I'm sorry, but this really makes me angry. If Bush finally has the nerve to say we are at war with Islamofascists, why is he allowing one of their leaders to come here while that war is still going on?
This MSNBC story says Khatami will speak at Harvard and Georgetown and that he is here to speak about the role of religion in East-West reconciliation. Well if he wants reconciliation then why doesn't he get the fanatics in his faith to stop murdering innocent people by the thousands? Do that first and then we can talk about letting him come here. But, don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen. Khatami will no doubt skirt the issue of Islamic terrorism and focus on the need for the West to be more understanding of his nation.
In fact, the MSNBC article says we should expect no apologies for the Iranian terrorists kidnapping of diplomats in 1979.
A former Iranian official said Mr Khatami's hesitation at meeting Mr Carter reflected the factional divisions inside Iran.
Any sort of apology for the hostage-taking "would melt a mountain of ice in Washington" but would be political suicide back home for his reformist associates.
Note the use of the word reformist. Yes, good old Khatami is one of the good Islamofascists. He was president of Iran from 1997 - 2005. And just how reformist was he? Well lets have a looksee at his record:
The US Department of State Iran Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1998 has some interesting info. Here are a few select quotes:
The Government's human rights record remained poor; despite some improvements in a few areas, serious problems remain. The Government restricts citizens' right to change their government. Systematic abuses included extrajudicial killings and summary executions; disappearances; widespread use of torture and other degrading treatment; harsh prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; lack of due process; unfair trials; infringement on citizens' privacy; and restrictions on freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, religion, and movement.
Increased debate in the country over President Khatami's expression of interest in promoting greater attention to the rule of law and the development of civil society led to factional struggle and occasionally to violent tactics by hard-line elements opposed to change. A trend toward greater freedom of expression and thought was reversed late in the year through arbitrary arrests, the closure of reform-oriented publications, and the murders of several dissident writers. Religious minorities, in particular Baha'is, came under increasing repression by conservative elements of the judiciary and security establishment. The Government restricts the work of human rights groups. Women face legal and social discrimination, and violence against women occurs. The Government discriminates against religious and ethnic minorities and restricts important workers' rights. Vigilante groups enforce their interpretation of appropriate social behavior through intimidation and violence.
Prominent opposition figure Dariush Foruhar and his wife were stabbed to death at their residence in November in a manner that led many human rights observers to believe that the couple was murdered for their political beliefs. The Forouhars were under continual monitoring by state security officials. Dariush Forouhar had been active in Iran's prerevolutionary National Front Movement, and had served as labor minister in an early postrevolution government. However, since that time he had spoken out frequently against the abuse of power of the revolutionary government, in particular with respect to human rights abuses.
In fairness, the report says Supreme Leader Khameni and President Khatami condemned the murders, but I get the impression their condemnation was akin to Casablanca's Capt. Renault's shock that gambling was taking place in Rick's Cafe.
Several other prominent and active political dissidents also were killed late in the year. In November the body of writer and translator Majid Sharif, whose published political views included advocacy for the separation of state and religion, was discovered in a Tehran morgue several days after his mysterious disappearance. In December the body of Mohammad Mokhtari, a prominent poet and literary critic, also was discovered at a Tehran morgue after he disappeared 6 days earlier. Parviz Davani, a publisher and dissident critic of the Government, disappeared in August. Amnesty International (AI) received unconfirmed reports that Davani's mother was contacted by unnamed persons who told her that her son was killed. Mohammad Jafar Pouyandeh, a dissident writer and advocate against censorship, also disappeared in December and later was found dead.
Exiles and human rights monitors allege that many of those executed for criminal offenses, primarily narcotics charges, are actually political dissidents. A November 1995 law criminalized dissent and applied the death penalty to offenses such as "attempts against the security of the State, outrage against high-ranking Iranian officials, and insults against the memory of Imam Khomeini and against the Leader of the Islamic Republic." President Khatami advocated allowing criticism of the Government on several occasions throughout the year, but offered no official protection to critics. In June the daily newspaper Hamshahri reported the public hanging of four men in Ahvaz, in southern Iran, for "insulting" Supreme Leader Khamenei, and "armed robbery."
There are numerous, credible reports that security forces continue to torture detainees and prisoners. Common methods include suspension for long periods in contorted positions, burning with cigarettes, and, most frequently, severe and repeated beatings with cables or other instruments on the back and on the soles of the feet. Prisoners also have reported beatings about the ears, inducing partial or complete deafness.
Funny how when Khatami's government tortures as a matter of policy he is labeled a "reformist," but when our government punishes rogue soldiers for mistreating prisoners they are accused of approving of torture.
The Government does not permit visits to imprisoned dissidents by human rights monitors.
What!? No visits by human rights monitors? Yet a recent article by Inspire Magazine carries the report of a chaplain that:
"I believe that the news media doesn't tell the whole story, they really don't emphasize that the International Red Cross are there around the clock. It is important to remember that the International Red Cross are the watchdog for the humane treatment of prisoners.
But let us not forget that Khatami is a "reformist."
There is much more but you can follow the link above and read it for yourself. But perhaps Khatami's reforms took effect after a little more time in office. So here is the 1999 report. What paradise did Khatami create after two years of reforming? Let's see:
The Government's human rights record remained poor; although efforts within society to make the Government accountable for its human rights policies intensified, serious problems remain. The Government restricts citizens' right to change their government. Systematic abuses include extrajudicial killings and summary executions; disappearances; widespread use of torture and other degrading treatment, reportedly including rape; harsh prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention, and prolonged and incommunicado detention. Perpetrators often committed such abuses with impunity. The Government in May prosecuted a senior police official for torture, reportedly for the first time since the revolution; however, he was cleared of most charges and resumed his duties.
But wait! Maybe by the end of his term this reformer had transformed Iran into a beacon of human rights in the Middle East. Let's see what the 2005 Reporthas to say:
The government's poor human rights record worsened, and it continued to commit numerous, serious abuses. On December 16, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution expressing detailed, serious concern over the country's human rights problems.
No doubt about it, Khatami's track record is remarkable, I think he is someone we can work with.
Now, if while he is in the US Khatami declares the Iranian Revolutionary government to be criminal, if he admits and apologizes for Iran's 20 plus years of supporting terrorism, if he declares that the Jihadists are traitors to the true Islamic faith and if he demands that his nation stop pursuing weapons and if he condemns the current Iranian president. Then, and only then, should the American people and government welcome this "reformist". In fact, we would have to welcome him because he would need to seek amnesty here or face death when he returned to the land that is today basking in the glow of his reforms.
