The lonely fight against Bush and Khamanei

The following is a threat I've received by email from a New York-based Iranian woman whose name I'm no going to reveal, but she has strong ties with the neo-conservatives working on Iran and usually introduces herself as an 'expert' on Iran, most likely without visiting it for nearly two decades, I believe.

It's the first time I'm seeing these kind of threats, but this specific one has convinced me that it's time to defend myself against some of the common accusations about my politics, integrity and affiliations.

In the newxt few weeks, I'll try to show how hard it is to be anti-Bush and anti-Khamanei at the same time.

Mr. Derakhshan,

I've been reading your stuff for years; it's excellent for comic value. As you would have also noticed I've never contacted you or ever spoken about you to anyone. SO the story you're about to read has NOTHING to do with me; I was just standing there when I heard it and I'm just going to convey to you what a room full of about 50 of the best-known western intellectuals and journalists are saying about YOU.

A couple of years ago, at a large party of intellectuals in New York City, a very well-known leftist journalist was promoting you as THE interesting Iranian for people to follow. He in fact asked what I thought of you and I simply said nothing. It was very amusing because the man could not have been more adoring and respectful of you at that time. Last night, I was with that same group of people...NOW, that exact same person saw me across the room and came running over to me and said loudly for everyone to hear: "Oh my [...], I must tell you...Hoder is either an agent of the regime OR he's mentally retarded." Then a French journalist who had followed your blog, based on that original praise you had received from the first person, replied: "Oh, Hoder is BOTH...an agent of the regime AND mentally retarded! You cannot be one without the other!"

So you see...even western leftists and liberals see right through you because you have finally managed to out yourself for who you really are...and I didn't have to lift a finger or open my mouth...you did it ALL BY YOURSELF!

Good luck young man. If I were you, I'd find myself a shack in Botswana or the Tierra del Fuego, because I know some people who will want to have a chat with you one day, in the not so distant future.

[signed]