You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus!

Divaneh - very well said!

Did you hear that Sargord, dear?!

Helmet Matters

Sargord is right, they hit people with round helmets and not pointy helmets. And he is right that IRI is insufficient when it comes to non-lethal forms of crowd control. Things like "let's listen to you and see if you have a valid point" or "Ok we are going to respect the human rights and show it with action"

your cartoon and petition

Azadeh:
Your cartoon is flawed. The Islamic Republic doesn't use the old style German helmet or the new style of American helmet, which resemble that worn by the figure in your illustration. For the most part, the Iranian military uses the old style American helmet, which is more rounded.

Also, the Islamic Republic is self-sufficient in lethal firearms. Where it is not self-sufficient is in non-lethal forms of crowd control devices.

It's sort of self-defeating to advocate the IRI be deprived of non-lethal devices, and to have to rely on lethal means instead.

Does that make sense?

ramin, I am sincerely pleased to hear that

I am sincerely pleased to hear you withdrew your original petition which sanctioned gas and oil, and look forward to reading your article stating the reasons for it.   I need to think about this new petition, discuss it with some people and activists in Iran and assess risks in relation to Iran's security.  Withdrawing technology for monitoring and spying might also affect Iran's ability to defend itself from external attacks and espionage.  But I see the point you are making.  I need to become convinced that ordinary people would not be harmed and Iran's security will not be endangered.  

Thank you for withdrawing the other petition, Ramin. 

No I withdrew that previous petition

I withdrew that petition and I will explain why in an article coming up. That petition was created to open debate.

I am more interested in creating a strong lobby for Iranians outside the country,a lobby for Human rights interest. This petition is no trick or facade, it is as I stated to stop specially EU countries sending technology to oppress people, and I plan to see it through.

A petiton has a wording so for instance I can't take this petition and use it for sanctions of oil and gas.

I am against sanctions however in the article I shall explain when, why and how we need the oil and gas petiton as a kind of insurance, and believe me I would be concerned about ordinary people and their suffering so just wait for that article. 

I hope that clear things for you, and if you support this particular petition i.e. if you don't want IRI buying web filters and get taps on cell phones in Iran then please sign it. 

Ramin jan, Aren't you the same petitioner who...

Aren't you the same Ramin who petitions the EU countries to sanction purchasing fossil fuel from Iran - that is, Iran's main source of income?! Unless you WITHDRAW that petition, THIS ONE is just a trick and a facade, a fig leaf for your original petition that will bring immeasurable suffering to those people you claim to be defending.

Ari Siltz wrote a comment on your blog regarding EU sanctions, saying correctly that such call must come from workers and activists in Iran, as part of a short term measure in coordination with strike actions in the oil and gas industry and mass mobilisation there, and not imposed from outside the country.  You must take your lead from those living, working and fighting in Iran. You never responded to that. 

In short, I understood your petition very well.  But as it stands, withdraw your fuel sanctions petition giving reasons for withdrawal before taking on other petitions. 

Dear Fouzul Bashi

I'm sorry but you haven't understood the petition.

This petition is to stop companies like Nokia selling web filters, and taps on cell phones etc. and similar technology used to catch protesters in Iran.

Techology used to catch and torture people.

It is to stop those EU companies!

If you think that by raising such a petition I am a traitor, or that people in Iran want such oppressive technology then I'm sorry I even bothered you!

"We the Iranian people ..."!!!

"We the Iranian people, with this petition echo the cry for freedom from our homeland to you the people of the world and demand the support of all political, humanitarian, and judicial bodies across the globe to take new or existing political and legislative action to stop any organization, corporation, private or public company within your national dominion as well as economic and political union from trading in technology used for the purpose of persecution and oppression of our people". !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really?  Which Iranian people have called for these sanctions? Those living in Iran, who will, according to Shustari here, 'shrivel like cattle dung', under these sanctions?!!!  Or the traitors, self-interested hypocrites in the diaspora sharpening their teeth to take bites from the diseased and emaciated corpses?   

If you really don't know, go and read about what happened to Iraq under sanctions.  Sadam too stayed in place more powerful than ever and Iraq was bombed and destroyed. 

dear azadeh: sanctions question. Fred can answer too? or ignore

with all this talk about MORE sanctions, don't you wonder about how halliburton and KBR etc are getting away with business with Iran, while their board and chairmen scream about human rights and democracy???

I mean we have sanctions with that islamic republic and there will always be countries willing to do business. Always. However, what I don't get is how halliburton isn't being exposed for rearranging its ties to Iranian business deals? How its chair people are complaining in the media, but coming back to shake hands and sign papers with the mullahs.

And why do the iranian neo cons ignore this lack of morality by these same people who promise to give Iranians the American dream or nightmare depending on what shade your skin is ??? 

thanks azadeh jaan

this is exactly what needs to be done: strikes from within and embargos from outside.....the mullahs will shrivel up like a dried up pehen

god save our vatan in 2010 

Thanks for your support Azadeh

I spoke to an Amnesty International person who has promised to put me in touch with the Iranian desk and discuss our petitions.

Right on: how can they make money from it and criticize IRI too?

Every voice counts! Every action counts!

.......

Hi Azadeh,

      Thank you for your political cartoon! 

Delaram Banafsheh (Yolanda)

"Cactus in the Desert"