Valentine's Day, and not a whole lot of love in the Middle East, as clashes between government forces and protestors broke out in Bahrain, Iran and Yemen.
Washington, as usual, did nothing right.
After hemming and hawing through the widespread Egyptian uprising against staunch US-backed dictator Hosni Mubarak, the Obama administration leaped at the opportunity to support the Iranian demonstrators...and completely ignore those in Yemen and Bahrain.
Over the weekend, the US State Department set up a brand new Twitter account in the Persian language called @USAdarFarsi (which translates into "USA in Farsi") and proactively busted out these gems in anticipation of Iran protests on Monday:
RT @USAdarFarsi: US calls on #Iran to allow people to enjoy same universal rights to peacefully assemble, demonstrate as in Cairo.#25BahmanRT @USAdarFarsi #Iran has shown that the activities it praised Egyptians for it sees as illegal, illegitimate for its own people.#25Bahman
RT @USAdarFarsi US State Dept recognizes historic role of social media among Iranians We want to join in your conversations #Iran#25Bahman
RT @USAdarFarsi in English: Egyptians=Tahrir ... Iranians=Azadi ... freedom of peaceful assembly for all. #25Bahman #25Jan #Egypt #Iran
RT @USAdarFarsi in English: Iranians in Sadiqieh square should have same right to protest as Egyptians in Tahrir square. #25Bahman #Jan25
Secretary of State Hilary Clinton spent the weekend spinning her perspectives on Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya and the US-funded Al Hurra, calling for political change in Iran, and openly supporting the aspirations of protestors there. Not a word on protests in US-backed Bahrain or Yemen however.
It is clear that Washington is irritated by Iranian government claims to have inspired the uprisings embroiling the Arab world right now, especially as these are taking place in countries the US once relied on to support its pro-Israel, anti-Iran regional policy positions.
But to actually come out in firm support of protestors in Iran, while remaining quiet about those taking place against their proxy Arab governments is also extremely hypocritical. It seems we never learn.
Western Media Toes the US Line
Worse yet were the media takes on events in Iran on Monday. With all the tweets and videos pouring in, there is still barely any verifiable information available - not that this has stopped both print and television media from jumping into the fray.
My favorite piece of disinformation is this MSNBC news segment where an Iran-based correspondent's audio feed is juxtaposed with video footage of absolutely massive crowds streaming through central Tehran squares and monuments. My eyes popped until I saw the discreet "Friday" date on the video -- the footage is from pro-government celebrations just three days earlier on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution:
Another bit of disinformation -- now quoted widely in the western media -- came early on Monday with claims that one protester had already been killed by government forces. A closer look traces this tidbit to the semi-official Fars news agency which attributes the violence to protesters: "One person was shot dead and several were wounded by seditionists (opposition supporters) who staged a rally in Tehran."
Iranian police also claimed that one person was killed and nine members of security forces injured by members of the outlawed Mujahedeen-e Khalgh (MEK), which is listed on the State Department's list of terrorist groups. It looks, thus far, like all accounts of killings are originating from government -- and not opposition - sources.
And nobody seemed to have any sense of the size of the protest crowds hitting the streets. Even here on The Huffington Post, some eagle-eyed readers may have noticed the switch in the headlines from "tens of thousands" to "hundreds of thousands." A number of media sources switched to characterizing the crowds as in the hundreds of thousands when the Financial Times stated so later in the day. But a quick look at the FT article shows that they do not source that number from any credible information -- as far as we know, they could have picked it up from a blogpost.
Videos posted on blogs and media websites cannot be readily accepted as evidence of events or crowd sizes either - there is little ability to distinguish between those taken during the 2009 post-election protests and Monday's activities. Egypt and Tunisia did not have readily available footage of massive protests from recent years, so it was much easier to accept those coming out of Tunis and Cairo as authentic.
Many are pointing to the language used by demonstrators -- references to Mubarak, Egypt and Tunisia suggest a present day protest. But even pro-opposition live bloggers on Tehran Bureau and EA Worldview caution that these may have been edited and that verification remains difficult.
Meanwhile, in Bahrain we have actual new video footage of Bahraini forces shooting at crowds from close range AND photo evidence of at least one dead civilian, both acknowledged by government sources.
Today, Bahrain erupted again when ten thousand people streamed into Manama's Pearl Square "galvanized" by the death of a protestor on Monday and another on Tuesday. The silence from the Obama administration is resounding.
The US Role in Mideast Uprisings
The choices we make in the Middle East simply astound me. While all sorts of theories abound about why the region is spawning one revolution after another this year, I place my hat firmly in the "honor and dignity" camp.
Writing about this even before Tunisia hit our headlines in January, I argued that popular Arab "worldviews" have long been ignored by most of their governments. So although there is a deficit of representative government and an abundance of corruption and political/economic disparities in many of these countries, the Arab nations currently under fire have mainly been US-backed governments that have practiced our policy "double standards" in the Middle East.
These US allies are Tunisia, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, Yemen, Algeria, Jordan, Bahrain and others likely yet to emerge. But those waiting for the Tunisian/Egyptian model of regime change to take place in Syria, Iran, Oman and Qatar can think again - protests in these countries would represent a whole other trend.
Right now, the long-simmering regional rage is exploding over regimes that collaborated with the US's policy initiatives for Israel, against Palestine, for Iraq, against Iran, for Israeli nukes, against Arab/Iranian nukes. These "degradations" rose to the surface with the convergence of 1) WikiLeaks revelations about their leaders and our policies, 2) the death of the US-sponsored 20-year Peace Process, and 3) the relatively new phenomenon of Arabs actually having access to this information -- via Al Jazeera, Twitter, Facebook and the blogosphere.
What's With the Iran Focus Then?
So I eagerly awaited the planned demonstrations on February 14 in Iran to see if this theory still holds or if protests in the Islamic Republic will shatter this trend. It looks, thus far, that whatever transpired in Iran on Monday does not have the legs to carry it into day two. But that will almost certainly not stop Washington's determination to wring a revolt out of its biggest regional foe.
We can try to do so to our own detriment. After decades of policy double standards, devastating invasions/wars, failed diplomatic and sanctions initiatives, and now the nail-in-the-coffin decision to veto the upcoming UN Security Council resolution on Israel's illegal settlements, our intervention anywhere in the region will not be welcomed. Washington only helps the Iranian government when it steps into the ring.
State Department Spokesman PJ Crowley on Monday illustrated, with great irony, our shortcomings in the region:
QUESTION: Are you trying to create a revolution then in Iran?MR. CROWLEY: Well, that - what has guided us throughout the last three months and guides us in terms of how we focus on Iran is the core principles - the Secretary mentioned them again today - of restraint from violence, respect for universal rights, and political and social reform. There is a - it is hypocrisy that Iran says one thing in the context of Egypt but refuses to put its own words into action in its own country.
QUESTION: How about other countries - Bahrain, Yemen, or Algeria, or Jordan? Why you are not talking about those countries and you are condemning what is happening in Iran?
MR. CROWLEY: Well, actually, in the other countries there is greater respect for the rights of the citizens.
Furthermore, we still do not recognize that, for all its many shortcomings, the Iranian government still remains one of the more representative governments in the Middle East - its "worldview" popular both domestically and regionally - and that charges of electoral fraud after the June 2009 elections are far from conclusive.
So Washington can pull out all the stops it wants, but is unlikely to see the same kind of widespread uprisings throughout the Islamic Republic, in the same way we witnessed in both Tunisia and Egypt.
But it will try nevertheless.
As I get ready to post this article, I notice the State Department has eked out another three Iran Tweets in the past 30 minutes. Knock yourself out:
RT @USAdarFarsi: Iranian regime is praising what happened in #Egypt at the same time it is oppressing its own people #Iran #25Bahman #25JanRT @USAdarFarsi #SecClinton: I find it very strange that #Iran has the courage to give lessons in #democracy to others. #25Bahman
RT @USAdarFarsi #SecClinton: #Iran is a glaring example of a revolution that was stolen from the people. #25Bahman
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While I agree with the thrust of your post, I want to note something about the two victims of the unrest. The Iranian government is in spin overdrive to claim that both were killed by the MKO. For this it has provided absolutely no proof. Furthermore, it claims that one victim, a Kurdish Sunni art student named Sane' Zhaleh, was a member of the Basij. He is, therefore, a Basiji martyr, they claim. This is demonstrably false. Zhaleh was photographed meeting with the dissident cleric Ayatollah Montazeri two years ago (the photograph is available online) and he has a minor role in an art school film parody of religious hypocrisy, put to the tune of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall." The film is also available for viewing on Youtube. The largest likelihood, in both cases, is that the protestors were shot by plainclothes agents or militiamen. The government is claiming them as its own as part of a disgusting and cynical spin strategy, and to assure that unrest is not repeated at their funerals (which is historically a follow-up protest site). Zhaleh's classmates and colleagues at the art school are already up in arms about this. And there are reports that his brother were arrested for calling out the state's lies.
Yes, the state has many many supporters. But there is also a lively opposition movement that has the right to be heard, and is being crushed with utter violence.
(You can find, if you look, pictures and video of the head of the Assembly, the elected body that can turf the 'Supreme Leader' out of office with a single vote, publically calling for Irranians to support Mousavi)
I don't think she is denying there is opposition in Iran. But she is right in that the US is self-defeating when it only talks of IR, and not of any of its own client states. This plays into the hands of the Mullahs. Even Arab journalist from ALjazeera questioned Clinton's double standard. In the ME, nobody is going to care what happened in Iran on 14th, because the US came out so strong.
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That is because they are charges.
I have seen no video of recent demos in Iran to suggest crowds above ten thousand in one location. No shots from high windows. This is what tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands look like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNocyz1NRjA
Just because a government is democratic does not mean that its conduct is acceptable. Invasion of Iraq evidenced that well enough. As does rhetoric of a savage nature emanating from Iran and Israel.
It appears that Israel and Iran could benefit from an Israeli strike on Iran. Israel reduces perceived nuclear threat and warns revolutionary Egypt to take care. Iran gets excuse to kill many opponents in the name of national salvation.
Of course, the nervousness of Israel and Iran may come to nothing. Perhaps it is just the fretting of those who know that history is overtaking them.
Thanks goodness this venue would never run headlines about the mythical "hundreds of thousands" of protesters in Tehran!
Notice that your blog gets the usual bottom of the page placement, while BHL's ruminations always command top billing.
I am curious as to how you have reached the conclusion that fraud was not evident. Would Ahmadinejad have won without the fraud? Possibly, but that does not absolve the Iranian government from having committed fraud.
I focus more on the foreign policy side of things, so I cannot claim a complete knowledge of domestic affairs in Iran. I do however recall well the 3 million overcount to which you refer. I also remember a very simple explanation for that - one that made me think at the time that the opposition was foolish to harp on that issue: Unlike in the US, Iranians do not have to vote in specific "districts" where they are registered. As long as they have a passport or birth certificate, they can vote anywhere in the country. After the overcount claim emerged, so did the fact that this election's "overcount" was not much different than that of other elections - along with a whole host of the other alleged "irregularities."
Although unpopular with reformist, liberal youth in urban areas, Ahmadinejad is actually the "anti-mullah" candidate - the first non-cleric to be president of Iran. There is a lot we don't consider in our views of this election. Here's some more:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23745.html
http://brillwebsite.com/writings/wikileaks-and-the-2009-iran.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRwUZ-u6KFo
One of the countries to watch after Bahrain and Yemen, is Azerbaijan. The discontent there is considerable and at a tipping point. The government as usual blaming "Iranian Islamist", but protests are being planned. A young blogger who was planning demonstrations was arrested recently.
Sounds just about right.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-15/azeri-opposition-emboldened-by-egypt-gives-two-month-warning.html
There is also direct evidence of Israel using their embassy in Azerbaijan for assa.ssinating the nuclear scientists in Tehran.
Only if trouble broke out in the capital, Tripoli, would the despot worry.
He will ruthlessly put down any uprising.
Best hope for the Libyan people is a military coup committed to democratizion.
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I just LOVE outsiders writing that they know exactly what was on the mind of the crowds. Funny how pretty much to a person the protestors in Tunisia and Egypt were talkinga bout economic problems and instability, the inability to succeed lack of freedoms etc... But please, by all means, keep making up your facts, I'm sure that they will be well received by your head professor.
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""Right now, the long-simmering regional rage is exploding over regimes that collaborated with the US's policy initiatives for Israel, against Palestine, for Iraq, against Iran, for Israeli nukes, against Arab/Iranian nukes.""
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I just LOVE outsiders writing that they know exactly what was on the mind of the crowds. Funny how pretty much to a person the protestors in Tunisia and Egypt were talkinga bout economic problems and instability, the inability to succeed lack of freedoms etc... But please, by all means, keep making up your facts, I'm sure that they will be well received by your head professor.
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Thank you Sharmine for the shrewd observations: ""Right now, the long-simmering regional rage is exploding over regimes that collaborated with the US's policy initiatives for Israel, against Palestine, for Iraq, against Iran, for Israeli nukes, against Arab/Iranian nukes.""
THESE are the underlying reasons and the sources of all the Middle East and Arab World revolts: propping up oppressive regimes not supported by their own people while not recognizing fairly elected Hamas for example because they are not what the USA or the West wants.
It is true the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt ignited because of lack of opportunities, fair competition, nepotism and corruptions. Now contrast that to what the USA and the West aspire to. Can you see the disconnect and the hypocrisy?
You need to look at percentage of people below poverty line, literacy rate, higher education, women education, scientific investment and development. People below poverty line 8% (below US), and consistently decreasing, major reduction of subsidies(towards elimination) didn't cause any upheaval. Literacy rate 90% plan to be 100% in a decade (it was 25% in 1970's). Women college student 60% to 40 % men, causing government to come up with an affirmative action for men. Rate of scientific development, rated number one in 2009 and 2010. There are multitudes of other plans for housing and development of rural areas to mention. There has been no country in the post world war that has had any economical development without having open access to US markets and technologies. Iran is the first.
I suspect if the US-Iran hostilities did not exist, this government would have "reformed" decades ago. But what rankles most, is that we support far worse governments - like in Egypt where 50% of the population lives on less than $1,000 a year - with much less representative government, and yet we target Iran.
We are not interested in whether Iran has "democracy" or not. We are only interested in ensuring that Iran and others do not follow "independent" foreign policy agendas.
But get ready, people will be coming at you shouting "Iranian Regime Apologist" or "Ahmadinejad's lackey".