Protesters gathered outside of U.N. against Ahmadinejad's visit

While thousands of Iranian Americans protested outside of the United Nations building chanting, "Ahmadinejad is not our president," some diplomats walked out as the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made his remarks before the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday evening.


This was Ahmadinejad's fifth year at the United Nations and his speech was almost a copy of previous years criticitizing the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and calling Israel an "occupier." He even asked for the closing of the Gunatanomo prison forgetting how the notorious "Evin" prison in his own country is detaining innocent Iranian citizens.

Earlier President Obama warned Iran and North Korea on their pursuit for nuclear weapon. He said,

"If the governments of Iran and North Korea choose to ignore international standards; if they put the pursuit of nuclear weapons ahead of regional stability and the security and opportunity of their own people; if they are oblivious to the dangers of escalating nuclear arms races in both East Asia and the Middle East – then they must be held accountable."

United States and Iran have not had diplomatic relations for over three decades.

Obama warned Iran on pursuit of nuclear weapon

U.S. President Barack Obama gave his first speech at the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday warning Iran and North Korea on their pursuit for nuclear weapon.

"If the governments of Iran and North Korea choose to ignore international standards; if they put the pursuit of nuclear weapons ahead of regional stability and the security and opportunity of their own people; if they are oblivious to the dangers of escalating nuclear arms races in both East Asia and the Middle East – then they must be held accountable." Said President Obama.

President Obama also communicated his administration's policy to continue diplomacy,

"We respect their rights as members of the community of nations. I am committed to diplomacy that opens a path to greater prosperity and a more secure peace for both nations if they live up to their obligations. "

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be speaking at the United Nations this afternoon. Large groups of people have gathered front of the United Nations opposing his presence in the U.S. and at the United Nations.

The Iranian June election turned deadly as thousands of Iranians protested on the streets for days claiming their vote from the Iranian government with "where is my vote" signs.

Remembering victims of 9/11 and paying respect to our troops

Life has never been the same since the day United States was attacked in her backyard in the morning of September 11, 2001. On that day, terrorists took the innocent lives of about 3000 people. It was an attack on our people, on our democracy and our liberty.

It may seem eight years ago since we have been attacked in the capitol city of the world’s financial center in New York City, followed by attacks in Pentagon and Pennsylvania, but we continue to feel the impact of terrorism around us.

Call me pro American, proud American, or a patriot, I will tell you that what happened to us in the United States on September 11, 2001 was unfair and unjust.

Remember that our troops have been fighting Taliban and Al Kheida in Afghanistan since October 7, 2001, meaning less than a month after we have been attacked. These selfless individuals have been sacrificing their families, their loved ones and risking their lives to protect us and our freedom.

With this post I like to remember the victims of September 11 attacks and express my heartfelt thoughts to their families. I also like to extend my gratitude to our troops who are fighting to protect us.

Brian Lamar, one of my friends is among those who fought in Afghanistan. He is now in the U.S. working for “Defense Language Institute” in Monterey, California.

In this picture, you will see Brian, the Farsi instructor and I in a recent tour of the school during a culture and diversity day celebration.

Since my blog discusses U.S. Iran relations, I like to say even though the two countries do not have diplomatic relations for the past thirty years but the people of Iran expressed their sympathy following the September 11 attacks.

Many young Iranians went on the streets and held candle vigils to show their support and solidarity with the American people.

Recently during the Iranian presidential elections, as the young Iranians were getting shot and injured demanding the government for a fair election , I saw the same compassion from the American people. The American people held candle vigils, wrote poetry, and composed songs to say "We stand with you."

The people to people connection is the most powerful tool that can bring us all together and defeat the evil of terrorism.

Hope is still alive among young Iranians

It is been tough for the people of Iran to face all the violence from their government after the unfair presidential elections. A number of Iranians were killed, physically tortured and are still detained in prison. Families worry as their young children leave the house or go to school. The situation in Iran is still not ordinary. There are reports that young people are still going to roof tops most of the nights to object to the government, demanding their vote.

But these young people still keep their hope alive. Look at this photo, this is a young Iranian woman who went hiking to Damavand Mountains located in northern Iran with her friends.

According to the Islamic laws in Iran, women must cover their hair. With all the restrictions, these girls get away from the city and find refuge in the mountains to be free and dress the western style. These girls keep their spirit alive even though suppressed in a society that dictates to them how to talk, walk, or dress.

Meanwhile the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who claimed victory for the recent elections in June after weeks of facing opposition by the Iranian people on the streets, will be visiting the United Nations later this month to attend the yearly General Assembly meetings.

This will be his fifth visit to the United Nations since he became the president. Every year the Iranian Americans and some non Iranian groups organize demonstrations front of the United Nations to object to his visit. Ahmadinejad's visits go on even though a number of congressional members write to the president every year or object to the State Department for granting visa to him and his cabinet members. However, this year there seems to be a plan for much larger protest in front of the United Nations after the violence that took place on the streets of Iran taking lives of Iranians who came on the streets to claim their vote. In Los Angeles some opposition TV management are organizing buses and booking flights for people to come to attend the protests front of the United Nations.

I have been covering Ahmadinejad's visits every year inside and outside of United Nations. I can tell you that is always the same. People will object to U.S. and reporters will be grilling the State Department spoke's people on why would United States allow a leading state sponsor of terrorism to come to the U.S ? You will also be hearing on major news networks the discussion on why do we allow a person who will deny holocaust to visit the U.S. soil? The answers are always the same. The spoke's people will tell you United States must facilitate heads of states who will be visiting United Nations as the host country.

Ahmadinejad's visits normally lasts for three days. He will come to the United Nations and have his controversial speeches on the General Assembly floor and get a sea of reporters following him from one bilateral meeting to another. His speech is normally followed by another controversial press conference, where he will be dodging questions and joking about nuclear issues. Most of his bilaterals are normally with delegations of Russia, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. And finally he will have visits with religious leaders in New York city and some breakfast meetings with the think tanks or nonprofits. Then there is always a dinner at a hotel with Iranian Americans who will get special invites to have dinner with Ahmadinejad.

According to a source which I can't name, I have been told this year that dinner will most likely be cancelled for security reasons. His visit gets wall to wall coverage from every local, national, and international media. You can't avoid the name Ahmadinejad which is often mis pronounced in any of the channels that you will be watching. His controversial and often nonsense remarks makes the headlines and take away the attention from what is really important which is the young people of Iran who make up the majority of the country.

I imagine, the media, the heads of states, NGO members, academicians and ordinary citizens will have a different point of view this year after seeing what happened on the streets of Iran. I hope everyone will remember the young Iranian woman Neda who was shot with a sniper gun in the chest and Sohrab the male Iranian teenager who just celebrated his 19th birthday before he died in Evin prison. Not to mention others who have lost their lives or continue to be in prison for simply asking for their vote to be counted...