Saturday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 10.1.2005:

Questioning the Lack of Open Debate on Iran's Nuclear Program

Iranian blogger, Ahmad zidabadi, Rooz Online:

The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran insists on calling Iran’s nuclear issue the “national case”. I do not understand this insistence or why is the issue a ”national” one.

If those who call the issue a national one mean that its outcome will determine the destiny of the Iranian nation, which it will, what is the importance and value of this interpretation of the word “national” for its insistence? The fluctuation of the price of oil in international markets too affects the destiny of the Iranian nation so should that too be called “national?”

If the meaning of the word is that the goal of attaining the nuclear fuel cycle at any cost is a national goal of the whole Iranian population because it provides the national interest, then this is what I ask: How so? Did the Iranian nation have the possibility of openly and publicly debating the benefits and disadvantages of attaining the nuclear fuel cycle? READ MORE

The Iranian government wants the world to believe that Iranians are unified on the need for its nuclear program. In reality an open and free public discourse on the issue would likely show a divided nation on the issue. Many Iranians question the wisdom and the cost of the program domestically and internationally.

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

• Times of India reported that despite liberal anger at the government's support for sending Iran to the UN Security Council, the Indian government is sticking to its guns on the issue.
• Iranian blogger, Mehdrad Sheibani, Rooz Online discussed the recent discussion of a "change of views" in Iran and what to expect.
• Iranian blogger, Arash Motamed, Rooz Online discussed three options for the current crisis in Iran: war, talks with the US or a referendum.
• Iranian blogger, Farah Karimi, Rooz Online discussed Kofi Annan's proposal for creating a "Council of Human Rights" to overview human rights situations in different countries and provide it with sufficient and necessary executive authority to implement its decisions.
• Iranian blogger, Amil Imani, ThinkAndAsk.com interviewed a former Iranian student arrested for protesting the regime. The student provides insight into the methods used against dissidents in Iran.
• Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State published Secretary Rice's recent speech at Princeton University.
• New York Post reported that investigators uncovered the secret funneling of millions of dollars from Iran and Saudi Arabia to groups like Hamas in the West Bank.
• Michael Rubin, Middle East Review of International Affairs argued that the pessimism regarding Iraq's future is unwarranted. A long but valuable read.
• Free2innovate.net warned that France pushed the European Union to propose a new Internet Governance plan which calls for a government-run body to control the Internet and hand over the future of the Internet to countries such as Iran, Syria and China.
• Khaleej Times Online reported that Iran would consider using oil as a weapon and denial of access to international nuclear inspectors if the United Nations Security Council is pressured by the US and allies to impose sanctions against it.
• European Voice reported Russian President Putin will be pressed next week to back Iran's referral to the United Nations' Security Council.
• National Post reported an Iranian prosecutor claimed that Canada had trained and supported bombers in southern Iran. Canadian officials denied the report.
• Iran Press News reported that the Islamic regime has falsified charges against detainees of recent clashes in Kurdistan.
• And finally, Iranian blogger, Korosh, The Price of Freedom reported Iranian dissident and blogger, Ahmad Seraj is in danger.