Iran Plans Major Military Exercise

wsj.com:

Iranian media on Sunday reported Tehran will conduct a large-scale defensive military exercise next month, coinciding with what government officials now say is a deadline for the West to respond to its counteroffer to a nuclear-fuel deal.

Read the whole story: wsj.com

Comments

[jabidi]

11:49 AM on 01/06/2010

Read the article by Noam Chomsky titled "what if Iran had invaded Mexico".

[wereeverywhere]

01:41 AM on 01/07/2010

The Noam Chomsky who said:

http://www.abbasgoya.com/wp/?p=25

I would like to express my strong support for your hunger strike and other actions protesting the criminal repression in Iran, and my hope that your principled and courageous efforts will help bring freedom and justice to Iran and an end to harsh authoritarian rule.

[joabear]

03:07 PM on 01/05/2010

Masih Alinejad on BBC News UK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsZHbkcz4Co

[joabear]

03:05 PM on 01/05/2010

Iran in turmoil

The beginning of the end?
Dec 30th 2009
From The Economist print edition

A floundering regime may have weakened itself with its latest bloody crackdown. Let’s hope so

http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15174473

[joabear]

02:50 PM on 01/05/2010

Middle East Left Forum

a political journal in defense of democracy and socialism


Articles on Iran: Issues, debates

Campaign: Hands off the People of Iran
No to imperialist war! No to the theocratic regime


http://www.iran-bulletin.org/

[joabear]

02:38 PM on 01/05/2010

Czech Republic bans sale of pepper spray and electric shock weapons to Islamic Republic of Rapists.

..
http://rahesabz-karoobi.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-post.html

[joabear]

02:25 PM on 01/05/2010

Four categories of IRI's supporters/sympatizers

1. they have blood on their hands

2. They stand to lose position of power, assets, money and lucrative business deals in Iran and abroad.

3. They are deeply religious (read Jihadist) and they think under the auspieces of IRI they can establish their Islamic Utopian Ummah in the entire region.

4. They think IRI is worth saving to stand up to imperialism because they put their dogmatic ideology before democracy and human suffering and couldn't care less about Iranians or Iran even if Iran is destroyed in the process.

[joabear]

01:28 PM on 01/05/2010

Iran Professors Ask for End to Violence
New York Times ME / NAZILA FATHI
05-Jan-2010 (one comment)
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/world/middleeast/05iran.html

[Ergon]

03:17 AM on 01/05/2010

Here's the left's priorities: http://motherjones.com/media/2009/12/what-went-wrong-2009
The Economy
Health care
Anti-war issues
The Environment
No mention of Iran.
Iranians of the green persuasion might ask why the left cares more about Honduras, Cuba and Palestine. The responses from joabear and we're everywhere might give a clue.

[wereeverywhere]

04:24 AM on 01/05/2010

Are you really using MotherJones to try to further your reactionary position on Iran?? Here are some links:

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2009/12/irans-economy (Implicitly favorable view of the protesters with a lengthy quote form IRI critic and Green supporter Juan Cole)

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2009/12/iran-student-protests-video (a video showing a large and enthusiastic and illegal demo of the opposition)

ttp://motherjones.com/mojo/2009/12/mother-jones-contributor-shane-bauer-face-trial-iran (an article about a contributor for MoJo who got arrested by IRI for hiking/ trespassing)

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2009/06/vote-iran (showing the election to be fraudulent. Only question in play is why they did it)

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2009/07/torture-iran (by David Korn, co-editor of MoJo, who tears into IRI for torture. "While many Americans have been obsesing over Sarah Palin or Michael Jackson, there have been a series of Stalinesque confessions broadcast on Iranian television...")

Please don't drag MotherJones into your knuckle-dragging stance on IRI. That's not even dishonest.

[wereeverywhere]

04:29 AM on 01/05/2010

Pardon, in the very last link I misspelled the co-editor of MoJo whose name is David Corn.

[Ergon]

09:27 AM on 01/05/2010

You seem to keep missing the point: at a time when real employment is 17.5% and Americans are living on Food Stamps, the left's priorities are domestic. We blame the problems of this country on its unbridled imperialism, and have no desire for colour coded revolutions that originate from here. All the articles you mention give lots of sympathy, but little else, since the consensus is that Iran has a right to develop its nuclear cycle, America should engage with but otherwise stay out of Iran's domestic politics, and that sanctions are a bad idea.
Apparently such views earn a rebuke from such as Sam Sedaei, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sam-sedaei/the-american-lefts-skepti_b_407886.html "The American Left's Skepticism About Helping Iranians is Unacceptable" but there you have it, the Left IS Skeptical.

[wereeverywhere]

04:27 AM on 01/05/2010

You might want to ask yourself why you're in bed with IRI and why you slander those fighting to get out from that horrible system. You have no credibility to go along with your lack of principles. Nice work.

[Ergon]

09:35 AM on 01/05/2010

My views are we should focus on domestic policies, and resolve our own human rights failings before we lecture others. But then, you have your own, unique, single minded perspective on Iran :)

[Mollabaji]

02:21 AM on 01/05/2010

unfortunately, HP reports that have anything to do with Iran have become the propaganda site for the likes of Joebear, Kirad, etc. dominating the thread with quotes from discredited sources. Thus, not worthy of even looking at the comments. Just skipping it is the only option since they are sooooo off the mark.

[Oleg1]

02:30 AM on 01/05/2010

Another fundie rgihtwing tool always ready to lick Ahmadinejad's behind. Don't worry you and your whole Iranian junta will be put against the wall soon enough.

[wereeverywhere]

03:04 AM on 01/05/2010

Perhaps you lack the imagination necessary, but you could use this wonderful postcard yourself, the one that has Ahmadi, Khamenei, and Jafari wanted for rape, murder, and torture.

http://united4iran.com/2010/01/wanted-for-torture-murder-and-rape/

Just write on the back that you 'want' them in the sense of longing, that you wish to thank them for their services to barbarism.

[Oleg1]

12:43 AM on 01/05/2010

Who cares, they can march their parrot berets up and down all they want. No one really cares.

[Mollabaji]

02:07 AM on 01/05/2010

thorn on your side, hah? Suffer baby suffer.

[Oleg1]

02:27 AM on 01/05/2010

LOL, the only people they can push around is other Iranians. No one else with those ridiculous looking pink berets. No wonder Iranians co war dly only fight by proxy.

[joabear]

01:17 PM on 01/05/2010

Free Iran!
Photo essay: Iranians in Washington DC support for democracy movement

by Ali Khaligh
04-Jan-2010
http://iranian.com/main/albums/free-iran

http://iranian.com/main/blog/anahid-hojjati/how-dare-some-people-still-say-not-revolution-iran

[joabear]

11:19 PM on 01/04/2010

Ominous Signs of Systematic Plan By Iran's Government to Blame Bahais for The Protests.


The Iranian government, desperate in face of nationwide popular protests which are increasingly weakening its pillars, is resorting to an old worn out scapegoat, by blaming the Bahais as instigators of mass popular protests.

Today homes of more Bahais were raided and arrests were made; an ominous sign that The Iranian government, who has imprisoned many Bahais including the "Yaran" the Seven Bahai Community leaders for the last 2 years without Trial or any shred of credible evidence against them, is desperately trying to manufacture evidence against the innocent community.

Dr Kavian Milani writes:

"Make no mistake, the Iranian Government is quickly moving to blame all protests on the Baha'is...This needs close scrutiny by the green movement and Baha'is need to do what they are here to do: speak justice to power. The arrest of a number of Baha'is yesterday signals a very provocative stance by the Iranian Government."

Below is a translation from Farsi of the Javan newspaper story

Plot of Baha’ism in the Musawi Camp to Publicly Desecrate Religious Sanctities is Exposed

Read more:
http://iranian.com/main/blog/faryarm/ominous-signs-systematic-plan-irans-government-blame-bahais-protests

[Mollabaji]

02:12 AM on 01/05/2010

Dr. Milani, as a Baha'i would defend them, won't he? Baha'ism is a cult that islam and Muslims all over the world (not just Iran) refuse to recognize as a religion. They have never been loyal iranians, and they have been zealous supporters of Israel. Just read Shoghi Effendi's book (if you could ever be able to find a copy due to censorship by their hi officialdom)and you will see how anti-nationalist they are supposed to be). So, what do you expect?

[joabear]

10:54 AM on 01/05/2010

I'm glad you've documented your bigotry on this site. You reveal much about yourself when your keyboard is moving...lol
You're doing a good job...

[joabear]

11:18 AM on 01/05/2010

Mollah: Your Jihadist government is going down...Get used to it. In a free Iran, the likes of you are going to be considered as a threat...

[wwoody]

10:30 PM on 01/04/2010

Iran say's this is a test, Military exercise...( invade Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan Arabia, Israel, Turkey )..well after all .....nothing is perfect. Remember this is just a test .

[joabear]

06:35 PM on 01/04/2010

Iran’s claim to the number one position on the Guardian’s 2010 Troublespotometer is overwhelming. It currently exhibits all the characteristics of a state hell-bent on self-destruction.

First, its repressive government is widely seen by its own people as illegitimate, after June’s “stolen” elections. Simmering political and social unrest exploded again in December and could yet become uncontainable.

Second, the country’s economy is in a frightful mess, with youth unemployment high and opportunity and investment low. This is all the more unforgivable, given Iran’s vast oil and gas riches.

Third, its top leaders, Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, are zealous Islamic purists to whom the idea of compromise, with domestic or foreign foes, is wholly alien.

Fourth, Iran continues to work hard to make itself a pariah state, flouting the UN security council, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty in pursuit of its “nuclear rights” (ie alleged atom bombs).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/04/worlds-most-likely-trouble-spots

[joabear]

05:20 PM on 01/04/2010

Please read these two articles by Gary Sick. Very important and recent developments in the past few month in the power structure of the Islamic Republic:

The Thugs Who Lead Iran's Supreme Leader

Khamenie has lost its power and the IRGC is in charge.

by Gary Sick


http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-06-27/the-thugs-who-lead-irans-supreme-leader/


Iran: A military Dictatorship

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-11-26/irans-dangerous-power-vacuum/

[Khirad]

06:37 PM on 01/04/2010

I liked the most recent from Gary Sick: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2010/01/strategic-leaking.html

It takes on a few things mentioned in the WSJ piece, and I believe he right on what Obama needs to do. I'm not as strong as Ray Takeyh on this - though I often agree - but do think more and more the focus needs to be on human rights.

I also liked the most recent Muhammad Sahimi analysis: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2010/01/turning-point.html

His point, particularly on the Artesh, was well taken.

If anyone else is wondering, yeah, the military exercises while likely meant to elicit *fear* by the editors are normal. They are likely also motivated and timed as political messages to show strength to the outside and try to whip up patriotic fervor internally, but, yawn. Nothing new as far as I'm aware of yet.

[joabear]

07:45 PM on 01/04/2010

I concur. Have you read this "gem"??

What are your thoughts on that article?

http://iranian.com/main/2010/jan-4

[joabear]

08:02 PM on 01/04/2010

Yes, I like Sahimi and think he is the best Iran analysit around, however, sometimes, his Shariati side gets the better of him...

Gary Sick is also superb in explaining Obama's gaming the Iranian regime.

[joabear]

04:31 PM on 01/04/2010

Iran is gearing up for a Tiananment model of ruthlessness:

Time/Robin Wright


Read more:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1951381,00.html?xid=rss-topstories#ixzz0bgG8LZTx

[Foxrun]

05:17 PM on 01/04/2010

Yeh, and Robin Wright was also the same person who indicated that the regime in Iran was going to collapse:

In Iran, the revolution unravels. (economic conditions
in Iran) Robin Wright.
Los Angeles Times Dec 2, 1994

[joabear]

05:30 PM on 01/04/2010

Foxrun: I'm posting news and don't necessarily endorse, agree or disagree. I also don't write people off because they were wrong a few times...Remember Semour Hirsch, According to him, Iran should've been invades a few times by now.

Many so-called experts and pundits before the rigged June election of 2009 thought Iranians were happy with their government and loved Ahmadinejad et al.

Since the recent presidential [S]elections, the international community has had a real glimpse of the brutality and inhumanity of the Islamic Regime of Iran. We've seen peaceful protestors beaten, arrested and shot on the streets. We've heard reports of illegal arrests, torture and rape of protesters in Islamic Regime prisons. Scores of protesters have lost their lives under torture while at least three protestors have been sentenced to death because of their participation in the post [s]election protests.

What the international community needs to realize is that what we've seen in the past few months is nothing new. The Islamic Regime has been systematically arresting, torturing, hanging, maiming,raping and executing dissidents for the past 30 years inside and abroad.

Iranian people have not been silent in the face of severe persecution and brutality. For the past 30 years students, writers, journalists, women, workers, teachers and doctors just to name a few groups, have been fighting this tyrannical govt almost daily but the Western media had never showed any interest until recently...I wonder why?

[joabear]

06:07 PM on 01/04/2010

Dear Foxrun: Here are a couple of articles from a entirely different prespective. I'm sure you will find very interesting.

http://www.wildcat-www.de/en/wildcat/85/w85_iran_en.htm

http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/21948