Iran update.
(AP) The Revolutionary Guard warns of much more violence waiting for protesters,
(Reuters) Moussavi urges more protests. ""In your protests, continue to show restraint. I am expecting armed forces to avoid irreversible damage," he said."
(Reuters) And former PM Khatami chimes back in, "warned of "dangerous consequences" if the people were prevented from expressing their demands in peaceful ways. "
(AFP) Iran arrested 457 demonstrators yesterday per state radio. (Rafsanjani's daughter has been relesed.)
(AFP) More Parliamentary Speaker Larijani, "But in a sign of the divisions emerging among senior Iranian figures over the vote, parliament speaker Ali Larijani said: "A large portion of the people perceived the election result to be different to the one officially announced. This perception must be respected."
(Are there any non-appointed or former senior political figures speaking for Khamenei? Right now, all the pressure is on Khamenei, and very little is on Moussavi, Rafsanjani, Khatami, etc.)
AND, Here's a pretty amazing video from Iran of protesters turning back the police. Watch all the way until the end.
A statement posted Monday on the Guard's Web site warned protesters to "be prepared for a resolution and revolutionary confrontation with the Guards, Basij and other security forces and disciplinary forces."
(Reuters) Moussavi urges more protests. ""In your protests, continue to show restraint. I am expecting armed forces to avoid irreversible damage," he said."
(Reuters) And former PM Khatami chimes back in, "warned of "dangerous consequences" if the people were prevented from expressing their demands in peaceful ways. "
(AFP) Iran arrested 457 demonstrators yesterday per state radio. (Rafsanjani's daughter has been relesed.)
(AFP) More Parliamentary Speaker Larijani, "But in a sign of the divisions emerging among senior Iranian figures over the vote, parliament speaker Ali Larijani said: "A large portion of the people perceived the election result to be different to the one officially announced. This perception must be respected."
(Are there any non-appointed or former senior political figures speaking for Khamenei? Right now, all the pressure is on Khamenei, and very little is on Moussavi, Rafsanjani, Khatami, etc.)
AND, Here's a pretty amazing video from Iran of protesters turning back the police. Watch all the way until the end.
posted by mikevotes at
5:50 AM
11 Comments:
What are they throwing at each other?
By
Anonymous, at 9:38 AM
I figure it has to be rocks from a building site (behind the protesters?).
By
mikevotes, at 10:07 AM
And Republicans at home urging Obama to "talk tougher". But to what end? Following Republicans' suggestions would only mean the focus would shift from internal Iranian conflicts to "the American devil." And then what? We undercut the authentic legitimacy of all Iranians who rose up in protest. They become "puppets of American aggression."
Really. These Republicans are either stupid or... I don't know. I'm going to have to settle for stupid.
By
-epm, at 10:36 AM
Obviously -although it’s the last thing Team Obama wants to hear- Ronald Reagan’s support of Poland’s Solidarity in the dark days of the Soviet-ordered crackdown is the model here- not the preposterous straw-man argument of “what are you going to do, invade?” disingenuously presented by the do-nothing, Obamapologist left.
And isn’t this what George W Bush told you was going to happen in the Middle East in the wake of Iraq’s liberation?
Maybe that’s why Barack Obama has so little apparent interest in finishing the job in Iran… no matter how much it benefits the US and free world.
That, and the fact that he’s already piled all his chips on legitimizing this vile regime- and a democratic revolution at this point would be downright embarrassing for him.
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/
By
Reaganite Republican, at 11:09 AM
Actually, Obama has been very vocal in support of freedom of expression and dissent. His words have become sharper has the Iranian state has acted more violently.
It was the "wake of Iraq's liberation" that brought us Ahmadinejad. It was Obama's firm, but respectful, overtures to the Iraqi people that emboldened the Iranian "reformists." But in any case, Moussavi is not Walesa, and the the international politics of Iran and the former USSR are hardly comparable.
I don't know if Moussavi represents a less pious constituency that Ahmadinejad, or just a less parochial faction of piety. He has his supporters in the Guardian Council, as Ahmadinejad has his. I think it fairly clear the the uprising were seeing in Iran is almost exclusively focused on domestic issues.
The more overtly the U.S. picks sides, the more "illegitimate" the protesters become in Iranian eyes. That's the tightrope Obama has to walk. By following the suggestions of certain Republicans, Obama would almost certainly guarantee the legitimacy of the Guardian Council and it's Supreme Leader. Indeed, far from being "finished off" they'd be further entrenched.
Again, this is much, much different situation than the USSR.
By
-epm, at 12:56 PM
Well said -epm. The Iranian protesters have genuine grievances but I'm pretty sure there's quite a bit of meddling going on from outside. And Obama knows it.
By
Anonymous, at 1:11 PM
Reaganite, there are so many differences between where Iran is now and Poland then.
And we obviously hold so very different views of the moving parts that arguing about this would be pointless.
....
EPM, My sense is that Moussavi represents a more realist faction than any substantive policy differences. It's more in application.
(And as I've said several times, the Iranian protesters don't want US help. They don't want any association with the US as it will damage them.)
By
mikevotes, at 1:58 PM
Mike, that's my sense of Moussavi as well. I don't know if he would be any less supportive of Hammas. I don't know if he would be any more "friendly" toward Israel. I don't know if he holds and different view on Iranian nuclearization. He may be less bellicose, however. And as you said more pragmatic.
Even the Chinese are open to the West. But that hardly means they're an open, democratic society.
And to your point about the protesters (reformers) not wanting U.S. help, I think this is universally accepted by everyone who doesn't have their head up their butt. Only bullies and buffoons think it would be productive for the U.S. to provide "help" to the reformers. Even (and especially) rhetorical "help" from the bully pulpit of the White House.
By
-epm, at 2:26 PM
Yeah. And unlike the shows in Georgia and Ukraine, this one seems genuinely organic.
By
mikevotes, at 3:30 PM
I think Obama has got it right. US help would be counterproductive....on the other hand the protests do seem somewhat geared to Western media.
By
Anonymous, at 6:31 PM
Oh, yeah. World support is to theiur advantage and English is the language of the world.
Just not interference from former colonial powers or a US which already overthrew the Iranian governmnet once.
By
mikevotes, at 7:32 PM
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