Thursday
Feb112010
Iran: Enduring America's Coverage of 22 Bahman As It Happened
Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 23:58 
UPDATE: Here's what we have for you as 22 Bahman draws to a close. There is our LiveBlog of the day, bringing all the events --- and sometimes trying to anlayse them --- as they happened. (In case this site is running slow, we have a back-up of the LiveBlog on another site.)Scott Lucas has posted a special analysis, looking at the political significance of events not just for today but for weeks and months to come.
Tonight, we have an interview with Hossein Karroubi, reflecting on the attack on his father, Mehdi Karroubi, the arrest of his brother, and other developments.
The day in video has been captured through more than 50 clips in Set 1, Set 2, Set 3, and Set 4. There's the "bonus" of a clip of President Ahmadinejad's speech at Azadi Square as well as a sample from CNN's coverage.
The spirit of the day is captured in the video for A Song for 22 Bahman.
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Enduring America's coverage of the marches of 22 Bahman, the anniversary of the 1979 Revolution, will start at 0600 GMT (9:30 a.m. in Tehran). We'll have a LiveBlog with the quickest updates on events, the latest videos, and snap analyses throughout the day.
In Britain, Scott Lucas will anchor the coverage, with Ali Yenidunya and Tricia Sutherland keeping an eye on the hot news and video footage. Josh Shahryar will be updating from the US, and our German Bureau will be bringing in other information from their sources. With the help of EA correspondents, Mr Azadi and Mr V, we will be drawing on our sources in Iran to make sure we have the best reading of the developments.
And, of course, we will drawing from our best reporters --- EA's readers --- as they offer information and comments.
(If, for some reason, EA is unavailable on 22 Bahman, please check our Twitter account or Facebook page for directions to a backup site.)
Reader Comments (41)
http://theflyingcarpetinstitute.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/22-bahman-events-update/
Can you comment on the overall numbers participating today vs. Ashura and previous occasions and what those numbers might mean? Reports (in Tehran Bureau among others) indicate that turnout is disappointing and represents a defeat for Green supporters. Thanks.
Lotfali,
I think that any assessment of victory or defeat is premature to say the least. We haven't gotten through today, and we have only a very limited picture of events. I think the TB piece was quite poor because it took one statement from someone in Tehran and converted it into an iron-clad declaration for everything that took place.
Beyond that, the issues are far too complex to say Up or Down because of numbers. The politics is extremely tricky behind this --- to take one example, the regime setpiece in Azadi Square brought people out for a few hours for an Ahmadinejad declaration that had little to do with the internal situation. Then everyone went home. Meanwhile, the opposition cannot gather for a mass challenge but the continued if scattered protests --- plus the adverse publicity regime will get for beating up/intimidating Rahnavard, Karroubi, Khatami, granddaughter of Khamenei --- indicated the long-term challenge remains.
So, no big analysis until tomorrow at the earlier. Marathon, not a sprint.
S.
Thoughts and prayers with the Greens.
I also love the double entendre of today's title: "Enduring America's-coverage of 22 Bahman." Not a few things about my country's general coverage of events in Iran are indeed rather hard to "endure."
Amir,
I was listening to chants being heard via open mobile of a caller to the radio station who was saying he was at Azadi. I was not there and, therefore, could not confirm or deny the location or the report. Anyone who reports second news cannot know the veracity of the news or the source. We should leave to readers to balance it by double checking other sources if they wish. So instead of criticizing you could try to contribute by checking other sources and then modify, change or add details if you wish. Furthermore, spare me of your pessimism. I am much too much concerned about safety of people (irrespective of their number) who dared to look beating, injury and death in the face and I have no room for lazy naysayers who are outside Iran sitting in their safety of their homes or offices.
Arshama post at 12:15 regarding chants of green while AN was speaking was in fact reported by at least 10-20 callers to the same radio station some of whom were home and watching government broadcast of events.
Scott comments at 16:19 is a sound advice on reserving judgment as to who, the government or opposition, succeeded to get its message across.
I am not sure why you or other critics expect Green to do the impossible with empty hands facing a bunch of SOBs who intend to kill them. I was not expecting Green Movement to end IR on 22 Bahman. All I was hoping that Green embarrasses the IR and its charade and they did that as I see it.
Right this moment that is 8:57 PM in Tehran a caller from Tehran is on the phone to the same radio station. He is saying Naysayers should be ashamed declaring that Green did not show up in large number. He is saying he was there in person especially in one of the ground zeros, AryaShahr, and anyone who wants to say Green was not out in large number is an insult and very disappointing to him and others who have endured much today.
megan
I am amazed as how your sources are all these wonderful Iranian TV station and their callers from tehran ! ... there has not been a single video out of Azadi in tehran , if such a thing took place it would or will come out, the videos that are out pretty much match the eyewitness accounts of places the greens were.
Scot , you see the hype that was created in the virtual world and amplified over the past few days , that has really fallen apart , there was a vote on balatarin yesterday were 85% of people thought the greens will take over azadi square , or MR sazegara's blathering or others on the TV stations that megan refers to as how the regime will be toppled today or 3 million people will take to streets has turned out to be a joke , it goes to show disconnected you can become , I remember discussing this with few people sometime ago that these online websites or expat analysts circulating in TV stations will become liability for the movement ,I think that has really happened now, it would be hard to hear the voice of reason among their emotional chatter and senseless ideas , i think that is the most important lesson to lean from these days events , hopefully some people will become more humble and better in tuned with reality
when you raise expectation above the real capacity of a movement , that only results in disappointment and despair ! that is the problem many of us were worried about for sometime now ...
The brilliant SOG tactic turning national holidays into a platform of Green principles has come to a predictable end. Tactics must be changed !
homylafayette:” dispel any preconceptions you may have about the crowd that was demonstrating. All the people that are shown on Iranian television are not regime supporters. ”
…which shows there really is a problem with M’s and K’s strategy of calling their supporters to the street on days when pro-govt also demonstrate.
1) The presence of genuine protesters can be interpreted either way, depending on which side you stand;
2) plus, it makes it easy for security forces to control the streets since they can be prepared weeks in advance.
3) outsiders who are supportive of the movement are puzzled and confused.
4) if M’s and K’s real aim was to drown the movement, I fear they (almost) succeeded.
I say “almost” because once the seed of freedom has been sown, nohting can destroy it; tomorrow is another day.
Azadi for Iran
amir,
I agree with your take on the events. However, as well all know people make mistakes. These people are then more prone to mistakes when under duress(ie the violence and oppression of the regime.) Like you I think the Green Movement willl learn from this, adapt, and pay attention to expectations. It will never be perfect especially in light of the constraints they are under. The only thing I will note is that lies are never something that can be built on. Lies can only be built on by more lies. The Green Movement needs to be smart, places their faith in the truth, demand their rights guranteed under the constitution, and as you noted be smart!!!!
This was simply a hollow victory for the regime. They only allowed one side to come out and in game when the other side cannot even play we all know who wins that match. This is eventually going to catch up to the regime and they will pay a heavy price. It is up to the Green Movement to be steadfast in their efforts for the truth and rights they should have! If they do so it is only a matter of time before positive change will happen. It won't happen overnight but it most because the truth always seems to find a way to expose itself! Keep the faith!
Thx
Bill
How do you push a brick wall over???
You push it from one side a number of times, until it weakens very slightly. Then you push it from the OTHER side until it weakens a little more. Then you dig under it a little, while somebody else pushes. Eventually it falls.
The Greens use of Regime celebration dates has been very effective - the Regime has been weakened. It is now time to push them from the other side.
Barry
We have made an appearance today and have made our presence felt. But we did not deliver a blow to the regime and lets be honest they got what they wanted TODAY for propaganda purposes.
The regime fully anticipated what the movement was gonna do and planned carefully to prevent us from achieving our goal.
As the cliché goes we lost the battle but not the war and we need to recognize their tactics and create solutions which counter their measures to suppress the movement.
We can sit here all day and argue if we made our presence felt or not but instead we can use our creativity to find solutions for how to succeed in the long run.
Example of problems we can overcome
1. Inability for the crowds to unit in one common place through block of traffic and roads.
2. Understanding why the basij or militia are so loyal to this criminal regime and countering this loyalty with logic of the masses/ incentives to join the good guys ( remember this regime is nothing without their attack dogs)
3. Protesters being identified and singled out for arrest on the day or later on
4. Obtaining strong support from other demographics who are disenchanted with the regime but are afraid or unsure of joining the greens
5. Countering regime propaganda that they are the majority by asking for a referendum
6. countering regime propaganda that we are the agents of the west
7. And many many more which I’m sure we can think of
I think this movement need to re-strategize and come back stronger than ever, let the regime think they won for now and once we re emerge they will not know what hit them.
And hitting them where it hurts most. (many places)
Amir,
You have no clue what I read, watch or listen so drop the nonsense and get out of my face. I am sorry you could not comprehend my response at 17:57. I think you need to cool off and wait for a few days before you get on your soap box. The event in question is still on-going and the jury is still out. Your friends in that criminal regime have done their best to block and stop flow of information. You need to zip it until we know all the facts. For now everyone who cares is trying to put the news together. If you cannot help get out of the way.
I am beginning to wonder if you indeed have something against the Green Movement. Are you trying to discredit Green in your own convulsed way? Why did you have such unsreasonable (I have other choice word to substitute for unreasonable) expectation that Green should take over Azadi Sq.? And why out of all reports I posted you have focused on Azadi Sq.? Same sources you are mocking reported attack on Karroubi, arrest of Mohammad Reza Khatami (brother of former president) and his wife for a brief period, arrest of Karoubi’s son, etc., all of which were undisputed facts. What reliable sources do you use, Ahmadinejad?
I frankly do not care for your response. Your remarks are not worth the time to address so please stay out of my face.
googles sattelite photo of todays protests: http://bit.ly/akK1SM Azaadi square looks very empty. Most likely due to regime sealing off all the entries. Would would an interesting picture to analyze.
Megan, do you have some relation with Monsieur Ahmadinejad? Your language is very similar to his. Watch yourself, no need to turn into the monster you claim to detest ! , of course they always say when you cannot summon any reasoning to write something that actually makes some sense , accuse others . who else masters that skill besides you ? , of course Mr. Ahmadinejad. :-) ,
Amir,
Here is a report by EA Mr. Azadi: http://enduringamerica.com/2010/02/12/iran-the-events-of-22-bahman-seen-from-inside-tehran/. His report is based on his sources in Tehran.
Mr. Azadi's report will set the record straight on my post of February 11, 2010 at 6:12 where I wrote “epersianradio.com is reporting live. One of its reporters from Azadi Sq. called. Green Movement is there and you could hear Marg Br Dictator”, http://enduringamerica.com/2010/02/11/iran-enduring-americas-coverage-of-22-bahman/#comments
You commented on my post of 6:12 at 11:38 calling my post false, \http://enduringamerica.com/2010/02/11/iran-enduring-americas-coverage-of-22-bahman/#comments
My reply to you at 17:54 and the explanation that I was listening to the mobile of a caller who had left it on for us to hear the chant did not stop your attack and insults. Now please read Mr. Azadi's report and specifically pay attention to the following two excerpts by Mr. Azadi, “In Azadi Square, the people on the East side were shouting “Death to Dictator!” And “During Ahmadinejad’s speech, at some points, people could be heard shouting, “Liar, liar’,”. These chants were exactly the ones we could hear on epersianradio.com where the caller said he was at Azadi Sq. You can check epersianradio.com archive.
I believe an apology should be in order. But do not worry I do not expect one from you. How can one expect an apology from a person who goes on attack trying to discredit others without knowing them or without any apparent reason for that matter?
That is like Ahmadi who calls western leaders stupid and untruthful when he himself is chief of stupidity and master of deceit.
My advice is look elsewhere for enemy. I am not your enemy.