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Tag: Iran (Page 3 of 4)

Know hope

June 15, 2009 /

The Boston Globe has compiled a host of compelling photos from Iran.

This may be wishful thinking, but I’m starting to believe that there’s no way that the thugs in power can stop this movement in Iran. The numbers are too great.

Here’s an interesting story relayed by Andrew Sullivan.

Rumours are still swirling about the shooting in Azadi Square. Some claim four demonstrators were killed with “many more” wounded; others claim that the assailant, a Basiji (unofficial “religious” police), was then beaten to death by the crowd. There is also an unconfirmed report of gunfire in three districts in north Tehran. French media put the number at the rally at up to 2 million.

Reports are sketchy as the Iranian dictators have tried to block Twitter and email, but it seems clear that the protesters are becoming bolder and more determined. The leadership is panicking as the chief Mullah has ordered an “investigation” in an effort to appease the Iranian people, but that doesn’t seem to be working.

Foreign Policy

Protestors not backing down

June 15, 2009 /

Hopefully we’ve reached a tipping point in Iran. The protests are intensifying, and it’s clear many Iranians will never see their “government” as legitimate in the future.

It is difficult to get any reliable picture of the scale of the protests in Tehran, let alone the whole country.

But they spread rapidly during the evening. The cheers and chanting echoed even in customarily quiet middle-class neighbourhoods.

Many Iranians came out on to their roofs to shout “down with the dictator”.

It has become a challenge not just of an election result, not just to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei himself.

That means it is, in effect, a challenge to the whole basis of the Islamic Republic.

For two years I have watched as young, ambitious Iranians go about their lives with growing frustration.

They feel the system stifles their aspirations. Now they feel that their intelligence and their pride has been insulted by an election result many Iranians believe is blatantly fraudulent.

And President Ahmadinejad’s almost casual dismissal of their complaints just adds to the anger.

Foreign Policy

Protests continue in Iran

June 14, 2009 /

The thugs who stole this election didn’t count on the Iranian people rising up against this farce.

It’s stunning to see young and old people in Iran saying “Enough!” Many people there realize that Ahmadinejad is a disgrace to their country, and his bigoted, divisive and incompetent leadership must come to an end.

Whatever happens with the green revolution, nothing will ever be the same in Iran.

Andrew Sullivan has some of the best coverage of this unfolding story. He’s also reporting how most of the mainstream media has been AWOL for most of the weekend as this story developed. No wonder more people are turning to blogs and the Internet for their news.

Civil Liberties, Culture War, Foreign Policy

The mess in Gaza

January 7, 2009 /

It’s depressing to see the same pattern unfold in Gaza. Tom Friedman provides some useful background on the situation.

One point Friedman makes is that Iran can now dictate when fighting will resume in the region. Given how low gas prices have further decimated the Iranian economy, one has to wonder whether Iran is pushing for more rocket attacks with the purpose of having this conflict increase oil prices.

Foreign Policy

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