So if anyone says this is the work of the West then this is a new stretch to go at greater lengths to pin everything against us.
Iraqi vice president dodges bomb; 10 die click here for article
26 February, 2007
23 February, 2007
Iran aiding Lebanon and Sectarian alliances
Came across this article on Time. Yes it's several months old but it's kick-you-in-the-head great to read how hypocrisies that Azadeh writes about dont get published in mainstream news often enough.
So where do Iranians and Lebanese stand? Who knows. There has to be a direction right? Not in the conflict-riddled Middle East. The clear message these days is that sectarian divisions are clearly fueling the fire for more unrest and confusion.
I highlighted my favorite sections..;-)
Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006
The Backlash Against Iran's Role in Lebanon
By Azadeh Moaveni
This is the first installment of Lipstick Jihad, a regular column by Azadeh Moaveni, TIME's Tehran correspondent and author of Lipstick Jihad: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America and American in Iran.
One very early morning this week, the people in my neighborhood who wanted fresh bread for breakfast congregated outside the local bakery, wondering why the doors were locked and the stone oven cold. Fifteen minutes later, when it became clear there would be no bread that day, people began speculating why a bakery that has been open every weekday for literally decades should mysteriously be shut. The small crowd swiftly concluded the worst: the Iranian government had sent all the country's flour to Lebanon.
By noon, when I was up and contemplating a sandwich, word had spread around the neighborhood. Everyone blamed the dearth of fresh bread on the government's over-generous aid to the Shi`ites of Lebanon, displaced in the recent fighting between Israel and Hizballah. I should point out that my neighborhood is split between religious and secular families, and that the most pious of the bread-deprived were just as quick to shake their heads with resentment. No one said "let them eat cake," but it came pretty close.
Two days later, a gleaming new counter arrived outside the bakery. The baker was remodeling, and as far as he knew, there had been no massive delivery of grain to Lebanese Shi`ites. But as is so often the case in such matters, the truth is almost less relevant than what becomes the prevailing belief. That people so readily accepted that their government would forsake their daily loaf for a distant Islamic cause just speaks to the overwhelming bitterness these days in Tehran. Most people are convinced the government is spending outrageous sums on the Lebanese, and ever since the Iranian government declared a "victory" for the militant group Hizballah, rumors of what the Lebanese are 'getting' have been flying. Free SUVs? Plasma televisions? Nothing seems out of the question. Nightly news broadcasts that Iranians watch on their illegal satellite dishes have shown Hizballah doling out thick stacks of cash, courtesy of Iran. "Did you see the cash? They're giving each family ten thousand dollars!" one of my relatives phoned to tell me.
For the majority of Iranians who are barely scraping by, such news is infuriating. In fact, unpopular government spending on a faraway Arab community brings out a rather ugly Persian chauvinism. One story has Mrs. Nasrallah, the wife of Hizballah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, receiving a gift of Iranian caviar, and thinking it some sort of jam. There is no jam that looks like tiny eggs, I told the friend who repeated the story to me. Her look told me I was being obtuse. The fact is, the more President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his government pander to public sentiment in the Arab world, which is ecstatic over Hizballah's defiant stand against Israel, the more Iranians feel neglected.
The government of former President Mohammad Khatami was much more sensitive to Iranians' feelings, in particular their ripe tendency to fume when state money is spent outside Iran's borders. It underplayed the amount of cash and aid Iran pumped into Afghanistan after the removal of the Taliban. As a result, Iranians had no idea that for once, their government played a noble role in rebuilding a war-ruined neighbor. But it also saved them from resentment. Earlier this week, a front page headline in an Iranian newspaper read: "In Arab countries, they call the president Mahmoud." Iknow the president is popular in the Arab world. My Arab friends grin like Cheshire cats when he appears on Al-Jazeera, fire breathing his revulsion for the U.S. But would they like him to appoint him as honorary head of the Arab League? I hardly think so.
The main reason Iranians dislike the government's Islamic generosity is because in general, they believe their leaders use Islam as a cloak for their own economic greed. When police started confiscating illegal satellite dishes earlier this month — ostensibly satellite is banned for its impure Western content — in about two days the whole city knew exactly why. The story went like this: the son of a prominent regime-connected ayatullah had recently begun importing small, laptop-size satellite dishes. If the government rounded up the ungainly, rooftop dishes, and flooded the market with the discreet little one, everyone would be forced to buy the ayatullah's son's dishes. This connection between regime piety and corrupt wealth dominates how Iranians see the world — the little events that transpire in their daily lives, from bread shortages to satellite raids.
Find this article at:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1515755,00.html
So where do Iranians and Lebanese stand? Who knows. There has to be a direction right? Not in the conflict-riddled Middle East. The clear message these days is that sectarian divisions are clearly fueling the fire for more unrest and confusion.
I highlighted my favorite sections..;-)
Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006
The Backlash Against Iran's Role in Lebanon
By Azadeh Moaveni
This is the first installment of Lipstick Jihad, a regular column by Azadeh Moaveni, TIME's Tehran correspondent and author of Lipstick Jihad: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America and American in Iran.
One very early morning this week, the people in my neighborhood who wanted fresh bread for breakfast congregated outside the local bakery, wondering why the doors were locked and the stone oven cold. Fifteen minutes later, when it became clear there would be no bread that day, people began speculating why a bakery that has been open every weekday for literally decades should mysteriously be shut. The small crowd swiftly concluded the worst: the Iranian government had sent all the country's flour to Lebanon.
By noon, when I was up and contemplating a sandwich, word had spread around the neighborhood. Everyone blamed the dearth of fresh bread on the government's over-generous aid to the Shi`ites of Lebanon, displaced in the recent fighting between Israel and Hizballah. I should point out that my neighborhood is split between religious and secular families, and that the most pious of the bread-deprived were just as quick to shake their heads with resentment. No one said "let them eat cake," but it came pretty close.
Two days later, a gleaming new counter arrived outside the bakery. The baker was remodeling, and as far as he knew, there had been no massive delivery of grain to Lebanese Shi`ites. But as is so often the case in such matters, the truth is almost less relevant than what becomes the prevailing belief. That people so readily accepted that their government would forsake their daily loaf for a distant Islamic cause just speaks to the overwhelming bitterness these days in Tehran. Most people are convinced the government is spending outrageous sums on the Lebanese, and ever since the Iranian government declared a "victory" for the militant group Hizballah, rumors of what the Lebanese are 'getting' have been flying. Free SUVs? Plasma televisions? Nothing seems out of the question. Nightly news broadcasts that Iranians watch on their illegal satellite dishes have shown Hizballah doling out thick stacks of cash, courtesy of Iran. "Did you see the cash? They're giving each family ten thousand dollars!" one of my relatives phoned to tell me.
For the majority of Iranians who are barely scraping by, such news is infuriating. In fact, unpopular government spending on a faraway Arab community brings out a rather ugly Persian chauvinism. One story has Mrs. Nasrallah, the wife of Hizballah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, receiving a gift of Iranian caviar, and thinking it some sort of jam. There is no jam that looks like tiny eggs, I told the friend who repeated the story to me. Her look told me I was being obtuse. The fact is, the more President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his government pander to public sentiment in the Arab world, which is ecstatic over Hizballah's defiant stand against Israel, the more Iranians feel neglected.
The government of former President Mohammad Khatami was much more sensitive to Iranians' feelings, in particular their ripe tendency to fume when state money is spent outside Iran's borders. It underplayed the amount of cash and aid Iran pumped into Afghanistan after the removal of the Taliban. As a result, Iranians had no idea that for once, their government played a noble role in rebuilding a war-ruined neighbor. But it also saved them from resentment. Earlier this week, a front page headline in an Iranian newspaper read: "In Arab countries, they call the president Mahmoud." Iknow the president is popular in the Arab world. My Arab friends grin like Cheshire cats when he appears on Al-Jazeera, fire breathing his revulsion for the U.S. But would they like him to appoint him as honorary head of the Arab League? I hardly think so.
The main reason Iranians dislike the government's Islamic generosity is because in general, they believe their leaders use Islam as a cloak for their own economic greed. When police started confiscating illegal satellite dishes earlier this month — ostensibly satellite is banned for its impure Western content — in about two days the whole city knew exactly why. The story went like this: the son of a prominent regime-connected ayatullah had recently begun importing small, laptop-size satellite dishes. If the government rounded up the ungainly, rooftop dishes, and flooded the market with the discreet little one, everyone would be forced to buy the ayatullah's son's dishes. This connection between regime piety and corrupt wealth dominates how Iranians see the world — the little events that transpire in their daily lives, from bread shortages to satellite raids.
Find this article at:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1515755,00.html
22 February, 2007
Iran Ignores UN Deadline..among other things
Times up. We dont care. Is what Iran recently made clear to the UN and sanctions they would face if they upscaled uranium enrichment. click here for BBC article
They think it's nothing more than the West throwing their weight around while it's pretty clear we all know they're going Frankenstein building a nuclear nightmare in Natanz.
They think it's nothing more than the West throwing their weight around while it's pretty clear we all know they're going Frankenstein building a nuclear nightmare in Natanz.
For a country that has been long questioned on hits human rights stance and lack of freedom of speech, (Found an article on bloggers tortured for expressing their critical views of their government on HRW.click here There's more where that came from, by the way...)
It's a wonder why people just dont give up on the harsh reality that Iran hasnt been a peace-loving country to begin with. But the concept of peace is all relative these days so I base this comment on the fact that Iran hasnt been stepping up towards actions for diplomacy or negotiation ever since they decided to increase uranium enrichment. There's also always been this skittish overreaction towards any type of investigation over their nuclear plants and a fear that the West will take over. Oh this claim is getting old. It's certainly not an impossibility. But I would feel more comfortable having a democratic nation take the reigns than a country with a track record that scores low on social equality. Still, that's not the point.
Couldnt we call just get along? Apparently not according to Iran.
08 February, 2007
Inching Towards Destruction
Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is stepping up threats against the U.S. by saying that Iran will attack U.S. interests if it attacks Iran. So what new incident spurred him on to boldly speak this way? That's what I really want to know. Ahmadinejad has previously spoken in the same terms and tone before. Most recently he defiantly spoke again about Iran continuing with uranium enrichment despite UN sanctions but was prepared for dialogue.(God I love it when he plays hardball and still deceptively comes back with a cunning openness to negotiate. Smoke and mirrors. This man will pounce but lure you in deceptively.)
Let's recap a few recent developments here.
-Tehran just got cut off from receiving aid from the IAEA for more than a dozen technical projects.
-Serial markings on explosives detonated in Iraq could provide evidence of Iran's involvement in providing technology and weapons for insurgents in that country.
-Ahmadinejad's hardline tactics and radical propaganda has cost him the confidence of fellow Iranians who are increasingly concerned over his extremist approach.
Iran stealthily inches towards destruction by enriching greater amounts of uranium and setting up its arsenal of weapons, while spreading extremist and negative propaganda about the West. Let's remember that amidst all this, Iran is constantly trying to depict itself as a country open to talks for negotiation. But we all know that's just a mountain of b-llsh-t. Negotiations or none, you can never trust a government like this especially when its got its hands full with weapons that aid militant agendas and support extreme fundamentalist views that have NOTHING to support society and individuals at the simplest levels.
Let's recap a few recent developments here.
-Tehran just got cut off from receiving aid from the IAEA for more than a dozen technical projects.
-Serial markings on explosives detonated in Iraq could provide evidence of Iran's involvement in providing technology and weapons for insurgents in that country.
-Ahmadinejad's hardline tactics and radical propaganda has cost him the confidence of fellow Iranians who are increasingly concerned over his extremist approach.
Iran stealthily inches towards destruction by enriching greater amounts of uranium and setting up its arsenal of weapons, while spreading extremist and negative propaganda about the West. Let's remember that amidst all this, Iran is constantly trying to depict itself as a country open to talks for negotiation. But we all know that's just a mountain of b-llsh-t. Negotiations or none, you can never trust a government like this especially when its got its hands full with weapons that aid militant agendas and support extreme fundamentalist views that have NOTHING to support society and individuals at the simplest levels.
06 February, 2007
Who's next?
Everyone is in the middle of civil war. First it was Lebanon, then Iraq, now Palestine.
(click here for article)
Palestinians try to stave off civil war
By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press Writer
Tue Feb 6, 3:29 PM ET
(click here for article)
Palestinians try to stave off civil war
By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press Writer
Tue Feb 6, 3:29 PM ET
03 February, 2007
More blood spilled in Iraq
click here for AP article by Steven Hurst
121 killed
Fifth major bombing in less than a month
Hit predominantly Shiite neighborhood in Baghdad
30 shops, 40 houses gone
02 February, 2007
My blog comment on CNN
Comment on Nic Robertson's blog entry
Friday, January 26, 2007
Beirut on the brink
My first big mistake today was I trusted that however close Hezbollah wants to push Lebanon towards the brink of crisis to bring down Prime Minister Fuad Siniora’s government, they would know when to dial back tension and head off an irreversible slide to civil war. That was my first mistake....(click here for his full entry)
Scroll down for my comment on the page but here is the entry...
Nic, Lebanon as a whole is on the brink. Be safe and keep your eyes and ears open. Your blog is among hundreds that echo how hopeless the situation has gotten because the people of this country cant make up their minds. I have read and heard alot of criticism towards the U.S. for their involvement but at the end of the day, this is their country. It is futile to blame other countries for their own hypocrisy over this whole situation. People are angry over too many issues. The Israel-Hezbollah war, Shias vs Sunnis, the shrinking Christian minority, Syria and Iranian involvement...the list is endless and there is still no cohesive direction to strive for peace. After 20 years of civil war, the state of this country only sends the message that Lebanon hasnt learned to give in to peace. There are people who still fan the flames of their bitterness towards the past.
Posted By http://whosewarisitnow.blogspot.com/, United States : 4:07 PM ET
http://www.cnn.com/exchange/blogs/in.the.field/2007/01/beirut-on-brink.html
Nice to see less extreme biases from people in Beirut about the effects recent events have done in their country.
What many people dont see in Lebanon is that the root of most evils that are destroying their country are those feelings people have clung to about the past. (I sense a lengthy blog entry of which I'll explain subsequent to this post. ) Tune in for more..
Friday, January 26, 2007
Beirut on the brink
My first big mistake today was I trusted that however close Hezbollah wants to push Lebanon towards the brink of crisis to bring down Prime Minister Fuad Siniora’s government, they would know when to dial back tension and head off an irreversible slide to civil war. That was my first mistake....(click here for his full entry)
Scroll down for my comment on the page but here is the entry...
Nic, Lebanon as a whole is on the brink. Be safe and keep your eyes and ears open. Your blog is among hundreds that echo how hopeless the situation has gotten because the people of this country cant make up their minds. I have read and heard alot of criticism towards the U.S. for their involvement but at the end of the day, this is their country. It is futile to blame other countries for their own hypocrisy over this whole situation. People are angry over too many issues. The Israel-Hezbollah war, Shias vs Sunnis, the shrinking Christian minority, Syria and Iranian involvement...the list is endless and there is still no cohesive direction to strive for peace. After 20 years of civil war, the state of this country only sends the message that Lebanon hasnt learned to give in to peace. There are people who still fan the flames of their bitterness towards the past.
Posted By http://whosewarisitnow.blogspot.com/, United States : 4:07 PM ET
http://www.cnn.com/exchange/blogs/in.the.field/2007/01/beirut-on-brink.html
Nice to see less extreme biases from people in Beirut about the effects recent events have done in their country.
What many people dont see in Lebanon is that the root of most evils that are destroying their country are those feelings people have clung to about the past. (I sense a lengthy blog entry of which I'll explain subsequent to this post. ) Tune in for more..
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