Author Archives: iPouya

Chemical Attack in Syria?

Posted on August 28, 2013 by iPouya

I am no supporter of the Ba’ath dictatorship in Syria, but the circumstances of the chemical attack in Damascus are very suspicious and Eisa Ali illustrates why: “So lets see which makes more sense: 1) Assad, with the upper hand … Continue reading →

Posted in Syria | 3 Comments

Mubarak’s Release

Posted on August 22, 2013 by iPouya

We are at the highest peak of the counter-revolution in the Arab Uprisings. The Saudi-UAE-backed Egyptian coup is now commandeering the release of Hosni Mubarak.  His release should lay to rest any delusion that the Sisi-coup in Egypt was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Spring | 1 Comment

Al-Qaeda expands in Syria via Islamic State

Posted on August 16, 2013 by iPouya

The Washington Post: A rebranded version of Iraq’s al-Qaeda affiliate is surging onto the front lines of the war in neighboring Syria, expanding into territory seized by other rebel groups and carving out the kind of sanctuaries that the U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Syria | 1 Comment

Egypt Today

Posted on August 14, 2013 by iPouya

Are people still refusing to call the coup against Egypt’s first democratically elected president a coup? In case there’s any doubt as to whether it’s a coup or not, please read the news today. It’s been very disheartening to read … Continue reading →

Posted in 22 Khordad | 1 Comment

Humiliation of Israel in South Lebanon: Unreported by Western Media

Posted on August 14, 2013 by iPouya

As’ad AbuKhalil: My friend Amer was commenting to me how the failed Israeli terrorist “commando” raid in South Lebanon did not receive much coverage in the Western press. It is true, failures of Israel don’t get reported in the Western … Continue reading →

Posted in Hezbollah, Lebanon | 1 Comment

Al Jazeera: “US bankrolled anti-Morsi activists”

Posted on July 10, 2013 by iPouya

[This article is a bombshell that is making its rounds on social media…a must read.] Al Jazeera: President Barack Obama recently stated the United States was not taking sides as Egypt’s crisis came to a head with the military overthrow … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, US Foreign Policy | 2 Comments

The Ouster of Morsi

Posted on July 4, 2013 by iPouya

A peaceful uprising coupled with a military coup has ousted the Muhammad Morsi, the president of Egypt. I was driving up the Bay and listening to the news live on Al Jazeera English and I was shocked. I do not … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt | 4 Comments

Iran the Winner of the Arab Spring?

Posted on June 17, 2013 by iPouya

On March 7th I participated in my 4th HuffPost Live discussion, this time joined by Flynt Everett. I argued that Iran’s regional clout had been weakened by the Arab Spring and that it was an opportune moment to reach an … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Spring, Iran | Comments Off on Iran the Winner of the Arab Spring?

Reconstructing a Persian Past: Contemporary Uses and Misuses of the Cyrus Cylinder in Iranian Nationalist Discourse

Posted on June 11, 2013 by iPouya

Ajam Media Collective: Recently, the Cyrus Cylinder, an imperial decree that dates from the sixth century B.C., left its home in the British Museum to be displayed on a museum tour across the United States until the end of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran | 1 Comment

Iran’s 2009 Protests Haunt Upcoming Elections

Posted on May 26, 2013 by iPouya

Here is my most recent article at the Huffington Post: On May 21, 2013, Iran’s Guardian Council, the powerful 12-member body charged with vetting hopefuls for the Iranian presidency, determined that Iran’s former president, Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, 78, was unfit … Continue reading →

Posted in 22 Khordad, Iran | 3 Comments

Stephen Hawking’s support for the boycott of Israel is a turning point

Posted on May 13, 2013 by iPouya

The Guardian: A standard objection to the Palestinian campaign for the boycott of Israel is that it would cut off “dialogue” and hurt the chances of peace. We’ve heard this again in the wake of Professor Stephen Hawking’s laudable decision … Continue reading →

Posted in Palestine | 1 Comment

The Failed Neocon Attempt to Destroy an Iranian American Anti-war Organization

Posted on May 10, 2013 by iPouya

From a former AIPAC insider, M.J. Rosenberg: The war over war with Iran has many battlefronts. Inside Washington, the battle line is between a small coalition of peace and security, non-proliferation and religious groups opposing war and favoring a peaceful … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, US-Iran Relations | 1 Comment

Stephen Hawking joins academic boycott of Israel

Posted on May 8, 2013 by iPouya

The Guardian: Professor Stephen Hawking is backing the academic boycott of Israel by pulling out of a conference hosted by Israeli president Shimon Peres in Jerusalem as a protest at Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Hawking, 71, the world-renowned theoretical physicist … Continue reading →

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Jewish settlers are terrorising Palestinians, says Israeli general

Posted on May 2, 2013 by iPouya

The Independent: A senior Israeli army commander has warned that unchecked “Jewish terror” against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank threatens to plunge the territory into another conflict. In unusually outspoken comments, Major General Avi Mizrahi took aim at extremist … Continue reading →

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UC Berkeley: ASUC Senate passes divestment bill SB 160 11-9

Posted on April 18, 2013 by iPouya

Today, I’m especially proud to be a Cal alum: – The Daily Cal: In a dramatic vote that was emotional for all sides, the ASUC Senate voted 11-9 to divest from companies affiliated with Israel’s military early Thursday morning. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Palestine, UC Berkeley | Comments Off on UC Berkeley: ASUC Senate passes divestment bill SB 160 11-9