Diplomats and scholars encourage Obama to invest in change instead of regime
change
In Washington this past week the National Iranian American
Council held a special presentation to the US Senate in hopes of conveying to
the new Obama administration the need for a long term strategy for the
stabilization of Iran within the Middle East. This recommendation is in direct
conflict with the current Bush administrations band aid approach of regime
change.
Joseph Cirincione, the president of Ploughshares Fund proposes that Obama should
"clarify intentions, (that he) should make clear that the United States has no
intentions of over throwing the regime in Iran".
He continued to comment on the importance of stabilization through long term
action by stating "I believe the best way to seek regime change in Iran is to
not seek regime change."
Dr. Farideh Farhi of the University of Hawaii echoes the need for stabilization
and discusses Iran's internal governmental struggles. Referencing the state of
parliament in Iran which within the past two weeks alone has seen fighting and
impeachment, she says "even within in the power structure there is tremendous
conflict and competition". With so many different factions and points of view
she questions how people think these problems will be resolved, stating "what do
people expect, that these factions will just go home and suddenly elect a new
leader and everything will be wonderful."
