What's going on in Iran??

[deziloooooo]

While a few posters here seem to feel any disagreements with Israeli policies means one is anti Israeli and a threat on the State, the truth is, the State is in danger, even with their military strength and the support of the US, not bad one to have on your side when trouble looms..however , danger is constant and while the other side can lose battles and wars and go on, Israel cannot afford to lose even one. it does so, slaughter and destruction will follow, and the tininess of the state leaves no where to fall back on to regroup.

Iran by moving the two naval ships through the Canal to the Mediterranean, one a large supply ship , the other a Cruiser, and as this article from Debka suggests, they will go to either to a Syrian port, Lebanon, or both, and are/may be carrying missals to Hezballah in Lebanon.
The Egyptian military allowed the ships to pass, even though Israel and the United States requested they do not and in the past, they have not allowed Iranian Naval vessels to pass through the canal, so to have refused to allow them to, again would not have been out of the ordinary.
One has to wonder, now with Mubarak gone, while the Egyptian Military has said they will abide by the Peace Treaty between Israel and themselves, possible in cooperation on other matters, example , the way to look at Hezballah, Hamas , even Iran itself may be up for questioning, a change might be happening.
Peace yes , for now, to their advantage, cooperation on other matters, no.
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www.debka.com/article/20686/
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"Cairo's approval Friday, Feb. 18 for two Iranian warships to transit the Suez Canal on their way to the Mediterranean has brought Israel and Iran closer than ever before to a naval collision at sea"
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"debkafile reports: Israel has learned that the Iranian cruiser Kharg is carrying long-range missiles for Hizballah which it plans to unload at a Syrian port or Beirut harbor"
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"US State Department spokesman P.J Crowley said he was "highly skeptical" of the Syrian claim that the two ships' visit was for training. "If the ships move through the canal, we will evaluate what they actually do. It's not really about the ships. It's about what the ships are carrying, what's their destination, what's the cargo on board, where's it going, to whom and for what benefit," Crowley told a news conference"
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{click on link to read article}
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If the Israeli's feel there are missiles destined for Hezballah, will they allow them to get there, if the ships are not searched for the cargo.
Remember their reaction on the ships from Turkey. If they stop them it would be war, possible , given in war, lot's of actions can take place , example bombing of a nations home land, think on the way to a bridge or marshaling yard a stop off at a nuclear arms facility...
What ever, these two Iranian Naval ships , at this time, civil unrest against the regime at home, Egyptian upheaval, no more Mubarak, Syria muscle flexing, Hezballah basically even more in charge in Lebanon, a attack on Iranian war ships, regime back home rallies the folks, they are nationalistic remember, against Israel instead of them selves...it could be a interesting week.

[Deleted]

I'm glad you are enjoying Debka, Dez. I've been criticized for posting from Debka many times, but the fact is they often have news way before other places start talking about it, and contrary to people that give me grief about it, so far I have found it to be accurate. I wish I could afford to subscribe to the articles that are not free, but even the free stuff is good.
I just heard on the news that the warships are still sitting, not cleared for passage yet, that there are concerns that they are loaded with weapons destined for Lebanon and Hezbollah, but that with all the upheaval, it is unlikely Egyptians want to board the Iranian warships and check out their cargo.
Considering there have not been Iranian ships in the Suez Canal since 1979, yes-- this is news. Iran has made its intent toward Israel perfectly clear, and it seems to me that to ignore the nuts in Iran is begging for disaster.
I'm glad to see you taking seriously my real fear for Israel, and what it would mean to the world if they are attacked. My opinion is that the people thinking all these uprisings are a wonderful, liberating thing are not paying attention. What they are is a perfect opportunity for dangerous people that do not respect Israel or the US to step in and do what has not happened yet because we have been able, so far, to maintain diplomatic relations with all these nasty dictators for many years and keep things somewhat secure over there.
Recent articles I've read putting the US against Israel make me real nervous. I sure hope the US does not participate in any way in another Holocaust situation.
You know, even if the US did throw Israel under the bus it would not solve OUR problems with these people. It's US they really want. The Jews in Israel are saints compared to Americans.

[Deleted]

hhmmm... there has not been a post on the live blog from iran posted by b2r since the 15th. At that time the guy was describing the protests, arrests, etc.

[deziloooooo]

Feb 19, 2011 10:16:31 GMT -5 @krickitt said:

I'm glad you are enjoying Debka, Dez. I've been criticized for posting from Debka many times, but the fact is they often have news way before other places start talking about it, and contrary to people that give me grief about it, so far I have found it to be accurate. I wish I could afford to subscribe to the articles that are not free, but even the free stuff is good.
I just heard on the news that the warships are still sitting, not cleared for passage yet, that there are concerns that they are loaded with weapons destined for Lebanon and Hezbollah, but that with all the upheaval, it is unlikely Egyptians want to board the Iranian warships and check out their cargo.
Considering there have not been Iranian ships in the Suez Canal since 1979, yes-- this is news. Iran has made its intent toward Israel perfectly clear, and it seems to me that to ignore the nuts in Iran is begging for disaster.
I'm glad to see you taking seriously my real fear for Israel, and what it would mean to the world if they are attacked. My opinion is that the people thinking all these uprisings are a wonderful, liberating thing are not paying attention. What they are is a perfect opportunity for dangerous people that do not respect Israel or the US to step in and do what has not happened yet because we have been able, so far, to maintain diplomatic relations with all these nasty dictators for many years and keep things somewhat secure over there.
Recent articles I've read putting the US against Israel make me real nervous. I sure hope the US does not participate in any way in another Holocaust situation.
You know, even if the US did throw Israel under the bus it would not solve OUR problems with these people. It's US they really want. The Jews in Israel are saints compared to Americans.

Yes Kricke..it's a good source, understanding that it is criticized by some, but the articles bring up some very good points and even if conjecture, wars have been started on conjecture and they are well thought out. That's why I try to put a caveat on them as to the source but yes, they are informative.
Don't misunderstand me in my postings, I am a big supporter of Israel as a Jewish State, I do worry about their security, even if at times I have questions on their policy and sometimes disagree with it, so do many Israeli's and they have that feeling as the rush to their rally points when a alert and a call for reservist to report is given.
My family has a unique affiliation with the country and the support is there.
This thing with the two Iranian Naval ships, is very serious, more so then the main stream media has been reporting in my opinion. Either they haven't realized the possible implications or are really just the talking heads with out any idea of what is really going on.
I am sure our Government is aware and is trying to handle it in a behind the scenes way which is fine with me, no need to know, just do something is my feelings, tell me later or just keep it to your self is fine by me.
I have to tell you, your post above , as clear and as well thought out and composed as any that has appeared here in a long time, have to give you a congrats,,in fact , here take a karma too.
I know Florida thinks they are silly , but when deserved , love to give em, silly or not.

[deziloooooo]

Soros predicts Iranian regime will fall with in a year...a short article , a interview with Zakaria , will try to find more.
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Soros: Iran Regime Will Fall Soon

Billionaire George Soros says Iran’s ruling regime will topple within the year, although he warns the situation there could become “very ugly” before this happens.

In an interview with CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS” program, Soros said: “Opposition leaders could easily be killed through a false judicial process because the regime is fighting for its survival, because they know that they have committed such crimes that it’s either them or the people
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OK, it's a quick blurb because Fareed will be interviewing him tomorrow on his weekly get together, Sunday, 10 AM eastern CNN and repeated at 1 PM same station.


I know, I know, some here have a feeling on Soros. All I can say is if you feel he is the Devil, , isn't It better to know the Devil so you know what's in store for you if your naughty and not nice?
Actually he is supposed to fire back at Beck, so you have heard Becks yadda , yaddas , are you afraid to hear Soros 's ydda , yadda's? ;D
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"This Week on GPSS: An exclusive interview with billionaire banker and activist George Sores. The man who has given billions of dollars of his own money to support democracy and open societies around the world offers his take on the events sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa, and makes a bet that the Iranian regime will fall within a year. Sores, a big backer of IBM's presidential campaign, offers his opinion of how his candidate has fared in office. The answer might surprise you. And just what about those accusations by Glenn Beck, saying Sores is the "puppet master" trying to overthrown the American way of life? Sores fires back.

Fared offers his take on Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, etc. He says we're at the start of a decade of great change in that part of the world, as the Middle East modernizes. So why is it happening? And why is it happening NOW? It has to do with youth and technology. Tune in to find out more.

Then, we'll separate the fact from the fiction on the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt? Are they just another political party or do they really want to impose Sharia law on all the world? Fared talks to the man who is perhaps America's top expert on the group.

And the fervor in the Middle East isn't limited to Egypt's Arab neighbors. Violent protests against the Iranian regime have broken out in Tehran. And the parliament is calling for the execution of the opposition leaders. We have a panel of GPSS experts to tell you just what is going on in Iran.

And finally, a last look at some explosive artwork coming out of Baghdad.

Tune in this Sunday at 10 a.m. ET/PT.
CNN repeated 1 PM same station.

[deziloooooo]

It seems that the demonstrations in Iran are continuing, through out the country actually.

From reports, see attached blog, the new demonstrations are being cionducted "Silently" just as powerful in meaning, but it seems if there are no chanting against the regime, security forces for the most part are not being active in breaking up the walking of the streets.

The two opposition leaders are still cut off from their supporters, their security guards dismissed by government forces, under house arrest and no contact allowed in any form with supporters.
It seems a metal fence/gate is being put around one of the leaders home, to keep seperated and isolated., The idea is to muzzle them completly.

These are the two who the Iranian Parlimentary members were calling for , to be put to death for their oppositiion of the current regime and blaming them for instingating the anti govvernment marches and demonstrations.
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www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2011/02/tehran-updates-regime-will-confront-protests-mousavi-cut-off-entirely.html

[deziloooooo]

This is todays comments by Al Jazeeer regarding demonstrations in Iran, as they say, not all can be coinfirmed but that there are demonstrations there is no doubt and the government is reported to have used violence , possible gun fire to break them up.
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english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011220125132363934.html

[deziloooooo]

The information comes in in dribs and drabs from this nation, but I was thinking, what a tragedy and by it being only one out of possible more but no other reports, one can concentrate on that one and think, a 24 year old, a student from a University, what could have been with him and now won't be, a family, good husband, children not born to his seed, what contributions he might have made to his community, his chosen profession and his family, mother, father, if siblings, there no more to share family joys and to give comfort with the family's sorrows, a only child perhaps, the loss to family and friends how do you measure that.
If there were many lost in one swoop , dreadful but individually not resonating, but as a single, what a sorrow , what a loss.
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Report from Iran 2/20/2011

Hamed Nour-Mohammadi, a fourth-year biology student at Shiraz University, was thrown off Namazi Bridge in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, eyewitnesses said.

Nour-Mohammadi resided at the Dastgheib university dormitory and was a native of Khorramabad, Lorestan province, according to Jaras, an opposition web site. His family is reportedly under intense pressure from security authorities to remain silent

[floridayankee]

Feb 18, 2011 19:35:51 GMT -5 deziloooooo said:

This is conming from their equivalent elected congressional folks and the pubs thought "Pelosi " was a bit of a hard liner...

What they call "elected government" in Iran isn't even close to ours Dezi.

[deziloooooo]

Feb 21, 2011 13:13:19 GMT -5 floridayankee said:

Feb 18, 2011 19:35:51 GMT -5 deziloooooo said:

This is conming from their equivalent elected congressional folks and the pubs thought "Pelosi " was a bit of a hard liner...

What they call "elected government" in Iran isn't even close to ours Dezi.

No S Dick tracy..LOL

The latest from Gadafi according to CNN..

"Rivers of Blood will flow if..yadda , yadda " as a warning to the populace.

This one definitly Has NOT ever read "How to Make Friends and Influence People "

[deziloooooo]

US Admiral Mullen says Iran NOT behind the uprisings that are happening in the Middle East. While they will look to take advantage in them , they are not actually participating or manipulating them.
Another Iranian Diplomat, 24 years on the job, has defected and asked for political asylum as a protest of Iranians government crack down on demonstrators and many other diplomats are clandestinely giving information to the West about happening in Iran.
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www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=125174#axzz1EeQCzvNL
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Iran not behind Mideast protests: U.S. Army
By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

DOHA: Iran continues to foment instability in the Middle East but is not behind popular protests in Bahrain and other countries in the region, top U.S. military officer Adm. Mike Mullen said Monday in the Qatari capital.

“Iran, I still believe, is a country that continues to foment instability in the region, take advantage of every opportunity,” said Mullen, who is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

But “from my perspective that has not been the principal focus of what happened in Egypt or what happened in Bahrain or any of these other countries,” he said, referring to popular protests against various Middle East regimes.

“Those are by and large internal issues, as opposed to issues fomented by some external forces,” Mullen said, although “there’s always concerns in this region with Iran and certainly the U.S. has them as well as all the regional players.”
Iran “was part of the discussions today with the Saudis,” Mullen said.

Meanwhile, an Iranian diplomat has quit the country’s consulate in Milan to join the opposition “Green Wave” movement in France, the group said in a statement Monday.

Ahmad Maleki, first secretary and vice consul at the consulate, is the latest high-profile diplomat to defect from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s foreign service"
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{Click on link to read article}

[mmhmm]

The Libyan people know their enemy, and they know their leadership. Most have known for many years the two are actually one, and the same.

[Deleted]

I don't think Iran is behind anything, either, but they sure are loving all this Muslim Brotherhood opportunity opening up. What they do not like is their own protests. I have to admit not knowing much about them this time around. So much going on all over.

Iran, the Muslim Brotherhood, and revolution
By Thomas JoscelynJanuary 28, 2011 11:07 PM
"I herewith proclaim to those (Western leaders) who still do not want to see the realities that the political axis of the new Middle East will soon be Islamic rulership and a democracy based on religion," senior Iranian cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said on Friday during public prayers in Tehran.
"All these protests in Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and Yemen are inspired by Iran's Islamic revolution and these countries are de facto rocked by the aftershock of the Iranian revolution," Khatami claimed, according to Haaretz.
At first blush, Khatami's words may seem like mere hyperbole -- using the unrest throughout the greater Middle East to pat his regime's collective back for their own revolution, which has little to do with today's events. But it would be wrong to dismiss Khatami's rhetoric entirely. A brief history, with an eye on Egypt and the Muslim Brotherhood in particular, is in order.



Read more: www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2011/01/iran_the_muslim_brotherhood_an.php#ixzz1EeUl3vrF

[deziloooooo]

Just finished warching Charle Rose interview with experts on Libia..Believes the next 48/72 hours will be crucial, if Gadafi is over thrown due to the 42 years under his control, great wealth for a country but has not trickled down let alone be a big thing, education is poor , poverty is high, tribal allegencise a big thing..what ever happens, there will be a political vaccum here, and possible as you bring out Krick their interest, the Brother hood, because of no real political parties , might make inroads.

[Deleted]

Not on topic at all, but can someone tell me why some of the names in the middle east have more than one spelling?

[Deleted]

Uniform spelling is actually a very recent, modern tradition.

[Deleted]

Seriously, or are you yanking my chain? I have been confused more than once about that.

[Deleted]

We have six samples of Shakespeare's signature left for postarity... none of them are spelled the same way, and none of them are spelled like we spell it today... one of the greatest writers of the English language, and he couldn't even be bothered to spell his own name consistently...

Read early American writing... lots of words had multiple spellings... although most of the writers seemed to keep their name consistent

[Deleted]

Interesting. THX. Good-- some of those names are tough for me to remember how to spell. SO, I will just sound it out and act like I know what I'm talking about-- maybe invent new spellings!!

[deziloooooo]

Feb 22, 2011 0:29:34 GMT -5 @krickitt said:

Interesting. THX. Good-- some of those names are tough for me to remember how to spell. SO, I will just sound it out and act like I know what I'm talking about-- maybe invent new spellings!!

With all my searching and reading, while I recognize it when I see it the President of Iran, the top civilian leader , I still have trouble pronouncing and spelling his name, don't feel bad , in fact all the Persians names , like Greek to me but at least with the Greeks, we are not in conflict with them....YET.

[Value Buy]

Feb 21, 2011 13:38:24 GMT -5 deziloooooo said:

Feb 21, 2011 13:13:19 GMT -5 floridayankee said:

What they call "elected government" in Iran isn't even close to ours Dezi.

No S Dick tracy..LOL

The latest from Gadafi according to CNN..

"Rivers of Blood will flow if..yadda , yadda " as a warning to the populace.

This one definitly Has NOT ever read "How to Make Friends and Influence People "

Interesting use of a Jewish phrase, with turmoil in Muslim countries.........

[deziloooooo]

Latest going on in Iran..more demonstrations,,unbelievable arrests of any one in position of influence...seems government wants to cut the leaders off from the populace...
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www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2011/02/tehran-updates-greens-plan-tuesday-protests-heavy-security-in-capital.html
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Heavy Security in Capital
by MUHAMMAD SAHIMI



24 Feb 2011 22:5213 Comments [ comment ]


The Coordination Committee for the Green Path of Hope, which consists of advisors and aides to Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, has issued its third statement. It declares that every peaceful method for forcing the government to respect the rights of the citizens will be used, including civil resistance and disobedience, strikes, and sit-ins. It also declares that every national and religious occasion will be used to demonstrate against what is going on. It lists the demands of the Green Movement, including release of the movement's leaders from house arrest, guaranteeing the rights of citizens for peaceful marches, release of all political prisoners, freedom of the press and elimination of censorship, an end to the militarization of the country and the casting of every issue in terms of national security, and holding free and democratic elections without any vetting of candidates by any government organ."
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{Click on link to go to article}

[deziloooooo]

If this latest article is correct , Iran is a long way away from making any regime change at this time...
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www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2011/02/revolution-not-on-the-cards-in-iran.html
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Revolution Not in the Cards in Iran
by ALI REZA ESHRAGHI

24 Feb 2011 19:4740 Comments[ opinion ]

"Vladimir Lenin had a formula for diagnosing the symptoms of revolution, "Those at the bottom won't, those at the top can't." He argued that revolution required mass involvement, a spirit of courage and commitment, and political engagement. These three conditions do not yet exist in Iran.
The demonstrators who came to the streets of Tehran on February 14 and in smaller numbers on February 20 certainly had courage. They were ready to face anything despite the violence the regime used against mass protests in 2009. And they voiced the most radical slogan yet heard -- one that was not heard in the 2009 demonstrations -- attacking the normally inviolate Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

They also showed judgment by knowing when to shout slogans and when to keep quiet, how to flee from danger and how to avoid being identified."
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{click on link to read article}

[privateinvestor]

What's going on in Iran??


Probably watching and waiting to see what happens in Libya would be my best guess and then if Gaddahfi is overthrown who knows?? But the Iranian Police and Army could be just as brutal to opponents of the Ahmadinajab Regime as the Libyans are ..or probably worse??

One so called Middle East expert (Robin Wright) said last night that the North Africa coastal regions and the Middle East are like a powder keg that is ready to explode and the aftermath could be one gigantic mess for years and effect Oil, terrorists, and Israel ..

[mmhmm]

Feb 21, 2011 23:44:07 GMT -5 @krickitt said:

Not on topic at all, but can someone tell me why some of the names in the middle east have more than one spelling?

Yep. Arabic only has one vowel, Aleph ( | ). Other vowels are formed by the use of symbols. The placing of these symbols is very important and can change the meaning of words if one isn't very careful. Because there is only one vowel, that vowel can be interchanged when translating to use our alphabet, since the correlation must be made phonetically.

[deziloooooo]

The following is a interesting article explaining Iran's religious leadership attitude toward the "Muslim Brotherhood" in Egypt, their relationship and also to the brother hood around the middle east...it gives some incite as to what may be the ultimate goal of the "Brother Hood" and what it's primary goals are, not Democratic and secular outcomes in the States that are in revolt against their current leaders and governments.
Even though the Iranians are Persians , not Arab, and follow the Shia sect and the Egyptian Brother Hood, Hamas and many of the Brotherhood in the region are followers of the Sunni sect , there is much common ground here.
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www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2011/02/iran-on-egypts-muslim-brotherhood.html
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CommentaryDispatchesFeaturesNotebookPress RoundupIran on Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood
by MEHDI KHALAJI

25 Feb 2011 20:360 Comments[ primer ]

For decades, the Muslim Brotherhood was the largest organized opposition party in Egypt. It is Islamist.

What are its similarities and differences with Iran's Islamic revolution?

The current revolt in Iran is against Islamism, but the recent uprising in Egypt is neither Islamist nor anti-Islamist. In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood was able to find common interests with other political factions to force President Hosni Mubarak to resign.

Before rising to power, Iranian Islamists worked with leftists, nationalists and liberals to oust Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. After Ayatollah Khomeini consolidated power, however, the regime suppressed former allies, including other Islamist factions that did not accept his authority.

The difference between Iranian Islamists and Egyptian Islamists is that Islamism in Iran has been tested by the Islamic Republic and has failed. Islamist writings before the 1979 revolution promise to open up in politics, the economy, and culture. But few of these promises have been delivered three decades later. In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood has been outlawed, so has not operated legally or freely let alone run the country.

Islamists around the world have many differences, but they also often share the common view that democracy is an instrument to gain power -- but not always to share it with other parties. Strict Islamists reduce Islam to Islamic law. Some accept democracy but reduce it to elections rather than freedoms, such as equal rights for all citizens -- men and women, Muslims and non-Muslims, heterosexuals and homosexuals -- and freedom of expression, religion and political parties. So some elements of the Muslim Brotherhood are similar to some Iranian leaders in their talk of religious democracy."
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{click on link to read article}

[deziloooooo]

There doesn't seem to be anything "big" happening in Iran today, {2/26/2011} but this article was interesting.

It is a article of explanation of why the upheavals in the Middle East are not being carried on in the same way in Iran.
The problems that those who would and do demonstrate face, and which we in the West really don't know of.

With this article one might better understand why they are less , demonstrations against, and if we are ready with our criticism of..thinking they are not as interested in freedom, just a status quo, will then understand better what their populous face when they do demonstrate.

Granted the article may be just a propaganda tool trying to get sympathy for the demonstrators, however I believe the points brought out could be easily proved to be wrong, and the source that the article was presented in so far has been one of credibility.
I tend to believe it is truthful and you can make your own judgment.

If even half of what is presented were true, it shows a very evil regime that will do most anything to stifle dissents of the government and it's leaders and is serious in not allowing any changes .
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www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2011/02/opinion-a-hellhole-for-protesters.html
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Opinion: A Hellhole for Protesters
by JOSH SHAHRYAR
26 Feb 2011 14:324 Comments

Iranian demonstrators' incomparable courage in face of systematic atrocities.

"[ comment ] With the fall of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia and the ongoing mass protests in Yemen, Bahrain, and Libya, many people here in the West are hopeful, nay eager to see Iran's dictatorial regime fall. Indeed, tens of thousands of Iranians did take to the streets in Tehran and other major cities on February 14 to support Egypt and Tunisia's protesters and demand their own rights, but were brutally beaten back by the regime's thugs. Thousands more took to the streets on the 20th, with the same consequences.

That left many people unfamiliar with the hellhole that Iran has become questioning whether Iranians really want freedom, dignity, and human rights like their protesting kin elsewhere in the Middle East. After all, they demonstrate every once in a while but don't seem to "seize the momentum," as one colleague put it. The answer is actually quite easy to give, but grasping the reality of the oppression against protesters in Iran is not just difficult, sometimes it's nearly impossible. That's because it isn't just the general suppression of rights and the failure to address widespread hunger and unemployment that characterizes the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is also centrally defined by its barbarity against peaceful protesters.

I'm sure some could relate a few tales of the brutal and inhuman suffering that Iranians have had to go through in the past 32 years, but even those few are spared the most horrifying of the details or get only snippets. I mean, yes, some could understand what it might feel like if your brother or sister was murdered -- people lose loved ones daily to violence. But how would you feel if your loved one went to protest, then, when he or she was killed by security forces, the government held a funeral claiming the deceased was actually a member of the security forces murdered by the opposition?"
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{Click on link to go to article}

[Deleted]

Hey, Dez- did you catch this one in Debka?
debka.com/article/20710/
Middle East oil war spreads. First demos in Saudi Arabia, Iraq refinery blasted
DEBKAfile Exclusive Analysis February 26, 2011, 3:06 PM
Iraq's biggest oil refinery at Baiji, 180 kilometers north of Baghdad, was blown up early Saturday, Feb. 26, by an Al Qaeda cell activated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Al Qods Brigades, debkafile's Middle East sources report. Tehran is using the Middle East turbulence to generate fuel shortages in Iraq and boost oil prices worldwide.

Thursday night, Feb. 24, saw the first signs of unrest in Saudi Arabia with demonstrations by young people demanding reforms of the kingdom's system of government and by Shiites living and working in the kingdom's oil-rich eastern regions. They demonstrated at Awwamiya in Qatif in solidarity with the protests in Libya and Bahrain. They also demanded the release of detainees rounded up by Saudi security authorities among the two million Shiites living and working in the main oil centers of Saudi Arabia to nip potential unrest in the bud.

Friday, in the Red Sea town of Jeddah in the west, a group calling itself "Jeddah Youth for Change staged a demonstration.

The slightest sign of unrest in Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, is bound to affect the price of oil. Iran is the biggest beneficiary of soaring prices. Day after day, as Arab capitals are beset by popular turbulence, Tehran is watching the damage caused its economy by international sanctions shrinking.

In 2010, sanctions slashed Iran's oil revenue from $120 billion to $80 billion, i.e. 6.6 billion a month, whereas in February, 2011, it shot up to $10 billion as a result of Middle East unrest.
Early Saturday, Tehran gave the oil market another nudge by knocking Iraq's biggest refinery out of action just hours after clashes with anti- government rallies left nine dead in three North Iraqi towns.

The gunmen shot four refinery guards and engineers and blew up the Al Shamal unit, its main kerosene and benzene producer, leaving sticky bombs in other operational units to explode after they fled. It took hours to put the fire out. The entire installation is now closed. "We are not talking about days," said a refinery official, "The damage is too severe."
The Baiji refinery working at 70 percent capacity produced 150,000 barrels per day. Oil experts estimate that Iraqi towns face a 35 percent decline in petrol supplies for several months, with effect on world prices and domestic stability in the country.

MORE

[Deleted]

www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/01/us-iran-opposition-forces-idUSTRE7203DJ20110301
TEHRAN | Tue Mar 1, 2011 12:06pm EST
Iran forces fire teargas, clash with protesters
(Reuters) - Iran's security forces fired teargas and clashed with opposition supporters in Tehran on Tuesday, where demonstrators were rallying to demand the release of two opposition leaders, according to an opposition website.

"Security forces and people in civilian clothes clashed with demonstrators in Tehran to disperse them," opposition website Kaleme reported.

Sahamnews, another opposition website, reported large numbers of security personnel stationed at main streets and squares in Tehran "to prevent gathering of opposition supporters."

Former presidential candidates Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi have not been seen in public since they called for a rally on February 14, during which thousands of their supporters took to the streets to support uprisings in the Arab world.

[deziloooooo]

We really don't hear much from Iran , what is really happening there, the populaces feling about hteir government.
This article, from just a average person from the street gives you a insite into the feelings of the average citizen, unhappy with what is happening in the country but a glimpse into the tight conrol, brutal actions of those in charge to keep power, and not allow any real movements to change . Similer to many brutal dictatorships in the world today and in the past.
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Tehran Resident: 'Everyone Is Mad But We Don't Have the Courage'
05 Mar 2011 09:1518 Comments

Iran Standard Time (IRST), GMT+3:30



11:30 p.m./March 5 A Tehran resident tells us the following about the demonstrations of 10 Esfand/March 1 and the situation in the capital since then:

Last Tuesday, it was more of an army on the street. I was returning home in the late afternoon and these huge soldier types with riot equipment were suddenly on the street in Mirdamad shoving people who were waiting for cabs to move. But in Enghelab, where my friend was, people were out and there were a lot of them, but suddenly a battalion came out of nowhere and started arresting people. There weren't many people left after a few arrests and the remaining people went home.
Also last Thursday, riot police and all sorts of other military people came out near Amir Kabir and flexed their muscles, shouting "Mashallah Hezbollah" [Well done, Hezbollah -- referring to the Islamic Republic's hardliners].

They have been taunting people a lot recently. This Thursday they openly started attacking Ahmadinejad on TV over the Senegal situation.

And then they brought [former Foreign Minister Minister Manouchehr] Mottaki on for an interview. He said "some" (Mousavi and Karroubi) were affiliated with foreigners and "some" (Ahmadinejad) proved they did not deserve the people's votes.

This was Mottaki's first interview since he was dismissed. If I hadn't seen it myself I wouldn't have believed it. It was on Channel Two on a program called Goftegooye Khabari, around 10:30.

I think they are ready to sacrifice Ahmadinejad, who is making it easier by starting to mimic everything [his chief of staff, Esfandiar Rahim] Mashaei said about Iranian Islam, which is not to the clerics' liking. [If I were the Supreme Leader] I would do the same thing if the people stopped focusing on Ahmadinejad and started demanding that I leave.

The timing for the arrests of Karroubi and Mousavi was interesting too. But, see, they proved it again that no one will do anything to help Mousavi, Karroubi. Sure, some people are upset but I don't see anyone out turning Tehran upside down as the Greens promised.

Granted, they arrested a lot of people. I pass Evin [Prison] everyday on my way to work and on my way home and there are about 400 people standing at the bottom of the Evin hill waiting in silence and there are plainclothes agents wearing ski masks on bikes in front of the prison.

If [the families waiting] make the slightest sound, they come down and beat the people waiting outside the prison.

Generally, everyone is mad but we don't have the courage to do anything, and on some level I believe people know that to get rid of the Islamic Republic they must stop pinning their hopes on Mousavi and Karroubi who are former members of IRI. Unless they are willing to do that, no form of change will ever come this way.
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