This is going to be different from my recent posts – but only slightly different. I will address a common right to all humans – that of free speech. Never in our recent history has such a large and concerted effort against free speech been …

All that Liberty stuff has gotten old.

Dr. ZhivBlago on July 10, 2009 at 1:35 AM

Yes, just as it is Rhode Island where the Tea Party Float is banned from the annual 4th of July Parade, for passing out pocket constitutions. Here is Story

All that Liberty stuff has gotten old.

Besides, we must continue to deal with our national tragedy and mourn the loss of Michael Jackson.

/sarc

d1carter on July 9, 2009 at 5:19 PM

Indeed they do… And they are trading their blood for freedom from the mad mullahs.

I’ve been following this via twitter since the unrest erupted after the election. Today, it appears that it may be changing from attempting non-violent protests by the Iranians to active defense and to some degree offense.

It appears that many thousands returned to the streets again today and by sheer numbers put the basij thugs and other special police on the defense finally. Instead of being sort of in a large mass and absorbing attacks from the banij, instead they were coming at the basij from multiple directions, from down side streets, skirmishing with them, routing the basij then fading away to regroup and repeat. It appears that at least some of the regular police are joining the protesters.

In the shadows, it appears that Khammini, the big kahuna mullah, mainly has the support of the Revolutionary Guard and the 12 member Guardian Council. In these shadows, other religeous and political icons are pealing away his support and it appears to be getting thin. The regular army is sitting tight and keeping out of the fray. Many officers including leading Generals have been arrested and overall, the regular army’s loyalty to the government is probably questionable.

The back of the protests was almost broken I think after the first week. Iran has an extremely sophisticated communications spying system that it purchased from Siemens and Nokia and this was used to track down key persons. Through supporters outside Iran in the annonymous world of cyber geeks, secure but slower communications have been reestablished. Electronic attacks to shutdown and disrupt Iranian govenment communications and disinformation have given the protesters breathing room again, at least for the ones that survived.

If our govt had any brains, morals, common sense, they’d stand fully behind the pro-freedom movement and commit money, weapons and other support to help them overthrow the Islamic regime, including considering direct military intervention if needed.

It’d kill 2 birds with one stone, you’d take out the terrorist thugs who hate and want to destroy America and you’d have a friendly democratic, pro-US state/regime that would fully comply with the IAEA and ensure their nuke program is used for peaceful purposes only.

But I know this idea won’t work since it goes against the One’s great vision of weakening/bankrupting America, strengthening our enemies, bowing to people who hate us and bullying/abandoning our allies like Israel/Georgia.

I hope the Iranian people, and others, don’t blame ALL Americans for what our racist, socialist, atheistic, inept, scheming, putrid stinking pile of crap President is doing.

JiangxiDad on July 9, 2009 at 6:10 PM

Ironic understatement.

Khameini: “You put the democratic protesters with our Basiji”

An historic moment in time for Iran and Obama phones it in while destroying the world economy and vacationing with the first lady.

If the protesters in Iran are successful in causing the fall of the mullahs, I wouldn’t hold it against them if they sought assistance from the Chinese to rebuild a new Iran. Thanks to our President, our Congress, we have surrendered that right. And if the new Iran holds it against us…I won’t blame them a bit.

coldwarrior on July 9, 2009 at 5:49 PM

Fair point, but just like we don’t have to condemn all the Iranian people because of their bellicose and dictatorial gov’t, I hope the Iranian people, and others, don’t blame ALL Americans for what our racist, socialist, atheistic, inept, scheming, putrid stinking pile of crap President is doing.

Terrye on July 9,2009 at 5:50PM.

Terrye: Nicely said! If I’m not mistaken,wasn’t it Obama
who said,baby’s don’t have human rights as well!:)

It isn’t about Mousavi…it is about essential freedoms that have been and will be supressed by those who have power, and Islamic Fundamentalism, be it the mullahs in Iran or AQ elsewhere cannot withstand the pressures of a communicative world, even if the mullahs shut down cell phones in Iran, unless they start killing again on a grand scale…kill their way across the land to suppress those who disagree.

“Feelings”, “Sympathies”, “Beliefs” … well they don’t always translate into action and reality. It’s fine – and I agree that many in Iran want freedom. However – right now – this is STILL about Mousavi because Mousavi is the leader of the protests. Movements need leaders – this one has Mousavi, Khatami, and maybe Rafsanjani.

If Mousavi is successful – then we will end up with a soft spoken Hitler in charge of Iran. No real change for us … and only cosmetic changes for the Iranians themselves since the “Gang of Three” here are essentially Islamo-fascists in the same mold of Khomeinei.

What you really want there Sir – is for Mousavi to be …

UNSUCCESSFUL.

The only way he can be unsuccessful is if the regime really cracks some heads. If that happens – this change from a movement over a fraudulent election – to a movement aimed at overthrowing the Islamic Constitution of Iran. That kind of movement is the only kind of movement that will produce real freedom for Iranians – and positive change for us and the middle east.

Who’s the new leader? Perhaps a cleric – yes, there are some clerics who believe in secular government. Sistani in Iraq is one and there are some supporters left of the old Grand Ayatollah Shariatmadari – who was an opponent of Khomenei. It is said, that Rafsanjani was actually a closet supporter of Shariatmadari – so maybe the new leader will be Rafsanjani. I doubt it myself – I believe that Rafsanjani is still more of a supporter of Khomenei – and whatever positive words he had about Shariatmadari at his death had more to do with the disrespect he was shown at his death – when he was a Grand Ayatollah.

Time will tell. But people don’t take over governments and lead them. The people bleed in the streets – it’s the leaders who take power. This movement has yet to find it’s “George Washington”.

And,maybe now,is a good time for Team Obama,to send in
the National Civilian Secruity Forces,on a cultural ex
change program of course!!

But,I’m wondering,who would the NCSF really be helping,
the Freedom Protesters,or DinnerJackets Goons!!(Sarc).

Unlike John Kennedy who said we will pay any price, bear any burden to advance the cause of liberty {or something like that}…Obama has said we will kiss any dictator’s behind and ignore any human rights violation to advance the cause of Barack.

Don’t it make you proud?

Terrye on July 9, 2009 at 5:50 PM

]
Getting a tear in my eye..that was beautiful.

Don’t it make you proud?

I’m so glad Obama gave that speech in Cairo

Nethicus on July 9, 2009 at 5:26 PM

Maybe somebody needs to inform The Obama that his Cairo Concordance isn’t being met with glee?

Shortly after the Iran protests got underway, a few here saw correctly that the protests went well beyond Mousavi…demographics in Iran are skewed youthful…and these “youts” got parents…who amazingly became part of the protests as well.

It isn’t about Mousavi…it is about essential freedoms that have been and will be supressed by those who have power, and Islamic Fundamentalism, be it the mullahs in Iran or AQ elsewhere cannot withstand the pressures of a communicative world, even if the mullahs shut down cell phones in Iran, unless they start killing again on a grand scale…kill their way across the land to suppress those who disagree.

On our side of the pond, it’d be nice if we had leadership with one-tenth the stones the protesters in Iran have.

A simple declaration that America stands alongside those who seek freedom from oppression could have added immensely to the efforts to thwart the mullahs. An Iranian knowing that he was not alone in trying to establish basic seek freedoms…in his own nation…powerful stuff.

But, no, we instead got a limp “we shouldn’t meddle” statement, telling the Iranians “sorry, you are on your own, good luck with that.” Followed a few days later with the President meddling in Honduras and now trying to force Honduras to accept a dictator.

If the protesters in Iran are successful in causing the fall of the mullahs, I wouldn’t hold it against them if they sought assistance from the Chinese to rebuild a new Iran. Thanks to our President, our Congress, we have surrendered that right. And if the new Iran holds it against us…I won’t blame them a bit.