Posts Tagged iran

Libya and Iran’s protesters may not be successful

The leader de facto of Libya, Muammar al-Gaddafi.

Image via Wikipedia

Considering that Libya has the UK over a barrel, so to speak, and that Iran’s protesters are almost by themselves, these things are going to be very ugly and if they are successful, I believe the aftermath may be filled with horrible things.

Libya:

Anti-government protesters in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi have reportedly seized army vehicles and weapons amid worsening turmoil in the African nation.

A local witness said that a section of the troops had joined the protesters on Sunday as chaos swept the streets of the city, worst hit by the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year old rule.

Mohamed, a doctor from Al Jalaa hospital in Benghazi, confirmed to Al Jazeera that members of the military had sided with the protesters.

“We are still receiving serious injuries, I can confirm 13 deaths in our hospital. However, the good news is that people are cheering and celebrating outside after receiving news that the army is siding with the people,” he said.

“But there is still a brigade that is against the demonstrators. For the past three days demonstrators have been shot at by this brigade, called Al-Sibyl brigade.” (here)

Iran:

A massive police deployment in Tehran prevented largescale protests on Sunday although Iranian opposition websites reported stray clashes even as officials said the capital remained calm.

Iran’s Fars news agency, meanwhile, said Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, was briefly arrested while “leading anti-revolutionaries and rioters” in Tehran.

Witnesses said a heavy deployment of riot police and Basij militiamen in key squares of Tehran such as Haft-e Tir ensured that anti-government protesters were unable to stage significant protests. (here)

  • Ex-President’s Daughter Arrested at Iran Protest – Voice of America (news.google.com)
  • Rafsanjani daughter held in Iran (bbc.co.uk)
  • Iran Squelches Protest Attempt in Capital – New York Times (news.google.com)
  • Libya Protests: 200 Civilians Killed in Funeral Attacks (Video) (nowpublic.com)

 

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The President Must Increase Pressure on Iran

Greater Middle East

Image via Wikipedia

During the last rounds of protests, when the Iranians were alone in the Middle East, it was dangerous for the President to speak out in their favor. Now with Tunisia and Egypt as successes, and other nations experiencing the birth throes of moderation, it is time for him to voice the support of the American people.

Again, if you ask yourself why you should be concerned with Iran of all places – image a Middle East with a Nuclear, hostile, Iran. Now, imagine a Middle East without that hostile, Nuclear, Iran.

“My hope and expectation is that we’re going to continue to see the people of Iran have the courage to be able to express their yearning for greater freedoms and a more representative government, understanding that America cannot ultimately dictate what happens inside of Iran any more than it could inside of Egypt,” said Mr. Obama at a White House press conference.

Is Obama’s tough talk enough to help Iran’s protesters? – CSMonitor.com.

We know that the war hawks want an engagement with Iran; but if they can be brought down and moderation return to that country and to that great people without war, we must all be in favor of that. Right?

I want the President to take a tough and loud stand here. He needs too.

And, keep the Iranians in your prayers…

 

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Will there be a ‘Tehran Moment’ Soon?

During the previous protests, the United States had to stay far, far away for fear of having a negative effect on them – support of the dissidents by the U.S. would actually solidify support of the Government – but now, it seems that the U.S., per Joe Biden, is calling for protests. He recently said, ‘Iran, Let your people march!’

After popular uprisings toppled regimes in Egypt and Tunisia, the Obama administration appears to be fanning the embers of unrest in Iran, calling on the country’s theocratic regime to permit a new wave of demonstrations against its rule.

Iran, after cracking down on dissent following the disputed 2009 election, is once again vowing to stifle the opposition as anti-government organizers call for a nationwide march Monday. With questions swirling about what regimes, if any, will be claimed next by the regional uprising in the Middle East, the Iranian government is preemptively showing its determination not to become one of them.

via U.S. Pressures Iran to Allow Protests, Former Prince Says ‘Tehran Moment’ Coming – FoxNews.com.

Personally, I would be happy to see the current regime in Iran fall as it is a radical regime and the more so since we invaded Iraq (or, rather, it allowed them to become that radical, because they have certainly had that position before). There were enough moderates before the re-radicalization that if the current regime fell, I believe that they would go moderate (freedom of religion and the such). What do you think a moderate Iran would mean for Israel and the United States in the Middle East? In our war in Afghanistan?

I know the rapture types are not happy to see any of this, but honestly, for the more, um, biblically minded, wouldn’t this be a good thing?

  • Iranian opposition defies warning, calls for rally (sfgate.com)
  • Iran opposition to hold demonstrations despite government warnings (guardian.co.uk)
  • Iran: US influence ends (boston.com)
  • Tehran will bar opposition rally (reuters.com)

 

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The Execution of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani – Act Now

Image by jikatu via Flickr

Dr. Hoffman is alerting us to something that transcends our momentary troubles and I would encourage you to act, please:

According to news received by the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution on 1 November 2010, the authorities in Tehran have given the go ahead to Tabriz prison for the execution of Iran stoning case Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. It has been reported that she is to be executed this Wednesday 3 November. (read the rest here)

Click over to his post, find out how to act, please.

 

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I’m making a prophecy about 2011 – Israel v Iran and the Tea Party

I have no great love for the Tea Party. I have no love at all for the Tea Party (again, I am clearly wrong to address it as a monolithic structure, but I haven’t heard much right from them, so turn about is fair game, I reckon), but one of the mistakes that they have made is to be co-opted by the same people who they are fighting against. Or, maybe they are just fighting against Democrats…. Nah…they want all the ‘bums’ thrown out, right?

Anyway, a few weeks ago, a certain depraved Congresswoman from Minnesota organized the Tea Party Caucus in Congress. The great thing about the grassroots movement is for once, common people were taking part in the conversation (you know, except when financed by Freedom Works and their corporate sponsors). From what I understand, many in the Tea Party crowd(s) are non-interventionist, following the only sane thought which Ron Paul has ever had, that we do not need to use our military in the foreign nation building and police watch dog policies which we are currently and have been engaged in for several generations. Now this Caucus, which has co-opted the grassroots movement, is suggesting that Israel go to war with Iran. Do they really think – wait, of course they don’t think – that Israel would be alone in the war with Iran or that Iran would be alone with the war with Israel? An Israeli-Iranian war, while fodder for Christian Zionists, would do nothing but prolong our involvement in the Middle East, and get more of our troops killed – even if, for some reason, we didn’t have to intervene.

Look, I don’t like thinking this, much less putting it out there, but Ron Paul is right. (Shivers, uncontrollably) We forget that Iran supported us at first in Afghanistan, moving towards moderation in their politics; it was only after the U.S. invasion of Iraq that Iran snapped back into conservatism and elected Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Had we listened to people like Ron Paul and the late Senator Byrd, the world would be a different place at the moment. Yes, we got rid of Saddam, but by doing this, we got the nutjob in Iran. Good trade? Hardly.

So, let me tell you my prophecy – the Tea Party Caucus comes to power in the November Elections, hardly resembling the actual Tea Party and pass resolutions giving Israel the ‘support’ it needs to do what the ‘U.S. won’t.’ Israel attacks Iran, with the cheers of U.S. Zionists of the Hagee variety. Iran strikes back and so do other Islamic countries We have to get involved because we are in the cross-hairs. Lots of solders die. Lots. Lots. And more….

note 1 – Ron Paul and the non-interventionist foreign policy is actually a ‘Christian’ thing to do. I generally tend to be libertarian when it comes to foreign policy.

note 2 – Bachmann is a nut.

note 3 – the Hagee Zionists are different from the garden variety kind. Hagee and his bunch believe that things like pushing Israel to battle Iran is something that can bring on the mythical Rapture. Hagee and his CUFI, which is Assyrian for ‘I will blow you up to make peace’, pervert the Scriptures and the well-intentions of Messianic Jews (real Jews who believe in Christ) and real Christians who support the Jewish People. They are also connected to Bachmann and others in the Tea Party Caucus

note 4 – unless the Tea Party people – the real people who support smaller government, etc… – make a concerted effort to destroy the so-called Caucus, then their positions are invalid and thus muted. They are being used. Deal with it.

 

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Sakineh Mohammadie Ashtiani

A veteran Iranian human rights activist has warned that Sakineh Mohammadie Ashtiani, a mother of two, could be stoned to death at any moment under the terms of a death sentence handed down by Iranian authorities.

Only an international campaign designed to pressure the regime in Tehran can save her life, according to Mina Ahadi, head of the International Committee Against Stoning and the Death Penalty.

“Legally it’s all over,” Ahadi said Sunday. “It’s a done deal. Sakineh can be stoned at any minute.”

“That is why we have decided to start a very broad, international public movement. Only that can help.”

Ashtiani, 42, will be buried up to her chest, according to an Amnesty International report citing the Iranian penal code. The stones that will be hurled at her will be large enough to cause pain but not so large as to kill her immediately.

Read the rest here:

Human rights activist tries to stop death by stoning for Iranian woman – CNN.com.

 

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Two bloggers face possible death penalty in Iran

Two netizens and human rights activists, Mehrdad Rahimi and Kouhyar Goudarzi, have been accused of wanting to wage “a war against God,” in a similar manner to the two men who were executed this morning in Tehran on charges of “Mohareb” (being enemies of God). Both contributors to an opposition website, Rahimi and Goudarzi are also facing a possible death penalty.

Reporters Sans Frontières – Two bloggers face possible death penalty.

 

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Ayatollah Khamenei’s Jet Checked, May Flee To Russia

From the Huffington Post –

Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei could flee to Russia should the situation in his country continue to spiral out of control, according to Radio Netherlands.

The media organization reports that the Supreme National Security Council ordered a check-up Sunday of the jet on standby to evacuate Khamenei and his family should the need arise.

If Khamenei does depart the country, it would be reminiscent of an historic event in Iranian history: Jan. 16, 1979, when the Iranian Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi fled Iran following an increase in violent protests. The anniversary of that event is coming up soon.

The plane check is already being viewed by some as an indication that Khamenei will in fact leave Iran, as protests continue.

This is a developing story.

Pray, hope, pray

 

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Iran protesters killed by Gov’t forces; End of Republic insight? #iranelection

Increasingly vocal opposition groups are now calling for an end to the Islamic Republic after a weekend of violent clashes during the Shiite holiday of Ashura.

The Islamic Republic in Iran is a horrible regime and a pain in the neck to the entire world. Today, remember those who are taking to the streets to bring about a democracy:

Read the rest of this entry »

 

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Is religion about war or peace?

I wonder, if we truly are the religion of peace, then where is our call for it?

Evangelical Christian leaders such as Pat Robertson have assailed President Obama’s effort to engage Iran, and the results so far have not vindicated the president’s approach as a diplomatic policy.

Read the rest of this entry »

 

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