The leader of the Green Movement, Mir Hossein Mousavi, got very angry. His wife had been assaulted yesterday by regime thugs, who unleashed pepper spray at her face when she attempted to join the demonstrations. At one this morning she was taken to a private clinic, complaining of trouble breathing and seeing. She was sent back home, apparently in better shape, some hours later.
Meanwhile, Mousavi had been forced to spend the night at his offices at the Fine Arts Center, surrounded by Basij hooligans, and mid-morning, contrary to the pleas of his security detail, he went out and got into his car. Basij on motorcycles surrounded the car as it tried to move. Some of them beat the vehicle with clubs and shouted at him. So he got out of the car and confronted them, as a crowd of his supporters gathered.
“I know you have your orders,” he said. “You have been told to beat me or shoot me. Do not delay. Here I am. Do it now.”
The Basiji hesitated, then left. Mousavi continued on home to join his wife. The news is now all over the country, on VOA and the BBC.
Meanwhile, there is intense fighting at university campuses in Tehran. Reports of tear gas and gun shots.
Silence from the White House as the future of the world revolves around the Iranian cauldron.
UPDATE: More details.
I am wondering if Mr. Obama is rooting for the mullahs deep down? Why is he so blind to the dynamics of a revolution brewing in front of his eyes? He is nothing but but a poorly done remake of the “Carter Fiasco”.
Wow! Mousavi has grown a massive set. You watching, Mr. President?
Mr. Ledeen, you can’t handle the truth,people are not interested in Iran. Obama is overloading us with his domestic priorities which will negate any interest in what may be happening in a country that now seems irrelevent or unimportant.
so just ignore it.
“Silence from the White House”
That’s probably the best we can expect from the Obama White House. The president has no idea which side he should be on. Iran’s ongoing troubles confuse him. On top of that, Obama is instinctively hostile towards anyone expressing pro-American views! Nope, I am not exaggerating. The protesters in Iran may very well be better off if they express contempt for our country. Obama lives in an ideologically upside down universe. Anyone who favors American values must inherently be opposed. They are on the wrong side of history.
IF there ever were MORE proof needed to demonstrate that Obama and his cohorts are anti-freedom it is showcased by his deadly silence regarding Iranian freedom seekers.
Can anyone, either from right, center or left believe that Bush would have ignored their pleas for help? The fact that the media, aside from the bloggers and some right wing commentators, are stone silent regarding this crisis of epic proportions is indicative of their thrall with third world tyrannies.A toxic brew is simmering….
Surely there will be a tipping point at which Washington will have to lift the scales off eyes and clear the wax from their ears. I suspect that the coming showdown between Israel and Iran will jolt-in a very explosive manner-the third worlders in Washington from their inexcusable slumber.
“You have been told to beat me or shoot me. Do not delay. Here I am. Do it now.”
Mir Hossein Mousavi has courage… and clearly whoever runs the Basij is still afraid. This is good news.
Jimmy Carter was bad enough. He was a president who felt guilty concerning America’s alleged imperialistic actions against the Iranians. Barack Obama is far worse! He truly, on a gut level, is anti-American.
Yet, the Obama Administration is STILL trying to negotiate with the Amadenejad thugs…
My only fear regarding all this is that the demonstrators will be unable to overthrow the régime in Tehran. At that point, our government in Israel will have to attack, and this will set off a terribly bloody conflict in the region, one where millions will die, including possibly me.
My own preference in such a situation is that Israel finally, and at long last, break out our nukes and destroy, Riyadh, Qom and Tehran to the degree they are able – but I doubt this will happen. Netanyahu is nothing but a rag doll, and has not stood up to Obama at all. Using our nukes to attack an enemy and destroy its ability to function from the center is beyond the tiny cojones (big enough only to bully Jews) of Netanyahu, Barak and Peres.
From a cosmic perspective (I’m taking chances here, since My Ouija board is of a modest performance compared to Mr. Ledeen’s), one might wonder whether only a divine intervention can overthrow a theocracy?
There is something epic and heroic about Mousavi and his wife. It seems another milestone has been reached in what might become the legendary reversal of fortunes of the goonies.
Mousavi used to be one of Komenei’s men, in the position of “prime minister”, a title as nonsensical as “Islamic Republic”, in their bizarre nomenclature. Could a man of the Islamic revolution turn into an agent of its demise 30 years later? Remember, it was not that long ago, when it was fashionable to postulate that Yasser Arafat could have reasonably metamorphosed into a man of peace (Nobel prize included) in his latter years? That myth was eventually debunked.
What are we to make of Mousavi? Is he only a transitional figure, until an untainted leader can emerge? Can his wife be the savior? I can only imagine that I would be encouraged, but confused, if I was one of the hopeful youth on the street.
I don’t think the youth are very confused; they want an end to the Islamic Republic. The theocrats are very confused, at least tactically; they can’t find any winning moves in this game. But they have the guns and the throne. Still.
As months passed, I wasn’t sure if Mousavi was going to fade away or take up this role. It’s clear he’s decided on the latter and that’s welcome news.
Dariush, It wouldn’t surprise me if Obama was opposed to this revolution deep down inside. There’s a great deal of people in D.C. who are obsessed with “stability” and deal-making and things of the sort, and view revolutionary moments, especially in a such a crazy part of the world, as dangerous to the status quo. Remember James Baker’s comments after Tianamen Square? Some of these guys have never met a tyrant they didn’t enjoy playing golf with. If the mullahs fall and all is well, no doubt Obama takes credit — but if the mullahs fall and there’s post-regime chaos and a lack of law and order for a period of time, do you really think Obama would be pleased?
Michael, I figure it is neck and neck between the current occupant in the Oval Office, and Ahmadinezhad, in determining who has the lesser amount of credibility.
You people are so ANTI Obama that prevents you to see the forest! To great degree I find his “personal” well-planned silence indeed handy and well targeted, UNLIKE the DAMAGING statement posted about Israeli Prime Minister saying “Iranian regime losing its power base”!
While P. Obama is personally keeping silence at times, his representatives in State Dept. and alike lose no time in stating their objections to what is happening in Iran. I think the more P. Obama keeps talking; it loses its effect and power vs. coming out at critical times.
I think one of the most damaging news against Ahmadinejad –while sounding funny but truly hurting—was mention of Dr. Ledeen that upon his arrival at Venezuela’s airport the military band played the pre-revolutionary anthem, which Ahmadinejad knows it so well, as well as all Iranians of pre-revolution era. Iranians say look who is supporting this guy that they have no clue even about the national anthem!!
Now plot gets thicker on Ahmadinejad, according to this news, which has not been said in English news media, and I’ll do my best to translate it as noted by Karubi’s response to it in Norooz web site. Few days ago, Ahmadinjead in Isfehan speech said:
“It is true that oppressor and arrogant powers (meaning U.S., etc.) are seeking country’s wealth and oil, but under all these they have a justification (reasons) that based on that take actions. Although they do not announce that in their news. We were able to find these evidence (documents) that they believe one person from dynasty of Prophet Mohammad has appeared in this spot (Iran), which will dry the roots of all oppression and oppressors. THEY HAVE ALL THESE PLANNED TO PREVENT THE APPEARANCE OF THE PROPHET AND KNOW PEOPLE OF IRAN WERE THE ONE WHO PREPARED THE GROUND FOR THIS EVENT AND HE IS THE SUPPORTER OF THIS REGIME.”
Any psychiatrist would declare anyone believing such a thing is indeed mentally sick and require immediate medical help. Yet, we have this sicko as president of Iran wanting to wipe Israel off the map and Prime Minister of Israel keeps quoting from him, on the expense of Iranian people!
I bet even Khamenei is pissing in his pants hearing what this sicko is saying in broad day light in Iran!
Obama approval less the 50%
Climategate
The Denmark Draft Agreement at Copenhagen
Health Care “Reform” Problems
Is the gilt falling from the lily?
Are the liberals being hoist…?
Faster please. (Hey, it is Ledeen’s blog, LOL)
Michael,
Sources tell me that somewhere between 90-180 days there will be a different group manipulating Iran.
Sadly, nobody is talking about adopting a constitution.
Eventually,Iranians will realize that they are all Bazaari inmates.
Regards.
Mr. Ledeen ,if that was directed at me,I accept your criticism but, whether you agree with me or not is irrelevant, nobody cares about Iran. I do care what happens in Iran but we are few and far between.
Mr. Ledeen, thanks for your continued insight and work here.
I’m curious what your view is of how Israel views these events and whether you believe that they are involved. On one hand, I’m sure they would rather see the regime implode internally. But knowing who has the guns, they have to be sanguine about that and retain their military options.
How long do they let this play out before they take a more overt role in your opinion?
i don’t know, but i doubt the israelis are involved in this drama, except as villains for the regime.
What a sad, pathic reflection of our American President. As individuals fight and lay doewn their life for freedom from a corrupt government our WH is silent. Never in my lifetime would I have envisioned a President of the United States with not a word said in support. No way will I ever trust anything this president says or does.
Wow – sounds like Gorbachev at his dacha, sort of.
Be very careful about turning Mousavi into an Iranian George Washington. Islam doesnt produce Washingtons, or Jeffersons. Islam is as Pryce Jones called it is “A Closed Circle”. No matter what the supposed intentions Islam allows very few roles to be played out.
Round and round it goes..forever.
Even though the stakes are high in Iran, I tend to avert my attention because IMO it is difficult to dislodge a sufficiently ruthless regime from power–and apparently we’re uninterested. It’s possible that things will evolve constructively, but it seems unlikely to me.
Nor does democracy automatically blossom after a despotism is removed. Look at Afghanistan. Is Iraq stable? Is Ukraine prospering?
I support Israel in doing whatever it judges necessary to maintain its security.
ML, I want to acknowledge your plugging away at your important reportage even though, at least on occasion, it must seem a futile and thankless task. If and when the balloon goes up regarding Iran, your writings will be a primary place that people turn to.
thanks for keeping this news available.
regards
Michael,
You well know that “Caliphates ALWAYS collapse from core rot.” As such, the stench is so bad that Iranian males are finding remnants of backbones.
Apparently, a timetable similar to the “1979 Revolution” is being followed. Unfortunately, however, the power brokers are planning to substitute a watered down version of the regime in power.
Hence, the reference to the obvious missing constitution.
Despite the subjugation accepted in AD 632, I am convinced there are more Aryan hearts than sheep in Iran.
Regards.
Just a bunch of smoke. Not interested….
Simply amazing! A democratic republic trying to unfold before our very eyes and our President does NOTHING! NOTHING!!! What a guy.
Just one question, Pedrosito, regarding your posts at # 4 and 20:
If no one cares, why are you commenting?
It just seems a little counter-intuitive for you to post your “no one cares” in a place that, if you’re right, no one will read, and if you’re wrong, well, people will see how wrong you are!
Personally, I care about the freedom of people everywhere, of every ethnicity, of every skin tone, and all genders. The freedom of the Iranian people is just as important to me as the freedom of the American people. And for you to suggest otherwise is, frankly, highly insulting.
(getting off soapbox now)
I’m puzzling over why Obama says nothing in support of democracy in Iran; we know that Bush would have been very public in his support. There are a number of possible reasons.
The first may be ideological; Obama is a socialist and anti-democratic. His whole behavior has shown that he is an elitist who considers that the people don’t have the right to govern themselves but require an authoritarian Executive Realm. Obama doesn’t operate by honesty, transparency and collaboration but by stealth, lies, manipulation. I think this is a minor reason, for although Obama may be a socialist, he is not interested in ‘far-off’ peoples.
The second is more ideologically personal; Obama has been raised as anti-American; his wife is anti-American; his long association with Rev. Wright’s anti-American, anti-capitalist and anti-white rants and with others (Ayers etc) reveal his contempt for America. His constant apologies for America are also quite revealing.
The third is possibly the strongest reason; it’s psychological. Obama is psychologically dysfunctional; he’s a pathological narcissist. This means that he is unable to feel empathy with anyone; his interactions with others are only to ensure himself that he can control them…and assure himself of their devotion to him.
Obama is totally disinterested in the Iranian people because they are not controllable by him. They aren’t even interested in him. Right there – their lack of interest in Obama means that for Obama..they simply don’t exist.
Their focus is on a desire for freedom – not aa desire for and adortion of Obama. Therefore, for Obama..they don’t exist.
There will be NO “Democratic” or “Republic” in Iran. Ever. The basic
cultural and mental building blocks..the ones assembled in Europe over centuries via
Roman Civil Order,Christianity, The Renaissance, The Enlightemnent,
The Scientific Revolution, The Industrial Revolution..all of the necessary components for real Republic are utterly missing. A revolution can occur, a lot of blood spilled, and it will quickly stagnate where all these Islamic countries stagnate i.e. tribal hatred,
religious fanaticism, torpor, apathy, more hatred.
I just hope that the people of Iran topple the regime themselves.
Obama sure isn’t going to help.
Those people could seriously help this world avoid WW3. Because if Israel strikes Iran, there goes the whole ballgame.
Obama’s diffidenc is not really that difficult to understand.
1. Real-politik: You don’t commit until you know who will be on top.
2. Principles: You don’t commit yourself until you know who will be on top.
3. Pragmatism: You don’t commit until you know who will be on top.
4. The clincher: Iranian protesters are just like tea parties. (And we know how we should feel about tea parties.)
The Israelis are seen as villians by the Mullahs, Ahmadinejad, Mousavi, the street vendor, the students (who are wearing Keffiyehs in solidarity with the Pali’s) and just about everyone in Iran. Mousavi’s record is pretty clear on this. We’re talking about replacing a rotten pear with a rotten bannana. Of course I wish there were more rational Muslims in Iran, but most live outside of their country now.
Steveoh..bingo.
I remember the Iranian Students at the University of California in the 1970s. All of them were on the Shah’s scholarship program. Free tuition and board to become engineers, doctors etc. They love bought the TransAm, the disco outfits, and tried to pick up the blonde. But they hated America as corrupt. Then they spent every weekend screaming Death to the Shah, Death to America!. Then they
got their Revolution, the scholarships were cancelled they were recalled home, were drafted into the Revolutionary Guard Army and slaughtered in the Iran-Iraq War. This new crop of Iranian Students is
no different. The ideals,the dreams sound so good…FREEDOM!..etc
but the context makes these ideals utterly foreign. Their Revolution will in the end be Iranian and yes Islamic.
Thank you Michael for writing this news and I find the articles very interesting. I am very angry that the wife of Mousavi was assaulted but I have courage in Mousavi and maybe he is not answer for us Iranians but he has become symbol of hope to me.
To #33 ETAB,
You’ re so right on your perception. I’m 100% behind you on that!
Mr. Ledeen has been hoping for support that would lead to the Iranian people’s liberation. Never have I seen in my lifetime such indifference to the fight of people in a country ruled by tryants by an American President. People in Iran are dying in the streets desperate to stand up to tyranny.
Meanwhile Obama probably has a couple of flunkies talking to the mullah’s representatives. They can scarcely believe their luck. All they have to do is take him for a ride with useless chatter and they can go on murdering their own people and start making nuclear weapons.
Obama is an absolute loser living in his ideology of a make believe world utopia. But first he has to finish off the American dream. And he’s doing a fine job of it.
ETAB
It could just as easily be a combination of all 3 symptoms.
Furthermore, If Mousavi were ever killed, total, unstoppable anarchy would consume the nation.
I have to agree with Adina in her post No. 6. The Obama administration is the enemy of freedom and the friend of tryanny.
ehunter @ 34:
Hmmm… didn’t people once say that about Iraq?
I’m no historian, but perhaps someone could come up with other examples?
Interesting article and a good insight.
If it is our deed which shapes us then it is perhaps the inevitable which drives us to morph.
The first encounter was an involuntary jerk reaction. This will be felt and perhaps in a positive way influence the regime goons. More importantly as the regime tries to constrict the noose tighter they only expedite their demise. Mousavi has just passed the first test of immortality. This is turning out to be more exciting by the day.
The goal is clear for all Iranians and the end although far away is still in sight. Things will get worse before they get any better and it is when they are at their worst, that people use and turn the obstacle into an advantage.
The clock of inevitability is ticking.
Re: #44 I believe Iraq is more of an example of what ehunter described. One of the most decisive and overwhelming victories by any military in the history of modern warfare was severly diluted by the decision to nation build in Iraq. Had GW concerned himself less with nation building and more with the “are you with us or against us doctrine”, both Syria and Iran could have been dealt with just as Saddam was. Shock and Awe followed by piercing attacks to sever the heads of these Theocratic Facist Dictatorships. Instead wasted resources and lives attempting to bring a system incompatible with fundementalist Islam and it’s supporting terrorist organizations. What exists in Iraq is far from a transparent democracy. At best it can be viewed as a powersharing arrangement among autonomous factions of Kurd, Sunni and Shia. A real shame because after the swift fall of Bagdad it was reported Assad was convinced he was next. We were in the position of ultimate military advantage. Troops and bases should have been immediately placed on the borders of Iran and Syria and GW should have simply asked once again…”with us or against us”. This I blame on The State Dept. And of course foreign pressure from our “allies” and enemies.
It is another Tiananmen Square.
(Yazd Street in Iran):
http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=10533
Steveoh
The most long lasting event of the Iraq Invasion wont be a “democtratic” Iraq. We may have won militarily…in incredible
fashion..but then insane MultiCulturalism took over and we
accepted 60,000 Iraqi refugees to enter our country. Thats more Islam
inside the USA.
Now go look at todays headlines:
FIVE MUSLIM AMERICANS.. CAUGHT TRYING TO SNEAK INTO AFGHANISTAN..TO KILL AMERICANS.
Allah permits no divided allegiances.
There is no such thing as a Muslim -American..only walking timebombs with slow fuzes.
I was a fan of Mr Ledeen until I read today the article on the Alavi Foundation and his support for the seizure of its properties in US.
Mr Ledeen, you know fully well none of the Shia centers in US have graduated any terrorists unlike numerous ones in US and Europe.
The Shia in US already suffer from lack of places of worship or atleast community centers. Hence, to support a seizure of an organization that supports Shia is very disheartening.
Do you really believe that the Alavi FOundation even if supporting the IRI government would be a central source of income for the governemnt of Iran given today’s oil prices.
Whatever money was being made off of investments was used to support Shia centers.
Today, the Shia community has to yet again feel that it is discriminated against in light, at a time when the Saudi governemnt continues to be supported by the US and on the other hand the Saudis fund Wahhabi organizations.
The move by the NY prosecutor does not hurt the IRI governemtn, only gives them more excuses to preach to Shiites that US wants to keep them down. If this move was made in tandem with US efforts to force Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to stop discriminating against Shiites then it might have been palatable. However, in absence of such moves, it clearly looks like a move against Shiite communities who have to feel discrimnation even in the US.
thanks
Incredible…the silence from the White House is mind-numbing. Obama will go after our intelligence community but is mum on what is going on in Iran!
To #34,
You’re wrong sir!
The Iranian so called revolutionaries of the 1970′s in the US and elsewhere were “communists” aligned with the Soviets as well as China. They were anything but Islamists. Their mantra was “world’s workers united to take over governemnets” and America was seen as an Imperialist country. As a matter of fact nothing has changed in the eyes of the “left” and they still say the same thing.
So in the 1970′s these communists started the fire and carried the so called revolution in Iran then supported by the Western governments specially the Carter administration who did not like the Shah. The rest is history. Carter created the monster mullah regime of Khomeini and those same revolutionary communists all paid the price for being communists and killed by Khomeini.
The Iranian revolutionaries of today are anything but those “leftist”, “communists” of their previous generation and as matter of fact they hold them responsible for causing such pain, tragedy and misery for them.
To #34,
One more important thing to remember: Iran and Iranians have had their 1st democracy and rule of law back more than 2500 years ago under the leadership of Cyrus the Great. Iranian culture is embedded with democracy, freedom, openness, dialogue and kindness towards other people and cultures due to our very rich past history. Those unfortunate periods in our history when we did not have these blessings were all because of the policies of the colonial powers of the time mainly Britain mostly during Qajar and Savafid dynasties when they planted undemocratic trolls and puppet regimes to keep their interests in the oil rich Iran. It has always been these colonial thirsts and imperial policies towards our people and coutnry that have resulted in unpopular and tyrant regimes. This period in time we are having the most barbaric unpopular regime in our history once again because of first Soviets financial and material support of our communists in the 60′s and 70′s to start the fire of uprising and creating chaos to weaken Shah’s government and then support of the Islamists later on in the 70′s by Carter and again Britain to avoid success of Soviets in creating another communist country in Iran.
We will get our country back to establish once again a free, secular and democratic system which has its base 1st time in human kind history in Persia home of 1st declaration of human rights. We will not allow Britain or Russia to interfere with our aspiration any longer. Hopefully they have changed their policies already and have learned from their mistakes in the past. Not so sure about Russia yet!
So I would suggest revisiting libraries, reading unbiased books on history of Iran before any incorrect judgment is made.
It is amazing how Akbar Mohseni argues the Shi’it and its principle. Mr. Mohseni, the whole Shi’it religion is all based on discrimination. Discrimination against women, discrimination against non-Shi’it, and discrimination against all aspects of human rights and dignity. Forcing your backward ideas on the people and even in the case of the basic right of wearing their choice of dress and forcing women to cover their head and making them to look likes a trash bag is not discrimination? Khomeinie himself said it repeatedly, that if only 60,000 instead of 60 million people support his crazy ideas, then rest of the people don not count. The whole IRI is based on discrimination. As far as Alavi foundation is concerned, you know very well the foundation which was established to promote scholarly work and support students in US is now used to promote the anti-human and backward ideas of Mullahs. BTW, providing the places of worships in the West to Shi’its is like providing places of worships to KKK. Look what the Mullahs are doing to their own people. Raping, torturing, jailing innocents students and their family means nothing to you? Now you want to use the West to spread women and other types of apartheid? How many Iranian in the West go to the mosque and as a matter of fact how many Iranian go to the mosques inside Iran? You know very well that Iranian can’t care less about mosques. If you are so concern about your religion, go back to Ghom and practice your Shi’it there, please.