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2009-06-15 Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Totten: Iran on Fire
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Posted by Steve White 2009-06-15 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11136 views ]  Top

#1 video: Police Brutality
Posted by 3dc 2009-06-14 00:21||   2009-06-14 00:21|| Front Page Top

#2 I'd like to believe the end of era of the mad mullahs was near. But desperate times leads to desperate action.
Posted by anymouse">anymouse  2009-06-14 01:00|| http://theworldsworstblog-really.blogspot.com/]">[http://theworldsworstblog-really.blogspot.com/]  2009-06-14 01:00|| Front Page Top

#3 It's interesting that the pervasive corruption is what brings down these regimes and not ideology.

Deng's maxim comes to mind - 'It doesn't matter what colour the cat is, as long as it catches mice.'
Posted by Phil_B 2009-06-14 03:06||   2009-06-14 03:06|| Front Page Top

#4 Only the countryside matters.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2009-06-14 08:09||   2009-06-14 08:09|| Front Page Top

#5 Mousavi is no reformer, the educated Iranian population just wants somebody, anybody, other than Dinnerjacket. As noted above, he's still popular in the uneducated countryside. There's a good campaign slogan: "The ignorant support me overwhelmingly!".... almost Bidenesqe
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2009-06-14 08:34||   2009-06-14 08:34|| Front Page Top

#6 1. Bidenesque

Although a Regular Joe, Very Stately. Also, Comforting, Down to Earth, Trustworthy(by politician standards), Articulate, Likable, Intelligent.
Bidenesque is the opposite of Palinesque.
Posted by Besoeker 2009-06-14 08:42||   2009-06-14 08:42|| Front Page Top

#7 I can't believe Totten quotes HuffPo and Andrew Sullivan. He's gotten so soft lately he probably thinks The Daily Show is a legit news program.
Posted by Parabellum 2009-06-14 09:28|| http://sidemeat.wordpress.com/]">[http://sidemeat.wordpress.com/]  2009-06-14 09:28|| Front Page Top

#8 Only the countryside matters.

Exactly.
Posted by Pappy 2009-06-14 09:45||   2009-06-14 09:45|| Front Page Top

#9 Bidenesqe: (adj.) - prone to stoopid ("FDR's TV broadcast to nation") made-up shit, dumb gaffes, Sheriff Joe, Ineveitable fraud in stimulus funds, makes Dan Quayle look great
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2009-06-14 09:55||   2009-06-14 09:55|| Front Page Top

#10 Besoeker -- this Bidenesque description cuts me to the core -- I know regular joes, I am a regular joe, and Biden ain't no regular joe.

As for the topic at hand, ie: riots in Iran, I say burn baby burn.
Posted by regular joe 2009-06-14 11:30||   2009-06-14 11:30|| Front Page Top

#11 Sarcasm Joe, purley sarcasm. I failed to label it as such. My bad.
Posted by Besoeker 2009-06-14 11:38||   2009-06-14 11:38|| Front Page Top

#12 He's gotten so soft lately he probably thinks The Daily Show is a legit news program.

I'm not sure that Jon Stewart isn't more evenhanded than Katie Couric.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2009-06-14 14:31||   2009-06-14 14:31|| Front Page Top

#13 Finding twitters like this, all within the last 30 minutes.
Shots heard in west and north Tehran, baseej out in full force, just saw dozens of them on Vali-e Asr, wielding batons.

Things R getting much hotter than the past couple of days. More people joining protests & strikes screaming on roofs" 1 minute ago

NEWS: Rasht, glass splinters on the streets, riot police not hesitating to beat men, women and even kids 11 minutes ago Rasht is north of Tehran, close to Caspian Sea.

some anti riot forces are speaking in Arabic! apparently imported from Lebanon .. and other reports that Hezbollah being sighted.

Got this link at NRO Twitters from Iran that I have been following.

Karaj city is strictly under control of police, people R not allowed 2 walk in the city even 4 hospital

Just some thing to think about -- huge rally planned for Tuesday -- and will probably be well attended! (By both sides)
Posted by Sherry">Sherry  2009-06-14 14:40||   2009-06-14 14:40|| Front Page Top

#14 
[T]hrough the guardianship [Velayat] that I have from the holy lawgiver [the Prophet], I hereby pronounce Bazargan as the Ruler, and since I have appointed him, he must be obeyed. The nation must obey him. This is not an ordinary government. It is a government based on the sharia. Opposing this government means opposing the sharia of Islam ... Revolt against God's government is a revolt against God. Revolt against God is blasphemy.

Ayatollah Khomeini February 1979

I saw this Khomeini quote on Daily Pundit today.
It's probably something like the Founding Statement of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Iran does not even pretend to be a democracy, it's a Sharia theocracy, by its own admission.

Why the surprise among the commentariat (especially the "experts on Iran")?
Posted by Uluger Whing1854 2009-06-14 15:01||   2009-06-14 15:01|| Front Page Top

#15 not surprise, just hopeful wishing
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2009-06-14 15:16||   2009-06-14 15:16|| Front Page Top

#16 some anti riot forces are speaking in Arabic! apparently imported from Lebanon

There are foreigners in the Basiij; it would not surprise me if Hesb'allah is also present.
Posted by Pappy 2009-06-14 15:53||   2009-06-14 15:53|| Front Page Top

#17 They're bringing tanks on the streets in Tehran #iranelection 6 minutes ago from Seesmic Desktop
Posted by Sherry">Sherry  2009-06-14 16:00||   2009-06-14 16:00|| Front Page Top

#18 Shutting down foreign reporters

# The raid of NBC comes after ABC's cameras and tapes were taken yesterday. ABC reporting via cell phone. about 1 hour ago from web

# NBC offices in Tehran raided, cameras and Equipment confiscated. BBC told to get out Iran immediately. Cell/internet shut down #iranelection about 1 hour ago from web
Posted by Sherry">Sherry  2009-06-14 16:05||   2009-06-14 16:05|| Front Page Top

#19 Army issues statement:

# RT @reyhani: Iran's military has issued a statement to Revolutionary Guard, it will NOT get involved against Iranians. #iranelection 10 minutes ago from web
Posted by Sherry">Sherry  2009-06-14 16:08||   2009-06-14 16:08|| Front Page Top

#20 These theocratic crazies are going to take the country to the brink and maybe beyond to fulfill some religious apocalyptic notion. The people in Iran must sense that. They also sense theirs votes don't mean anything in a rigged election.
Posted by JohnQC 2009-06-14 16:16||   2009-06-14 16:16|| Front Page Top

#21 the Imams are thieves masquerading as religious figures. Always look for the money angle with them
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2009-06-14 16:22||   2009-06-14 16:22|| Front Page Top

#22 Here's 2:44 of Iran -- Riot Control Officers surrounded they were two , both captured and beaten , the other one had lost conciousness and this one gave up

Posted by Sherry">Sherry  2009-06-14 16:29||   2009-06-14 16:29|| Front Page Top

#23 time to string some piano wire, huh, Sherry?
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2009-06-14 16:33||   2009-06-14 16:33|| Front Page Top

#24 Meh.

Let's assume, for the moment, that the "protesters" (whoever they are) manage to overthrow the government and execute Ahmadawhatever. What next? Do they have any actual ideology, or plan, or ideas? Or is it some sort of Tiananmen-style "we have no idea what we're doing but we're against you" stink-up?
Posted by gromky 2009-06-14 16:38||   2009-06-14 16:38|| Front Page Top

#25 gromky -- I think that has been the problem all along -- there doesn't seem to be that person to step up -- folks I've read have indicated it isn't Mousavi -- although, he may be the only one right now.

Maybe his wife! An interview she did with VoA, being replayed right now --
(read from the bottom up)

# NEWS: The correct votes were 19,7M Mousavi, Karoubi 7M, Rezaei 3M, Ahmadinejad 7-8M less than a minute ago from Seesmic Desktop

# NEWS: Mousavi got a phone call from election dept. at 1am on election night, they told him "You won, prepare your victory speech"2 minutes ago from Seesmic Desktop

# I am listening and writing down all the news, plz stay tuned... #iranelection 9 minutes ago from Seesmic Desktop

# NEWS: Alireza Noorizadeh from VoA has some crazy info.. very trustworthy source #iranelection 11 minutes ago from Seesmic Desktop
Posted by Sherry">Sherry  2009-06-14 17:00||   2009-06-14 17:00|| Front Page Top

#26 Continuing from above:

# Ppl this is some serious insider news, VERY trustworthy, so it doesn't need confirmation #iranelection 1 minute ago from Seesmic Desktop

# NEWS All three of them, Mousavi, Karoubi and Rezai got the same numbers from the election dept. that night #iranelection 3 minutes ago from Seesmic Desktop
Posted by Sherry">Sherry  2009-06-14 17:02||   2009-06-14 17:02|| Front Page Top

#27 If Ahmadinajad is somehow deposed, how many seconds until the Messiah takes credit?
Posted by no mo uro 2009-06-14 17:08||   2009-06-14 17:08|| Front Page Top

#28 If I were W today, here's what I would be thinking -- from an anonymous

Email to The Corner

Reading items like the piece you excerpted from the New Republic reminds me of the strategic opportunities that Obama has squandered by demonizing Bush and the Iraq war for years.

Imagine how powerful it would be for Obama (or, more likely, a surrogate) to be able to stand up and say to the Iranian protesters, “Under the USA, your neighbor Iraq held free and fair elections. The government of Iran went out of its way to demonize the US and undermine those elections. We are now seeing the results of that mindset come home to Iran as you are denied a voice by your government in your own elections. The US government stands behind all who seek free and fair elections.”

Of course, he can’t say that with any legitimacy because he has spent years putting down Bush and Iraq. This is a classic example of why partisan bickering needs to be toned down; it hamstrings the new Administration. So frustrating to watch.
Posted by Sherry">Sherry  2009-06-14 17:10||   2009-06-14 17:10|| Front Page Top

#29 If true, this might have results:

Khatami, Rafsanjani and Mousavi had meeting tonight in Qom
Posted by Sherry">Sherry  2009-06-14 17:18||   2009-06-14 17:18|| Front Page Top

#30 Here's 2:44 of Iran -- Riot Control Officers surrounded they were two , both captured and beaten , the other one had lost conciousness and this one gave up

Those guys got out of that situation really good, in other locales, they would have been stomped to death or burned alive (heck, even in France, Youths would do just that, or short of it, to any caught riot cop), here, one of them is apparently protected by some fellows and given water.
Posted by anonymous5089 2009-06-14 17:38||   2009-06-14 17:38|| Front Page Top

#31 Eventually, someone will do something stupid, and there will be outright war. One of the worst things that DinnerJacket can do is to attack a ship in the Persian Gulf. If the Iranians actually SANK a ship, especially an American ship, we would HAVE to respond, whether Obambi wanted to or not. Otherwise, the entire world will ignite. I'm not sure who - or how many - would survive.
Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot  2009-06-14 17:39|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]  2009-06-14 17:39|| Front Page Top

#32 ION WAFF > VIDEO: SOUTH AZERBAIJANIS ROCKING IRAN, WANTIING THEIR FREEDOM.
Posted by JosephMendiola 2009-06-14 19:17||   2009-06-14 19:17|| Front Page Top

#33 ALso on WAFF > PAYVAND NEWS SURVEY [Pie chart]: THIS IS WHAT IRAN WILL LOK LIKE IN 50 YEARS.

To wit, IRAN CIRCA 2050 OR AFTER WILL BE
*40% Muslim
*40% No Religion = Secularist, Atheist. Religio "Moderate/Tolerant"
* 20% Non-Muslim = ALL OTHER FAITHS.

** SAME > THE CLEANSING OF GREECE HAS BEGUN [Govt. Officios promise ROUTINE/DAILY, HEAVY-HANDED CRACKDOWN agz ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS]???
Posted by JosephMendiola 2009-06-14 19:22||   2009-06-14 19:22|| Front Page Top

#34 Greece cleaning their greece trap. har har.
Posted by GirlThursday 2009-06-14 19:46||   2009-06-14 19:46|| Front Page Top

#35 The key here is the Kurds, Abzerjanis and SW Arabs. If they are rioting (and there is little access to them), then the regime may fall, especially if the Mullahs are stupid enough to use Arab Baseej (Alewites from Syria and Lebanon) in Farsi areas like Tehran.
Posted by OldSpook 2009-06-14 22:12||   2009-06-14 22:12|| Front Page Top

#36 Expect 0bama to send a note of congratulations to Ahmadinejad on his (Chicago style) election victory.
Posted by DMFD 2009-06-15 03:49||   2009-06-15 03:49|| Front Page Top

#37 This will certainly hurt Iran's economy which is not all that great anyway.
Posted by bman 2009-06-15 09:24||   2009-06-15 09:24|| Front Page Top

#38 The people have spoken! Turn cell phone and State Run Media towers back up to full power please. The appointment and re-appointment of cabinent Zsars, ambassadors, and postings of other campaign contributors can now begin anew.
Posted by Besoeker 2009-06-15 09:33||   2009-06-15 09:33|| Front Page Top

#39 That's why I've trying to move my Country away from these silly elections!

Another Yankee curse!
Posted by Hugo  2009-06-15 12:03||   2009-06-15 12:03|| Front Page Top

#40 Sherry__ your posts remind me of the Phillipine elections years ago when Marcos tried to steal the vote. It took the IT vote tabulators leaving their offices en masse in protest of announced results that didn't match what they actually saw to finally topple the regime.
Posted by Unealet the Fat2667 2009-06-15 16:42||   2009-06-15 16:42|| Front Page Top

#41 No, it took an attempted military coup that the rest of the military then declined to put down in the face of millions in the streets. When the dictator saw that he had lost military support he fled.

The vote-tabulators walkout may have helped swing the US government (Sen Lugar in particular) decisively against Marcos though; the US did have a substantial effect on encouraging the coup and the non-response of the military.
Posted by Goober Phinegum8506 2009-06-15 16:53||   2009-06-15 16:53|| Front Page Top

#42 Piano wire, home-made caltrops and well-planned ambushes. Sticks through front spokes also work well at dismounting motorpsychos.
Posted by mojo 2009-06-15 17:58||   2009-06-15 17:58|| Front Page Top

#43 See! Elections do cause chaos!
Posted by Gordon Brown 2009-06-15 19:01|| http://www.buzzle.com/articles/270690.html]">[http://www.buzzle.com/articles/270690.html]  2009-06-15 19:01|| Front Page Top

#44 Send in A.C.O.R.N. (oh please, please, please, please...........)
Posted by Uncle Phester 2009-06-15 20:05||   2009-06-15 20:05|| Front Page Top

#45 Hopefully, this will get resolved peaceably and the Iranians can all go back to shouting "Death to America!"
Posted by SteveS 2009-06-15 20:23||   2009-06-15 20:23|| Front Page Top

23:47 trailing wife
23:41 trailing wife
23:22 Goober Glomonter4456
23:08 Slats Spoque1394
23:01 Barbara Skolaut
22:59 Seafarious
22:38 Barbara Skolaut
22:30 gorb
22:25 Keystone
22:21 JosephMendiola
22:15 JosephMendiola
22:11 JosephMendiola
22:10 JosephMendiola
22:09 JosephMendiola
22:08 gorb
22:06 JosephMendiola
22:04 JosephMendiola
22:02 JosephMendiola
22:00 JosephMendiola
21:58 whitecollar redneck
21:35 Besoeker
21:25 Justrand
20:48 Muggsy Glink
20:37 SteveS









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