refuse_resist
25th July 2005, 02:28
Iran: Celebrating 26 Years of Independence
from Mohammad - 11.02.2005 14:05
Tehran: Feb 10, 2005
Thousands of Iranians braved blizzards in the nation’s capital and provincial capitals throughout the country to mark the 26th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Despite the heavy snowfall in Tehran, men, women and children gathered in huge crowds from all parts of the city in the historical Azadi (Freedom) Square chanting slogans, waving flags and effigies of Bush, Blair and Sharon.
The big turnout came in response to the latest threats issued by US officials against Iran in the recent rhetoric being exchanged between Tehran and Washington regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
The US claims that Iran is trying to develop WMD’s through its nuclear enrichment program followed by the efforts of the US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice whose remarks cast a chilly air over a whirlwind European tour to persuade EU members to tighten the reins on nuclear talks with Iran. Bush used his State of the Union address to signal that Iran is his next target of war, calling it "the world's primary state sponsor of terror--pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve."
The cool response from the Iranian officials came as they denied any plans to produce enriched uranium for nuclear weapons stating that acquiring WMD’s is against the nation’s Islamic constitution and is not seen as a way to power. Standing firm on its right to have access to nuclear energy, Iran is pushing ahead with its peaceful nuclear activities saying,” The Iranian nation doesn’t need traitors, colonialists, and superpowers to tell her what to do.”
In separate interviews with Iranian MP’s and top officials, the response to US claims became very clear as Senior Security official Mr. Rowhani said, “Last year they claimed that Iran was seeking nuclear weapons but through investigation and patience on the part of the officials, we showed the world that they were lying.”
Leveling accusations against the members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) without any documentation is a violation of IAEA regulations as well and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), he said, stressing that the U.S. has actually violated the United Nations Charter by pressuring Europe and Iran in order to deprive the Islamic Republic of nuclear energy.
He added that the U.S. harbors the terrorist Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) in Iraq, but accuses Iran of sponsoring terrorism, and asked, “Now, are we the sponsors of terrorism or the U.S.?”
MP Elham Aminzadeh called Bush’s recent remarks illegal. She stated, “Iran is among the victims of terrorism and has always fought against it. No country has lost as many officials through terrorist acts as Iran has.”
Expressing surprise that the U.S. claims to advocate freedom, Aminzadeh said that the world will never forget the gift of freedom given by the U.S. to the Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prisoners and added, “If Bush wants to free the nations, he should allow the Blacks and Muslims of his own country to live freely.”
This statement reflects the general consensus among Iranians kids who may want freedom, but they don't believe the U.S. will deliver it. And they live right next door to Iraq, where American "liberation" leaves something to be desired.
A military strike against Iran seems highly unlikely; according US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice “it is simply not on the agenda right now.”
If all else fails and the US were to take such measures however, it’ll be a big gamble. Iran already has, in Ian Bremmer's words, "one of the most pluralist and democratic regimes in the Middle East." Moreover, distrust of the United States--which overthrew Iran's democratic government in 1953, backed the Shah's vicious dictatorship and has worked tirelessly to ruin the Iranian economy through sanctions and covert sabotage since the 1979 Islamic revolution--can hardly be overstated.
Even cutting and running from Iraq wouldn't do the trick. If 150,000 soldiers stationed in Iraq can't defeat a few thousand resistance fighters with RPGs and IEDs, how will they fare against Iran--a nation three times the size of Iraq, whose terrain includes a range of big-ass mountains, which has a half-million-man standing army equipped with modern hardware? The hard-right Bush Administration's most bellicose zealots have been itching to invade Iran since they declared mission accomplished in Iraq and while the U.S. advocates using military might to overthrow the Iranian government, it has no international support in this regard, Bush can not ignore Europe’s policy toward Iran.
During the ten-day revolution anniversary celebrations called “Daheye Fajr” (the Ten-Day Dawn), the Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei stated that Bush is the fifth American President who has tried to overthrow the Islamic Republic and will fail just like his predecessors. Commenting on U.S. officials’ alleged support for human rights, freedom, and the campaigns against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, the Supreme Leader said that “despite all these false slogans, Washington supports many dictatorial regimes”, and calling the US the main obstacle of a solution to the Middle East problem by ignoring the rights of the Palestinians to an independent state and their support for the Zionist regime. This came after the Ayatollah granted amnesty for 3,401 Iranian inmates to mark this national occasion.
Addressing thousands of demonstrators in the Nation’s capital on Thursday, President Mohammad Khatami stated that after gaining independence from foreign superpowers in the revolution of 1979, the Iranian Nation has been able to stand on its feet and reach surprising heights in scientific and technological advancement, and industrial and agricultural self-sufficiency.
Khatami branded US threats as part of a “psychological warfare”, being waged in accordance with the “expansionist policies of the American conservatives”.
He added that "The Iranian nation is not looking for war and violence, but the world must know that the Iranians will not tolerate any invasion. If, God forbid, any aggressor puts its foot on this land, Iran will turn into a burning hell for them."
A breakthrough in the diplomatic relations between Europe and Iran might ease the tensions though. According to one Iranian MP, “The Europeans should realize that they are facing an historic dilemma on relations with Iran. They should either accept serious negotiations and make logical decisions based on their previous agreements with Iran, or they could give way U.S. pressure.”
In this turmoil of words and accusations, with Iran’s firm stance on the nuclear issue and the “Bushists gone wild” after losing face in Iraq and Afghanistan in need of a bigger win than ever, one can only hope for cool heads to prevail.
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2167.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2168.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2169.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2170.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2171.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2172.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2173.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2174.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/ar/2005/02/2175.shtml
from Mohammad - 11.02.2005 14:05
Tehran: Feb 10, 2005
Thousands of Iranians braved blizzards in the nation’s capital and provincial capitals throughout the country to mark the 26th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Despite the heavy snowfall in Tehran, men, women and children gathered in huge crowds from all parts of the city in the historical Azadi (Freedom) Square chanting slogans, waving flags and effigies of Bush, Blair and Sharon.
The big turnout came in response to the latest threats issued by US officials against Iran in the recent rhetoric being exchanged between Tehran and Washington regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
The US claims that Iran is trying to develop WMD’s through its nuclear enrichment program followed by the efforts of the US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice whose remarks cast a chilly air over a whirlwind European tour to persuade EU members to tighten the reins on nuclear talks with Iran. Bush used his State of the Union address to signal that Iran is his next target of war, calling it "the world's primary state sponsor of terror--pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve."
The cool response from the Iranian officials came as they denied any plans to produce enriched uranium for nuclear weapons stating that acquiring WMD’s is against the nation’s Islamic constitution and is not seen as a way to power. Standing firm on its right to have access to nuclear energy, Iran is pushing ahead with its peaceful nuclear activities saying,” The Iranian nation doesn’t need traitors, colonialists, and superpowers to tell her what to do.”
In separate interviews with Iranian MP’s and top officials, the response to US claims became very clear as Senior Security official Mr. Rowhani said, “Last year they claimed that Iran was seeking nuclear weapons but through investigation and patience on the part of the officials, we showed the world that they were lying.”
Leveling accusations against the members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) without any documentation is a violation of IAEA regulations as well and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), he said, stressing that the U.S. has actually violated the United Nations Charter by pressuring Europe and Iran in order to deprive the Islamic Republic of nuclear energy.
He added that the U.S. harbors the terrorist Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) in Iraq, but accuses Iran of sponsoring terrorism, and asked, “Now, are we the sponsors of terrorism or the U.S.?”
MP Elham Aminzadeh called Bush’s recent remarks illegal. She stated, “Iran is among the victims of terrorism and has always fought against it. No country has lost as many officials through terrorist acts as Iran has.”
Expressing surprise that the U.S. claims to advocate freedom, Aminzadeh said that the world will never forget the gift of freedom given by the U.S. to the Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prisoners and added, “If Bush wants to free the nations, he should allow the Blacks and Muslims of his own country to live freely.”
This statement reflects the general consensus among Iranians kids who may want freedom, but they don't believe the U.S. will deliver it. And they live right next door to Iraq, where American "liberation" leaves something to be desired.
A military strike against Iran seems highly unlikely; according US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice “it is simply not on the agenda right now.”
If all else fails and the US were to take such measures however, it’ll be a big gamble. Iran already has, in Ian Bremmer's words, "one of the most pluralist and democratic regimes in the Middle East." Moreover, distrust of the United States--which overthrew Iran's democratic government in 1953, backed the Shah's vicious dictatorship and has worked tirelessly to ruin the Iranian economy through sanctions and covert sabotage since the 1979 Islamic revolution--can hardly be overstated.
Even cutting and running from Iraq wouldn't do the trick. If 150,000 soldiers stationed in Iraq can't defeat a few thousand resistance fighters with RPGs and IEDs, how will they fare against Iran--a nation three times the size of Iraq, whose terrain includes a range of big-ass mountains, which has a half-million-man standing army equipped with modern hardware? The hard-right Bush Administration's most bellicose zealots have been itching to invade Iran since they declared mission accomplished in Iraq and while the U.S. advocates using military might to overthrow the Iranian government, it has no international support in this regard, Bush can not ignore Europe’s policy toward Iran.
During the ten-day revolution anniversary celebrations called “Daheye Fajr” (the Ten-Day Dawn), the Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei stated that Bush is the fifth American President who has tried to overthrow the Islamic Republic and will fail just like his predecessors. Commenting on U.S. officials’ alleged support for human rights, freedom, and the campaigns against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, the Supreme Leader said that “despite all these false slogans, Washington supports many dictatorial regimes”, and calling the US the main obstacle of a solution to the Middle East problem by ignoring the rights of the Palestinians to an independent state and their support for the Zionist regime. This came after the Ayatollah granted amnesty for 3,401 Iranian inmates to mark this national occasion.
Addressing thousands of demonstrators in the Nation’s capital on Thursday, President Mohammad Khatami stated that after gaining independence from foreign superpowers in the revolution of 1979, the Iranian Nation has been able to stand on its feet and reach surprising heights in scientific and technological advancement, and industrial and agricultural self-sufficiency.
Khatami branded US threats as part of a “psychological warfare”, being waged in accordance with the “expansionist policies of the American conservatives”.
He added that "The Iranian nation is not looking for war and violence, but the world must know that the Iranians will not tolerate any invasion. If, God forbid, any aggressor puts its foot on this land, Iran will turn into a burning hell for them."
A breakthrough in the diplomatic relations between Europe and Iran might ease the tensions though. According to one Iranian MP, “The Europeans should realize that they are facing an historic dilemma on relations with Iran. They should either accept serious negotiations and make logical decisions based on their previous agreements with Iran, or they could give way U.S. pressure.”
In this turmoil of words and accusations, with Iran’s firm stance on the nuclear issue and the “Bushists gone wild” after losing face in Iraq and Afghanistan in need of a bigger win than ever, one can only hope for cool heads to prevail.
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2167.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2168.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2169.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2170.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2171.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2172.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2173.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/images/2005/02/2174.jpg
http://beirut.indymedia.org/ar/2005/02/2175.shtml