Posted on 02/17/2005 9:20:35 AM PST by bubman
Washington, DC, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Iran is already under attack. The opposition is at work both within and beyond its borders, restless, coordinating and sharing intelligence. Its ranks number in the tens of thousands, most of whom are young and savvy with experience in clandestine activity. Their arsenal, however, includes neither guns nor grenades, but keyboards and flat-screen monitors. In a country where free speech has price, Iranian bloggers are having a bonanza - and the hardliners have begun to take notice. The blogging phenomenon has exploded in the Islamic Republic. Today an estimated 75,000 Iranians maintain online Web logs, or "blogs," for short, that engage in a brisk virtual dialogue despite an Orwellian government that has a monopoly on public news media. They are an ever-enlarging faction of the 5 million Internet users in Iran, who have taken the protest for greater social freedom from streets and newsstands to cyberspace.
Alireza Jafarzadeh, president of Washington-based Strategic Policy Consulting, said that in the absence of other mediums, "Iranian bloggers are testing the waters right now, gauging levels of tolerance to see just how far they can push the envelope."
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
ping
First Dan Rather, then Evolutionism, now Iran. Once centralized control of information is scrapped, the truth reigns. In the future, The best ideas will win, no matter how much money backs the bad ones.
That is a good thing.
"...there is no alternative but regime change ... that Iranians must do themselves."
We're waiting....the meter is running.
That is great if the Iranian opposition can gather people to back an IDEA not a person and I think blogs can unite poeple behind this goal.
It is as simple as Michael Ledeen have always said:
"Do you want the Islamic Republic?"
I hope Iranians can hear that!
Thank you, bubman, for the ping. I've mentioned before I have an "email pen pal" in Iran, a young woman. I'm so impressed with her knowledge of American culture and American politics. She has an insatiable appetite for all things American. And she acknowledges the support of the young Iranian people for the US's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her people are strong.
I am hopeful for her liberty...and for her safety.
Thanks for the post.
Alireza Jafarzadeh would be better identified as a spokesman for NCRI (aka: MEK, MKO, etc)
He is MKO and working for FOX NEWS NETWORK.
I completely agree with you and think that is why we will see a concerted effort within the next few years to stifle the blogosphere (And Im not talking about the govt of Iran :P).. witness Hillary calling for more 'regulations' on Internet speech.
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