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Once again the neo-cons have given Reza Pahlavi a platform, but it is not clear who the intended audience is. The feigned altruistic appeal in his speech bears an eerie resemblance to the rehearsed Iraqi appeals before that country was invaded. Those appeals cost over one million Iraqi lives. This is a well-written speech, disguised as it may be, to convince. Whether the speech was delivered to persuade the American public of the necessity of intervention and war or the purpose of it was the alienation of Iran’s Arab neighbors, much like his father had in favor of Israel, one can be certain that Norman Podhoretz has given it his blessings, if indeed he has not been the writer himself.
It must be recalled that the events of 9/11 and the tragedy that struck America transformed George W. Bush. On November 19, 1999, Bush the candidate delivered a speech at the Ronald Reagan library at Simi California saying: ….. “And let us have an American foreign policy that reflects American character; the Modesty of true strength, the humility of real greatness.” However, 9/11 prompted him to turn over the foreign policy of the country to the neo-cons who had been waiting in the wings for decades, and who had planned the assault on the Middle East for over a decade. They were ready with a response and in effect, they hijacked the American foreign policy.
On September 20, 2001, Mr. Bush’s assertions were that the United States would pursue global terrorist groups and any nation that harbors or supports terrorism. His National Security Agenda (2002 NSS) was quintessentially neoconservative calling for preemption. Underlying the Bush foreign policy is the assumption that the use of military force to overthrow non cooperative governments in troubled areas is the remedy for terrorism; a page from neo-con D. Perle’s book “An End to Evil”.
Pahlavi invites an attack on Iran by stating that “Iran's clerical regime's continued support for terrorism”.
For neo-cons it is easy to push their agenda and convince the general public that the policies being implemented are based on American values as so many of them have careers in the media or academia (they developed a close tie with Georgetown Center for Strategic Studies among others). One such promoter of American ‘values’ is Benador Associates. Benador Associates arranges their TV appearances and speaking engagements, and helps to place their articles in newspapers. Ms. Benador, the founder of Benador Associates, along with Senator Liberman is busy promoting Reza Pahlavi (Lieberman endorsed McCain who likes to sing Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran). It is worthwhile mentioning another very prominent Benador client and Reza Pahlavi’s colleague and promoter.
Michael Ledeen, the contributing editor of National Review Online has endorsed the "Total war strategy" - His idea is advanced through Benador Associates. “Total War Strategy” was first put forward by Adam G. Mersereau. Ledeen writes: “The method used to destroy Iran, as known in the neo-con circle, will be 'Total War'. A total war strategy does not have to include the intentional targeting of civilians, but the sparing of civilian lives cannot be its first priority ... The purpose of total war is to permanently force your will onto another people group.” See Guardian
Pahlavi calls the regime in Iran terrorists, aware that such definitions will draw the US military into a bloody battle for the preemption doctrine. He is not mindful of the fact that bringing death and destruction to innocent civilians is the ultimate in terror.
More importantly, language is the best tool for political and social dominance. Those who ‘own’ the language can use value-laden terminology to their great advantage and ‘define’ the other. Terrorism is the definition given by the neo-cons to those they wish to master. It is only relevant if one heeds it. The intellect is often sharper than the biting words. However, it would seem that Reza Pahlavi has felt the need to adapt to his inferior position and adapted to the prevailing definition of social order by trading status for security.
Reza Pahlavi must also know that Iran’s history is filled with a pattern of external powers collaborating and destroying the country’s advancement in its nascent stages at every turn, whether technological empowerment as in the case of the railway, or socio-political, such as democracy and the nationalization of oil, or the current self sufficiency in seeking nuclear technology.
He should recall that after the concessions granted by the Persian government to the (Russian) Discount and Loan Bank of Persia for the construction of the railway line Julfa-Tabriz (1913), the ‘allied’ forces in line with Winston Churchill’s advice, forced the man who had built it, his grandfather, Reza Shah Pahlavi, to abdicate and leave the country. Iran’s democracy and its oil nationalization movement of 1951 to 1953 under Mossadegh were brought to an end by the British with the help of the CIA-backed coup. His father owed his throne to the CIA, it is worthwhile mentioning. Today, it seems that Reza Pahlavi is asking the same favor from similar groups.
And his lack of understanding of nuclear power…
Pahlavi should know that at the Iraq war created a pro-natalist atmosphere. Families were even given incentives to have more children. In addition, the war caused immense damage to the infrastructure prompting the new government to rethink its position about starting up the nuclear power plants. Furthermore, according to Saad Rahim, an analyst at Washington consultancy PFC Energy claims that Iran needs to diversify its energy needs in addition to a change in its policies, otherwise, "Iran's net crude exports could fall to zero." But since Pahlavi’s concerns are to please the neocon bosses, and to convince the American people that Iran is a threat, the truth is being concealed.
On every continent nuclear and radiation techniques are put in the service of humankind. Recently, it was witnessed that due to a problem with a Canadian nuclear reactor that produces medical isotopes used to diagnose and treat cancer and cardiovascular disease, patients in Canada, U.S. and other countries had their tests and treatment postponed. Since Pahlavi is in the U.S., he is no doubt indifferent to the plight of the Iranians and their welfare.
Iranian nationalists have asked the world at large, America in particular to leave them alone. Pahlavi has no love for Iranians, much less an understanding of them. Even the Cuban-Americans who have held the foreign policy of this country towards Cuba hostage for decades, do not have the audacity to select a leader and have someone represent Cuba from exile. A self-appointed traitor who has surrendered his reins to the neo-cons does not speak for Iranians.Comment
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From January 18 2008 Interview on BBC Youth Program.
The Former Crown Prince of Iran Reza Pahlavi speaks openly on all issues in regard to his political role and struggle as well as to issues regarding his father's reign, Personal Fortune and the state of the opposition,the attitude of the MKO, Iran Iraq War, His position in regard to threats of War with Iran, on efficiency of Sactions and on civil dissobedience.
Plus Q&A with compatriots.
I leave the interpretation and/or pertinence of this interview to the sagacity of you listeners/Readers:
part 1:
YouTube - King Cyrus Reza Pahlavi January 18 2008 part 1
Part 2:
YouTube - King Cyrus Reza Pahlavi January 18 2008 part 02
Part 3:
YouTube - King Cyrus Reza Pahlavi January 18 2008 part 03
Part 4:
YouTube - King Cyrus Reza Pahlavi January 18 2008 part 04Comment
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VOA coverage with Former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi greeted by members of the French Parliament and Senat Ministers. This meeting was held last June :
YouTube - PRINCE CYRUS REZA PAHLAVI IN PARISComment
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Thank you. Why don't they say what is up with this regime and the fact that they want to get paid before they leave? And all the hola hoop is about how much they want to get paid before they hand over the crown.
Counting the days....Comment
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پیام شاهزاده رضا پهلوی بمناسبت نوروز ۱۳۸۷
دبيرخانه رضا پهلوي
پنجشنبه 1 فروردين 1387
هم میهنان عزیزم،
همواره حیات و دوام ملت ها با قابلیت آنها در تولید، حفظ و اشاعۀ فرهنگ خویش در پیوندی تنگاتنگ بوده است. همواره، پایداری هرملتی در عرصۀ تاریخ، با استواری فرهنگی آن ملت عجین بوده است. اهل اندیشه و ایران شناسان، ملت ما را فرهنگجو و سرزمین ایران را از مهمترین بسترهای فرهنگ خیز در پهنۀ تمدن بشری به شمار آورده اند. تا فرهنگ ایران هست؛ تا ایرانی قابلیت خود را در خلق و تولید و سپس پاسداری از ارزش های هنری و ادبی و اخلاقی، در بطن ملت خود، با تمام تکثر آن، زنده نگه دارد؛ ایران و ایرانی زنده و پا برجا خواهد ماند.
در ژرفای سرد و تاریک تحجر، همین پابرجایی فرهنگی بوده و هست که ملت ما را زنده و زاینده نگه داشته است. براستی اگر شما ملت در برابر تهاجم فرهنگ ستیز جاهلیت در این سال ها نایستاده بودید، برچهارشنبه سوری، برتخت جمشید، برچهل ستون و بر نوروز ما چه می رفت؟ این شما ملت ایران و پیشتازان هنری و فرهنگی امان بوده اید، که خداوند جان و خِرد را در برابر این بی خدایان نهاده اید. این شما بودید که جهل را با علم، کراهت را با زیبایی و ماتم این شادی ستیزان را به پایبندی به آئین هزار و هزاران سالۀ خود پاسخ گفتید.
هم میهنانم،
نوروز، ستایش زندگی ست. زندگی، زیباترین زیبایی ها و ارزش ارزش هاست.
هم میهنان عزیزم،
فصلی نو و روزی نو و طرحی نو در پیش است. بهارانتان خجسته و نوروزتان فرخنده باد، که ایرانی نو در پیش است، سربلند و پوینده.
نوروزتان شاد و پیروز باد، که ایرانی آزاد و شکوفا در افق نمایان است که درآن، نخستین و آخرین رسالت دولتمردان و دولتزنانش، هیچ نباشد مگر رفاه، آسایش و امنیت ایرانی.
خداوند نگهدار ایران باد
رضا پهلوی
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Thank you.Comment
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Reza Pahlavi on elections
Interview with CNN on recent parliamentary elections
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPsIUa-Q86A"]YouTube - Reza Pahlavi II - On Iran's March2008 election[/ame]Comment
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Reza Pahlavi has by and large been reticent on the issue of religion. He mainly mentions it in order to reiterate his belief in an Iran where the separation of Mosque and state are absolute. In a part of the Middle East where religion runs deep roots within the collective consciousness of the population, playing the religious card seems to be a powerful temptation for a leader who wishes to unite the masses under his flag. Nevertheless Mr Pahlavi during his long and arduous campaign has consistently refused to give in to any such temptation.
There are political experts who argue that if the Iranian prince would have sprinkled his speeches with Islamic catchwords or would have sent messages on the occasions sacred to the Shiites, he would have done marvels to arouse the pious-minded masses of his nation. Under the present circumstances where the clerical establishment has lost its moral credibility and has been exposed as destroyers of authentic Islamic values, it would have been easy for the Iranian crown prince to stir religious sentiments and pose as the defender and potential restorer of the nation's Islamic faith.
Not displaying any outward sign of religiosity, the son of the late Shah of Iran whose namesake Imam Reza is Iran's most revered saint is nevertheless far from being indifferent to spiritual belief. He has named one of his daughters Iman (faith in Arabic) and although he never refers to it, he has performed the sacred duty required of devout Muslims of making a pilgrimage to Mecca. His refusal therefore to bring the religious factor into his campaign has been a matter of principle rather than apathy.
This principle is rooted in an outlook that the Iranian prince considers as indispensable for the future of his country as a modern democracy and a just society. Although the most dominant sect in Iran is Shiite Islam, the country is a religious mosaic that includes Shiite and Sunni Muslims, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Baha'is, Sufis. For a statesman, public identification with one of the religious denominations of the county, albeit the most numerous one amounts to discrimination against the rights of others who adhere to a different faith. It undermines the impartiality and the inclusiveness of the office he is representing.
Reza Pahlavi's vision of a secular government is not unlike the dream of another modern, progressive statesman in a different era and different country. John F. Kennedy believed in an America where the head of state did not represent any particular religious group but stood up for the rights and freedoms of all citizens. In a speech delivered to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association in 1960, the then democratic presidential candidate who was a Catholic insisted that his religious faith should be considered as a private matter and ought in no way interfere with his discharging of his responsibility as the president of the United States of America. In that address he highlighted his belief in an America which "… is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish; where no public official either requests or accept instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source; where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials, and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all".
Prince Reza Pahlavi's dream of the separation of religion and state in his homeland, although totally at odds with Iran's present system of government, is deeply embedded within the Iranian political tradition and in agreement with the country's tolerant culture and society. Iranian monarchs have a long tradition of acting as a moderating force and a counterweight against the bulldozing power of dominant religion. The biblical story of King Darius and Daniel is a good example of this moderating influence. It reminds us that although King Darius was initially deceived by the country's elders to sign the order for punishing Daniel for his apparent disregard of an arbitrary law restricting the freedom of worship, eventually he follows not the dictates of the religious leaders, but the voice of his own conscience. Finally he takes the side of one Jew against all his advisers and the country's religious establishment. He proves that as a king his just authority extends over everyone regardless of what they worship privately. (Book of Daniel, Chapter 6)
The crimes and atrocities committed by the clerical regime in the past twenty-nine years in the name of religion have played a crucial role in helping to bring home to the best minds of the Iranian nation the need for a total separation of the institutions of worship and governance. Less sensible minds however have been affected differently. There has been an extremist backlash amongst many Iranians against Islam itself. Books and articles have been written denouncing Islam as a backward and irredeemably violent religion incompatible with advancement and modernity. Some have suggested a return to Zoroastrianism or displayed their preference for some aspects of Christianity.
A clear-eyed examination however proves to an impartial observer that all religions have their positive and negative aspects. For those bent on perpetration of violence it is not difficult to find verses in the Old or New Testament to justify their actions. As far as compatibility with advancement is concerned, one should remember that a great many mediaeval thinkers and scientists who helped to establish the foundation of modern science emerged from within the Islamic civilization.
The Iranian proponents of ditching Islam in favour of a more stylish religion fall into the same trap as the fanatical mullahs, i.e. they confound religious faith with religious doctrine. They strip religion from all its poetic, emotional, cultural and civilisational values and point at its skeletal bareness and deformities. Reduced to their doctrinal bareness and judged on the basis of the misdeeds of their followers all religions fail, and to borrow from the words of St Paul, all 'fall short of the glory of God'.
As in the eyes of the Iranian regime it is an apostasy to publicly declare one's lack of belief in Islam, amongst some circles of the Iranian opposition outside the country, it is considered an anathema to admit that one adheres to the Islamic faith of his or her forefathers or god forbid performs the ritual of prayer. There is no question that Islam bashing sells books in the West and to hurl insults at Moslems has become the best refuge of mediocre Iranian minds and third-rate Middle Eastern intellects. If the Iranian opposition hopes to make any substantial change for better in Iran, it needs to dramatically alter its intolerant attitude and leave religion alone as a matter of private conscience and personal preference.
Reza Pahlavi's stance regarding religion amounts to acknowledging its humanizing and ethical role in shaping the individual character and infusing society with a sense of greater purpose. He has never advocated freedom from religion but freedom of religion. He has astutely understood that the biggest enemy of spiritual Islam is political Islam. In his book Winds of Change he writes:
"… a profound personal commitment to faith has been deeply rooted in Iranian culture and heritage. As one of the cradles of civilization, Iran has been a land of tolerance, a home to a multitude of ethnicities and religions. The respect for individual faith gained root and flourished in our land, and our forefathers were among the first to introduce the concept of a deity and of monotheism to mankind. In all these years, men of the cloth, regardless of which faith they represented, were respected members of our society.
Since the advent of Islam, our clergymen have served as a moral compass. Spirituality has been an inseparable part of our culture. And our men of the cloth have been respected by the various sectors of our society.
But the advent of an Islamic theocracy in 1979 introduced a totally different role for religion and clergy. For the first time, these revolutionary clerics stepped out of the mosques and entered the political arena. Rather than being moral advisers to society, they became the decision makers and attempted to manage the daily affairs of the country. Even worse, they attempted to rewrite our history, our culture and our traditions.
Soon, the once revered clergy had to provide daily answers to the most difficult social, economic, and policy questions. When their answers fell short, so did reverence to them.
Today, moral guidance has been replaced by clerical censorship and dictatorial fiat…The sad fact is that clerical policies have generated a great deal of animosity and resentment - an immense disservice to our religious heritage". (Winds of Change pp. 26-2
What is evident in the above passage is that Prince Reza Pahlavi clearly understands that Iran's religion, unlike its clerical rulers is part and parcel of its rich moral heritage. It was there long before the clerical dictators appeared on the scene and will endure long after they have departed. For the past twenty-nine years Iran's national faith has paid the highest price for the hardest lesson it has learned in the long history of its evolution i.e. to stay within the parameter of private and individual conscience where it belongs and where it can earn the highest reverence and can produce the greatest impact.Comment
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Sarkoob
Protest song by Deev
Note: This video was made by a Reza Pahlavi fan, not Deev, and the song is wrongly attributed to Hichkas.
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Roya tucks in her hair further under her head scarf as she moves to make room for the two new passengers on the back seat of the taxi. As they drive through the crowded streets of Vali Asr, the southern Tehrani taxi driver starts his speech of daily complaints. The passengers join in complaining about the traffic, the government, the price of food, the electricity fall-out, the ruthless ‘gashte ershad’(1) , everything. The taxi driver sighs, “we were stupid to start the revolution, things were so much better when the Shah (2) was still in power. Khoda rahmatesh kone!” (3) He hadn’t finished his words when one of the passengers yelled out “Eh!”
She pointed to a poster taped on a street sign. It was a picture of the late Shah’s son, the Prince in exile, Reza Pahlavi. Roya couldn’t believe it. As they drove by her eyes followed the poster. All the passengers were suddenly mute.
Could it really be?
After thirty year of suffering under an oppressive regime, Roya saw her people turning bitter year after year. After years of being deprived of equal chances, an accountable government or freedom of conscience the people of Iran have almost lost hope that things could ever change. “I only believe that change can happen if we all at once do something to claim it. But we’re all afraid. Nobody wants to get in trouble. We have to struggle to survive, just as it is.” Roya’s cheeks now glow while she takes a sip of her tea in our apartment in Frankfurt. She finally succeeded in her visa application and made it to come and see us after twenty years of being apart.
“Some others wait for a miracle, for an American invasion even!” But nothing good can come from that. Just take a look at Iraq.” Roya has an Economics degree, but works in the advertisement department of a newspaper. “I’m lucky that I even could find a job. Some of my friends weren’t that lucky!”
Iran’s economy made a plunge since the implementation of the unbalanced economic policy of the current administration. “Our country is so rich in natural resources, but our people are impoverished. Why?” Roya doesn’t expect an answer. She sits on our sofa and sips her tea, but in the meantime I know her thoughts linger somewhere on that street sign.
“Do you think he will return to Iran?” Roya looks at me with a shy smile feeling silly to ask me something of which she knows I can impossibly answer with certainty. “Do you think we can do something then, if he would?” I ask while thinking of Obama. “Yes, we can!” Roya’s eyes widened while she raised her voice with excitement. “Do you know just how much supporters he has in Iran? The old people love him because they experienced such better times under his fathers’ reign and the young people love him because he symbolizes an Iran they only know from their parents’ stories. They long to have a better Iran and the Prince is their only hope!” I was surprised. I didn’t expect young people to have an opinion in that area whatsoever.
“But there are still many people who have mixed feelings about the Pahlavi’s, you know,” I tried to settle down her enthusiasm a bit. “I know, but whatever it is that the old Shah did, it could never sum up to what this regime has done to its people!” I paused a little, drinking my tea while thinking of her story of the poster on the street sign. “But what should happen if he decides to return? Should he crown himself and become king?” Roya waited a little and answered “From my point of view he should, because it’s his birth given right, but for Iran it’d be better if he’d just be a leader, whatever name people want to give him.” I sat back on the sofa and tried to imagine how Iran would look like if the Prince would return and support the people to claim a new and different regime. “Harjo marj!”(4)
I remember watching the first public speech of the Prince right after the death of his father, on video. With tears in his eyes he promised the people of Iran that he’d take over the responsibility his father left him with. He used the words “harjo marj” to describe the state in which Iran was at the time. He will have to use those words again in his maiden speech as Iran’s new leader.
I sighed and looked at Roya who now was getting ready to leave again, “Next time you see that poster, make a picture for me, will you?” She smiled and answered teasingly: “You too think we can, don’t you?” “Can do what?” I asked her. “Yes, we can!” She nodded looking confident, and left.
(1) "Gashte ershad": The Iranian moral police. They foremostly bother people on the streets for not wearing proper clothing according to the Islamic codes.
(2) "Shah": "King" in Persian. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was Iran's Shah from 1941 to 1979
(3) "Khoda rahmatesh kone”: May peace be upon him
(4) "Harjo marj": Anarchy and chaos
Visit www.tinaehrami.comComment
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Interview With Reza Pahlavi
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[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DuTvYYV8wA"]YouTube - shahzadeh reza pahlavi nov 21 2008[/ame]Comment
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2) F.O.G Franz Olivier Gisbert Talk Show with Reza Pahlavi in Presence of France's Minister in Charge of Human Rights Rama YADE:
Video available online Top Right Corner of following page:
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3) France Info with Bernard Thomasson (PodCast):
Audio File Here: ( Interesting cause RP say's he does not believe that the Mullah's intend to use an Atomic Bomb but enforce their geo strategic position in the middle east)
L’interview de Reza Pahlavi par Bernard Thomasson (8'23")
Website:
4) Europe 1 With Jean Pierre Elcabache:
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