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”
Posted on 06/22/2004 9:00:18 PM PDT 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.” 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. I began these daily threads June 10th 2003. On that date Iranians once again began taking to the streets to express their desire for a regime change. Today in Iran, most want to replace the regime with a secular democracy.
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
UK Expressed Concern Over the Use of Blindfolds
June 23, 2004
BBC News
BBCi
The eight crew members of three UK patrol boats seized by Iran near the border with Iraq are to be released, an Iranian armed forces spokesman says. Ali Reza Afshar said "the order for the release of the vessels and their military crew was issued" after UK forces said they had "made a mistake".
However, negotiations continued into the night delaying the release, promised for Wednesday.
The men were detained on Monday in the southern Shatt al-Arab waterway.
Iranians satisfied
The UK Ministry of Defence said the men were training the Iraqi river patrol service, and may have mistakenly strayed over the maritime border.
They appeared on Iranian TV wearing blindfolds and admitting entering Iranian waters illegally.
The Iranian spokesman said the army command was satisfied that the arms and equipment carried in the three British launches had been for use on patrols.
"Considering statements by the British sailors that the boats carrying them mistakenly entered Iran's territorial waters, the armed forces decided to release the boats and their occupants," he told Iranian state radio.
Later, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi was quoted on Wednesday as saying the British crew "will be freed today" [Wednesday].
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's office said it had received confirmation from the Iranian government that the eight servicemen were being released.
A delegation of UK diplomats has already arrived to meet the men.
However, negotiations were said to be continuing on the route the men would take to get back to their base in Iraq from the remote area of south-western Iran where they were being held.
Iranian officials also said later that the boats and some equipment would be kept behind.
The BBC's Jim Muir reports from Tehran that with talks on the procedures for release continuing well into the night, it is possible the men will not be released until Thursday.
UK concern
An adviser to President Mohammad Khatami had said the eight men could be freed if there was an official apology from the UK government.
The UK embassy earlier expressed concern that they were shown on television wearing blindfolds, making apologies for entering Iranian territorial waters.
The servicemen are thought to come from two Scotland-based units - Arbroath-based 45 Commando and the Fleet Standby Rifle Troop from Faslane on the Clyde - and from the 539 Assault Squadron in Plymouth, south-west England.
The arrests came at a time of strained relations between the UK and Iran.
Iranian hardliners have staged a series of angry demonstrations outside the British embassy in Tehran in recent weeks to protest at the occupation of Iraq.
Britain has also been strongly criticised too for its role in helping draft a tough resolution on Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna last week.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3831715.stm
Iranian Gambit [Excerpt]
June 23, 2004
New York Post
Ralph Peters
The seizure of eight British servicemen by Iran's Revolutionary Guards isn't about a border violation. It's meant to test the Coalition in Iraq, punish Britain for criticizing Tehran's nuclear quest — and recharge domestic support for Iran's hardliners.
Those eight hostages are pawns in a great strategic game for stakes far beyond the minor scale of the incident itself. Iran's hardliners are gambling. If the West — with London in the lead this time — fails to call their bluff, our weakness will virtually guarantee future conflict in the Persian Gulf.
Grabbing those British sailors and marines from three patrol boats they were delivering to Iraqi border guards wasn't an Iranian reaction to poor navigation. The seizure appears to have been planned and blessed by hardline leaders. It's a repertoire play, an attempt by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps — now a sprawling empire of repression — to recreate its greatest success on the world stage, the seizure of American embassy personnel a quarter-century ago.
Even if the hostages have been released by the time you read this, the provocation offers us insight into today's divided Iran.
Three powerful cards are in play. The hardliners hope they're all aces.
First, the Revolutionary Guards have seen their popularity and influence wane — especially with Iran's youth. Iranians have tried religious rule, and it hasn't worked; they want to return to a semblance of civilization. We play up the strength of the hardliners, but they feel under siege at home.
By snatching the Brits from the waters of the Shatt-al-Arab, the Revolutionary Guards and their allies are trying to excite Iranian nationalism, to resurrect the passions of the past. It's a desperate measure behind a mask of bravado.
It's unlikely that Iran's government leaders or the formal policy apparatus in Tehran knew about the plan to take British hostages — they wouldn't have believed it was worth the risk. The hardliners presented Iran's more rational elements with a fait accompli — now backing down will be portrayed as a betrayal of the country's sovereignty and pride.
If the situation is swiftly resolved, it will mean that more-moderate voices won in Tehran. If it drags on, it will tell us that the hardliners' gamble succeeded, at least domestically. Doubtless, tempers are flaring in Iran's chambers of government, a bitter struggle they'll never reveal to the world.
Second, this is a test of the Coalition's will to respond to provocations. It's a strategic probe disguised as a tactical incident. The Iranian intelligence services — intertwined with the Revolutionary Guards — scrutinize developments in Iraq, Europe and the United States (while supporting international terrorists and Iraqi insurgents). And they've drawn dangerous conclusions. [Excerpt]
http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/23536.htm
Iranian Gambit [Excerpt]
June 23, 2004
New York Post
Ralph Peters
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1158346/posts?page=42#42
Seems there's been no more talk of this. Maybe just a rumor after all.
I've been trying to figure out if it would be good, to be rid of Khamenei, or bad, because Rafsanjani would take over?
I am still waiting for further confirmation. If it is true, I would expect a news block out until Rafsanjani and friends have their plans in order.
Schedule of Demonstrations Against The Mafia Islamist Regime of Iran in Europe, U.S. and Canada -- July 10th (18 Tir) Schedule!
UNITED STATES:
Washington, D.C.
Place: The Western Side of the Capitol Building
Time: Thursday, July 8, 2004 from 11 a.m.
Organized by The Committee for Tir 18 Demonstrations
Los Angeles
Place: The Federal Building at 11000 Wilshire Blvd. (Westwood area)
Time: Wednesday, July 7, 2004 – from 5 to 8 p.m.
Organized by The Committee for Tir 18 Demonstrations
CANADA:
Toronto
Toronto, July 8, (18 Tir) Thursday from 6 PM to 9 PM Mel Lastman Square, (hear of North York, north of Toronto) come out and commemorate this event. There will be speaker from Amnesty International, Member of Parliament of Canada, live music, by Sattar, and special speaker, Parviz Sayyad…
GERMANY:
Norenberg
Place: Halle Platz Konik Strasse
Time: Saturday, July 10, 2004 - from 3 to 5 p.m.
Organized by The Constitutional Party of Iran
Dusseldorf
Place: from Banhoff toward the City Court
Time: Saturday, July 10, 2004 – from 2 p.m.
Organized by the Constitutional Party of Iran, Kassel, Monster and Furzin divisions
Heidelberg
Place: Bismark Platz (town center)
Time: Saturday, July 10, 2004 - from 3 to 5 p.m.
Organized by The Constitutional Party of Iran
Hamburg
Place: The Western side of the Central Train Station (Hopt Banhoff)
Time: Thursday, July 8, 2004 - at 12:00 noon
Organized by: The Constitutional Party of Iran, The Iranian Women’s Cultural Center, Khashm Organization, The Political-Cultural Center for Free Iranians in Hamburg
Munich
Place: Stachus square
Time: Thursday, July 8, 2004 – from 5 to 6 p.m.
Organized by: The Constitutional Party of Iran, Iran’s Freedom Forces, Iranian Freedom Movement, Munich’s democrats.
ENGLAND:
London
Place: In front of the Occupied Iranian Embassy (in Kensington)
Time: Thursday, July 8, 2004 – from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Organized by: The Constitutional Party of Iran, and The National Unity Front of Iran
DENMARK:
Odense
Place: In front of the City Hall (Mayor’s office)
Time: Thursday, July 8, 2004 – from 4 to 6 p.m.
Organized by The Constitutional Party of Iran
SWEDEN:
Stockholm
Place: The Center of City of Stockholm – Sergels Torg
Time: Thursday, July 8, 2004 – from 4 to 7 p.m.
Organized by: The Constitutional Party of Iran, and Sweden’s Liberals
Khamenei being in a coma is actually not that great of news. If that happens his replacement would likely be far more radical.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.