Friday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 9.2.2005:

U.S., Europe Must Forge Broader Alliance, Says State's Fried

The Washington File, Embassy of the U.S., London:

America and Europe must work together to support democratic development throughout the broader Middle East, just as they supported the democratic aspirations of pro-democracy movements in central and Eastern Europe, says the State Department’s Daniel Fried.

Speaking in Paris September 1, the day after attending a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of Solidarity in Gdansk, Poland, Fried said the Polish people “achieved democracy through their own efforts, but they had support from abroad,” including from Western Europe, America, and even Pope John Paul II.

After freedom was achieved for most of Europe, said Fried -- the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs -- Americans accepted the status quo in the Middle East and were willing “to tolerate oppression for the sake of stability.” But President Bush has frequently pointed out that “decades of failed policy in the Middle East” did not bring stability or safety, Fried noted.

Now Europe and America, just as they did during the Cold War, must “forge an alliance of common values, pushing beyond our borders to meet and join with reformers in the broader Middle East,” Fried said. READ MORE

A must read.

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

• Iran Press News reported that Iran's Supreme Leader doubts Islamic terrorists exist, saying: We are very doubtful of the existence of people who are supposedly followers of a backward form of Islam... bombing buses and metros... adding: do these groups and elements actually exist?
• Iran Press News reported on a protest in Sanandadj for lack of pay.
• SMCCDI reported that three Oil Wells have exploded near the southeastern City of Ahwaz. The explosions which are act of sabotage.
• Iran Press News also reported on the explosions adding that the representative from the Dashazadegan region to the Parliament said: "These actions are planned and lead by 'London'."
• SMCCDI reported that several hundreds of individuals qualified as "trouble makers" have been arrested in the last days in Iran with the official ISNA announcing the official number of 1,000 for Tehran arrests alone.
• The Washington Times reported that since last February, the Bush administration and France set aside the ill feelings created by the war in Iraq and began to work together for reform in the Muslim world.
• Robin Wright, The Washington Post reported that the Bush administration plans to launch a new effort at the United Nations this month to tighten the squeeze on Syria, backed by France along with new evidence of Syria's involvement in the murder of Hariri.
• The Economist cites evidence that Mr Ahmadinejad is a newcomer to Iran's treacherous national politics. It shows.
• The Associated Press reported that the European Union yesterday urged Iran to return to the negotiating table to discuss its nuclear program and threatened to take Tehran to the U.N. Security Council for sanctions if it did not.
• SMCCDI announced the "Iran U.N. Protest 2005" coalition is going to hold a Telethon this Saturday and Sunday in Los Angeles (CA)to gather the necessary funds for the organization of a massive demo at the United Nations (UN) on September 14th.
• Khaleej Times reported that Iran's new government has adopted a high-risk policy: pursuing its controversial nuclear programme at the price of losing its European allies.
• SMCCDI reported dozens gathered, today, at Khavaran cemetery located near Tehran in order to pay tribute to thousands of activists and dissidents executed in 1988 by the Islamic republic regime.
• Iran Press News provided more details of the massacre of the innocent people of Kurdistan and added that one of the commanders of the massacres was Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, Ahmadinejad's Minister of Defense.
• And finally, Iranian.com published: Pictures of a gathering at Khavaran cemetry.