Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [7/16/06 - 7/22/06] major news events regarding Iran. (The reports are listed in chronological order, not by importance) READ MORE

Iran behind Hezbollah's war on Israel.

• The Guardian reported that Prime Minister Tony Blair has blamed Iran and Syria for the latest flare-up in the Middle East.
• William Kristol, The Financial Times reminded us that if there were no Islamic Republic of Iran there would be no Hezbollah. No Islamic Republic of Iran, no one to prop up the Assad regime in Syria.
• The Jerusalem Post reported that an Iranian military source said that between 1992 and 2005 Iran has transferred some 11,500 missiles and rockets to Hezbullah.
• Michael Ledeen, The Corner reported that while the Lebanese—even in Paris are demonstrating against Hezbollah and Syria and Iran, there is a great opportunity to bring down Assad along with destroying Hezbollah.
• The New York Times reported that key Arab governments have taken the rare step of blaming Hezbollah. Saudi Arabia, with Jordan, Egypt and several Persian Gulf states, chastised Hezbollah for “unexpected, inappropriate and irresponsible acts.”
• IranMania reported that Druze leader Walid Jumblatt charged "The war is no longer Lebanon's ... it is an Iranian war."
• Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat argued why the present conflict in the Middle East will almost certainly lead to a broader war.
• The Wall Street Journal argued that the war between Hezbollah and Israel could be a clarifying moment if the world draws the proper lessons. To wit, this is a preview of what the Middle East will look like if Iran succeeds in going nuclear.
• Ali Nouri Zadeh, Asharq Al-Awsat reminded us of the origins of Lebanon's Hezbollah and why it is the legitimate son of the Iranian Revolution.
• Bret Stephens, The Wall Street Journal reported on why Hassan Nasrallah the head of Hezbollah started the present crisis and why he thinks things are going his way.
• Mohammed Fadhil, The Wall Street Journal, an Iraqi blogger, argued that Iran has proved that it's able to drag the region into a state of chaos and the key point in this strategy is to keep the half-solution that debilitates the other powers and at the same time it's not a costly tactic for Iran! A must read.
• Dan Darling, The Weekly Standard reported the grim implications that Hezbollah launched two missiles at Haifa believed to be Iranian-produced Raad-1s, which have an estimated range of as much as 150 kilometers.
• Michael Rubin, The Weekly Standard reported that while President George W. Bush said, "To help calm the situation, we've got diplomats in the region." Officials ritually promote diplomacy and dialogue, but absent an overarching strategy, diplomacy for diplomacy's sake can sometimes make matters worse.
• Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that secret efforts to set up a cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel have hit a brick wall.
• Amir Taheri, The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran and Syria are playing the decades old motto: 'When nothing else works, there is always Israel!" Despots used Israel as an excuse for their brutal rule, as a diversion from their misdeeds. But he believes that the Israel diversion may not work this time.
• The Washington Post reported that Iran's Hezbollah said it is ready to attack the US and Israel.
• Reuters reported that the FBI is trying to ferret out possible Hezbollah agents in the United States amid concerns that rising U.S.-Iranian tensions could trigger attacks on American soil.
• CNews reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki indicated that Iran may be playing a covert role in the fighting in Lebanon when he said that a ceasefire was feasible.
• Michael Rubin, The Wall Street Journal explains why the Arab world has not rallied to Hezbollah's defense it's present war with Israel. A must read.
• USA Today reported that Hezbollah' and Hamas' attempt to drag the whole Arab world into their war with Israel has drawn flak in the form of Arab public opinion that neither militant jihadist organizations anticipated. It seems Iran has overplayed its hand.
• The New York Sun reported that an Arab diplomatic source said hundreds of Iranian Revolutionary Guard personnel are on the ground in Lebanon fighting Israel, "I have no doubt whatsoever that they are there and operating some of the equipment."
• The New York Times reported that the power and sophistication of the missile and rocket arsenal that Hezbollah has used in recent days has caught the United States and Israel off guard.
• Dan Darling, The Weekly Standard argued that the most likely reason that Hezbollah has not yet deployed all of the assets at their disposal to destroy the enemy is due to its decision making process. The decisions are made in Iran.
• The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli Maj.-Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland argued that Iran may not want to get very involved in this round of fighting and may leave Hizbullah to fend for itself - willing to sacrifice some of its interests in Lebanon at this stage to make headway in its real objective of obtaining nuclear weapons.
• George Friedman, Stratfor reported that Hezbollah's new missiles can reach Tel Aviv and he argues why Israel will almost certainly launch a ground invasion of southern Lebanon for the purpose of disarming Hezbollah.
• Charles Krauthammer, The Washington Post argued that amid the general wringing of hands over the seemingly endless and escalating Israel-Hezbollah fighting there is opportunity. A must read.
• Andrew C. McCarthy, The National Review Online argued that Israel’s war against Hezbollah is a watershed in the war on terror. As long as we understand that it’s not just Israel’s war. It is our war.
• Council on Foreign Relations reported that as the conflict in the Middle East continues, attention turns to the influence of Iran and Syria over their local proxy groups—particularly Hezbollah. Experts see a new boldness in the way both countries are exerting their influence in the region.
• Inter Press Service reported that this week-old Israeli-Hezbollah conflict is part of a broader offensive being waged by Tehran against Washington across the region; a view has been largely accepted and echoed by the mainstream media.
• The Times Online reported that Britain blames Iran for the eruption of fighting in Lebanon and wants to use crisis talks to build an alliance for its long-term “containment”.
• Michael Ledeen, The National Review Online argued that Iran appears to have miscalculated in fueling the present crisis between Hezbollah and Israel. Never before have Saudis, Egyptians, Jordanians, Kuwaitis, and Iraqis spoken so forcefully against the terrorists (Hamas and Hezbollah, Sunni and Shiite) and their state sponsors in Tehran and Damascus and this provides a unique opportunity for the West that must not be missed.
• The Washington Times reported that former senior U.S. and Israeli officials called for the United States to rally the international community to impose sanctions on Iran and push Arab allies to work against Hezbollah and Hamas.
• Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com reported that the nearly month-old hot war between Hezbollah and Israel. This is the opening salvo of Iran’s global assault on the United States.
• Con Coughlin, The Telegraph reported that Hezbollah's operation against Israel's northern border has been more than a month in the planning, and Teheran dispatched 20 Iranian Guard commanders to southern Lebanon in mid-June to oversee the preparations. A must read.
• The Guardian reported that a hard-line Iranian parliament member, Sayeed Abu Talib, predicted Iran could be positioning itself for eventual truce talks saying ``There can be no negotiations without Iran,'' he said. ``Otherwise, any deal is doomed to failure.''
• The Spectator reported that the Lebanese people have watched as Hezbollah has built up a heavily armed state-within-a-state that has now carried the country into a devastating conflict it cannot win and many are fed up.
• Eli Lake, The NY Sun reported that one of Saudi Arabia's leading Wahhabi sheiks, Abdullah bin Jabreen has issued a strongly worded religious edict, or fatwa, declaring it unlawful to support, join or pray for Hezbollah.
• Bloomberg reported that President George W. Bush and his closest ally, U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, will meet in Washington July 28.
• Iran Press News reported that Rafsanjani complained "Why have other Islamic countries maintained their silence in regards to the disaster in Lebanon and have not even condemned [Israel]." Photo.
• Khaleej Times reported that Rafsanjani hailed Lebanon’s Hezbollah as “heroes”, but rejected mounting allegations that Iran and Syria were behind the Shiite movement’s conflict with Israel.
• Mehran Riazaty reported that the Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Brigadier General Yahya Rahim Safavi, said Israel is not aware of Hezbollah’s capabilities.
• Stratfor examined Iran's motives in Lebanon.
• The Wall Street Journal published an excellent report on Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah.
• Iranian Student News Agency reported that Iran will never be brought into the Lebanon war.
• The New York Times reported that there is a huge amount of anger in Iran about what is happening in Lebanon. In interviews in Tehran, person after person said the same thing: Iran should worry about Iran’s problems and not be dragged down by others’ battles.
• The New York Times reported that as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice heads to Israel, the US is seeking ways to peel Syria away from its alliance of convenience with Iran.
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said "Syria and Iran are two friendly countries. There's also indications that both Syria and Iran have influence with Hezbollah and have supported Hezbollah, and therefore, the two countries have to be part of the solution."
• The Telegraph reported how Iran has plotted to harm Western interests.
  

Will the world now demand Hezbollah disarm?

• The Financial Times reported Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, said that Hezbollah, a key ally of Tehran, would not disarm.
• Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that leaders of the world's most powerful nations handed President Bush their support for his call for the terrorist group Hezbollah, backed by Iran and Syria, to be disarmed.
• The Telegraph reported that the Bush administration made clear that it saw the crisis in the Middle East as an opportunity for the world to deal once and for all with Hezbollah and to rein in its sponsors, Iran and Syria.
  

Iran's Nuclear Program & The UN Security Council.

• Voice of America reported that Condoleezza Rice says the nations making that offer will bring Iran before the U.N. Security Council, because Tehran has not formally responded to the deal.
• RIA Novosti reported that Russia's nuclear chief denied reports that the country would sign an agreement on nuclear cooperation with the United States in exchange for altering its position on Iran.
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that a proposed U.N. Security Council resolution would give Iran a short time to suspend uranium enrichment and work on a heavy-water nuclear reactor or face the prospect of economic and diplomatic sanctions.
• Reuters reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said they are prepared to back a United Nations resolution giving Iran a deadline to respond to a package of incentives on its nuclear program.
• MosNews reported that Russian the foreign minister Lavrov said that if Iran fails to respond to UN demands Russia will be ready to discuss economic sanctions at the UN Security Council.
• VOA News published an article entitled - Experts: Iran Leadership in Deep Debate Over Nuclear Offer. But the article makes it clear that the Iranian leadership is united in demanding the right to enrich uranium. Where is the debate?
• ABC News reported that Iran has again rejected international demands it freeze its controversial nuclear program but would take until August 22 to reply.
• Reuters reported that assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill, the chief US negotiator with Pyongyang confirmed reports that Iranians witnessed the July 4 tests saying "Yes, that is my understanding" and it is "absolutely correct." US officials fear cash-strapped Pyongyang are keen to sell Iran missiles and possibly nuclear material.
• Iran Press News reported that officials in Bulgaria stopped a truck carrying radio active materials to Iran.
  

Iran's leaders latest statements.

• Iran Focus reported that Iran’s hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned the West “If you do not contain this criminal regime and end your support for it and give a positive response to the people of the region you will face a dire fate.”
• Yahoo News reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared the Islamic republic's "support" for Syria if it comes under attack.
• Iran Focus reported that the Supreme Commandant of Iran’s IRGC described the United States, Britain, and Israel as an “axis of evil.”
• The Jerusalem Post reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promised a "rejoicing" for Muslims in the Middle East "soon." Ahmadinejad said the "volcano of rage" at the "arrogant powers" was "on the verge of eruption."
• The Washington Post reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has written to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Iran has no comment.
• The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, declared that Israel had "pushed the button of its own destruction" by launching its military campaign against the Iranian-backed Hizbullah in Lebanon.
• Iranian Student News Agency reported that Iran's general staff chief commander commented that closing all oil pipelines to Israel was the at least thing which the Arabs could do.
  

Iranian Dissidents.

• Rooz Online published the speech of Iranian dissident Akbar Ganji when he received the 2006 international Aubuchon award to his journalistic work in Iran.
• Rooz Online reported that in response to Akbar Ganji's call for a three-day hunger strike for the release of political prisoners in Iran, Iranians in Iran and 12 other cities supported his appeal.
• Rooz Online reported on Akbar Ganji’s call for a world-wide 3-day hunger strike which has created a global network linked to Tehran and his message was an internal regime change.
  

Human Rights and Freedom of the Press in Iran.

• Iranian.ws reported that once again, another Iranian woman, Malak Ghorbany, has been sentenced to death by the barbaric practice of public stoning. They have a petition to help me save her life.
• Potkin Azarmehr, azarmehr.blogspot.com reported on the final day of the hunger strike in London, which took place in solidarity with Iran's prisoners of conscience.
• Rooz Online reported the words of Issa Saharkhiz, an Iranian journalist who has been sentenced by jury of the special press offences. He said “They have not left any space for independent and freedom loving papers. From their perspective, a good journalist is the one who accepts the dictated stories of the judiciary, ministry of guidance, and national security council.”
• Rooz Online reported on the forced confessions of imprisoned Iranian intellectual Ramin Jahanbegloo.
• Iran Press News reported that Dr. Alireza Sassanian, a pharmacological researcher famous for his vaccines, was arrested and remains in Evin Prison for failing to transfer the registration of his discovery from his own name to one of the governmental universities of the Islamic regime. He has also been sentenced to death.
  

The Iranian Economy.

• The New York Times finally reported on that Iran is struggling with the cost of its gasoline imports and debating on how to deal with the expected unrest from the lack of fuel.
• IranMania reported that Iran’s daily consumption of natural gas has reached its highest level ever and is double the previous year.
  

Rumors of war.

• John Batchelor, The New York Sun argued that Iran expects America to launch air attacks against Iranian command and control, air defenses and nuclear weapons-making and ballistic missile sites by winter, perhaps as early as October 2006.
  

Iran and Iraq.

• The Guardian reported that Tony Blair today directly accused Iran of supplying weapons used to attack British troops in Basra.
• Reuters reported that a senior Iraqi-Kurdish official accused Iranian forces on Thursday of shelling Kurdish guerrillas in northern Iraq.
  

Iran and the International community.

• The Washington Post reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has written to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Iran has no comment.
• Speigel Online reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has refused to release a copy of a letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying it contains "many claims that are not acceptable to us, in particular about Israel, the state of Israel's right to exist and the Holocaust."
• The Los Angeles Times reported that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki accused the MEK, of meddling in his country's affairs and suggested that it could face expulsion from Iraq.
• RIA Novosti reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will sign five cooperation agreements with Tajikistan's leadership during a visit next week.
• Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported that French President Jacques Chirac has received a letter from his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, without disclosing details of the contents other than saying it did mention Tehran's controversial uranium enrichment program.
• Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia is expanding its military arsenal to counter what it sees as Iran's growing influence in a region convulsed by violence. "There is now an understanding that Iran has to be countered."
  

US Government on Iran.

• Senator Rick Santorumspoke to National Press Club and defined the unique challenges that confront the United States as we conduct a new world war. The full text of his speech. A must read.
• Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that two senior Bush administration officials at the White House met with 30 Iranian activists and academics to discuss the future of Iran.
  

Iran experts tell US Senate its time for a regime change in Iran.

• AxcessNews reported that Iran experts argued to US Senators that a Western-backed incentive package to abandon its nuclear ambitions would not yield results. The overthrow of the mullah is the only option to quell the threat of a nuclear Iran.
• Michael Ledeen, U.S. Senate Committee Testimony, reminded the Senators that if we could help Change the Iranian regime, and the nuclear question becomes manageable. He provided suggestions on how to encourage an internal regime change.
• Ilan Berman, U.S. Senate Committee Testimony, suggested that Washington would do well to simultaneously focus its energies on three objectives: economic pressure, democracy promotion and public diplomacy, with specific recommendations.
• Amir Abbas Fakhravar, U.S. Senate Committee Testimony, said that VOA and Radio Farda and some of the political groups in United States and Europe emphasize reform rather than regime change. To help the Iranian people, the VOA and Radio Farda programming must support regime change.
  

Must Read reports.

• BBC Arabic.com interviewed DoctorZin as part of a series on Middle East blogs.
• James S. Robbins, The National Review Online reported that until last week, Hezbollah has enjoyed virtual immunity in the war on terrorism. It appears that immunity is now over.
• John Batchelor, The New York Sun argued that Iran expects America to launch air attacks against Iranian command and control, air defenses and nuclear weapons-making and ballistic missile sites by winter, perhaps as early as October 2006.
• Frederick Kempe, The Wall Street Journal argued why the new atomic age requires a new nonproliferation strategy.
• The Washington Post reported that President Bush is facing a new and swiftly building backlash on the right over his handling of foreign affairs. They perceive timidity and confusion about long-standing problems including Iran and North Korea.
• Mehdi Khalaji, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy reported that while westerners believe Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinezhad to be popular in Iran, in no small part because of his strong support for Iran’s nuclear program. However, there is much evidence to the contrary. A must read.
• The Washington Times reported that young Iranians are turning increasingly to the Internet to voice their dissatisfaction with a hard-line regime and argued that the United States could make better use of blogs, satellite television, radio and other means to communicate information that the regime withholds from its public.
• The National Review Online examined the accusation that Israel is using a “disproportionate use of force.” He asked Europe, if missiles were falling on Strasbourg, Nancy, Lille, Dijon, and Paris would Chirac’s concern be to respond only in “proportion”?
• Iran Press News reported that officials in Bulgaria stopped a truck carrying radio active materials to Iran.
• The New York Times reported that there is a huge amount of anger in Iran about what is happening in Lebanon. In interviews in Tehran, person after person said the same thing: Iran should worry about Iran’s problems and not be dragged down by others’ battles.
• Moshe Yaalon, New Republic argued that while for years, we were told that the “root cause” of the Middle East’s problems was the Israeli occupation of Arab lands. It is now time to consider whether the conflict is the result of different “root causes”: namely, Iran, Syria.
• James Kitfield, National Journal argued that the United States went to war with the wrong country, Iraq and argued Iran was and is the greater threat.
  

The Experts.

• Michael Ledeen, The Corner reported that while the Lebanese—even in Paris are demonstrating against Hezbollah and Syria and Iran, there is a great opportunity to bring down Assad along with destroying Hezbollah.
• Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat argued why the present conflict in the Middle East will almost certainly lead to a broader war.
• Dan Darling, The Weekly Standard reported the grim implications that Hezbollah launched two missiles at Haifa believed to be Iranian-produced Raad-1s, which have an estimated range of as much as 150 kilometers.
• Michael Rubin, The Weekly Standard reported that while President George W. Bush said, "To help calm the situation, we've got diplomats in the region." Officials ritually promote diplomacy and dialogue, but absent an overarching strategy, diplomacy for diplomacy's sake can sometimes make matters worse.
• Amir Taheri, The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran and Syria are playing the decades old motto: 'When nothing else works, there is always Israel!" Despots used Israel as an excuse for their brutal rule, as a diversion from their misdeeds. But he believes that the Israel diversion may not work this time.
• Michael Rubin, The Wall Street Journal explains why the Arab world has not rallied to Hezbollah's defense it's present war with Israel. A must read.
• Dan Darling, The Weekly Standard argued that the most likely reason that Hezbollah has not yet deployed all of the assets at their disposal to destroy the enemy is due to its decision making process. The decisions are made in Iran.
• Charles Krauthammer, The Washington Post argued that amid the general wringing of hands over the seemingly endless and escalating Israel-Hezbollah fighting there is opportunity. A must read.
• Michael Ledeen, The National Review Online argued that Iran appears to have miscalculated in fueling the present crisis between Hezbollah and Israel. Never before have Saudis, Egyptians, Jordanians, Kuwaitis, and Iraqis spoken so forcefully against the terrorists (Hamas and Hezbollah, Sunni and Shiite) and their state sponsors in Tehran and Damascus and this provides a unique opportunity for the West that must not be missed.
• Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com reported that the nearly month-old hot war between Hezbollah and Israel. This is the opening salvo of Iran’s global assault on the United States.
• Newt Gingrich, USA Today argued why now isn't the time for Israeli restraint in Lebanon.
  

Photos, cartoons and videos.

• Cox & Forkum published another cartoon: Rock'em Sock'em.
• Cox & Forkum published a cartoon: Helter Shelter.
  

The Quote of the Week.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, declared:

Israel had "pushed the button of its own destruction" by launching its military campaign against the Iranian-backed Hizbullah in Lebanon.