A few organizations even used the specter of a US-Iran war to create public fear and ask for your donations! We at AIC did not take that track because anti-war propagandas will not make the conflict go away. As always, we remained composed and attentive of the US-Iran dispute, focusing our attention on the need for distinction between facts and fiction, better mutual understanding, and a more constructive dialogue. The United States and Iran must ultimately resolve their conflict through unconditional diplomacy and constructive ideas.
For over fifteen years, the Council has been a voice of reason and a market place for accurate information, deeper analysis, dialogue and better understanding, and constructive ideas on US-Iran relations. We are proud of the fact that the Council's hard work has raised the level of debate between the two nations, and that most, if not all, momentous developments in the relationship have been coordinated through AIC. You can read about these historic achievements in more detail at www.american-iranian.org.
Examples of our notable services to the American and Iranian peoples include Secretary Albright's historic speech in March 2000 at an AIC conference, offering Iran an apology for past US mistaken policies and a global settlement of the dispute; the AIC event in August 2002 where Iranian and American parliamentary leaders, including the Iranian Speaker and several American Senators and top Jewish leaders, met for the first time in 22 years; and the 2003 AIC Grand Bargain initiative that was aborted by the war in Iraq.
AIC was among the first organizations to invite attention to the growing concern over Iran's nuclear programs, and in July 2004, the Council held a roundtable in New York City on facts and fictions surrounding Iran's nuclear programs. Our recent strategic events have included a May 2007 meeting that involved Senator Chuck Hagel, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Ambassador Javad Zarif and Nicholas Kristof; and a September 2007 roundtable in which Iran's President Mahmuod Ahmadinejad participated along with members of his cabinet, deputies of the Iranian parliament, and over fifty distinguished Americans.
The American Iranian Council has also made available to the policy makers and the general public a series of unique publications, including 16 books, a quarterly AIC Insight and a semi-monthly AIC Update. Building on these successful initiatives and outcomes, the Council will focus its efforts in 2008 on another important project designed to build a pro-engagement and high-powered constituency for improved US-Iran relations. To achieve its goal, the project will use fact-finding missions, "shuttle diplomacy," multilateral congressional dialogue, and publication of a major policy paper outlining a feasible roadmap.
We are pleased to report that Professor Amirahmadi is on Research Leave from Rutgers University during the entire 2008 year and has accepted to devote his time to direct and implement the project. An expert on US-Iran relations, he has spent the last 20 years on efforts fostering dialogue and better understanding between the United States and Iran. The project will also benefit from his extensive networks and the good standing of the Council with influential policy and law makers in the US, Iran, the UK, and the Middle East.
The United States and Iran have bonding and dividing interests. It is only unfortunate that the latter should dominate the debate. However, we believe that the dividing issues are negotiable while the bonding issues can be utilized toward the formation of a common ground between the two nations. Through our 2008 project, we hope to demonstrate these assertions and prepare the conditions for constructive engagements as we distinguish facts from fiction, offer better definitions of issues, make official positions and policies more transparent, and create a high-powered constituency for improved relations.
To implement the project, AIC has raised some funds and needs to raise an additional $130,000. We are writing to plead that you attend to our request for a tax-deductible donation during this season of giving. Please click HERE to pay through the Council's fully secured electronic payment form. The system will send to you a receipt within seconds, followed by a thank you letter from us. You can also pay by a check written to AIC and sent to the letterhead address. Your tax-deductible gift dated 2007 could be reflected on your year's tax return.
We personally guarantee that your donation will be only spent for the purpose it is intended and we will keep you updated about our efforts to improve US-Iran relations. As a tax-exempt organization, the Council's finances are available through the website of IRS. You can also obtain the information by writing directly to the Council. We are pleased to report that with grants from the Open Society Institute and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, we are currently restructuring our financial management system to introduce tighter controls.
By supporting the project, you will be also helping AIC, an institution that pioneered the thought of the need for a normal US-Iran relations and has spent over fifteen years to fostering dialogue and better understanding between the two great nations. The Council is a [501 C (3)] nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to research, public education, and policy development in US-Iran relations. AIC is tax exempt and accepts no money from governments, including the governments of the United States and Iran.
Let us end by urging you again to consider a generous tax-deductible gift to AIC for its 2008 challenging project and click here to send your donation. Please do not postpone this imperative matter to a later date as time is of essence in US-Iran relations! We are looking forward to greeting you as a supporter of our noble mission and sponsor of the 2008 project. We are also grateful to you for your past contributions and support for normal US-Iran relations.

With best wishes and regards,

J. Bennett Johnston Hooshang Amirahmadi
Co-Chairman President
Former US Senator from Louisiana Professor, Rutgers University
Richard Matzke
Co-Chairman
Former Vice Chairman, Chevron