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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iranian dissident: War Not Helping Democracy Push |
| 2006-07-17 |
| NEW YORK (AP) - Iran's most prominent dissident said Sunday that the war in Iraq has hurt his country's reform movement by giving its regime an excuse to stifle dissent. Journalist Akbar Ganji said in an interview that the West can best promote change in Iran by lending moral support to the country's democratic movement. ``We do not want the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, this is our problem. Any intervention by any foreign power would bring charges of conspiracy against us,'' he said. ``What has happened in Iraq did not support our movement in any significant way.'' Instead, he said, it gave Iran's regime an excuse to crack down on dissidents, accusing them of colluding with the U.S. and promoting an invasion of the Islamic republic. Ganji, 47, spoke with The Associated Press during a world tour to raise awareness of human rights violations in Iran. He joined protesters outside U.N. headquarters on a symbolic three-day hunger strike aimed at forcing the Iranian regime to release political prisoners. Since his release, Ganji has toured Europe and collected the World Association of Newspapers' Gold Pen of Freedom award. On Monday, he will collect an award for his fearless writing from the National Press Club in Washington. Ganji said he plans to return to Iran, and expects to be jailed again, but is not afraid. ``My goal during my world tour is to show the world that there is an alternative, there is another voice in the region,'' he said. ``That's the voice of peacefulness, liberty, human rights and a democratic Islam.'' Ganji said that, until oil revenues are wrested from state hands, there will be virtually no democratic nations in the Middle East. ``Oil is the greatest factor that prevents democracy to take root in the region. Petroleum states have no need for their people,'' he said. ``They do not depend on taxation and therefore there is no accountability to the people.'' Ganji, who was imprisoned in 2000 after writing a series of articles accusing Intelligence Ministry agents of killing dissidents, said he was tortured repeatedly during six years in prison. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #15 Tony, you're right. I assumed that the anti-mullah movement in Iran would contain some thinkers who follow logic. However, it appears that logic is not a course taught anywhere where Islam is present. Much like the cause/effect thingy. |
| Posted by: BA 2006-07-17 21:00 |
| #14 ``They do not depend on taxation and therefore there is no accountability to the people.'' Libertarian explosion in 5..4..3 |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-07-17 16:06 |
| #13 BA, you're expecting this guy to think in a logical fashion, or accept that the US has done something right. Not going to happen mate. You're absolutely right that time is running out for the 'moderates' in Iran to pull their finger out and dump the MMs. I do agree with him on one point though; ``Oil is the greatest factor that prevents democracy to take root in the region. Petroleum states have no need for their people,'' he said. ``They do not depend on taxation and therefore there is no accountability to the people.'' |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2006-07-17 15:52 |
| #12 BTW, I have a big beef with this guy's assertion that we're not lending "moral support." Good grief the Prez stated it specifically in this year's SoTU Address, and subsequently in MANY other speeches. However, like others here, we have a long memory (thanks, Jimmuh), and the Mad Mullah's need a smack and hard. I'd love for the long-awaited "Tehran street overthrow" to work, but they need to move and move quickly, as nukes will NOT be allowed of the MM's. |
| Posted by: BA 2006-07-17 14:02 |
| #11 lol, Mr. James...you aren't suggesting |
| Posted by: BA 2006-07-17 13:59 |
| #10 The only movement I await in the ME is the anti-Allan movement. No prayers 5 times a day. No mosques loud speakers. No bearded men, but the right to bare arms. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-07-17 13:55 |
| #9 Like they need an excuse. Look, pal, I'm all in favor of your movement, but it needs to move some, y'know? We can't wait for you to get your shit together. |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-07-17 12:02 |
| #8 Tony, I agree on all points. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2006-07-17 10:01 |
| #7 No war? Ok I guess we should just pester them with resolutions and strongly worded statements at the UN until they get a nuke arsenal that can wipe Europe off the map. Then we'll be in a much better position to |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2006-07-17 09:32 |
| #6 ``My goal during my world tour is to show the world that there is an alternative, there is another voice in the region,'' he said. ``That's the voice of peacefulness, liberty, human rights and a democratic Islam.'' Bring the femto-violins. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-07-17 09:25 |
| #5 Generally, Muslims are supporting Islamofascism, so any notion of democracy that can sell among them means: one vote for Mullah tyranny. Just because a "Roadmap to Middle East Peace" was devised, that doesn't mean that there are not current insurmountable obstacles in its path. In fact, the Road Map followed early Islamofascist success. I'm with Gingrich and Ledeen, this is World War 3. Revive the Roadmap, after we prep the foundation. |
| Posted by: Anginens Threreng8133 2006-07-17 02:23 |
| #4 And typically, this is from the Al-Grauniad. The whole tableau of the ME is about to change, and those useful idiots are just re-iterating the same old story - it's our fault, we're not worthy, yadda^3 Nitwits. |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2006-07-17 02:11 |
| #3 Sorry Mr Ganji, but you may have noticed that people's patience with Iran is just about up, and we're sick and tired of hearing everything blamed on 'the war' as though the ME was sorting itself out beforehand. My advice; stay out of Iran for a while, the whole situation there is about to change, and you being in jail isn't going to help matters. |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2006-07-17 02:08 |
| #2 Take out all of the Iranian gasoline refineries and terminals and a few offshore oil platforms with a 100 TLAMs and SLCMs...let the black hats twist in thw wind. |
| Posted by: anymouse 2006-07-17 00:49 |
| #1 What was I thinking. We should just leave them to their own devices and they'll just go away. |
| Posted by: gorb 2006-07-17 00:46 |