Iranian Revolution (Day Twenty)

Update (7/3/2009):Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Twenty-One). End of Update:

The protesters refuse to be silenced, night chants of "Allah-o Akbar!" continue (http://greenrevolutioniran.blogspot.com/2009/06/whats-going-on-in-iran.html).



The Iranian government has been busy; (http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1908305,00.html) "The Islamic Republic has been busy in three main ways since the presidential elections of June 12. Rejecting charges that the result — a 63% vote for incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — was the result of fraud, the regime organized a partial recount, which on June 29 reconfirmed Ahmadinejad's victory, a finding the opposition continues to reject. Simultaneously, the regime worked to put down the widespread street demonstrations that followed the disputed poll, sending in police and pro-government militiamen to beat up and disperse demonstrators. Now, with the street protests dying down, the regime has attempted to rescue its legitimacy by casting the unrest as the work of "foreign instigators."".

"Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian speaks against government actions in Majlis by using Imam Ali as the example". The Majlis is the Iranian Parliament. Be sure to activate the Closed Captions which are in English.



Merkel (German Chancellor) "likens Iran to repressive East Germany" (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090702/wl_mideast_afp/irangermanyweaponsnuclearg8).

Shirin Ebadi (a Nobel Peace Prize recipient) is asking Ban Ki-Moon (UN Secretary General) to; (http://www.reuters.com/article/gc08/idUSTRE5616C220090702) "appoint a personal envoy to investigate human rights abuses in Iran.

In a letter also signed by the rights groups International Federation for Human Rights and the Iranian League for the Defense of Human Rights, Ebadi asked Ban to appoint the envoy to look into abuses in Iran following June's disputed presidential election".

John Bolton asks if Israel should use this opportunity to strike Iran. He reasons; (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/01/AR2009070103020.html) "Those who oppose Iran acquiring nuclear weapons are left in the near term with only the option of targeted military force against its weapons facilities. Significantly, the uprising in Iran also makes it more likely that an effective public diplomacy campaign could be waged in the country to explain to Iranians that such an attack is directed against the regime, not against the Iranian people.". I think that only works if Israel also attacks the command and control centers to disrupt the government crackdown. It would still be anyone's guess how the people would respond, and I am not sure Israel has sufficient projection power to hit both the nuclear sites and the command and control at the same time. More thoughts on the matter at http://ace.mu.nu/archives/289266.php. The opposing view, that this situation makes Iran harder to bomb, can be found at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/02/iran-now-harder-to-bomb-c_n_225112.html.

The Iranian police chief said that Interpol was probing the doctor who tried to save Neda in her death; it is not true (read bold face lie) (http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/07/02/world/worldwatch/entry5129152.shtml).

Victor Hanson thinks we are "Missing Our Moment in Iran" and that "Obama’s policy is a lose/lose proposition that will please neither side" (http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NmY3ZTg4YjAyMTQ0M2Q2NDA5MTljOWFhOGVjMTNiZTE=).

A harrowing story of a protester "arrested, beaten and raped" (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/01/iran-protest-arrests-afshin-friend).

The FIFA has refused to take action against Iranian soccer players who showed support for the protesters (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2009-07-02-433848784_x.htm).

There are reports that the Iranian SMS network is back up and running unblocked (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8131095.stm). I am not sure if this should be taken as a good sign or bad. Have they realized it has not stopped the flow of information in/out or do they no longer feel a need to block the info.

Cartoon comparison (http://www.theospark.net/2009/07/affirmative-actionfrom-rico.html):


Ridiculous comparison of the day comes from Ms. Maloney (D); (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/us/politics/02maloney.html) "In an interview on Wednesday, Ms. Maloney said she wanted to give voters a choice.

“People around the world watched and were inspired as people in Iran risked their lives to vote,” she said. “New Yorkers deserve the same. They deserve the right to vote, the right to make their own decision.”"

Past related posts:
Berman Post: Iranian Election Viewed as Rigged
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Protest (NYC)
Berman Post: Iranian Riots Continue
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Riots (Day Three)
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Riots (Day Four)
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Protest at Union Square (NYC)
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Riots (Day Five)
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Riots (Day Six)
Berman Post: Prayer Vigil For The Fallen Iranian Protesters (NYC)
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Riots (Day Seven)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Eight)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Nine)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Ten)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Eleven)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Twelve)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Thirteen)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Fourteen)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Fifteen)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Sixteen)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Seventeen)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Eighteen)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Nineteen)