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Iranian Alert -- January 19, 2004 -- IRAN LIVE THREAD --Americans for Regime Change in Iran
The Iranian Student Movement -- Up To The Minute Reports ^ | 1.19.2004 | DoctorZin

Posted on 01/19/2004 12:07:13 AM PST by DoctorZIn

The US media almost entirely ignores news regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran. As Tony Snow of the Fox News Network has put it, “this is probably the most under-reported news story of the year.” But most American’s are unaware that the Islamic Republic of Iran is NOT supported by the masses of Iranians today. Modern Iranians are among the most pro-American in the Middle East.

There is a popular revolt against the Iranian regime brewing in Iran today. Starting June 10th of this year, Iranians have begun taking to the streets to express their desire for a regime change. Most want to replace the regime with a secular democracy. Many even want the US to over throw their government.

The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movement in Iran from being reported. Unfortunately, the regime has successfully prohibited western news reporters from covering the demonstrations. The voices of discontent within Iran are sometime murdered, more often imprisoned. Still the people continue to take to the streets to demonstrate against the regime.

In support of this revolt, Iranians in America have been broadcasting news stories by satellite into Iran. This 21st century news link has greatly encouraged these protests. The regime has been attempting to jam the signals, and locate the satellite dishes. Still the people violate the law and listen to these broadcasts. Iranians also use the Internet and the regime attempts to block their access to news against the regime. In spite of this, many Iranians inside of Iran read these posts daily to keep informed of the events in their own country.

This daily thread contains nearly all of the English news reports on Iran. It is thorough. 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. The news stories and commentary will from time to time include material from the regime itself. But if you read the post you will discover for yourself, the real story of what is occurring in Iran and its effects on the war on terror.

I am not of Iranian heritage. I am an American committed to supporting the efforts of those in Iran seeking to replace their government with a secular democracy. I am in contact with leaders of the Iranian community here in the United States and in Iran itself.

If you read the daily posts you will gain a better understanding of the US war on terrorism, the Middle East and why we need to support a change of regime in Iran. Feel free to ask your questions and post news stories you discover in the weeks to come.

If all goes well Iran will be free soon and I am convinced become a major ally in the war on terrorism. The regime will fall. Iran will be free. It is just a matter of time.

DoctorZin


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iaea; iran; iranianalert; iranquake; protests; southasia; studentmovement; studentprotest
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
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To: DoctorZIn
Iran Calls for More U.S. Moves to Thaw Relations

January 19, 2004
Reuters
Mona Megalli and Parisa Hafezi

TEHRAN -- A senior Iranian official on Monday called on the United States to take more concrete steps toward Iran following its temporary suspension of some sanctions.

President Bush last month eased some U.S. sanctions on Iran for 90 days to speed up humanitarian assistance to victims of Iran's December 26 Bam earthquake, which killed more than 40,000 people.

That move, combined with the first direct U.S. aid to Iran since the two countries severed relations 24 years ago, signaled a faint thaw in their frosty relationship.

Mohammad Hossein Adeli, deputy foreign minister for economic affairs, suggested Bush could follow up by allowing U.S. companies led by oil and gas firms do business with Iran.

"They (the United States) don't have to do anything for Iran, they can do it for American companies that are so enthusiastic about tapping the Iranian market," Adeli told Reuters in an interview.

He said Tehran was still unsure how to interpret U.S. humanitarian aid for Bam.

"We are not sure if it is a signal or not, it depends on whether it is going to be supported by other practical measures," Adeli said.

Brent Scowcroft, national security adviser during the presidency of Bush's father and an advocate of dialogue with the Islamic state, told Reuters Friday Washington might extend the sanctions suspension beyond its initial 90-day limit.

Scowcroft said Tehran could affect U.S. attitudes favorably if it acceded to U.S. demands to turn over suspected members of al Qaeda believed to be in its territory.

Washington bars U.S. firms from dealing with Iran, a country it branded as part of an "axis of evil" two years ago along with Saddam Hussein's Iraq and North Korea.

REBUILDING IRAQ

The decision to ease the flow of humanitarian assistance for Bam victims will have no material effect on Iran's economy, but will allow any money raised in the United States, especially by Iranian expatriates, to be transferred more directly.

Tehran also wants to help rebuild its western neighbor, U.S.-occupied Iraq. As an opponent of the war, Iran is not among the countries the United States has allowed to bid for reconstruction contracts.

"Iraq is (not) going to be reconstructed by American money, it will be Iraqi money, so we are waiting for June when the Iraqis are going to be in charge and I guess that we would be there," Adeli said, referring to a proposed transfer of power to an Iraqi transitional government by mid-year.

"We don't mind joining forces with all countries, including Americans, to do something over there."

Adeli played down suggestions that a defeat of reformists supporting President Mohammad Khatami in forthcoming parliamentary elections would derail economic reform in Iran or damage its drive to attract foreign investment.

"If we look to the positions of various factions of the parliament toward basic economic issues... the positions of both conservatives and reformists on most of the basic economic reforms are not very different," Adeli said.

International rating agency Fitch in December revised Iran's B+ sub-investment grade to "positive" from "stable," but said the effect of the coming parliamentary elections on economic reforms could be a factor.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29095-2004Jan19.html
21 posted on 01/19/2004 2:30:01 PM PST by DoctorZIn (Until they are free, we shall all be Iranians!)
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To: DoctorZIn
Pakistan Questions 8 Linked to Nuclear Program

January 19, 2004
The New York Times
David Rohde

ISLAMABAD -- Authorities in Pakistan are questioning eight officials from its nuclear weapons program — including the personal assistant to the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb and two retired brigadiers — regarding allegations that nuclear weapons technology was shared with Iran, the government's information minister said Sunday.

The minister, Sheik Rashid Ahmed, did not provide further details of the interrogations or say when they had begun. But the disclosure came a day after Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, said the country must convince the world that Pakistan is not a proliferator of nuclear weapons.

Mr. Ahmed identified one of those questioned as a personal assistant to Abdul Qadeer Khan, creator of Pakistan's first nuclear bomb. He said authorities were also questioning a retired brigadier who is the former head of security at the country's main nuclear weapons site, the A. Q. Khan Research Laboratories, and one other retired brigadier.

Pakistan began an inquiry into its nuclear program in late December after American intelligence officials and the United Nations nuclear agency said Iranian officials disclosed that Pakistanis were among middlemen who the Iranians said had aided Iran's nuclear weapons program. American intelligence officials also said they believed that Pakistan had traded nuclear technology to North Korea in exchange for missile technology. The Americans further said Pakistan was the source for designs of centrifuges used by Libya's recently disclosed nuclear program.

Pakistani officials have said that no nuclear technology was transferred to Libya and that no nuclear technology is currently being transferred to North Korea. Pakistani officials have conceded the possibility that individuals motivated by personal ambition or greed may have sold nuclear technology to Iran between 1987 and 1993.

The wife of Maj. Islam Ul Haq, the personal assistant to Dr. Khan, said Dr. Khan told her that the major had been detained by two uniformed intelligence agents on Saturday night while the two men were eating dinner at Dr. Khan's house, The Associated Press reported. Major Haq is a director at the Khan Research Laboratories.

Telephone calls to Ms. Islam's home, as well as to Dr. Khan's, were not answered Sunday night.

For the past decade, Dr. Khan has been lionized as a national hero. The reported detention of his top aide, in his own home, comes as domestic criticism of the investigation rises.

Since three scientists were detained for questioning in December, Pakistani analysts, opposition politicians and relatives of the scientists have scoffed at the suggestion that they could have transferred such sensitive technology without the government's knowledge.

Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is considered the country's most precious asset and is tightly guarded by the military, which dominates the country.

In an interview this week, relatives of one scientist who has been in detention for more than a month, Farooq Muhammad, bitterly accused the government of using low-level scientists as scapegoats to appease the United States. They said that they did not believe the American charges of Pakistani proliferation and that they feared that Mr. Muhammad was in American custody.

"Might is right," said Maher Aamir, the scientist's nephew. "It's all to praise or make happy the U.S.A. by framing innocent people."

Officials at the American Embassy in Islamabad declined to comment. Pakistani officials said Dr. Farooq was in Pakistan.

Senior Pakistani government officials emphasized that no proof of wrongdoing had been discovered. Last week, Iranian and Libyan officials said they had received no nuclear assistance from Pakistan.

Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan, a spokesman for Pakistan's military, said Sunday that the investigation was continuing and "anyone who has broken the law will be held accountable."

In late December, officials said Dr. Khan himself had been questioned, but was not in detention. Nearly all those questioned so far have been his close aides.

A senior Western diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity said Dr. Khan should be the focus of any inquiry. "It's completely impossible for there to have been any proliferation activities without A. Q. Khan's knowledge," the diplomat said. "That much is clear."

But Pakistani analysts said it would be political suicide for General Musharraf to detain or prosecute Dr. Khan. Tariq Rahman, a professor at Quaid-e-Azam University, said the public would regard it as an unacceptable bid " to destroy Pakistan's nuclear scientists and its nuclear weapons."

Opposition political groups have dismissed the American charges as false claims aimed at weakening the world's only nuclear-armed Muslim country.

S. A. Shamsi, a spokesman for a coalition of hard-line religious parties that holds the third largest number of seats in Parliament, criticized the government for what he called capitulation to American pressure. "Our government is doing things that others are demanding," he said Sunday.

Questions regarding nuclear technology and Pakistan continue to percolate.

On Jan. 2, the police in Colorado arrested Asher Karni, an Israeli businessman who lives in South Africa, on charges of trying illegally to export to Pakistan triggering devices that could be used in nuclear weapons. American officials have said the Pakistani government may have been involved.

Mr. Karni planned to use front companies to ship the switches to South Africa, then to the United Arab Emirates and ultimately on to a company in Islamabad, federal law enforcement officials charged. Court papers said the recipient in Pakistan was to have been a company called Pakland PME. The company's Web site says its sells dozens of kinds of electrical equipment, including oscilloscopes and transformers. It lists an office address in downtown Islamabad, roughly a mile from the Parliament building.

This weekend, calls to the telephone number listed by the company went unanswered.

Workers in the office building said they had never heard of such a company.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/19/international/asia/19STAN.html?pagewanted=print&position=
22 posted on 01/19/2004 2:31:05 PM PST by DoctorZIn (Until they are free, we shall all be Iranians!)
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To: DoctorZIn
Solano Visit to Iran Highlights EU Policy Dilemma

January 19, 2004
Radio Free Europe
Ahto Lobjakas

Originally, EU foreign and security policy chief Javier Solana's two-day visit to Iran was intended to probe Iranian progress on dissipating doubts over its alleged nuclear weapons program. The political crisis that emerged in Iran during Solana's visit, however, complicated debate within the EU over the possible resumption of the "twin-track" dialogue on trade and human rights.

Talks were suspended in June pending Iran's agreement to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Protocol. Tehran agreed to sign the NPT after a joint visit in October 2003 by British, German, and French foreign ministers.

A major aspect of Solana's talks in Tehran, however, was the decision by the Guardians Council to reject many prospective candidates from running in February's parliamentary election.

The European Parliament's "rapporteur" (the deputy tasked with compiling thematic reports) for Iran, Michael Gahler, told RFE/RL on 12 January he believes the EU should not rush to restore discussions with the country before the issue is resolved. "If it were that this situation were not solved, if it were that the 80 members of parliament and the hundreds of other candidates were on the day of the election still being banned, I think we should not go on to business as usual. At this stage I think we should also leave some options open, it depends on the current affairs, I would not definitively say what our reaction should be."

Gahler said a group of MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) will be traveling to Tehran in two weeks to assess the situation.

EU officials say there is no consensus within the bloc at this time whether to resume talks with Iran quickly or wait for further concessions. The European Commission appears to be pushing for a flexible approach, arguing that action against weapons of mass destruction -- although top of the EU priority list -- is one of four main goals. The others are the fight against terrorism, Iran's cooperation in the Middle Eastern peace process, and progress on human rights.

Nevertheless, one official told RFE/RL that the commission recognizes that no moves will be made to restore talks before the head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Administration, Muhammad el-Baradei, reports to the body in February on Iran's actual willingness to cooperate on nuclear issues.

The official also suggested that supporters of a tougher line within the EU, led by Britain, point to the conclusions of the last EU foreign ministers' meeting in December 2003, which say cooperation can only be resumed "if there is full international confidence in Iran's adherence to nonproliferation." The official said there is a "spectrum of views" among the member states, with many asking whether Iran "has done enough."

Eberhard Rhein, a senior analyst with the Brussels-based European Policy Center, told RFE/RL on 12 January that he expects EU foreign ministers to play for time at their next meeting in Brussels on 26-27 January, but predicted the eventual decision will be positive.

"They will once again deliberate, they will take stock of the domestic situation, of the international situation, on all these three [the progress Iran has made weapons of mass destruction, the Middle East peace process and human rights] and maybe additional accounts," Rhein said, predicting that there will be no decision before the parliamentary election.

Rhein continued, "If the elections will take place with full democratic representation, and if the Ministry of Interior and [President Mohammad] Khatami impose their will on the judiciary [and other conservative bodies] to restore the initial candidates, then I think the [European] Union will have no choice but to tell the [European] Commission 'go ahead, talk to the Iranians and see whether you can pursue and resolve negotiations.'" He predicted that talks probably will resume before the end of June.

EU officials acknowledge that Iran is in a "delicate situation" internally. One official said it was "no coincidence" that the Iranian climb-down over its nuclear program followed a high-level EU visit to Tehran. The official went on to suggest that forces in Iran in favor of greater cooperation with the West now expect counter-moves from the EU. One important theme at issue here is the assistance promised by the British, French, and German ministers to Iran's civilian nuclear projects. The United States, on the other hand, continues to question the need for any nuclear activity in Iran.

Rhein is convinced the EU will eventually choose to capitalize on the long-term success of its "constructive engagement" with Iran, believing its influence has played an important part in the ascendancy of reform-minded forces in the country who continue to need outside support. Rhein says the EU-Iranian talks, once resumed, will inevitably contain important elements for the EU, putting human rights observance and the rejection of WMD by Iran on a "contractual basis."

Rhein explained, "So, an agreement will be much more in our [EU] interest than the Iranian interest. The agreement does not carry any political, economic, or financial substance; it is a framework, nothing else. Everything can be done, so it's a gesture. It helps the Iranians out of their isolation [and] to say that "we have now formal diplomatic and contractual relations with one of the big players of the world -- the European Union."

Rhein agrees Iran may play a key role in attempts by the EU to emancipate its "common foreign and security policy" further from the United States. Rhein says a continued EU engagement with Iran, if crowned with success, would both bolster the bloc's image and provide an important service to the United States in the region. "Probably the Americans [are] increasingly ambivalent to the European Union. Whenever the European Union scores a success they will see it as rivalry in an area they normally cover for themselves. But on the other hand, they should be happy because if the [EU] goes ahead and scores a success that will allow them to follow suit."

http://www.rferl.org/reports/iran-report/
23 posted on 01/19/2004 2:32:01 PM PST by DoctorZIn (Until they are free, we shall all be Iranians!)
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To: DoctorZIn
Iranian Paper Views "New Stumbling Blocks" in Ties with Egypt

January 19, 2004
BBC Monitoring Middle East
BBC News

Text of editorial: "Is Israel trying to derail Tehran-Cairo ties?", published in English by Iran News web site on 19 January

During the last few days, new stumbling blocks have appeared in the trend toward normalization of ties between Iran and Egypt.

Unfortunately, voices from here or there can be heard who are hard at work trying to derail the rapprochement process between Cairo and Tehran. These two great civilizations would not only benefit themselves from the resumption of official diplomatic relations but the fact is such a development would be auspicious for many in the region. Nevertheless, There are players in this part of the world who oppose this impending development. Israel is certainly one of those players. For instance, Tel Aviv has implicitly threatened economic retaliation against Cairo by replacing the Suez Canal as a main shipping thoroughfare. Moreover, a famous neoconservative and Pentagon adviser, Richard Perle, has strongly criticized the US policy of providing Egypt with billions of dollars in annual financial aid.

It is not hard to conclude that the Jewish state and Washington hardliners are pursuing a common strategy of increasing pressure and creating obstacles for Egypt. However, the fact is that Tehran and Cairo are both sensitive and cognizant of these issues but nevertheless are determined to pursue the gradual trend toward normalization of diplomatic relations.

The two sides should not allow radicals on both sides as well as from third parties to turn the current dialogue between the two nations back into the counterproductive "name calling" that has existed between the two nations during the last 25 years. It is a tremendously positive step that Tehran and Cairo have agreed to move beyond the Camp David and the Khaled Eslamboli affairs. Eslamboli, whose name was on a main street in Tehran until a few days ago was the army officer who assassinated Egypt's late president Anwar Sadat. Of course, the two countries will not have a common position on every issue but diplomatic ties between these two regional powerhouses could be greatly beneficial for the entire Arab-Muslim world. It is hoped that the two countries proceed with their logical and pragmatic drive to renormalize ties and not succumb to extremists or those countries who would like nothing better than to keep the status quo in bilateral Iran-Egypt ties.

In conclusion, it is an undeniable reality that normalization of Tehran-Cairo ties is no longer a bilateral exigency but in fact a regional necessity.

Source: Iran News web site, Tehran, in English 19 Jan 04

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/default.stm
24 posted on 01/19/2004 2:33:01 PM PST by DoctorZIn (Until they are free, we shall all be Iranians!)
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To: DoctorZIn
Time To Rejoice

January 19, 2004
Reza Bayegan
Reza bayegan

Iran va Jahan has received many emails and notes in connection with the news of the latest addition to the Pahlavi Family. We have forwarded all such messages to the office of Shahzadeh in Washington. The following is from a member of our own Editorial Board.

There has been an addition to the Pahlavi family. A friend sent me an e-mail telling me of the happy event. A baby daughter has been born to Shahzadeh Reza Pahlavi and Princess Yasmine on 17 January, at 17:10 Tehran time. She has been named Farah. Thousands of children are born everyday in Iran and around the world. Many of them are born to famous people and celebrities. Why should this birth be any different from those? And yet it is. The royal family is the reflection of our national hopes and dreams and the quintessence of our collective character.

Hearing the news I could not help but remember the times when I heard about the births of the children of Shahbanou and the late Shah of Iran. I remember the joy and celebration that those happy moments brought to the nation. It was a confirmation that we were all members of a great family. In Iran, the real home of the royal family was not somewhere behind the walls of an inaccessible palace, but in every Iranian household. Their felicity filled us with gladness and brought smiles to our faces. Those were the time of oneness and emotional integrity in the life of our nation.

Today looking at those royal children who have become grown up men and women we are filled with pride. The Pahlavis wherever they have gone in the world, have brought honour to Iran and have raised the stature of their country. Their detractors have done exactly the opposite.

Farah Pahlavi named after her grandmother is born after Noor and Iman. Gladness has joined light and belief. For those who believe in an enlightened Iran, it is an occasion to rejoice and be glad.

http://iranvajahan.net/cgi-bin/news.pl?l=en&y=2004&m=01&d=19&a=13
25 posted on 01/19/2004 2:36:09 PM PST by DoctorZIn (Until they are free, we shall all be Iranians!)
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To: Pan_Yans Wife; fat city; freedom44; Tamsey; Grampa Dave; PhiKapMom; McGavin999; Hinoki Cypress; ...
US Troops Say Iranian Group Left Bomb at House in Iraq

January 19, 2004
Dow Jones Newswires
The Associated Press

BAGHDAD -- U.S. soldiers found a homemade bomb that they believe was left inside an unfinished house by a group of Iranians in Samarra, 100 kilometers north of Baghdad.

An Iraqi living in the area told soldiers that he saw two cars each carrying five Farsi-speaking men pull up at the building late Sunday and leave shortly after. Soldiers searched the building and found a device packed with plastic explosives, the U.S. military said Monday.

http://framehosting.dowjonesnews.com/sample/samplestory.asp?StoryID=2004011915590005&Take=1
26 posted on 01/19/2004 2:37:10 PM PST by DoctorZIn (Until they are free, we shall all be Iranians!)
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To: DoctorZIn
Iran to Open Tender for Six Nuclear Power Plants

January 19, 2004
World Markets Research Centre
Catherine Hunter

Iran is apparently on the verge of opening a tender to build six new nuclear power plants, according to a report in the Petroenergy Information Network. The move comes just weeks after Iran ratified the additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and pledged to stop work on uranium enriching, after the disclosure of 18 years of covert nuclear activity.

Significance: The Iranian tender seems like a red rag to the US bull, which has only just switched its attention from Iran after last summer's crisis, when US military action didn't look completely out of the question.

Iran does have a long-term target to produce 7,000MW of nuclear power by 2020 to help meet demand growth of 7% a year. However, the timing of this announcement suggests that this tender may be a potential political chip to be bargained in exchange for concessions over US unilateral sanctions. Iran has been struggling to build its existing nuclear facility - Bushehr - since 1974.

Iran to Hold Tender for Power Plants

Tehran - P.I.N. - K.Soltani - 2004/01/18 15:56

TEHRAN – Iran will submit tender bids for building six nuclear power plants, the foreign ministry said Sunday, adding that the affair should go through proper channels. The spokesman for the ministry Hamid-Reza Assefi also told a news briefing that Iran’s nuclear programs were peaceful.

“From the very beginning we announced that our nuclear technology follows peaceful purposes. We highlighted this issue in our talks with the foreign ministers from the EU troika,” Assefi said, referring to the October 21 agreement signed between Iran and the Great Britain, France and Germany.

“The International Atomic Energy Agency has also endorsed peaceful nature of our activities,” he said.

Assefi dismissed foreign print media reports citing the UN nuclear watchdog as saying that the agency had yet to agree with Iran on what constituted suspension of uranium enrichment activities.

"Such reports and comments are aimed at torpedoing the trend of cooperation and agreements between Iran and the European Union," he told reporters.
Assefi turned up the heat on the United States and said that Washington was not happy with the Oct 21 agreement Iran signed with EU troika.

The United States views with skepticism Tehran's insistence its nuclear program is aimed only at generating electrical energy.

Uranium enrichment has been a sensitive issue in Iran ever since IAEA inspectors found traces of bomb-grade highly-enriched uranium at two sites in the country. This sparked concerns that Iran either made or imported weapons-grade material for a bomb.

Tehran insists its nuclear program is purely peaceful and says the traces were from contaminated machinery Iran purchased on the black market during the 1980-1988 Iraq-Iran war.

Asked to comment on full signature of the additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Assefi said: “The additional protocol should go through its stages and it has nothing to do with the legislative elections.”
Regarding the comments from Hassan Rowhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, that Tehran and Washington will re-establish ties one day, he said: “I have studied Mr Rowhani’s comments. Mr Rowhani has not fixed any timeline for resuming ties with the United States.”

"We have to be realistic. One day ties will have to be re-established," Rowhani told French newspaper Le Figaro in an interview.

"Our skill, I would say our artistry, will be to choose the right moment," he told Le Figaro during a visit to Paris.

The United States severed ties with Iran -- accused by US President George W. Bush of belonging to an "axis of evil" -- in 1980, after Islamic revolutionaries stormed its embassy in Tehran.

Assefi also said that Austrian President Thomas Klestil will visit Tehran within the framework of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
“His visit has nothing to do with nuclear issues,” he said.

http://www.wmrc.com/wma_sda.html
27 posted on 01/19/2004 2:37:52 PM PST by DoctorZIn (Until they are free, we shall all be Iranians!)
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To: DoctorZIn
World Vision to Build Health Clinics in Iran

Tuesday, 20 January 2004, 10:02 am
Press Release: World Vision New Zealand

World Vision will rebuild health clinics destroyed during the Bam earthquake under an agreement signed with the Iranian Government yesterday (New Zealand time).

World Vision relief manager Paul Sitnam says the agreement with the Ministry of Health was a breakthrough in dealings with the Iranian government which is traditionally wary of foreign non-government organisations (NGOs).

"The agreement gives World Vision legitimacy in the eyes of the government. We can continue to function in Iran with a greater degree of confidence," he says.

World Vision will reconstruct two village health posts and three health centres. In addition to the rebuilding, World Vision will supply clinics with refrigerators for vaccines, medical equipment, latrines, washbasins and furniture.

Professor Iraj Sharifi, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Iranian Ministry of Health, said the health centres and health posts are vital.

"It's necessary to rebuild them and we need NGOs to help with this problem," he says.

Professor Sharifi says 90 per cent of Bam's health buildings were now either piles of rubble or suffering serious structural damage, making them unfit to use.

But he commended the international community for its support, saying their provision of field hospitals and tent clinics had helped Bam restore medical services to 70-80 per cent of its former capacity.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in converted containers supplied by the Turkish government, in the grounds of Bam's ruined central hospital.

World Vision expects the cost of rebuilding and furnishing the clinics to be about US$850,000. Meanwhile World Vision New Zealand has raised NZ$600,000 in its Bam Earthquake Appeal. The money raised will be used in ongoing rehabilitation work in Bam, including rebuilding houses and schools. Donations can still be accepted on 0800 80 2000, or through the website www.worldvision.org.nz

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0401/S00125.htm
28 posted on 01/19/2004 5:01:07 PM PST by DoctorZIn (Until they are free, we shall all be Iranians!)
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To: F14 Pilot; DoctorZIn; Grampa Dave; BOBTHENAILER; MeekOneGOP; autoresponder

Words and Music by John Madara and David White; performed by Leslie Gore.

You don't own me,
I'm not just one of your many toys
You don't own me,
don't say I can't go with other boys

And don't tell me what to do
And don't tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display, 'cause

You don't own me,
don't try to change me in any way
You don't own me,
don't tie me down 'cause I'd never stay

Oh, I don't tell you what to say
I don't tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That's all I ask of you

I'm young and I love to be young
I'm free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want
To say and do whatever I please

(Instrumental interlude)

A-a-a-nd don't tell me what to do
Oh-h-h-h don't tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display

I don't tell you what to say
Oh-h-h-h don't tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That's all I ask of you

I'm young and I love to be young
I'm free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want
(FADE)

29 posted on 01/19/2004 6:38:48 PM PST by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: PhilDragoo; Mudboy Slim
Another songster enters Mudboy's domain.

Great job...."You don't own me"!!!!!!!

30 posted on 01/19/2004 6:42:36 PM PST by BOBTHENAILER (One by one, in small groups or in whole armies, we don't care how we do, but we're gonna getcha)
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To: DoctorZIn; PhilDragoo
If all goes well Iran will be free soon and I am convinced become a major ally in the war on terrorism. The regime will fall. Iran will be free. It is just a matter of time.

DoctorZin

Thanks for your valuable efforts. Keep up the good work.

31 posted on 01/19/2004 6:45:40 PM PST by BOBTHENAILER (One by one, in small groups or in whole armies, we don't care how we do, but we're gonna getcha)
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To: F14 Pilot; dennisw
Israel has been threatened with destruction by its neighbors since 1948. It is the sole democracy and ally of the U.S. in the region.

Syria remains a terrorist state--as is Iran. These two are vocal, vehement enemies of the U.S., and tyrannies to boot.

There is no peace sans the aggressive use of force; hence Palestinians continue to wage a war of terror absent a good ass-kicking.

When composing odes to some rapturous treaty-induced peace, be sure to include a line of tribute to the Treaty of Versailles.

Which, together with the Naval Treaty, did precisely nothing to prevent World War II.

The main incentive to not having WMDs is that the U.S. will come in and make sure you do not--not some document with ribbons and seals.

32 posted on 01/19/2004 6:52:51 PM PST by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: DoctorZIn; F14 Pilot; Grampa Dave; BOBTHENAILER; SAMWolf; snippy_about_it
U.S. soldiers found a homemade bomb that they believe was left inside an unfinished house by a group of Iranians in Samarra

A Coalition is aiding the rebuilding of Iraq. Iran's contribution is a homemade bomb.

You can't make this stuff up.

33 posted on 01/19/2004 7:20:56 PM PST by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: PhilDragoo
You are very funny.
34 posted on 01/19/2004 11:57:48 PM PST by F14 Pilot (Is there any truth in that, senor?)
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To: DoctorZIn
This thread is now closed.

Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!

"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”

35 posted on 01/20/2004 12:05:29 AM PST by DoctorZIn (Until they are free, we shall all be Iranians!)
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To: PhilDragoo
Leslie Gore !

Good One !
36 posted on 01/20/2004 7:51:58 AM PST by nuconvert ( "It had only one fault. It was kind of lousy.")
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