IRAN (Is Not The Problem)

IRAN (Is Not The Problem)

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Ratings: 7.82/10 from 51 users.

IRAN (Is Not The Problem)IRAN (Is Not The Problem) is a feature length documentary film responding to the failure of the American mass media to provide the public with relevant and accurate information about the standoff between the US and Iran, as happened before with the lead up to the invasion of Iraq.

We have heard that Iran is a nuclear menace in defiance of the international community, bent on "wiping Israel off the map", supporting terrorism, and unwilling to negotiate. This documentary disputes these claims as they are presented to us and puts them in the context of present and historical US imperialism and hypocrisy with respect to Iran. It looks at the struggle for democracy inside Iran, the consequences of the current escalation and the potential US and/or Israeli attack, and suggests some alternatives to consider.

This 79 minute documentary features Antonia Juhasz, Larry Everest, and other activists and Iranian-Americans. The goal of this movie is to promote dialog and change the debate on Iran, so please consider organizing a screening, big or small, in your area.

Produced by Aaron Newman, an independent film-maker and part of the Scary Cow film co-op in San Francisco. He is an anti-imperialism/pro-democracy activist, founder of the SF Chomsky Book Club, and a member of Hands Off Iran. There are differences of opinion between many of the voices in this film, but all agree that a war would be unjustified. Below are brief video introductions for each of the people who participated.

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elmerfudzie
elmerfudzie
4 years ago

I despise the use of music during intellectual discussions! I loath "bumper music", completely unprofessional presentation(s)! The Intel agencies want us to remain as stupid as possible so why not shorten our attention spans with background noises and music to dance by

Pemba Sherpa
Pemba Sherpa
8 years ago

axis of evil? what is definition of evil exactly you said?

aeonem
aeonem
10 years ago

USrael is a plague upon the world.. Leave Iran alone, they have hada successful revolution, completely independent of USraeli intervention which is spawning all the propaganda against the iranians..

Piyam Grammi
Piyam Grammi
11 years ago

the only way this dictator in Iran most remove by Iranian revolution not by any out wars

Piyam Grammi
Piyam Grammi
11 years ago

i believe the Islamic regime in Iran is the cancer for not Iranian peoples but also for the world, and as soon as possible has to be removed .bye Iranian people ,bye use help of the world1but if any wars against this county happen? not only help the Iranian government to get more prover , and will be for world piece

Max van der Veer
Max van der Veer
12 years ago

**** off USA

And if we let Iran just alone nothing will happen.... just like North-Korea

Dante Robertson
Dante Robertson
12 years ago

stop lying to the world and while you at it stop persecuting the Palestinians and Catholics in Israel

Jay
Jay
12 years ago

This documentary is probably the most bias and ridiculous one i have seen on the website. These people are radical left wingers... I think there are trees being cut down somewhere in the world, go save them and stay out the middle east issues.

Mark Stouffer
Mark Stouffer
12 years ago

"Plain and simple: The US agenda is world domination."

This is not a phrase that should be in a documentary without being immediately justified. First, "plain and simple" is a cliche. It's like saying "let me dumb it down for you", or "bottom line ..." Why would you put a cliche right in the beginning of what is supposed to be an authoritative work? Then to say that it is the US agenda when you only show that it might be some faction's agenda, and then it's not actually world domination.

planckbrandt
planckbrandt
12 years ago

This is good. Let's just remember there are big families behind these oil companies, banks, and insurance companies that lost collateral in Iran. They are a mix of American, British, and Iranian-American. They use our politics as their doormat. John Roberts and William Rehnquist before him let them do it!

Zachary Griffith
Zachary Griffith
12 years ago

I like how none of the predictions of this video even came close to happening.

Zachary Griffith
Zachary Griffith
12 years ago

Allatoulah has recently stated he did not support the plan that would call any those things.

0zyxcba1
0zyxcba1
12 years ago

Regarding international power structures, and the tensions(to understate) we face today, Iran is most decidedly a major threat.

However grave a threat Iran is to regional 'peace'(if one can call it that) and/or to International stability, the primary threat is nether Iran, nor even Israel, but United States foreign policy, most particularly as it pertains to the Middle East.

I refer not only to current policy and engagements but also to past United States Middle Eastern policy. The Unites States CIA operation to remove the democratically elected prime minister of Iran and then to subsequently install the Shah during the Eisenhower administration has to be the single most inexcusable, dumbest, blunder of post-war United States Middle East foreign made. And the repercussions in no small measure are what we are now forced to witness.

Inside Iran, however, as pertains to human rights violations, Iran is a MAJOR threat to civilization, and to common decency, right down there with the Taliban, and North Korea, and Uganda, to mention a few of the worst.

Human rights is every human's business, and all humans have a duty to interfere in the internal affairs of Iran as pertains to state sponsored human rights violations. Just as ever human on this planet has the moral obligation to Interfere with the internal and external policies of the United States regarding the, now legal, state sponsored US torture of human being.

There is not much I can do. I suspect the same predicament confronts just about everyone. Still, ever opportunity that comes my way, no matter how seeming insignificant or futile, should be ceased upon. It is not easy, E-mailing the White House, etc. It's almost embracing, even humiliating, participating in grassroots efforts when one is able to find time. It is not easy because one knows it can make no difference.

But I am not absolutely convinced of that.

MJ
MJ
13 years ago

Commenter debates are so petty and fruitless, simply a bunch of anons who want to be heard. All I want is to read someone's CRITICAL ANALYSIS of the film, but instead I have have to sift through useless and half-informed discourse...

gheghe
gheghe
13 years ago

@Alan and Faith, yes, religion can be a problem when the believer (regardless if we're talking about Islam, Christianity, Judaism or Atheism - and I'm not mistaking including this one, I've done my homework) sets his mind into a trap: he truly thinks that his and only his point of view is the accurate representation of the Truth, everyone else is wrong and needs to be converted and/or destroyed. the same problem applies to Democracy. what, don't you think it became the US official religion?
Some fat dude from the Far East once said something like "when every human will try to find it's own path, the Earth will know peace".
@Yavanna
I've stumbled upon you a few times on this site. I congratulate you for thinking, I know it's a normal thing to do but you'll agree that not many people are doing it these days. Secondly, I would advise you not to be so belligerent, any idea can be illustrated peacefully. also, there's always an alternative. think outside the box, leave democracy and focus a little on, let's call it, biocracy.

Joel
Joel
13 years ago

STOP CHEMTRAILS and investigate the 9/11 SCAM, The Inside Job! Explosives were used to take down all three WTC buildings in NYC and everyone knows that.

Joel
Joel
13 years ago

STOP CHEMTRAILS and investigate the 9/11 SCAM, The Inside Job!

Joel
Joel
13 years ago

I'm not a strong supporter of Israel or Iran, but I believe Iran is a peaceful country with some inhumane laws (stoning of women) and I also think that Jews have a right to have a country of their own. USA should leave Iran alone and let them develop their own nuclear facilities and even a nuclear bomb for their own protection (from Iraq, terrorists, "western" invasion etc.). The world must become FAIR to everyone. Humans must cease to be insane animals. I also think that unfaithful women could and should be punished, but not by stoning but perhaps by a prison term or by a financial penalty or something less physical and more humane (in real Human terms, not in insane, wild human-animal terms). USA has many flaws and problems and it is not exactly a democracy, therefore it should cease being a policeman of the world and take care of its severe internal problems and respect its own people MUCH MORE.

Umari Sadiqi
Umari Sadiqi
13 years ago

I must say, just to have the courage to view this documentary tell me alot about all the individuals that have posted. The U.S. Goverment policies is the problem. As it relate to the illegal state of "israel",religion and the East, I do not mean the entire U.S goverment but agencies such as the CIA, State Deparment, Military, United Nations, National Intelligence Asessesment,Defense, Navy,Army intelligence etc. Most of all the corrupt & hypocrital Legislative & Executive branches who are the executers of orders and lie to the citizens. As a veteran I know who the real enemy of the citizens are, create and cause the divisions, allow corrupt institutions to function and enslave the citizens daily for a "JOB"

awful-truth
awful-truth
13 years ago

It isn't religion, it isn't political ideology that causes all the problems. If blame is to be directed, it should be sent towards greed and lying. The entire U.S economy is based on producing and selling weapons. You know, jobs, the economy. ergo, times are tough so lets start a war. There should be no more interest charges for digital credits, no more collecting a trillion dollars a year by the Rothschilds and Rockefellers through the federal reserve for doing absolutely nothing!
The next biggest problem is propaganda.(lying) When Jane Akra got her 450,000 dollar decision against FOX news, it was overturned by the Florida supreme court who said she was not covered under whistle blower status because it is not against the law to falsify the news.
Until there is true accountability and reasonable intelligence by the masses, humanity will continue this direction until it becomes extinct. generally speaking, people are like electricity taking the path of least resistance, blind to critical thinking. For all those who want to blame it on race, religion, gender, etc, etc, either get off your butts and do something about it, or pledge allegiance to the cockroach, because humanity's days are finished if we don't correct it.

scoogers
scoogers
13 years ago

excellent, well-done film.

Mateen
Mateen
13 years ago

Alan and others, the largest minority, may be even it is an actual majority, is not the turks, but Azeri turks. Azeri turks are a bit different form turks of Turkey. They are the same with azeris in Azerbaijan Republic, the country in the north border of Iran.

Siauwaxh
Siauwaxh
13 years ago

U.S. and Israel are now dogs on the lose, beware. Leave Iran alone. Except I vote for a less religious society in Iran.

Ryan
Ryan
13 years ago

@ Alan

Actually, the world isn't getting less religious. Maybe the WEST is, but that's the problem with Westerners, we interpret what is happening in our societies as the norm around the world.

In fact, in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and much of Asia, even parts of Eastern Europe, there is religious revivalism, not increased secularism. Some could say in even in the US this is happening.

For better or for worse, it's the truth. In the West, we are very secular, (again, the US is debatable) but this doesn't mean the rest of the world is.

Ryan
Ryan
13 years ago

Why are people blaming Iran? It's the power mad US that wants to dominate the region for political and economic reasons. They will allow Israel to attack Iran, try to change the regime because America doesn't tolerate anyone standing up to them. Iran, if anything, represents a brave state that will look America and judge some of their foreign policy actions as what they are: imperialism.

Chris in the center of Canada
Chris in the center of Canada
13 years ago

You "activists" can not have it both ways... Imperialism is so 20th century. Democracy is the lesser of of the two evils and it works or you and I wouldn't be here to argue in a Theocratic society. Of course they would shoot you first since you are so much smarter and have all the answers... ha not! What you have all the blame and complain, which is the easy part and doesn't make you look smart.

Chris in the center of Canada
Chris in the center of Canada
13 years ago

You "activists" can not have it both ways... Imperialism is so 20th century. Democracy is the lesser of of the two evils and it works or you and I wouldn't be here to argue in a Theocratic society. Of course they would shoot you first since you are so much smarter and have all the answers... ha not! What you have is just blame and complain, which is the easy part and doesn't make you look smart. I was impressed when the narrators voice went into a nice accent for each middle east word and name.

Randy
Randy
13 years ago

I praise the Great Iranian Peoples... stop hurting your women, be kind to the g@y boys, and we can all get along!

I know that most of the populace of Iran feels this way, just your leaders are "outer limits"...

Hey, so are ours!

Ahmad
Ahmad
13 years ago

a small addition to what i previously said i would like to specially thank Mitchel Plitnick i salute you for trying to bring peace together the whole world needs it not just religions or countries

Ahmad
Ahmad
13 years ago

Everything is extremely true and i support every word that has been said start to finish. Im a muslem who studied abroad and i support the rules and regulations of other countries and try to convince individual in my country to take the advantages of western countries and apply them in our own. Im also a Sunni but some of my closest friends are shia and christian and i respect all religions but the excuses the USA are using to seize control of the middle east is ridicules and unexplainable. I guess the us is like a hit-man who does know what hes doing until he sees his own blood and tastes it. It is really disappointing when you look and see a government of such a beautiful country and people who most of the world idealizes its people and the way they advance and support each other in the good and bad destroy this image. Just like we have a saying in the arabic world "Everything that comes in its time will be beautiful". I hope when the USA's time comes its would not be on the people of the country instead of on its concrete and main targets like it did with Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq. "respect" is a word that should be used to define out time in history because it is a word with endless meanings to it.

David
David
13 years ago

I don't agree with the way Iran treats its people. Nor do I agree with islamic extremists. But there is nothing more shameful then an advanced nation destroying the lives of people that already don't have much, pretending to help them but in truth devestating millions including women and children... For their own goals which ironically trade millions of lives for sheer profit and global power.

Not a single empire in the history has lasted. I hope the U.S collapses before they manage to attack Iran. For the sake of Iran and the whole world.

jacob
jacob
13 years ago

WAtch PSYWAR on youtube

read watch listen:

noam chomsky
howard zinn
yoav shamir
emma goldman
bertrand russell
george orwell

A.T.Heist - it is not just entrepreneurship that creates jobs, it is a: our levels of resource stocks, b: our understandings of resource manipulation and extraction, c: our imagination, d: our collective or individual desires or will to act. 'Unemployment', 'Investment' and 'Debt', maybe even 'entrepreneurship' are all just psychological constructs that, although have a very real effect within the current framework, are not divine laws or even scientific or material truths. They are just psychological projections.

A. T. Heist
A. T. Heist
13 years ago

The UN definitely gave their off the books blessing, or else their peace keepers would have stepped in; and or they would have been more vocal about the opposition of the war.

These days reading between the line means listing to what's NOT being said or done. Take Obama speech on creating jobs. Obama never mentions the word entrepreneurship, I won't go into the fine details of my analysis but, entrepreneurship is pretty much the only way to create jobs.

.

sara
sara
13 years ago

I did not mean to disrespect and Antasv great regrets, but Baktae sent this

sara
sara
13 years ago

Intro. Hello my heroes I know you my story
They were there a child named Alex and his older brother George and his sister Nancy largeness of his father, George Edward and his mother to death, two years.
Edward was a very normal with his children, like any father and Alex was like his father, George, like other teenagers feel that his father laid back person to understand and uncomfortable to him.
After a while George did Speculation in the school and Talbo his father to attend Fata father to school and Crho a subject after he returned George and father to school seemed a child me to scream in the face of his father, he said to him Mamaflt so why come the father said the ones who let me angry, George went to his room, said his sister Nancy What's going on here is not answered by the Father says Asolih tried to ask why should cometh Ailea Alex say Deihm to their own devices said Daimn do the same adults in their parents said Chth why awareness of this said, I see them on television, said fun I regret said, Why Taatasefin said only if you did it before he told her not to Aatzkr if this'll be my evil Conti Musamgi.
And Father decided that the decision Therein comes my teacher and his sons Consultant Verwdo tnd we are not young.
The father is Aqrarho and decided to get married without consulted his sons and went, sincere and one of the girls an honest one his age and the sermon did not tell his sons, said his daughter, there is something changing you said like what he said, such as Khorojk lots and Shratk Alilih he said, I addressed the gestures, name, Sara, said what he addressed, he said yes Congratulations, she said not to be angry about you rejoice Beks said you two not linked to the downright rejoice about you.
The Alex Smart thinking how to convince his brother, George B. Therein mention the virtues of his father, he does not have a non-style Almgueta went to his brother, his thought smart and said to him why you are treated Abe Bhama style, said George Alanho Ikgeloni and Therein selfish not to me, said Alex Did you know that my father loves you, "said George Yes, I know and Aknho unselfish said Alex This means that you hate, said George does not Beks and I know Therein send you to me when he brings out, said Alex no me tell me what I said I never said George Atkzb to get out got out Alex is silent and went George to his father and said, Why do you send Alex to Ikelmeni Why waits for You are your own father said Arseltho to tell you and to reconcile and was lying upon the Father to forgive Alex said Alex did not when I come myself and my father did this in order to pardon the said George have I done with this I day I was small the father said Yes, if you intend to lie in order to exempt you One day I was a small old Alex said also you Kppt juice and screamed your face and I said I have I done this, but mis-I said that I was eating and beat Bediofaraho marriage of their father and said to me, wipe yourself and just delete it, said George Tahnks dad and Dmmh Bhoudnh regrets George to his father.

bert
bert
13 years ago

Is that David Glick a total i****? 20:11 a mention of the "wiped off the map" mistranslation, which by now everyone should know about, 20:24 Ahmidinijad said he wanted to wipe Israel off the map, what a f'ing cock!

Clay Rains
Clay Rains
13 years ago

As an American, I agree totally with this film, but to the people that blame all these problems on religion... What was the religion Mao followed when he killed 60 million Chinese? What was the official state religion when Stalin killed 20 million of his own people?

With that said, I only have a few of criticisms of this film on some important facts this movie left out.

As far as comparing sponsorship of terrorism between the U.S. and Iran, I'm surprised that the film left out the fact that the U.S. shot down Iran Air Flight 655, which was full of civilians headed to Dubai in 1988.

Also left out was the fact that Saddam Hussein told the U.S. he planned to invade Kuwait. As an act to set up and frame Iraq, George H.W. Bush responded be sending his ambassador, April Glaspie, to Iraq to give Saddam the blessing of the U.S, telling him that they "do not take positions in Arab-Arab disputes."

It would have also been good if the film had dispelled the myth that Iran finally gave up the hostages in 1981 because they were afraid of Reagan, who was about to take office. The hostage release was delayed as a brokered deal to bolster Reagan's reputation. They were released just minutes after Reagan was sworn in. How obvious does it have to be? In fact the entire hostage situation itself, if you actually investigate it, shows heavy signs of CIA provocation.

The End Of Secularism
The End Of Secularism
13 years ago

Hello .. I'm an Iranian .. I don't like my country as a land ... land is juat land !!! ... I like American people but no American government ... I think nowaday is the war of the media an information ... as they have inforation change the fact to what they like . they chane the imporane of news and evnts in the world and people in the world can't know the fact can't know what is right ... 320 children died in just 22 days in Gaza War ... what did they about this genocide ? ... Stupid Veto
We are ready to die to make a good world for others ..

Ivan
Ivan
13 years ago

Yes Iran is not problem,Vietnam was not be problem,Libia,Iraq,Afganistan,Serbia,Atomic bomb in Japan (The bigest crime in history).......Who is next Venezuela,North Korea or maybe Russia,China,India.Listen me America and all American bitch(Germany,France,Italy,Nedherland,Belgium....).You can not win,World is Free,humanity will defeat you,like always in history,you are not first evil in history we goo down and some another civilizations goo up.DEAD FOR NEW WORLD ORDER!!!!! Hitler + Stalin < United State

oil
oil
13 years ago

Iran is probably the most mistreated country of middle east. Future of Iran looks somewhat bright, pax Americana is over, Iran now sells to highest bidder (China). Iran is in dire need for nuclear program because otherwise, American power will just be replaced by Chinese power.

Bluesmanwalking
Bluesmanwalking
14 years ago

Religion is not the problem. Our government is the problem. It always as been and still proving it today around the world.
The fact is that the majority of Americans are simple minded, have a below average IQ compared to the rest of the world and border line retarded. Look what's on TV. Our government knows this and takes advantage of it. This is also why when it comes to national problems all you see on TV(local news)are the simple minded Americans have their fifteen minutes of fame. The government says at the majority what they want to ear.
But to the minority, they say don't put your nose in International Affairs, we will take care of that, watch CNN.
So what can we do ? Get a million signatures to get our country back ? All that money for war, directly & indirectly, just imagine a full 60 seconds if it would be put on Education, Health, Housing, poor children, sick children, technology, industrial (National) that would create jobs, every thing made in the US. We would already have water fuel engines, we would already have Cold Fusion, and so much more. Man life in the US would be Grand.

roy
roy
14 years ago

ATTACK ON IRAN= END OF USA

Dorani
Dorani
14 years ago

Yavanna Yavanna Yavanna :lol:

buck fush
buck fush
14 years ago

@Yavanna. :lol:.

Yavanna
Yavanna
14 years ago

Awesome nickname but you are a bit out of date. Shouldn't you be calling yourself Orac Bbama or something? Oh I see that doesn't quite have the same grift derrr :)

buck fush
buck fush
14 years ago

Us will face the consequences . US govt is similar to Nazis . Go and watch the documentary the end of America

njtaaa
njtaaa
14 years ago

There will never be peace in the world. The banks would go broke.

Lisa O
Lisa O
14 years ago

Excellent, excellent. This may be the best documentary on US foreign policy I have seen (and I seen lots). It gave a complete picture, including the history of the conflict. It was based on facts, and it was presented very clearly. I think every American should watch this!

Yavanna
Yavanna
14 years ago

Jose

All societies have been governed in some way or another and all have had laws; written or spoken. There could be no society without some form of Government. And yes of course there can be 'better' governments - just as there can be worse.

You would not come and take what I am eating because there is a deterrent. You don't want to be arrested for theft and punished. The "Government armed thugs wearing costumes" as you describe them don't need to be everywhere and so long as society behaves within the boundaries of its rules they do not need to be. It also tickles me how some people hate authority and or police but are the first to go to them when they are the victim of a crime.

Your Wild West analogy is appropriate but probably not strong enough. Assuming civilisation broke down tomorrow, after an extended period of anarchy all that would be left is armed thugs. These would group into gangs and the toughest / cruellest their leaders. So explain to me how this would be 'way' better than how we live right now.

So; do I believe that there could be better governments? Yes! It's easy to believe that "fairy tale." I'm not so willing to believe ones that involve talking snakes etc. But two thirds of the planet do in some shape or form. Let's called them the "masses" or better still a power base? Of course religions still have some control over the masses, by the good old fashioned way as well as using more sophisticated methods; such as corrupt dealings with politics and Governments.

Jose
Jose
14 years ago

Better Government....Ha that is a laugh! No such thing will ever exist. That my friend is the fairy tale...no government will ever be good. They will always be corrupt and hell bent on killing innocent people.

Question...lets say I am your neighbor and I want what you are eating right now. Whats going to stop me from taking what I want? Do you have an armed thug in a government costume with you right now?

Law of the jungle would be way better than what you live in right now. There certainly wouldn't be chaos and disorder like you want to believe. The "wild west" was nothing but a marketing/propaganda tool so Buffalo Bill and the dime novels authors could sell more book.

I doubt your scathing emails were from very devout Christians. Jesus is supposed to be the prince of peace. The only time he used violence was to kick out the bankers/mafia (goldman sachs and co) that was running a racket on the only currency deemed holly enough to be offer to the temple. Yes, there are similar institutions in today's modern world, just in the form of the government granting the monopoly instead of the church and the currency is even more faith based.

US soldiers are not going to look at what is really going on and quit their jobs. Although that would be nice. People are controlled almost entirely through the state organs like the new york times and NBC and the State themselves. I have never seen a preacher that is pro war (save the usual nascar/neocon suspects in the MSM).

The days where religion actually had control over the masses are long gone. Masses of ignorant folks maybe.

If you believe in a better government I have one simple book for you to read and as a atheist I am sure you will appreciate the title. Democracy: The God That Failed, by Hans Hermann Hoppe.

Good luck and best wishes...may god bless you :D