Dear Mr. President,

This isn’t going to be an official letter from a politician to another; this is a letter from a common girl in Iran who is feeling responsible for her country, to a high ranked politician, Mr. Barack Obama, the president of United States. So please forgive my language in writing this email, as I’m not a native English speaker and it is my first time to write such a letter to a diplomat.

I’m an Iranian girl in late twenties, and I live in Tehran, the center of riots against the fraud in Iran’s tenth presidential election. Now writing this email, my arm and knee are in plaster cast for being beaten in demonstrations. Well, at least I’m glad that I’m alive and free enough to write this letter to you.

I guess you have seen enough scenes from Iran these days that I don’t have to tell you again, but I would like to say in brief for those who haven’t seen these scenes yet.

We are demonstrating in streets, asking government where our votes are, and they are attacking us with axes, night sticks, guns, tear gases, acids and whatever else invented in this world to shut people up. I’m sorry to tell that we are attacked by our own government, and they do anything to make our voices silent. They are spending our oil money to hire soldiers from other countries, and as our oil won’t come to an end soon, the number of those soldiers wouldn’t decrease either. Well, we are unarmed, just walk in silence in streets with empty hands and show victory signs to each other -yes, just walking- and ofcourse get attacked brutally. I have seen lots of people dying in front of me –for the first time in my life-, I have had to jump over blood running down the streets, I have seen helicopters pouring acids on people and I’m sure I would never forget any of those scenes till my last breath.

I know that the main outcome of all these is that we at least have told the world that we, Iranians, are not terrorists. We love peace, we love democracy, we never support terrorism, we never support mass destruction weapons, we don’t hate people in other countries, and we have tens of centuries of civilization behind us. Though we paid too much to let the world know this.

I like to remind once more that the first human rights declaration was written by Cyrus, the Great, so believe me we know better than any other nation what human right means.

I want to thank you and thank the world for supporting us in our movement. We have seen your green gatherings and we appreciate all your efforts in supporting us in these hard days.

Dear Mr. Obama, before the last president election in United States, I started to hear your name very often. People were hopeful that you, as the next president of United States, would bring peace and happiness to world. And I saw how they were celebrating your victory in that election in news. The first time I heard you, was when you sent us Iranians a Norouz greeting message and I should confess I loved your message, because I found it honest. Next time, I heard your message to the Moslems around the world, and I should say I loved that message too, because I felt that finally someone is trying to bring peace to the world. Soon enough, I too started to think that maybe your victory in election was really a great chance for the world and a great hope for peace and happiness.

Nowadays, People governing us here are so eager to show the world that our independent green movement is supported by foreign countries like USA and UK. That’s not a matter of issue. My people voted in hope of freedom and democracy and their demonstrations and movement is their only way to seek their natural rights.

Dear Mr. President, We heard your supporting messages and we thank you for condemning the brutality done to Iranians by the government, But our beloved poet, Sa’di says “two hundred words are not as worth as a half action”. Well, we know world leaders and ahead of them, you, deny supporting us not to interfere in Iran’s affairs, but history shows us Iranians that United States has interfered in Iran’s affairs many times and has made the conditions worse for us people. Below are a few examples:

Now after almost 56 years, all the documents related to the 1953 Iranian coup d’état are published, and as we all know better, the main responsible of that event was CIA,

Then 31 years ago, in 1978, Iran revolution happened, with claims of freedom and democracy for all the people. Well, I, as a common university student in Iran, believe that if Jimmy Carter was not US president of the time, the revolution would never happen. USA didn’t like Iran King being powerful enough to bother their benefits in Middle East.

Nowadays, about current government of Iran, well, excuse me but we think that everything is to US and other World Powers benefit. We are in political and economical boycott, and that ends in our government selling the oil for nothing to buy the necessary products ten times as expensive as the real price with interference of some other countries

So you see, we people here have enough reasons to think that if the world leaders and ahead of them You, the president of United States, are not supporting our independent movement, you have your reasons and your benefits, and it is not for not interfering in Iran’s political affairs, as history shows us that you have interfered enough whenever necessary.

I wonder if you, as The President of United States, would ever read this letter, but if you do, please help us believe that you meant your Norouz greeting, that you really want a better world for all the children.

And at last, I want to tell the people of world that this is Iranians last chance to gain freedom and democracy, because if this movement is appeased, Iranians would never again vote in an election or demonstrate with empty hands in streets, forgetting all their dreams about peace and democracy, at least for several years.

So if you, too, believe in a better world, please help us in our fight against dictatorship.

June 28, 2009

By A Common Iranian Girl

P.S: as I’m living in Iran and I have concerns of my life, I had to sign this email with a fake name. I’m sorry for that.

Petition – http://www.thepetitionsite.com/8/an-open-letter-to-our-nations-leadership

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“I’m a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you’re willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues are that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?

Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:

One, illegal immigration. I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and the trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not again. Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S., I’m not a racist. This isn’t to be confused with legal immigration.

Two, the TARP bill. I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.

Three: Czars. I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars. No more czars. Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.

Four, cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over. There is more to say.

Five, universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don’t you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!

Six, growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of with your real obligations. Why don’t you start there.

Seven, ACORN. I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real estate deal that closes. Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and investigations. I do not trust them with taking the census over with our taxpayer money. I don’t trust them with our taxpayer money. Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before taxpayers get any more involved with them. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, hello. Stop protecting your political buddies. You work for us, the people. Investigate.

Eight, redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. It is mine. I have always worked for people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs. That is the only redistribution of wealth that I will support. I never got a job from a poor person. Why do you want me to hate my employers? Why ?? what do you have against shareholders making a profit?

Nine, charitable contributions. Although I never got a job from a poor person, I have helped many in need. Charity belongs in our local communities, where we know our needs best and can use our local talent and our local resources. Butt out, please. We want to do it ourselves.

Ten, corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we’ll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful. Have you ever ripped off a Band?Aid? We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.

Eleven, transparency and accountability. How about it? No, really, how about it? Let’s have it. Let’s say we give the buzzwords a rest and have some straight honest talk. Please try ?? please stop manipulating and trying to appease me with clever wording. I am not the idiot you obviously take me for. Stop sneaking around and meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.

Twelve, unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now.

Take a breath. Listen to the people. Let’s just slow down and get some input from some non-politicians on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed reading our bills into law. I am not an activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant or a violent person. I am a parent and a grandparent. I work. I’m busy. I’m busy. I am busy, and I am tired. I thought we elected competent people to take care of the business of government so that we could work, raise our families, pay our bills, have a little recreation, complain about taxes, endure our hardships, pursue our personal goals, cut our lawn, wash our cars on the weekends and be responsible contributing members of society and teach our children to be the same all while living in the home of the free and land of the brave.

I entrusted you with upholding the Constitution. I believed in the checks and balances to keep from getting far off course. What happened? You are very far off course. Do you really think I find humor in the hiring of a speed reader to unintelligently ramble all through a bill that you signed into law without knowing what it contained? I do not. It is a mockery of the responsibility I have entrusted to you. It is a slap in the face. I am not laughing at your arrogance. Why is it that I feel as if you would not trust me to make a single decision about my own life and how I would live it but you should expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children. We did not want the TARP bill. We said no. We would repeal it if we could. I am sure that we still cannot. There is such urgency and recklessness in all of the recent spending.

From my perspective, it seems that all of you have gone insane. I also know that I am far from alone in these feelings. Do you honestly feel that your current pursuits have merit to patriotic Americans? We want it to stop. We want to put the brakes on everything that is being rushed by us and forced upon us. We want our voice back. You have forced us to put our lives on hold to straighten out the mess that you are making. We will have to give up our vacations, our time spent with our children, any relaxation time we may have had and money we cannot afford to spend on you to bring our concerns to Washington. Our president often knows all the right buzzword is unsustainable. Well, no kidding. How many tens of thousands of dollars did the focus group cost to come up with that word? We don’t want your overpriced words. Stop treating us like we’re morons.

We want all of you to stop focusing on your reelection and do the job we want done, not the job you want done or the job your party wants done. You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long because we are coming. We will be heard and we will be represented. You think we’re so busy with our lives that we will never come for you? We are the formerly silent majority, all of us who quietly work , pay taxes, obey the law, vote, save money, keep our noses to the grindstone and we are now looking up at you. You have awakened us, the patriotic spirit so strong and so powerful that it had been sleeping too long. You have pushed us too far. Our numbers are great. They may surprise you. For every one of us who will be there, there will be hundreds more that could not come. Unlike you, we have their trust. We will represent them honestly, rest assured. They will be at the polls on voting day to usher you out of office. We have cancelled vacations. We will use our last few dollars saved. We will find the representation among us and a grassroots campaign will flourish. We didn’t ask for this fight. But the gloves are coming off. We do not come in violence, but we are angry. You will represent us or you will be replaced with someone who will. There are candidates among us when hewill rise like a Phoenix from the ashes that you have made of our constitution.

Democrat, Republican, independent, libertarian. Understand this. We don’t care. Political parties are meaningless to us. Patriotic Americans are willing to do right by us and our Constitution and that is all that matters to us now. We are going to fire all of you who abuse power and seek more. It is not your power. It is ours and we want it back. We entrusted you with it and you abused it. You are dishonorable. You are dishonest. As Americans we are ashamed of you. You have brought shame to us. If you are not representing the wants and needs of your constituency loudly and consistently, in spite of the objections of your party, you will be fired. Did you hear? We no longer care about your political parties. You need to be loyal to us, not to them. Because we will get you fired and they will not save you. If you do or can represent me, my issues, my views, please stand up. Make your identity known. You need to make some noise about it. Speak up. I need to know who you are. If you do not speak up, you will be herded out with the rest of the sheep and we will replace the whole damn congress if need be one by one. We are coming. Are we coming for you? Who do you represent? What do you represent? Listen. Because we are coming. We the people are coming.

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During the height of protest taking place in Tehran (and all of Iran) in the aftermath of the presidential elections, I have obtained an exclusive interview with a young woman squarely in the midst of the unfolding violence.   Her story begins as a normal and hopeful Iranian citizen and ends as a frightened, beaten and disenfranchised pawn.

This story is true and will continue with God’s will.

“a source reveals a plot for a fake act of terror on Ahmadinejad to be spread in the world media for tomorrow.  Please be aware.” – anonymous Iranian government leader on how Ahmadinejad will attempt to keep people in their homes and off the streets protesting

Please visit http://www.gopetition.com/online/28567.html to protest the injustice of this election.

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MikeAngelo: For the record, what is your first name, age, religion, party affiliation, job title, education level and where in Iran do you call home?

SARA: I am Sara, 27 yr old, Moslem by birth but not religious, I’m a software engineer and I’m from Tehran.
MikeAngelo: Sara, tell us about the morning of the election.  What did you and your friends and family talk about?  Did you have certain hopes or expectations prior to the election?

SARA: Well let me go back to one week before the election or even days before it when our reformist candidate (Mousavi) began to wear green cloths.  Those of us that were in support of him began wearing green and wrapping green ribbons to our wrists.  And, I can tell you the whole country had changed to green, we call it ‘green movement’.  So, every night green people were walking in streets, or passing by in cars waving at each other all hoping and talking of victory and showing victory signs to each other.
MikeAngelo: What does the green represent to a woman like yourself?  Or to the group of people that you consider to be green supporters?
SARA: They had talked about women rights – Mr. Mousavi’s wife has been one of the most active women in this country. She has done a lot for women and women rights and she was at her husband’s side for the first time in a country like Iran. It was a first for a politician talking with his wife beside him promising women to change laws to help them have equal rights with men, this is so rare in Islamic countries because the laws in Islam count women as only half of a man.  In addition, they had promised to deal with the problems specific to our youth.
MikeAngelo: You mention Mr. Mousavi’s wife…..is she Iranian, as well?

SARA: Yes she is Iranian – Ms. Rahnavard.  She is a strong woman and we believe she would never let her husband give in to the dictators in Iran. We were all green and all so sure of the green movement victory in our election.

MikeAngelo: So, days prior to the election, the ‘green movement’ was really taking Tehran by storm?

SARA: Yes. Tehran and all other big cities were green.  People were advertising for Mr. Mousavi and using their own money to provide support.  My brother even had bought hundreds of raw compact disks. Writing information related to the lies of Ahmadinejad and information in favor of Mr. Mousavi. He was giving them to people, and encouraging them to vote for the green movement.
MikeAngelo: what portion of the population would you guess were behind the ‘green movement’?  Just a guess.

SARA: More than 70 percent of the country supported Mr. Mousavi for sure. And, I’m talking about in the whole country. Because in big cities like Tehran it was more than 80 percent, but considering villages  and places that Ahmadinejad could buy votes for himself spending our money, it wasn’t less than 70 percent that supported Mr. Mousavie, for sure.

MikeAngelo: So to sum up the days prior to the election, a real celebration for action and change was being seen in your immediate Tehran neighborhood.  Would you consider the movement to be characterized as a celebration?

SARA: Yes. It was celebration and it made people closer to each other.  Everybody had real hopes, and those common hopes made people closer, more friendly, everybody was kind to each other.  People had remembered that once they were so close, before the government forced them to only think about themselves.

MikeAngelo: There was a healthy bond in the community solely based on the idea of hope and change?  That’s very interesting.

SARA: Yes. It was exactly like that!  All of us, the girls and the boys, were smiling at each other, showing our green scarves and ribbons and showing victory signs to each other.   And, we were all in traffic jams. We had to spend about 4 hours to go 10 kilometers. The streets were  full of green people, but even the long wait with traffic didn’t make people tired or mad.  Our hope was much more than all of that.
MikeAngelo: Is there a certain period in Iranian history that the people were reminded of during the days prior to the presidential election?
SARA: Yes. Maybe 30 years ago after the Islamic democratic revolution. People were so hopeful that this revolution would bring them democracy and freedom once the revolution was won after the Shah left Iran.  Our people objected to Shah, to have more democracy and freedom, but as a result, Islamic Republic of Iran didnt give them even the rights they had before the revolution, this wasnt what they had came to the streets for.

MikeAngelo: So, the new ‘green movement’ was similar in feeling to the revolution during the days immediately following the departure of the Shah?  Would that be a correct statement?

SARA: Yes. Exactly. I wasn’t born at that time – it was 30 years ago and I’m only 27.  But, my parents and people their age, would say it was the same thing.
MikeAngelo: Were people actually talking about this parallel days prior to the election?  Were the older generation actually comparing the ‘green movement’ to the ‘revolution days’ in their discussions with each other?
SARA: They were comparing people’s happiness and hopes to what they had in the early revolution days.  I’m not talking about the content of the political programs or so.  I’m just talking about feelings -  the happiness and the hope in people eyes were very similar.
MikeAngelo: What age range would you say were taking an active part during the build up of the ‘green movement’ celebration?  What age groups were actually celebrating?

SARA: The most interesting part is that green revolution did not have a special range of age.  Everybody was ‘green’ in all age groups.  As you can see (on television) today in the wide range of age in the demonstrations and protests against the election results.   All are there -  from 18 to 70.  I saw old men walking among the youth – Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Mothers, Fathers, children, families.
MikeAngelo: Let’s move forward to the day of the election.  Were the spirits still high that morning?  Was hope still in the air?

SARA: We were all excited – we Iranians – none of us could sleep well and we could not wait until the morning came.  We couldn’t wait for the victory of green movement.  Everybody wanted to wake up early and give the first vote.
MikeAngelo: Were there any feelings of worry?

SARA: No, not really.  We were sure of victory and I believe even Ahmadinejad and our dictators were sure of our victory.  All those ‘green’ people in the streets were moving votes, so we had no chance of losing.

MikeAngelo: There was no apprehension?  No worries that the election would not go the way of the ‘green movement’?

SARA: Among the political men, there was some apprehension.  They had moved a lot of the voting boxes and a lot of feeling that no one would be able to stop the cheating.  And, the office responsible for the election was full of Ahmadinejad’s men.  We worried of course about that.  But we thought even if they cheat, we would win, because we are soooooooooo many in number that no one in the government could ignore our votes.
MikeAngelo: What makes you say that even Ahmadinejad and the dictators felt a ‘green movement’ victory was certain?

SARA: Because they could see us because of the special colors we wore and carried.   I mean when everybody is advertising his candidate with a special color, it is something very visible.  When you see that a country is wholly GREEEEN, you can’t deny their victory.
MikeAngelo: Did the president or dictators make any special statements prior to the elections that may have made you feel uneasy?

SARA: Well, they are used to lying.  They always tell lies.   They could look in to your eyes and say that your white shirt is black.  They were saying they would win and we didn’t believe.   We were sure they could cheat.   But, we didn’t think that their cheating would change the results of the election.  Because,  we thought our unity is undeniable.
MikeAngelo: Did they tell any ‘lies’ prior to the election on television or radio prior to the elections?
SARA: Wow! Yes. Very much.  We had arguments between candidates on television and Mr. Ahmadinejad was always lying with hand made diagrams and wrong numbers.  Then when other candidates told him he was wrong,  he was just looking into the camera and asking people not to believe the others who want to be president at any cost.  It was really  like a joke, people were laughing at Ahmadinejad’s words every morning after the last night of arguments, because he was saying such obvious lies.  Lies that even children would not believe.
MikeAngelo: Then, would you consider this a true statement?  You felt that the current government would cheat and you state that they moved the voting places and ensured Ahmadinejad had men in the places for voting.  But, despite all their efforts to steal the election, the feelings of the majority of people were confident Ahmadinejad could not overcome the numbers of people in support of the ‘green movement’.

SARA: Yes, exactly!  Mr. Mousavi was someone who wasn’t happy at the feeling of Iran being a terrorist country.  He didn’t like Ahmadinejad’s words about the holocaust.  He didn’t like his words about nuclear weapons.   He is a peaceful respectable one.
MikeAngelo: Did you sleep the night before the elections?

SARA: No, i couldn’t.  I was too excited about the  destiny of Iran.
MikeAngelo: What time do you think you got dressed and ready to go and place your vote?

SARA: Well the election would start at 8 a.m. and i was in front the the election place at 7:55 am and there was a long line of people waiting for the election to start.
MikeAngelo: How long was the line and walk us through from standing in line to the moment you placed your vote.
SARA: There were about 100 people in front of me and i was early for voting.   So, they had come earlier for sure
People were all very excited.  It is banned to advertise a candidate from 24 hours before the election.  Thus, it is banned to talk about any one in the voting line.  But people could not stop themselves.  Everybody removed their green cloths, because they said it is a kind of advertising.  And if they see green items on someone, they would not appreciate that.  But, I felt them saying we could not wear green was against our law.   Because, wearing just green clothes isn’t advertisement.  Advertisement is holding a picture of someone , or talking about him, or something like  that.

People were happy, hopeful, excited!   As if it’s the last hours of nights and you are sure that very few hours later, you could see the dawn.

People were respecting the laws and didn’t want to give the government reasons to cancel Mr. Mousavi’s votes.  The government was seeking reasons to cheat.   So, everyone behaved as not to give the any needed reasons to cheat.

After about an hour and a half,  I was finally close to the door.  It was then that I found out there was another election that day at the same time.  I’m not sure if you know about Xobregan community is in Iran.  It’s a community full of clergymen, priests, Islamic priests – and they just sit there and wait for the Iranian religious leader to die.  When he dies, they choose one of themselves as next leader.   So, people  in Xobregan community are all leader candidates with Iran’s current Leader being Ali Khameneyi.

I was ten people from the voting table when a woman came and gathered our 10 IDs from people to register our information so that we could vote when it was our turn.   When they registered someone’s information, they would call out the name to go and vote.  And something else, we had two lines for voting – men and women.

It was finally my turn to vote and they gave me two voting papers.  And, I asked why is their two?   They said one is for Xobregan.   I said ok but I don’t want to vote to Xobregan.   I just want to vote in the presidential election.  I felt this was an election violation and further, it is against the law.   She told me i could not vote for the president if i did not vote for Xobregan.   It was the most silly thing I had ever heard.    I knew that no one would like Iran Leader, and nobody likes the mixing of politics and religion in Iran, and then nobody votes for Xobregan.  But, they always want to show the world that Iranians are fans of their government.  So, they were gathering votes for Xobregan this way – attached to the presidential elections.

I was quite angry and started shouting at her for forcing me to vote in the other election too.  This made her scared and she went and talked to her boss and they said its the procedure and that it could not be changed.  That is against the law and they have no right to force people to do that.   I told them I would complain about this to the responsible office and I took the papers.

I wanted to write Mr. Mousavi’s name, but my hands were trembling I was so excited.   And I’ll tell you what.  Just to make fun of all those forced votes for Xobregan,  I wrote Mr. Mousavi’s name on both of the voting papers.

There were two boxes.  One for the presidential election and one for Xobregan.  An old woman called me and asked me where , on which of the papers she should write Mousavi’s name?!  She was ‘green’, also.  And, you see – by giving two papers, they had confused people! Especially the older ones or those not very educated.   And, they increased the possibility of them putting their paper in the wrong box.

MikeAngelo: Did you cast your vote using a pencil or pen?

SARA: I brought a pen from home, as Mousavi had told us prior to the elections.  Because, there was a probability of the voting places using pens that could be erased.   Well i wrote my vote with my pen and then some little devil inside me told me to try the pens attached to the voting table.   On my hand I drew a line and then rubbed it with my thumb.  Oh my God, it erased very easily.

I just started shouting.  I was mad.  People were all scared about the result when I told them the pens were erasable.   And, a woman working there quickly gathered up the pens and threw them in a toilet!
Those that hear me were very mad and began protesting.  The people working there were trying to keep the others calm and the boss was mad at me for saying it loudly.  I was able to take one of the pens and I gave it to a staff worker working for Mr. Mousavi later in the day.

So after seeing the voting procedure, I was mad, anxious and worried – I was feeling like hell!  I immediately came home and began to share what I knew on ‘facebook’.   All those people who heard me were mad, too.  It was like somebody stole our hopes all at once.   I also called the responsible office for cheating, told them they forced me to give votes for Xobregan, and they said that it was against the law.  They asked me the address of the voting place.  I told them about the pen and they were shocked, or at least pretended to be shocked.

I thought by complaining to them fast, iIcould stop them from cheating during the remainder of the day.  It was still early in the morning.  But later, when one of my friends went to vote at night – at the same place – she said they still forced people to give two votes – one for president and one for Xobregan.   It was a shock – but I remained quite hopeful.  Later again at night, it had happened to another friend and it was then I understood that they did not react to any complaints at all.

MikeAngelo: Even with all this, the overall feeling for you was still hopeful that Mousavi would win?  Would you consider the rest of your community remaining hopeful as well?

SARA: Yes, almost.  We all went and voted (my friends and I).   We were waiting, all online, connecting to each other by ‘facebook’.   We were waiting for the night that the election ends and they could start to count the votes.  And, most of my friends live in other countries, and even they came out and voted for Mousavi.   This was the first election in Iran that Iranians abroad also voted so eagerly for their country.

But at night I lost all my hopes.   My sister in-law was busy since morning and at night she went to vote.  it was about 10:30 p.m. when she was able to vote.   At the same time, we saw that they were announcing the first results and the voting had not ended yet.   They were announcing the results of the first 5 million votes.  We were shocked, people were still voting and they were counting the votes.   How could it be?

Ahmadinejad had 68% of the votes – Mousavi 28%.  The second and the rest of the results were almost exactly the same the remainder of the night.

We also heard from others on ‘facebook ‘ that in some cities the voting places closed at 11 a.m. and people were no longer allowed to vote.  We were in shock!   These places were all closed the same time for cities that were ‘green’.  Like Tabriz, the city in Northwest Iran.  Some people in these places ahad waited since 4 a.m. to cast their votes.  There were even reports of some ‘green’ cities not being able to vote at all.

Once they began to announce the fake results, ‘facebook’ was shut down – joining message texting which had been shut down 3 days prior to the election.

All of us were desperate.  I was crying.  My friends all around the world were crying for the death of democracy. My younger brother was so nervous, he couldn’t stop his hands from trembling.  He was so angry.  My Mom gave me some relaxing pills to make me sleep.  That was 6 a.m., June 14th.

It was now obvious they had cheated.  All had been lost.
MikeAngelo: At this point you and your family were SURE that the election would not reflect the will of the people?  Is that a fair statement?

SARA: Yes, we were absolutely sure.   We couldn’t believe it.  It was like a nightmare.

MikeAngelo: In your opinion were other people in your community feeling the same way?

SARA: Yeah.  We were all waiting on ‘facebook’.  All were crying.  People changed their ‘facebook’ display images to a map of Iran covered in black – Iran on fire -  a map of Iran tearing and weeping – map of Iran destroyed.  We all were crying.   We were all sure that everything is finished for Iran.   The dictator would destroy all our hopes.
MikeAngelo: Are these the feelings you remember?   The days prior…..very happy and hopeful.  Standing in line to vote….nervous.  Actual time of voting and just after…..weary of cheating.   With the results…..you were all very sad and hurt.

SARA: Yes, exactly.  Hurting.  As if we lost a darling or as if someone so dear had just died.   Everybody was calling each other late that night.   Crying and asking what had happened.  We were hoping it was all a nightmare – and we all hoped we would wake up and see it was all finished.   But, it wasn’t.   And,  I can tell you Iran was weeping together at that time.

MikeAngelo: Take us to the next day when you FIRST began to notice public outcry and protests.  When you first saw/heard something taking place outside of homes.

SARA: I saw pictures and videos of the streets in Tehran.   We were all hoping that Mr. Mousavi did not keep silent about the injustice and to defend our votes.   We were sure that someone had changed something.  Had changed our votes.  But, we did not know for sure what had happened.

The youth went to streets.  I went also around 4 p.m..   They were shouting, protesting at the results, asking what happened to their votes.   I joined near Valiasr Street.  There were slogans and people chanting  “Mousavi, Mousavi, take back my votes!” -and- “Mousavi, Mousavi, if you keep silent, you’re a betrayer”.

MikeAngelo: Were the crowds peaceful at 4 p.m.?  What was the feeling?

SARA: Well nobody was annoying the crowd at that time and the crowd was acting peaceful.  Although we were all mad inside.   But, no one was destroying anything or doing anything illegal.  We were just walking in the streets.  Crying out slogans.  Police and army were watching.  But, they were not stopping the crowd.

MikeAngelo: Was the crowd mad at the government? Ahmendenijad? Mousavi? the country?

SARA: Yes.  They were mad at Ahmadinejad and some yelling  “death to dictator “.

MikeAngelo: Was the anger solely directed at Ahmadinejad?

SARA: Well Ahmadinejad was declared the winner with 24 million votes, about 65% of the votes.  The same pattern continued throughout the entire voter count as began with the first 5 million counted.  So, yes it was squarely directed towards Ahmadinejad.  Although, his name was not used.  They were mad at dictators.

They were asking people to join them and demand their rights.  And, to be honest, at that moment,  I was sure that these protests would end that night and everybody would forget about it the next day.   And, we would be forced to accept Ahmadinejad again.
MikeAngelo: Would you say that they were simply mad at having to be led by a dictator?  Any dictator?  After being so hopeful that they/you may have been able to find a leader that actually cared about the people?  Is that fair?

SARA: Not really – not like that.  They were mad that dictators had changed their votes and anxious why their candidate Mr. Mousavi did not announce any objection?   He had announced before counting began that he was the winner and thought from reports taken from all around the country that this was true.  He remarked that any other result would be cheating .  But at about the same time people were concerned he was not speaking out, Mousavi published an announcement  condemning the cheating of the people.

The next day after that protests became stronger.  All the professors in my university resigned as a protest to the election result.   Army and police began to hit people.  Stabbing the men with sticks and batons.

MikeAngelo: People were mad about their votes not counting, that Ahmedinejad had cheated AND that Mousavi was not standing up and being vocal about the cheating….is that fair and accurate?

SARA: Yes.  But before the day ended,  Mousavi announced he is there and that he would defend our votes no matter what happens.  That made everyone happier and made protests even stronger.   As i told you, the next day more people came to the streets and this is when the army and police began to violently hit people.

MikeAngelo: By now, we’ve all seen the peaceful beginning of the protests, that they were engaged by the army and police….the ensuing violence.  were there any specific actions of violence toward you or your family?  can you cover that as well?

SARA: I was protesting with others in the streets, when some army officers ran after us and we all ran away and I rant to an alley and there I was trapped.   Finally i was punched and hit in my face and my right leg  was broken from being hit with the officers nightstick.

MikeAngelo: I’d like to understand this altercation in the alley a little more.  Are you comfortable to talk about this?

SARA: Yes.
MikeAngelo: You were actively protesting?

SARA: Yes.

MikeAngelo: And, ran when the army officers began to chase you?
SARA: And, they suddenly ran after us, the guardians.  They had covered faces.

MikeAngelo: Were they army?  We’ve heard reports of civilian vigilantes.  Do you know who these men were?

SARA: No.  They were not regular army.  I mean officers.   We guess they were Arabs.   They looked like Arabs.   Although, they had covered some of their faces and they did not listen to us as if they did not care what we were saying.   They were wearing uniforms like ‘high guard’.   We call them ‘special guard’ and yes they are with the army.  But, the most scary kind of army.   The high guard or special guard.  Wearing glass masks, big uniforms.   You have seen many of the men with black uniforms in pics.  You can’t hit them through those uniforms.
MikeAngelo: We may be better accustomed to hearing the special revolutionary guard of Iran.  Would it be accurate to say that you think these are the people that were attempting to control this protest and are the men that chased you into the alley?
SARA: Yes.   And, I believe they did not understand my words.   I was telling them I have nothing against the government.   That I was only protesting the election result and that he should not beat me.   But, he did.  He was hitting my leg and my face.

I felt it was my fault to run into a dead-end alley.  Others chased my friends.  When I ran into the alley, I tripped because I could not run anymore.    I tried to talk to him.    I was walking back, and he was coming to me laughing.   I still was trying to talk to him.

MikeAngelo: To be clear, when you tripped you did NOT break your leg?

SARA: No.   I saw the alley is a dead-end and I stopped running.   Just stopped with a distance from him and tried to walk back as he was walking to me laughing.   I was trying to tell him that i have nothing against  the government that I am like his sister. I am just protesting the results of the election.   But, he just spoke a few Arabic words.  This is why I think he was not Iranian and he didnt understand my words.

————–

It should be noted that at this point in the interview (10 p.m. June 15th), Sara began to talk of the current protest taking place along her street and in her alley.  Many men, women and children had began to protest from the rooftops of where she lived.   She felt compelled to join her family on the roof.  But, was unable to due to her broken leg.  She commented that the protests were so loud that even “that dumb and deaf Ahmadinejad would hear”.   People are everywhere, she goes on to say.   Shortly after the volume was raised, she reported that special forces of Ahmadinejad’s government arrived on motorcycles in long white shirts and looked quite unkept.  Paid local neighborhood mercenaries with knives and nightsticks.   Sara noted that when they arrived the chants of “allaho akbar” got even louder from the protesters.

Here, our interview continues…

————-

MikeAngelo: Ok….back to your story?

SARA: Yes.

MikeAngelo: Are you sure?  Are you scared?

SARA: Yes I’m scared.    But,  I know they can’t break our door.  You see Ahmadenijad and other dictators here have 70 million enemies.  Because, all ordinary people are calling out on roofs.  It’s ok.

MikeAngelo: Ok.  So, the special guard from the government came to you and you were standing and covered your face with your hands??

SARA: Yes. Still walking back.   I was so scared.   But, he hit me in the face with his hands, his fist.  Then, he said a few Arabic words and I fell down.  He hit my right leg a few times with his stick and I thought that I would die right there.  I was screaming loudly in pain, trying to stop him but i was so weak in front of him.  And, he continued on.  This is why I thought I would die.  He yelled at me in Arabic, I guess he was swearing.

Then I heard him scream!  My friends had come for me and hit him from behind.  They used a nightstick.  The same kind I am sure they had taken from the other guar that chased them.

My leg was aching so badly.  But, they helped me and we ran.

MikeAngelo: You were able to find a safe place?

SARA: We took a taxi and came back home.   I had scars on my face and only then I found out my nose was bleeding. When I went home I thought my leg is aching so badly and swelled.  So, we then went to the hospital.
MikeAngelo: Are there any other incidents (maybe your Uncle) that you would like to share or include when I put this up?

SARA: Last night  they attacked the dormitory of Tehran University and killed some students.  It was disgusting to see the  videos.  Two students killed.   There is still some shooting taking place now.

————–

Sara, later informed me while typing this for ‘MikeAngelo Wired’ that there were reports of 10 more people killed during violence that has yet to be reported or confirmed on our television news.

————–

Please visit http://www.gopetition.com/online/28567.html to protest the injustice of this election.

While searching for opinion on this matter,  I came across this GREAT op-ed from the contents of the Wall Street Journal.  I think it’s perfect and I hope the Prez read it!  Enjoy.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124398569458479033.html

By email (to the Counterterrorism Division),  and by regular mail:

The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr.

Attorney General of the United States

United States Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20530-0001

————————————–

Dear Attorney General Holder:

This letter is respectfully submitted to inform you that I must decline the invitation to participate in the May 4 roundtable meeting the President’s Task Force on Detention Policy is convening with current and former prosecutors involved in international terrorism cases. An invitation was extended to me by trial lawyers from the Counterterrorism Section, who are members of the Task Force, which you are leading.

The invitation email (of April 14) indicates that the meeting is part of an ongoing effort to identify lawful policies on the detention and disposition of alien enemy combatants—or what the Department now calls “individuals captured or apprehended in connection with armed conflicts and counterterrorism operations.” I admire the lawyers of the Counterterrorism Division, and I do not question their good faith. Nevertheless, it is quite clear—most recently, from your provocative remarks on Wednesday in Germany—that the Obama administration has already settled on a policy of releasing trained jihadists (including releasing some of them into the United States). Whatever the good intentions of the organizers, the meeting will obviously be used by the administration to claim that its policy was arrived at in consultation with current and former government officials experienced in terrorism cases and national security issues. I deeply disagree with this policy, which I believe is a violation of federal law and a betrayal of the president’s first obligation to protect the American people. Under the circumstances, I think the better course is to register my dissent, rather than be used as a prop.

Moreover, in light of public statements by both you and the President, it is dismayingly clear that, under your leadership, the Justice Department takes the position that a lawyer who in good faith offers legal advice to government policy makers—like the government lawyers who offered good faith advice on interrogation policy—may be subject to investigation and prosecution for the content of that advice, in addition to empty but professionally damaging accusations of ethical misconduct. Given that stance, any prudent lawyer would have to hesitate before offering advice to the government.

Beyond that, as elucidated in my writing (including my proposal for a new national security court, which I understand the Task Force has perused), I believe alien enemy combatants should be detained at Guantanamo Bay (or a facility like it) until the conclusion of hostilities. This national defense measure is deeply rooted in the venerable laws of war and was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in the 2004 Hamdi case. Yet, as recently as Wednesday, you asserted that, in your considered judgment, such notions violate America’s “commitment to the rule of law.” Indeed, you elaborated, “Nothing symbolizes our [adminstration’s] new course more than our decision to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay…. President Obama believes, and I strongly agree, that Guantanamo has come to represent a time and an approach that we want to put behind us: a disregard for our centuries-long respect for the rule of law[.]” (Emphasis added.)

Given your policy of conducting ruinous criminal and ethics investigations of lawyers over the advice they offer the government, and your specific position that the wartime detention I would endorse is tantamount to a violation of law, it makes little sense for me to attend the Task Force meeting. After all, my choice would be to remain silent or risk jeopardizing myself.

For what it may be worth, I will say this much. For eight years, we have had a robust debate in the United States about how to handle alien terrorists captured during a defensive war authorized by Congress after nearly 3000 of our fellow Americans were annihilated. Essentially, there have been two camps. One calls for prosecution in the civilian criminal justice system, the strategy used throughout the 1990s. The other calls for a military justice approach of combatant detention and war-crimes prosecutions by military commission. Because each theory has its downsides, many commentators, myself included, have proposed a third way: a hybrid system, designed for the realities of modern international terrorism—a new system that would address the needs to protect our classified defense secrets and to assure Americans, as well as our allies, that we are detaining the right people.

There are differences in these various proposals. But their proponents, and adherents to both the military and civilian justice approaches, have all agreed on at least one thing: Foreign terrorists trained to execute mass-murder attacks cannot simply be released while the war ensues and Americans are still being targeted. We have already released too many jihadists who, as night follows day, have resumed plotting to kill Americans. Indeed, according to recent reports, a released Guantanamodetainee is now leading Taliban combat operations in Afghanistan, where President Obama has just sent additional American forces.

The Obama campaign smeared Guantanamo Bay as a human rights blight. Consistent with that hyperbolic rhetoric, the President began his administration by promising to close the detention camp within a year. The President did this even though he and you (a) agree Gitmo is a top-flight prison facility, (b) acknowledge that our nation is still at war, and (c) concede that many Gitmo detainees are extremely dangerous terrorists who cannot be tried under civilian court rules. Patently, the commitment to close Guantanamo Bay within a year was made without a plan for what to do with these detainees who cannot be tried. Consequently, the Detention Policy Task Force is not an effort to arrive at the best policy. It is an effort to justify a bad policy that has already been adopted: to wit, the Obama administration policy to release trained terrorists outright if that’s what it takes to close Gitmo by January.

Obviously, I am powerless to stop the administration from releasing top al Qaeda operatives who planned mass-murder attacks against American cities—like Binyam Mohammed (the accomplice of “Dirty Bomber” Jose Padilla) whom the administration recently transferred to Britain, where he is now at liberty and living on public assistance. I am similarly powerless to stop the administration from admitting into the United States such alien jihadists as the 17 remaining Uighur detainees. According to National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair, the Uighurs will apparently live freely, on American taxpayer assistance, despite the facts that they are affiliated with a terrorist organization and have received terrorist paramilitary training. Under federal immigration law (the 2005 REAL ID Act), those facts render them excludable from theUnited States. The Uighurs’ impending release is thus a remarkable development given the Obama administration’s propensity to deride its predecessor’s purported insensitivity to the rule of law.

I am, in addition, powerless to stop the President, as he takes these reckless steps, from touting his Detention Policy Task Force as a demonstration of his national security seriousness. But I can decline to participate in the charade.

Finally, let me repeat that I respect and admire the dedication of Justice Department lawyers, whom I have tirelessly defended since I retired in 2003 as a chief assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York. It was a unique honor to serve for nearly twenty years as a federal prosecutor, under administrations of both parties. It was as proud a day as I have ever had when the trial team I led was awarded the Attorney General’s Exceptional Service Award in 1996, after we secured the convictions of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman and his underlings for waging a terrorist war against the United States. I particularly appreciated receiving the award from Attorney General Reno—as I recounted in Willful Blindness, my book about the case, without her steadfastness against opposition from short-sighted government officials who wanted to release him, the “blind sheikh” would never have been indicted, much less convicted and so deservedly sentenced to life-imprisonment. In any event, I’ve always believed defending our nation is a duty of citizenship, not ideology. Thus, my conservative political views aside, I’ve made myself available to liberal and conservative groups, to Democrats and Republicans, who’ve thought tapping my experience would be beneficial. It pains me to decline your invitation, but the attendant circumstances leave no other option.

Very truly yours,

/S/

Andrew C. McCarthy

Dear President Obama,

Please accept my enclosed gift of $13.00.  I have been told that this is my first installment of my portion of your stimulus package.  Quite frankly if I had not been told, I would not have even noticed it.

If possible, please take this $13.00 gift and apply it to the first $1,000,000,000,000.00 (trillion) of the country’s upcoming defecit that you and Congress have already spent.  I am quite positive you will notice it there, more than I noticed it in my paycheck.

Best regards,  MikeAngelo

——————————

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

——————————-

A note about gifts & Items Sent to the White House:

“Items sent to the White House are often significantly delayed and can be irreparably harmed during the security screening process. Therefore, please do not send items of personal importance, such as family photographs, because items may not be returned.

For security reasons, please do not send consumable gifts — such as food, flowers, and other perishable items — to the White House. While President Obama, the First Lady, Vice President Biden, and Dr. Biden appreciate your thoughtfulness, they request that instead you look to your local community for opportunities to assist your neighbors in need.”

It’s like having steak dinner with your last $100 before spending it on groceries or rent/mortgage.

———————————————————————————————

A letter from John McCain on recent Washington spending habits:

My Friend,

While campaigning for change, Barack Obama said, “We need earmark reform, and when I’m President, I will go line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely.” But now the President is about to sign a huge 2,697 page spending bill with over 9,000 unnecessary and wasteful earmarks. That’s not the “change” we are looking for.

I have called on the President to take a principled stand and veto the bill if it is sent to him, but unfortunately, he appears ready to sign it into law, which is nothing more than politics as usual.

Stop the Reckless Pork Barrel Spending

It’s no secret that I’ve spent my political career fighting against out-of-control, wasteful spending in Congress. And in nearly 30 years, I have never witnessed the type of alarming and irresponsible spending as I have seen in Washington over the past few weeks. I am appalled to see this legislation being rushed through the Congress while containing so many egregious earmarks.

It is unconscionable that while we are asking Americans to do more with less in these trying economic times we are about to spend $1.7 million for pig odor research in Iowa, $2 million for the promotion of astronomy in Hawaii, $475,000 for a parking garage in Provo City, Utah, $300,000 to build a Montana World Trade Center, and $150,000 for a rodeo museum in South Dakota. Simply put, your federal tax dollars should not be funding these types of projects.

Let me put this all in perspective — our country is currently nearly $11 trillion dollars in debt. Our projected deficit for 2009 alone is an alarming $2 trillion dollars. Just two weeks ago, President Obama signed a bill that the Democratic-led Congress passed to spend an additional $1 trillion in “stimulus spending.” And on top of all of this, President Obama has requested $3.6 trillion in additional spending for 2010.

This type of spending should not happen and we must be principled and stop it!

Going unreported and largely unnoticed, Representative Jose Serrano out of New York, has proposed amending the 22nd Amendment to our Constitution.  He has proposed it and it has been sent to committee for discussions.  But, what does that mean?

The 22nd Amendment limits the amount of terms any President of the United States can serve to two terms.  Including current and previously sitting presidents.

Is this news?  I watch a lot of news, on various networks, and don’t recall ONE story about the aforementioned.  I obviously think it is news worthy, given the fact I’ve included it on my blog.  And, quite frankly, I’m a little ‘peaved’ (insert your own word if you like) that it hasn’t been reported on.  The only conclusion I can arrive at is….it purposely has been neglected and overlooked by any of the mainstream newscasts.

Fuckin’ Incredible!

———

Further implications and conclusions could be assumed…but, for fact checking purposes and for the status of the proposed amendment…check out:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hj111-5

The debate can be heard around every water-cooler in America.  Some say give it time.  Some say it’s now the end of times.  Others just say it’s Socialist.

Personally, I believe there is some good in it…followed by a lot of bad.

If we’re in such poor economic times, who decided it would be a great idea to spend, spend, spend?  I realize it takes money to get the money moving.  And, we should get that money back into everyday American’s hands.  But, I’m still curious as to how the mouse in San Francisco is going to get the ‘hamster wheels’ of our country turning again.

I think the majority of Americans would agree, we needed a large bill.  We needed a mass amount of cashflow to get us turned around.   But, we also wanted this bill to be void of ‘pork’ and pet project by products.  I feel like the Democrats are running around foaming at the mouth…and the Republicans are about to throw in the towel and take the next two years off.

The latest liberal headlines scream Congress has just passed the largest middle-class tax cut in American history.  Single head of household will receive $400 dollar tax rebates, with $800 to joint households.  If you’re single it breaks down to about $13 extra in the wallet per week.  I’m shaking my head as I type.

I don’t remember a time where I’ve felt so pessimistic about our future as a country.  Both sides of the aisle should be ashamed today and recall that Friday the 13th was a black day in America. 

No pun intended.

———————-

There’s so much more to say on the issue.  But, I’m interested in your thoughts.   I’m especially interested in how the liberal side of the house is feeling. 

Tell me I’m wrong and make me feel better…please!

Previously a well groomed Congressman from Central California, Mr. Panetta maintains close allies and ties among the House and Senate.  Ties that should bring closer relations between the often sparring branches of the judicial and legislative branches.

Which brings up the major point in question.

While Mr. Panetta has an excellent record of public service…’public’ service is not exactly the hallmark of running one of the world’s most private entities.  I agree that a firm working relationship should be available between the executive, legislative and the judicial branches.  But, I can think of 100 other people that can bring that particular skill-set.

The bigger problem with this nomination is that Mr. Panetta has no intelligence experience whatsoever.  None.  Let me say that again.  Mr. Panetta is President Obama’s leading choice to lead the biggest intelligence agency in the world, with NO intelligence experience.

While some may argue, that this brings fresh objective thinking to a position that desperately needs it.  I would offer that a person with some experience in the ways of the intelligence community would have a much better grasp on ideas to better and change current intelligence policies.  How can someone with no idea about the field, offer concrete solutions and forward thinking?  Quite simply, they can not.

To further my point, today under testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mr. Panetta made a few curious remarks:

- he does not know specifically what happened in the secret program allowing so-called “extraordinary rendition.” (uh, it’s a secret)

- “What happened? I can’t tell you.” (there’s an obvious answer)

- “Our first responsibility is to prevent surprise.” (duh)

- “I would encourage dissent. I always have.” (really?)

- said he would brief the entire House and Senate on current secretive CIA programs and directives.

- He stated he would come to the office with a list of questions.  The first two being: (1) Where is Osama bin Laden? (2)  Where will al-Qaida strike next in the U.S.?  (Are you kidding me?  Tell me you’re five year old wouldn’t ask these two questions on a tour of the CIA.)

One Washington insider noted, “if Panetta is confirmed, that the President and government will have more transparency into the CIA than ever before”.  A comment meant as a positive advance for Washington.  But, I prefer not to have my CIA so transparent.

– –

Is this just a bad dream? 

Is Washington still asleep at the wheel? 

The man has testified he knows nothing, has no experience in intelligence gathering, will encourage dissent among the ranks and will readily share the CIA’s business and information with the biggest leaks in Washington. 

Isn’t there just one person more qualified to run the CIA?  At least one?  Just one managerial type that already possesses a working knowledge of how to protect the United States from serious harm?!  Is this the best the President can do?  Of course it’s not…and for good reason.

The big headline today is the big deal being made about $700,000 of Panetta’s  income throughout 2008 (income that he legitimately earned through speaking engagements.  Yes, with some defense contractors. But, still legitimate).  This has been the big story for one reason.  To purposely distract the majority of the American public away from the real issue.  Why is Leon Panetta, Barack Obama’s first choice as Director of the CIA?

This is a blatant attempt by the Obama administration to position a far left liberal from California to lead our front line covert security force as a puppet for the President. 

The CIA exists to protect us from very scary and deadly situations – and occasionally in complicated, and sometimes shady ways.  But, they do protect us.  And, they do it well.  As well as any in the world – except maybe the Mussad.  They are separate from the President for a reason.  The President does not run the CIA for a reason. 

There must be one person in this country with superior management experience, budgetary skills, economic skills, knows Washington AND understands how things work in the intelligence community. 

Unless, of course the President prefers his very own CIA marionette.

– –

Quite frankly (and this is a personal note), I don’t think any Liberal from California is probably the best choice to lead the CIA.  Can you imagine Nancy Pelosi as head of the CIA? (had to laugh at that) 

Left wing extremism, tree hugging and peace rallies just doesn’t seem to coincide with leading the world’s biggest covert military.  In fact, you could probably assume they are actually polar opposites.

Doesn’t anyone else see this as worrysome?