Filed under: Asia, Middle East | Tags: Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, aqazadeh, Azad, Azadi, Basij, Green Revolution, Iran, Iran Elections, Iranian Elections 2009, Iranian Revolution, Islamic Republic, Khodi, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mir Hussein Mousavi, Mohamed Khatami, Nationalism, Revolutionary Guards
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25 June – 1 July 2009
Issue No. 953
Source: Al-Ahram Weekly Online
Western coverage of the political turmoil in Iran in the aftermath of the 12 June presidential election has for the most part presented a uniform image of the conflict: thousands of young, liberal, and defiant supporters of presidential challenger Mir-Hussein Mousavi have been protesting against what they see as massive fraud, a “coup” to re-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The government, fearful of a popular uprising, has responded with massive use of force, killing and injuring protesters, arresting activists and politicians, and imposing an information blockade.
Analysts repeatedly ask themselves and others, “Is this a revolution?” And, more expectantly, “Are we witnessing the end of the Islamic Republic?” Whatever we are to make of the question of fraud (there apparently were some irregularities, but no evidence of widespread fraud), Ahmadinejad retains a huge popular base that is not prepared to forfeit its position. Rather than viewing the events of the past 12 days as signs of a revolution-in-the-making, we should be (more…)
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 1979 Iranian Revolution, Americans, Azad, Azadi, Basiji, CIA, Electoral Fraud, Green Revolution, Hojatolislam Mohamed Khatami, Iran, Iran Coup D'etat, Iran Election, Iran Election 2009, Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mirhossein Mousavi, Protest, Riot Police, Shah of Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Tehran, Tehran University, Zionist
Click here to view PART ONE of this interview.
Filed under: Asia, Middle East | Tags: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Barack Obama, Basiji, Electoral Fraud, Electoral Fruad Iran, Green Revolution, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Iran Protests, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mir Hussein Mousavi, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Neo-Con, Obama, Protests, Revolutionary Guard Corps, State Repression, Tehran, Zionist
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19 June 2009
Source: Common Dreams
The growing nonviolent insurrection in Iran against the efforts by the ruling clerics to return the ultra-conservative and increasingly autocratic incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinjead to power is growing. Whatever the outcome, it represents an exciting and massive outpouring of Iranian civil society for a more open and pluralistic society.
Ironically, defenders of Ahmadinejad’s repression are trying to blame everyone from the U.S. government to nonviolent theorist Gene Sharp to various small NGOs engaged in educational efforts on strategic nonviolent action as somehow being responsible for the popular uprising in Iran. It appears to be based upon the rather bizarre assumption that millions of Iranians would somehow be willing to pour out onto the streets in the face of violent repression by state security forces only because they have been directed to do so by people from an imperialist power which overthrew their last democratic government and subsequently propped up (more…)
Filed under: Asia, Middle East, North America | Tags: Ali Khamenei, Arab, Baloch, Barak Obama, Basiji, CIA, Election Fraud, Green Revolution, Hossein Mousavi, Imperialism, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Iran Protests, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kurds, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mass Protests, Mossad, Pakistan, Protests, State Repression, Tehran, Zionism
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18 June 2009
Source: The Hindu
The paranoia about interference from the West is worrying — but it may also be justified.
Long-term instability in Iran is an alarming prospect for western countries keen to resolve disputes over the country’s nuclear programme and other contentious issues. But continuing political weakness in Tehran is also likely to produce the opposite effect — increased regime concern about external attempts to interfere, destabilise, and exploit its vulnerabilities. This paranoid trend threatens unpredictable, even dangerous consequences – but may be justified.
Pinning blame for Iran’s post-election turmoil on (more…)
