A Daily Briefing on Iran: Wednesday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 6.28.2006:

5 Reasons you should not believe the media's favorite "Iran Experts."

In today's news reports alone, we have plenty of reasons to distrust these so-called experts. Please consider the following myths promoted by some of these experts:

MYTH: Iranians are united in support of Ahmadinejad.

FACT: There were nearly 500 protests inside of Iran in the past month.

Iran Focus reported that there have been some 480 anti-government protests inside of Iran in the past month. But the Western media remains silent. Photo.

FACT: Ahmadinejad's mentor, Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi hopes 10% of Iran will support the coming Iranian regime.

Rooz Online reported that Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, the spiritual mentor of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said, "One cannot expect everyone in a country of 70 million people to be deserving and righteous, but 7 million believers can be raised from amongst them." Mesbah Yazdi himself spoke of the “forthcoming” Islamic government and described ways of forming it. A must read.

MYTH: Ahmadinejad's economic policies are increasing his popularity.

FACT: Ahmadinejad is facing growing discontent over his failed economic policies.

Ilan Berman, AFPC reported that Ahmadinejad is weathering growing domestic discontent with his rule as he has failed to make good on his pre-election promises of economic prosperity. He said that more than 100,000 jobs have been lost since March and inflation is currently at some 17 percent and is expected to rise.
Rooz Online interviewed Hadi Zonooz, one of the authors of the letter signed by 50 Iranian economists wrote to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warning him of serious problems. He said the administration responded to the letter politically, and not economically.

MYTH: Iran and Al Qaeda cannot work together.

FACT: The terrorists who kidnapped Israel soldiers have ties to Iran and Al Qaeda.

WorldNetDaily.com reported that Senior Palestinian security officials said two Israeli soldiers were killed and another was kidnapped by terrorists trained by Iranian Revolutionary Guard units and tied to Al Qaeda.

MYTH: Iran wants a stable Iraq.

FACT: Iranian sponsored Shiites launch an offensive in Iraq.

World Tribune.com reported that Iranian-sponsored Shi'ites have launched an offensive in Iraq, a day after U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, accused Iran of being a leading source of instability in Iraq.

MYTH: The West's confrontation with Iran will increase the price of Oil.

FACT: Investment expert predicts oil prices will drop significantly, despite Iran's fear mongering.

Lawrence Kudlow, The New York Sun responded to the West's fear that the Iranian crisis may lead to sky rocketing oil prices. He argues we may instead be looking at a downward correction that will have oil prices dropping more than anyone imagines possible. A must read for those who fear Iran's "oil weapon."

So where do these "Iran experts" come from?

Potkin Azarmehr, Azarmehr Weblog said the Islamic Republic think tank units expertly target the Western newspaper journalists who have the potential of opinion making. Through their "officials" they feed these "experts" with their "sources" of information. A must read.

Other News Reports...

Iran's Supreme Leader says no to more nuclear talks.

The New York Times reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that talks with the United States would not benefit the Islamic Republic, which is embroiled in a dispute over its nuclear program with the West.

The US refuses to take no for an answer.

FOX News reported that Tony Snow said officials don't consider the supreme leader's comments to be an official response. Huh?

Canada takes a tougher stand on Iran than the US.

Eli Lake, The New York Sun argued why America could learn a thing or two from Canada on how to deal with Iran.

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

Rooz Online interviewed, Ali Akbar Moinfar, member of the Revolutionary Council of Iran and former minister of oil who said that the current "unity" of the Iranian leadership "is only a pipe-dream in Iran."
Rooz Online reported that activists of the women’s movement in Iran have been under interrogations by security agents since their last rally in Tehran on June 12.
SMCCDI reported that students of the Ashtian Azad University protested against the arrest and pressure made on a female students.
The Guardian reported on how some Iranian Jews are learning to live with Ahmadinejad.
Yahoo News reported that Iran's Revolutionary Guards are set to enter the oil and gas sectors. "The Revolutionary Guards have obtained the contract to develop phases 15 and 16 of South Pars," a huge offshore gas field. The contract was worth 2.09 billion dollars.
George W. Bush, The White House said that ten years ago yesterday, in an attack on the Khobar Towers apartment complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, 19 members of our Armed Forces were killed, and hundreds of other Americans were injured, by terrorists who we believe were working with Iranian officials.
Amir Taheri, Gulf News argued that as the Arab world considers what they should do to meet the challenges they face in a world not made by, and for, them? Taheri provides methods for testing the worth of the various governmental systems in Arab world.