Influential US Congressman reaches Iranians' hearts - SMCCDI

The Honorable Curt Weldon has created a wave of hope among many Iranians, on the existence of a firm US and worldwide support for their struggle against the rule of the Islamic republic regime. Thousands of DVDs and video tapes of his two consecutive televised programs, of a total length of 170 minutes, have been reported as circulating clandestinely and changing hands among those Iranians who are unable to watch abroad based Iranian Satellite TVs.

The influential US Congressman (R/PA) addressed millions of Iranians, live on Saturday and on Sunday, by appearing in the programs of the LA based "National Iranian TV" (NITV). These programs, hosted by Zia Attabai of NITV, were scheduled, coordinated and simultaneously translated, in Persian and in English, by Aryo B. Pirouznia of SMCCDI and of the "Iran National Secular Party" (INSP).

After speaking, on Saturday morning (Iran's local time), about the current geopolitical parameters, the plight of Iranians, the dangers posed by the Islamic regime and the US-Iran relations; Mr. Weldon responded to the calls and faxes of several viewers, mostly located inside Iran, on Sunday evening (Iran's local time).

Millions had stayed at their homes or rushed to be beside their friends or relatives, who are capting NITVs programs, in order to watch and/or to participate in the Sunday's unprecedented Q&A. Already the Saturday morning program, which was re-broadcasted several times during the day, had announced the existence of the special Q&A session on Sunday evening.

The two consecutive programs have been replayed several times, on Monday and on Tuesday, following a flow of requests and are subject to most discussions inside and outside of the country.

In part of the Sunday Q&A program and responding to an Iranian woman who asked "why the US is staying idyll in reference to the plight of Iranians?", Curt Weldon stated: "You're no more left alone; the American People, the US President and the US legislative power are behind you and are hearing you... Republicans and Democrats are coming together in order to call for an end to tyranny in Iran... Our President is working for your freedom...The entire world is, now, aware of your plight and we won't let the Islamic republic regime to continue its repressive rule..."

Defying an Islamist caller who accused the US to carry a baseless propaganda campaign, the Honorable Weldon added:" Why don't your regime allow me to come to Iran and to debate publicly with your leadership, such as, what I did in Libya?.. What are they afraid of?... I'm ready to come to your country if I know that I can talk, without any censorship, in your governmental TV... I'm addressing this challenge hereby..."

To another caller, who blamed the Carter Administration for the Islamists take over of power in Iran, the Pennsylvanian Congressman, responded:" I'm not Jimmy Carter but as a representative of part of the American People and a member of the US Congress, I do offer hereby my apology for what happened..."

To an exasperated Iranian who requested the US's military intervention, Weldon replied by stating:" It's unfortunate that a regime can push so hard its people that some of them are forced to call for a military strike on their country.... You must know that the US is not looking to intervene military in Iran and it hopes that Iranians will end the rule of this regime by themselves... But I need to point that this is Khamenei and Ahmadinejad that are looking to provoke us for a military action in order to consolidate their shaky regime... Military intervention should be the last option... I'm sure that with the world's help, Iranians will overcome of these dictators very soon and will be able to have a secular and democratic regime..."

To a student who criticized the activities of some American circles which are promoting and financing some of the Islamic regime's collaborators, who have converted very recently into "dissidents" and are currently being promoted as the leaders or speakers of Iranian students and women, Mr. Weldon responded:" Till now and due to the lack of a real communication with you, the real oppressed People of Iran, many of us were unaware of the real trends and aspirations which are existing in your country... We have had affair with individuals who are following specific agendas and have most likely suggested such persons as to be your representatives... That's why direct contacts, such as what's taking place now, are very important and are helping us to better understand what is true and what misinformation is... Your comments will help us to define better who's who and what needs to be done in order to show our respect of Iranians and their real wishes...We should not allow anyone to mislead us..."

The caller had named specific individuals, such as, Akbar Atri, Ali Afshari and Fatemeh Haghighatjoo who were till few months ago as officially part of the Islamic regime and are notorious for their role in promoting sham "reforms from within the frame of the current regime".

It's to note that Atri and Afshari are linked to the regime sponsored and 'tolerated' "Office of Consolidation Unity of Hawzas (Islamic Schools) and Universities" (OCU). This so-called "Student Union" is rejected by thousands of Iranian students who are considering it as a political tool which has been created in order to deviate their real aspirations. OCU's founders were among those Islamist terrorists who stormed the US Embassy, in 1979, and took American diplomats as hostages. The entity played, later, a major role in the repressive Islamist Cultural Revolution by helping the identification and arrests of thousands of students and teachers judged as "un-Islamic". Later, it served the goals of the regime's so-called "reformists' by trying to surf on the activities of thousands of students and to slow the progress of their increasing secularist expression; But it witnessed a total rejection as millions of Iranians and thousands of students ignored its consecutive calls for participation in the Islamic regime's Rural and City Councils, then the Parliamentary and finally the Presidential election games. Witnessing a total and undeniable fiasco, some of its leaders were suddenly permitted to exit the country while many genuine secularist students are still imprisoned. Some of them, such as Atri and Afshari, have recently and somehow landed in Washington and they're subject to some curious attention by some American circles which look like to be in a desperate need for a kind of Iran solution and are ready to give up to a Russian model for Iran where former KGB heads would become Democrats.Haghighatjoo is a former Islamist female MP who has been qualified, recently, by some American circles, as, "a defender of Women's rights". Most Iranian women, especially among those living inside Iran, are considering such controversial tactic as an open insult to them.

Pirouznia and Ali Salehi of INSP had made the travel, to Los Angeles, for Mr. Weldon's programs, as well as, to host another special live program, on Friday afternoon (Iran's local time), in order to call on Iranians to mobilize for the upcoming Int'l Women's Day, on March 8th, and the "Tchahr-Shanbe Souri" (Fire Fiest) on March 14th.

Congressman Curt Weldon is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1987. He's a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and has served six years as the Chairman of the Military Research and Development Subcommittee, overseeing the development and testing of key military systems, weapons programs, and technologies that fulfill military needs. Weldon now serves as the Vice Chairman of the full Committee as well as Chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee.He has worked with Russian leaders on a variety of issues, including efforts to improve Russia's energy supply, correct environmental damage, and protect both nations from ballistic missile attack. Weldon is the co-founder of the Russian Duma-U.S. Congress Study Group, the official parliamentary exchange between the two legislative bodies.

As a member of the Science Committee, Weldon is one of the most outspoken advocates for the environment and protection of our oceans. Weldon's "Oceans Agenda" legislation passed the Congress in 1995, increasing funding for oceanographic research projects. Weldon is a champion of environmental concerns as the only House Republican on the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission which approves funding for our wildlife refuges and wetlands preservation.

NITV will broadcast a live analytic program, on Wednesday March 1st from 07:00 PM (Los Angeles' local time) on Mr. Weldon's comments and the current geopolitical situation. This program, hosted by the famous and popular Manook Khodabakhshian, can be seen also on the Internet by visiting: http://www.pamtv.us

NITV's satellite references can be found by visiting: http://www.nitv.tv/