Tuesday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 3.8.2005:

A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT:

Iranian opposition leaders creating a united front against the Islamic Republic.

One day after 565 dissidents in Iran published their open letter against the Iranian regime, a major coalition of Iran expatriates announced they are gathering to launch the long awaited "Iranian Opposition Council."

Tens of respected leaders and well known activists representing various Iranian political organizations, ranging from republican to monarchist, will be traveling from all parts of the U.S. and European cities to participate in a meeting this next Sunday in southern California.

Topics under discussions will include such fundamental principles as:

• Respect of the territorial integrity of Iran;
• Separation of religion and state;
• Respect of human rights;
• Increased civil disobedience;
• Obtaining international support to put an end to the Islamic regime;
• The need for a religion free transitional government;
• And, finally and after the downfall of the Theocracy a "genuine" referendum on the choice of the future Iranian secular political structure
  

The US State Department has long argued that the Iranian expatriate community is too divided to work with. It has been. This united effort seeks to resolve this problem. The group has already scheduled a meeting in Washington DC in mid April to launch the "Iranian Opposition Council."

I have been asked to attend these meetings. I know many of the participants and they are unusually united. I will report my findings. Let's hope they can generate the support the people of Iran need.

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

• The Belmont Club takes a look at the possibility of Iran closing the Straits of Hormuz, thus shutting down Middle East oil exports.
• Why is Europe soft on terror? Hint, it has to do with $.
• Germany is still optimistic about its negotiations with Iran.
• Bush nominates John Bolton as his UN Ambassador. This is Iran's worst nightmare. Perhaps Europe's as well.
• An Iranian dissident wins an award (a grant from Human Rights Watch) for expressing views the Iranian government opposes. He has spent a total of 17 years in prison for telling the truth.
• Iranian students greeted a presidential hopeful with signs of "referendum yes, elections no." The report claims the candidate didn't find a single display of support in the crowd.
• Iranian officials confirm they have built several underground nuclear facilities designed to withstand attack. It is the first time they have publicly admitted this.
• Syria is in the news as well. Amir Taheri provides the US with advice on how to keep Syria on the ropes, but warning of Syria's likely next moves. Caroline Glick follows up with an excellent analysis of Syria's and the US's options. She points out that the money Syria extorts from the Lebanese is larger than Syria's oil sales. Both point out that a US success in Lebanon is an essential to US strategy of freedom and liberty through democracy for the entire Middle East.
• The mullahs of Iran are preparing to flood Persian historical sites. This is just one more reason for the Persians to oust their anti-Persian "terror masters."
• Iran is trying to cause more problems for the US by way of Venezuela. Birds of a feather flock together.
• After 22 attempts to join the WTO, Iran now says it is not important. Could it be because the US was considering offering them membership in return for ending their nuclear ambitions?
• Halliburton and Iran are in the news again.
• Mark Steyn points out how those opposed to Bush's "democracy" strategy in the Middle East will one day argue that the Middle East dictatorships were going to fall on their own anyway. He also points out that Bush had to counter the Islamo fascist's big idea of destroying America with a bigger idea of liberty in the Middle East. An insightful read.
• And finally, Jerry Corsi's new book Atomic Iran is about to create a fire storm of controversy among US policy makers.