Iran Election June 09

[Guest]

Maybe, and I'm totally speculating here, for many Iranians Musavi was not Musavi, but rather an opportunity to say a big NO.

Most definitly I would say,

It is always "Musavi atleast this .. and that ..." that I hear

[zraver]

Z

I have seen a staged rally before ( when i was 8 or 9 y.o. ), i don't think ALL of them are troops.

All of them, no, most of them.... probably.

[Merlin]

These protests in Iran are spreading and getting violent.

Gunfire as Iran gripped by greatest protest since Islamic revolution

Hundreds of thousands of protesters poured on to the streets of Tehran on Monday in the greatest display of popular feeling since the Islamic revolution in 1979.

16 June [Telegraph] To cries of "death to the dictator", Iranians protested against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's proclaimed re-election, in a demonstration that passed largely unopposed by the authorities.

The rally, larger than anything seen in the capital since the demonstrations that toppled Shah Reza Pahlavi 30 years ago, openly defied the authorities. The interior ministry banned the rally and warned protesters that live ammunition could be used against them.

At the end of the demonstration gunfire broke out during at least one clash between protesters and a pro-government militia. One protester was killed and several were injured. ....

[Merlin]

Even the Supreme Leader cannot dismiss the ground swell against the announced poll results.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei surprises many with fraud inquiry into poll

16 June [Times] News that the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has instructed the Guardian Council — the legal body which is required by the Constitution to ratify the election result — to investigate charges of fraud has come as a surprise to many who took for granted the rhetoric of absolute power that emanates from the Leader’s office.

Few believed that the Supreme Leader, who had somewhat prematurely congratulated the President-elect on Saturday (the Constitution requires a three-day waiting period so that any complaints can be lodged) would shift his position so quickly.

Yet it is testament to the tremendous pressures on the political system that have resulted from the outpouring of anger across the country, and the widespread belief that the political order is experiencing a serious crisis of authority. ....

As Ayatollah Khamenei moved swiftly to confirm the vote in enthusiastic terms, President-elect Ahmadinejad dismissed the protests as nothing more than the discontent one might expect from disappointed football fans.

Such condescension only fuelled the anger that had erupted on Saturday. Indeed, it would appear that Mr Ahmadinejad’s comment that there had been no formal complaints about the election was pivotal in raising the stakes in the cycle of demonstrations which were gripping the country.

This dismissive gesture prompted one of the three defeated candidates, the influential former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Mohsen Rezai, to publish a formal letter of complaint. What was important about this intervention was not only Mr Rezai’s conservative political leanings but that he made it quite clear that he felt he was several million votes short. In other words, his was not a procedural complaint but a substantive one. .....

[zraver]

The police have failed to contain the riots, even the Hezbollah fighters employed by the regime (so many reports of Arabic speakers it is beginning to seem cedible) that the Basiji has been called in and the gloves are off, no more bars, bats and batons now its time for parabellum.




Warning below is graphic...... NSFW NSFW NSFW





















Warning warning NSFW NSFW very graphic

[Aryajet]

Yeah, they should leave a crowd alone to burn the entire city, not just several buildings.

Looking at the ugly situation in "color revolutions" countries, I really hope Iranians are smarter, and can handle elections without destroing their state. :(

Who is burning the entire city?
Over a million people were in the streets today, only one gun shot from a questionable "Plain clothe" individual which killed 1 person. No torching or blowing buildings up.

[Aryajet]

Z,

See many women, kids or elderly? These guys are all Guards or Basiji which means A-jad has tens of thousands of troops in Tehran who need only put on the uniform and pick up their guns.

I didn't mean to question your claim, I really needed those pix to prove a point in another Dis. board. Thanx for posting.

[Aryajet]

I don't quite understand so much passion for Musavi. The guy is more conservative than Khatami and he's supported by the second most powerful character of the regime no less, Ali Rafsandjani, who is, if you have a look at his bio, a sick bastard. Musavi was in charge as Prime Minister during the darkest hour of the regime when thousands of students got executed...Thats not a colour revolution in any way, more like two sharks fighting for power by proxies...

Concerning the votes, well there were most certainly massive frauds, but saying Musavi won...no one has any proof of that yet.

Oscar,
I assure you more than 70% of those demonstrators don't give a hoot about Mousavi. Him and other moderate political figures are being used as pretext for a bigger picture. They are after the core of the whole oppressive theocratic regime.

[Aryajet]

Castellano,

I have seen the calls to DDoS those sites

CyberWar Against Ahmadinjead

However, what if the protester's bandwidth is choked as well? It's their only link to the outside world.

I'm not sure if it is a good thing to do.

I never thought that was a good idea either and I didn't participate in the action, Just wanted to post what is happening.
But I'll convey the valid concern to the others.

[Aryajet]

But I don't see that happening. What's the regime gonna say now? "Oooops, sorry, we got it all mixed up, actually, it was Musavi who had 62% and A-jad 33%"

It is no longer a presidency "election". It is the legitimacy of the regime itself that is at stake.

And whatever they do now, they are screwed.

Well said!!
That is the whole purpose behind all these uprising, Corner the regime and force it to make mistake and get screwed.
Khamenei taking his "divine decree" back and allow an investigation is HUGE. He is not perceived a legitimate man of god anymore, he is a crook who will kneel under will of people.
This was what exactly he said in his speech after endorsing the election finally, "The outcome of this election is another will of allah which we have witnessed time and time gain in past 30 years". Now the will of allah is being investigated.:D:D

[gabriel]

Khamenei taking his "divine decree" back and allow an investigation is HUGE. He is not perceived a legitimate man of god anymore, he is a crook who will kneel under will of people.
This was what exactly he said in his speech after endorsing the election finally, "The outcome of this election is another will of allah which we have witnessed time and time gain in past 30 years".

He might still keep his initial statement. If he was trying to buy time, that is.

[MIKEMUN]

The BBC is now reporting that the Guardian Council has agreed to a recount. Is this just a tactic to buy time? And why, oh why has A-jad left the country at such a time?

[Chunder]

Now, I don't know if that is fair.

Regardless, even if you think the Israelis are evil, at least concede them they are not so stupid.

I think what we are witnessing could easily bring down the regime. If that happens, and from the Israelis perspective, it would therefore likely deactivate this completely artificial state of confrontation between the two countries.

In my opinion the Israelis would be craving with all their hearts that a free, democratic and pluralistic Iran comes out of this.

And so do I ;)

Report: Ex-Mossad chief says strike on Iran could 'affect us for 100 years'
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Iran, nuclear, U.S., Mossad

Former Mossad Chief Ephraim Halevy told Time magazine in an interview published Thursday that an Israeli attack on Iran "could have an impact on us for the next 100 years" and should only be considered as a last resort.

Link: Report: Ex-Mossad chief says strike on Iran could 'affect us for 100 years' - Haaretz - Israel News

I think your observation is probably the wished for option.

I don't think so many people would be willing to demonise Iran, if they knew the level of, and active dissent against the current govt.

If anything such an incredibly lopsided result MUST be rigged. Which has repercussions. It must have factored into the Ayatollah's reassessment.

I think he is a Hawk, but a similar happening occurred during the revolution - where popular action carried the day seperately from belief the Ayatollah believed. I.E he wasn't initially supportive of the revolution but then changed his mind given what had unfolded. In short, I believe he wants to control the future, just so long as he is in control of the future whatever course that takes.

The Gaurd is a law until itself however and has blood on it's hands.

[Merlin]

.. And why, oh why has A-jad left the country at such a time?

I understand he has gone to Moscow, being invited to attend the SCO summit there.

Oh, he has cancelled this visit.

Iranian president puts off Russia trip

23 hrs ago MOSCOW (AP) — The Iranian Embassy in Moscow says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has put off a visit to Russia, and it is unclear whether he will come at all. ....

[NUS]

Who is burning the entire city?
Over a million people were in the streets today, only one gun shot from a questionable "Plain clothe" individual which killed 1 person. No torching or blowing buildings up.

Ahmadinejad hails election as protests grow - CNN.com

people breaking into shops, starting fires and tearing down signs. Two sides of people faced off against each other in the square, throwing rocks and bottles and shouting angrily.

2009 Iranian election protests - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Large protests which escalated into riots had also broken out at Tehran University, Amirkabir University, and Shahid Beheshti University where students started burning and destroying various buildings and items around the campuses.

And in case if you still don't see it, there is a nice big pictures in this thread above from Boston.com filled with smoke and fire.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like i support any of the sides, but saying what police had no reason to interfere is a biased view at least.