On July 12, the Iranian news agency ISNA published a letter written by
Chief of Staff Hassan Firouzabadi to the Shi’ite Messiah, the Hidden Imam. He asked for assistance for the regime, defended the brutality of the Basij against peaceful Iranian demonstrators, and laid blame for the disturbances on the West.
Thanks to highly-placed sources in the armed forces, I have received a copy of the Hidden Imam’s reply to Firouzabadi, which follows here, without comment.
My Dear Hassan,
To tell you the truth I had given up on you. THIRTY YEARS since your last letter? Is that what passes for filial piety nowadays in the Islamic Republic? The very visible Imam himself, the beloved Ayatollah Khomeini, spoke to me frequently. It didn’t matter if things were going well or badly, he stayed in touch. And Ahmadinezhad, who has his qualities, arranged to have all members of his government swear loyalty to me, and had the signed document delivered to me in my well. But not you! I only hear from you when you’re in a jam.
Needless to say, Hassan, I didn’t need that letter to see that you’re in a jam. It doesn’t take a messiah to recognize that, everybody knows it, from the bazaars to the oil fields. You’re afraid that you’re not up to it, that unless I intervene you might lose (otherwise you wouldn’t bother to write, would you?).
You’re right to be afraid. You should be very afraid.
You want me to bail you out, as I did back in ‘79, when things were touch and go in Iran. It was a tough fight, but you prevailed, although just barely. It’s going to be tougher now, because back then people were angry at the shah for their misery. Today, when they’re even more miserable, they blame you and your cohorts.
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36 Comments
1. Brian:Wow!
It’s always intrigued me as to how “our side” views our opposition, at least publicly.
I recall that before its collapse, we regarded the Soviet Union as a highly efficient monolith, whose organization was carefully orchestrated and consistently directed, whose every soul was on the same page and working in harmony . . .
Aug 19, 2009 - 7:53 pm 2. David W. Lincoln:Michael, when you are at the top of your game, like your communications with Angleton, you wield a very deft hand.
It is a pleasure to read such mastery of the English language.
Aug 19, 2009 - 8:05 pm 3. winston:Brilliant… I didn’t know Emam Zaman was so technologically advance to have an email address. LoL
Aug 19, 2009 - 10:12 pm 4. Sam:This blog is a good source for Neo-Cons.
For an opposing view on Iran, and the world, visit this site.
http://americanidiocity.blogspot.com/
Aug 19, 2009 - 10:17 pm 5. Pajamas Media » An Email From the Hidden Imam:[...] Read the entire piece here. [...]
Aug 20, 2009 - 1:57 am 6. Popcorn:Yeah, I am quite sure that for a balanced and thoughtful look at Iran I can trust a site called “American Idiocy.”
Geez.
Aug 20, 2009 - 4:03 am 7. Myno:Wow, Sam. So you claim that what the Iranian gov’t did to its own protesting citizens was NOT “massive crackdowns and people… violently [being] put down”??? I suspect that’s not the way to make friends with and influence people who know better.
Aug 20, 2009 - 4:37 am 8. Paul -Indiana:The 12th Imam asked me to pass this along…”Since I went into this well at age 5, I have mysteriously failed to age. I am still 5 years old and as a result, I won’t be taken seriously if I come out [so to speak]. You’re on your own, Dude.”
Aug 20, 2009 - 5:36 am 9. Omar:Sam:
This is the article I like to point to, not for a neo-con” perspective, nor a liberal perspective, but a perspective that shows us something profoundly true and disturbing about the Islamic Republic of Iran, something about its inmost heart.:
Murder with Impunity”
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/284idyfu.asp
You see, the Bahai are not an agressive bunch, nor are they violent or all that politically ambitious, and yet Iran has gone so far as to completely exclude this group from the protection of the law (even such as it is). It’s not that people are obliged to loot their property or kill them, it’s just that in Iran, the law will offer no recourse if they do. Do you know why that is, Sam? ’cause I do. It has to do with islamic law regarding control of subject non-muslim peoples – the law of dhimma. You see, when Mohammad started attacking and plundering surrounging villages and forcing them to submit to islamic law, he came up with a formula for dealing with these subject peoples. The rule was, that as you approach such a group, you were to offer them a choice. They could 1). convert to islam and live in peace; 2). retain their religion, but agree to live in submission to islamic law and pay protection money to their muslim masters “in willing submission” or 3). face jihad with the prospect of plunder, murder and enslavement of your women and children( with the women becoming their sex slaves or “right hand possessions” per the Quran) should they lose. While door number 2 was generally the best option, there is a catch. It was traditionally only available to christians and jews, not true pagans. The Mullahs in Iran draw this distinction by referring to ‘divine vs. non-divine’ religions. In Iran, the Bahais are not considered a “divine” religion. Therefore, the islamic social order which permits the continued existence of jews or christians (albeit with severe restrictions) is simply NOT AVAILABLE to the bahai, who must scrape by, as best they can, outside the law, where they may be, “Murdered with Impunity. . . .” Same thing with the age of consent. Following the islamic revolution, the age of consent for girls was lowered to NINE. This is because Mohammad consummated his marriage with his child wife Ayesha when she was nine. So here we find two areas in which Iranian law is not just bad, but ethically and morally insane. . . . Until you understand that, you will never understand the men who currently rule this regime.
Aug 20, 2009 - 5:55 am 10. WestWright:Wow Sam…thanks for that tip to your big pro-Iranian website, are you SZ the poster of all those Iran Pree TV articles? I like how the site just screechs “Read this NOW or I keeel you NEOCONS!”. That certainly is one of the more accurate “views on Iran”.
Aug 20, 2009 - 6:35 am 11. Baghdad POP:So, if I understand right, the message from this post is “We Are All The Hidden Imam” – otherwise and less dramatically, we are all Imam the 13th. If we can. Let’s challenge now the current President. His choices will be included into ours (i.e. all accounts).I wonder if the chapter Leviticus of the old Testament (check, please) was added by the likes of Rahm Emmanuel and Georges Soros, on the Jewish side…
We are all on a good path nevertheless,
Baghdad POP
Aug 20, 2009 - 7:32 am 12. aez:Good humor throws the strength of a position into even higher relief.
Thanks so much.
Aug 20, 2009 - 7:48 am 13. Meryl:With Col. obama’s declaration yesterday that “we are God’s partners in matters of life and death”….I wonder if the Iranian clergy is confused about the 12th Imam’s whereabouts.
Somebody needs to find out if obama spent any significant time in a well in Indonesia.
Aug 20, 2009 - 8:07 am 14. Baghdad POP:A last word to all, while you are debating which color to choose, I know I want to look like Zoroaster. The One before all other o/One(s).
Where are the French when you need them?
Real French Artists are nevertheless of the best sort.
Baghdad BO, oops, POP
Aug 20, 2009 - 10:00 am 15. myth buster:I would also like to point out that there is a huge difference between an eleven year old girl being married to a twelve or thirteen year old boy, versus a fifty year old man, but Islamic law draws no distinction between the two.
Aug 20, 2009 - 10:00 am 16. Ran:Hmmm. By “highly placed” I assume you mean one of our spies, now passed into Heaven? In that case, your board has quite the proprietary OS… thanks for sharing!
Aug 20, 2009 - 10:15 am 17. Andrew Ian Dodge:And when says “neo-Cons” you know he really means
Aug 20, 2009 - 10:18 am 18. Professor Guvinoff:JewsZionists.Darn! You can be the 12th Imam at the bottom of his well and somehow still be targeted for spamming by some acolyte of Amhadinejad! There is no limit to the depth these guys will descend to!
I was quite impressed to see that the Imam refrained from hinting at any time table for his return, only showing that there is no mercy to expect from him whenever he pops up, I guess on the News Hour with Jim Lehrer, because there are too many jews on CNN.
Mr Ledeen, it’s nice to see you don’t have to wait for the return of the Mahdi to enlight us. Thank you, from the bottom of my mere keyboard.
Aug 20, 2009 - 10:29 am 19. Marie Claude:we swimm in the irreal LMAO
Aug 20, 2009 - 11:36 am 20. tanstaafl:A fantasy replaces one other
Among other things, the regime’s attempts pin the massive unrest and frustruation of its citizens (economic, liberty, opportunity…) on the infidel/the west are pathetically transparent.
The only course left is mockery !
Mock On !
Aug 20, 2009 - 1:09 pm 21. David W. Lincoln:What about targeting the companies that do business with Iranian oil businesses. Start with them, and then we will see how bellicose, and how murderous, the Sons of Allah are.
Aug 20, 2009 - 1:31 pm 22. Leatherneck:Someone named the 12th Imam keeps ordering beer, and pork skins,(hot),. Every time we send the package it is returned with notes like,”we cut ur head of, or Death to Amerika.”
I mean, were does all the hate come from? I am just providing a service.
Aug 20, 2009 - 1:45 pm 23. ER White:Mr. Ledeen: a minor bet… two years from now, the current Iranian regime will still be in power; Obama will be neutered as far as any influence on the country, indeed he will impede or stop any Israeli action; IED’s made in Iran going off will be commonplace in both Iraq and Afganistan.
The Bet: One cold Budweiser…
Shameless Promotion:
visit http://www.bloggybayou.com
Cheers
Aug 20, 2009 - 7:04 pm 24. X Contra:Nice haul, a letter from the Mahdi.
But is it really the Mahdi? You should develop this “source” and next time you converse with Mr. Angleton, you can ask his help: maybe Mr. Angleton can be a high level back channel to verify the source.
Aug 21, 2009 - 4:06 am 25. What is the Mahdi’s exit strategy? « X Contra:[...] August 21, 2009 · Leave a Comment I do not like to misunderestimate the Ledeen operation, but one has to question this letter. Is it really from the Mahdi and not some goombah from Detroit? I have questions. Faster, Please! Ãâû The Mahdi Replies [...]
Aug 21, 2009 - 4:12 am 26. The Mahdi Replies « X Contra:[...] August 21, 2009 · Leave a Comment The Mahdi Replies [...]
Aug 21, 2009 - 6:23 am 27. kourosh:In the meanwhile terrorists and their supporters in Europe told us things get better when Obama is president. Now we see, as Europe has been sleeping with Mullahs and terrorists over the past 30 years, they now don’t give a damn to an even simple request by Obama. The old terrorists of Libya who are now new partners of British, gave a roaring welcome to a master terrorist despite Obama asked them not to do so. Now Brits acting innocent and asking Libya not to celebrate further. Before, when European didn’t respect US they said it was because of the Bush-II, now they are not respecting American because its president is too weak and appeaser. What a pity?
In the meanwhile, and despite all the rapes and tortures against young Iranian by rapists Khomeiniest and their cohorts, Swiss is selling Gas by millions of barrels to Mullahs, and as usual Siemens, Nokia, and GE are doing their things. That is helping Khomeinists to Murder and Torture Iranian people even more. Of course, there are some articles now and then in their papers first blaming US for all atrocities committed in the world, and then asking Khomeinists please don’t torture.
Aug 21, 2009 - 8:51 am 28. Marie Claude:“In the meanwhile terrorists and their supporters in Europe told us things get better when Obama is president. Now we see, as Europe has been sleeping with Mullahs and terrorists over the past 30 years,”
don’t mix the whole Europe with the rest of us, the Brits kingdom were are mainly your satellit since 1945, Swiss are independant of EU, German and Austrians had always had their own private ways of making business
Aug 21, 2009 - 10:09 am 29. Paul -Indiana:From; 13. Meryl:
Aug 21, 2009 - 12:44 pm 30. Steve DeMarcus:================================
Obambi may have spent time in a well. After all, he is all wet.
#28 Marie Claude
Dieu bénisse la France d’une entente franco-américaine!
Aug 21, 2009 - 1:51 pm 31. ella:“don’t mix the whole Europe with the rest of us” – “us” meaning France, Marie Claude? France which is grateful to Syria which has nothing at all to do with mullahs, terrorists and the bombs.
Aug 21, 2009 - 7:19 pm 32. ali ardakani:Mr Ledeen, if iran is so bad because of this regime (which i dont support but neither do i fight it) then why do iranian christians and jews businessmen prefer it to elsewhere.
go to isfahan, go to the crossroad of Hakim Nezami St and the Hakim Nezami. There is a mall there with a store that sells ECCO shoes- you cant miss it. That mall worths millions of dollars is owned by a JEW. This Jew’s rights are protected. I, as a muslim can’t go to a hardline judge and tell him this mall should be mine or should be forcebly sold to me at a lower price because I am a MUslim and the owner is Jewish. IRan is a land of laws.
also many iranian jews been to israel through turkey ofcourse, and they came back. They would prefer LA but israel they dont like. Going to israel,starting new lifes with jews from Yemen, Ethiopia…etc.. YOu really think Iranian Jews would stoop down to this level to hang out with these type of Jews.
No they will continue their prosperous living in IRAN.
And BTW, since I am firmly against Ahmadinejad, I will start informing people about the hardliner Asgharoladi’s jewish background because I think people need to know. He is afterall a hardliner and controls $400 mil in personal assets.
Aug 22, 2009 - 1:32 am 33. tanstaafl:A great injustice continues to unfold in the land of Iran, and the American government is, by and large, silent.
THE NEXT CRACKDOWN
Aug 22, 2009 - 8:22 am 34. Marie Claude:ella, any kind of plished bitterness ?
yes France is grateful to Syria, who BTW was the intermediary to free Clotilde Reiss, but I understand you don’t laike that it worked out !
were are your guis, except whinning for the missiles anti Iran… oops anti Russia !
Aug 22, 2009 - 10:46 am 35. Michael Ledeen:ah, yes, “these type of Jews,” you mean those dirty yemeni and african Jews, right? who would want to be in a country with such people?
there are those who say that Ahmadinejad has a Jewish family background, you might have fun with that, too.
why don’t they leave? i don’t know, but you might also ask the same question about the baha’i, who are regularly singled out for special oppression. the answer is probably complicated, including blackmail by the regime, the normal human tendency to deny the horrible truth, the fear of going to an unknown place, and, for some, as you say, an unwillingness to abandon centuries or even millenia of tradition and economic success. lots of European Jews deluded themselves into thinking they could live with Hitler, after all, and Christians all over the Middle East stay where they are, despite ongoing murders. people who see their situation plain are very rare.
Aug 22, 2009 - 2:38 pm 36. Jassem Othman:Michael, indeed, their horrible higher target to “destruct” the west civilization, namely to “wipe” so-called infidels “Zionists and Crusaders”.
For instance, Hassan Abbassi, is a top advisor to Iran’s supreme leader “Revolutionary Guard intelligence adviser” , speaking at Tehran’s Al-Hussein University last year, he said:
Aug 23, 2009 - 4:27 pm“We have a strategy drawn up for the destruction of Anglo-Saxon civilization… The global infidel front is a front against Allah and the Muslims, and we must make use of everything we have at hand to strike at this front, by means of our suicide operations and by means of our missiles. There are 29 sensitive sites in the U.S. and in the West. We have already spied on these sites, and we know how we are going to attack them.”