CBS: “Hillary Taking Charge”

July 26, 2009

CBS News video summary of what Secretary Clinton and the foreign policy team are up to. When was she not in charge? Her fractured elbow came about at a good time for barry. She would have stood up for the protesters in Iran immediately – especially after seeing that video of Neda’s murder. As is, it took days for barry to see the light and then when he finally did what she recommended he doesn’t tell her. Like he thought of it on his own. He really is a very small man. The world knows who Secretary Clinton is and has known her for two decades. She’s gone to countries and visited with women and young people in each one and believe it or not MSM she has a higher profile than barry on the world stage.

How do you think Africa feels that he stopped by Ghana and nowhere else?

President Bush may not be popular very many places but he in Africa he is because of what he’s done about HIV/AIDS. They’re expecting a lot more from barry. Just like the orphanage is still waiting for the aid he promised as a senator.

Ron Buitenhuis: “We Believe” (Neda’s Song)

July 24, 2009

“We Believe” (Neda’s Song) written and performed Dutch folk musician Ron Buitenhuis. Can’t find any information about him.

It was written in memory of 27 y/o Neda Agha-Soltan who was murdered while standing peaceably in the street during the Iran protests of the election. Dr Arash Hejazi was witness to the murder and said she was shot in the chest from the front by a Basij – not the CIA. Here is Dr Hejazi’s BBC video describing what happened.

Courtesy of LimboLennart

You can see Neda just moments before her murder, walking to the left of her singing teacher–white ponytail and light blue striped shirt–Hamid Panahi. She’s wearing a baseball cap and at (0:43) she turns around and looks at the camera. She is shot shortly thereafter. In a civilized world, we would be watching a video of hers. Women aren’t even allowed to sing in public in Iran.

No violent or graphic footage. No images of her in death or dying.

(LA TIMES)

Iran: human rights lawyer Shadi Sadr kidnappeD

July 18, 2009

The evil continues unabated in Iran. According to the International Campaign for Human Rights, human rights lawyer SHADI SADR was forcibly abducted in front of witnesses on her way to Friday prayers. She was doing nothing but walking when people “in civilian clothes” shoved her into a car and drove off. She was allowed to call her husband and told him that she had been arrested and was being detained in Evin prison. It must not have been much of a surprise since the Iranian Gestapo had searched their home and then took keys so they could do it to her law office. CNN (said she was beaten as well but doesn’t say where. Ms Sadr has medical problems requiring medication and was due to be operated on next week.

And she is not the first human rights lawyer to be arrested. Several others, including ABDOLFATTAH SOLTANI, KAMBIZ NOUROUZI and MOHAMMED ALI DADKHAH, have been detained. I imagine they’re men. What does it say when the government is publicly arresting folks who are well-known in the international community as protectors of human rights?

At Friday prayers, as was expected, cleric and former President ALI AKBAR HASHEMI RAFSANJAMI called for Iranian intelligence and security forces to release illegally detained protesters – as many as 2000 have been rounded up in the month since the “election”.

The response?

Tear gas, beatings and more arrests.

Witnesses state 40 people were beaten and shoved in car trunks and hauled off…to where? Prison? A dark alley? A community grave? A gallows? A beheading square?

Who is supplying the tear gas?

An email sent out of Iran to Radio Free Europe on July 2nd said the Basij were torturing folks by forcefully urinating down their throats.

What kind of savages think up such things?

And if they are doing that to men – what are they doing to women and children whose abuse is already sanctioned? What did they do to the woman and children pilgrims who were beaten and arrested while they were praying at a sacred shrine?

Is nothing sacred?

Why is this being allowed to continue?

Imagine the growing frustration of the Iranian citizens, who did their part to get the world’s attention, but have watched the world ignore them. Amnesty International said the UN and the Human Rights Council haven’t gone there to investigate the atrocities.

What is taking so long? The protests started on June 12.

And who really knows what is going on there? No foreign journalists have been allowed in, there’s no internet access and the government is tracking cellphone traffic.

How many innocent law-abiding citizens who took video and uploaded it to YouTube have been detained?

Have they found the person who videotaped NEDA AGHA SOLTAN’s murder?

What have they done to Neda’s friend who accompanied her and who was also standing by peacefully?

It’s absolutely miraculous that the Iranian doctor, who was at Neda’s side when she shot down like an animal made it out to tell the world what he witnessed. No. There are no coincidences. What has been done to his elderly parents who live in Tehran? Other family members? His business partners? His neighbors? The last UK Embassy worker they are holding as punishment because the doctor talked to the BBC and lives in the UK? No one watching the doctor’s video testimony could rationally question it. The look of horror on his face cannot be faked nor can his description of survivor’s guilt. And he came forward knowing full well what would happen to him and those left behind in Iran.

And what happened to the folks who disarmed and took the papers off the Basij murderer – who spontaneously admitted that he “didn’t mean to kill her“? Were they able to transmit his picture and/or his identity papers? He certainly knows what they look like and certainly has the motive to find and then silence them.

How many people have been tortured to death?

Why is the Arab World standing by and allowing this to happen other than that’s what they always do?

Are they that impotent? Are they that afraid of that evil little Hitler and the Supreme “Holy” man, who sanctions violence and uses “prayer services” to incite Death to America! propaganda?

One thing has been made perfectly clear by the unprovoked bombings of Israel by Hamas – who is surrounded on all sides and cannot perpetuate evil unless they are directly aided by another Arab country – and the violence in Iran – the Arab World is not interested in peace. They are not interested in stopping the violence. They prefer to remain savages rooted in the stone age.

8th of 9 UK Embassy employees to be released

July 14, 2009

I realize there are some Iran posts missing – especially about the doctor who witnessed Neda’s murder. And I can’t find a post with pix. The doctor is why they seized the embassy workers. I need to find out what happened to him. His parents still lived in Tehran and he had some type of office there.

Iran is releasing the eighth embassy worker, leaving behind the Embassy’s Chief Political Analyst, who has been charged with crimes against the state “acting against national security”. Is the punishment beheading or hanging? All nine were native Iranians.

The Supremely Impotent Leader AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI:

Some leaders of Western countries at the level of president, prime minister and foreign minister openly intervened in Iran’s internal affairs that had nothing to do with them. Then, they said they don’t intervene in Iran’s internal affairs.

Why don’t they get this isn’t going to work anymore?

The last thing barry did was meddle. And the world saw with its own eyes what happened. The media censorship, the internet shut down and the disruption of cellphone service.

We all saw Neda. We saw her calmly standing there. We saw her murdered.

And then we heard/are still hearing the lame propaganda: first the protesters shot Neda…then it was the CIA…now foreign governments with inside connections.

They continue to lie when they know an reliable eyewitness – a native Iranian/doctor/once journalist/now publisher in the UK – already gave unimpeachable video testimony of what happened to the BBC. He spoke without the need of a translator in fine English and the horror in his face and the details he gave could not be faked.

He saw Neda’s wound. He tried to stop the blood from spurting out. A single shot from the front with no exit wounds. Shot in the chest and not the head where they said they found the bullet. The doctor said she was buried so quickly he didn’t see how they could have done an autopsy.

The crowd detained a man whose papers made him Basij. He spontaneously confessed without being attacked. They took his papers and pix and let him go. I hope his name and pix and maybe even pix of his ID papers made it out through cellphone.

===========

PM GORDON BROWN:

The Iranian regime must be clear that if this action continues and we are forced to act, we will act together with our European partners.

I’m glad that is “European” partners.

Foreign Secretary DAVIS MILIBAND:

That leaves one more in custody and all of our efforts are now directed towards getting that person out….The allegations of improper conduct have absolutely no basis.

AHMAD JANNATIM – leader of the Iran’s supreme legislative body the Guardian Council (their Supreme Court):

The British Embassy had a presence and some people were arrested.

Well, inevitably they will be put on trial. They have made confessions too.

MR MILIBAND:

It is very important that my anger, my cold anger, about the way our staff have been treated… doesn’t turn into a rhetorical volley at the Iranian regime, because that doesn’t do anything either for our people or for reform in Iran. What’s important is that I turn my anger into determination to see that justice is done by our people.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

Video: Foreign Secretary DAVIS MILIBAND

===============

================

Radio Farda’s emails from Iran

July 3, 2009

A sampling of emails and voicemails sent to Radio Farda on July 2.

Their disclaimer:

RFE/RL cannot vouch for the accuracy or authenticity of user-generated content.

Who could imagine such torture as being held down by several men while another forcefully urinates down the torturee’s throat?

And who is stopping the savages from doing worse to the women and little girls?

You decide the authenticity of the words from the sound:

Intelligence forces and security forces, after attacking the pilgrims at the holy shrine of Hazrat Masumeh yesterday, arrested 30 women who were commemorating the anniversary of the martyrdom ceremony of Hazrat Ali Hadi, the 10th Shi’ite Imam. According to eyewitnesses, after surrounding the shrine of Hazrat Masumeh, the security forces started beating the children and women and arrested 30 of them. They also beat and arrested some clerics who tried to stop them.

***
These kind of acts are expected from such an inhuman and filthy government. A friend was telling me about his nephew, one of the few that returned home after the arrests, who was unable to speak for a couple of days and later told the horrible story of how a few Basijis would hold him while the other would urinate down his throat forcefully. Yes it is excruciating, but is only a small example of the evilness of this inhuman government.

***
I am Alireza from Bandar Abbas. I wanted to say that the Islamic republic doesn’t consider them important or have any respect for women, which is proven by the killing of Neda Agha-Soltan, and I also believe that Neda is a symbol of freedom for Iran and for the whole world.

***

We are not living in the Middle Ages — no government can suppress its people today, by humiliating them, beating them, arresting them and killing them. If any government can still get away with all this, then what is the role of the international community and what would be the difference between today and 1,500 years ago?. Now Iranians have shown the world that they don’t want a bunch of evil and corrupt leaders to rule them, what more could they do, as they have no help?

The world has to support them.

(Photo: LA TIMES)

NEDA AGHA-SOLTAN, 26, murdered while standing peaceably in the street.

Read/watch the Doctor’s testimony (in clear English) who tried to save her.

CNN’s Fareed Zakaria re: Iran

July 3, 2009

CNN’s FAREED ZAKARIA weighs in on Iran.

Evidently there are at least three politicians who aren’t going to recognize AHMADINEJAD.

Presidential candidate MEHDI KARRUBI wrote a letter in his party’s newspaper (which caused the paper not to be published), saying that he would not recognize the government and vowed to “stand by the people and the revolution, until the end of my life.”

Hope that doesn’t give anyone any ideas.

Ahmadinejad’s main presidential rival, MIR HOSSEIN MOUSSAVI released a statement Wednesday criticizing the government and its crackdown on the media, which he said has created a “bitter, coup d’etat atmosphere” in Iran.

Iran’s former reformist President MOHAMMAD KHATAMI called on Iranians to keep up the struggle, noting that “all doors are not yet closed.”

They’ve each got to have their own supporters. And how many who were behind ahmadinejad changed their minds when they saw what was happening in the street to their own neighbors? How many people in Iran even know about NEDA?

CNN’s Fareed Zakaria:

The situation is fluid. The challenger, Mir Hossein Moussavi, and the former president, Khatami, are still criticizing the government for stealing the election. That is an extraordinary level of dissent at the highest levels of the establishment. But the most likely outcome remains that for now, the regime will be able to reassert order.

But it has become a naked dictatorship, losing the facade of the Islamic and democratic political ideals that are important to it.

And what about the “holy men”? Are any of them in favor of peace? Blaming Infidels and putting UK embassy workers on trial are not going to fly anymore.

Iran’s nuclear program?

Zakaria: I would say do nothing. Inaction can be a strategy. The five major powers on the U.N. Security Council (plus Germany) have given Iran a very generous offer to restart the nuclear negotiations. It has not responded. Until it does, the West should build support for tougher sanctions and more isolation.

Until we hear from Tehran, there is no reason for the United States or the others to get engaged.

He thinks that although the West is limited because of the threat of nuclear proliferation – Iran doesn’t have many options because of the state of the economy and general mood of the country.

Zakaria: Let the supreme leader and President Ahmadinejad figure out what they should do first. Time might not be on their side.

And it appears neither are the people.

How many innocents have been murdered or tortured?

Does anyone know?

BBC interview: Dr who tried to save Neda (video)

June 27, 2009

What kind of people live in the Arab World?

Do they actually believe whatever they hear about the US?

The Iranian ambassador to Mexico is claiming that the CIA shot NEDA AGHA-SOLTAN, the innocent 26 y/o Iranian woman whose murder was captured on cellphone video.

I don’t know how much you know about Neda Agha-Soltan. She was a beautiful young woman (as you can see from her picture), who was shot in the chest while she stood observing a demonstration. She was not chanting or waving her arms or in any way calling attention to herself. She was a complete innocent who was murdered for no reason.

She is seen on video [not graphic] moments before her death, walking along the street in the back of a demonstration. She was accompanied by her music teacher and close friend, Hamid Panahi, who said they had gotten stuck in traffic and had gotten out of the cab to see what was going on. That’s it. They hadn’t even been standing there very long.

From the LA TIMES:

PANAHI: She wanted to show with her presence that ‘I’m here. I also voted. And my vote wasn’t counted.’ It was a very peaceful act of protest, without any violence.

Her friend urged her not to go and Neda was quoted as saying – eerily:

NEDA: Don’t worry. It’s just one bullet and its over.

This cellphone video documents Neda’s murder. It is graphic and very difficult to watch. I recommend you DO NOT watch it – her eyes will never leave you. It’s not worth simple curiosity. Trust me. And it is not pixilated.

The footage shows Neda immediately after she is shot in the chest. She falls backward and the man who had been accompanying her and a bystander – who happened to be a doctor – help her to the ground and then attempt to staunch the massive bleeding from her chest wound. The doctor said the wound was below her neck and not in her head. The cellphone user runs from the angle of her feet around to her face — taking seconds — and catches her final moments. She looks at the cellphone and then blood erupts from her mouth and nose. She dies.

Less than 30 seconds after she was shot – she is dead.

Her last words according to PANAHI: “I am burning. I am burning.”

Shot for absolutely no reason by a complete savage who knew he was shooting a woman – a woman who was doing nothing but standing there.

It is an absolutely shocking video that bears witness to the indiscriminate violence taking place. The utter savagery. It is perfectly clear she was in the periphery. A single shot to her chest could not have been random. You don’t need to watch the video – you just have to know that she was absolutely positively shot through the chest and her face and head were completely intact.

The doctor who tried to help Neda, Dr Arash Hejazi was interviewed by the BBC. He is seen on the cellphone video kneeling to her left with his hands pressed against the wound. He looks right at the cellphone. He described it as an entrance wound right below the throat, which he thinks hit her aorta. He said there was no exit wound in the back – meaning she was shot from the front – not the back like the Iranian ambassador to Mexico, who is trying to pin it on the CIA, said. Somebody was looking at her when he shot her. There could not have been any doubt that he was shooting a woman. A woman who was doing nothing but standing.

Dr Hejazi was a GP in Iran but now runs a publishing house in England. He also is a published author and former journalist and is known in Iran. Here is his video of his interview from the BBC. The horror of it is still in his face. I added to the partial transcript they provided to include more of his description of the wound and the fact that he doesn’t think an autopsy was even performed.

=============

====================

HEJAZI: I was there with some friends because we had heard that there were some protests and we decided to go and take a look.

Anti-riot police were coming by motorcycles towards the crowd….All of a sudden everything turned crazy, because the anti-riot police threw teargas on people and the motorcycles started rushing towards people.

He ran down an alley and came out at an intersection where people were just standing.

We ran to an intersection and people were just standing. They didn’t know what to do…either to scatter, to leave or to wait and see what happens.

We heard a gunshot. Neda was standing one meter away from me. I didn’t know her – she was just one other person in the crowd.

I turned back and I saw blood gushing out of Neda’s chest. She was in a shocked position situation, just looking at her chest. Then she lost her control.

We ran towards her and lay her on the ground. I bent over her and saw the bullet wound then, which was right in the chest, and blood gushing out. My experience says that it is the aorta and the lung as well….Her aorta and her lung were hit by the bullet.

And I don’t know – as far as I know never an autopsy was performed on her – she was buried so fast afterwards.

I can verify that the bullet came from in front and it didn’t leave from her back. So there were no bullet wounds – exit points from the back.

I have never seen such a thing, because the bullet, it seemed to have blasted inside her chest – that blood – and later on, blood exiting from her mouth and nose. I had the impression that it had hit the lung as well. Her blood was draining out of her body, and I was just putting pressure on the wound to try to stop the bleeding, which wasn’t successful, unfortunately, and she died in less than one minute. She was drained out of her blood.

He was asked where the shot came from.

At first he thought it might have come from a rooftop but then he saw that bystanders had caught a man on a motorcycle. He had come from the other direction – in a position to shoot Neda in the chest – and he was hiding in the corner. They yelled: “We caught him. We caught him.” While they disarmed him, the man spontaneously shouted: “I didn’t want to kill her. I didn’t want to kill her.”

The bystanders didn’t know what to do with him. He heard someone said: “Don’t harm him – we are not killers, like them.”

They looked at his identity papers – which did indeed identify him as Basij – and they took pictures of him. They were afraid to turn him over to the police because the police would have just released him and they would have identified themselves. So they kept his papers and let him go.

It says a great deal that the protesters showed such restraint. That there wasn’t the mob mentality or any eye for an eye even though they had just witnessed a beautiful innocent young woman murdered for absolutely no reason. They let the man who they were certain killed Neda go without laying a hand on him. That is a testament to her death as well.

A stranger passing by in a car took Neda to the hospital – allegedly getting lost on the way. All to no avail. It’s clear even from the video that she was dead. Dr Hejazi went inside to his office and “washed his hands compulsively”. As the shock wore off he said he became overwhelmed with fear – the realization of how close he was standing to Neda and how easily it could have been him. Then he began to feel guilty for not being able to save her life and for having such fears about his own safety when she was dead and he was still alive. This is a detail that even the best storyteller couldn’t come up with.

He said he didn’t sleep for three nights.

The look in her eyes – she didn’t have time to say anything. She just had this look in her eyes – that what has happened? Why has this happened? A very innocent look. I was overwhelmed.

He went to his elderly parent’s house for the night. He didn’t want to say anything but the video was shown on TV and he said that was him.

I can’t explain. It’s indescribable. I don’t want anyone to face this situation in their life. Nobody is that guilty to see such a thing. You have to see it to believe what I’m saying.

How does he feel that he is tied to Neda’s death?

I feel responsible. The most important thing I’m putting myself in jeopardy now — talking to you. And it was a hard – it was a tough decision to make to come out and talk about it. But it was responsible.

She died for a cause. The cause is not a simple cause…She was fighting for basic rights – human’s basic rights. She wanted her vote to be counted. She wanted to be free. The freedom of assembly, which is even mentioned in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran: freedom of assembly, freedom of protesting, freedom of speech, which is compromised now.

I don’t want her blood to have been shed in vain. She died on the street to say something. The fact that the image has traveled so fast around the world – it means something. It means that there’s a message there.

Iranian authorities are saying it was a protestor who did it. Do you believe that’s a possibility at all?

I don’t know who can says such a thing. But as an eyewitness during the past 11 days in Iran – I have never seen any of the protesters carrying a gun – carrying nothing – not even a knife. Nothing. They just had their hands and their voice. That is what they did.

He’s incredulous. And angry.

Yes I heard that. It’s terrible. I don’t know why these people are trying to cover a crime. This a crime. It wasn’t the war. This wasn’t the war. This wasn’t that someone would get killed. This is not collateral damage. This is a crime because protesters, unarmed people, civilians were on the street asking for something.

She was shot, without even knowing why…and who…by what guilt.

I believe the government should prosecute this thing.

He said the government wouldn’t let her family give Neda a proper burial or allow her to be mourned in the mosque. People then started leaving flowers and gathering at the sight of her murder. They were hit by the Basij and run off and the flowers covered with rubbish.

He can’t understand what was happening. That the violence was so out of proportion.

Something has gone wrong…They were protesters to the result, and that could be handled very wisely. Not by shooting them. Not by hitting them. Not by arresting everybody who was on the streets trying to protest.

What do we mean when we say protest? It’s shouting.

And in the last few days before that Saturday, people weren’t even shouting. They were having these silent rallies. They werent even shouting, they weren’t even using that small tool they had. They were just walking in the streets…not saying anything – just holding their hands up and some signs. Nothing.

Is that the right way to handle the situation, and then deny it?

I can’t explain it – I don’t understand why would the State TV say that – but nobody believes that. Nobody can believe that.

Can he envisage going back to Iran?

Not now. Not in this situation. No, I have been identified. I can’t explain. You have to be in the system to understand it. They are going to denounce what I’m saying afterwards. They’re going to put so many things on me after this.

But he says people know him in Iran and that they would believe him.

I want the world to know that I am here on my own will, trying to testify on what I had to bear witness [to], and why I’m jeopardizing my situation is just the innocent look in her eyes before she died.

Nobody would believe she was shot by a protester. She was shot from [the] front – not from behind. She was shot by a Besij member, which are the armed people.

Yes, the anti-riot police never used firing guns. They never – they just used anti-riot tools and teargas.

But the Basij is armed — it’s an armed force. And they don’t follow the rules that are set for the police.

The police is not shooting people. These people [the Basij] are.

In the next post, Wolf Blitzer interviews the Iranian ambassador to Mexico, who speaks through an interpreter. Even still his words are pure fiction when compared to Dr Hejazi’s hands-on eyewitness account, who was there for a reason. The odds of a doctor [let alone a doctor who is a writer and a previous journalist and presently living in the UK] being within a few feet of a senseless shooting is astronomical – especially since he had just run down an alley.

Neda’s wound was catastrophic. She would have died had she been shot in the ER. He was there as a doctor to provide unimpeachable testimony. Testimony from a native Iranian — who is known there, who will be believed there, who was able to get out to immediately tell his story and who owns a publishing house of some sort to make sure that it never gets forgotten.

He looks right at the cellphone so he can easily be identified on video. He mentions the exact street location where it took place. And the manner in which he relates the event leaves no doubt as to its veracity.

Iranian Ambassador: CIA murdered Neda

June 27, 2009

See this post for background on NEDA AGHA-SOLTAN. Includes a video interview with the Iranian physician, Dr Arash Hejazi, who tried to save her life right there as she lay dying. He had his hands dierectly on her wound and said it was an entrance wound to the front of her chest right below the throat and that there was no exit wound. It's important because the Iranian ambassador to Mexico is claiming that the CIA shot her in the back and that the bullet removed from her brain was one the CIA uses. Dr Hejazi dismisses the notion an autopsy was even performed because she was "buried so fast afterwards".

It is comments like these that totally expose them for what they are: impotent cowards unable to manage their own mess. The more they insist the US was involved - when a credible eyewitness said it was a Basij who killed her - the more desperate they appear.

Transcript. How things were in Iran.

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT had just left Tehran.

They are convinced that the international media, including CNN, are part of the conspiracy to incite violence and destabilize the government....They have one claim that CNN has instructed its viewers how to hack government Web sites. And, of course, you heard the audacious claim, far-fetched claim, when it comes to Neda, the 26-year-old who was killed. Keep in mind the timeline of Neda. She was shot and killed on Saturday, buried on Sunday under pressure from the government. And they want you to believe that during two or three days, they finished off the investigation and they're convinced that, as you heard, that the CIA is the culprit. Another theory is the MKO, the military organizations committed to toppling the government, that they're possibly the culprit.

BLITZER: Reza, tell our viewers what happened to you, because you were reporting excellently until all of a sudden, they told you can't leave the office, you can't report anything. And then you were called in, what, Tuesday for a meeting with an Iranian intelligence official?

REZA SAYAH:

Yes. That happened on Tuesday. We got the call earlier in the day, at 4:00 p.m. "You have a meeting." They wouldn't tell me who. We walked into the Ministry of Guidance there. Alone in a room, I met an intelligence official, and he proceeded to tell me that they had evidence that we had violated the ban on reporting since it went into effect on Saturday.

He wouldn't substantiate it, but he said, "We have evidence," and then he proceeded to say that "We're willing to put that behind us as long as you do this." He pushed forward a piece of paper. He said, "I need you to write on this piece of paper that you are no longer going to report anything out of Iran unless it's a positive report. And unless you do this, you have 24 hours to leave, and if you decide to stay, we can't guarantee your safety and we can't guarantee you'll come back here and report again."

And it was a pretty easy decision. There was no way we were going to sign a statement declaring that, especially with a government that has a reputation of suppressing journalists. So, we made the decision to leave.

NY Times' ROGER COHEN:

I simply made the decision that I was going to go on reporting from the streets until somebody told me to stop...And I tried to do that for as long as I could. I did it until my visa expired. But the aim is intimidation. And let's not forget the "Newsweek" local reporter is in jail, a Greek reporter for "The Washington Times" has been accused of spying. He's disappeared. The BBC correspondent has been thrown out.

...I left with a very heavy heart. What is going on in Iran is intensely moving. It's heartbreaking. It's uplifting. And it's unresolved.

--------------

BLITZER'S INTERVIEW WITH IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO as per CNN translation.

This below is from the LA Times' ANDREW MALCOLM, which of course provides no link to the source, and has a slightly different translation than CNNs.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we're anxious to hear your government's response to all of these developments which have been very dramatic over the past two weeks. A key question many people around the world are asking is, why did your security forces kill that 26-year-old beautiful student named Nada?

MOHAMMAD HASSAN GHADIRI: I prefer to answer this in Persian.

BLITZER: Go ahead.

GHADIRI (through interpreter): This death of Ms. Nada is very suspicious. She was shot from behind. The location was where there was not much demonstration, there was no police presence and the gun that shot and killed her was a smuggled gun. It was not a government-issued gun.

BLITZER: There have been others, though, that have been killed, as well.

GHADIRI (through interpreter): In our view, this would be the work of those who wanted to put more fuel to the flame against the government....

My question is that how is that this Nada was shot from behind and several cameras take that. And this is done in an area where there was no important demonstration. If the CIA wants to kill some people and attribute that to the elements of the government, and then choosing a girl would be something good for them because it would have much higher impact.

Therefore, we believe and we are looking into this to find who the elements were who did this.

BLITZER: Are you seriously accusing the CIA of killing Neda?

GHADIRI (through interpreter): We say that the bullet that was found in her head was not a bullet that you could find in Iran. These are the bullets that the CIA and terrorist groups use. Of course they warned that there would be a bloodshed in these demonstrations and then they could attribute that to the Islamic Republic. This is part of a common act of CIA in various countries.

BLITZER: Do you really believe that, Mr. Ambassador? You're a distinguished diplomat representing Iran. This is a very serious accusation that you're making, that the CIA was responsible for killing this beautiful, young woman.

GHADIRI (through interpreter): I'm not saying that the CIA had done this. There are different groups. Could be intelligence services, could be CIA, could be the terrorists. However, these are the people who do these things.... Of course, you're not going to say that CIA is a sacred organization that hasn't done anything to other worlds.

It is possible to get shot in the chest and have the bullet wind up in another part of the body. It would have to enter a blood vessel and then travel while the heart is still pumping. It is a very rare occurrence.

Ahmadinejad compares barry to Bush

June 25, 2009

Iranian Hitler Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks up only to rag at barry.

Do you think that this kind of behavior is going to solve any of your problems? It will only make people think you are someone like Bush.

You are at the beginning of your way and you are gaining experience, and we do not wish the scandals of the Bush era to be repeated during your term of office.

We hope that you will avoid interfering in Iran’s affairs and somehow express your regret so that the Iranian nation can become aware of your regret. If there is real change, the Iranian nation will welcome it.

“We”?

Who is he referring to?

Supreme Leader blames infidels for his impotence

June 20, 2000

Who can take the term “Supreme Leader” seriously?

Especially when it appears he can only do so by inciting well-choreographed chants of “Death to America”?

Is “Death to America” written somewhere in the Koran? Because it seems to a regular and fervent part of televised “prayer services” in the Muslim World.

He has decided there will be no revote because 11 million voted cannot be rigged. I’m sure there are a lot of ACORN workers and barrymedia who chuckled out loud when they heard that. And he thinks that hundreds of thousands of dissatisfied voters are going to stop because he decreed Ahmadinejad’s victory “absolute”.

And then he blamed the uprising in his own country, caused by his own corruption and impotence, on the infidels whose media isn’t allowed into the country, who cannot communicate through the internet and who can only see what’s going on through blurry cellphone video and photos.

Is the Arab World that ignorant?

And despite the fact that the infidel-in-chief has said nothing other than the US is watching, the world is watching, the right to assembly and free speech should be respected and that he’s not going to meddle because it’s up to the Iranian people to decide who leaders will be.

And what of the courageous protesters who are risking their lives because they have had enough of the Supreme Leader? Does he think they are going to settle right down when he calls them mindless puppets controlled by infidels?

SL: Some may imagine that street action will create political leverage against the system and force the authorities to give in to threats. No, this is wrong.

Then he admits there will be bloodshed and that he intends to do nothing to prevent it except declare that the protesters’ murders will instead be suicides.

SL: It must be determined at the ballot box what the people want and what they don’t want, not in the streets. I call on all to put an end to this method. … If they don’t, they will be held responsible for the chaos and the consequences.

If there is any bloodshed, leaders of the protests will be held directly responsible.

They will be held accountable for all the violence, bloodshed and rioting.

With these words he should be condemned in every civilized nation.

How many Arab countries will that include?

Just like the world bore witness to how the Arab World stood by and did nothing for the Palestinian people when Hamas was pounding Israel with missiles and still did nothing but incite hate and promise years of retribution when Israel finally defended itself, the world is bearing witness to their lack of concern on behalf of the Iranian people.

It is becoming very clear – if not already clear – that the Arab World is not interested in promoting peace and only get involved when they can spread hate and propaganda. Something they can no longer deny. And something they can no longer blame on the infidels.

Source: FOX

POTUS re: Iran (6-20)

June 20, 2009

The world’s watching [everybody's problem]…we call on the gov to stop [no ultimatum]…US stands with “all” people who exercise free speech [no mention of standing specifically with the Iranian people]…Iranian people will judge their government [it's their problem]…international community [nobody else is doing anything]…MLK quote [avoids making his own moral statement] we will continue to bear witness. [I'm not doing anything until somebody makes me]

Statement from the President on Iran

The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost. We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people. The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.

As I said in Cairo, suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. The Iranian people will ultimately judge the actions of their own government. If the Iranian government seeks the respect of the international community, it must respect the dignity of its own people and govern through consent, not coercion.

Martin Luther King once said – “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” I believe that. The international community believes that. And right now, we are bearing witness to the Iranian peoples’ belief in that truth, and we will continue to bear witness.

Harry Smith: POTUS on Iran (6-19)

June 20, 2009

Harry Smith interviewed barry at the White House yesterday. Harry sure has one hot voice. It makes barry’s sound like a native Chicagoan’s. I wonder how hard he works to keep it that way. Like does it change when he’s watching sports or get’s angry and whether it sounds the same in the dark or comes off as creepy? One more mystery that will never be solved. barry’s answers, however, are not a mystery.

Here’s the CBS released video/transcript re: pertinent comments on Iran. The other parts of the interview: North Korea, economy, Dick Cheney will be aired next week on the The Early Show. Anyone know why he keeps giving Cheney air time? It just gives him and his argument legitimacy. Worse – it underscores barry’s insecurities as Commander-in-Chief and undermines the myth that he is Mr Kool inside.

HARRY SMITH: Let’s move on to news of the day. The Ayatollah Khamenei gave his – speech today and gave his sermon. He said that the election in Iran was, in fact, legitimate. He said, quote/unquote, “the street – street demonstrations are unacceptable.” Do you have a message for those people in the street?

BARRY: I absolutely do. Well, first of all, let’s understand that this notion that somehow these hundreds of thousands of people who are pouring into the streets in Iran are somehow responding to the West or the United States. that’s an old distraction that I think has been trotted out periodically. And that’s just not gonna fly.

What you’re seeing in Iran are hundreds of thousands of people who believe their voices were not heard and who are peacefully protesting and – and seeking justice. And the world is watching. And we stand behind those who are seeking justice in a peaceful way. And, you know, already we’ve seen violence out there. I think I’ve said this throughout the week. I want to repeat it that we stand with those whoA would look to peaceful resolution of conflict, and we believe that the voices of people have to be heard, that that’s a universal value that the American people stand for and this administration stands for.

And I’m very concerned based on some of the tenor and tone of the statements that have been made that the government of Iran recognize that the world is watching. And how they approach and deal with people who are, through peaceful means, trying to be heard will, I think, send a pretty clear signal to the international community about what Iran is – and is not.

But the last point I want to make on this – this is not an issue of the United States or the West versus Iran. This is an issue of the Iranian people. The fact that they are on the streets under pretty severe duress, at great risk to themselves, is a sign that there’s something in that society that wants to open up.

And, you know, we respect Iran’s sovereignty. And we respect the fact that ultimately the Iranian people have to make these decisions. But I hope that the world understands that this is not something that has to do with the outside world. This has to do with what’s happening in Iran. And, I think ultimately the Iranian people, will obtain justice.

Q: People in this country say you haven’t said enough, that you haven’t been forceful enough in your support for those people in the street, and which you say?

A: To which I say the last thing that I want to do is to have the United States be a foil for those forces inside Iran who would love nothing better than to make this an argument about the United States. That’s what they do. That’s what we’ve already seen. We shouldn’t be playing into that. There should be no distractions from the fact that the Iranian people are seeking to let their voices be heard.

Now, what we can do is bear witness and say to the world that the, you know, incredible demonstrations that we’ve seen is a testimony to, I think what Dr. King called the the arc of the moral universe. It’s long but it bends towards justice.

Reps Cantor & Pence re: House Resolution (video)

June 20, 2009

Reps Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Mike Pence (R-IN) discuss the House Resolution on Iran, which passed 405-1 (Ron Paul).

Post re: House & Senate Resolutions

House/Senate pass Iran resolutions

June 20, 2009

Reps Mike Pence (R-IN) and Howard Berman (D-CA) introduced a resolution condemning the Iranian government’s crackdown on protesters and interference with Internet and cell phone communications, which passed passed 405 – 1 (Ron Paul) along with two *presents* – Reps Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) and Dave Loebsack (D-IA).

House Resolution 560:

(1) expresses its support for all Iranian citizens who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and rule of law;

(2) condemns the ongoing violence against demonstrators by the government of Iran and pro-government militias, as well as the ongoing government suppression of independent electronic communication through interference with the Internet and cell phones; and

(3) affirms the universality of individual rights and the importance of democratic and fair elections.

Video Reps Cantor (R-VA) and Pence discussing resolution.

Rep Pence: When Ronald Reagan went before the Brandenburg Gate, he did not say Mr. Gorbachev, that wall is none of our business.

The nay was Rep Ron Paul (R-TX):

I have always hesitated when my colleagues rush to pronounce final judgment on events thousands of miles away about which we know very little. And we know very little beyond limited press reports about what is happening in Iran.

Source: CNN

Sen John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen Joe Lieberman (I-CT) introduced the Senate version of the resolution:

The time has come for the United States Congress to speak out unequivocally in support of the fundamental right of the Iranian people to determine their future for themselves in freedom. With this resolution, the Senate joined with our colleagues in the House of Representatives to affirm our shared commitment to the universal values of democracy, human rights, civil liberties, and the rule of law, and to condemn the unacceptable violence against the peaceful demonstrators taking place in Iran. By acting now, Congress sent an unmistakable message of support to the courageous Iranian people at a critical moment in their history.

It passed as did the resolution introduced by Sen Ted Kaufman (D-DE) and co-sponsored by Sen John Kyl (R-AZ) that condemns restrictions on the press in Iraq.

[The Resolution] reinforces the universal values of freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and supports the Iranian people as they take steps to peacefully express their voices, opinions, and aspirations in the aftermath of the June 12th election. The resolution also condemns censorship and intimidation of the press in Iran, and pledges support to the Iranian people seeking access to news and other forms of information.

ROBERT GIBBS:

I think the president has been clear on what he believes. And I will say, as the president has said, we’re not going to be used as political foils and political footballs in a debate that is happening in Iran. There are many people in the leadership that would love us to get involved and would love to trot out the same old foils they’ve used for years. That’s what they would love to do….obviously, we welcome the resolution.

First time the WH has gone beyond the party line to admitting/agreeing to the need for assigning responsibility for the violence but as usual just short of condemning it and waited until it was a done deal.

barry’s political expedient delay on Iran

June 19, 2009

Looks like folks are finally catching on to barry’s MO: political expedience. One wonders if they knew all along but can’t hide it anymore because of his clear waffling on Iran. Even then it took a few days.

NY Times’ HELENE COOPER & MARK LANDLER:

Some criticism of the Obama administration’s cautious posture may be politically opportunistic, coming from rivals who are eager to draw distinctions between Republicans and Democrats, to portray the administration as generally weak when it comes to international confrontation.

So is there disagreement? Gibbs says no. And that’s about it, except for the usual frat boy laughs and sarcasm.

June 18 WH Press Briefing:

QUESTION: Robert, on Iran, is there an internal debate in the White House now between those who clearly support what the president is doing in terms of the hands-off approach and those who think that the president needs to have some stronger language? Is that ongoing in the White House?

GIBBS: There’s no debate in the White House.

QUESTION: Is there division at all? Is everyone on the same page on this or are there those who think that the president — internally — that the president…

GIBBS: Everybody’s on the same page. There’s no difference of opinion.

[...]

QUESTION: You said there’s no difference of opinion. But we’ve been led to believe this president seeks out different opinions from his advisers. You’ve got these incredibly knowledgeable people sitting around the room. He can’t find a single person who does anything other than nod “yes,” Mr. President, “you’re absolutely right on this”? How can there not be some difference of opinion on this?

Caught by a reporter actually doing their job, Gibbs backtracks and uses his favorite diversion: “The American People…”

GIBBS: Well, there is a belief by all here that — that this is a debate, as I’ve said, I think, everyday for the last five days — four days, plus my statement, that the American people and this government are not going to pick the next leader of Iran. That’s something that the Iranians have to do. We have to ensure that we express our views. As I’ve said about ensuring that people can demonstrate; have their causes and concerns heard, and that’s what people here believe.

QUESTION: Is there nobody who believes you ought be a little more open in supporting the demonstrators? Nobody’s expressed that opinion to him?

GIBBS: Everybody’s on the same page.

Time for his sarcasm to try and put an end to it.

QUESTION: Just absolutely verbatim? Nobody…

GIBBS: We walk around like robots.

A discussion as to what type of communication there has been between the WH and Congress – whether it looks bad for the US that there is dissent. And, as usual, no real answer, laughing and then the final sarcastic remark.

Q Does the administration believe that the vocal criticism of — that members of the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill, and many very prominent members of Congress, have said — have spoken out forcefully in favor of the demonstrators, do members of the administration believe that’s a bad thing for the U.S. government to be doing?

MR. GIBBS: Well, it’s not — it’s not the tack that we’ve taken. But, Chuck, let’s –

Q But should the government — I mean, are you guys reaching out quietly to members on Capitol Hill, saying, hey, guys, this is what our intelligence is saying, you shouldn’t be doing this?

MR. GIBBS: No. Look, I appreciate the opportunity to get Congress to agree with everything that we believe. I will wait and see whether that comes to fruition. Again –

Q But this is a national security issue. It’s not uncommon sometimes for -

MR. GIBBS: Chuck, let’s be honest. Let’s — but hold on.

Q — for the White House to reach out to Capitol Hill and say, hey –

MR. GIBBS: No, no, but let’s be honest.

Q — let me tell you what we know.

MR. GIBBS: You make it sound monolithically like the President is saying one thing and everybody else is saying another thing. That’s not even true in the Republican Party, right?

Q So you think it’s good that there are members out there, prominent members of the United States government, saying –

MR. GIBBS: The President and his team are responsible for what the President and his team say. I’m not going to get into what motivates other people to do or say what they do or say. But I think the President believes that he’s struck the right tone, and as do others in the administration, as do others in the Republican Party, as do others in the Democratic Party.

Q And you’re not reaching out? Nobody in this administration is reaching out to members of Congress who have been very vocal in saying, can you buy us some time, can you give us a few days to get this sort of –

MR. GIBBS: Give us a few days for what?

Q To see what happens. I mean, it seems to be –

MR. GIBBS: Well, I think everybody is watching what happens, but I’m not — you know, I’m not – ask for two days to do what? Count the ballots?

barry conveniently gets his weekend. Senator John McCain said his resolution would be “an expression of support by the government and the people of the United States of America”. As for barry’s: It’s not productive for the US president to be seen meddling in Iranian elections? McCain doesn’t buy it:

CNN: It is unfortunate in a way that this resolution is required since the administration does not want to ‘meddle’ and has refused, the president has refused to speak out in support of these brave Iranian citizens, most of them young, who are risking their very lives to protest what was clearly an unfair and corrupt election. (video)

He can shoot with both barrels but there’s always a question of what he would actually be doing himself. But his words do have consequence whereas barry’s 2002 speaking out on Iraq – which had ZERO political consequences – despite barry’s own lies. No 2 Republican Eric Cantor (R-VA) spoke out firmly as well. What is he campaigning for?

CNN: The administration’s position that what’s going on in Iran is a ‘vigorous debate’ is absurd. People are being brutalized and murdered by the regime in Tehran. We have no idea exactly how many have died or have been seriously injured since the regime has restricted journalists. In no way do these actions constitute a ‘vigorous debate.’ America has a moral responsibility to stand up for these brave people, to defend human rights and to condemn the violence and abuses by the regime in Tehran.

Cantor’s quieter thoughts per the NY Times:

Obama’s posture has been very equivocal, without a clear message. Now is the time for us to show our support with the Iranian people. I would like to see a strong statement from him that has moral clarity.

Not along the lines that it’s above his pay grade. His advisers are starting to see his wait and see political expediency approach [to everything] might have real consequences.

NYT: But several administration officials acknowledged that Mr. Obama might run the risk of coming across on the wrong side of history at a potentially transformative moment in Iran.

Sen John Kerry backed barry’s sentiment of not meddling:

CNN: There is no need for the United States of America to step into the middle of it and make this about America. It is an Iranian moment, spurred on by Iranians, thoroughly supported by Iranians to the degree that the supreme ayatollah has now backed off his own support for the elections [and] called for an investigation.

What do the protesters have to say directly? Besides getting a new election or a revote and making sure the world is watching them, what more do they want? How can they expect the US to do anything even if they wanted help?

barry’s saying there isn’t a difference between Ahmadinejad and Mir Hossein Mousavi was more than a little weird. Clueless, really. Wonder how they interpreted that? That their efforts are worthless? That the US doesn’t care about a rigged election even if we can’t get involved?

NYT: Either way, the United States is going to be dealing with an Iranian regime that has historically been hostile to the United States, that has caused some problems in the neighborhood and is pursuing nuclear weapons.

And that’s inspiring the protesters to fight for democracy how? How does it jive with his statement that diplomacy has to start fresh? That diplomacy and people choosing for themselves are the way to effect that Change! he used to talk about. What we don’t hear anymore because it’s no longer politically expedient to use.

NYT: “For Barack Obama, this was a serious misstep,” said Steven Clemons, director of the American strategy program at the New America Foundation. “It’s right for the administration to be cautious, but it’s extremely bad for him to narrow the peephole into an area in which we’re looking at what’s happening just through the lens of the nuclear program.”

Secretary Clinton’s press spokesman sticks to the party line but goes one further — intentionally or not — and mentions that they would hold the parties responsible for any violence perpetrated on the protesters but stops short of what that would.

June 19 STATE DEPT Press Briefing:

QUESTION: Recognizing the White House has already spoken to this and White House officials have already spoken to it as well, I’m just curious, who does the United States hold responsible for the violence against the protestors that’s going on in the streets?

MR. KELLY: Well, I think as we’ve said before, we think that the right of the Iranian people to peacefully assemble needs to be respected. We think that –

QUESTION: Is it being?

MR. KELLY: Well, I mean, there have been times of – where demonstrators who have peacefully assembled have, of course, suffered at the hands of the authorities. And of course, we condemn any actions that – like that.

QUESTION: Okay, so you do hold the Iranian authorities responsible for any – disruption or violence that –

MR. KELLY: We would hold any government authorities responsible for any violence perpetrated against peaceful demonstrators.

QUESTION: Can I just ask, what does that – what does that mean in practical terms?

MR. KELLY: It means just that, that we –

QUESTION: No, no, I –

MR. KELLY: — we would expect that — we adhere very firmly to the principle of the right of people to peacefully assemble, to express their political views. And we would condemn any acts of violence against people who are peacefully assembling.

Pix of the day: "Iran's Michelle Obama"

May 24, 2009

Title of CNN article: "Thousands gather to hear, cheer Iran's Michelle Obama"

Photo with the article:

Supporters hope Zahra Rahnavard will become Iran's future first lady.

What do you think Michelle thinks about the resemblance?

POTUS: “Iran is a great civilization”

April 6, 2009

There is no need to comment on that disgusting statement. Nothing about Iran or the Iranian Hitler is great or even good. POTUS talks about nuclear arms ot Turkish Parliament. He can go there when Parliament is sitting but not to Canada because he knew he would have to answer questions and be held accountable for a policy he hasn’t committed to.

C-Span via TheDailyBeastVideo (an apt name for t0day’s video)

barry wishes Happy Nowruz to the “tiny country that isn’t a threat”

March 20, 2009

barry chats with Iran wishing them a Happy New Year of nuclear armament and congratulates them on their funding of hate-filled savages, who exist as human detonators designed to kill Americans and Israelis and anybody the hell else they like just for the thrill while they quote the Koran and go merrily about their business of littering the countryside with their eunuch flesh.

How stupid are these pawns?

And what kind of savage women lie down with these hate-filled savages to breed, incubate and produce more human detonators?

Islamic Republic of Iran?

Barry: Just one part of your great and celebrated culture. Over many years your art, your music, literature and innovation have made the world a better and more beautiful place.

…We know you are a great civilizations and your accomplishments have earned the respect of the United States and the world.

That is disgusting even by your Special Olympics standards barry. You do not speak for this resident of the United States. Not a single reason exists that would make me proud of a single Arab country. They are all savages. They sign the Arab Charter for Human Rights and then promptly violate it without sanction. “Marrying” and raping and slicing off innocent little girls genitals without anesthesia while they are awake and being held down by their female relatives is a prehistoric act of savagery that no one in America can “respect”. And in no way does that qualify for a “great and celebrated culture”. They are savages who have yet to evolve from cavemen. And until the savage treatment of women and children has been abolished they will never be deserving of any respect.

STOP CAMPAIGNING and START GOVERNING.

Sucking up to the Iranian Hitler is not something that should be done in any fashion. Especially when an imprisoned Iranian blogger, Omidreza Mirsayafi, dies in jail after “committing suicide”. You want to pander to fulfill campaign promises - go right away - but speak for the White House only.

ROBERT MACKEY at the Lede:

Mr. Mirsayafi was sentenced last month to “two years in prison for ‘insulting’ the Islamic Republic’s leaders and six months in prison for ‘publicity against the government.’”

His alleged “suicide” it appears was allowed to go untreated. According to Mr. Mirsayafi’s lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah:

“The doctor told them how to treat him, asked them to send him to a city hospital. But they ignored the doctor and said [Mirsayafi] was faking his illness. The doctor said, ‘His heartbeat is 40 per minute, you can’t fake that.’ But they sent the doctor out of the room.”

I’m sure this young man’s family will not be having a happy norwuz and I bet they don’t have much respect for their own country and after hearing this not much for the US.

barry: US does not torture

January 9, 2009

barry answers a question about national security, torture and Iran.

VoiceofAmericans2008

BARRY: I was clear throughout this campaign and through this transition that under my administration the United States does not torture. We will abide by the Geneva Conventions. That we will uphold our highest values and ideals. And that is a clear charge that I've given to Admiral Blair and to Leon Panetta. And, I think it is important for us to do that, not only because that's who we are, but also will ultimately make us safer. And will help in changing hearts and minds in our struggle against extremists.

With respect to Iran. I will have more to say about Iran after January 20. I have said in the past, during the course of the campaign, that Iran is a genuine threat to US National Security. But I've also said that we should be willing to initiate diplomacy as a mechanism to achieve our national security goals.

And my national security team is reflective of that practical, pragmatic approach to foreign policy. And when we have a policy towards Iran that has been shaped by my national security team - we will release it.

He's already trying to pawn it off on his team even though he says the change will come from him. And note his use of "does not" not WILL NOT. He knows exactly what he is saying and is still trying to obamanate 11 days before he becomes president. It is going to be a very rude awakening...for him, The American People and the world.

Watch his previous stumps on Iran. One day it's a tiny country that doesn't pose a serious threat and the next day it's a grave threat. What do you think he'll settle on come Jan 21st? Here's a few more of his favorite poll-directed, politically expedient stances.

mkhammer

May 18, 2008: Iran, Cuba and Venezuela- these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union. They don't pose a serious threat to us.
May 19, 2008: Let me be absolutely clear: Iran is a grave threat.
May 20, 2008: This obsession with Ahmadinejad is an example of us losing track of what's important.

President Bush's radio address

January 2, 2009

President Bush's radio address:[emphasis added]

Over the past week, I have been monitoring the situation in the Middle East closely with the members of my national security team. Secretary Rice is actively engaged in diplomacy. And I've been in contact with leaders throughout the region -- including the King of Saudi Arabia, the King of Jordan, the President of Egypt, the President and Prime Minister of the Palestinian Territories, and the Prime Minister of Israel.

This recent outburst of violence was instigated by Hamas -- a Palestinian terrorist group supported by Iran and Syria that calls for Israel's destruction. Eighteen months ago, Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in a coup, and since then has imported thousands of guns and rockets and mortars. Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, but Hamas routinely violated that ceasefire by launching rockets into Israel. On December 19th, Hamas announced an end to the ceasefire and soon unleashed a barrage of rockets and mortars that deliberately targeted innocent Israelis -- an act of terror that is opposed by the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people, President Abbas.

In response to these attacks on their people, the leaders of Israel have launched military operations on Hamas positions in Gaza. As a part of their strategy, Hamas terrorists often hide within the civilian population, which puts innocent Palestinians at risk. [utter cowards] Regrettably, Palestinian civilians have been killed in recent days.

The United States is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation facing the Palestinian people. Since Hamas's violent takeover in the summer of 2007, living conditions have worsened for Palestinians in Gaza. By spending its resources on rocket launchers instead of roads and schools, Hamas has demonstrated that it has no intention of serving the Palestinian people. America has helped by providing tens of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid, and this week we contributed an additional $85 million through the United Nations. We have consistently called on all in the region to ensure that assistance reaches those in need. And as I told President Mubarak, America appreciates the role Egypt has played in facilitating the delivery of relief supplies in recent days.

In addition to reducing humanitarian suffering, all nations must work toward a lasting end to the violence in the Holy Land, and a return to the path of peace. The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to achieve a meaningful ceasefire that is fully respected. Another one-way ceasefire that leads to rocket attacks on Israel is not acceptable. And promises from Hamas will not suffice -- there must be monitoring mechanisms in place to help ensure that smuggling of weapons to terrorist groups in Gaza comes to an end. I urge all parties to pressure Hamas to turn away from terror, and to support legitimate Palestinian leaders working for peace.

In the days ahead, the United States will stay closely engaged with our partners in the region, in Europe, and in the international community. My Administration will continue to keep the President-elect and his team informed. And America's objectives in the Middle East will remain clear: We seek security and peace for our allies, the free people of Israel. For the Palestinian people, we seek a peaceful and democratic Palestinian state that serves its citizens and respects its neighbors. For all in the region, we seek an end to terror. And we seek an enduring peace based on justice, dignity, and human rights for every person in every nation of the Middle East.