Iranian Alert -- DAY 31 -- LIVE THREAD PING LIST [Riots erupt]

Live Thread Ping List | 7.10.2003 | DoctorZin

[DoctorZIn]

The next 24-72 hours may be the most important in Iran's history. As Michael Ledeen posted yesterday, "...we can already say that the regime's intimidation was not successful. And you have to admire the courage of these young Iranians..." The events there are encouraging.

We have heard of a demonstration yesterday with about 100,000 Iranians in the Pars region of the city of Tehran. This is a huge demonstration given that the regime was doing everything possible to keep people from gathering in this matter.

We are continuing to hear of the regime’s jamming of the broadcasts in much of Iran. But apparently the signals are getting through much more often.

Iran is a country ready for a regime change. If you follow this thread you will witness, I believe, the transformation of a country. This daily thread provides a central place where those interested in the events in Iran can find the best news and commentary.

Please continue to post your news stories and comments to this thread.

Thanks for all the help.

DoctorZin

[AdmSmith]

Iranians want a secular democracy based on it's history.

I hope that you are right.

[omega4412]

And we can contribute to SMCCDI via PayPal at the SMCCDI website. Faster than a check. I sent money yesterday. We shall overcome.

[the Real fifi]

EDMONTON - It's a scene straight out of a spy novel, complete with the passing of secret plans, covert photographs, high-tech imaging and a mysterious country in the Middle East.

Except the secrets were not used to bring down a government but instead to build an industrial plant half a world away, according to a $210-million lawsuit filed by Celanese Canada.

Celanese alleges that six companies conspired to "misappropriate" proprietary technology from its Edmonton vinyl acetate plant to build a similar facility in Iran. It all started when Murray Demolition, hired last August for the decommissioning of Celanese's vinyl acetate plant, allowed other companies access to proprietary technology, despite confidentiality agreements, Celanese alleges in a statement of claim filed in Court of Queen's Bench in Calgary.(more) http://www.canada.com/edmonton/story.asp?id=21AA3EDA-C6A9-4CA3-AE89-C975E6E0B84F

Don't miss the shewering the BBC's coverage of Iran gets today at www.andrewsullivan.com

[DoctorZIn]

Thanks for supporting SMCCDI.
I know they appreciate it and can use your help.

DoctorZin

[McGavin999]

Looks like they're going to have to go underground DoctorZIn. They are going to have to form small groups and come up with some kind of communication system that the mad mullahs can't figure out. The real problem will be finding out who might be infiltrators.

They have to start shunning the militants, make their lives miserable. Get to the point where they can't buy anything, they can't go anywhere without people turning their backs on them. The Amish used to shun people, they wouldn't even speak to them, they pretended they weren't there, walked right past them or turned their back. If someone is about to be arrested, EVERYONE must step forward to stop it.

Personally, if I were there, I would form a group, start pulling these guys off the street one at a time, strip them naked, shave a stripe down the middle of their heads, shave big chunks out of their beards, and leave them tied to a tree in the public square so people could laugh at them.

[McGavin999]

BTW, when I say they can't buy anything, I mean passive/aggressive. You can smile at them and say, "sorry, we're out", or "my brother has reserved that" or "it's broken" or "I'm closed for the day".

[norton]

Stratfor is four-square against reform in Iran.
I think they see the mullahs as a means of managing relations under the status quo.

Today's report indicates protests endanger the peace in shiite south of Iraq.

Maybe so.

But they also miss the point by talking about western style democracy. NOBODY believes that Iran (Iraq, Afganistan, etc.) will come up with a western style democracy with or without our help.

(Particularly so since 'western style' as practiced in the USA means "Representative", as practiced in the UK it means a bunch of people crammed into a smallish room and yelling at one another, and as practiced in europe it means "a lot of nasty little men and women demanding to be taken seriously".

[McGavin999]

Oh, while I'm being mean, I'd also paint a big arrow down their naked front pointing to their.....um.....you know, and a sign saying "Too small to be Persian"

[DoctorZIn]

...Looks like they're going to have to go underground DoctorZIn. They are going to have to form small groups and come up with some kind of communication system that the mad mullahs can't figure out...

From what I am hearing, they are already beginning to talk about this.

[DoctorZIn]

...Today's report indicates protests endanger the peace in shiite south of Iraq...

I believe just the opposite. If Iraqi's see Iranians already living under a Shia government protesting against an Islamic Republic this can only help the Iraqi people see the foolishness of their trying to create on in Iraq. Thus fewer radicals in Iraq and more Shia wanting these radicals under control.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Bump

[xm177e2]

Communications? They don't need to communicate, they just need to act, independently, like ELF/ALF. Three-person groups could snipe security forces on a regular basis, causing all sorts of trouble (once they get guns).

Until then, they should work on making simple poisons (from household chemicals and such) and bombs and sharpening their knives. A gang of a dozen students could probably drop a few security forces if they got the drop on them and used knives quickly. Kill them, take their guns, run like HELL, and repeat as necessary.

It would help the 3-person teams a lot if there was some group smuggling rifles into Iran, because taking them from security forces/foreign Arab pro-regime mercenaries is not easy (although it's doable). They wouldn't need assault rifles, just some old bolt-action dealies to take out guards from a distance.

If the government is unable to maintain order, what does it actually provide to the Iranian people? That's the only thing it has to offer, and if the students take it away, it will fall.

[Persia]

Iran is a far different place than Iraq and/or Afghanistan. First of all, Iranians have gone through periods of mass monderization efforts. Also, Iranians wanted westernized democracy under Dr. Mossadeqh in 1953, but it was overthrown and the Shah installed by the CIA, and MI6.

Comparing Iran with those two countries is like comparing Turkey w/ Saudi Arabia.

[truth_seeker]

Question: How many Iranians have died, in this quest for freedom? Answer: Not enough, because they are not yet free.

I am cynical about Iran.

In 1979, after years of so called "friendship" with an Iranian work colleague here in California, he revealed that he supported the hostage holding.

Needless to say, we were angry. He just resigned and went his merry way, with a masters degree at California taxpayer expense.

Since then, I have met Iranians that were Jewish, Christian and Bahai. I knew they were at risk in Iran for not being muslims.

I know that islam is at the root of most terror in the world, and that Iran in 1979 gave those forces a big boost.

Now I am supposed to get very enthusiastic for the country, and her people. Part of me wants to be supportive.

Another part says: "Screw you. Buy your own freedom with your own blood."

The good side of me wins over, and I AM supportive. I truly wish for the mullah-terrorist thug dictatorship to be ended.

However I am not optimistic. I believe the cultures and the religion both, do nothing to support the necessary basics for free people.

I doubt enough will be willing to die. I doubt they will become organized, to be effective beyond street demonstrations.

Is there a leader? A "brave" leader who speaks for the aspirations of these people?

Does the movement have a name, or simply too many names? Is this movement in touch, through back channels, with powerful world forces?

As I say, I support freedom for Iran's people. In fighting for there freedom, they can prove that islam is capable of esteemable behavior.

July 9th has come and gone. What does it represent?

[InterceptPoint]

..There's an article all about this

Thank you, I've read it and it confirms the obvious fact that it is an illegal jamming of the uplink and not the downlink that is happening here. It also states that they are having trouble locating the jammer. I happen to believe that the U.S. has sufficient resources that they could find these guys in about one heartbeat if they just wanted to. In fact I'm sure they already have.

I don't understand why we can't take sides on this one. I suppose it's another one of those "we can't let the world know what our surveillance capabilities are" deals. This seems just silly to me. We are in a war. We need to fight it like a war. Find the jammer and just take him out.

[nuconvert]

Agree.

[firebrand]

Ask Race to have his Iranian friend translate maybe.

[nuconvert]

You seem to have a number of issues. I think I can handle one by saying that you seem to be misinformed as to what the demonstrators want they ask for "support".
"Screw you. Buy your own freedom with your own blood."
They are not asking for anyone else's blood. This is a misconception. They are asking for moral support. They want to do this without military intervention from the outside. They want this to be THEIR fight.

[truth_seeker]

"They are not asking for anyone else's blood. This is a misconception. They are asking for moral support. They want to do this without military intervention from the outside. They want this to be THEIR fight."

I guess you didn't read my entire comment, carefully.

My point is that I doubt the Iranians (or other peoples in the region, of that particular "faith") will be willing to spill ENOUGH blood to get freedom.

There is no evidence of it being done, before. They do not have a heretige of "peoples' revolts" or of "democracy."

I will give them moral support, even though they are predominently muslim.

If they prevail, it is a good start for demonstrating something, anything positive about islam.

Time will see if they can first prevail over their mullah oppressors, and then organize a free society.

The rational side of me is not optimistic.

[Eala]

I might just have the wife have a go at it. She speaks Farsi, and is now starting to re-learn how to read it.