Iran
For the past four days, I have been riveted by the events in Iran. This is an Oregon blog, and there's nothing directly connecting our state to the revolution happening on the streets of Tehran except that it's a universal moment, and there's no reason not to mention it on an Oregon blog. We are watching a historic event, as a mood for popular democracy sweeps across a nation. Surely many of you are as interested in these events as I have been.
The events are really too complex to recap, but I encourage anyone with an interest to visit one of the following sites (blogs mostly)--they have been on the cutting edge of reporting a nascent revolution:
- Andrew Sullivan. He's excitable and not terribly objective, but his blog has also tracked every blow as the story has developed.
- Juan Cole. A professor of Middle Eastern history. He is decidedly not excitable and he is objective.
- The Lede (NYT). The Times' news blog has been the one souce in the MSM to capture the events real time. Indespensible.
- NIAC Blog (niacINsight). The National Iranian American Council is a nonprofit group who has been blogging constantly since the election. Also a good source for activities in the US.
- Huffington Post. More hit or miss, but also a good repository of breaking news.
Happy reading--
___________________
IMAGE: Getty / link
|
June 16, 2009 |
Jeff Alworth | Comments (36 so far)
| Share on Facebook |
Sponsored Advertising
Comments
Posted by: Jim Ross | Jun 16, 2009 3:57:17 PM
Jeff here is an Oregon connection, no matter how slight. Christy Quirk, who used to be a business partner of Lisa Grove wrote a very interesting post on the situation.
Posted by: Robert Collins | Jun 16, 2009 4:07:33 PM
Well, I suppose you can call it a movement toward democracy. But the Ayatollah runs the country along with the clerics... and nobody votes for them.
Posted by: tmy | Jun 16, 2009 4:15:26 PM
My father left Iran in the late '70s while his three brothers and parents did not. I have been emailing regularly with my cousins, students in Tehran and Tabriz, since that is the only reliable form of communication at the moment. I have been receiving first-hand accounts daily since the election. I am working in Salem in the Capitol and watching this situation unfold as we wrap up the legislative session. That is my Oregon connection. While I do not see any preconception amongst my cousins that these protests will move them close to regime change (Mousavi is himself a candidate approved by the Ayatollah), they are driven to protest by the blatent corruption and abuse of power by the regime.
Posted by: hilsy | Jun 16, 2009 4:21:04 PM
Even though they are just twitters, I would add the following two to your list.
http://twitter.com/madyar
http://twitter.com/makesalt
They are providing links to videos and pictures with near real time information. Did you know there was a massive (and I mean massive) protest in Isfahan (or Esfehan)? Check out the pics linked in both twitters. This stuff is not just happening in Tehran
Posted by: Pat Ryan | Jun 16, 2009 5:16:17 PM
(Mousavi is himself a candidate approved by the Ayatollah)
Yeah, and its a stretch to call him a reformer beyond noting that he reinvented himself to appeal to the younger demo.
He was in charge during part of the Iran/Iraq war during which time tens of thousands of pre-adolescent children were used as human mine sweepers.
*********
All of that said, there's a serious split in Qom among the religious leaders, and Mousavi is Rafsanjani's Boy, just like Ahmedinejad belongs to Kahmeni.
Posted by: Dave Porter | Jun 16, 2009 5:16:34 PM
Thanks, Jeff. I, too, have been riveted. With our dependence on oil and our strategic investments of dollars and blood in the Middle East, however unfortunate, what happens in Iran is of profound concern to us in Oregon. I have been following the sources you mention. I'm now wearing green in support of the people in Iran struggling for change and for free and fair elections (see here) and urge others to do so as well. There is little that our US government can or should do, but we as a people can show our support.
Posted by: Bill Bodden | Jun 16, 2009 7:40:56 PM
What Would Have Happened if the "Bomb Iran" Contingent had its Way? at http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/06/16-1
Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Jun 16, 2009 8:45:01 PM
I think it's fascinating that Twitter delayed its planned outage to 2-3 pm PST in order to avoid an outage during Iran's daytime -- at the request of the US State Department.
Posted by: Bill McDonald | Jun 16, 2009 9:09:28 PM
Kari,
I agree. Twitter has gone from an annoying joke to a serious player in global communications in just a few days. Remarkable.
Posted by: Chuck Butcher | Jun 17, 2009 12:51:49 AM
Anyhow, the Mullahs have now proven that they are lying cheating politicians rather than Holy Men. That is something.
Posted by: Bill McDonald | Jun 17, 2009 1:37:05 AM
Not to sound like an apology tour but I wish more Americans really learned about the Middle East. The fundamentalist backlash in Iran did not have to happen.
Ahh, screw it. What's the point? Events have a way of forcing people to see through the propaganda whether they want to or not.
Stay tuned.
I'm just as guilty with South America. Every time I venture into our doings there, I immediately get the feeling that I don't really want to know.
Suffice it to say that we're still paying for mistakes in the Middle East made decades ago. Just as we'll pay for Iraq for the rest of our lives - especially all the young Americans who were sent there for an unnecessary war.
Iran didn't have to go like this. It was on a path to be one of the most promising countries in the region. Somewhere I have a picture of my Mom and sister walking around Tehran back in the 1950s. They couldn't be more safe. Iran pretty much loved us after WW2 and we did a lot to earn their hatred. We inspired the blow-back. We're one of the main reasons the clerics are in charge. That's not an apology - it's just a fact.
What's the use? I'm weary of the Middle East. I was born there and it's been one long high-maintenance heartbreaker my whole life.
Posted by: steven andresen | Jun 17, 2009 4:29:08 AM
I have just read where Peter DeFazio voted in favor of the supplemental war funding bill. He was not one of the few Democrats to vote no.
Is there something more important that Peter has to get done that he couldn't if he voted against these wars? Is Obama going to make it difficult for him to get re-elected or to pass bills in Congress?
Does Peter have some argument that justified his vote in favor of this war being funded or the IMF being funded?
What did Peter get in return for his vote?
Posted by: Old Ducker | Jun 17, 2009 8:23:39 AM
You can interact directly with the Counter-Revolutionaries here:
http://twitter.com/NewIRAN
Also check out:
www.rottengods.com
www.fireonquran.com
Show your suppport for those brave people. Tea Parties my ass, the Iranians are showing the world what true courage and civil disobedience means.
Posted by: Jim H | Jun 17, 2009 8:29:14 AM
Ditto - re: Twitter. The most amazing thing about this entire situation is not just how Iranians have used Twitter and other social networking sites but also how normal people (not just governments) all around the world have been helping them by setting up proxies, passing on information, etc. Unbelievable.
Also, I've been muttering this to myself for the past 4 days - Thank God the Bush/Cheney/McCain/Lieberman crowd isn't in charge right now. They would have royally fracked this up on day 1 (if not earlier). Someone needs to remind them who was President when the little munchkin got himself elected in the first place.
Posted by: Stephen Amy | Jun 17, 2009 10:35:19 AM
An Oregon connection to be considered is that a bill which would divest Oregon's public funds from Iranian companies passed the Oregon Senate by 27-3, despite a reasoned op-ed against which was written by Rep. Larry Galizio and appeared at BlueOregon. I don't know if the House vote has been taken on this bill.
So it's clear that the result in Iran is highly questionable.
Let us not forget why this gets so much press in the U.S., however: because at issue is a country which has often opposed U.S. policy and has practically always opposed Israeli policy.
Where's the coverage/outrage when Egypt's torturer-in-chief, who happens to be bought off by the U.S. to the tune of $3 bil. annually, runs one of his rigged elections?
Posted by: Old Ducker | Jun 17, 2009 6:08:46 PM
Just found this via twitter, live video stream with sound...pretty cool stuff:
http://persianq.com
Posted by: Vincent | Jun 17, 2009 11:42:18 PM
No mention of Michael Totten? He's both an award-winning Portland-based blogger and someone who's well-traveled in the Middle East and elsewhere, including Georgia, Kosovo, and Albania (though not Iran, as far as I know). Tons of Iran-related stuff here.
I'd also take issue with your characterization of Juan Cole as "not excitable" (attributing his loss of the "Best Middle-East or Africa Blogger of the Year" award -- to Totten, no less -- to some sort of "right-wing conspiracy was both exceedingly petty and more than a bit arrogant), but that's neither here nor there.
Posted by: Chris Lowe | Jun 18, 2009 2:26:10 PM
Sorry to come late to this, but a group of Iranian Americans is organizing a silent vigil on Friday evening and invites all to come.
Here is what they say:
----
We are a group of Iranian Americans from the Portland Metropolitan area and from Vancouver, WA. We are heartbroken by the violence inflicted upon the Iranian people. We are also tremendously proud of our fellow Iranians for their perseverance and non-violent presence in the streets demanding change and justice. We invite you to join us for a silent a vigil in solidarity with our courageous sisters and brothers who have been protesting ever since the election results were announced and their will was disregarded.
Friday, June 19 at 7 p.m.
In front of the Portland State University Library
At Hall and SW Park Blocks
We request to not display flags, party affiliations or offensive slogans in order to focus on our message of unity with the people of Iran and our commitment to free and fair elections. Please bring candles in containers and flowers.
---
This call was circulated to a PDX Peace Coalition listserv by a member of an affiliated Iranian American organization and sent forwarded by PDX Peace as an action alert.
Posted by: Old Ducker | Jun 18, 2009 2:29:11 PM
Update, from Iranian twitterer persianq:
RT Iran CONFIRMED:the army is called off,police have been seen wearing green and protecting protesters from besiji
23 minutes ago from web
Posted by: Chris Lowe | Jun 18, 2009 3:10:43 PM
O.D. -- wow.
Posted by: www.myshopbay.com | Jun 19, 2009 12:15:53 AM
I purchased the ralph lauren polo t-shirt for my friend as a gift and he was SO excited he wore it the very next day. When I asked him about how many compliments he received he just grinned. Apparently everyone loved it!
While it's such a great shirt, just be such not to over wear it!
Posted by: www.onnhl.com | Jun 19, 2009 12:16:30 AM
Very nice post,really well written. I like them as if my best love NHL jersey about Boston Bruins,Buffalo Sabres,Chicago Blackhawks,Los Angeles Kings,Montreal Canadiens,Philadelphia Flyers,Pittsburgh Penguins & Washington Capitals
Posted by: capture Hulu video | Jun 19, 2009 12:57:34 AM
What's a good day
Posted by: chi hair straightener | Jun 23, 2009 2:36:59 AM
I have a story chi flat irons, one mother says she’s aware something is very wrong, but she doesn’t want to hear about it because she just wants to “be with her children and see them grow up happy.” I tell her runescape gold, “But, if we don’t stop this, your children may not get to grow up at all.” so basically, she’s using her kids as an excuse for her own inability to face reality.
Posted by: fat loss 4 idiots | Jul 9, 2009 1:13:07 AM
thanks for those links
Will check them out!
Posted by: runescape accounts for sale | Jul 14, 2009 12:41:36 AM
runeup.com has many runescape accounts for sale,and have many runescape gold, you can come and choose some what you like.
Posted by: Fat Loss 4 Idiots | Jul 27, 2009 7:44:49 PM
Thank you for the info and links, I like the Huffington Post.
Posted by: warp speed fat loss | Aug 17, 2009 8:22:44 PM
This article was extremely interesting.
flatten your abs -
muscle gaining secrets
Posted by: 70-290 | Oct 30, 2009 11:02:39 PM
I am not sure about the India deal, considering that India has her own reserves of natural gas but you are correct regarding China and Russia.
America is no longer the power it used to be, China and Russia are slowly but surely putting themselves in a position to exert greater influence on middle eastern nations.
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/iran
Posted by: CISSP | Oct 30, 2009 11:06:09 PM
I was really confused as to where the Ayatollah could go from here. It seems that he’s painted himself into a corner. Either he doubles down and sticks with the current party line, that the elections were fair, or he announces that he was wrong earlier in the week when he endorsed Ahmadinejad. Today, we found the answer
Posted by: 70-291 | Oct 30, 2009 11:07:26 PM
Ahmadi-Nezhad has left the country, for one thing. He’s gone off to meet with some of his Russian friends. Why? Who knows? Maybe he’s looking at rental properties. But no doubt the Iranians have been talking to the Russians and the Chinese about, uh, “crowd control.” I don’t think either will have particularly useful ideas for the Iranian revolutionary movement, frankly. Sending in the tanks might appeal to Khamenei et. al., but there seems to be considerable evidence that the armed forces, even the Revolutionary Guards, are unreliable. Twitter messages abound in little scenes of friendly exchanges between police and dissidents. There are even stories of police arresting Basij thugs. And I haven’t seen a single account of Army repression. Quite the contrary; the Army seems to be trying to protect the dissidents by separating their would-be attackers from the demonstrators.
Posted by: Tiffany Jewelry | Nov 3, 2009 9:21:48 PM
I am working in Salem in the Capitol and watching this situation unfold as we wrap up the legislative session. That is my Oregon connection. While I do not see any preconception amongst my cousins that these protests will move them close to regime change (Mousavi is himself a candidate approved by the Ayatollah)...
Note: The presence of any individual above does not imply an endorsement by BlueOregon. The selection of faces shown is done by Facebook. Visit BlueOregon on Facebook.
Post a comment
Posted by: Scott Jorgensen | Jun 16, 2009 3:32:48 PM
I'm glad that the Iranian people are getting to express their discontent over their regime. This is much more effective and beneficial than if the U.S. had gotten directly involved in things.