Report: Iranian lobby has penetrated Obama administration

Pro-Iran lobbyists have gained access to the administration of President Barak Obama, a report by The Center for Security Policy said. Veteran Iranian lobbyists, several of them former government officials, are already exerting substantial influence within the Obama administration.

"A complex network of individuals and organizations with ties to the clerical regime in Teheran is pressing forward in seeming synchrony to influence the new U.S. administration's policy towards the Islamic republic of Iran," the report, titled "Rise of the Iran Lobby," said. The CSP was founded by Frank Gaffney, often identified as a neo-conservative.

"Spearheaded by a de facto partnership between the National Iranian-American Council (NIAC), the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and other organizations serving as mouthpieces for the mullahs' party line, the network includes well-known American diplomats, congressional representatives, figures from academia and the think tank world."

The report, authored by Clare Lopez, said the lobbyists funneling money to key members of Congress and exerting influence in the Obama administration are supported by the highest level of the Iranian leadership.

The report refers to "the de facto alliance between CAIR, one of the Muslim Brotherhood affiliates named by the U.S. Department of Justice as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007 and 2008 Holy Land Foundation trials, and groups such as NIAC and its predecessor, the American-Iranian Council, which long have functioned openly as apologists for the Iranian regime, must arouse deep concern that U.S. national security policy is being successfully targeted by Jihadist entities hostile to American interests."

The report said that U.S. think tanks as the Brookings Institution, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Institute for Science and International Security and the Woodrow Wilson Center are among those which have turned to become advocates of a diplomatic rapprochement to a nuclear Iran.

Obama himself is reported to have met a leading pro-Iranian lobbyist, Hassam Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America, in May 2008. Since then, Obama has appointed or supported the appointments of pro-appeasement policy advocates such as Richard Haas, Vali Nasr, and Dennis Ross to senior positions in the administration.

"That so many respected Middle East and foreign policy experts seem to have bought into the Iranian regime's agenda is testament to the extraordinarily effective information operation that has been waged against U.S. national security interests by the Iran Lobby's network over the last several years," the report said.

Charles Freeman, appointed chairman of the National Intelligence Council, was identified by the report as a key member of the Iranian lobby. The report also pointed to U.S. envoy to the United Nations, Susan Rice and Thomas Pickering, a predecessor in that position, [Ret.] Lt. Gen. Robert Gard, former National Security Council official Gary Sick, former Rep. Robert Ney and Rep. Keith Ellison, a Minnesota Democrat.

Ney, convicted of accepting bribes in 2006, was directed by his then-aide Trita Parsi, who later became a key pro-Iranian lobbyist and president of the National Iranian-American Council. The report identified Parsi, a Swedish-Iranian, as a leading organizer in winning support for a U.S. rapproachment with Iran from prominent Americans, many of whom with access to Obama.

"Under the leadership of Mr. Obama's prospective National Intelligence Council chairman, Chas Freeman, the Middle East Policy Council has closely aligned with Trita Parsi's NIAC in urging the U.S. to adopt an agenda of dialogue and rapprochement with Teheran," the report said. It was written before Freeman withdrew in disgrace after his concealed financial interests with China and Saudi Arabia were revealed.

"It is inconceivable that a man as publicly and closely aligned with the views of Iran and its agents of influence in America will be able to exercise truly independent judgment about what the mullahs are up to, let alone offer objective intelligence analysis about how best to contend with them."

Major U.S. oil companies have also backed a conciliatory American policy to Iran, influenced by the American-Iranian Council, founded more than a decade ago with support from Aramco, Chevron Texaco, and Conoco Phillips, the report said. The progress of the Iranian lobby appears inexorable, encouraged by the moves of Obama himself:

"At present, a major objective of the Iran lobby is to weaken U.S. support for Israel," the report said. "The lobby advocates permitting the Iranian nuclear weapons program to push forward with no serious consequences, while urging an 'evenhanded' policy that would ban all nuclear weapons from the Middle East region."

"If the Obama administration does not hear a persuasive alternative position, cogently presented, and soon, Iran's carefully-crafted clandestine intelligence operation to exercise effective control over America's Iran policy could succeed — to the profound detriment of U.S. national interests and those of our friends and allies in the Middle East region and around the world."

The report appears to assume that Obama is not actively involved in promoting the appeasement policy.

Tags: Administration, Chas Freeman, Iranian lobby, Iranian threat, Obama

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Comment by Dillon Reece on March 31, 2009 at 9:42am: It is unfortunate, but there is an extreme naivete which pervades throughout western civilizations. They are willing to give the "benefit of the doubt" to those who have nothing but disdain for the architecture and foundations of freedom loving societies. It seems that a majority of utopianist's out in the world have no comprehension of the underpinnings of real evil and aggressive power hungry ideologies. They wish for things which may occur in a vacuum, but when given a real world application - tear apart and disintegrate into chaos.
The more slack which is given to these extreme and aggressive regimes - the more freedom loving people are allowing a noose to be cinched around their necks - only in a slow, deliberate and incremental way.
At some point there has to be a level of conviction ,determination and common sense to take a stand which is clear, decisive and overtly defensive. Continuing to wallow in a state of vague and unprincipled laissez-faire policy regarding Iran and others like them, will only lead to further erosion of perceived defenses which have kept them at bay. Weaknesses do not only come in the form of military and civil defense. They unfortunately can be exhibited and exposed through the use of tactics which are untraceable and undetectable - human nature. My opinion is that they have bolstered and increased their efforts in lobbying and influence in a quest to search for the least principled and weak links in our system of government. Their goal is to exploit the same kind of character flaws which have led us to our current economic meltdown - only from a national defense angle. I would speculate that directives within the Iranian hierarchy are focused upon using the human element of American citizen's. To find those American's who are devoid of foundations rooted in preserving our countries freedoms, and influence them to instead pursue their own greed, power or quest for utopic dreams - which ultimately they will find are not attainable and are not shared by the very regime's lobbying for influence under these false pretenses.
It reminds me of the

Comment by clif atkin on March 27, 2009 at 2:06pm: In the final analysis, the chosen people, the Jews, will be called upon to protect the world from the spread of the muslim onslaught and their desire to spread the Caliphante to the Christian World. Hal Linsay and his flock have and are giving ample warning of this scenario taking place. The Evangelical Christians are Israels best friends in Christendom.

Comment by Paul I. Adams on March 27, 2009 at 3:34am: The Iranian lobby is not "penetrating" the administration...it is "emerging" from its diminished profile during the campaign cycle. this important distinction must be seen for what it is...

Comment by Linda Clapp on March 25, 2009 at 10:41pm: Some good news? The fastest selling book today is Mark Levin's 'Liberty and Tyranny, a Conservative Manifesto'. Brand new and selling fast- We might not be to late, though I see the sun going down on our time. Michael, I was living near Lake Michigan when Helen blew her top--about 2 weeks later we were covered and inch-deep in ash!!! What is happening under the Yellowstone Caldera has been noticed since 2006 and seems to be connected to the Volcanoes of Alaska and down thru the Cascades. The Old Faithful and other spots are changed in their timings and new spots are showing up. The current Volcano in Alaska is not done yet. And, out by Andrew's side of the world there are 2 Volcanos coming out of the Ocean near Fiji and Australia has had at least 3 4-pt. tremors in places where the earth has not quaked before. This 'news' was not easy to come by, because there seems to be an almost black-out on info. One thing for sure- we can't blame man's doing or Global Warming--Only the ONE who laid the Foundations of this old ball of wax can move the Earth.

Comment by Michael S. on March 25, 2009 at 5:27pm: I did an environmental impact study for a few of the lumber companies after St Hell'ens blow, it was a scary sight to see all of the dead animals that smothered from dust and ash. I had to put two wind shields in my pick up because of the scratches from the wipers running in the rain.

The powdery dust was three feet deep in places and we carried 15 ft stadia rods to make sure we weren't walking into a hole filled with dust.

I could only imagine that there would only be a small % of the population that would know how to survive a large disaster like a volcanic winter. There aren't even enough people out there now that even know how to grow their own food or eat natures food.

Comment by Andrew on March 25, 2009 at 3:41pm: I wonder Shovav how he gets to the figure of 4.5 billion not 4.4 or 4.6 billion?

I agree with you about Obama. What is scary is how subtle and incremental he is in subverting America. His first international telephone call as President was to Abbas. First overseas trip as President will be to a muslim country to make a "groundbreaking" speech. His friendly "engagement" message to Iran. Where is the outrage?

I am fearful for the future of America. Linda reminded me yesterday about the post of a Teo Bear here last year who listed the natural disasters such as hurricane Katrina that have recently hit America. They occurred at exactly the same time as America put pressure on Israel ie Dayton.

Linda and I were speculating about how the biggest volcano in the whole world is Yellowstone national park. Vulcanologists say it is due to blow at any time. Somehow I think if America really turns against Israel, it will blow. RIP USA.

Comment by Robert Bernier on March 25, 2009 at 9:38am: How did Islam penetrate our societies ?
Before 9/11 Muslim terrorists were building global networks again under the American and European radar. We had other things to consider like pacifying Mideast potentates for the oil under their sands. It didn’t matter that countries like Saudi Arabia were spreading Wahhabiism (strict Shariah Islam) which taught Muslim children that Islam is not only superior to all other religions but, one day Islam would eliminate these “false” religions under “Shariah” law and Islam would dominate the world. These children grew up and became brainwashed like “Manchurian candidates”. They filtered into other countries with the help of foreign services of the West – like the U.S. State Department. Each of the Western nations had their own foreign services who allowed Muslims to flood into their nation even to the point of subsidizing their housing, education, medical care and much more. Nothing was withheld to pacify the Muslims because they had oil under their feet. So our American Universities are clogged with Muslim “students”, opting for classes in Nuclear Physics, Chemistry and Biology – all of which would eventually benefit the military terrorist organizations in their country of origin. Colleges are building foot-baths for Muslims to wash their feet before they pray – a minor concession as described at : http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2007/12/long-before-911-long-before-1948.html

Comment by Robert Bernier on March 25, 2009 at 9:35am: Islamic strategy
The global Islamic jihad is threatening the entire free world, and it is succeeding, and we don’t even know what has hit us! The West is sliding into Islamicization, because of a strategy outlined decades ago by the Islamic Brotherhood, which says: You set up your institutions, you then use the mores of your designated country to give you more and more, you Islamicize the country, and then you take it over. The central point of this strategy is the demoralization caused by the intellectual confusion brought on by the psychological warfare, the essence of which is that the victims have no idea of what is being done to them. The West doesn’t get it, at all. Israel doesn’t get it. We must fight against their verbal fire – and realize that if our minds are enslaved, then our bodies will be next as explained at : http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2007/12/message-of-islam-dead-to-america.html

Comment by Andrew on March 25, 2009 at 5:08am: Absolutely Tricia. The citizens of Rome became hedonistic, degenerates. They wanted mercenaries to fight their battles for them. They didn't understand what was going on until the barbarians were at the gates.

Sounds like western civilisation dosent it? The west isn't going understand what it is up against until its too late.

I was reading Craig Winn's "the Prophet of doom" a while ago. He said if his understanding of prophecy is correct a quarter of all human beings are going to perish in a global jihad. Cheery isn't it?