Iranian Alert -- September 27, 2003 -- IRAN LIVE THREAD PING LIST

The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movment in Iran from being reported.

From jamming satellite broadcasts, to prohibiting news reporters from covering any demonstrations to shutting down all cell phones and even hiring foreign security to control the population, the regime is doing everything in its power to keep the popular movement from expressing its demand for an end of the regime.

These efforts by the regime, while successful in the short term, do not resolve the fundamental reasons why this regime is crumbling from within.

Iran is a country ready for a regime change. 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.

Please continue to join us here, post your news stories and comments to this thread.

I received this email an hour ago. Thought you might find it interesting. -- DoctorZin

......

I am forwarding you an article regarding Hossein Khomeini's speech and interview on Friday in DC at the American Enterprise Institute. Michael Ledeen was the moderator and there was simultaneous translation from Persian to English (not so great) and then a lengthy q&a where Dr. Hormoz Hekmat translated (well done).

I saw this program which was taped on C-Span2 this evening and it was incredible!!! The simultaneous translator left much to be desired, but the q&a was incredible. As a friend of mine said, while watching, this man could be called Reza Shah Kabir's grand-son: straight talk, without 'shileh-pileh.'

Mr. Ledeen did the Iranian public a great service to get Hossein Khomeini seen and heard.

Hossein Khomeini should be on all the talk-shows and get the American public riled up - he could not have been clearer how involved the IRI regime is in terrorism and how much the people of Iran want change and are not anything close to these thugs. I am glad he had also had the chance to talk to other world leaders when he was in NY - I hope they got the message loud and clear: enough dealings with the IRI - back the Iranian people, down with the IRI !!!!!!

I believe nobody can understand the depth and breadth of this unless they were present there or at least saw and heard him on TV, as I did. This should be seen by all who still promote the so-called "reformists" within the IRI. They will be very disappointed...

Here is the article which is mild compared to the strength of the message from Hossein Khomeini and how well he was able to explain the utter despair of a nation stuck within a theocracy which they don't want. He advocated freedom and democracy, separation of religion from politics, he advocated the right of any religion or sect, be it made up of only 5 people, to have their rights, that there should be no particular State religion imposed on the people. He was asked who should lead and if Shahzadeh Reza Pahlavi had a chance - he said the field is open for the right leader, whoever it may be who wants to lead the country to freedom and democracy and away from misery and oppression.

Anyway, here is the article:

Posted on Fri, Sep. 26, 2003

Khomeini Kin Assails Fundamentalist Rule
GEORGE GEDDA
Associated Press

WASHINGTON -The grandson of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, symbol of Iran's Islamic revolution, said Friday his countrymen live in a depressed state that will persist until they are freed from strict fundamentalist rule.

Hossein Khomeini, who bears some resemblance to the man who launched the uprising against the pro-American shah's government 24 years ago, said the lack of organized resistance to the mullah-led system makes him pessimistic about the prospects for change in his homeland.

"The Iranian people want democracy," Khomeini said. "Religion and government cannot be one and the same."

Dressed in traditional Iranian garb, Khomeini spoke through a translator to a large gathering of Iranian exiles and American experts on Iran at the conservative American Enterprise Institute.

His grandfather's revolution overthrew a pro-Western monarchy and made Iran one of the world's most vigorously anti-American countries. "Death to America" rallies in Tehran and elsewhere were commonplace.

Ayatollah Khomeini died in 1989, but his revolution lives, with like-minded clerics making virtually all key decisions. Iranians elected a moderate president in 1997, but his powers have remained limited.

Hossein Khomeini, 45, spent time this past summer in Iraq, where he praised the U.S. ouster of Saddam Hussein's government and said he believes the Iranian people would accept American military intervention if no other way existed to achieve freedom.

"The U.S. invasion is really a blessing for the people of Iraq," he said. In contrast, he said, "Iranians are frustrated, not hopeful but lacking a movement to bring about their yearning to be free."

"The regime stifles the psyche and the soul, creating hateful individuals," he said.

Bush hosts Putin at Camp David

By Bill Sammon
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
9.27.2003

President Bush yesterday welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Camp David, Md., where the two leaders planned to discuss Iraq's reconstruction and Iran's nuclear proliferation.

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said other topics on the agenda for the summit, which culminates in a press conference today, include the Middle East conflict, the war on terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Meanwhile, the White House signaled a willingness to compromise with Congress about the president's request for $20 billion to rebuild Iraq. Some lawmakers, including Republicans, are demanding the money be structured as loan guarantees, not an outright grant.

"We're continuing to fight for the package as we outlined it and as we presented it to Congress," Mr. McClellan said. "But, obviously, we recognize this is a process where we work together on it."

The $20 billion is part of the president's request for $87 billion to fight the war on terror for another year. Congress has not balked at the bulk of that request, about $67 billion for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Still, the administration is aggressively seeking funds and troops from other nations to relieve overstretched U.S. forces. Mr. Bush is expected to press Mr. Putin for support this weekend, even though Russia joined Germany and France in opposing the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

"There are times when we have some disagreements," Mr. McClellan said. "But he's not afraid to raise those issues."

The spokesman was also referring to the issue of Iran's nuclear proliferation.

The Bush administration has long accused Moscow of helping Iran develop a nuclear-weapons program. Russia has denied the charge, although it has made no attempt to hide its $800 million deal to build a nuclear reactor in Iran for the purpose of generating electricity.

The president told reporters on Thursday he would broach this topic with Mr. Putin. The timing is particularly critical because traces of weapons-grade uranium were recently found at a second site in Iran by inspectors from the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency.

The White House attempted to downplay friction between the two presidents on this topic. Mr. McClellan said the administration is encouraged that other nations have recently become concerned about an issue that the United States has been highlighting for years.

"The international community is coming together, recognizing the seriousness of Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons," the spokesman said. "It's something that we have been talking about for quite a while, and now you have the rest of the international community recognizing it."

On the topic of Iraq, some analysts expect Mr. Putin to try to trade his support on reconstruction for a chance at lucrative contracts in Iraq. Russia is still smarting over the loss of revenue from the elimination of Iraq's oil-for-food program.

Also yesterday, the White House defended its $20 billion Iraqi reconstruction against suggestions that some of the funds would go to unnecessary luxuries, such as mail service.

"It helps bring about a civil, orderly, functioning society," Mr. McClellan said, noting that it was "one of the very first steps that we took here with our own Continental Congress back in 1775."

"It's important to bringing a new nation together, and supporting the growth of commerce, and ensuring the free flow of ideas and information, just like it was for America many years ago," he added.

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030926-104931-2747r.htm

Al Qaida warning: U.S. has infiltrated our 'holy warriors'

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, September 26, 2003
LONDON —

Al Qaida has warned its agents that they have been infiltrated by the United States.

An Al Qaida spokesman said the infiltration had been conducted by the United States in cooperation with unspecified Arab intelligence services.

"We warn of attempts to infiltrate the holy warriors in Iraq," the Al Qaida spokesman said. "There is a need to kill spies and make them an example for punishment after their presence and activities have been demonstrated."

The statement came in wake of the capture of several Al Qaida agents in the Sunni Triangle and Mosul area of Iraq, Middle East Newsline reported. The arrests have pointed to links between Al Qaida and loyalists of deposed President Saddam Hussein.

The statement was relayed by the London-based Center for Islamic Research and Studies.

This was the first time Al Qaida has acknowledged that its forces have been penetrated by Western agencies. Until now, Western intelligence analysts said the United States and its allies have failed to infiltrate the middle and senior ranks of the Islamic movement.

Al Qaida asserted that the penetration efforts first stemmed from Algeria. The statement by the unidentified spokesman said Algeria sent agents dressed as Islamic mujahadeen, or holy warriors, who identified themselves as members of the leading insurgency groups that operated in the North African country.

The latest appearance of spies in Al Qaida came from an unidentified Arab ally and neighbor of Iraq, the statement said. The Al Qaida infiltrators were detected several months ago and have infiltrated organization cells in Iraq.

Islamic sources close to Al Qaida said the reference was to Saudi Arabia. Over the last few months, thousands of Islamic volunteers have left Saudi Arabia for Iraq to participate in the Sunni insurgency war against the United States.

The United States was said to have placed tracking devices on the infiltrators to target Al Qaida cells in Iraq. The Al Qaida statement warned against accepting Islamic volunteers without screening them to ensure that they do not contain U.S. agents. Al Qaida said all Islamic volunteers must demonstrate a background in insurgency activities.

The Islamic sources said Al Qaida had suspected that the United States tried to infiltrate the upper echelons of the group after the suicide strikes in New York and Washington in September 2001. The sources said a U.S. air strike against the Al Qaida leadership in the Afghan city of Kandahar in October 2001 stemmed from information by a spy within Taliban.

http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/breaking_7.html

Grandson of Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini Calls for Seperation of Mosque and State

Laurie Kassman
Washington
26 Sep 2003, 23:03 UTC

The grandson of the architect of Iran's Islamic Revolution was in Washington on Friday to talk about the need for reform in his homeland. His call for separation of mosque and state contradicts the philosophy of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini whose revolution toppled Shah Reza Pahlevi in 1979.
Hossein Khomeini is related to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini by blood but not by the policy he espouses. The young religious cleric says he grew disenchanted with his grandfather's Islamic republic about two years after it was established. The Iranian cleric Hossein Khomeini, who has the same piercing look as his grandfather, told a Washington audience the goals the revolution strived for have not been achieved.

"The important goal for the Iranian people in the revolution was the creation of democracy and political freedom," he said. "But after the victory of the revolution, as we all know, the goals were not achieved and there were no more freedoms in Iran. And, a greater and more ruthless dictatorship became prevalent in Iran and still goes on."

Mr. Khomeini says he disagrees with the idea of an Islamic government, suggesting the concentration of authority in a supreme religious leader contradicts Islamic practise.

"There should be reliance of course on the wishes of the people, at the same time on the edicts of Islamic text," he said. "There is no way to rule present communities in the Middle East except [by] the government of reason and rationality. And these forms of government we call democratic regimes. Democracy is compatible with all basic values of Shiism and Islamic law. And faith is free and individuals can follow a partiular religion or not as they wish."

Mr. Khomeini says he focused much of the past 25 years on religious studies at holy Shiite learning centers in Iran and Iraq. He does not explain why he has decided to start speaking out now but says Iranians are tired of the restrictions that have been imposed on them for the past quarter of a century and need change.

He says he strongly supports calls for a referendum on the issue of separation of mosque and state. "If the Iranian people vote for continuation of the Islamic Republic so much the better for the regime, they can breathe a sigh of relief and continue their governance. And, if not, if the people vote against them, they can retire in honor and probably as heroes because they have allowed the referendum," he said.

Mr. Khomeini, who is now residing in Iraq, says the United States needs to focus more attention on Iranian reform movements but he stops short of advocating a repeat of the U.S. military intervention in Iraq for his country.

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=51F45A91-CB17-41E4-9DD59F8C535BAB1A#

I have to appreciate you for staying with us... Thanks alot!
Now pay attention to this new article, please!
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Iran continues transparent cooperation with IAEA

Saturday, September 27, 2003

New York, Sept 27, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said that Iran will continue its positive and transparent cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Kharrazi made the remark during his separate meetings with his Tunisian, French and Spanish counterparts as well as European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten on the sidelines of the 58th annual meeting of the UN General Assembly on Friday and Thursday evening.

In a meeting between Patten and Kharrazi, the two sides discussed bilateral ties between Iran and the European Union, recent meeting of the IAEA`s board of governors in Vienna and ongoing developments in Iraq.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will continue its positive and transparent cooperation with the IAEA and is ready to strengthen working talks in order to promote trust and confidence," Kharrazi told his Spanish and French counterparts.

"Iran has no plan to produce nuclear weapons and the country`s nuclear activities are for peaceful use," he added. He said recent resolution passed by the IAEA against Iran is an indication of politicization of the country`s peaceful nuclear activities and this negative trend rose the concerns.

Kharrazi, in his meeting with his Tunisian counterpart Habib Ben Yahia, exchanged views on the Iraqi issue and the next summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Malaysia.

The Iranian minister and his entourage conferred here with the Iraqi delegation to the meeting on current developments in Iraq and the reconstruction of that country as well as issues regarding Iranian pilgrims and highlighted the need to accelerate the issue through participation of private sector.

http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=18280&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs

Iraq, Iran to Top Bush-Putin Summit

WASHINGTON — Every time President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet, the difficult disagreements in the Washington-Moscow relationship — among the most delicate concerning Iraq, Iran and Chechnya — are pushed into the background.

No major public differences were expected Saturday when the two leaders faced reporters after two days of talks in the seclusion of the Camp David, Md., (search) presidential retreat.

Bush greeted Putin with a hug, a backslap, a handshake and smiles all around on a sunny fall afternoon Friday. "Glad you're here," he said, and then ferried the Russian president by golf cart into the wooded, rustic comfort of the mountain compound.

After meetings, dinner and more meetings the two planned to appear together before reporters at midday Saturday to close out their summit.

Topping their agenda, Bush aides said, were joint efforts to fight terrorism worldwide, the difficult search for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, the reconstruction of Iraq and prevention of the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Nearly all those topics contain pitfalls.

Putin staunchly opposed the U.S. war in Iraq. He has also expressed distress over the continuing conflict and demanded a greater United Nations role in Iraq reconstruction than Bush wants before helping to share the burden there.

Russia's nuclear assistance to Iran, in which it has lucrative contracts to help to build an $800 million power plant in southern Iran, is also a sore point. The White House claims Russian technology is helping Tehran develop nuclear weapons and contribute to the proliferation of unconventional weapons. Russia, and Iran, insist the aid is going only for electricity production, and Putin has shown no willingness to give up the business.

With Putin seeing the Chechnya war as part of his own battle against terror, U.S. opposition to Moscow's ongoing military campaign against separatists there was softened after Putin offered support for the U.S.-led anti-terror campaign.

But last week, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Steven Pifer warned the topic was among the most troubling issues facing the Camp David talks, comments that infuriated the Russians.

For his part, Putin has accused the United States of holding secret talks with rebel representative Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, former president of Chechnya, who lives in Qatar.

But Bush and Putin have developed warm personal ties.

And the importance of the post-Sept. 11 relationship with Russia continues to dominate, leading to a greater focus on common ground than on the divides. Bush spokesman Scott McClellan alluded to that calculation on Friday.

"There is a new strategic relationship with Russia that the two presidents have worked together to develop," McClellan said. "We are partnering in a number of areas to address our shared challenges."

For instance, the spokesman wouldn't say whether Bush would bring up the troublesome topic of Putin's crackdown on independent media. He also wouldn't predict whether Bush would ask for specific troop or financial commitments in Iraq.

"Let's let the meeting take place," he said in both cases.

Russia's oil resources are an area of potential cooperation. U.S. officials see rising Russian oil exports as an alternative to volatile Middle Eastern supplies.

Another area where the administration has tried to satisfy Moscow are the so-called Jackson-Vanick restrictions, imposed in 1974 to expedite the emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union to Israel. Bush has asked Congress to lift them as vestiges of the Cold War, though lawmakers have not acted because of disputes over the Iraq war and U.S. poultry exports.

In a visit Friday to the New York Stock Exchange, Putin criticized the restrictions. "It is obvious that this causes damage to our relationship," he said.

But the thorny disputes remain, even if played down in public.

Administration officials said Bush would renew U.S. objections to Russia's nuclear assistance to Iran.

Putin told American reporters in Moscow last weekend that Russia planned to go ahead and sign contracts for the Bushehr nuclear plant in southern Iran. "If Iran is not striving to develop nuclear weapons, it has nothing to hide. I see no grounds for refusing to sign these (documents)," he said.

On Iraq, Putin has ruled out sending Russian troops as peacekeepers, but may offer limited helps as advisers, perhaps as police trainers, analysts suggested.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,98472,00.html

Iran woman awaits execution

Brian Whitaker
Saturday September 27, 2003
The Guardian

An Iranian woman is about to be executed for killing a police chief who allegedly tried to rape her, Amnesty International said yesterday.
Afsaneh Nouroozi, 32, was reportedly arrested six years ago after killing the head of police intelligence in Kish, southern Iran.

At her trial she said that she had acted in self-defence. Her lawyer cited an article of Iran's Islamic criminal law that allows citizens to take "proportionate" action to defend "life, honour, chastity, property or freedom" when it is impractical to summon help from the authorities.

Nouroozi was nevertheless sentenced to death, and the sentence is reported to have been upheld by the supreme court last month. The only person able to grant clemency at this stage is the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Amnesty believes the execution is imminent.

The case has aroused controversy because of implications for women's rights.

The 83 people reportedly executed in Iran so far this year have been male. At least five women were executed last year, four for killing their husbands.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,12858,1050686,00.html

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