NIAC:
Reza Marashi, Research Director, National Iranian American Council
Revolution or civil rights movement? That’s the question I’ve been asked repeatedly as the latest round of protests in Iran commenced. But it’s not the first time I’ve tried to explain what even many inside Iran had trouble explaining. In 2009, I served in the Office of Iranian Affairs at the State Department and was one of a small handful of people who covered the post-election protests from start to finish. Days in, we were asked to clarify how things would end – an impossible question to answer. However, after taking a step back and examining the situation dispassionately, we gave our superiors an assessment that proved correct. Broadly conceived, the core elements of our advice eight years ago remain true today. A few key points illustrate why.
First, we highlighted that there are essentially four pillars of stability for the ruling system in Iran: legitimacy in the eyes of the population; efficiency in managing the affairs of the state; unity amongst political elites; and the government’s monopoly on violence. In 2009, the first two pillars were damaged and exacerbated by cracking down on protestors. Political elites remained at odds to varying degrees until most factions coalesced around Hassan Rouhani four years later in the 2013 presidential election. However, the government’s coercive capacity remained intact – and eventually was on full display.
Fast-forward to the present, and the status quo is arguably a more challenging scenario for protestors. Government legitimacy and efficient management remain damaged, but political elites are thus far not at each other’s throats like they were in 2009. Perhaps more importantly, few would dispute the notion that Iran’s government will once again use force against protestors if survival of the system is thought to be at stake. What’s past is prologue...
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What do you care assholes?
Bring in NIAC and other regime propagandists and lobbyist to spin the uprisings in Iran into a minor "civil right movement," and claim that the people of Iran really love the regime. They just want it tweaked a little bit. Yes...what Iranians are more concerned about is the destruction of the West, liberation for Palestine, and the struggle against imperialism, and Zionism, blah, blah, blah ...really, at times like this I wish that Trump would send these regime spies to GITMO.
I posted a message on Trita Parsi's FB page that he is a terrorist and he ought to be sent to GITMO and the asshole blocked me! If NIACies support IRI violence against protesters in Iran, then it's a fair game to go after TP et al, tie them behind a pick-up truck and drag their sorry hiney on the streets of D.C. violence begets violence!!! Let this be a warning to you NIAC!!!!!
The funny thing is that I just saw a Zarif twit on RP page! this in itself is a faux-pas to address the representative of a regime which is supposed to be vanished forty years ago! and then saying Iranians (as if he is Iranian!) never give up their territorial integrity! admittedly it was funnier than RP himself!
Incidentally, where has Alphabet / comrade / minimalist / etc. Been for the last few days? He has fallen off the face of the planet. He usually spams the site on a daily basis with posts and videos. We can only assume that in light of the events his bosses in Tehran and /or South Lebanon have reassigned him to other sites to comment. I know they're propaganda machine is in full panic node. Iranian.com is in overdrive mode too spewing regime's point of view.
Yes it was mentioned in Persian section too. And it seems that it is a general issue. In 'Balatarin' also the absence of the cyber agents was noticed these days!
They're very active commenting on international news sites. It's all hands on deck for them. The cubicles in Nabatiyeh are working over time.
I was told Alfalfa, Shazde et al have been called upon to guard the gates of the IRI consulate in Toronto!
Trump played it very smart. He has the IR and its cronies exactly where he wants! They can only talk to themselves. Nobody cares about them.
There won’t be a military intervention. They have everything under control. Now it’s Iranian people turn. If they asked for assistance, the situation is ripe enough to provide.
Really, couldnt 'reputatable' media outlets find someone better than this Islamist Regime lackey to tell us his version of what has been happening in Iran over the past four days?
I wonder if JJ's somewhat questionable moves here and there have anything to do with his legitimate concern about the well-being of his friends who are now in captivity in Iran.
With all due respect, I find the act of "blocking without ignoring" cowardice, and unclassy....
This is from Iran.
There's no problem with the grassroots support for monarchy in Iran. Absolutely none whatsoever... The problem rests in the deceitful concept which equates filthy pahlavism with purely national, constitutional monarchism...