Iran: Threats, Challenges and Prospects for Change

IRAN: THREATS, CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR CHANGE -- HON. WM. LACY CLAY (Extensions of Remarks - March 29, 2006)

HON. WM. LACY CLAY OF MISSOURI IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

* Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday February 15, 2006, a briefing was conducted in the Canon Caucus room of the U.S. House of Representatives. Entitled: Iran: Threats, Challenges and Prospects For Change, the briefing was sponsored by bipartisan group of Members of Congress. During this event speakers assessed the current situation in Iran, the Iranian nuclear threat and the status of the Iranian opposition group, the MEK. I would like to take this opportunity to share with all of my colleagues my opening statement and some of the highlights from the remarks of the panelists:

I would like to begin by thanking all of the Iranian Americans who have traveled to Capitol Hill today to hear the views of our expert panelists. I also want to thank my fellow members of Congress who are here with us in support of this event. Let me start by recognizing TOM TANCREDO of Colorado, thank you for being here, and also Congressman BOOZMAN of Arkansas. Can we give them both a hand for their participation [applause]. I also want to thank our distinguished panelists for taking the time to share their insights and understanding of current events in Iran. It is critically important that all Americans understand the true nature of the grave threat posed by the radical extremists, anti American regime in Tehran. We're facing a very dangerous crisis with Iran today. The Iranian government is sponsoring terrorism, developing nuclear weapons, meddling in the future of Iraq and violating the fundamental human rights of their own people. The world community cannot afford to allow the Iranian mullahs to continue to be a regional threat or to grow into a nuclear threat. For too many years we have done nothing to help the Iranian people--inside and outside of Iran--in their struggle for democracy. For too many years we have tolerated terrorism and violence from Iranian extremists. It is time to take action. If we fail to take action against the mullahs meddling in Iraq we risk the future of the Iraqi people and we may find that the Iranian regime and not the Iraqi people were the real winners of the Iraq war.

U.S. policies toward Iran have failed to achieve our goals. While many advocate more dialogue with Tehran our time is running short. We must seize the opportunity to aid the people of Iran and it is time to give support to the Iranian people who have longed for democracy for more than a quarter of a century. I am troubled by the strategy of our government and the insistence that the Iranian government and the Iranian opposition, the MEK are equal threats to peace and freedom. There is no logic in this reasoning and it is undermining our foreign policies. The U.S. must exercise a genuine commitment to helping the Iranian people overcome the oppressive regime that despises democratic principles and denies fundamental human rights.

I commend all who are working today for the sake of human rights, peace and democracy in the Middle East. I share your vision of a free and peaceful Iranian nation.

* The first panelist to address the briefing was Professor Raymond Tanter the former member of the National Security Agency and the President of Iran Policy Committee. His statement began:

Please allow me to cut to the chase and begin with my conclusions: Coercive diplomacy, military action, and regime change for Iran are three options for the international community. Rather than sliding into military action as coercive diplomacy also fails, it is time to consider regime change for Iran. Because the only possibility to carry out regime change is via the groups feared by the regime in Tehran, the United States should remove their terrorist designation. Coercive diplomacy combines threat of force with promise of diplomacy. For several years, the European Union pursued a policy of promise without threat, ostensibly in order to bolster the fortunes of moderates like former President Mohammad Khatami relative to the likes of the Supreme Leader and President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Rather than reinforcing the moderates, however, there has been a consolidation of power under the Supreme Leader and his selected President Ahmadinejad. Professor Tanter went on to say: President Bush should issue a Finding or Presidential Directive authorizing all appropriate measures to effect regime change in Iran

* The next panelist to address the conference was Ms. Lynn Derbyshire who is a representative of victims of terrorism in Beirut She recently testified in the U.S. Congress against the Mullah's regime support of terrorism. She started her remarks with the story of her brother who was killed in Beirut by the Iranian regime. Ms. Derbyshire then explained that placing the Iranian Resistance in the terrorist list was a present to the clerical regime in Iran. She said: ``Ahmadinejad, not Iranian Resistance, is a terrorist.'' She continued on saying that ``Iranian and American people basically want the same thing. They all want to put a stop on terrorism.''

* Lt. General Tom McInerney (USAF, ret.), former Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and an IPC Co-Chair, also addressed the briefing. He examined the military option toward Iran: and said:

The United States has the ability to target the known nuclear sites of Iran and delay its nuclear weapons program. With such capability in hand and in the context of failing diplomacy, we should leave the military option on the table. General McInerney added: However, military alternatives have risks, which suggest that choosing the military option should be a last resort. Prior to taking military action, it is important to begin a regime change clock. McInerney concluded: Regime change begins when the Great Powers remove Iranian opposition groups from so-called terrorist lists. I favor removing of the Mujahedeen-e Khalq from such lists; empowering the Iranian people by recognizing their main opposition groups; building an Arab political coalition to support these opposition groups; and eroding the legitimacy of Tehran regime to point where it collapses in face of determined efforts of the Iranian people working through dissidents and exiles.

* The next speaker to address the briefing was Mr. Bruce McColm, President, Institute for Democratic Strategies, a non-profit organization committed to strengthening democratic processes abroad. In his remarks he asked:

Can we imagine one day saying that Iran is an island of democratic stability in a turbulent region? We can if we help the Iranian people stand up and demand a greater say in their government and in their own lives.

Since the days of the Iranian Revolution, we in the West have viewed the Iranian people as victims of a repressive regime. Some thought the period of the Khatami Presidency could usher in much-needed reforms, a little more respect for basic human rights, and possibly the day when a democracy could be established and the Iranian people could take their rightful place in the world community. The election--I mean, selection--of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as President should dispel this illusion once and for all.

Now is the time when we should stop looking at Iranians as victims and use our considerable resources to empower this talented civilization so it can create the free, prosperous society their considerable talents are capable of.

If we are serious about regime change in Iran, what can be done?

Attempts by the United States and the European Union to placate the leadership of Iran by placing the MEK on the proscribed list of terrorist organizations should end. It is way past time to take back lran's lone diplomatic victory over the past fifteen years. De-List the MEK and the NCRI now. It is the right thing to do.

Before his recent execution, MEK activist, 30-year old Hojjat Zamani wrote Kofi Annan a letter to encourage the United Nations investigation of the status of the families of political prisoners in Iran. He was too aware that the Iranian regime has been adroit in blackmailing families of those involved in activities considered contrary to the regime. This practice continues to this day. The international community should create a fund in Zamani's name to subsidize the families of political prisoners so as to alleviate their financial suffering.

* The last speaker was Mr. Nasser Rashidi who showed a picture of the Mojahedin member, Hojjat Zamani and announced his execution by the Iranian regime which took place on February 7th. He highly praised all the political prisoners and said that the people of Iran are determined to bring freedom and democracy back to their homeland no matter what price they have to pay. Mr. Rashidi said that the people of Iran have already sacrificed 120,000 of their best children who have been executed to bring freedom to their country and they will pay even more. He continued as saying:

* It is a mistake to believe that only one individual in the ruling elite is aiming to wipe another country off the map. The colossal mistake is to name the enemy as the individual called Ahmadinejad and not the ideology. The rulers of Iran are representing an ideology that is called ``Islamic Fundamentalism'', or sometimes is called ``Islamic Extremism.'' He said that many members of both chambers have expressed their opposition to the designation of MEK as an FTO. He thanked the many congressional advisors and staff present at the meeting for supporting the Iranian people and their resistance. He then pointed out the latest news conference held by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi in Auver-sur-Oise, France where she said:

* If the West stops giving concessions to the mullahs, petro-dollars do not fill the mullahs' coffers, silence and inaction vis-a-vis the systematic human rights abuses and terrorist crimes are ended, and the terrorist list as well as other unjust restrictions on the Resistance are removed, change would be within reach.

* At the conclusion of the three hour briefing reporters interviewed the panelists about the Iranian threat.

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