Iran's Revolutionary Guards appeal for restraint against demonstrators

Telegraph (UK) ^ | February 19th, 2011 | Con Coughlin

[Pan_Yan]

...

We turn to you, the IRGC commander, requesting that you use your authority over the Basij to order them to leave their truncheons at home next time.

It goes without saying that we, who swore to defend the Islamic Revolution, are well acquainted with the highest Islamic values of tolerance and liberalism (in Persian – “Tasamukh va Tasahul”), and are familiar with the Islamic principles that “oppose the use of the whip or the club as a means of quelling dispute or dissension”.

We promise our people that we will not shoot nor beat our brothers who are seeking to express legitimate protest against the policies and conduct of their leader.

IRGC commander: We, proud IRGC officers from various units who are unanimous in our opinion and convinced of its justice, turn to you to ask that you put the IRGC and the Basij straight, and enable us to continue serving as IRGC offers who can be proud of their commander, organization, and regime. We will all be judged by Allah for our deeds.

[Pan_Yan]

Ping. Crack in the ranks between the Mullahs and Revolutionary Guard?

[nuconvert]

Nah. But it sounds nice, doesn’t it?

[Pan_Yan]

Okay, but how much leverage do these officers have? If it’s not enough they signed their death warrants.

[Allegra]

Go towards the light, Iran.

[SunkenCiv]

Alibi. Thanks Pan_Yan.

[AdmSmith]

In a statement, the reactionary cleric Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, said, “Today the leadership of the Supreme Leader is worth billions of dollars.”

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2011/02/clashes-at-demonstrators-tehran-funeral.html#disqus_thread

Straight from the horse's mouth (or in this case the crocodile's)

[Colorado Doug]

Well, that's certainly more than Obama has done.

[nuconvert]

“Okay, but how much leverage do these officers have? If it’s not enough they signed their death warrants.”

Not if this is all orchestrated by the regime.

[nuconvert]

lol

[nuconvert]

Besides, the riot police & basij are breaking heads, so that allows the IRGC to look pure as the driven snow.

[sionnsar]

Not if this is all orchestrated by the regime.

Right.

We were back out at our usual "Freedom for Iran" street-corner Sunday. We explained to a few passersby (mostly in cars) what this was about, but we got a LOT more positive feedback from the general public driving by than I've ever seen. Then again, we'd just come from a memorial for Dr. Homayoun a block north so we were rather more dressed-up than usual. (I took off my tie but kept the tweed jacket.)