Please bear in mind that my question was not about about whether he was doing good or harm to Mousavi and/or the Green movement or about whether he has a right to speak for the Green movement or in defense of Mousavi. I merely wanted to know if the gentleman was really an official international spokesman for Mousavi.

Since when Mousavi has had monopoly for People Movement for freedom and democracy in Iran? Green was a color designation for Mousavi campaign (ironically designated by Iranian regime through drawing). Green now is a color of people resistance in Iran. Green Movement is not equal to Mousavi.

Makhmalbaf is one of the people in People Movement or Green Movement or whatever the heck Color (you want to call it) Movement against Iranian regime. if he can get an audience with policy makers in the U.S. to get message of Iranian people across more power to him and to people of Iran. What is your problem with that? Do you people not hear people chanting “Obama Obama ya ba oonh ya ba ma” Obama you are either with them (Iran regime) or with us (people of Iran)? What is it that Obama is doing with the Iran regime that people want him to reconsider? Nuke Negotiation. What is it that Obama is not doing and Iranians asking his focus on? Freedom and democracy in Iran. Then why is it that some of you are questioning Makhbalbaf assertion for “Freedom First” and Nuke Second” and others questioning his legitimacy as designated spokesman for Mousavi. If Mousavi has a problem with Freedom First and Nuke Second for people of Iran, then he is not the voice of masses in Iran and he better zip it.

Iranians also chanted on 13th Aban “Iran is plentiful and prosperous and does not need Nuke”, (Iran e Sabz o Khoram bomb atom ne mikhad). It is about time you guys worry about what people are asking not worrying about deeper analysis of if for example Mahkhbalbaf is reading Mousavi script.

I take the point. I have altered the text to reflect the title given in the WSJ article to Makhmalbaf. See also update with Mr Smith’s answer to your original question.

S.

I am hardly a standard “realist,” but surely readers have got to wonder about if we had applied that logic in dealing say, with North Korea, China, the Soviet Union, etc. A little analytical depth please.

We surely want to see Iran’s own democracy norms “mushroom,” but I for one also commend efforts to avoid the nuclear variety. The “right to life” — enshrined also in the US Declaration of Independence — those are human rights too….

That’s an important question. I think one starting point is that, given the platform he had at Carnegie, he is perceived by well-placed US activists and officials as an envoy for the Green movement.

S.

Could it be that unlike Mohajerani, because what Makmalbaf says is closer to what the neo-neocons want to hear, they are the ones making the designation. Very delicate subject area, to be sure.

I sincerely hope that KS & Carnegie will post the full transcript and/or video of the Makmalbaf appearance there. Anybody have a link?