The writer represents the Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in
Iran (SMCCDI)
February 19, 2004
Senator John Kerry
Dear Senator Kerry:
For the past few months we have listened to and observed with
apprehension and dismay your statements and views
regarding the terrorist theocracy in Iran. Yet, we have
remained silent!
We have read how you refer to the theocratic regime in Iran
as a "democracy;" we have heard how, if elected, as the
president of the United States you intend to "engage" this
barbaric regime; this very terrorist regime that your own
State Department lists as the most active "State Sponsor of
Terrorism."
Why is it, Senator, in all your statements, you don't, even
once, mention the oppressed and suffering masses of Iran?
Obviously, as long as there is such preoccupation with
appeasing the regime, the people of Iran don't even enter
your equation.
For us, recognizing the political season in the United
States, we have maintained our silence respecting the
internal politics of the country. And, above all, we still
believe that United States is cognizant that supporting
terrorist regimes, such as the Islamic Republic, is
contrary to the values of the nation and would gravely
undermine her status as the champion of the democratic
principles and the ideals that she stands for; the very
foundation of America. And, naturally, we fail to see how a
powerful nation could be safer or its national security
interests better served by "engaging" and rewarding a
terrorist regime!
Senator, those Mullahs in Iran know better than most that:
"Money is the mother's milk of politics." After all, they
bought a revolution with it and seized a country. Contrary
to the cynics, we refuse to accept or entertain the idea
that the millions of dollars that the Islamic regime is
disbursing to the Democratic Party, through your supposed
Iranian-American fundraisers or the so-called
Iranian-American PACs or alleged charities, has anything to
do with your comments. Sir, those duplicitous and cunning
Mullahs in Iran are dangling the lure of other advantages,
prior to the elections, to the other side as well.
How a corrupt gang of Mullahs intends to manipulate the
internal politics of a superpower is beyond belief. Even
so, call us fools or na•ve, we like to believe that,
perhaps, in this great democracy, the famous adage:
"Politics stops at waters' edge" may still be true.
Yes, up to now, we have remained silent!
But, Senator, on February 8, 2004, Tehran Times, Mehr News
Agency, as well the newspapers in the United States
reported that: "The office of Senator John Kerry, the
frontrunner in the Democratic presidential primary in the
U.S., sent the Mehr News Agency an E-mail saying that Kerry
will try to repair the damage done by the incumbent
president if he wins the election." And, includes your
statement: "... America needs the kind of leadership that
will repair alliances with countries on every continent
that have been so damaged in the past few years, as well as
build new friendships and overcome tensions with others."
Adding further: "He believes that collaboration with other
countries is crucial to efforts to win the war on terror
and make America safer."
Once informed, obviously, we were outraged and
disillusioned! Senator, by sending such a message directly
to the organs and the megaphones of the dictatorial Islamic
regime you have given them credibility, comfort and
embraced this odious theocracy. You have encouraged and
emboldened a tyrannical regime to use this as propaganda
and declare "open season" on the freedom fighters in Iran.
Sir, by so doing you have assaulted us directly and have
insulted the honor and the dignity of the Iranian people.
Senator Kerry, this E-mail, this latest message has changed
the dynamics completely; this elevates your statements and
actions to another level; this takes it out of the internal
politics of the United States and points it directly at us,
the Iranian people. Senator, how does one "win the war on
terror" by cuddling and pleasing the very terrorist State?
This is beyond our comprehension! And, we fail to
understand, how "collaboration" with a "State Sponsor of
Terrorism" could be "crucial to efforts to win the war on
terror and make America safer?"
Sir, diplomacy does not mean strengthening totalitarian
regimes at the expense and the agony of the citizens of
that country. Protracting the Islamic Republic's survival
in Iran would only prolong our pain and suffering.
Senator, for us, silence no more! And we repeat what we
have been saying to all those who appease the Islamic
regime: You are either with us, with the Iranian People, or
with the regime!
Respectfully,
On behalf of SMCCDI,
Aryo B. Pirouznia (for the Committee)
