Thursday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 11.17.2005:

Senators shown disturbing graphic discovered by this blog

U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee Hearings -Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security

Title: Iran: Teheran's Nuclear Recklessness and the U.S. Response -- The Experts' Perspective

The purpose of the hearing is to examine the relationship between Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and its status as a state-sponsor of terrorism.

Witnesses Testimony Included:

The Honorable Newt Gingrich [View PDF] , Co-Chair, Task Force on the United Nations , United States Institute of Peace

The Honorable Alfonse D'Amato [View PDF] , Former United States Senator (New York)

The Honorable R. James Woolsey [View PDF] , Former Director of Central Intelligence , Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton

Dr. Gary S. Samore [View PDF] , Vice President , Program on Global Security and Sustainability, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Mr. Ray Takeyh [View PDF] , Senior Fellow, Middle East Studies , Council on Foreign Relations

Mr. Ilan Berman [View PDF] , Vice President for Policy , American Foreign Policy Council

Our blog provided several graphics used at the hearing. Newt Gingrich, and James Woolsey brought with them an enlarged version of the graphic used at the "World without Zionism" conference, where Ahmadinejad made his infamous statements about wiping Israel off the face of the map. The graphics and a more complete translation of his speech make it painfully obvious that Ahmadinejah is seeking "a world without America" as well. Several of those testifying before the Senate specifically referenced the the graphic to illustrate this point. It's good to know that others are taking note of our work.

Plus: Can You Help? Our blog has been nominated for addition to the Deck O'Bloggers, a collection of the most important blogs on the internet. Inclusion in the list will expose our blog to many new readers. You can help other bloggers learn of our work by visiting Aaron's blog and voting for Regime Change Iran, tomorrow (Friday).

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

• Agence France Presse reported that Iran will start converting 50 tonnes of uranium ore from the end of next week.
• Iran Press News reported that IAEA inspectors in Iran were accused of raising "illegal" issues "outside their authority to ask."
• Iran Press News reported that 11 student publications were banned by Oroumiyeh University.
• Iran Press News reported that blogger Mojtaba Saminejad, twenty-five year old university student in Iran has been transferred to ward 30 where 30 Afghanis who have all been charged with murder.
• Iran Press News reported that a sports photographer was attacked and beaten to near death by the regime’s disciplinary forces in front of thousands of spectators, players and reporters.
• Iran Press News reported on a gathering of the suicide-bombers at Shahroud Industrial University, 1000 new volunteers turned up in order to register themselves for suicide missions.
• Iran Press News reported that the law library of Tehran University caught fire; the majority of the library burned. Some suspect arson by pro-regime forces since this library contained massive volumes of books on western jurisprudence and internal law.
• Memri.org published an excellent report: The ‘Second Islamic Revolution’ in Iran: Power Struggle at the Top.
• The Washington Post reported that Iran said its first satellite is capable of spying on the Jewish state.
• The American Thinker reported on how Ahmadinejad’s terror policy must be fought.
• Iran Focus reported that Ahmadinejad has had to cancel scheduled visits to several foreign countries while “a majority of governments around the world” have been canceling visits to their capitals by Iranian government delegations.
• Gareth Smyth in Tehran, The Financial Times reported that Rafsanjani attacked president Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad for damaging “national unity and solidarity”.
• Amir Taheri, Gulf News contrasted the so called "reformists" with the new conservatives in Iran. A long overdue analysis. A must read.
• Daily Star reported that the loyalty of Hizbullah and the Lebanese Shiite community is again under scrutiny.
• John R. Bradley, The Straits Times argued that with the West focused on long-term fears of Iran's nuclear ambitions, a short-term threat posed by the Iranian regime is not getting the attention it deserves.
• Radio Free Europe reported that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried has said the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency should "act with determination" when it meets next week at a key meeting on Iran's nuclear program.
• Reuters reported that an Iranian appeals court has ordered the case concerning the 2003 death in custody of a Canadian journalist re-opened, upholding Ottawa's opinion that the original trial was flawed.
• Mercury News reported that an Iranian appeals court has upheld the acquittal of an Iranian secret agent in the killing a Canadian-Iranian journalist.
• And finally, MemriTV published a video with proof that most Iranians lack revolutionary zeal.