Good Reads
By Kamangir • Nov 19th, 2007 • Category: Good ReadsFor and against Chavez - Antony Loewenstein
The Amir Taheri Story - Mother Jones Blog
Amir Taheri is one of the strangest ingredients in America’s media soup. There may not be anyone else who simply makes things up as regularly as he does, with so few consequences.
Posted by Kamangir
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Shaul Bakhash (see #1 above) was surprised by the quote, never having encountered it before and “finding it out of character for Khomeini.”
Don’t know about this article and Taheri, but there is nothing out of character for Khomeini to put Islam ahead of Iran. Millions heard him on the plane when he said he felt “nothing” about being back to Iran after 14 years. Because of this, I don’t give much credibility to this article either.
That’s the best they could come up against Taheri?? “Mother Jones” is by far the leftist magazine in the United States. If they could only find 5 points misleading among thousands articles that Amir Taheri has written, then I must say Amir Taheri has done a great job. CNN makes 5 blatant mistakes in daily basis
Kamangir: Freida, I don’t follow his work, but his “Badge Story” was a shame. His PR’s defense was even worse,
Having said this, I do not personally dislike Mr. Taheri. He is a journalist and I respect him.
Archer
I have heard about the attacks on Taheri. He did made mistake in one story but otherwise I think that he is quite accurate. I am also not quite clear that the accusation in the story have anything to do with Mr Taheri’s accuracy but everything to do with his political views. for example there is one point which accuses Taheri of meeting with GW Bush after his mistake - here I think you can see the assumption the blog makes.
His defense in mother jones have been taken out of context ex.:Benador, who said her client was “traveling in the Middle East,” was impatient with dissections of his work. Terming accuracy with regard to Iran “a luxury,” she said, “My major concern is the large picture. Is Taheri writing one or two details that are not accurate? Unfortunately mother jones did not quote the next phrase This is a guy who is putting his life at stake.” She noted that “the Iranian government has killed its opponents.” …..
Now as regards to mistake on quoting Khomeini here is answer from Podhoretz
The quote can be found in several editions of Khomeini’s speeches and messages. Here is one edition:
Paymaha va Sokhanraniyha-yi Imam Khomeini (“Messages and Speeches of Imam Khomeiniâ€) published by Nur Research and Publication Institute (Tehran, 1981).
The quote, along with many other passages, disappeared from several subsequent editions as the Islamic Republic tried to mobilize nationalistic feelings against Iraq, which had invaded Iran in 1980.
The practice of editing and even censoring Khomeini to suit the circumstances is widely known by Iranian scholars. This is how Professor Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak, the Director of the Center for Persian Studies at the University of Maryland and a specialist in Islamic censorship, states the problem: “Khumayni’s [sic] speeches are regularly published in fresh editions wherein new selections are made, certain references deleted, and various adjustments introduced depending on the state’s current preoccupation†(Persian Studies in North America, 1994)
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/podhoretz/1340
***********
reading various blogs and articles I unfortunately found out that many statements are taken out of context, particularly if the writters have something to prove by accusing their political and/or journalistic opponents. A pity that :-(
Kamangir: Thanks Ella. I will do a research on the sentence myself.
Rapid democratization in Venezuela?
Archer, it is not a democratization, it is populism.
I have heard that Chavez is now trying to change his country constitution to stay in power. If it is true, and I do not follow closely what is going on in Venezuela, this “democratization” people are talking about is a big BS.
Kamangir: I do not necessarily agree with the article. I linked to it, because it was interesting to me how the left is disappointed with Chavez-Ahmadinejad ties as well.
Mother Jones and Juan Cole might be able to fool the left in the West but not Iranians. Almost on a daily basis, they minsinform and report outright lies about the nature of the Islamic Republic, thinking that they are noble in trying to avert the so called war on Iran while the leaders of the left know full well that there is absolutely no plan or possibility for such war and their anti-war rhetoric is nothing more than jockeying in gaining political gains.
http://jewishjournal.com/iranianamericanjews/blogindex.html
One can read all of Mr. Taheri’s articles on Iran in Benador Associates and compare his truthful assertion versus his so called lies. Almost everything he has written about the nature of Islamic Republic and its *agenda for the world* have come true and were recently confirmed by non other than the former founder of the intelligence minstry, Mr. Ganji:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/69559
In regards to Jewish Iranians: Before the revolution, there were more than 100,000 jews living in Iran and had quite a prosperous life. That number has been reduced to less than 20,000 and declining every year. For more info on Iranian jews:
http://jewishjournal.com/iranianamericanjews/blogindex.html
Kamangir: There is no doubt that Jewish people have been mistreated in the Islamic Republic.
Serendip,
Regarding the # of Jewish Iranians before and after so called revolution, its also the same with any number of minority group…Armenian population is down to its lowest level in 400 years. Same with Bahais, Assyrians, etc. Taheri has been the only journalist that have touched upon this issue.
Kamangir regarding the “Badge Story”..that article may have not been 100% true, but all non-Muslim business oweners in Iran MUST show a sign up front that they are not Muslims. I have seen it myself! and it was years ago so Taheri is not that off.
Antony Loewenstein is israel hater
read his blog and articles
he is obsessed with “zionist”…
it is your blog if you want to be associeted
with israel hater this is your right
Kamangir: I respect Antony because I have not seen any dishonesty from him. Yes, he is seriously anti Israel. I don’t have any specific problem with Israel and hope to learn more about what goes on in that part of the world through conversation with Antony and people like you, whom I think can be safely categorized as a pro-Israel person. Nice to meet you. :)