upbeat about the discussions, which will continue on Monday, there was no word on whether the U.N. agency had made progress towards one of its main aims - to secure access to a suspect military site near Tehran.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

The use of drones is wrong...tell your president and representatives!

zirzamee — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:48:00 +0000

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Urge your congressman to vote yes on ammendments to NDAA now!

zirzamee — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Dear Brian,

Tell your Representative to support amendments to the NDAA that call for an expedited US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, no war with Iran, and an end to "signature" drone strikes.

Take Action

This week, the House is considering the National Defense Authorization Act. Amendments will be offered to expedite military withdrawal from Afghanistan, to oppose war with Iran, to cut the military budget, and to end "signature" drone strikes that target people without knowing who will be killed.

Call your Representative in the House and urge him or her to support amendments to expedite Afghanistan withdrawal, prevent war with Iran, and prohibit "signature" drone strikes.

It is likely that calling your Representative will have the most impact at this time. So if you can call, please do. FCNL has provided a toll-free number to reach the Capitol Switchboard: 1-877-429-0678. When you reach the Switchboard, ask to be transferred to your Rep's office.

If you're not able to call this time, you can write to your Representative using this link:

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/ndaa2013

At this writing, we don't know for sure which amendments will be allowed for consideration on the floor this week, and we might not find this out until shortly before the amendments are considered. But it is very likely that amendments offered by Rep. Adam Smith, by Reps. Jim McGovern and Walter Jones, and by Rep. Barbara Lee will be allowed that would press the President to expedite U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Representative John Conyers is offering an amendment that would push back against the drive for war with Iran. The amendment, offered jointly with Rep. Ron Paul and Rep. Walter Jones, would make explicit that nothing in the bill authorizes the use of force.

Rep. Conyers is also offering amendments that would cut the military budget by cutting spending on the F-35, by moving ahead with retirement of 18 Global Hawk drones, by delaying or canceling the new strategic bomber.

Representative Dennis Kucinich, supported by Rep. Conyers, is offering an amendment [1] that would prohibit the military from carrying out drone strikes against unidentified targets. Senior U.S. officials have expressed concern that such "signature strikes" greatly increase the risk of civilian casualties. Rep. Kucinich and Rep. Conyers are also circulating a letter [2] to the Administration demanding that the Administration provide information to Congress about civilian casualties from drone strikes, how drone strikes are targeted, and how innocent victims of drone strikes are compensated.

You can urge your Representative to support initiatives to end the war in Afghanistan, stop war with Iran, and end "signature" drone strikes by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 1-877-429-0678. Or you can write them using this link:

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/ndaa2013

Thank you for all you do to help bring about a more just foreign policy,

Robert Naiman, Chelsea Mozen, Sarah Burns and Megan Iorio
Just Foreign Policy

Please support our work. Donate for a Just Foreign Policy.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate

References:

1. "Kucinich/Conyers amendment to NDAA: Prohibit conduct of drone strikes on unidentified targets," http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/1223
2. "Kucinich/Conyers: Ensure Transparency and Accountability In The U.S. Combat Drone Program," http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/1219

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Call your congressman now, today May 15th and tell them to vote NO on HR 568

zirzamee — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:32:00 +0000

https://secure3.convio.net/niac/site/Advocacy?alertId=209&pg=makeACall&JServSessionIdr004=0836d7drg5.app331b

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Perceptions of Persia

zirzamee — Sun, 13 May 2012 03:29:00 +0000

In their second volume of "Major Problems in American Foreign Relations," published in 2010, Dennis Merrill and Thomas Paterson explain that Western cultural representations of the Third World are so steeped in "'orientalist' tones - exotic yet primitive, weak, female, childlike, racially inferior, and in need of supervision" that "Cold War era policymakers were themselves socially conditioned and often viewed others through the Orientalist lens" and "tended to perceive fiery Third World nationalists...as emotionally unstable, politically immature, and threatening to U.S. interests." Consequently, "[t]hese perceptions justified policies designed to control Third World nationalism and equated self-interested U.S. intervention with parental or civilizational duty."

comment:

suffice it to say that all perceptions are self serving neoclonial in nature when it comes to West/USA vis Iran,

Rasool

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Iraj Ghaderi has passed away

zirzamee — Mon, 07 May 2012 06:07:00 +0000

just got back from a work trip and found out the legendary Iranian actor and director, Iraj Ghaderi has passed away. I am at a loss for words.....All I can say is that he will forever live in the hearts of three generations and millions of Iranians. He will be missed very much. RIP

Shohreh Aghdashlou

Original post blogged on b2evolution.