Posted on 09/09/2004 12:07:15 PM PDT by DoctorZIn
The US media still largely ignores news regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran. As Tony Snow of the Fox News Network has put it, “this is probably the most under-reported news story of the year.” As a result, most American’s are unaware that the Islamic Republic of Iran is NOT supported by the masses of Iranians today. Modern Iranians are among the most pro-American in the Middle East. In fact they were one of the first countries to have spontaneous candlelight vigils after the 911 tragedy (see photo).
There is a popular revolt against the Iranian regime brewing in Iran today. I began these daily threads June 10th 2003. On that date Iranians once again began taking to the streets to express their desire for a regime change. Today in Iran, most want to replace the regime with a secular democracy.
The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movement in Iran from being reported. Unfortunately, the regime has successfully prohibited western news reporters from covering the demonstrations. The voices of discontent within Iran are sometime murdered, more often imprisoned. Still the people continue to take to the streets to demonstrate against the regime.
In support of this revolt, Iranians in America have been broadcasting news stories by satellite into Iran. This 21st century news link has greatly encouraged these protests. The regime has been attempting to jam the signals, and locate the satellite dishes. Still the people violate the law and listen to these broadcasts. Iranians also use the Internet and the regime attempts to block their access to news against the regime. In spite of this, many Iranians inside of Iran read these posts daily to keep informed of the events in their own country.
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This daily thread contains nearly all of the English news reports on Iran. It is thorough. If you follow this thread you will witness, I believe, the transformation of a nation. This daily thread provides a central place where those interested in the events in Iran can find the best news and commentary. The news stories and commentary will from time to time include material from the regime itself. But if you read the post you will discover for yourself, the real story of what is occurring in Iran and its effects on the war on terror.
I am not of Iranian heritage. I am an American committed to supporting the efforts of those in Iran seeking to replace their government with a secular democracy. I am in contact with leaders of the Iranian community here in the United States and in Iran itself.
If you read the daily posts you will gain a better understanding of the US war on terrorism, the Middle East and why we need to support a change of regime in Iran. Feel free to ask your questions and post news stories you discover in the weeks to come.
If all goes well Iran will be free soon and I am convinced become a major ally in the war on terrorism. The regime will fall. Iran will be free. It is just a matter of time.
DoctorZin
Sep. 9, 2004 23:05 | Updated Sep. 9, 2004 23:35
The senior US official dealing with Iran's nuclear program, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, John Bolton, arrives in Israel this weekend for talks Sunday with Israeli officials ahead of a crucial meeting next week of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, a senior administration official said Wednesday.
At next week's meeting in Vienna, the IAEA will determine whether Iran is secretly pursuing nuclear weapons and whether the issue should be referred to the UN Security Council, a path of action the Bush administration favors.
But a preliminary report by the IAEA last week found no evidence of a covert nuclear weapons program in Teheran, contrary to US and Israeli assertions.
Iran has pledged again to suspend activities like uranium enrichment, US officials say, to try to influence the outcome of the IAEA meeting.
"Clearly what they're doing is trying to confuse the situation in the run-up to the IAEA meeting... Iran wants a clean bill of health. It's not going to get that," a senior administration official told The Jerusalem Post. "But whether we can get a referral to the UN Security Council, I don't know."
Even if the issue of Iranian nukes is referred to the Security Council, administration officials acknowledge there is no guarantee that sanctions will be imposed. At the very least, though, the senior official said, "it helps to increase the political pressure by having it on the Security Council agenda."
Secretary of State Colin Powell said this week, "Time is passing and this is a matter that should go to the Security Council as quickly as possible."
IRAN has been served notice to suspend all nuclear activities by November or face UN sanctions. Evidently, the ultimatum is part of the process of building the case for a full-fledged offensive against the country. Europe’s Big Three - Britain, France and Germany - evidently see the meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in November as the ‘point of decision’ on Iran’s nuclear programme. Incidentally, the November ultimatum, delivered by Britain on behalf of Europe’s Big Three, fits rather nicely with the scheme of things across the Atlantic, in the United States. By November, the US would have put the crucial presidential election behind it and would be ready for yet another showdown in the Middle East. Of course, it is no secret that the Euro 3 of Britain, France and Germany have been under pressure from the US to abandon the ‘engagement’ of Teheran and cooperate with Washington to take the battle to the UN Security Council. And if the issue goes to the Security Council, Iran is certain to invite punitive sanctions crippling its export oriented economy and further isolating it internationally. This is a clear signal to Iran to get its act together. It is time to view the situation a bit more realistically. But there are no signs as yet to suggest that Teheran is alive to the seriousness of the issue. The country appears in no hurry to comply with the West’s dictates unconditionally. It has sought concessions like free trade agreement and transfer of civil nuclear technology as promised by the EU nations in return for giving up nuclear programme. Iran has long insisted that its nuclear programme is purely for the production of electricity. There are not many takers for its claim in the West though. Europe, which initially favoured the engagement of Iran by offering it technical support to produce electricity persuading the country to abandon enrichment activities, now appears to be toeing the hawkish US line over the issue. Eventually, when the issue goes to the Security Council, Europe may not push the case of sanctions against Iran, but then the matter would have got out of its hands and it’s the US that will dictate the agenda.. The ultimatum to Iran is thus a vindication of the US, which has been awaiting an opportunity to get back at Teheran. Iran’s rulers would do well to realise if they do not act fast, they may be totally isolated in the world community. All parties involved including the US and Europe must exercise greater restraint to avoid yet another conflagration in the already explosive Middle East.
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