Iranian Students are reportedly holding 3 Hebollah hostage demanding release of 80 students

Interview with Iranians in Tehran | 6.13.2003 | DoctorZin

[DoctorZIn]

I just heard from friends in Tehran.

They are telling me that the Students have taken three memebers of Hizbollah hostage. They are demanding the release of the eighty students that had been arrested by the regime four days ago.

They are very optimistic that things are going to change soon. They can hear the protests and see the courage of the people to stand against the regimes forces.

It was also reported that the students had taken over the televison station in the city of Shiraz.

Also of interest, most of them watch LA based Iranian TV for news. These are the same satilite stations that are struggling to stay on the air for lack of support among US business or government. It appears they are doing for Iran waht we can't even do for Iraq. In case you don't know this, the US still does not have broadcasts in Iraq, while the Iranians do.

Finally, the Tehranians were asking “why they haven’t heard from President Bush?.”

[stlnative]

Tehran calm after further protests - Saturday, June 14, 2003 Posted: 0703 GMT

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

These students in Iran aren't much different than conservative students on a typical American university campus. Disagree with the establishment and they'll come attack you.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"Finally, the Tehranians were asking “why they haven’t heard from President Bush?.”"

He's busy giving seniors their prescription drugs. Hang on and they'll get theirs.

[cake_crumb]

Finally, the Tehranians were asking “why they haven’t heard from President Bush?.”

The same President Bush who says he supports regime change in Iran? Do they think that's not enough, because if he toppled the government of Iraq, he should now send troops in to topple the government of Iran? Our military isn't even finished in IRAQ, yet!

The US is broadcasting in Iraq, on Iraqi TV stations. It's not enough I know, but it's a start. I'm not sure of the status of satellite antennas in Iraq right now...but considering Saddam's regulations and the looting, it's probably dismal. I'd like to see both an American news channel like Fox and an Arabic-speaking American news channel beamed into Iraq ASAP.

[DoctorZIn]

Dennis Prager, the national talk show host, had an interview with a reporter in Iraq this past week who claimed that the US is NOT broadcasting TV in Iraq and they were complaining that while we won the war we will lose in the end unless we challenge what the Iraqi's hear on Iranian TV broadcasts into Iraq.

[cake_crumb]

"The broadcast gave no further details."

Like what happened to the students who were made to disappear by those 'vigilantes'...who will probably be out on the streets tomorrow anyway. Interesting a guy who attempted an assassination against a government official in a country that has an Islamist regime was out on the street to victimize student demonstrators. You'd almost think that sort of thing is legal in Iran or something...as long as it happens to a member of Khatami's faction, that is.

[DoctorZIn]

The importance to the US in this matter is that Iran is the largest supporter of terrorism in the world. If the regime changes this will most likely stop.

If you want to read up on this you might read the articles of Michael Leeden, an expert on the matter. He writes for National Review Online.

Good Luck.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

The US is broadcasting in Iraq, on Iraqi TV stations

I don't know if that is true. I think that is another case of another enormous State Department beaurocratic muck up.

DoctorZIn, isn't it true that everyone in Iraq is watching Iranian state TV now?

[John_11_25]

As long as he does not leave it until the massacre all the students and their supporters. I see shadows of Iraq 1991 when the uprising started and the US decided it was not in their interest at that particular time, please god do not let that happen again. (Everyone know the US is helping, so whats the problem with coming right out and saying it.

Israel can wait another few weeks (It's more than capable of looking after the hardliners, if given a free hand). I am sure the entire population of Israel would approve of a new government in Iran.

[DoctorZIn]

DoctorZIn, isn't it true that everyone in Iraq is watching Iranian state TV now?

That is what I have been hearing in press reports and according to Dennis Prager without a US response.

[cake_crumb]

The us is backing programming by independent Iraqi TV stations in Baghdad. However, their equipment is outdated and they don't broadcast 24/7. It's not that we aren't broadcasting, it's that we're not broadcasting enough...which will cause disastrous results.

We should definitely give the stations we're 'helping' far more help than we're giving right now.

[LibWhacker]

why they haven’t heard from President Bush?

So the nest of scorpions are stinging each other? Surprise, surprise. I wouldn't lift a finger to help a scorpion.

[cake_crumb]

Agreed that it's a bureaucratic muckup. I believe that they're (the US backed stations) are using broadcast television in Iraq, not satellite. They're also receiving BBC in Arabic (according to the BBC, at least) and VOA...but much more needs to be done. FAST.

[DoctorZIn]

... So the nest of scorpions are stinging each other? Surprise, surprise. I wouldn't lift a finger to help a scorpion.


You are calling the students in Iran who are fighting for freedom and secular democracy, "scorpions.?"

Go drink come coffee, you need to wake up.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

but much more needs to be done. FAST

Wait, you said fast referring to the State Dept.

In all seriousness, its not just a screw up, I have heard that State wouldn't back Kurds like they were ordered to because there are many internationalist (read Euro Marxists) there that were trying to undermine the war on Terrorism at every turn.

Something needs to be done to the State Dept FAST, and I'll take on anyone here that bought that BS that an attack from Newt on it was an attack on Bush and knock them out of the park.

[LibWhacker]

Yeah, right. They're our friends. Hey, I've got an idea . . . Let's give 'em some Stinger missiles!

If I'm asleep, doc, you're in a coma. These people are our enemies. Or did you forget the 444 days?

[ApesForEvolution]

As if Hezbollah lives are worth anything...good news nonetheless.

[Steel Wolf]

Old Internet Proverb: It is better to remain a lurker and be suspected ignorant, than to post foolishness and remove all doubt.

For a brief education, the hardcore Islamists you remember so fondly from the Carter era are being opposed by the pro-Western reformist students. The Islamists are the same old crowd as ever, brutal and inept, with a sprinkling of Arab thugs hired from other countries. The students are the younger generation tired of Sharia, poverty and repression, and looking to make Iran a modern country.

If you think that both of these groups are your enemies, then I'd imagine your enemies list is pretty impressive in length.

[LibWhacker]

You should take that proverb to heart (incidentally, it did not originate on the internet).

So you guys think a democratic Iran will automatically become fast friends with America, just like France.

How many Iranians have you known anyway?

[Yardstick]

I grew up with several emigrees from Iran who fled when the Shah was toppled. Really hard working nice people.

I know an Iranian family who did the same thing. The father, who is dead now, was well-placed in the Iranian oil industry, and had a close working relationship with the government of the Shah. One daughter, who is in her 40's, was very active in the resistance movement. In Iran, the mother was a teacher and now teaches Farsi at the university level. They lived in Tehran and fled in 1980, I think. These are absolutely some of the most gracious, graceful people that I know, and it grieves me to know that Persia is presently under the heel of the Islamic primitives. It would be sweeter than sweet to see the Iranian domino tumble.