Marin Forum

This will be my last real-time blogging entry. I was happy to notice that over the last two weeks my entries became the primary source of information on Iran for many of you. Has the opposition lost? Definitely not. The street demonstrations may be over, but the people are still angry, The form of protest has shifted from an outward to an inner expression. Thust, there just isn’t as much information flowing out of Iran. Iran has changed even if the same people are in power. So thank you for taking such an interest in what could be one of the most important events of the the twenty-first century’s first decade.

2:32pm Today Senator McCain has proposed legislation that would provide assistance to evade Iranian government censors. McCain has absolutely no idea what he is talking about. Right now the Iranian government is attempted to show that Mousavi received foreign aid in order to crush the opposition and effectively marginalize the moderates. In this climate does McCain actually want to send aid to the opposition? Sending aid would completely undermine the opposition. The opposition hasn’t even asked for western assistance.

McCain seems to think that all democratic movements are inherently pro-Western since democracy is a Western idea. He cites examples from Eastern Europe during the Cold War to support his case. While there are important lessons to draw from these cases, they also must be looked at through the lens of the Cold War. The Poles wanted to enjoy the benefits of the West and were completely disatisfied with their society (not just their leaders). Programs such as Voice of America may have been important, but consumerism was just as important. People turned to the West not to listen to VOA but learn the latest fashions and appliances. A Pole in 1989 is not an Iranian in 2009. McCain continues to fail to grasp this fact.

It is understandable why McCain thinks this way. Just like millions of people he got swept away by the media coverage. He saw in Iran a opportunity to leave his mark on history. Here was a moment of historical preportions and he wanted to take advantage of it. Of course the problem is that events in Iran are out of US control.

I have repeatedly pointed out McCain’s lack of understanding on issues relating to international relations. During his presidential campaign half the time he didn’t know what he was talking about. To put it bluntly, international relations are above McCain’s head. In the foreign policy debate McCain was asked the question of how we would intervene in cases of human rights violations. He replied that he would carefully look at the situation before committing US resources. Where is that thinking today? Good intentions but with disasterous consequences.

1:41pm The Iranian government continues to make the case that the protests were instigated by foreign forces. There are reports that the government is attempting to extract to extract confessions from Mousavi supporters through torture. If the government can “prove” that Mousavi was backed by foreign forces then the government can have “just cause” to eliminate Mousavi. In its attempt to find a bogeyman, Iran is turning itself into a joke in the international community. Furthermore, is it really a good thing to suggest that foreign forces can so easily infiltrate into Iran, remain undectected, and garner significant support? That is an insult to the Iranian people.

1:35pm Today people across Tehran released green balloons in a sign of protest. The calls of “allahu akbar” continue into the night.

1:30pm Early today an Iranian cleric issued a strong statement against organizers of the opposition.

I ask the judiciary to behave harshly and cruelly with the leaders of the protests, as they are fed by the U.S. and Israel, so that it will teach a lesson to others

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