« January 2005 | Main | March 2005 »
February 28, 2005
European Firms Display Wares in Iran!
Interesting article and video clip from NBC's investigative unit.
Disturbing on a number of levels, including the fact that the company Finmeccanica which recently won a contract to build a new version of the presidential helicopter is one of several companies trying to sell similar technology to the Mullahs.
John Pike, director of the nonprofit organization GlobalSecurity.org, said that "I think that the Europeans would sell their grandmothers to the Iranians if they thought they could make a buck."
Is it really wise for the Bush Administration to be handing the job of solving the Mullah-Nuke-Tyranny-Dictatorship problem over to the EU and Russia?
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 12:16 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 24, 2005
Forces unable to control Tehran uprising lasting more than 6 hours.
via Iran Focus
Tehran, Feb. 24 – In a recent secret report to the Iranian regime's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps pointed out that were a demonstration or rebellion to last more than six hours in Tehran, the security apparatus would no longer be able to control the situation.
"Society is in an unstable state. Were certain sensitive locations in Tehran to 'explode' under these circumstances, and the capital sink into chaos, if uprisings continue unabated and grow larger for more than six hours in Tehran, the situation would become uncontrollable", the report said.
The Iranian capital has been the scene of numerous clashes between people and State Security Forces over the past few months.
The Iranian regime has stepped up repression throughout the capital over the past year to combat any outbursts against the state.
Clashes have also erupted elsewhere in Iran in recent weeks. Iranian Kurds and security agents clashed heavily on Friday in three towns in western Iran, leaving dozens injured and hundreds arrested.
The disruption occurred after SSF agents used force to disperse demonstrations taking place simultaneously in the towns of Sardasht, Saqqez, and Baneh in protest against severe fuel shortages in the area, eye-witnesses reported.
The demonstrations quickly turned violent as protestors fought back and shouted slogans against Iran's ruling clerics.
Similarly, thousands of people flooded the streets of Mahabad (Kurdistan province) in mid-February, clashing with the SSF after days of gas, water, and electricity interruptions.
The demonstration quickly turned into a mass rally and youths set fire to banners and posters celebrating the 26th anniversary of the revolution that toppled the monarchy.
Eye-witnesses reported that at least two plainclothes policemen were injured during the ensuing clashes.
This is not some secret. All Iranians as well as the whole world understands how stable (or not) the regime is. Perhaps the level of strong rhetoric and policy support coming out of Washington these days will be the catalyst for major country-wide demonstrations, that would certainly result in a true and genuine "referendum".
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 07:13 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 22, 2005
Khatami, Ebadi, and Sham Referendum's - oh MY! (IRAN UPDATE)
Mohammad Parvin has written an important article which has been published at FrontPageMagazine.com!
He begins by exposing the 60000000.com petition for what it really is, reiterating what most freedom-loving Iranians already know, which is that orchestrated attempts to massage a theocratic regime into a civilized 21st century democracy that upholds the will of it's citizens is an old tactic of regime-preservation that is known all to well by most Iranians.
Mr. Parvin makes note of the fact that most of the referendum's architects are so-called "reformers", many of whome were allies and advocates of Khomeini at one time or another.
Just like the so-called reformer Khatami and just like the so-called human rights champion and nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi, this 60000000.com referendum represents more of the same empty promises and pseudo-solutions, that ultimately aim to sustain the regime, and are more or less concocted by the regime itself and promoted by it's sympathizers.
Mohammad Parvin justifiably closes with a few simple things President George W. Bush needs to do in order to put his words (of Iranian freedom) into action:
· Acknowledge the fact that the freedom-loving Iranians want a secular democratic regime and are against the entirety of the Islamic Regime, its constitution, and any form or shape of the interference of religion in state.
· Impose a smart sanction against the Islamic Regime of Iran. This sanction should be a real one and not of the type that would exclude 200 American companies such as Halliburton and General Electric. A sanction that does not have any loopholes and does not allow Halliburton or GE to stay in Iran for another five years to finish their current obligations (obligations to whom?).
· Reduce the diplomatic relations with the Islamic Regime to the lowest possible level.
· Apply the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act indiscriminately and do not allow the IRI lobby groups such as AIC and individuals like Senator Biden to legitimize a terrorist regime.
In the meantime, if signing petitions is your cup of tea, then check out the 70,000,000 petition that was created by the Iran of Tomorrow Movement. It calls for a fair and free referendum only post-regime-change.
UPDATE: Roger Simon and Forum Members on the recent Earthquake!
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 09:39 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 19, 2005
Rice dismisses Putin!
[World News]: WASHINGTON, Feb. 18: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Friday dismissed Russian leader Vladimir Putin's claim Iran was not making nuclear weapons.
"There are good reasons to be suspicious of what the Iranians are doing," she said at a joint news conference with Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot.
Did anyone really expect anything different from Putin? Now if the US could only get the Europeans to cutoff ties with the regime in Iran, this would amount to a solid victory. However, even if that day never comes, the Iranian people will ultimately get the support they need from the United States and they will win their freedom.
Looks like Condoleezza is in good company: Roger Simon, Secular Blasphemy, The Astute Blogger, Friends of Micronesia, ThoughtsOnline, and Captains Quarters are just some of the bloggers who're calling the Putin/Islamic Regime alliance as they see it.
In the words of Andre and the gang at Friends of Micronesia, "I thought that the massacre in Chechnya would have brought Russia full fledged into the war on terrorism but that horrible event was soon forgotten when money is at stake. I'm sure that when US and Europe increase the pressure on Syria it will turn to Iran, who when applied pressure to, will probably turn to Russia for help. Will Syria/Iran become the next playground for a cold war between Russia and the US?
I don't think things will escalate that much but one thing is for sure: Russia and the world need a real democratic ruler to replace Putin?"
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 01:13 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 18, 2005
Syria and Iran have been always been allies!
They've always been allies and quite similar as they are two regimes that have little support from the citizens and are major sponsors of terrorism.
These types of announcements as well as "accidents" like mosques burning down and pseudo-rockets hitting near nuclear sites are more likely than not distractions used to sway world attention from the solid non-military policy America looks to be pursuing. Although America's Iran policy smells non-military at the moment it differs significantly from the EUs (Big 3) non-military approach. EU Governments would just assume keep the status-quo (regime) in place so they can continue their lucrative business relationships with the Mullahs while destroying the whole of the Iranian nation, silencing the voices of millions throughout the region, incubating tyranny, hate, despair and injustice that will in turn perpetuate continued wars, loss of coalition soldiers lives, and an unstable region, world and economy.
The American approach looks to support the Iranian people in their struggle for freedom! ||TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT APPROACHES||
If you have one minute of spare time, please read the blog-post regarding a new enlightening documentary that should be broadcasted by television networks throughout America.
Click here to contact PBS!
After you contact PBS, be sure to checkout the Doc's daily rundown.
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 08:31 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 17, 2005
Encourage PBS Frontline to air this important DOCUMENTARY!
Many of you might recall that PBS Frontline broadcasted the documentary by Jane Kokan who had traced the steps of Zahra Kazemi, a Canadian photojournalist who was murdered by the regime in the Summer of '03.
A new Documentary has made its way out of Iran and is currently being aired by Canadian Broadcasting’s Passionate Eye.
If you support the movement for freedom and would like PBS Frontline to air this new documentary, then join with thousands of others across the blogosphere and contact PBS urging them to purchase and air this documentary.
Feel free to copy and paste (use) the following letter in your correspondence to PBS:
To contact PBS, click here!
--------------------------------------
Dear Frontline PBS,
As a long time and ardent fan of your award winning series and excellent documentaries I am writing to you to request that you consider purchasing and airing a tragically moving and remarkably poignant documentary called “Prostitution Behind the Veil, by Swedish- Iranian director Nahid Persson. You can read about the documentary on:
http://www.dfi.dk/sitemod/moduler/index_english.asp?pid=21530
The documentary is also airing this week as part of Canadian Broadcasting’s Passionate Eye: http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/behindtheveil.html
The documentary reveals the brutal and tragic underside of the Islamic Republic of Iran, where state sanctioned prostitution and heroin addiction under the aegis of Islam, are destroying an entire generation. The documentary also reveals the oppression and indignities that women in the Islamic world are subjected to, much of which is simply never seen by the west and especially in the United States. Much has been written about the state sponsorship of terrorism and the development of weapons of mass destruction by the Mullahs in Iran, very little though is ever written about the destruction of the Iranian people by a corrupt and terrorist Islamist theocracy. Most Americans have never really seen images of life inside the dreaded theocracy in Iran, nor have they ever had a chance to watch the ravages and destruction that this theocracy has caused in the lives of its people. The filmmakers and addict/prostitutes in this documentary have taken great risks to reveal this hideous underside of the Islamic Republic of Iran, you can carry their message to Americans by purchasing and airing this documentary. As a Frontline and PBS supporter I strongly urge you to purchase and air this documentary.
Thank-you
--------------------------------------
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 08:29 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Will Washington Support Democracy in Iran? (Update)
Update: Another 'Accidental' Fire at Tehran's Gold Bazar
Hopefully the United States will support the Iranian people in this great time of democratic revolution.
If the United States doesn't support the Iranian people, then the spread of freedom and democracy in the Middle East is in danger because the world already knows where the EU governments (currently) stand (Also, WSJ article: "Parsing Gerhard". Of course we all understand and respect the fact that people, corporations and governments need and want to make money. There is nothing wrong with capitalism and the spread of freedom is not anti-capitalist in anyway, in fact a Middle East that is free, peaceful and democratic will not only strengthen the economies and growth of that region, but more importantly strengthen the overall global economy.
Why doesn't the world ditch the old policies of the past (supporting tyrants to facilitiate maximum business leverage and exploit humanity) in exchange for a level, democratic, and just playing field where business, creativity, capitalism, and humanity can evolve and progress to heights that can most certainly be achieved in a short time.
In the meantime, be sure to read the message forum, as well as DoctorZin's Thurday Briefing on Iran, a worthwhile 1, 2 combo of related news and views.
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 10:27 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 16, 2005
Mullahs Punish Mahabad, Cut off Gas in the middle of Freeze
Recently there were large anti-regime protests in the city of Mahabad. As punishment, the regime has now cutoff the gas to the region in the midst of the coldest winter ever, creating a deadly situation for the citizens of Mahabad.
The governor of Mahabad has apparently been trying to restrain public anger, but demonstrations and clashes continue with agents of the SSF.
The demonstration quickly turned into a mass rally and youths set fire to banners and poster celebrating the 26th anniversary of the revolution that toppled the monarchy and brought to power Iran's clerics, eye-witnesses reported.
Hundreds of SSF agents, plainclothes police, and members of the Bassij (Iran's paramilitary police) attacked the demonstrators with clubs and batons, arresting at least 10 individuals, as residents shouted antigovernment slogans.
Eye-witnesses reported that a number of plainclothes policemen were injured during the ensuing clashes.
In other news Lawmakers Urge Strong US Position On Iran
Hopefully Congress continues to get tough, but at some point, solid policy backed up by action in support of the Iranian people is the only answer.
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 11:42 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Iranian State TV: Explosion in Area Near Nuke Plant!
Iranian State TV: Explosion in Area Near Nuke Plant
Hard to tell what the situation is at this point. Always a possibility that the Mullahs are self-inflicting these blasts to achieve their own means and objectives...
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 09:49 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 13, 2005
Clashes in Iran between people and Security Forces!
via IranFocus
Tehran, Feb. 13 - Thousands of people flooded the streets of Mahabad (northwest Kurdistan province in Iran) this morning, clashing violently with State Security Forces after days of gas, water, and electricity interruptions.
According to local residents, household gas has been cut off in the town for the past four days, electricity has been out for more than 24 hours, and water was repeatedly cut off for several hours at a time over the past day.
Protestors gathered in front of government offices, complaining that there as extreme shortage of bread as bakeries could not provide them during the energy blackout.
Temperatures in Mahabad have reportedly dropped to as low 15 degrees below freezing over the past few days.
The demonstration quickly turned into a mass rally and youths set fire to banners and poster celebrating the 26th anniversary of the revolution that toppled the monarchy and brought to power Iran's turbaned clerics, residents reported.
Mahabad residents complained that the price of bread on the black-market had increased to 2,000 rials.
SSF agents, plainclothes police, and members of the Bassij (Iran's paramilitary police) attacked the demonstrators with clubs and batons, arresting at least ten individuals, as residents shouted slogans against the Iranian regime.
Eye-witnesses reported that at least two plainclothes policemen were injured during the ensuing clashes.
Schools in Mahabad have been shut down during the blackout period.
The Iranian people are currently standing for their freedom - and have been doing so every single day. Perhaps it's about time for America to really provide support to the Iranian people?
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 04:15 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 08, 2005
Secretary Condoleezza Rice is Taking Care Of Business!
Remarks at The Institut d'Etudes Politiques - Science Politique Paris
[audio]
TOP NOTCH POLICY SPEECH! Make sure you listen or read all of it!
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 06:35 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 06, 2005
French Government BANS Pro-Iranian-Freedom Rally!
Source: Iran Focus
Paris, Feb. 04 - "Iran's main opposition group, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, issued a statement today condemning the French government's decision to ban a peaceful protest by Iranian exiles in Paris against the dictatorship ruling Iran, despite prior approval.
The NCRI called France's decision to cancel the rally "kowtowing to the demands of the medieval regime seeking to expand its repression from Tehran to Paris", adding "French officials as part of a shameful deal with the clerical regime in power in Iran, banned a February 10th demonstration by Iranians in Paris".
February 10 coincides with the 26th anniversary of the 1979 anti-monarchic revolution in Iran.
It said, "According to reports from organisers of the demonstration in Paris, more than 40,000 Iranians from across Europe were expected to attend the rally, something which would terrify the ruling mullahs".
"The demonstration was sponsored by more than 250 European parliamentarians and dozens of international human rights organisations", it added.
In an interview with Iran Focus one Iranian exile living in Paris called the decision "a mockery to French values for basic human rights, such as the freedom of expression".
"Iranians who escaped the clutches of the medieval regime have the right to protest against those who have executed over 120,000 dissidents and imprisoned and tortured more than half a million. France, which is thought to be the bastion of freedom, has allowed the regime to spread its tentacles here and taken away the legitimate right of our oppressed people to demonstrate for their fellow compatriots under the mullahs' dictatorship", Javad Mahmoudi said.
The NCRI revealed from sources from within Iran that France gave into the demands of the Iranian regime to secure economic deals for French companies, adding that Tehran was spreading its dictatorship thousands of kilometres to the heart of Europe."
If banning pro-freedom rallys is their wish, so be it. It won't stop the Iranian people from winning their freedom.
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 12:34 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 05, 2005
Regime's planned celebration at the Marriott Hotel CANCELED!
"Bethesda, Md. (AP) - A Bethesda hotel has canceled a dinner purportedly celebrating the anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran.
Marriott International cited federal law that forbids U.S. companies from working with the Iranian government as the reason.
The event at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center was organized by the Iranian government's diplomatic mission in Washington. It was booked several months ago, but Marriott officials canceled it recently after learning of the Iranian government's role from a group that had planned to protest the event.
The United States severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980. "
Also from the Washington Post:
"A celebration scheduled for this weekend at Montgomery County's new hotel and conference center, marking the 26th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran, was canceled after the hotel's operator learned that it would violate
federal law.
The Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, which opened in December, was to play host to 1,000 guests at a reception thrown by Ali Jazini, director of the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
John Wolf, a Marriott spokesman, said yesterday that the hotel canceled the event after realizing it is illegal to do business with Iran. He said Marriott officials will "be taking steps" to prevent similar bookings in the future.
Announcement of the event raised an outcry from Iranian opponents of the country's regime who live in the United States. They organized a campaign calling on Marriott to cancel.
"For them to come celebrate the anniversary of their glorious revolution in the United States is just wrong," said Iman Foroutan, director of the Iran of Tomorrow Movement, an American-based organization working to oust Iran's fundamentalist regime. "If they allowed this, I would not be surprised if al Qaeda celebrated their next anniversary in the heart of New York."
In a letter sent this week to Marriott officials and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, Foroutan cited an order from then-President Bill Clinton designating Iran as "an extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy" of the United States. The letter went on to say that it is illegal for Iran to do business within the borders of the United States.
Foroutan, whose Los Angeles-based group operates a satellite television station, said Iranian dissidents were planning to picket outside the conference center.
Feb. 11 is an Iranian holiday marking the fall of the government of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1979. In November of that year, militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking hostages and triggering a 444-day crisis for President Jimmy Carter, during which he severed diplomatic ties with Iran. The ordeal ended when President Ronald Reagan took office in January 1981.
In his State of the Union address Wednesday, President Bush said Iran "remains the world's primary state sponsor of terror -- pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve."
Iran maintains a presence in the United States by operating an office from the Pakistani Embassy. Calls to the Iranian Interest Section were not returned yesterday.
The $80 million Marriott conference center is a signature initiative of Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D), designed as a place where civic organizations and businesses can meet.
Although $40 million in state and county money was used to construct it, Marriott books all the events, said David Weaver, a Duncan spokesman.
"We are not in the booking business," Weaver said."
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 02:09 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack
February 04, 2005
16 trucks carrying weapons en route from Iran discovered in Iraq.
Source: Iran Focus
"Baghdad, Feb. 04 – 16 trucks carrying weapons and large sums of money from Iran were discovered over the past few days en route to Iraq, according to an Iraqi Defence Ministry source.
Speaking to the Iraqi daily Al-Mashreq, the source said that the weapons included rifles, mortar rounds, and explosives. He said that those arrested admitted to being agents of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), and said that lodging had been provided for them in Samara, Balad, Najaf, and Latifiyeh.
The individuals revealed that they work working on behalf of the MOIS in conjunction with Iran's Fajr Forces. During interrogation the Iranian agents also revealed the names of a number of Fajr commanders and MOIS agents whom they worked for."
Perhaps the weapons were intended to be used for agricultural purposes?
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 06:11 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 03, 2005
Condoleezza Turns Up The Heat!
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has only been on the job a short time now, but she's already off to a positive start!
"I don't think anybody thinks that the unelected mullahs who run that regime are a good thing for either the Iranian people or for the region," Ms Rice told reporters accompanying her to Europe and the Middle East.
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 08:58 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
State Of The Union: Important Words -
The words spoken in last night's State Of The Union in support of the Iranian people will likely prove to be very important building blocks of an overall policy, strategy and will, to break the chains that have binded 70 million Iranians over the past 25 years.
If the words spoken by President Bush truly reflect the new policy of the United States, then the only remaining piece to the puzzle is the European hand. As many of you know, European business ties with the Mullahs have been one of the major ingredients to the Islamic regime's sustenance. If such support is removed and subsequently replaced by a free world that overwhelmingly supports Iranian freedom, then positive change will happen rapidly.
The reason why the Iranian people have up until this point not been able to secure their own freedom, and haven't taken to the streets in a large way, is because they need the assurances that the rest of the world supports them and they won't be acting in vain once again.
Good Speech! Be sure to discuss in the forum.
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 10:38 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 02, 2005
Letter From: The Office of Iran of Tomorrow Movement (URGENT)
Click here for the .pdf file of Letter!
Discuss in the forum!
"Dear American Citizens,
As you are reading this letter, preparations for celebrating the “Islamic victory against America” is underway in the heart of our nation. The Director of the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C., Mr. Ali Jazini, has reserved a large section of the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center for a celebration of the “Twenty Sixth Anniversary of the glorious victory of the Islamic Revolution and Death to America Day,” on February 6th at 6:00 pm.
The date chosen to hold this celebration, February 6th, has been formally declared on the Islamic Republic’s Calendar as “Death to America Day.” This date is associated with the Iran Hostage Crisis in which Islamic fundamentalists, acting under the orders of the Islamic Government, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took 52 American Diplomats hostage, holding them for 444 days. This celebration is a blatant insult to those Americans who suffered for 444 days during the Hostage Crisis and to the 241 Americans who died at the hands of the Islamic Republic in the 1983 bombing of an American barracks in Lebanon. President Bush has repeatedly declared the Islamic Republic as “a state sponsor of international terrorism”.
Furthermore, under President Clinton (Executive Order 12959), the Islamic Republic has been declared “an extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the US”. Trade with the Islamic Republic or facilitation of its activities within the borders of the United States is illegal under U.S. law. Allowing this “celebration” to take place at the Marriott could very well violate these legal parameters that have been set in place to protect national security.
It will be a dark day in American history when a terrorist group holds a victory celebration in our nation’s capitol. America will not tolerate such a disgrace. We are prepared to take any action necessary to stop this terrorist sponsored event. We can do our part in “The Homeland Security” on February 6th. This nation will boycott the Marriott Properties in its entirety.
Do your patriotic duty! Write or call Marriott ( bob.daley@marriott.com, (301) 822-9200, 5701 Marinelli Rd., North Bethesda, MD 20852) and let them know that America will not be disgraced and you will not allow this abhorrent celebration to take place in the heart of our great Nation. Patriotic American citizens will be present at the front entrance of the Bethesda Marriott on February 6th, the day that is marked as “Death to America Day”, in order to stop these terrorists from entering the Marriott Ballroom and rejoicing in their crimes against America.
If we let this event take place, today it may be the Islamic Republic celebrating on February 6th in Washington D.C., but tomorrow it will be al-Qaeda in New York on September 11th."
17328 Ventura Blvd. #209 Encino, CA 91316 USA
Phone: 818-986-0200 Fax: 818-474-7229
WWW.SOSIRAN.COM 24-hour Message Center: 888-SOS-IRAN
Posted by ActivistChat.com at 09:54 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack