Monday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 3.28.2005:

The mainstream media is failing to report the true extent of Iran's pro-democracy efforts, according to news sources such as these:

Iran Press News claims hundreds of thousands of Iranians poured into the streets of cities all across Iran last Friday night. Iran's TV media blamed anti-regime Iranian media abroad for inciting the revolts. The demonstrators were quoted as chanting: "People join us and condemn the executioners and oppressors...death to dictators...get lost hired killer mercenaries... and Bush, Bush, support, protection..."

SMCCDI reports that as a result of the failure of the regime to deal effectively with the demonstrations, the regime held a high level meeting of those responsible for security measures. The regime is bracing for more demonstrations this next Wednesday (when Iran plays North Korea) and next Saturday (the final day of New Years celebrations). Pro-democracy forces are calling for more demonstration on these dates.

Why are we not hearing such reports in the mainstream media? Is it because these groups are hyping the news? Or is the mainstream media playing the same game it played in Saddam's Iraq? In Iran the mainstream media is only permitted to travel, photographic or videotape that which the regime permits. Is the mainstream media participating in self censorship, so they can to continue to publishing reports? If so, the question is, at what point will these media representatives risk losing their media credentials to find their way to the scenes of these demonstrations and publish what they witness?

Here are a few other news items you may have missed.

• SMCCDI reports the release from prison of a member of Iran's teacher movement.
• NY Post published this review of two books on Iran that show two very different sides of Iran.
• Iran's new free trade zones are failing to live up to their expectations.
• Iran is furious over Condi's statement Friday that we need to close the NTP uranium enrichment loophole.
• Iran denies that it has anything to due with an assassination attempt on Egypt's President and spying.
• Iran and Saudi Arabia met to strengthen security cooperation.
• Pakistan maintains that the US sale of F-16 fighter aircraft has nothing to do with Iran.
• And finally, Iran is watching the situation in Kyrgyzstan very closely.