The International Crisis Group published an “Update Briefing” yesterday on “The Iran Nuclear Issue: The View From Beijing.”
The report is an excellent summary of the strategic, political, and economic sources of China’s policy toward the Iranian nuclear issue.
Its conclusions are largely consistent with, “Moving (Slightly) Closer to Iran
China’s Shifting Calculus for Managing Its “Persian Gulf Dilemma,” a mongoraph written by Race for Iran Publishers Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett, along with Georgia Tech University Professor of International Relations John Garver.
It should also be noted that the report sources substantially both from the monograph and from this blog.
Some notable highlights from the report:
General Zhang Zhaozhong of China’s National Defense University told the ICG that “the enrichment technology of Iran is very primitive…Iran does not have very large quantities of uranium ore… And it’s a very long process from processing nuclear materials to actually developing nuclear weapons. Iran does not have the required facilities, equipments, or technology.”
The ICG reports that “[Chinese] analysts also had no qualms suggesting that China does not mind the [Iranian nuclear] issue tying up U.S. resources and attention.” This calls to mind The Washington Note Publisher Steve Clemons’ conversation with the Deputy Director of the Policy Planning staff of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who told Clemons that “We are trying to figure out how to keep you Americans distracted in small Middle Eastern countries.”
The report refers to Iran’s “binding” strategy, by which Iran is attempting to “bind” China to its economy and hydrocarbon resources by inducing Chinese investment. The latest evidence of this is Sinopec’s deal with NIOC to provide $6.5 billion for the joint development of two refineries.
The ICG concludes that while economic factors are key to China’s relations with Iran and opposition to sanctions, containing U.S. influence in the Middle East and maintaining a balance of power in the region are also central goals of Chinese strategy.
The full report is absolutely worth a read and can be found here.
One is left with the conclusion that supporting “crippling sanctions” does not fit into China’s management of its “Persian Gulf Dilemma.”
– Ben Katcher
Behind Clinton’s Tough Talk on Iran
In a visit to Qatar and Saudi Arabia this week, Hillary Clinton said that Iran “is moving toward a military dictatorship,” and continued the administration’s campaign for tougher sanctions against that country.
What could America’s top diplomat hope to accomplish with this kind of inflammatory rhetoric? It seems unlikely that the goal was to support human rights in Iran. Because of the United States’ history in Iran and in the region, it tends to give legitimacy to repression. The more that any opposition can be linked to the United States’ actions, words, or support, the harder time they will have.
Second, it is tough for anyone – especially in the region – to believe that the US is really concerned about human rights abuses. In addition to supporting Israel’s collective punishment of the Palestinians in Gaza, Washington has been remarkably quiet as the most important opposition leaders in Egypt were arrested as part of the government’s preparations for October elections. Amnesty International stated that the arrestees were “prisoners of conscience, detained solely for their peaceful political activities”.
So what is the purpose of a speech like this? The most obvious conclusion is that it is to promote conflict, and to convince Americans that Iran is an actual threat to their security. Americans generally have to be prepared and persuaded for years if they are to accept that they must go to war. The groundwork for the Iraq war was laid during the Clinton presidency. President Clinton imposed sanctions on the country that devastated the civilian population, carried out bombings, and publicly declared that Washington’s intention was to overthrow the government. Although, as we now know, Iraq never posed any significant security threat to the US, President Clinton spent years trying to convince Americans that it did.
President Bush picked up where President Clinton left off; and President Clinton publicly supported his campaign for the war. So did Hillary, and she defended her decision in 2008 even as it looked like it might cost her the presidency.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24803.htm
These politics can be argued forever.
For some thought, we should all agree on two things: Firstly, the utopian desire for all out reconciliation and a positive gradual transformation, and secondly, fine Caviar. http://www.caviarcaviar.com. I hope during the future indulgence of this ancient delicacy, one can voice these intellectual viewpoints and continue such discussions in polite, gentlemen-like and distinguished diplomatic settings.
ASDF
I am an independent observer and strongly believe in justice and fairness.
My only agenda here is to speak the truth and defend the justice however,
Ideological and emotional agendas result in you distancing yourselves from factual and analytical information, preferring instead, information that fits with your material interests and emotional disposition.
The primacy of emotion over facts bids ill for you.
You only prefer information that fit with your interest and when my last post did not fit in that category you chose personal attack rather than challenging me intellectually.
There is no evidence of rape and the people of Iran support the Islamic Republic. You belong to a small minority that tries to forget that on the anniversary of the Revolution the people once again gave their full support to the IRI.
Look you don’t understand my argument because you don’t know the history of the country you claim you want to reform. Look an unsecure Israel and an unhappy Arab will keep them both away, now imagine an independent Iran with a majority Muslim population of a different sect without protection of a hegemonic super power like during the Shah’s period how should be inserted in this conflict, implicitly take the Israeli side to keep the Arabs involved or to take the Arabs side, naturally it needs to take the Arab side in a way unacceptable to the European Israelis so the matter will be unresolved for un seeable future interestingly American interest also coincide with us on this issue that is why you don’t see this issue resolve as matter of fact this was created by the world powers at the time for this exact same reason. Historically that’s been in the interest of Iran, this is what we did 2500 years ago and again during Safavid, Ottoman period
Kooshy: Referendum?? That refrendum has been disputed and debunked plenty. You just have had your head buried in the sand… Why is the regime afraid of a new refrendum despite Iranian asking for it fomr 20 years?? Why has the regime killed and persecuted anyone who has ever asked for a new refrendum??
There should be separation of religion and State period. I recommend you read the Secular Republic Constitution again. It is the only way both secular Iranians and Islamist can co-exist without a civil war or a perpetual threat of external war.
Here is a comment by Mehrabn
This is an excellent article
by Mehrban on Fri Feb 19, 2010 09:26 AM PST
The Iranian identity is our common ground. To me it seems that if this movement has a chance to succeed it should fully understand and embrace this fact. It is only the all encompassing Iranianness that includes all citizens of Iran regardless of religion, ethnicity, sex, etc. that can approach a guarantee for the equality of citizens in the political process and application of law.
Islamic Republic as so well oulined in this article is by name and nature exclusive.
The slogan of Jomhorieh Irani (Iranian Republic) calls for the reinstatement of the suppressed common ground of all Iranians. In effect, it is in defience to the Islamic republic which has suppressed the inclusive Iranianness in the advantage of exclusive Islam.
http://iranian.com/main/blog/david-et-20
Why don’t you join our discussion at the link I provided. There are hundreds of Iranians on that site and would like to hear from you..How about it?? What scares you about debating other Iranians???
Did you know that the owner of the site was an ex-hizballahi who used to work for IRNA of IRI untile 1995.. Don’t be afraid of debates…
The rest of your argument, I’m confused and don’t really get what you’re saying.
Look there already exist an Iranian Republic it’s is called Islamic Republic of Iran surprisingly it’s been there for past 31 years and it was chosen by a direct referendum that has not been disputed as far as everyone knows . Interestingly the leaders of current Green movement legally and happily served as Prime minster, President and Speaker of parliament in the governments that constitutionally was formed under this republic and never disputed the type of the republic that they were elected to serve.
I understand that you don’t approve of its form or how it’s called, but the core problem you have is not in its name it’s with its behavior like American government is been yelling for over 31 years. Now can you argue that if we supposedly decide to change the name do we also need to change the behavior with respect to hegemonic powers that have lost their grip on the nation and allow them to subvert our independence and dictate how we should behave internally and externally to protect their interest?
One good example is with respect to Israeli, Palestinian conflict, is it in Iran’s interest to be complicit and allow a resolution to the conflict, or an ongoing conflict at someone else expense will keep the Arabs away from bothering Iran specially since they got so reach in last few decades believe it or not this is where Iranian and American interests coincide. When I told you see how that was resolved 2500 years ago that was what I meant.
So I am an Iranian and very proud I was raised to be proud of my nationality and I don’t mind and I am not afraid of speaking what will be the best interest of Iran in my opinion, just like any nationalist American or Israeli does. Contrary to what you think or what is implied in Media in the west majority of Iranians have the same opinion
Persian pulp: Here is hte link:
http://www.iranian.com/main/blog/david-et-20
Persian Pulp:
چه کسی از “جمهوری ایرانی” می ترسد؟
“Who is afraid of Iranian Republic”??
Join our conversation and ask your superiors at VEVAK to join too…
Kosshy and Persian Gulf: I challenge you to join the discussion here: Show us your “islamic” intellectual prowess. What are you afraid of “persian” gulf??Come’on…We won’t bite…I promise..lol
http://iranian.com/main/2010/feb-23
Kooshy: you are parroting dutifully and mindlessly. No one want to import democracy from abroad…The US is not interested in a free democratic Iran. Don’t you get it?? You need to wake up and use your own brain instead of reciting your indoctrinations…
Mr. Leverette, you are too naive.
Garbage in = garbage out
Mr. Leverette, if you have been in contact with people like Kooshy and Persian gulf for your clue on Iran then no wonder you can’t be taken seriously in Dc.
com or the rest of the opposition sites with claims of rubbed, raped, killed that this, I don’t think majority of expatriate Iranians will give up Iran’s hard earned independence and sovereignty for an American imported democracy modeled after Iraq and Afghanistan, and I don’t have any fear to announce that.
Independence??? You must be kidding?? Independence when 90% of our income is from oil revenue is hollow and meaningless especially when it comes to IRI which has been prostituting for Russia since its inception.
Your propaganda might sound good to useful idiots in the West but not for Iranians.
At any rate, I challenge you to post your half-truth and propaganda on Iranian.com and try to get away with your vevak manufactured talking points.
Kooshy: Ask you superiors at Caspian Study group?? That’s rich you decry credibility while at the service of criminal leadership of IRI.
Not that you really are interested in facts and evidence if it doesn’t coroborrate your self-serving agenda but here is one book you can read:
http://books.google.com/books?id=kY2qv036-KIC&dq=guive+mirfendereski%2BCaspian+sea&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=nbJ-S8GXEJKQtgP9gNH8Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBEQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Pneer Jan (Dear) do you have a document to show that Iran gave 90% of Caspian to the Russians, or this is like your 5000 buses parked in Azadi square claim
Aziz del (Dear to the hearth), I thought this forum is set for the folks who have a basic respect for the facts. The unsubstantiated claims you make all day long will not convince me or anybody else who I think is blogging on this forum. So you have positioned yourself like the Joker on this forum, in a way it brings some laughter and RR in between some serious discussion, but I don’t think the way you are assigned you are going to convince the Levretts to give up on their ideas whatever that might be, with posting all day long silly links to Iranian.com or the rest of the opposition sites with claims of rubbed, raped, killed that this, I don’t think majority of expatriate Iranians will give up Iran’s hard earned independence and sovereignty for an American imported democracy modeled after Iraq and Afghanistan, and I don’t have any fear to announce that.
Now can you in a serious way argue why they should want to import democracy from abroad, can you argue how Iranians can change their system without jeopardizing Iran’s integrity, Do you think Americans, Israelis or Arabs and for that matter the Russians at this juncture would mind balkanization of Iran?, do you know anybody that, once you have started demoralized of the Iran’s security forces and while in process of your green revolution could hold the country together like Khomeini did. look Aziz all Iranians including the 10 year olds know this, and that is why when they fell someone has a plan for them they come out in millions, and if you read the history you will find out that they have done this for 2500 years, and we all got to give them credit for keeping core of a country in the toughest neighborhood for almost 3000 years having strongest armies coming at you from all sides and still keeping the same culture language and the country with exact same name, believe me it is not easy. Not many other people were able to do this including the Romans, Arabs and Jews.
Persian gulf: I just read the rest of your xenophobic/racist hate-filled rant about the evil West. I was right, you’re an Islamist ommati…
Indeed, a rare insight to a fundamentalist Islamist mind on display for all non-Iranians to see…
Kooshi=Cyrus Safdari: You have the audacity to talk about “independence” When your beloved IRI gave 90% of Caspian sea rights to Russia to build your criminal regime that lousy antiquated nuclear power plants?? Who do you think you’re fooling?? Western Useful idiots??
Khejalat beksh..
Persiangulf: And yes I do believe Iran’s (Note: NOT IRI) long-term interest are not in ummah building, messianic lunacy, exporting shia fundamentalism across the world, and funding Arab mercenaries. Iran will not be sacrificed on the alter of anti-imperialism lunacy or Isalm..
Dan Cooper: I suggest you stop shilling for the IRI…I was wrong about you. You definitely have an agenda. I dare you to post your drivel on Iranian.com…Where you will be demolished in two seconds. Right now, I don’t have time to educate you…
Persiangulf: Who do you think you are?? Do you think this is IRI??
You sound like an official spokeperson of IRI.
You support those butchers in Iran and you call me a foreign agent and unpatriotic??
I don’t support the IRI and never will. If that makes me a zionist in the eyes of morally bankrupt person like you, so be it. The rest of your vapid inanities are typical utterances of desparate Islamist.
You are a quisling in my view for supporting the crimianls in Iran. God knows what kind of blood you have on your hand and what kind of racket you’ve been running here between the US and the IRI. You obviously visit frequently and sound like an official spokesperson of the Islamic republic. Marandi, perhaps??
Yes, you’re absolutely right. I don’t see the IRI as an Iranian entity. And yes, there are millions of us. What are you going to do?? Kills us??
The IRI and Iran are not one and the same to many patriotic Iranians.
IRI’s interests and Iran’s interests are not one and the same. You sound like an Islamist Marxist to me who thinks anyone who does not accept your intolerant ideology, is a moharb (foregin agent or whatever) and enemy of god and perhaps should be executed. Anyone who puts Khomeinism and IRI before Iran is not Iranian in my view. And you sure fit the profile.
I suggest you educate yourself about what other secular Iranians think. You have been around too many basiji and IRGC and corrupt reformists…Read this and enjoy.
And don’t you dare exploit the memory of those who gave their lives to protect Iran not Khomeinist Islam. Shame on you for judging me without having a clue..
Here is a comment which explains exactly how most Iranian-American feel about IRI lackeys/cronies quislings like you.
“”Your shame has no boundary. I rather use the word “veghaahat” instead of shame because it applies to you better.
You are asking what non-reformists had done compared to the reformists who are jailed or exiled.
mardake vaghih, I’ll tell you what non-reformist had done. They have been executed, tortured, hanged in public, imprisoned, their belongings taken away, exiled, brutalized, raped before execution, fired from their jobs, harrassed and more for over 30 years by this regime AND by the reformists.
Where were you in those years of brutality, rape, maiming of body parts and imprisonments? I’ll tell you where you were. You were advocating and promoting the interests of the IRI. That’s where you were.
And now that the same fate has fallen on your reformists comrades, suddenly you want to “show off” and “sell” their sufferings to the rest of us to give credibility to them?
Long before reformists lifted a finger, long before they risked anything at all, long before they spoke up, there were non-reformists who were fighting against the savagery and corruption of the IRI and paid the price with their lives or with the best years of their youth sitting in prisons.
Where were you then? I’ll tell you where. You were defending IRI’s rights to this and that.
And now you have the gulls to come in here and tell us the reformists are the only ones who have done anything at all? The same reformists, who under their presidency, executed my old time friends for the crime of advocating freedom and separation of religion from government?
The same reformists, who during their presidency, executed and hanged hundreds of Kurds, including many I knew, for the crime of wanting to breath the scent of freedom?
The same reformists, who during their tenure as prime minister and cabinet ministers, kept silence in the face of the mass execution of more than 10,000 young men and women?
And now you want to “show off” their being imprisoned? And you feel we owe you or them something for their miseries?
Do you now see why I prefer to use the word “vaghih” instead of “shame” for you and your likes?
Read the rest of the comments and educate yourself. There are millions of us and your criminal regime can’t kill us all.
http://iranian.com/main/2010/feb-23
It is the Israel Lobby stupid:
How Israel’s Lobby Challenges Rule of Law in America.
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103065323056&s=107098&e=001O6iBvWwlu9QUc8XehsfIVpOIZnShwVpeMR6PU56xsyfazalx674GUCvcIhtnoc-imx35I5BtCa5M1s7_COYn63jLFPy9bOJjtrjgT5K_G4vjv1sPZAJG-269Ts5ECpXMCxDEhDOwJdUPBm0VJiPKjIrqwK9eaC4Y
ASDF
In regards to Iran’s economy
Iran, under Ahmadinejaad, is independent and has maintained itself as an independent, major state in the Middle East, despite the fact that The US has laid an unfair and unjust economic siege to Iran for 31`years, blocking desperately needed foreign investment, preventing technology transfers, and disrupting Iranian trade.
For the past 31 years, the US Zionist Treasury Department officials have strangled and weakened Iran’s economy by aggressively bludgeoning other governments, industries, banks and investors to boycott Iran.
If USA and Israel are not able to destroy Iran militarily, they will try to destroy Iran economically by imposing crippling sanctions using nuclear weapons as excuse.
They intend to Damage Iran economically in order to turn more people against their government, which in turn would destabilize and divide Iran. In other words, bloodshed and chaos equals control. This is the only way they intend to achieve their objective.
The more intelligent Iranian people would not solely blame their government for the state of the economy because they are fully aware that “the unfair sanctions by the US” are purely designed to turn more people against their government and to destabilize the system as a whole.
Despite 8 years of US backed war with Iraq and 31 years of sanctions, Iran has improved tremendously.
If there was no war or sanction imposed on Iran, I am certain that by now Iran would have been one of the most prosperous countries in the Middle East.
Off-course this would have been intolerable to US and specially Israel.
We live in a dirty and dangerous world where some countries especially USA, ripe off the rest under the umbrella of freedom and democracy.
It is therefore up to the Iranian people to be united and do not let their county to be destroyed in pursuit of the so-called freedom and democracy.
What really bothers certain people in this forum and the MSM is that the Leverret’s are spot on! No glee here… Many of us wish for a democratic and independent Iran and the Greens have provided a real beginning.
However, the fact remains! Last spring I told many Iranian friends and colleagues that Obama’s engagement policy was “tactical” and a “tool” rather than a goal. Chinese read it the same way and they went along with the 2009 resolution against Iran very cleverly. They locked in their position with Iran and somewhat displaced the Russians.
The administration is dragged down by foreign interest! If it was aligned with US interest, well that would be fine. Unfortunately the administration is dragged down by foreign interest the is not in the US interest in the short or the long run. It is not that the administration does not see how their policies are hurting strategic goals of the US – they do! The problem is that politicians in Washington are in servitude and there are just too darn many of them serving!
Persian Gulf thank you, and what a perfect name to blog about Iran, when it comes to Iran and about Iran I don’t care what others thinks of me .
What is at stake here is: it’s perfectly fine and legitimate for Iranians to have difference of opinion on how to govern their country, that is fine just like any other vibrant society should. But also, we all should know that a true democracy couldn’t be achieved if you are a client state of a foreign power, this is not possible in Iran just as it’s not possible in Israel. This is just one of the reasons that Israel is not and could not be a democracy specially since it feels constantly threaten by its neighbors and it’s owen non Jewish citizens for this reason it doesn’t feel secure to allow his non Jewish citizens to vote and further to secure itself it needs support of a foreign power therefore it needs to adjust its internal and external polices to accommodate the foreign power (I am sure no one needs an example of that on this site).
One, who has studied the history of Iran, knows that Iran and Iranians have sacrificed a lot especially since the revolution of 79 to gain the independence from foreign influence (Esteghlal) that Iran currently enjoys. This is what Iran has gained from the revolution and a true nationalist will not want to lose this hard gained independence just like a true nationalist American will not want to be under the influence of Mexico or Israel which we all read their frustration many times a day from the post we read on these sites or others. This is the core of the problem between the Iranians and the Americans and since American public is disconnected with real American foreign policy and just believes what is feed to them it becomes important to point out to them that as much as you love your country and your independence you gained thorough your revolution so do the other people of the world and they also do want a democracy whiten confines of their own culture.
Now 100 times a day we all read here and there that US wants to sanction Iran for non compliance with its Nuclear energy program, and Iran is a non democratic country and so on and so forth but no one dares to ask the US and it’s western allies that if you really care for the democracy in Iran then why you are not sanctioning them for lack of democracy? Imagine how could they have sanctioned Iran for lack of democracy if they did, they had to sanction all their Middle East allies including Israel first, If you are sanctioning Iranians for their nuclear technology every Iranian will know that you are going after their independence and that is why the current government of Iran enjoys the backing of millions on the revolutions anniversary.
ASDF (ex Paneer):
I usually don’t like to be judgmental. But after reading the many comments you made, I suspect you really work for a foreign (I mean non-Iranian if you have any other citizenship) country for propaganda purposes against Iran (well, you think it’s against Islamic Republic). Folks like you talk as if Iran is ruled by non-Iranians or IR is an imaginary enemy of Iran and Iranians that should be stopped by any means. And surprisingly you are free all the time (one can easily see that by just checking the time you devoted only to this website!).
You are not certainly unaware of the Iran-U.S game, nor do I think you are a full fledged ideologue. The best to describe you is you are suffering from an extreme narcissism. You apparently know what you do. You even offered the greens to be the U.S leverage in dealing with Iran (that itself says all your intentions). Probably were against “grand bargain” as you are against rapprochement of any means. Unfortunately, there are many Iranians like you and the history of Iran is filled with names like this (in that respect the stupidity never end). Iran, however, has another side as well, the heroes who even went on the mines to save the country. Thanks God we have had more than of the latter group than people like you. The surprising issue is one can hardly see a westerner doing the same kind of work for his/her country the way you guys do. After all, west is technologically more advanced these days. It’s quite natural to see you and likeminded to be whole-heartily a supporter of the west and act as a propaganda instrument, power brings identity even a superficial one. Or probably life is expensive, or worse you are so obsessed with some individuals in the IR that you are willing to sacrifice a whole nation in order not to see them on the position of power.
You have consistently condemned “kooshy” for being an Iranian agent. I don’t really know him/her, whether he/she is an Iranian agent or get paid for that matter. Let’s say she/he is an Iranian agent, what is wrong with that? He works for his country. That’s even appreciated. What people like you do and or have done so far? Did you do anything more than complicating our life?
Paneer Jan I think prisoner exchange is a good idea actually it is a good form of dialogue between the 2 governments, if prisoner exchange is a good idea for Israeli Palestinian then is good for Iranian, American as well. But as long as these guys promise to keep the hacking to Yosemite and not around Kurdistan or Baluchistan where Iran has a little insurgents of her own you know the PJAK boys it is not the best place to go hiking specially if you show up un announced, if you know what I mean
Ahmadinejad Hints at Possible Prisoner Exchange for 3 U.S. Hikers; State Department: “We’re Not Interested”
Six months after three U.S. citizens mistakenly crossed the Iran-Iraq border, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran could be willing to exchange them for Iranians imprisoned in the U.S.
http://www.alternet.org/world/145542/ahmadinejad_hints_at_possible_prisoner_exchange_for_3_u.s._hikers;_state_department:_%22we‘re_not_interested%22
It’s the economy stupid:
BTW, according to the 2009 Human Development Report, Iran is ranked 88th in percentage of Population living below the national poverty line, behind Azerbaijan and Thailand.
In a country with the world’s second largest natural gas and 4th largest oil reserves, the average income is only #400. Lower than it was in 1976.
http://enduringamerica.com/2010/02/04/iran-analysis-the-missing-numbers-in-the-economy/
Kooshy: That counterpunch was full of hot air, half-truths, and 30-year old propaganda designed to install the Mullahs in Iran by Mr. Carter et al..
Here is a much better analysis:
Already, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei lacks the religious authority of his predecessor and founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khomeini. He seeks to retain a measure of control over the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps through his son Mojtaba Khamenei, the product of a clerical-military environment. But the flood of current IRGC commanders suddenly making very public political statements tells another story.
Last summer, Ahmadinezhad flexed new muscles when he targeted then-Minister of Intelligence Mohsen Ejheii, a Khamenei loyalist, and criticized his handling of the crisis. After the minister resigned in protest, Ahmadinezhad appointed a stalwart to the same position with no prior experience in intelligence affairs. Along with forced resignations and the emergence of an IRGC-administered parallel intelligence body, the current ministry is reportedly a shell of its former self and packed with Revolutionary Guard veterans.
So these are two equally unappetizing visions of the future: a military dictatorship backed by China and Russia floating as an outpost of their influence in the twilight of a brief American empire, or a Hobbesian free-for-all in a country under dismemberment.
And amid the chaos, electricity blackouts, flourishing crime and insecurity, how much value will the reacquired ability of Iranian women to issue from their homes without a headscarf have?
Alternatively, the people of a country where one violent revolution gave rise to eight years of war and horrific human rights abuses may decide to push for gradual change and internal reform. The question then becomes, how prepared is the Islamic Republic to cede substantial change?
The events since this summer’s elections are an eloquent reminder of what happens when the opportunity of reforming to the general benefit of society is passed up in favor of squabbling and power jostling.- Published 11/2/10 © bitterlemons-international.org
Iason Athanasiadis is an Istanbul-based writer and photographer who lived in Iran from 2004 to 2007.
http://www.bitterlemons-international.org/inside.php?id=1236
Interesting article by Robert Perry with regard to US media acting as the facilitator again
US Media Replays Iraq Fiasco on Iran
By Robert Parry
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2010/021810.html
Interesting new article by Sasan Fayazmanesh is Professor of Economics at
California State University
The Iranian Greens and the West
A Dangerous Liaison
http://www.counterpunch.org/sasan02182010.html
testing
I thought a few days ago I heard Mr. Gibbs WH press secretary announced that the Iranians currently don’t have the technology for 20% enrichment, He owes an apology to the public for spreading misinformation; we may even see a few advisors heads stat spinning
Video clip of Feb.11
The guy behind the loudspeaker tries to lead the chant in the crowd. He says, “Marg Bar Esraeli, Marg Bar America”. Translation: Death to Israel and Death to America.
However, everytime he tries, the crowd says, “Marg bar Rousiayeh”. Translation: Death to Russia. Very funny!
Iran Tehran 11 Feb 2010 Protest 22 Bahman, Death to Russia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAsLfWkVGlI
Moral clarity!
Iran Ex-Diplomat Who Quit Over Protests Gains Asylum
Business Week / Ali Sheikholeslami
18-Feb-2010 (one comment)
Feb. 18 (Bloomberg) — Former Iranian diplomat Mohammad- Reza Heydari, who resigned over Iran’s treatment of post- election protesters, has been granted asylum in Norway.
“The Norwegian authorities have notified my lawyer about their decision,” Heydari said today in a telephone interview from Oslo, where he was the consul at the Iranian Embassy until he quit on Dec. 24. Norway’s Foreign Ministry later confirmed that Heydari was given asylum there, according to a spokesman who declined to be identified in line with government policy…
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-18/iran-ex-diplomat-who-quit-over-protests-gains-asylum-update2-.html
The nuclear issue is a fait-accompli. We need to get used it…
Iran is shooting itself in the foot
Gulf News / Marwan Al Kabalan
18-Feb-2010
One of the major criticisms of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s foreign policy over the past few months concerned his contribution to inadvertently creating consensus among the major powers in the UN Security Council over his country’s nuclear programme.
http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/iran-is-shooting-itself-in-the-foot-1.585142
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=118942§ionid=351020104
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that Iran has produced its first batch of 20 percent enriched uranium at the Natanz enrichment plant.
Iran Labor report:
http://iranlaborreport.com/
Kooshy: What are you afraid of?? The only people who find it hard to believe that Iranians actually don’t hate the jewish people are Islamists from Arab countries or Pakistan or India. That leaves me to believe that you’re not really Iranian..Tell your handlers to teach your more Persian than Hebrew..
Your hollow pejoratives and accusations are not going to help your beloved regime now, are they?
Samuel: The greens are not rich. Read the article below:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2010/02/why-north-tehranis-dont-revolt.html
Amir-Reza Arefi
Protester sentenced to death
Radio Zamaneh: Iranian court attorney, Mohammad Mostafai reported that Amir-Reza Arefi has been sentenced to death by the judiciary. The 21-year-old is charged with “enmity against God through membership in the Association of Iranian Monarchists,” according to Mr. Mostafai’s weblog. Mostafai goes on to indicate that the young man was arrested and
http://www.iranian.com/main/2010/feb/amir-reza-arefi
ASDF,
“but they have a hungry stomach and they will go to any rally where they can get hold of a bite to eat.”
Then the Greens are idiots for not offering tastier treats to attract more supporters to their demonstrations/riots. Seriously it is clear that Green propagandists are truly delusional when they put out garbage like this. Next they’ll be saying that people turned out for the Ayatollah Khomeini’s funeral in 1989 just so they could get sprayed with cool water since it was such a stifling hot day.
Paneer Jan shalom how are you, you are back on the job again today, can we ask you please to give us our today’s dose of all the pictures of Iranian security guards beating women and children in one post only, that really will help others to discuss the issue of China , Iran , I thank you
Source of previous comment:
http://www.iranian.com/main/2010/feb/russia-suspends-iran-arms-sale
Russia suspends Iran arms sale
Following Israeli PM’s visit to Moscow
CSM: Russia on Wednesday delayed the delivery of S-300 air defense missiles to Iran, citing unspecified technical problems. The announcement comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow to urge Russia to take tougher action against Iran’s nuclear program. The delay is expected to further strain relations between Moscow and Tehran. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the delivery of S-300 missiles has not been canceled. “The delay is due to technical problems. The delivery will be carried out when they are resolved,” Alexander Fomin, deputy head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, told the Interfax news agency >>>
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2010/0217/Russia-suspends-Iran-arms-sale-following-Israeli-PM-s-visit-to-Moscow
what else can we expect from the Russain mob that has been milking Iran dry since the mullahs came to power?
These things are paid for already too. Another $800.00 million of Iran’s money pissed away by the mullahs. And then we have a bunch of losers on this site who still cry about the money that Shah supposedly took from Iran.
All This Crowd Cares For
Here is one footage of the pro-government supporters on 11th Feb. See them fight for handouts and how they even step on a picture of Ayatollah Khomeini thats on the ground. This crowd has no convictions, but they have a hungry stomach and they will go to any rally where they can get hold of a bite to eat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7nE3ZrICkM&feature=player_embedded
Support Iran’s Dissidents
Perviz KhazaiiPosted: February 17, 2010 06:25
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/perviz-khazaii/support-irans-dissidents_b_466447.html
Supreme Leader: No Compromise With US
Iran’s Supreme (clerical fascist) Leader has made it clear: the turbaned tyranny will never give into the United States. Click here for the report.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/02/iran-khamenei-clinton-obama-iranelection-ahmadinejad-nuclear-green-mousavi-karroubi.html
“General Zhang Zhaozhong of China’s National Defense University told the ICG that “the enrichment technology of Iran is very primitive…Iran does not have very large quantities of uranium ore… And it’s a very long process from processing nuclear materials to actually developing nuclear weapons. Iran does not have the required facilities, equipments, or technology.””
I believe general Zhang is deliberately downplaying Iran’s capabilities for western consumption. I have no doubt Iran could make a nuclear weapon ***if they wanted*** to and could do it rather quickly. It may be “primitive” but we are talking about 1940’s technology here. Pakistan made nukes with the same primitive centrifuge Iran has now. Besides, a primitive nuke is still a serious deterrent, even if it’s undeliverable.
Iran has already put rockets and at least one satellite in space. If it can master 1950’s tech, it could master the 1940’s.
China is beating us in the “Race for Iran.” Israel is the drag that prevents us from catching up to and passing the Chinese.