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Demonisation of Iran an affront to democracy and decency

category international | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis author Tuesday November 06, 2007 08:56author by Watcher Report this post to the editors

With Iraq in ruins and the oil resources secured, the neo-cons that run the west have now turned their malign attention to Iran. All media is now saturated with propaganda putting Iran in the role of aggressor and a threat to world peace.Others day and daily place stories in the media portraying the internal position as one of oppression and brutality in which the Iranian people are supposedly yearning to be liberated by the west. Nothing could be further from the truth. Iranians want noting to do with western style "democracy"
Medialens has collated a number of examples of how the media is being manipulated by the neo-cons as they whip up support for an attack on Iran We should take great care of what and who we give credance to in this very dangerous game in which Iran and it's perople are targeted and placed in deadly danger.

IRAN - THE MEDIA FALL INTO LINEWriting in the Guardian last month, Timothy Garton Ash observed:

“Now we face the next big test of the west: after Iraq, Iran.”

Garton Ash thus blithely ignored the fact that every last scrap of evidence coming out of Iraq has pointed to only one conclusion - that Iraq’s “big test” was in fact the West’s big lie. Iraq was offering a threat to precisely no one outside its own borders.

Nevertheless, Garton Ash warned: “we in Europe and the United States have to respond. But how?”

The Guardian’s Polly Toynbee joined the propaganda chorus demonising Iran:

“Now the mad mullahs of Iran will soon have nuclear bombs, are we all doomed?... Do something, someone! But what and who?”

Gerard Baker provided the answer in the Times:

“The unimaginable but ultimately inescapable truth is that we are going to have to get ready for war with Iran”.

Why might this be?

“If Iran gets safely and unmolested to nuclear status, it will be a threshold moment in the history of the world, up there with the Bolshevik Revolution and the coming of Hitler.”

Readers will recall near-identical propaganda ahead of the assault on Iraq. Baker continued with some fearsome predictions:

“Iran, of course, secure now behind its nuclear wall, will surely step up its campaign of terror around the world. It will become even more of a magnet and haven for terrorists"

In his February 2003 article, Baker had predicted: “it will become clear, even to the most rabid of anti-Americans just how much better off Iraqi people will be without their current president. The lifting of the yoke of Saddam Hussein will be an act of humanity far greater than the unseating of the Taliban.”

The New York Times’ Paul Krugman describes the current state of Iraqis “yoke”:

“In fact, reconstruction has failed. Almost three years after the war began, oil production is well below prewar levels, Baghdad is getting only an average of 3.2 hours of electricity a day, and more than 60 percent of water and sanitation projects have been canceled.”

Baker BTW,is a signatory to the Statement of Principles posted at the website of The Henry Jackson Society. Patrons include mild-mannered neoconservatives like former US assistant secretary of defence Richard Perle, William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard, and James Woolsey, former director of the CIA. Other signatories include former head of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, Colonel Tim Collins, Oliver Kamm, Andrew Roberts and Jamie Shea.

The Society declares that it: “Supports a ‘forward strategy’ to assist those countries that are not yet liberal and democratic to become so. This would involve the full spectrum of our ‘carrot’ capacities, be they diplomatic, economic, cultural or political, but also, when necessary, those ‘sticks’ of the military domain.” (http://www.henryjacksonsociety.org)
Serbia, Afghanistan and Iraq know all about the “’sticks’ of the military domain”. Four of the Society’s eight “Principles” refer to military intervention and military power - another notes that “only modern liberal democratic states are truly legitimate”.
Everyone else, we can presume, is fair game. Is this beginning to sound familiar to indy readers?

When officialdom targets a new ‘deadly threat’, journalists and indeed some pinkos, often embarrass themselves in their rush to be ‘on side‘. On a BBC 1 Lunchtime News, diplomatic correspondent James Robbins declared that US relations with Iran were "looking very murky because of the nuclear threat". Four days later, Robbins responded to Media Lens emails:
“I accept that it would have been better to have said ‘alleged nuclear threat‘. I am sorry that my wording was not as precise as it could have been.”

Similarly, in a front-page article, the Guardian reported that Iran's foreign minister had threatened immediate retaliation over a move to refer its "nuclear weapons activities" to the United Nations security council. A correction was printed in the paper two days later:

“We should have said ‘nuclear activities‘, not ‘nuclear weapons activities‘.”

Although Iran has removed the seals it put in place at its nuclear fuel research sites, experts say it is at least a decade away from being able to produce a nuclear bomb. Consider the current media hysteria in light of the basic facts below.

Atomic weapons can be produced in two ways - either by using highly enriched uranium, or plutonium. Iran is known to have produced reconstituted uranium, "yellow cake", at its conversion facility at Isfahan. However, according to a report by The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), this material is contaminated and not currently useable. If Iran were able to overcome the problem of purification, it would then need to enrich the uranium.

Whereas uranium used in nuclear reactors requires only a small amount of enrichment, weapons-grade uranium must be highly enriched. This can be done using gas centrifuges, of which Iran has 164 installed at its plant at Natanz. But this constitutes just 20 per cent of the number required to produce a bomb. Frank Barnaby, of UK think tank The Oxford Research Group, comments:

"They don't currently have enough centrifuges working - so far as we know - to produce significant amounts of highly-enriched uranium or even enriched uranium. They would need a lot more."

Given these and other problems, the IISS believes it would take Iran at least a decade to produce enough high-grade uranium to make a single nuclear weapon. Dr Barnaby agrees:

"The CIA says 10 years to a bomb using highly enriched uranium and that is a reasonable and realistic figure in my opinion."

Alternatively, Iran could use plutonium to produce a bomb. But the IISS notes that Iran would need to build a reprocessing plant suited to the fuel used in its Bushehr nuclear reactor - an extremely challenging technical task. Iran is also constructing a heavy-water research reactor at Arak. But, again, this will not be ready until at least 2014, and probably later, according to the IISS.

The West’s hypocrisy and double standards could hardly be clearer but they are off the media agenda. The United States is estimated to be in possession of no less than 10,600 nuclear warheads. Its leading ally in the region, Israel, also has nuclear weapons, as do Russia, Pakistan, India and China. Britain has recently sold nuclear-capable bombers to India, while the United States has sold nuclear-capable bombers to Pakistan. Iran’s is indeed a “tough neighbourhood”.

All of this is waved away as inconsequential by journalists. Objections to military action are usually raised on grounds of possible negative consequences for the West. The likely cost in lives to the Iranian people is rarely even discussed.

Last month, the journalist Felicity Arbuthnott described the cataclysm generated by the US-UK 'liberation' of Iraq:

“For Iraq watchers, the daily carnage of liberation, the searing, wailing grief of the bereaved, bombed, bereft, haunt. Neighborhoods, evocative ancient homes reduced to rubble by the 'liberators', the surviving, bewildered, standing on shattered bricks, mortar, toys, belongings, liberated even from home's secure warmth.

“In the distorted horrors of today's Iraq, many never make it home: disappeared, kidnapped, shot by the occupying forces for driving, walking, and playing, in familiar venues. Iraqi lives are the earth's cheapest. 'Government' or occupying troops kill 'insurgents' (even if baby or toddler ‘insurgents’) and few questions are asked.”

Despite even this, despite everything that has happened, Western journalists are once again falling obediently into line as the British and American governments begin the long, arduous process of demonising another oil-rich target., Iran

Great care is needed to ensure, that no matter how well intended, socialists do not engage in any activities that could in any way give credence to what the US/Britain are at.

author by crookstownpublication date Wed Nov 21, 2007 19:45author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Martin, you're pretty naive if you think neo-cons give a damn about human rights etc.

In the 90s about six million people died prematurely in Russia as a result of chaos during the Yeltsin regime.

When Yeltsin died there was nothing but praise from western "Democrats".

Gangsters like Berezovsky got asylum in London.

author by martin lacey - none publication date Wed Nov 21, 2007 19:31author email mlacey at oceanfree dot netauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

iran is a fascist dictatorship. i hope they are not allowed to develop nuclear weapons. this might put me in the same position as the neo-cons but sometimes we have strange bed fellows as comrade stalin recognised . the position of women and minority groups in iran demands our total opposition to the regime there despite this being similar to us interests. the iranian people (men and women) must have have the right to decide their future.. not the the fascist ayatollas. many irish people are infected by political correctness and are disinclined to criticise the the fascistic nature of islam ( both sunni and shia) . the same people have no problem criticising the r.c church which shares similar characteristics.lets all be consistent in our opposition to human rights abuses . the usa didnt invent them .see yaz , martin.

author by Niall Reganpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 15:26author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney, had this to say on FOX news.

"Forty-eight hours duration, hitting 2,500 aim points to take out their nuclear facilities, their air defense facilities, their air force, their navy, their Shahab-3 retaliatory missiles, and finally their command and control. And then let the Iranian people take their country back."

Another idiot who thinks the Iranians will not fight back against US aggression.

author by W. Finnerty.publication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 14:40author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"media is being manipulated by the neo-cons as they whip up support" (above)

I'd say it's closer to the truth to believe that, for all practical purposes, the media is being RUN by their neo-con owners - as opposed to being "manipulated" by them?

Some examples:

"If ever someone demonstrated the dangers of mass power being concentrated in few hands, it would be Murdoch." (from http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1304 )

"With Fox News, the Weekly Standard, and some 175 additional media holdings at his disposal, Murdoch and his News Corp. have been formidable friends of the Bush administration and its neocon allies." (from http://rightweb.irc-online.org/rwnews/4134 )

"Finally on polling day in 1997 the Indo (Sir Anthony O'Reilly) published an editorial on their front page (unprecedented: never before had they put an editorial on the front page) urging people to vote for FF and the PDs. Faced with this kind of attack the coalition was duly voted out and FF have been in since." (from http://www.sarahcarey.ie/2004/03/ )

Related Link: http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.com
author by Niall Reganpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 14:26author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"The lies in the article are those that suggest the Iranian People are happy with the dictatorship."

Point precisely to the line in the article posted above that says this.

You havent even read it have you AH.

This miserable infighting is purely fall-out from a split in the AWM.

Its fucking pathetic.

author by Niall Reganpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 14:20author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Preparations for war are going ahead unabated.

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/foreign/display.var.179...0.php

The United States IS going to attack Iran. That is what must be avoided at all costs.

This is happening right under our noses and while you lot are splitting hairs the very people you claim to be supporting will be buried under tonnes of rubble.

What will you do then you pack of children. Fight over who has the more principled position on Burma?

author by AHpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 14:16author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Niall you completely avoided the questions I posed.

Would anyone suggest that the people of Burma were happy with a dictatorship?

Why suggest that the Iranian people dont want to get rid of their dictators? Do you think that the Iranian people dont want or deserve democracy?

If you condemn Capital Punishment in the US then why not do so in Iran?

If Turkish Kurds are entitled to autonomy then why dont you support the same rights for Iranian Kurds?

The lies in the article are those that suggest the Iranian People are happy with the dictatorship. Its scandalous! Would anyone have the neck to post such crap about Burma?

author by Niall Reganpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 14:09author address author phone Report this post to the editors

None of that proves that anything in the article above is a lie. You have failed, actually you completely ignored the request to prove it was lies.

author by AHpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 14:04author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Why dont you want the truth about Iran published here?

Noam Chomsky does not support the Iranian Dictatoship.
He opposes all US Aggression towards Iran
He supports the people of Iran.
He calls for Internal Regime Change.

Now thats the truth no matter liars like tomeile ans watcher say.

Watcher pretends that Iran is some kind of benevolenr dictatorship where the people are happy.

What about you Niall?

Do you think the Iranian people have the right to get rid of a dictatorship? Do you support Internal Regime Change?

Or are you like watcher? Do you say that the Iranian people are happy to have all opposition parties banned? Would anyone come out with that sort of crap about Burma? Would you claim that the people suypport martial law in Pakistan?

author by Niall Reganpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 13:57author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"When watcher posts more lies here"

Are you saying that the Article posted above is full of lies? That is a patently absurd charge.

Prove it then, dont just go shooting your mouth off.

author by Niall Reganpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 13:52author address author phone Report this post to the editors

You're off your head.

Where have I called Amnesty liars?

Despotic blood thirsty mullahs? Thats one for the Neo-cons to lap up. They'd love you on their team judging by how frothed around the mouth you are getting about Iran.

Noam Chomsky has pointed out, the whole ‘crisis’ between the U.S. and Iran would be resolved overnight (if it even developed in the first place) if only the two countries were functioning democracies. It’s up to Americans to try and democratise the U.S., and it’s up to Iranians to democratise Iran, If indeeed thats what they want.

author by AHpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 13:45author address author phone Report this post to the editors


"You are not interested in Justice for Iran. You're just interested in derailing this thread."

Niall everything I posted is true. Watcher and tomeile have derailed every thread which tells the truth about Iran. They just post lies. When watcher posts more lies here, dont be suprised if someone posts the truth.

Now are you saying that Amnesty are liars?

Iran is ruled by bloodthirsty despots. Support the Democratic Opposition for Internal Regime Change.

author by Amnesty Headpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 13:41author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Under the Mullahs in Iran, children are hanged. Support the Iranian opposition to stop this barbarism. Noam Chomsky, John Pilger, Ken Loach, Naomi Klein, David Norris all support Internal Regime Change in Iran and oppose US aggression towards Iran.

Dont just oppose Capital Punishment in the US: be consistent, condemn Capital Punishment in Iran as well.

Dubious Conviction Based on Recanted Testimony Requires Re-Trial

Authorities should immediately prevent the execution of Makwan Mouloudzadeh and commute his death sentence, Human Rights Watch said today. Mouloudzadeh, 20, was sentenced to death in May by a court ruling on questionable evidence for a crime supposedly committed when he was a 13-year-old child.

On May 25, Branch Seven of the Penal Court of the city of Kermanshah sentenced Makwan Mouloudzadeh to death on charges of raping three boys as a 13-year-old. The court handed down the conviction despite retractions on the part of his accusers during the trial and various apparent violations of Iran’s criminal procedure law.

“Makwan Mouloudzadeh faces death for crimes supposedly committed as a 13-year-old, which even his accusers admit never occurred,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Ayatollah Shahrudi, the head of the Judiciary, needs to act now to ensure that his death sentence is revoked and Mouloudzadeh gets a new trial.”


Related Link: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/11/03/iran17242.htm
author by Niall Reganpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 13:39author address author phone Report this post to the editors

There is a persian proverb that says ‘If you can not help, At least be kind enough not to make things worse!’

Demonising Iran just gives the Hardliners more reason to be opresssive and gives the war mongers more excuses to attack.

You are not interested in Justice for Iran. You're just interested in derailing this thread.

author by Amnesty Headpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 13:33author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Are you saying that Amnesty are pushing lies? Do you think these people should be released or dont you? Should it be a crime to agitate for human rights?

Why is it ok for Turkish Kurds to look for independence but not Iranian Kurds?

Its possible to support Human Rights in Iran and also to oppose war.

author by Amnesty Headpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 13:29author address author phone Report this post to the editors

In Iran you can be arrested for remembering the dead. Support these people who have been detained by the Iranian Secret Police.

Dont be fooled: Iran is a dictatorship.

Iran: Fear of ill-treatment/possible prisoner of conscience

IRAN Ali Sarami (m)
Mohammad Ali Mansouri (m), aged 47
Iran, or Masoumeh, Mansouri (f), aged 22, his daughter
Nasser Sodargari (m), aged 46
Tahereh Pour-Rostam (f), aged 44, his wife
Farshid Sodargari, relative of Nasser Sodagari
Misaq Yazdanejad (m), aged 21

The seven people named above were detained by Ministry of Intelligence officials in late August and early September because they had taken part in a ceremony marking the 19th anniversary of the 1988 "prison massacres" in which thousands of political prisoners were executed. On 29 August relatives of those
killed gathered at Khavaran in south Tehran, near a mass grave where some of the prisoners were buried.

They were taken to Section 209 of Tehran’s Evin Prison, which is under the control of the Ministry of Intelligence and off-limits to Evin Prison officials. All are reportedly being interrogated by a man from the office of public prosecutions in Tehran.


Related Link: http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE131282007?open&of=ENG-2MD
author by Amnestypublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 13:24author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Support those who are struggling for Human Rights in Iran. Dont just support the Kurds in Turkey. Kurds in Iran are oppressed as well.

Iran: Kurdish human rights defenders at risk

Iranian Kurdish journalist and human rights defender Mohammad Sadiq Kabudvand, head of the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan (HROK) (http://www.rmmk.net/enindex.aspx), is reportedly being ill-treated in detention. Amnesty International fears that this ill-treatment may be intended to force board members of the HROK to present themselves to security officials, thereby risking arrest and the closure of the KHRO, and is calling on the Iranian authorities to halt any such ill-treatment immediately.

Mohammad Sadiq Kabudvand has been detained since 1 July 2007 in Section 209 of Tehran’s Evin Prison. Although he is believed not to have been formally charged, in mid-July he reportedly said that he was being accused of "acting against national security," "propaganda against the system" and "cooperating with groups opposed to the system." He also complained of poor detention conditions and that whenever he was interrogated he was blindfolded and bound hand and foot, His lawyer, Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, has not been allowed to meet with him and contact with his family has been limited.

Related Link: http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE131262007?open&of=ENG-2MD
author by Watcherpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 09:06author address author phone Report this post to the editors

MI5 has just annouced that there are 5000 youngsters in Britain who have been brainwashed by Mullahs increasing the threat of suicide bombers dramatically.
Don't be surprised if this piece of fantasy turns to blaming Iranians for this in coming days. It is truly pitiful that we have now reached the position whereby Intelligence Agencies can putting out this stuff safe in the knowledge that large parts of the population will be taken in by it. Sadlly that is what is happening and there is a great responsibility now on socialists to move to counter the proaganda that is designed to smooth the way for an attack on Iran.

author by Watcherpublication date Tue Nov 06, 2007 09:06author address author phone Report this post to the editors

MI5 has just annouced that there are 5000 youngsters in Britain who have been brainwashed by Mullahs increasing the threat of suicide bombers dramatically.
Don't be surprised if this piece of fantasy turns to blaming Iranians for this in coming days. It is truly pitiful that we have now reached the position whereby Intelligence Agencies can putting out this stuff safe in the knowledge that large parts of the population will be taken in by it. Sadlly that is what is happening and there is a great responsibility now on socialists to move to counter the proaganda that is designed to smooth the way for an attack on Iran.

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