February 2010
67 posts
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The Specter Haunting Iran →
A specter is haunting Iran — the specter of democracy. The events of the last eight months in Iran have occasioned — one might even say inspired — an array of interpretations and formulations. Many attempts have been made to categorize and explain the nature of the upheaval. In the heady, early days and weeks following the June election, Slavoj Žižek characterized what was...
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Clinton: "Iran is at the top of my agenda" →
“I’m on my way to Latin America next week. And Iran is at the top of my agenda,” Clinton told the Senate Appropriations Foreign Operations subcommittee, led by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT. “We stand ready to do both unilateral and multilateral sanctions on top of whatever comes out of the Security Council.”
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A Cartoon Depiction of Real Iranian Life →
Today, First Second Books will begin publishing a serialized Web comic about Iran, exploring its social, political and human rights issues. The strip, called “Zahra’s Paradise,” described as “real-time historical fiction,” will blend current events with fictional composites of actual Iranians. The first storyline begins in June 2009 during the turmoil surrounding the contested presidential...
Supreme leader accuses U.S. of 'spreading lies' →
Khamenei rejected recent remarks by Hillary Clinton who just wrapped up a tour of the region.
“Once again the Americans have sent their agent to go around the Persian Gulf like a vagabond and repeat the same lies,” he said, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. “But so far no one has believed their words because America is not thinking of the interests of the...
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How many of you are going to send a letter to...
tragos:soupsoup:caraobrien:
I’ve already written it for you, so all you have to do is add in your contact info, print, sign and mail.
Anyone?
Please restore my faith in humanity.
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Roger Cohen: Target Iran's Censors →
Here’s what happens when a business linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.) is targeted with sanctions. A representative of the Revolutionary Guards finds a lawyer in Dubai and says: “Look, I’m on this stupid U.S. Treasury list. I’ll give you 10 percent. Help me set up a shell company in Dubai or Malaysia.” The Treasury Department enemy list (“Specially Designated...
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Rewriting The Green Movement's Script →
By Jafar Farshian(pseudonym of a journalist based in Tehran) for Institute for War & Peace Reporting(IWPR):
It is clear that the Iranian opposition failed on February 11 to demonstrate its strength to the world, even though they have done it before. However, that was not because the opposition no longer exists, or because the people of Iran care more about the nuclear power issue, or that the...
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Iran Nobel winner seeks Nokia Siemens sanctions →
Shirin Ebadi called on the West to impose sanctions on mobile systems maker Nokia Siemens Networks for providing technology that she says helped Tehran repress political opponents. Ebadi is against economic sanctions on Iran that she says would hurt the Iranian people. “Last month the U.S. government imposed a heavy fine on a Swiss bank that was trading with Iran and thereby breaking the...
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Iran Defends Human Rights Record Before U.N.... →
GENEVA — Brushing aside allegations that it has resorted to torture, executions and mass detentions to crush political opposition, Iran made a defiant appearance before the United Nations’ human rights body here on Monday, saying that it promoted and defended human rights and that Western critics were exploiting the issue for political ends. Iran is “in full compliance with the relevant...
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WSJ: Iran Warns West Will 'Regret' Sanctions Move →
Ahmadinjad and foreign minister lashed back Tuesday at recent harsh criticism by Hillary Clinton, vowing to continue the higher-grade enrichment that has spooked Western powers unless they provide nuclear fuel for a medical reactor on Iran’s terms.
Ahmadinejad said Western powers would “regret” any sanctions move against the country. “If anybody seeks to create problems...
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The financial power of the Revolutionary Guards →
The extent of the Revolutionary Guards’ control over the Iranian economy is apparent as soon as you enter the country. They run the main international airport, and the manner in which they acquired it was a bruising demonstration of the way big business is now done in Iran. The contract for managing Imam Khomeini airport, south of Tehran, was given to a Turkish-Austrian consortium in 2004,...
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Thomas Friedman: 1977 vs. 1979 →
Visiting Yemen and watching the small band of young reformers there struggle against the forces of separatism, Islamism, autocracy and terrorism, reminded me that the key forces shaping this region today were really set in motion between 1977 and 1979 — and nothing much has changed since. Indeed, one could say Middle East politics today is a struggle between 1977 and 1979 — and 1979 is still...
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Radio Free Europe: Shah's Son Voices Support For... →
Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the former shah of Iran, says he supports Iran’s opposition Green Movement “100 percent,” Radio Free Europe / Radio Farda reports. Pahlavi, 49, spoke to Radio Farda from his home in the United States two days ahead of the 31st anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, which deposed his father in 1979. “The Green Movement has one...
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“Nevertheless, I am extremely concerned about hundreds of activists in...”
– Evgeny Morozov | Wrong kind of buzz around Google Buzz | Net Effect
Google made a very serious mistake. Buzz reminded people how much of their data Google possesses and underscored the company’s impetuousness. Even if you have nothing to hide and live in a relatively free society, that’s a...
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BBC: International broadcasters condemn Iran over... →
The BBC, Deutsche Welle and Voice of America said the jamming began on Thursday as Iran marked the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. They said Iran was broadcasting freely around the world while denying its own people programmers coming from outside. Earlier, the US accused Iran of using a “near-total information blockade”.
A state department spokesman said there were strong...
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Andrew Sullivan: The World-Changing Promise Of A... →
I don’t think that Reuel Marc Gerecht is overstating this:
A democratic revolution in Tehran could well prove the most momentous Mideastern event since the fall of the Ottoman Empire. A politically freer Iran would bring front and center the great Islamic debate of our times: How can one be both a good Muslim and a democrat? How does one pay homage to Islamic law but give ultimate...
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Reza Aslan: Iran's Eerily Silent Streets →
The Basij used paintballs, pepper spray and batons to help beat back the opposition. Disappointed over the outcome, protesters are regrouping for a fresh run at the Ahmadinejad regime.
Weeks of anticipation about the 31st anniversary of the Iranian revolution came to a head earlier today, as protesters and pro-government forces clashed on the streets of Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Mahshad, among...
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Confirmed Protests
From Josh Shahryar’s live-blog summary:
I can so far confirm green protests in Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashhad and Ahvaz. I can partially confirm a protest in Tabriz. I cannot say anything about numbers, but violence broke out in every city where I can confirm a protest. Dozens were arrested in Tehran – possibly hundreds. 100 people were arrested in Mashhad and about two dozen were...
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FRONTLINE: Tehran Bureau interviews Hossein... →
“Mr. Karroubi received a letter from [NAJA intelligence] saying that Mr. Karroubi would be the target of a suicide attack and that he shouldn’t participate in the march today. And at the same time, they called some of our friends, his entourage in for questioning. They got a written promise from them, agreeing they wouldn’t take place in gatherings with Mr. Karroubi anymore. They...
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Iran's Nobel peace laureate: Stop Iran catastrophe →
Shirin Ebadi said her country faces a catastrophe that could undermine security in the whole region if government repression of the people is not stopped.
“A recurrence of the recent months’ events, the continuation of the repressive policies and the killing of defenceless people could bring about a catastrophe that may undermine peace and security in Iran, if not in the entire...
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Total Lockdown
The PBS Frontline website Tehran Bureau reports:
Everyone we have spoken to so far this morning has said the same thing: “A big anticlimax,” “defeat,” “An overwhelming presence from the other side. People were terrified.”
Tara Mahtafar and Roshanak Taghavi offered some ominous observations last night:
We were able to find only two videos of tonight’s...
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Dr. Zahra Rahnavard, wife of Opposition Leader,... →
The 65-year-old was beaten by batons and suffered punches to the head. It was around Sadeqiyeh Square, where other members of the opposition were assaulted earlier in the day. Bystanders eventually formed a protective circle around Ms. Rahnavard and helped her escape.
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Update 5:
Security forces on motorbikes have been marking protesters by spray paint to be arrested later.
An impromptu translation of Ahmadinejad’s speech in Azadi Sq: “It’s 10,834 characters, likely filled with typos, and relatively boring. Enjoy.”
The government-run media is showing doctored footage from previous public gatherings in order to block out green...
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Update 4:
Reza Khatami, former president Mohammad Khatami’s brother, and his wife Zahra Ishraghi, granddaughter of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, have been arrested.
Multiple sources say that Karroubi’s son, Ali, has been arrested.
France 24 just announced that the Green Movement has taken the celebration away from the Iranian regime.
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The most important and unprecedented news I've...
Iranian women are taking their veils and scarves off all over Tehran. The consequences of such an act includes beating, incarceration and stoning.
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Update 3:
Karroubi entered Sadeghie Sq in Tehran and was attacked by security forces. His car was vandalized and he was forced to flee. He has been injured.
There are severe clashes being reported from all over Tehran; arrests have been made, tear gas is being used and people have heard gunshots.
IRNA and IRIB websites are down. There are no videos, pictures or audios of protests.
Crowds are chanting:...
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Update 2:
There are reports of clashes at Sadeghie Sq. where Karroubi is due to arrive.
Canadian Embassy is the first to open its doors to the injured.
There are crowds of people shouting “We are Countless!” and “Be Courageous; Support Us!”, on the East corner of Azadi Sq.
A bus carrying the Basij has been set on fire.
People are being beaten in Azadi* Sq.
Ahmadinjad has arrived in Azadi...
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Update 1:
Iranian state-run TV stations are not showing live-coverage of today’s events from Tehran.
Revolutionary Guard infantry fighting vehicles have entered the north side of the State Television complex.
The newly acquired Chinese anti-riot vehicles are rolling on the streets of Tehran.
Greens are giving flowers to the police in Choobi Sq.
Ahmadinejad speech in 2 hours.
People are...
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Andrew Sullivan: The Daily Wrap for Feb 10 →
On the eve of the anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, Scott Lucas set the scene, Tehran Bureau presented the plan against the protesters, the NYT reported the crackdown on journalists, FP chronicled the people who want to bomb Iran, Trita Parsi said to let the US take care of the situation, Robert Wright discussed the nuclear program, and a beefcake used his body to protest the regime.
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It's 8am in Tehran
and the crowds are already forming and heading toward Azadi Square, which has been blocked off by security forces.
Here we go…
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22 Bahman / Feb 11
I will be up all night live-blogging the protests in Iran along with my Twitter comrades. I am nervous, proud, hopeful and feverishly on fire. Please bear with me.
Viva La Revolución!
Who Wants to Bomb Iran? →
Meet the men calling on Barack Obama to launch airstrikes against the Islamic Republic.
