A (nother) Day Of Destiny For Iran (bumped)
20 June 2009 11:28 am by GeoT
TM NOTE: This diary has been bumped.
(from 0:59 this morning)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/13/iran-demonstrations-viole_n_215189.html
“Mass Rallies Planned, Violent Crackdown Expected”
But will really happen on the streets? What choices will individual Iranians make?
Rally scheduled for Sat. 4pm Iran time.
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This post was submitted by GeoT.
No tags for this post.
Taylor, feel free to clean this diary up links etc…. or lose it and someone can start fresh.
Okay by me.
Geo.
From CBS Interview:
SMITH: People in this country say you haven’t said enough, that you haven’t been forceful enough in your support for those people on the street — to which you say?
THE PRESIDENT: 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’re already seeing. 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.
What we can do is bear witness and say to the world that the incredible demonstrations that we’ve seen are a testimony to I think what Dr. King called the “arc of the moral universal.” It’s long but it bends towards justice.
5:30 am Eastern:
CNN is now banned from ANY reporting out of Iran. No live shots, no phone interviews They were being allowed one live on camera report per day in the last couple of days. The on-air reaction @CNN is underwhelming: no outrage or cries of censorship. The media is afraid of being cast, as they were @ Tiananmen in 1989, as sharing responsibility for the bloodshed. Yet CNN continues to pose the question in their graphics:
Will this be another Tiananmen?
CNN is reporting that some of the clerics, who have supported the protests have pulled out and will not protest today. Police have also surrounded the square were the protest was supposed to be. There has been no word from Mousavi or any of the reformist leaders. Word comming out of Iran seems to say, if there are protests, they will be small groups that will be on the move.
CNN is reporting that on Mousavi’s face book page, he is telling everyone that the rally is on.
BBC and CNN reporting that rallys have been called off.
Tweeting form the Supreme Ruler:
____
ABC’s Jim Sciutto’s Twitter Account ‘Hijacked’ By Pro Iranian Government Messengers
June 18, 2009 1:41 PM
ABC’s Chief Foreign Correspondent Jim Sciutto has just left Iran. His visa, which allowed him to report from the streets of Tehran during the election demonstrations, has expired, requiring him to depart. He reports now from Dubai:
The government is now trying to turn technology against the protesters. Officials have started a number of fake opposition pages on Twitter, which are tweeting propaganda and misleading information. I became an unwitting victim when a user named ‘persian_guy’ retweeted several things under my name which I didn’t write. Here are a couple:
Persian_Guy: RT @jimsciuttoABC Moussavi concedes pleads for calm #iranelection #tehran #iran9 #gr88
Persian_Guy: RT @jimsciuttoABC Tehran’s upper class leading protests, the majority of the population suffers by the chaos from vocal minority #iran #gr88
cont.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2009/06/abcs-jim-sciuttos-twitter-account-hijacked-by-pro-iranian-messengers.html
CNN:
Yes THOUSANDS are on the streets….
No sign of leaders…
these are confirmed from reliable sources per CNN.
_____
This could very well be like Katrina in that we won’t know how bad it really was until after the fact….
per: ME
currently:
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 5:23:55 PM
local time Teheran
It is Martial Law Iranian style:
Look sideways and you’re toast.
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/.a/6a00d83451c45669e201157132c0a4970b-800wi
Christiane Amanpour on CNN just Freudian slipped and called the people “rioters” as opposed to protestors. No one has rioted… “Rioters” is a government term.
I’ll give her a temporary pass based on the early hour and her work load.
Explosion in Teheran:
@ The Shrine to Ayatollah Khomeini (The original)
per CNN
The blast at the shrine of Aytollah Khomeini, smells like the Riechstag fire that the Nazis did to blame the oposition. I would bet good money this was done by the regime.
thanks Taylor (for the clean-up on my post)
angels:
I thought the same thing… hitting the Shrine to the Grandfather of the Revolution will send many people back home. AND give justification to a massive crackdown. It was an inside job, that’s my guess. Another possibility: the report is false but put out there fro effect by Iranian TV. “Show me the pictures”
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SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2009
Minute by minute with Revolution!
http://shooresh1917.blogspot.com/2009/06/minute-by-minute-with-revolution.html
Here’s a blog from someone there:
9.26 am. Live-blogging from Shoreesh:
5:20
A lot of conflict happenning at Kosh St. now
5:26
shooting in Azadi ave. near Gharib!
5:30
In Khosh Street police is attacking people with batons and pepper spray trying to disperse people, shots can be heard around Azadi
5:33
They are throwing Teargas constantly people: down with khamene’i
5:35
Heavy clashes on azadi street, chants of death to khamene’i,The street is full of rocks and fire!
5:38
Voice of shooting in Azadi street…
5:40
police using tear gas, water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters in Tehran,They are beating “people” in Enghelab St., not only the protesters!
5:42
people are trapped between Behboodi and Enghelaab
5:48
people are trapped between Behboodi & Enghelaab. gunshots being fired into the air…
5:50
2,000 to 3,000 protesters at Tehran University!
5:53
Enghelab street is fulll of people between ghods st. and Enghelab square
5:54
So Hard conflict in Azadi ST
5:55
Intense clash in Enghelab
5:55
Houses in alleys opening doors to injured protestors,hallway is full of beaten people!
5:56
Police have closed off Tehran University
5:58
Two bomb blasts in Tehran
5:59
Many of people arrested
9.18 am CNN: Thousands of people attempting to enter Tehran protest site have been blocked by heavily armed police, eyewitness says.
9.16 am. Reuters: Protesters have been dispersed with teargas … smoke was rising over Enghelab (Revolution) Square, a witness said.
9.14 am AP: Witnesses: police using tear gas, water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters in Tehran.
Morning all, interesting pictures, one up on the main page now.
In 1979, the “protesters” went by another name: REVOLUTIONARIES.
The question now becomes whether today’s Iranians have that foundation. I have my doubts, which is being born out right now, as the “riot” police are winning the first PSYCHOLOGICAL gambit of this day. That’s where this battle is now, in the psychological realm, which is where it will be won or lost.
I complained about CNN but at least they have coverage…. MSNBC is on the mortgage crisis.
I am going to speculate again: Mousavi is being held, preventing him from making any appearance or releasing any statement. Most people will not proceed or risk life and limb on the streets without a green light from the titular head of the movement.
Taylor Marsh says:
20 June 2009 at 9:44 am
The question now becomes whether today’s Iranians have that foundation. I have my doubts, which is being born out right now, as the “riot” police are winning the first PSYCHOLOGICAL gambit of this day.
____
agree with you- and the massive “para-military” show of force would intimidate anyone. If the people can gain enough momentum numbers wise they stand a chance. That will require brave and public urging from Mousavi or maybe some other influential leader. Any of those who could have made a difference leadership wise may be tied to chairs in their living rooms with a couple of “uniformed companions” until this blows over however.
Taylor Marsh says:
20 June 2009 at 9:44 am
In 1979, the “protesters” went by another name: REVOLUTIONARIES.
___
Yes, that is a more apt term. for sure, you’re right.
Iran TV is blaming MOUSAVI for the bombing at the shrine”’
“He will be held responsible”
Iran-TV via CNN.
What else would state tv say?
It’s simply a taunt to drive Mousavi underground, along with his supporters. It’s likely to work. The live to fight another day theory of change, which often doesn’t come in a burst, that is, unless the populace is willing to die by the thousands.
correction:
“Mousavi will be held responsible for ALL results if illegal demonstrations”
PRESS-TV (Iran Sate TV)
via CNN
“of illegal demonstrations”
Taylor and GeoT – are you watching CNN right now at this moment? Looks like they got the lead out of their asses…
Taylor – Have you checked your e-mail lately? I answered your e-mail yesterday.
Jane Austen says:
20 June 2009 at 10:13 am
Taylor and GeoT – are you watching CNN right now at this moment? Looks like they got the lead out of their asses…
___
Yes, there is a noticeable difference in coverage. . I think they realized they were being played by the Iranian media, being fed disinformation so they’ve untethered themselves.
bbl:
I’ve been up since 2am following this.
Hey JA… yesterday i got so many emails I haven’t sifted thru them all; will today.
Yep, CNN’s on it. Christiane Amanpour has a special on tonight @ 7 eastern.
Here’s a video I got off twitter.
http://cli.gs/4VLXeh
I went to Mousavi’s Facebook page and as of 3 hours ago said that the rally was still on. What also is interesting to me at least, if you are on twitter search for persiankiwi and then in the right hand corner hitwhere it says web. Interesting to say the least. Wonder who he is.
Per CNN – an Iranian professor from Columbia University said that it’s possible that the mausoleum of Khomeneini was attacked in order to prevent Mousavi from taking refuge (as he said he would several days ago)in the mausoleum. Looks like they are trying to prevent him from using the mausoleum as sanctuary. Also some of the protesters are planning on using the Koran, by putting it on their heads, in ordr to prevent the police from attacking them.
Amanpouur says it’s possible that the mausoleum was attacked by para military which have been in opposition for the past 30 years.
Andrew Sullivan’s blog has some very good updated tweets from the streets of Terhan. Tweets say that rally has turned into street fighting, with protesters fighting back with rocks. One tweet is reporting atleast one protester has been shot dead.
CNNi (International) is sticking with coverage of Iran right now and is not going back and forth like CNN for anyone interested.
Mousavi- I am ready for martyrdom. Confirmed.
Jane Austen says:
20 June 2009 at 11:01 am
See main page post update @ 11:11 a.m.
From Fahreed Zakaria
Zakaria: ‘Fatal wound’ inflicted on Iranian regime’s ideology
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/19/zakaria.iran.elections/index.html
CNN: As you’ve seen the situation in Iran develop over the last week, what are your thoughts?
Fareed Zakaria: One of the first things that strikes me is we are watching the fall of Islamic theocracy.
CNN: Do you mean you think the regime will fall?
Zakaria: No, I don’t mean the Iranian regime will fall soon. It may — I certainly hope it will — but repressive regimes can stick around for a long time. I mean that this is the end of the ideology that lay at the basis of the Iranian regime.
The regime’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, laid out his special interpretation of political Islam in a series of lectures in 1970. In this interpretation of Shia Islam, Islamic jurists had divinely ordained powers to rule as guardians of the society, supreme arbiters not only on matters of morality but politics as well. When Khomeini established the Islamic Republic of Iran, this idea was at its heart. Last week, that ideology suffered a fatal wound.
Now they will be just another authortarian gang staying in power through the power of the gun and having Iranians willing to kill their fellow Iranians just to keep the food and goodies flowing their way.
CNN is reporting women are being beaten. Royal Guard going into side streets tear gasing and beating protestors.
Also reporting on Mousavi’s Facebook page – He’s taking a spiritual bath and preparing for martyrdom.
Is Mousavi daring them?
I think it would be impossible to tell that right now djjl.
Fatemiyeh hospital reporting 30 to 40 dead, 200 injured. Police taking names of injured. Canadian Embassy turning away injured protesters, Australin Embassy accepting injured protesters. Canadians need to contact their government and protest.
My hubby thinks that the CIA should supply guns. Typical ex military man, IMO. We’ve had some pretty heated arguments over this.
I had to take a break but I’m back”’ went yard sale hopping
I think it’s obvious that you can multiply what we see by at least 10 to get even close to the real extent of this crackdown.
What does everyone think of the Presidents comments? It seems to me Joining hands WITH the world to condemn the actions of the Iranian government seems so much more effective than the lone cowboy diplomacy we’ve k=lived under for the last 8 years.
GeoT
At first glance, I agree.
There is safety in numbers.
is Fareed Zakaria making regular comments on CNN?
I haven’t seen him yet. I know Cristianne has a special tonight or tomorrow.
I agree, Obama has played this just right.
djjl says:
20 June 2009 at 4:23 pm
There is safety in numbers
___
I don’t care about safety I care about what is effective and what will hold together if further steps are required. It will also solidify the voice of negotiation in future “issues” ie weaponized as opposed to domestic power generating nuclear.
FYI: the statement I was talking about is the update on Taylor’s front page if anyone hasn’t seen it.
djjl says:
20 June 2009 at 2:30 pm
Is Mousavi daring them?
___
I’d say it’s more likely he’s been “warned” or “put on notice” “certain actions will lead to certain (terminal) consequences”
CNN is showing a crowd of THOUSANDS on a bridge in Theran, supposed to be from today. Critical mass is approaching.
The continuing saga at State’s “official” blog:
http://twitter.com/taylormarsh/status/2256999997
CNN has had a women on who is pretty pro regime, and is playing down the protests and saying that its all over and the protests will die out, and that the majority of the peole support the Supreme Leader and the regime. Just when I thought CNN was comming around.
Damn, should have read, people. Sorry for the typo.
Maybe the big shots can get an answer:
http://twitter.com/taylormarsh/status/2257077754
angels81 says:
20 June 2009 at 4:42 pm
CNN has had a women on who is pretty pro regime
____
you’re right angels and she has a connection the Shahs family or worked in his government which makes it stranger.
19 dead today
per CNN
Helicopters dropping acid diluted with water from aerial sprayers.
per CNN
Taylor Marsh says:
20 June 2009 at 4:49 pm
Maybe the big shots can get an answer:
http://twitter.com/taylormarsh/status/2257077754
____
I hope they always trace this back to you being the original voice on this… nice to have some heavyweights on it now.
I haven’t commented alot today as I was listening to everything I could.
CNN is reporting now that since it is dark people are being drug from their homes by the Guard. This is getting frightening.
I am having company for dinner so I will check back in later.
Thanks for this site Taylor.
I just got home and read twitter. Persiankiwi says that Rafsanjani has stayed silent till now. Rafsanjani has the army on his side. If that’s true, that is really a good sign.
My guess is that HRC is zoned out on pain killers post elbow recontruction. Can’t explain what is the problem with the rest of State other than they have probably been directed by the White House not to make comments on Iran.
Nice post on Huffpo, Taylor.
back from an early Dad’s day dinner… I’ll be around for the rest of night pretty much….
G
and Kris I agree, this is frightening.
Khamenei and the regime may have overplayed their hand. The picture of the young women who was killed has went all over the world. What started out as a protest for new elections may have now become Revolution.
I guess I’m just totally confused here.
We have an entire country which is ruled by the Ayatollah Ka-kah-me-me (an un-elected ‘religious’ official) but we are somehow identifying this country as a “democracy” ??
This is like getting upset about the election of the ‘class president’ in highschool – while the school principal and dean-of-boys chuckle in the background.
Until this “elected leader” actually has some ‘power’ – this entire argument is ridiculous. The protests shouldn’t be aimed at that election. They should be aimed at the religious leaders (and KaKaMeMe) who are laughing at their futile protests !
Not on topic, I know (*sigh*) but since this is your thread, GeoT, I thought you’d appreciate it. Here’s a Desktop garden pic I think you’ll like:
http://www.lbfitness.com/60sTribute.jpg
Several of my clients now have it on their desktops.
I’m hearing on CNN that the family of Rafsanjani has been arrested. Evidently his daughters were involved in the protests. This is not good folks, if this is happening.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06
/20/AR2009062000004.html?nav=hcmodule
Interesting article about the numbers.
http://tinyurl.com/lb3sm5 sorry
pmichael says:
21 June 2009 at 5:16 am
thanks much pm I love that.
a family “situation” kept me preoccupied all night… and i probably won’t be around much for a couple of days….
but I’ll check in to keep up with Taylor’s posts and everyones comments.
G
pm…
one question also OT/garden related.
I plated Geraniums in redwood window boxes across the front of my house and they are just looking sickly. I was under the impression Geraniums were amongst the easiest to grow under varied conditions and almost impossible to kill?
Any suggestions? Do I need a reservoir underneath them to keep them moist longer?
Anyone?
Happy Fathers Day to all the dads, here at TM. Enjoy your day and your fatherhood!
Geot – if you’re still here. I plant gernaiums every year for precisely the reason you give – they’re the easiest to take care of. However, I put white stones or any stones will do I guess, in the bottom of the window box. I also make sure there is some outlet for excess water. I’ve never had a problem. That’s the best I can do for you. Have a good day!
Oh my gosh! I forgot, it’s Fathers’ Day. Happy Fathers’ Day to all our fathers. I wish I still had mine around.
GeoT
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Grow-Geraniums-in-Pots&id=1578996
http://www.squidoo.com/sharsgeraniums
They love water. But my guess is they are drying out really fast in window boxes. It is really hot in Little Rock and I do a lot of gardening on our deck. I’ve been using these with good results for 2 years.
http://www.amazon.com/6451-Bottle-Plant-Stakes-4-packs/dp/B00164IW1S
Note the price is for 12.
It could work in your window boxes. My experiences with window boxes is that they dry out really fast.
Happy Father’s Day to all as well.
GeoT
You might also try mulching then with moss or something to help retain moisture.
thsnks djjj:
I think you nailed the problem… they get dirrect afternoon sun and the het bounce off of the wood siding on the mouse…
I’m going to try your fix.
____
Happy Father’s Day all and we dad’s appreciate the Mom’s that put up with us and for the happiness and companionship they being into our lives.
Dads, Grandpa’s, Great-Grandpa’s, Salut! and here’s hoping the US Open Golf doesn’t get rained out.
Jane Austen says:
21 June 2009 at 11:07 am
I wish I still had mine around.
I know what you mean, JA. Mine passed 6 years ago and I really miss him. He was so kind and nurturing and spent a lot of time with my sister and me. When I was a little girl, I used to say I was going to marry my Dad – I was “in love” with him. Fathers are so important.
something’s not adding up:
6:09 PM ET — Guardian Council admits: more votes than voters. Another fairly shocking report given that it comes from Iran’s state-funded PressTV:
Iran’s Guardian Council has admitted that the number of votes collected in 50 cities surpass the number of those eligible to cast ballot in those areas.