DM's blog

Jumping the Shark

DM — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:40:17 +0000

So today’s Wall Street Journal is reporting that the IRI is trying to intimidate bloggers and activists all around the world, not just it Iran. They’re firing off lots of threatening emails (We’re everywhere! We know where you live! You’re not safe in the US!), arresting family members of expatriate bloggers, and detaining people for things they’ve written on Facebook and Twitter.

Sounds to me like they’re getting a little desperate.

UN Sanctions…Going Through the Motions

DM — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:42:42 +0000

All the bluster about UN sanctions is just that. They won’t work because:

1. China won’t support them.

2. Russia won’t support them.

Will Israel Attack?

DM — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:34:19 +0000

It will come as a shock to no one who’s opened a newspaper or turned on the TV over the past few years that a lot of Americans and Israelis believe: 1. Iran is ruled by crazy people who hate Israel; 2. Allowing these crazies to get the bomb would pose an existential threat to Israel; 3. Military action is essential if the crazies are to be stopped.

Encouraging Breastfeeding: One Thing the IRI Does Right

DM — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:57:52 +0000

I’m no fan of the Islamic Republic. But breastfeeding is one thing they do right.

About Those Three Hikers...

DM — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:34:14 +0000

About those three hikers…

In yesterday’s New York Times, a representative of the Iranian government wrote, “It is also our position that the three American hikers entered Iranian territory illegally, and that it is the right of every government to take action, particularly when issues related to national security are involved. Iran is only doing what any sovereign country would do.”

Give Karroubi His Due

DM — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:27:30 +0000

First, a disclaimer: I’m highly skeptical of all the IRI reformist leaders who spent decades propping up the IRI when it suited them, and now, when they find themselves on the outside looking in, suddenly discover that the country is run by a bunch of heavily-armed religious zealots. As if this were news.

Britain Attacks Iran!

DM — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:12:36 +0000

Britain attacks Iran!

Good God. After the suicide bombing in the Sistan and Baluchestan province that killed a bunch of Revolutionary Guard thugs, you’d think Khamenei and Company could have come up with something better than that.

Bush’s Director of National Intelligence on Bombing Iran

DM — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:12:13 +0000

John Negroponte, who as Director of National Intelligence oversaw the US Intelligence Community from 2005-07, gave a speech last night to a private audience at the Yale Club in New York City.

A friend of mine was in attendance and reported that, when discussing Israel’s characterization of Iran as an “existential threat,” Negroponte said: “You have to separate the wheat from the chaff, what’s bravado and what’s intended to motivate us.” (“Us” being the United States.)

Can Ahmadinejad Regain His Legitimacy?

DM — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:25:03 +0000

So now that several months have passed since the rigged election, Ahmadinejad is reportedly looking for ways to regain his legitimacy in the eyes of the Iranian people.

No, really, he is. Stop laughing!

Where Twelver Shiism Went Wrong

DM — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:59:55 +0000

“Makes me want to puke! All these islamic titles: Hojjatolislam, ayatollah, grand ayatollah, blah, grand blah, blah blah.....”

Divorce Iranian Style

DM — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:17:07 +0000

I only watched this 1998 documentary by Ziba Mir-Hosseini recently, when I became aware that it was available online through Google videos. It offers an intimate, often painful, glimpse into the lives of three women petitioning a family law court in central Tehran. Most of film is set inside the court.

Four reasons why Khamenei is like the Shah.

DM — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:45:13 +0000

1. Can’t even control rigged elections.

Can the Islamic Republic of Iran form a more perfect union?

DM — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:19:49 +0000

Keep the Islamic Republic but perfect the system through reform—so said Iran’s reformist leaders going into June’s rigged presidential election, and it remains their official position even in the wake of the post-election uprising.

But is meaningful reform from within a realistic prospect?