Posted on 04/25/2010 7:42:27 PM PDT by Cindy
Note: Photos included.
SNIPPET: "The representative of Ali Khamenei in the IRGC, Mojtaba Zolnour, said that the maneuvers were meant to convey a message of peace to the neighboring countries.
The head of the Qatari military delegation, 'Abd Al-Rahim Ibrahim Al-Janahi, who was present at the maneuvers as an observer, said that Qatar would like to benefit from Iran's military expertise and carry out joint maneuvers with it."
SNIPPET: "Source: Fars (Iran), April 25, 2010; Press TV, Fars, IRNA (Iran), April 24, 2010; Al-Alam (Iran), April 23, 2010"
(Excerpt) Read more at thememriblog.org ...
A Look at Iran
http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html
Previously...
Quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2491260/posts
Iran says its drones can gather intelligence, strike targets
The International News ^ | 4/12/2010 | The International News
Posted on April 12, 2010 2:18:16 AM PDT by sonofstrangelove
A top Iranian general said on Monday that the military’s newly produced aerial drones, which have aroused US concern, are capable of gathering intelligence and striking at targets.
“We have made good advances and production is going on at suitable rate,” ground forces commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan told reporters ahead of the annual Iran Army Day on April 18.
“These planes would be used for operations as well as surveillance which means they can send us online footage from faraway distances and can also be armed for striking at targets,” the local news agency quoted the senior commander as saying.
He also said that Iran was working on producing unmanned helicopters, whose details would be announced later, agency reported.
(Excerpt) Read more at thenews.com.pk ...
Previously...
Quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2454892/posts
Iranian warship, destroyer dock at Qatari port
Press TV - Iran ^ | Feb. 15, 2010
Posted on February 19, 2010 7:42:28 AM PST by nuconvert
A warship and a destroyer belonging to the Iranian naval fleet have berthed at Qatar’s Doha port upon an invitation by Qatari Naval officials.
Iranian Ambassador to Doha Abdullah Sohrabi and Iran’s military attache in Qatar Brigadier-General Mashallah Poursheh conferred with commanders and cadets aboard the Bandar Abbas warship and Naqdi Destroyer.
Sohrabi said that the symbolic docking of the Iranian warship and destroyer at the Qatari capital is a step toward the improvement of bilateral defense ties between the two countries.
Since Iran and Qatar are neighbors and have common sea borders, issues such as defense cooperation and security of waterways are of paramount importance, he added.
Sohrabi also highlighted the strategic, political and economic importance of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian envoy expressed hope that during the upcoming visit of Iran’s Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi to Qatar and the following up of the bilateral agreements, the bilateral relations between Tehran and Doha would improve in all defense and military areas.
Earlier, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani in a meeting with Iran’s presidential advisor, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei had voiced his country’s opposition to anti-Iran provocations by Western countries.
Rahim Mashaei visited Qatar last week and met with a number of Qatari officials, including Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
Isn’t Qatar supposed to be a US ally? What is going on here?
Tens to thousands of billions of dollars of Iranian private and semi-private money have flowed through Qatar.
Iran is not about to bomb or threaten their bankers.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1003.html
“Qatar
Country Specific Information”
July 06, 2009
SNIPPET: “COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Qatar is a constitutional monarchy governed by the ruling Al Thani family in consultation with a council of ministers, an appointed advisory council and an elected municipal council.
Islamic beliefs and tribal traditions provide the foundation of the country’s customs, laws and practices.”
SNIPPET: “Islam and tribal traditions provide the foundation of Qatar’s customs, laws and practices.”
So much for friends.
It is very interesting and important info.
A few notable points:
1. All news sources you mention, in the main post, are IRI dominated news agencies. So, I’d be mindful of their partial exaggeration & propaganda.
2. Being aware of historical details of “Persian Gulf States” aka “Arab states of the Persian Gulf” might shed more light on the present situation.
Today these consist of six Arab monarchical states (or Sheikhdoms) being: Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Most were under Iran’s rule or belonged to Iranian (Persian) territory, at many points in history, both pre and post Islam in Iran. This began circa 3rd century B.C.
Equally, in recent centuries, the Ottoman Empire and the Portuguese (especially in Bahrain) tried to dominate. The Portuguese were expelled from Bahrain early 17th century by the Safavid “Turkic speaking” dynasty which was ruling Iran.
*The same Safavid dynasty which brutally enforced Shia Islam on Persians (Iranians), primarily as a political tool to differentiate between Persians (Iranians) and most Arabs & Turks from Turkey, at least in terms of religious sect of Islam.*
More significantly, in recent politics, would be the British influence in the mentioned region. The British Empire exerted varying degrees of political and economic control from early 18th thru to late 20th centuries. Namely, in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar through the British Residency of the Persian Gulf. In early 19th century, the Brits viewed this region as critical for their own interests as well as one which would facilitate a secure passage to their growing interest in India.
The British still maintain a high profile in parts of the region, for example, Dubai. Particularly after Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997.
3. Although, most are Not of Persian or Iranic ethnicity, The Persian Gulf Arab states share a regional culture that is sometimes referred to as “khaleeji (Gulf) culture”. They all speak the Gulf dialect of Arabic and share similar music styles (sawt, fijiri, ardha, liwa etc.), cuisine, dress, etc. Most Arabs living near the Persian Gulf also trace their ancestry back to Arab tribes of either Najd (in what is now central Saudi Arabia) or Yemen.
Overall, I’d suggest that although there is certain amount of fear of the Iranian Regime and its subtle aggression thus far, there is also a more direct desire to cooperate with IRI.
After all, Iranian regime is an Islamic one, and there is more of a shared “culture” compared to others who would be considered as complete outsiders. Iranian regime plays heavily on the *Islamic* history, values and culture. For example, obviously, Iranians in Iran do Not speak Arabic, but note that there are quite a few Arabic satellite TV stations broadcasting from Iran - Al Alam (you mention) is one of them.
GULF-TIMES.com
“Gulf Times - Qatar’s top-selling English daily newspaper - Gulf/Arab World”
#
Note: Photo included.
PHOTO CAPTION: “An Iranian Saeqeh missile is launched during war games yesterday in southern Iran, near the Strait of Hormuz”
Latest Update: Sunday25/4/2010April, 2010, 11:15 PM Doha Time
“Iran Guards test missiles, warn enemies”
Agencies/Tehran
SNIPPET: “Speaking on the drills’ fourth day, Guards commander Massoud Jazayeri said Iran had a deterrence plan which would make the enemy “regretful” if they launched any attack against the country, the official Irna news agency reported.”
SNIPPET: “Semi-official Fars news agency said Guards’ naval units fired five missiles at a target, without making clear if they were newly designed missiles.
“Despite the different places from which the missiles were fired, they all hit the target simultaneously and completely destroyed it,” Fars said.
The missiles were surface-to-surface and surface-to-sea.
A second Guards commander, Brigadier General Ali Hajizadeh, said mass production of a new reconnaissance drone which was tested in the exercise would soon be launched, Fars reported.
On Thursday, Iranian media said the Guards successfully tested a new speedboat capable of destroying enemy ships.”
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7oAVtmNTXM
“Raw Video: Iran Begins War Games in Persian Gulf”
Video Description - quote:
AssociatedPress — April 22, 2010 — Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard began large-scale war games in the Persian Gulf and the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, state television reported. (April 22)
Category:
News & Politics
Tags:
IRA-WARG-20100422OVN
Thank you for your feedback odds.
As you know (if you follow my posts); I always show my sources.
You’re right — Memri is quoting Iran news sources.
Yes, Iran is very prone to exaggeration and propaganda; but this is the message Iran is attempting to get across and I am sharing here what viewpoint Iran is spewing.
I added a Qatar news source and an AP raw video video feed for further perusal.
Thanks Cindy.
Hope you didn’t misunderstand point 1 in my previous post. It wasn’t meant to be a criticism of you or your posted info. It was only a reminder for those who read this thread and may not know.
Personally, I too, often, have to remind myself of the source(s) when I read articles on the net. Particularly those which can be traced back to IRI propaganda machine.
I understand and no problem.
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