Sunday, October 03, 2010

Reza Aslan: Running interference for the Islamic Republic of Iran?


Jihad Watch

More on this snake-oil salesman: he is a member of the Advisory Board of the National Iranian Council (NIAC), an organization that has earned the contempt of genuine Iranian freedom fighters by slyly running interference in Washington for the Islamic Republic of Iran. I wrote a piece in July 2009 about NIAC called "The Mullahs' Washington Mouthpiece?," because that is what the NIAC appears to be again and again. See also this enlightening piece by Kenneth Timmerman.

The Iranian human rights activist Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi has kindly sent me this fund-raising letter Aslan sent out on behalf of NIAC, in which Aslan is working the floor to get funds to help NIAC's campaign to prevent a strike against Iran's nuclear program.

Banafsheh,

My name is Reza Aslan. I'm an Iranian American and like you, I care about my family, my community and my two countries - the US and Iran.

I am writing you because I'm very concerned about the risk of war between our two countries - a war that some say is necessary in order to keep the peace.

War cannot keep the peace. War would be devastating for the Iranian people. War would be devastating for America and, indeed, the world. And the first victims would be the human rights and democracy defenders in Iran - those same people who inspired us so much last year.

Each day, this situation becomes more serious. There is even a resolution before Congress to "green light" a first strike on Iran by Israel. This is the first step toward enabling an all-out war. Now that crippling sanctions have been passed, war hawks are openly advocating for what has been their objective all along - an attack on Iran.

We need to make our voices heard. We must act now and not wait for war to start to then try and stop it. We must prevent it.

Watch the Video Message

But are our voices being heard in Washington? Is there anyone representing us?

Fortunately, there is. The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) is the leading voice for our community in Washington DC.

Just two years ago, NIAC worked with leading Jewish-American and peace groups to defeat a Congressional resolution that would have paved the way for a US-Iran war. Our communities stood together and helped avoid disaster.

NIAC is once again leading the way. I'm proud to be a NIAC supporter, and I want you to be a part of this movement too. We need your help. Please make a $100 donation today. Help us raise $50,000 by October 1 and make our voice stronger.

We need to stand together to stop this madness now. That is the least we can do for those fighting for their rights in Iran.

Join us today. Thank you.

Reza Aslan
NIAC Advisory Board Member

__________________________

National Iranian American Council
1411 K St. NW Ste. 600
Washington, DC 20005
ph: (202) 386-6325

Web: www.niacouncil.org
Blog: www.niacINsight.com
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Donate: www.niacouncil.org/donate
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