Persian Realm

Will social media bring political change to Oman?

Will social media bring political change to Oman?

Cliff diving contest in Oman

Cliff diving contest in Oman (bbc, Video)

Britain's Gary Hunt has won his third-successive cliff diving World Series title by winning the final stage of the 2012 series in Wadi Shab, Oman.

Five thousand fans watched as the defending champion performed his trademark triple quad dive to set a points total of 506.85.

Gary Hunt said it was the best competition he had ever done. 

Oman activists given jail terms

Six activists in Oman have been given jail terms of between a year and 18 months for posting criticism of the country's government online.

A court in the capital Muscat found that the posts were "abusive and provocative".

All six were also given fines of 1,000 Omani riyals (£1,620).

Oman has largely escaped the upheaval of the Arab Spring but there have been protests in recent months over the lack of political reform, and unemployment.

The court will decide on six others charged with similar offences on 16 September.

U.S. military helicopter crashes in Oman

U.S. military helicopter crashes in Oman (cnn)

• The MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter crashed in Oman
• Five crew members were on board
• The U.S. military said hostile action was not to blame

(CNN) -- A U.S. military helicopter with five people aboard crashed Thursday in Oman, on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula, the U.S. military said.

The status of the crew members was not immediately clear.

The MH-53E Sea Dragon crashed about 15 miles southwest of Muscat, Oman, a military statement said.

Investigators have ruled out hostile action but have not determined what caused the crash, it said. 

Omanis protest at slow pace of reform

Stirrings in Oman (bbc)

Are rare protests a sign the Arab Spring has reached the sultanate?

If you were to read SAS propaganda

You'd think a small bunch of Supermen in SAS saved Oman on their own. Another British bluff. They mention only in passing that their achievements were not possible without Iranian Air Support! Little is said in the books about the SAS of the  Iranian Army fighting on the ground. Good to see Wiki is at least doing justice to the memory of those Iranian killed in action.

Mr. Fozolie

Shah was the greatest leader of the Middle East

His vision was to bring Iran close to any civilized European country.
His work had just begun and the newly developed class, strong middle class, was forming and gaining momentum.

Dictator? What the hell does that mean? In a place where people were still think similar to 1400 years back and believe in Jinn and fairy tales, shah was a reality that could save that nation. Dictator?

A man who loved his country and saw the stupidity of his people could not have much of a choice other than force them to upgrade.

Dictator? What are you talking about?

The Iranian tourist industry was booming, airlines the best in the world, financial institutions were forming strongest possible, economy was forming to a point that UAE and Turkey would be centuries behind...Dictator?

Thought believes that if you don't take a dictator that will build and form your modern nation then you deserve a dictator who will destroy it.

Dictatorship and democracy are words put into the mouth of third world nations, think this way instead. If Shah remained would Iran be better than UAE, Turkey, or South Korea?.

If your answer is no then you don't know, and if your answer is yes than shove the words in the a$$ of those who care.

All central Asian countries would be aligned to Iran and Iran would be healthier than ever

Dictatorship and freedom are not concepts that come with a leader but a culture that needs to be built to reach. Iran would have been fine under the great Shahanshah Aryamehr. Iranians didn't deserve him and they are experiencing their loss.

Nonsense by all means ..

One dictator visits another dictator. BIG DEAL!

Mr. Kadivar, I wish you, for a change, could write something more interesting than advertizing for the monarch. Stop living in illusion and grow up, although it might be too later for you.

BeninTx

In the 70s

Shah was sending iranian troops to protect the regime of Sultan Qaboos against the dissent that was going on there ..............

Thanks anglophile jan I didn't know that

Your knowledgable Feedbacks are always appreciated !

DK 

Also not to forget the role of the SAS

Although at the end it was the brave Shiraz garrsion who finished them off, the British SAS played a pivotal role in the battle against the Communist insurgence.

//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhofar_Rebellion

Battle of Mirbat:

 //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mirbat

SAS heros:Last stand in Oman:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxmtbMFGSXo

Quaboos was rescued

Iranian army was massively involved in the war against communist rebels and without Shah, Quaboos would have fallen.