Tricia Neda Sutherland says:

I can’t even get the article to open this morning (GMT 12:12) but the link to the original source wont open either .. just says the link is maybe broken and to try again or check with the source :( … would be very interested to read the English version, it opened in Farsi by the way! But “what video” :)

Yseut says:

Catherine Thanx for the link, neat article; it’s somehow comforting
to read this kind of analysis in such profiled medias as FP. The parallel
established between Israel rabbis/ Iranian mullahs and their corollary of prjudices
and virtual racism is indeed illuminating. Yet a reserve at this idea that IRI’s
dissensus about nuke’s policy ” has nothing to do with reformists vs. hardliners,
or the pro-Ahmadinejad camp vs. the anti-Ahmadinejad camp”…The more
we learn about IRI’s politics past and present, especially of late, the more it
seems obvious that all kind of conflicts (and possibly confusion) between
factions are at stake in this issue as well (see the Larijani’s gesticulations etc.)

Yseut says:

Why the Iranian nuclear deal was bound to fail
http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091101/OPINION/710319919/1033
The usual jingle headline, with some pieces of more realistic views than
the usual ;- )
e.g.
“The lesson appears to be that it will be difficult to achieve agreement on an
issue so sensitive to both sides without addressing their mutual mistrust. …/….
The truth is that enrichment is already a reality in Iran. Neither Russia nor
China – nor for that matter such key Iranian neighbours as Iraq and Turkey
– view uranium enrichment by Iran as necessarily posing a military threat,
and are therefore unlikely to back serious sanctions.”
Feels so much better when some of the obvious is being stated…

Samuel says:

“Today, it appears that a large proportion of the product of Iran’s nuclear program, which has caused much chaos and brought a number of sanctions for the people, must be handed to another country, in hopes that they will be kind enough to offer us some fuel later on.”

Once again the Greens show themselver to be masters of hypocrisy. Now they are attacking AN for giving up too much to the West in the current negotiations. Well who the hell suspended Nuclear Enrichment unilaterally and got ZERO in return??? Well none other than Mousavi’s fellow liar President Khatami.

I happen to agree that Iran needs to take a tougher line in the negotiations but it takes real gall for the people who bent over for the West not too long ago to make such arguments.

And speaking of Hypocrites here is an LA Times editorial whining about Turkey’s growing alliance with Iran. This is the same paper which never tired of telling us how isolated AN and Iran were.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-turkey31-2009oct31,0,2409017,print.story

latimes.com
Editorial
Turkey flirts with Tehran
NATO’s only Muslim member is undermining Western efforts to keep nuclear weapons from Iran by expanding its trade ties.
October 31, 2009

Even as Congress pushes legislation aimed at punishing foreign companies that sell petroleum to Iran, and the United Nations prepares to consider sanctions against that country if an ongoing round of nuclear talks fails, Iranian leaders this week were elated over plans to treble trade ties with a key Middle Eastern power.

So which rogue nation is undermining Western efforts to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons? Syria, perhaps, or the unpredictable Saudis? Actually, it’s Turkey, a member of NATO, prospective member of the European Union and the United States’ most strategically important Muslim ally.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans Wednesday in Tehran to increase trade between the two countries from its current level of about $7 billion to $20 billion by 2011. Turkey and Iran have reportedly reached agreements on power plants, banks and natural gas development that would help make up for any economic pain the United Nations could inflict via tougher sanctions. The deals are fueling worries that Turkey, a model democratic Muslim state and a vital bridge between Europe and the Arab world, is turning its back on the West to embrace Islamist regimes to the east.

Some of those fears are probably overblown. Much has been made, for example, of Turkey’s worsening relations with Israel, which went from lukewarm to frosty after the 2008 Gaza incursion. But that’s just Middle Eastern politics; Erdogan is reflecting popular anger over Gaza and boosting his status at home by bashing Israel. There’s little chance Turkey would jeopardize its ties to the United States and Europe by breaking off relations with Israel.

Yet Ankara’s growing attachment to Tehran is troublesome. Part of the blame can be laid on such European leaders as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose opposition to Turkey’s membership in the European Union has inflamed anti-Western sentiment within Turkey. Another factor is the country’s newfound self-confidence. Its economic clout and geopolitical importance have put it in a position to realize long-held desires to be a major player on the world diplomatic stage. Flirting with Iran is a way of asserting independence from the global powers that be.

That self-confidence will probably be on full display Dec. 7, when Erdogan heads to Washington to visit with President Obama. He is expected to be assertive. But Obama needs to do some lecturing of his own. A nuclear-armed Iran is not in Turkey’s interest, and Erdogan’s frequent assurances that Tehran is solely interested in an energy program are either laughably naive or dangerously cynical.

Samuel says:

I have extremely good news for all of the enemies of the Islamic Revolution. THE REGIME WILL FALL ON 13 ABAN.

How do I know this super, super, secret information? Well that is the prediction (sort of) by none other than Michael Ledeen whose reliability for accuracy is matchless. I know many here are big fans of his Photoshopping theories.

Money quote from his site: “The next potential watershed is next Wednesday, November 4th, the anniversary of the assault on the American Embassy in Tehran and the seizure of American hostages.

It’s the perfect date for the fall of the regime, don’t you think?”

http://pajamasmedia.com/michaelledeen/

Yes, Yes, Yes, this is it!!!

All of you secularists (or non muslims) will want to go out and secure a good bottle of quality champagne before it all sells out.

Samuel says:

@Kevina

Since you asked here you go. If is wasn’t for that letter Montazeri the fraud would be claiming (along with Mousavi and company) that he too spoke for the true legacy of Imam Khomeini.

http://www.baabeilm.org/khomeini/montezari.pdf

Translation of Ayatollah Khomeini Letter Dismissing Montazeri

The text of Ayatollah Khomeini’s historic letter was recently printed in Abrar.
Tehran ABRAR 22 Nov 1997, page 2.
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. To Mr. Montazeri.

My heart is broken and filled with blood now that I am writing a few words to you. Perhaps one daythe people will realize the facts by reading this letter.

I consider God my witness when I point out the following issues:
Since it has become clear that after me you are going to hand over this country, our dear Islamic revolution, and the Muslim people of Iran to the liberals, and through that channel to the hypocrites
[Mojahedin-e Khalq], you are no longer eligible to succeed me as the legitimate leader of the state.

You, in most of your letters, speeches and stances, have shown that you believe the liberals and hypocrites should rule in this country. It is so clear that your remarks have been dictated by the
hypocrites that I did not see any point in sending a reply. For instance, thanks to your speeches and written work, the hypocrites took advantage of your stance in defense of their ilk to promote a
number of their comrades who had been condemned to death on charges of waging an armed struggle against Islam and the revolution to positions of authority. Can you see what valuable
services you have offered to arrogance? On the issue of the murderer Mahdi Hashemi [a supporter and relative of Ayatollah Montazeri, who was later executed], you considered him to be the most religious person on earth. Despite the fact that it was proved to you that he was a murderer, you kept sending messages to me to spare his life. There are so many other examples, similar to that of Mahdi Hashemi, that I cannot be bothered to mention them all.

kevina says:

An idea for Mr. Lucas:

As much as I profoundly disagree with him, I think it would be great to give Samuel his own post. I’d love to know a bit on his background that led him to his views, what exactly those views are, etc.

Why, for example, does he think the Supreme Leadership, unelected by the population as a whole, is ideal? Does he believe the official June 12 numbers? Etc.

We’ve danced around these things in comments. I’d appreciate a more complete dialogue.

kevina says:

Confidence building/trying to avoid bad consequences. Trying to reassure vs. antagonizing.

pessimist says:

O my god, it looks like things are more complicated than imagined. I bet it’s all because of ‘pride’, that mysterious bit of human personality. I wonder what neuronal (brain) region is responsible, couldn’t we just wack it with some sort of laser killer, or some new pill, or stem cell ‘repairs’ (iranians supposedly have v. good research) ? Imagine the results, the world might become a real loving village.. well, science fiction is sometimes only a doorstep away from future reality.

Adam says:

Samuel,

It’s interesting to me that someone who speaks english so fluently and does so much research would tow the regime’s line so mechanically. The only person I have seen that reminds me of Samuel’s tone is Mohammad Marandi, who is a total Ahmadinejad lap-dog and propogandist, on the regime’s payroll to teach his captive students at the University of Tehran, and he is probably paid to tow the regime line in western media. Fareed Zakaria outed him, yet inexplicably he is sometimes “interviewed” in western media as if he’s an authority on anything. My guess is you know him Samuel.

Samuel says:

@Adam

There is no way that I tow the regime’s line mechanically. I have always said the AN’s dabbling in Holocaust Denial is insane. The Jewish Holocaust, like the Armenian Genocide at the beginning of the 20th century, is a historical fact beyond dispute. Engaging in Holocaust Denial is not only wrong but it distracts from the very real Zionist crimes being comitted in Palestine every day.

I also disagree strongly with AN when it comes to nepotism and for his overemphasis on individuals being personally loyal to him.

For example how many know that the recently installed head of the Basij, Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi, was once fired by AN??? Or that his current postition as head of the Basij is almost totally due to the SL and not AN??? Naqdi, who was born in Iraq and who has vast experience in Iraq and Lebanon, is a fantastic choice for heading the Basij but he wouldn’t have gotten the job if AN had his way because Naqdi is not a yes man.

Samuel says:

@Adam,

I very much respect Marandi for the choices he has made specifically the fact that he was a volunteer in the Iran-Iraq war. He could have returned to the States and had a very comfortable life, instead he risked his life in that savage war to defend his country and the Revolution.

Adam says:

Samuel, do you not find it interesting that while you and Marandi are free to talk to western media, high ranking clerics such as Montazeri, Karroubi, Khatami, etc… cannot?
Montazeri and Karroubi’s religious credentials are far above and beyond those of Khamenei, how can it be an islamic republic if these high ranking clerics are not even allowed out in public because they speak out against oppression?

Samuel says:

Bill Davit,

Let me address your points but before I do so I want to point out that we come at this issue from fundamentally different perspectives. I am not one who fetishizes western style democracy as the model to be followed or imposed on other nations and cultures.

To me Putin is following the correct path in Russsia with his Authoritarian/Populist policies, reversing the horrible policies of the westernizing Boris Yeltsin. Yeltsin almost destroyed Russia, Putin has saved it. Similarly China has propered incredibly in so many ways under the authoritarian, non-democratic road which it has pursued over the last two decades (After it abandoned Mao style communism). The westernizers of Tiananmen Square would have done to China what Yeltsin did to Russia.

The criticism of Western style democracy and its application to other cultures has been broadly made by individuals like Lee Yuan Kew, the former Prime Minister of Singapore. See for example: Culture Is Destiny; A Conversation with Lee Kuan Yew
http://fareedzakaria.com/index.html.

In foreign policy many scholars have noted how western “democracies” use/exploit the language of “human rights” to justify agressive war(the invasion of Iraq, vietnam, Panama, Grenada, Afghanistan, etc,.) terrorism in the form of drone attacks etc. As long as the language is correct you can “destroy the village in order to save it”.

In similar manner Catholic intellectuals in the West have pointed out the incongruity of societies that drone on about “human rights” but allow millions of fetuses to be aborted every year. Some devout Catholics have even called this a Holocaust. Interestingly, the Catholic Church had an uneasy relationship with western style democracy for many years. See for example the Vatican’s position regarding Italian Democracy in the 19th and early 20th century.

Is Iran a “western style” democracy with all the characteristics which that implies? Absolutely not. As shaped by the Ayatollah Khomeini it is a theocratic form of government with democratic elements.

adam says:

Samuel, you are a very sophisticated propagandist, I’m pretty sure you are in direct contact with the regime. I find it interesting that you think Marandi is brave, ;).
However, I must refute your seemingly infinite ability to lie. Marandi’s sole role in this crisis has been to crowd out Iranian voices who are trying to speak about human rights to western media. The fact that western media, in their naivete, have played his stooge does not excuse him morally.
Marandi has shown no bravery for Iran, and by providing a propaganda front for the regime, he has knowingly contributed to the deaths of Neda Soltani and Taraneh Mousavi (and her gang rape by his basij militia) among others, as well as the Sodomy perpetrated against male prisoners.
Samuel, you seem to see yourself as a hardliner in regards to the Islamic nature of Iran. So in that case why do you support the beatings of high ranking clerics and Sodomy upon young Iranians by the Basij? Is it possible that YOU are the HYPOCRITE?

Adam says:

You nitpicked at the most irrelevant part of my post and completely ignored my questions about your support for the beating of high ranking clerics and the sodomizing of young Iranians by the Basij. I don’t know how you justify any of this to yourself, its like talking to a robot.

Samuel says:

Adam,

It is interesting that you accuse me of being a liar yet you do not mention a single instance where i’ve lied. Now on to your second point.

I’m not sure where you get the notion that clerics who attack and try to overthrow the Revolution are somehow untouchable. The historical record shows that cleric traitors were arrested and even executed under the regime of the Ayatollah Khomeini.

Samuel says:

Adam,

Well, well, well, it seems that President Khatami, the idol of millions of reformers was responsible for rapes in Iran during his term.

Money quote:

“The judge who presided over Atefeh’s sham trial and sentenced her to death by public hanging is reported to have raped Atefeh himself before he personally placed the noose around her tiny neck.”

http://www.iranfreedomconcert.com/lily.html
Instead of siding with the students who had voted him into office, Khatami aligned himself with the rest of his fundamentalist Mullahs, and tolerated the violent beatings, imprisonment, torture, and even murder of the students whose only crime had been their support of democracy and free speech.

Among these students were Ahmad Mohammadi, who died a few weeks ago in jail, and Ahmad Batebi, who, to this day, remains in the infamous Evin prison for his participation in that demonstration.
But the violence towards students was not the only atrocity that Mr. Khatami tolerated.

A dramatic increase in the execution of minors and women, including those who had been raped or had been accused of committing the crimes of adultery or acts incompatible with chastity was also tolerated by our guest speaker here today. Among the victims of such “tolerance” was Atefeh Rajabi, who was sentenced to death by public hanging for having committed “adultery,” even though she was not married, and was only 16 years old.

The judge who presided over Atefeh’s sham trial and sentenced her to death by public hanging is reported to have raped Atefeh himself before he personally placed the noose around her tiny neck. The so-called justification for such despicable act of savagery is the Sharia legal system, put in place by the Islamic Regime and championed by Mr. Khatemi. Under Sharia law, virgin girls are not allowed to be executed, for their purity might open up the doors of heaven to them. To avoid this, virgin girls, such as Atefeh, who are sentenced to death, are raped before execution to ensure their proper place in hell.

Mr. Khatami was more than tolerant of this type of horror, violence, and inhumane treatment to which young Atefeh and countless others were subjected.

He was similarly tolerant of the uncivilized, unethical, and despicable treatment of Zahra Kazemi, the Canadian photo-journalist who was accused of taking photos of the Evin prison in Tehran. Mr. Khatami demonstrated remarkable tolerance when Ms. Kazemi was imprisoned, violently raped, tortured, and ultimately murdered. And ignoring all forms of civilized practice and ethical standards, Mr. Khatami tolerated the denial of access to Ms. Kazemi’s body to not only the Canadian officials who had requested such access, but to Ms. Kazemi’s own son, who, to this day, is fighting to bring his mother’s killers to justice.”

Adam says:

Interesting that you cite Newsmax (a right-wing ideologue newsletter) when previously you had refused to believe that any media outlet that isn’t controlled by the Iranian state is propoganda.
As for the articles condemning Khatami, President Khatami’s crime was to not stand more firmly against Khamenei and his hardline allies abuses of power. I can assure you it was not Khatami who ordered the mass murders and imprisonments of Iran’s youth, it was Khamenei.
Since I can see who you’re working for I will henceforth ignore the distraction of Ahmadinejad and focus all accusations against Khamenei, the true dictator whose hands are soaked with the blood of young Iranians.