The Americans of Iranian Heritage Call for Dialogue with, and Condemns Possible Military Actions against IRAN

Mr. President Bush, Members of the US Government (three branches), and Media:

There is compelling evidence to conclude that the US administration, while avoiding direct negotiation so far, is preparing for an oil-driven confrontation with Iran that could range from imposing universal sanctions, to military interventions. Remember Vietnam and Iraq Quagmires? It is deja-vu all over again, as those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat the same mistakes. Whereas noone denies the repressive nature of the current government in Iran on domestic matters, and the belligerent rhetorical tone of its government leadership on foreign policy and nuclear technology issues, these imperfections must not give pretext to a superpower to inflict pain and sufferings on a whole nation. The seventy million people of Iran, since the 1906 Iranian Constitution and as evidenced by the only democratically elected Prime Minister Dr. Mossdegh of the fifties who was overthrown by the in part US sponsored Coup Detat, and particularly since the 1979 revolution, have repeatedly expressed their longings for democracy and freedom through ballot boxes and civilian unrests. The majority of the four million Iranians in Diaspora, especially the one million Americans of Iranian heritage, are unequivocally opposed to any level of military action against their motherland where they still possess strong family and cultural ties. Conversely, they by and large envisage direct multi-lateral negotiations anchored on mutual respect in which the US takes a strong leadership role, as the alternative to yet another war that could lead to the possible loss of lives of tens of thousands American and allied soldiers, economic loss in the hundreds of billions, and catastrophic loss of Iranian lives and infrastructures unprecedented in modern times. The Iranian-Americans from all walks of life, one of the most vibrant, educated and affluent immigrant communities of the twentieth century and recognized for their substantial contributions to the betterment of America, reaffirm their allegiance to the US first and foremost. In fact, it is due to such conviction that they, similar to the majority of their Americans aspire to uphold the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights by opposing those government policies that result in waste of our human and material resources on the one hand, while tarnishing the US stature and credibility in the international community, on the other. By the same token, they yearn for homegrown fundamental democratic reforms in Iran through critical multi-lateral engagement that does not involve meddling by outsiders. Finally, it is anticipated that the US Government safeguard the full protection of its Iranian-Americans under the code of law when it comes to their security and realization of personal and professional aspirations.