May 17, 2011
Dear Honorable General Wesley Clark,
It was a pleasure meeting you at UCLA conference on "Can Iran Come In from the Cold" last Friday, May 13th. Please take a moment to review this letter and the attached NED Report.
On behalf of the Iranian-American community, we would like to express our sincerest gratitude and thanks for your interest and attention to issues related to Iran.
In a defamation lawsuit brought against Mr. Hassan Dai an Iranian-American prominent political researcher, journalist and Human Rights advocate , who asserted in 2007 that NIAC was lobbying for Iran, a series of NIAC's less public work has come to light through e-mails, documents, board of directors meeting minutes and strategy memos that were made public as part of the discovery process that clearly shows NIAC has been advocating for policies favorable to the Islamic (non)Republic government in Iran.
The Washington Times, in a comprehensive article on NIAC and its executive Director Mr. Parsi published on November 13, 2009, provides alarming details of NIAC's behind the scene activities. The article states that NIAC failed to register as an "agent of a foreign power." The article further elaborates that "NIAC is using its influence for policies favorable to Iran in violation of federal law. If so a number of prominent Washington figures could come to regret their ties to the group."
Within that spirit, we attempt to inform prominent decision makers, politicians and persons of influence to avoid a potential future embarrassment.
On February 26, 2011, Mr. Parsi had scheduled a public event in Dallas Texas to talk about the U.S. foreign Policy with the President Obama's past two years in the office. Dr. Arash Irandoost, along with 85 other Iranians attended the meeting. When he attempted to enter the building, was stopped at the door and was told that he would not be allowed to the meeting since he was there to create disturbance. When he objected, he was told that he would not be allowed to ask questions! When he politely objected, he was given an index card to write his question. All were told at the meeting that they were not allowed to record the meeting, take photos nor could they discuss it outside the meeting, they were shocked and very disappointed. Even worse, Dr. Irandoost’s submitted question was completely altered to which, again, he politely objected. Subsequently, he was asked to leave the meeting for disorderly conduct.
Dear General Clark, Dr. Irandoost had taken his wife and an Iranian refugee guest who had been tortured by the regime to listen to Mr. Parsi's speech. Earlier, he had written an article titled, NIAC and US Foreign Policy toward Iran, disputing Mr. Parsi's misleading and deceptive assertions about the criminal regime in Iran. Dr. Irandoost was very interested in asking him questions and was looking forward to a robust and substantive exchange. He is a law abiding, reputable educator, researcher and political analyst and a citizen of the United States. The Iranians in attendance we totally upset and many left the meeting and one Iranian American reporter expressed her objection and many proceeded to leave the meeting in objection to the manner Mr. Parsi conducted the meeting. Imagine if you will, an American was denied of his right to free speech and ask questions of a person who purports to represent him and the Iranian-American community. Mr. Parsi is not even an U.S. citizen!
A point worthy of mention here is that NIAC had listed two prominent national organizations, The World Affairs Council and The Press Club of Dallas as sponsors of the event. He had contacted both organizations' Board of Directors to share his experience and register a complaint about his experience and the treatment he received. Alarmingly, both organizations replied that they were not informed of such an event and they had not approved nor sponsored it. Mr. Parsi had lied about their sponsorship!
Dear General Clark, we have been researching NIAC for several years now and there is a similar pattern virtually in everything NIAC engages in. There is adequate documentation that of NIAC misappropriating the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) funds, which Dr. Irandoost has dutifully reported to the Offices of Inspector General and NED Internal Audit, He was told that my complaint regarding NIAC's embezzlement of federal funds was referred to the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) on September 2010.
Dr. Trita Parsi and NIAC is shunned by the Iranian American community. We overwhelmingly believe that is a lobbyist for the Islamic Republic. In a survey conducted of NIAC by the Pro-Democracy Movement of Iran, over 95% of the Iranians believe that NIAC does not represent their interests nor their views. We respectfully request your assistance in reaching out to various decision makers to make our points and views known about NIAC. We believe that the Islamic Republic is a criminal regime with the blood of our soldiers on its hands. It is a proven fact that they provided training and IED’s to Iraqi and AlQaeda insurgents which caused severe injuries and death of our brave soldiers.
Again, I would like to express my sincerest thanks for your interest and attention to this matters and issues related to Iran.
Sincerely,
Sheri Alavandian
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