A Daily Briefing on Iran: Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [8/06/06 - 8/12/06] major news events regarding Iran. (The reports are listed in chronological order, not by importance) READ MORE

Iran behind Hezbollah's war on Israel.

Amir Taheri, The Times Online considered what Lebanon and the Middle East will look like if Hezbollah (and Iran) wins its war with Israel.
Amir Taheri, The New York Post explained ways to achieve a real Lebanese peace.
Daniel Schwammenthal, The Wall Street Journal examined the most recent evidence of European blindness to Hezbollah's terrorism.
BBC News reported that the Israeli army has released a video showing a Hezbollah fighter admitting to taking part in a raid on Israel and undergoing training in Iran.
The Guardian argued that the war in Lebanon has become a propaganda tool for Iran.
Radio Free Europe reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki described a U.S.-French draft UN resolution on the Mideast conflict as "an operation against Lebanon."
Michael Oren, The Wall Street Journal argued why the Israel/Hezbollah war affords the world an unprecedented opportunity to establish a new paradigm for combating Islamic extremism.
Lee Smith, The Weekly Standard questioned whether Hezbollah is an invincible as the media is making it out to be.
Alan Peters, AntiMullah.com reported on the Azadegan opposition movement is an umbrella leadership organization with an untainted record which is helping to unify the Iranian opposition.
New York Post reported that despite Iranian denials that Iranian are involved in the fighting in Lebanon, the bodies of members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard were found among Hezbollah fighters killed by Israeli forces.
Chicago Tribune reported that Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has emerged as a lone voice of dissent amid the clamor of pro-Hezbollah cheerleading. "If I were opportunistic, I would tell you now, `Long live Nasrallah.' I am not going to tell you that."
Rooz Online reported on a speech in Iran by Mohammad Mohsen, a fighter from Lebanese Hezbollah who discussed the role of Iran in helping them realize "that we have to equip ourselves with faith,” that Khomeini told them to "go and fight Israel. It is OK if you die."
Strategy Page reported that for the third time in the last two years, Lebanese based terrorist group Hizbollah flew an Iranian UAV into Israel. This time Israeli F-16s caught the UAV some ten kilometers off the coast, and shot it down.
Yahoo News reported that Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres has urged the international community to prevent Iran from imposing a "religious empire" across the Middle East.
News.com.au reported that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Iran and Syria to respect the terms of a resolution adopted by the UN Security Council.
Haaretz published an interview with (until recently) the head of the research division of Military Intelligence. He gave his views on Israeli intelligence of Hezbullah.
The White House released a statement by the President welcomes the U.N. Security Council Resolution on Lebanon to bring lasting peace to Middle East. The resolution calls for an embargo on the supply of arms to militias in Lebanon, for a robust international force to deploy to southern Lebanon in conjunction with Lebanon's legitimate armed forces, and for the disarming of Hizballah.
YNet News reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the UN resolution aimed at ending the warfare between Israel and Lebanon’s Shiite Muslim Hizbullah group was biased and served only the interests of the Jewish state.
Alan Peters, AntiMullah considered the question: Will Lebanese Army sent to the south include Hezbollah fighters in disquise?

Ahmadinejad's promised message to the world coming soon... August 22nd?

Omar Fadhil, Philly.com reported that he sees the signs that Iran may be starting to launch the mullahs' version of an Armageddon, exploiting the religious beliefs of devout Shiites in the region.
Henry Porter, The Guardian argued that the present crisis with Iran reminds him of his grandfathers' stories when learned they would probably be going to war.
Bernard Lewis, The Wall Street Journal argued that Iran's apocalyptic leaders do not fear killing Palestinians in a nuclear attack on Israel nor do they fear an Israeli nuclear counter attack on Iran because in both cases the Muslim dead will be accepted by Allah into heaven. A must read.
TCS Daily reported that it was in fact exactly one month ago that the authors wrote a column whose prescience and eerie timing surprised even its authors.\
John Batchelor, The New York Sun considered why is America apparently waiting to be attacked by Iran before acting on the threat?
Caroline B. Glick, Jewish World Review explained why jihad is picking up steam now and fanatical Muslims are on the march.
Joel C. Rosenberg, National Review Online asked: Is Iran planning an apocalyptic strike against Israel and/or the United States for August 22? Such questions are worrying a growing number of officials in the White House, at the CIA, and at the Pentagon, and for good reason.
Michael Ledeen, The Corner republished an important article: Five Minutes to Midnight - The War Is Coming, No Matter How Hard We Try to Evade It. Full text provided. A must read.
NewsMax reported that Middle East expert, Professor Walid Phares, warned: "As soon as a cease fire occurs, the "Hezbollah Blitzkrieg" will crumble the "Lebanese Republic of Weimar" and install its own "Khumeinist Republic" on the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean.... Hezbollah would have paved the way for Iran to create the mother of all world threats since Hitler."
Saul Singer, The National Review Online argued that while the Bush administration began to fight with vigor, we stopped too early, and now it appears we have forgotten we are still at war.
William Shawcross, The Wall Street Journal argued that while President Bush told the truth to Britain about the alleged massive plot to blow U.S.-bound airliners out of the sky putting it simply: "This was a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists." But in Europe, the truth is so terrible that we are in denial.

Iran's Nuclear Program & The UN Security Council.

Islamic Republic News Agency reported that the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, said Iran will reject both the resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council on Tehran's nuclear case and the suspension of uranium enrichment.
Yahoo News reported that Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said that Iran will expand uranium enrichment, in defiance of a U.N. Security Council resolution.
The Washington Post reported that with deadlines approaching, the State Department said it has seen no indications that Iran plans to comply with U.N. demands that it suspend enrichment of uranium, a key step in making nuclear weapons.
IranMania reported that Iran will announce its new nuclear policy within weeks, following the UN Security Council resolution.
MEMRI.org published excerpts from a press conference with Ali Larijani, where he said the Iranian response to sanctions will be painful to the West and will make it shiver with cold. Video.
Iran Mania reported that a leading member of Iran’s Hezbollah, Hojjat-ol-Islam Baqer Kharraz said: "We are able to produce atomic bombs and we will do that. We shouldn’t be afraid of anyone. The US is no more than a barking dog.”

Iranian leaders threats.

The Guardian reported that Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran's foreign minister, said Tony Blair and George Bush are "co-defendants" in war crimes committed by Israel in Lebanon and should be made to answer for their actions before an international court.
Richard Beeston, The Times Online reported that Iran threatened to block oil exports to the West if sanctions are imposed.
CBS News reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sat down with Mike Wallace in Tehran in a rare, exclusive interview. Ahmadinejad said that in response to President Bush's failure to answer his 18-page letter: "Those who refuse to accept an invitation will not have a good ending or fate."
MEMRI.org published excerpts from a press conference with Ali Larijani, where he said the Iranian response to sanctions will be painful to the West and will make it shiver with cold. Video.
MEMRI.org published excerpts from a Tehran Friday Sermon delivered by Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati. He said: "The Security Council is so weak, so impotent, and is so susceptible to pressure that it in incapable of passing any resolution. ... the gates of the UN and the Security Council should be closed." Video.

Iranian dissident's.

Rooz Online published a report on the interrogation of Ramin Jahanbegloo and the bizarre accusations that he had confessed responsibility for creating a large network known as ‘web’ to gather classified information on political, social, cultural and economic groups and activists.” These agents are after deceiving officials, particularly clerics, who lack the simplest knowledge about common Internet and cyberspace activities.
Iran Press News reported that Iranian student leader, Ahmad Batebi is now being detained and if new charges are not leveled against him, he will only have to complete the nine years remaining on his original prison sentence in Evin prison.
Radio Free Europe reported that imprisoned Mansoor Osanloo, the president of the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran Bus Company, a prominent leader of Iran's workers movement, was released today from jail on bail after having spent seven months in prison.
Rooz Online published excerpts of a letter by Iranian dissident Akbar Mohammadi written days before his murder in prison. In the letter he warned: "I believe authorities are preparing to humiliate and kill me..."
Iran Watch Canada reported on Mr. Ahmad Batebi's 12th day of his hunger strike in Evin prison.
Time Magazine reported that Akbar Ganji went to Hollywood to gain support for his "reformist movement" where Ganji said: "The U.S. has to stop its one-sided support of Israel."
Bridget Johnson, World Politics Watch reported on how Iran's regime is attempting to snuff out the stars of the Iranian opposition, with an update on Ahmad Batebi. Photo.

Human Rights and Freedom of the Press in Iran.

Iran Press News reported that two young men, Ali Ramezani and Ebrahim Karimi were arrested and charged with “being in contact with Kurdish political parties”.

The corruption in the Iranian leadership.

Iran Press News reported that a brother of the State Inspector general of the Islamic Republic of Iran was arrested for being a heroin smuggler.

The Iranian Economy.

Iran Press News reported that Alijanzadeh, the governor of Ghaem-shahr said 20,000 workers lose their jobs in the Iranian province of Mazandaran.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that because Iran is ignoring the UNSC resolution on its nuclear program, Japan might have to ditch its plan to secure oil from the massive Azadegan field in Iran.

Iran and the International community.

Hindustan Times reported that Pakistan has asked Iran to monitor the Indian consulate in the Iranian border city of Zahidan, alleging it was aiding nationalist rebels in the southwest Balochistan province.
People Daily Online reported that Iran has assured Pakistan that no one from the Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), a militants' group banned by Pakistan, will be allowed to take refuge in its border areas.
Iranian.ws reported that China is pursuing a troubling, tricky alliance with radical, rightwing Islam, or Islamism, despite concerns about its own restive Muslim population.
The New York Times reported that Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, said Iran is pressing Shiite militias here to step up attacks against the American-led forces because of the Israeli assault on Lebanon.
Iran Focus reported that an armed militia launched a massive raid on the offices of a prominent Iraqi Shiite cleric vehemently opposed to Iranian regime.

The US Congress on Iran.

The Hill reported that momentum is building for Iran Freedom and Support Act. sanctions Bill. Contact your Senators and ask for their support of the Iran Freedom Act.
Reuters reported that a group of U.S. senators pressed China on its ties with North Korea and Iran.

Must Read reports.

John Batchelor, The New York Sunconsidered why is America apparently waiting to be attacked by Iran before acting on the threat?
Lee Smith, The Weekly Standard questioned whether Hezbollah is an invincible as the media is making it out to be.
Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, The Weekly Standard reviewed George Michael's new book The Enemy of My Enemy: The Alarming Convergence of Militant Islam and the Extreme Right, about the unlikely alliance between Islamic radicals and the neo-Nazi far right.
Insight Magazine reported that Bush and Condi have clashed over Israel; with the president overruling her for the first time. "I've never seen her so angry," an aide said.
Nidra Poller, TCS Daily discussed "French Duplomacy" and how France is trying to impose on its American partner.
Alan Peters, AntiMullah considered the question: Will Lebanese Army sent to the south include Hezbollah fighters in disquise?

The Experts.

Bernard Lewis, The Wall Street Journal argued that Iran's apocalyptic leaders do not fear killing Palestinians in a nuclear attack on Israel nor do they fear an Israeli nuclear counter attack on Iran because in both cases the Muslim dead will be accepted by Allah into heaven. A must read.
Amir Taheri, The Times Online considered what Lebanon and the Middle East will look like if Hezbollah (and Iran) wins its war with Israel.
Amir Taheri, The New York Post explained ways to achieve a real Lebanese peace.
Newt Gingrich, The Washington Post responded to a column, yesterday, by Richard Holbrook who asserted the Iranian nuclear threat is far less dangerous than violence in southern Lebanon. Nevertheless, Holbrooke has set the stage for an important national debate.

Photos, cartoons and videos.

Cox & Forkum published a cartoon: Changement de Rythme.
MEMRI.org published excerpts from a press conference with Ali Larijani, where he said the Iranian response to sanctions will be painful to the West and will make it shiver with cold. Video.
MEMRI.org published excerpts from a Tehran Friday Sermon delivered by Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati. He said: "The Security Council is so weak, so impotent, and is so susceptible to pressure that it in incapable of passing any resolution. ... the gates of the UN and the Security Council should be closed." Video.
Cox & Forkum published a cartoon: First Casualty.
Bridget Johnson, World Politics Watch an update on Ahmad Batebi. Photo.
Cox & Forkum published a cartoon: Mullah Justice.
The Peoples Cube published a graphic: If today's New York Times editors were in charge in 1943...
You Tube hosted a video of an execution of an Iranian girl. A lengthy but revealing story.
Petition Online features a call to free imprisoned Iranian student leader Ahmad Batebi. Check it out.
Aish.com released a video on the photo fraud in Lebanon.

The Quote of the Week.

CBS News reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sat down with Mike Wallace in Tehran in a rare, exclusive interview. Ahmadinejad said that in response to President Bush's failure to answer his 18-page letter:

"Those who refuse to accept an invitation will not have a good ending or fate."