Iranians may be ready to vote Ahmadinejad out of power

if so, what did Obama purchase with his deference to the regime?

 

The chants of Allah Akbar are louder tonight than they have ever been.

 

Probably because they know some of them will have to make the ultimate sacrifice tomorrow.

 

Who knows since Obama hasn't deferred to this regime.

 

Mathloom and Kwame:

With all due respect, Israel *does* have a free press. I can't say I agree with the coverage or opinions often espoused, and HaAretz, being a center-left paper may rankle the right in this country, but it's a reasonably credible publication, and is probably the best mainstream place most honest about showing human rights abuses, and providing an arab perspective outside arabic language media.

Comparing Israel's press to Iran's, and specifically HaAretz of all papers to Iranian State media is really at odds with reality. Foreign correspondents in Iran right now are being detained for trying to even report what is going on.

I'm not terribly pleased with the way the press has treated me here, but they have a right to say what they like, and without the worry of libel suits. Plus I can watch re-runs of the Sopranos uncut.

 

Agree to disagree

 

Insh'allah no one is hurt tomorrow. I want a sea of Green, not a sea of red.

 

from your mouth to God's ears

 

As opposed if he didn't? Do you think it would make a difference?

 

Well he hasn't started bombing them so I guess that counts as deference.

 

With you in heart and mind my friend. I am praying that happens.

 

I have an old friend in LA who is involved in a bittorrent tracker for Iranians. While it offers Farsi content for Iranian expats, it also allows people in Iran to get access to media that's censored.

Iran's net censorship is mostly either slowing down bandwidth or blocking websites, as I understand. Torrents still work, especially if there are many seeders

They also need donations if anyone feels inclined. Also, most of the content is subtitled in English.

http://www.iraniantorrents.com

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aUbPawIFGFoo

lol. didn't realize that was still chic these days.

 

amen! i'm hoping and praying for the same.

 

“I will participate in the demonstrations tomorrow. Maybe they will turn violent. Maybe I will be one of the people who is going to get killed. I’m listening to all my favorite music. I even want to dance to a few songs. I always wanted to have very narrow eyebrows. Yes, maybe I will go to the salon before I go tomorrow! There are a few great movie scenes that I also have to see. I should drop by the library, too. It’s worth to read the poems of Forough and Shamloo again. All family pictures have to be reviewed, too. I have to call my friends as well to say goodbye. All I have are two bookshelves which I told my family who should receive them. I’m two units away from getting my bachelors degree but who cares about that. My mind is very chaotic. I wrote these random sentences for the next generation so they know we were not just emotional and under peer pressure. So they know that we did everything we could to create a better future for them. So they know that our ancestors surrendered to Arabs and Mongols but did not surrender to despotism. This note is dedicated to tomorrow’s children"


Some Iranian blogger - just felt the need to post it as it is just an absolutely powerful little possibly final note. I think I'm going to have the television on all day tomorrow.

 

Khamenei's sermon is on CSPAN right now (with translations). It is about what you'd expect - blame on "Zionists" as the source of all the unrest and not-so-subtle hints that Moosavi, Rafsanjani & friends are doing what they are doing because they are motivated by greed and corruption.

 

It's 9am now in Iran, so whatever's going to happen probably starts fairly soon...

 

This is a big test for Obama.

So far, his restraint, while not popular, has been the wisest move. Most independent analysts agree, if Obama condemned the election and took the side of the opposition, it would give Iran the moral justification to crack down harder.

Part of the reason they are struggling there and can't crack down is because they can't make the U.S. the enemy despite trying. The right-wingers - if they had their way, it would make Americans go hooray! but it would not be the best thing for democracy in Iran.

However, if Iran does crack down in a bloody fashion, Obama must then speak out with a big stick. He must make it clear that the U.S. will not get involved or condemn or anything so long as their is not a violent crack down on protesters of any political affiliation.

If it does get bloody, I think Obama has to make a very deliberate decision. One that goes beyond words. We know Iran has nuclear capabilities and is developing them. And we know that a bloody crack down on protesters will forever shape the country Iran will be afterwards.

Those two things require a response that will not just be a message to Iran, but to the entire world of oppression and tyranny. Those who commit violence against it's own people who seek self-expression should never be tolerated by the champion of human rights and liberty - which is and must always be the United States.

For the same reason Obama has closed Gitmo, he can not allow violent oppression in Iran to take place. He has the moral authority. People have seen that he isn't a hypocrit. It's ok to stand on the sidelines as off today, because Iran hasn't violently cracked down on a mass scale.

If that occurs, Obama must act. And all options should be on the table, including bombing all Iranian military and gov't institutions - those involved in the crackdown, and those involved in building nuclear weapons.

 

With all due respect, are you crazy?? If you want to destroy the movement against the theocratic regime, the best way to do it is attack the country. Almost everyone will instantly "rally around the flag." You would be doing the regime a tremendous favor. That is the worst thing the president could do.

I doubt even basso would be for that.

 

I'm not optimistic at all on what will happen Saturday, but one thing is for sure: Americans now have the cobwebs knocked off about Iran. Instead of continuing to hold a grudge and seeing it as the country of Ayatollah Khomeini that held the hostages 400+ days, Americans now recognize that things have changed a lot in 30 years. Iran is a country of great promise if it is allowed to break free from the tyrannical grip of the mullahs and military. I've felt for a long time it is a natural ally of the United States, no matter how much the Arab states and Israel would hate that.

Sweet Lou, it WAY to early to talk about bombing Iran. One of the reasons Obama hasn't blasted the election is because there is a 95% chance his administration and allies will be negotiating with Khamenei and Ahmadinejad after things settle down. Whatever bloodshed occurs will have no effect on whether Iran gets bombed or not. It's still a salvageable country, as most everyone can see now. Bombing Iran is a last resort and will end any hope of it joining the world of responsible nations.