Monday
Feb082010
The Latest from Iran (8 February): Staying with the Real Story
Monday, February 8, 2010 at 20:10 
2045 GMT: But There are Limits. One leading international media organisation is proclaiming that it has mobilised itself to cover Thursday's events in Iran. It has even set up a dedicated Twitter account for Iran, announced throughout today in a series of tweets.Only problem is that this broadcaster/website hasn't quite got the hang of using Twitter for gathering latest news rather than for self-promotion. Total number of Twitter accounts it is following? 7, all of whom happen to be its own staff.
NEW Iran Document: Khatami Statement for 22 Bahman (8 February)
NEW Iran Special: The 57 Journalists in Iran’s Prisons
NEW Iran Advice Video: Palin to Obama “Bomb and You Get Re-Elected”
Iran Special: The Weakness of the Regime “It’s Deja Vu All Over Again”
Iran: The “Reconciliation” Proposals of Karroubi’s Etemade Melli Party
Iran: “Conservative Opposition” Offer to Mousavi “Back Khamenei, We Sack Ahmadinejad”
Iran Space Shocker: Turtle-Astronauts Defect to West
The Latest from Iran (7 February): Tremors
2020 GMT: 22 Bahman is Back! The "Western" media, which only 12 hours ago seemed to be oblivious to anything Iran-related unless it had the word "nuclear", has re-discovered the internal events and tensions. Numerous services are carrying the report of the Associated Press on the Supreme Leader's speech (1245, 1420, & 1940 GMT), while The New York Times picks up on Reuters' summary of the statements of Mir Hossein Mousavi (1635 GMT) and Mohammad Khatami (separate entry). Even America's ABC News has taken notice, catching up with Saturday's interview of Mehdi Karroubi in a German magazine.
And CNN, declaring that it was going to cover Iran closely before and on Thursday, has launched a special section on its website.
2015 GMT: Shutting Down the News. Pedestrian follows up on the arrest of photographer Amir Sadeghi, the creator of the excellent Tehran Live, and the detentions of both sisters of blogger Agh Bahman.
1940 GMT: We Are Number One (and We Will Punch You). More on the Supreme Leader's tough talk today (see 1245 GMT), one in which he did not walk out because of an inconvenient question (see 1420 GMT):
Today, there exists no system like the Islamic establishment in the world that can stand unshakably in the face of heavy, hostile propaganda, political and economic pressures and sanctions....[Because of our] reliance on God...whenever the people fear for the Revolution and sense threats and animosity, huge crowds of people, spontaneously and without convocation, take to the streets across the country.
1935 GMT: Blocking the Airwaves. An Iranian activist has reported that Voice of America Persian can no longer be received in Tehran.
1655 GMT: This Just In. Heading off to an academic commitment, but had to note this statement by the US Government and European Union, released by the White House:
The United States and the European Union condemn the continuing human rights violations in Iran since the June 12 election. The large scale detentions and mass trials, the threatened execution of protestors, the intimidation of family members of those detained and the continuing denial to its citizens of the right to peaceful expression are contrary to human rights norms.
Our concerns are based on our commitment to universal respect for human rights. We are particularly concerned by the potential for further violence and repression during the coming days, especially around the anniversary of the Islamic Republic's founding on 11 February.
We call on the Government of Iran to live up to its international human rights obligations, to end its abuses against its own people, to hold accountable those who have committed the abuses and to release those who are exercising their rights.
1635 GMT: Summary of Mousavi's Statement. Mir Hossein Mousavi told a group of youth and student activists today:
Disgracing and insulting people and the freedom of thought has nothing to do with Islam. I believe that the nation knows what is best for it and the collective wisdom is the superior wisdom and that is why the Islamic Revolution happened. If we want to save Islam as an asset for the nation, our own interests should not endanger the interests of Islam....
The only demand of the force that has come to the scene today is to return to the main laws and values of the Islamic Revolution, but it is being falsely accused. The Green Movement of the nation of Iran is independent, rational and peaceful. We are not opposed to Basij, the Revolutionary Guards or the police; but rather we are opposed to violence, beating and killing.
1630 GMT: Claim of the Day. The Los Angeles Times, citing a source inside Tehran's police headquarters, claims up to three million opposition protesters may be on the streets on Thursday. The source compared that number to 500,000 pro-Government demonstrators who were out in Tehran on 30 December. The article also claims that about 12,000 Basiji militiamen will be moved into the capital from around the country.
1445 GMT: We've just come out of a discussion of EA's coverage for 22 Bahman to see the English translation of today's statement by former President Mohammad Khatami. We've posted in a separate entry.
1420 GMT: Challenging the Supreme Leader. Khodnevis reports that, during Ayatollah Khamenei’s recent meeting with academics, Hojatoleslam Javadi-Amoli (the son of Ayatolah Javadi-Amoli), asked a pointed question about the President. Javadi-Amoli referred to an encounter between his father and Ahmadinejad, in which the President claimed that, during a speech to the United Nations General, he was covered by a halo of light. The video of the President's account was posted on YouTube but, during the 2009 campaign, Ahmadinejad claimed the story was lies made up by the enemy.
Javadi-Amoli asked the Supreme Leader, “We see many times in religious texts that the ruler of Islamic countries, in order to protect the interests of his country’s people, is permitted to hide parts of the truth, but he cannot say that his own saying is a lie and attribute it to the ramblings of a sick mind. Can one expect justice from such a ruler?”
At that point Khamenei says that he did not have time and left the meeting.
1300 GMT: The reformist Islamic Iran Participation Front has issued its call for Iranians to accompany Green and opposition figures in the 22 Bahman rally.
Green movement activists in Ahvaz have also put out a statement.
1255 GMT: Another Media Detention. Amir Sadeghi, photographer for Farhange Ashti, has been arrested at work.
1250 GMT: We Will, We Will Rock You. The Tehran commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, General Hossein Hamadani, has declared again that the Revolutionary Guard will "deal severely" with any protesters on Thursday.
1245 GMT: We Will, We Will Punch You. That is the Supreme Leader's latest line for Thursday, as he told Air Force personnel, "The Iranian nation, with its unity and God's grace, will punch the arrogance (of Western powers) on the 22nd of Bahman in a way that will leave them stunned."
Using the foreign agents gambit to rule out legitimate protest, Khamenei said that the "most important aim of the sedition after the election was to create a rift within the Iranian nation, but it was unable to do so and our nation's unity remained a thorn in its eyes".
1135 GMT: The Next 22 Bahman Move? A group of youth and student activists have met with Mir Hossein Mousavi today, declaring that they will march on Thursday with Green symbols to seek justice and freedom and announcing "to the totalitarians" that sooner or later they will free the Islamic Republic from oppression. We are awaiting a text of Mousavi's remarks.
1125 GMT: Another High-Profile Sentence. Former Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh has reportedly been given a six-year prison term for "disturbing" national security and spreading propaganda.
1110 GMT: Targeting Mortazavi. 57 members of Parliament have written to the head of Iran's judiciary, Sadegh Larijani, and President Ahmadinejad to demand the immediate dismissal and trial of Presidential aide Saeed Mortazavi for his alleged role in the Kahrizak Prison abuses.
1100 GMT: Khomeini v. The Regime. Ezzatollah Zarghami, the head of Islamic Republic of Iran Republic, has replied sharply to the complaint of Seyed Hassan Khomeini about IRIB's "censorship" of the speeches of his grandfather, Ayatollah Khomeini: "If only you had written a protest letter to condemn the shameful events after the election...."
0940 GMT: Million-Dollar Defendant. After 216 days in detention, Feizollah Arab Sorkhi, a senior member of the reformist Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution party, finally stood trial on Sunday. Proceedings are ongoing; Arab Sorkhi’s bail has been set at more than $1 million.
Meanwhile, journalist Emadeddin Baghi remains in solitary confinement despite the end of his interrogation.
0935 GMT: A New Voice. The Green Voice of Freedom website, from which we are pictured up some latest news items, has launched an English edition.
0930 GMT: Freed. Amidst the dominant news of arrests, a belated notice of released: last week 10 students from Elm-o-Sanat University, detained on and after Ashura, were let out of prison.
0920 GMT: And Now the Real News. Following the complaint from Seyed Hassan Khomeini, the Imam's grandson, to the head of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Ahmad Montazeri --- son of the Grand Ayatollah, who died in December --- has sent a letter of protest.
The issue is an IRIB interview with former Minister of Intelligence Ali Fallahian, who launched a fierce criticism of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri.
0910 GMT: It Gets Worse. The BBC's top radio programme, Today, having done a muddled but creditable effort to get beyond the misleading headlines on Iran (see 0715 GMT), threw it all away with an appalling interview an hour ago.
The fault lay not with the interviewee, Mark Fitzpatrick of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, but with the interviewer, Evan Davies, whose obsession was to establish that Iran might soon have The Bomb. That distortion was only corrected at the end of the discussion, when Fitzpatrick --- moving from theory and fantasy to reality --- noted that Iran does not have the technical capacity to maintain its current civilian programme, let alone establish weapons capability.
Meanwhile, the Green Movement made a fleeting appearance as the device to get a "more acceptable regime" in Iran on the nuclear issue.
Across the Atlantic, Juan Cole does an effective job taking away Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's "scare" rhetoric in her interview with CNN on Sunday and then putting the Ahmadinejad declaration in appropriate context.
0820 GMT: And This is Just Silly. Reuters reports, without blinking an eye, Salehi's declaration, ""Iran will set up 10 uranium enrichment centers next year."
Hmm.... At least that's not quite as extravagant as President Ahmadinejad's snap announcement last autumn that Iran would build 20 centres (an event that EA readers recalled yesterday). Reuters might also want to note, beyond its sentence, "Analysts have expressed skepticism whether sanctions-bound Iran, which has problems obtaining materials and components abroad, would be able to equip and operate 10 new plants", that Iran cannot even keep one centre, Natanz, functioning at more than 50 percent capacity.
0745 GMT: Nuclear Kabuki. Tehran keeps up the sideshow this morning, with Iranian state media headlining the declaration of the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akhbar Salehi, "We have written a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to announce our intention to enrich uranium to 20 percent. We will send this letter to the world's atomic watchdog on Monday and then start enrichment on Tuesday in the presence of inspectors and observers from the IAEA."
Dramatic? No. This is no more than a restatement of what Iran is allowed to do under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, since the 20-percent level is for civilian rather than military uses. Indeed, that is (and has been for months) the real uranium issue: whether soon Iran runs out of fuel for its medical research reactor.
0715 GMT: The gap between image and reality has widened overnight in coverage of Iran. The "Western" press, with few exceptions, have now done their lemming jump into a simplistic portrayal of President Ahmadinejad's Sunday media stunt: his declaration that Iran would immediately start producing 20-percent enriched uranium so it can ensure self-sufficiency if there is no "swap" deal with the West.
This morning, BBC's top radio programme has one of the better stories, noting both the obvious (that Ahmadinejad's expectation is "unrealistic", given the technical issues with Iran's nuclear programme( and the important (that the move, in large part, comes from domestic pressure). Even so, the piece opens with the overall declaration that this is "yet another step" in "Iran's nuclear confrontation" with Western powers, which is a bit curious since --- less than a week ago --- the Iranian President was reviving the possibility of a "swap" of enriched uranium outside Iran.
And, beyond that, the bigger picture of the post-election challenge to the Iranian Government and possibly the Iranian system fades.
CNN, for example, is making a big noise on Twitter that it is launching in-depth coverage for the demonstrations of 22 Bahman, Thursday's anniversary of the 1979 Revolution. Yet its feature story is solely devoted to Ahmadinejad's Sunday proclamation, with the internal situation distorted into two concluding paragraphs:
Sunday's announcement of the new enriched uranium plans falls within the 10-day period marking the 31st anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed shah.
Celebrations commemorating the overthrow began last week and will culminate on February 11.
The immediate damage is that the important developments inside Iran escape notice. This morning, for example, we have published a list of 57 journalists who are detained, amongst hundreds of other political prisoners.
The wider significance of such blinkered and sensational visions is that it is unlikely that the complexities of the contest for power will not be understood on Thursday. Instead, 22 Bahman will suddenly leap into the media frame as a breathless and somewhat confused story of "What are the numbers?", "Where is the violence?", and "Where is the video?", with little appreciation of the real pressure on President Ahmadinejad.
That pressure is coming from inside the Iranian establishment, as well as outside it. Perhaps more importantly, Thursday could be a marker of whether that pressure builds on other parts of the regime, including the position of the Supreme Leader.
22 Bahman is three days away.
tagged 22 Bahman, ABC News, Agh Bahman, Ahmad Montazeri, Ali Akhbar Salehi, Ali Fallahian, Amir Sadeghi, Ashura, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, BBC, CNN, Elm-o-Sanat University, Emaddedin Baghi, Ezzatollah Zarghami, Farhange Ashti, Feizollah Arab-Sorkhi, Green Voice of Freedom, Hillary Clinton, Hossein Hamadani, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Islamic Iran Participation Front, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Juan Cole, Kahrizak Prison, Los Angeles Times, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mark Fitzpatrick, Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mohammad Khatami, Mohammad Sadegh Larijani, Mohsen Aminzadeh, Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution, New York Times, Saeed Mortazavi, Seyed Hassan Khomeini, Tehran Live, Washington Post in Middle East & Iran
22 Bahman, ABC News, Agh Bahman, Ahmad Montazeri, Ali Akhbar Salehi, Ali Fallahian, Amir Sadeghi, Ashura, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, BBC, CNN, Elm-o-Sanat University, Emaddedin Baghi, Ezzatollah Zarghami, Farhange Ashti, Feizollah Arab-Sorkhi, Green Voice of Freedom, Hillary Clinton, Hossein Hamadani, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Islamic Iran Participation Front, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Juan Cole, Kahrizak Prison, Los Angeles Times, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mark Fitzpatrick, Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mohammad Khatami, Mohammad Sadegh Larijani, Mohsen Aminzadeh, Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution, New York Times, Saeed Mortazavi, Seyed Hassan Khomeini, Tehran Live, Washington Post in Middle East & Iran
Reader Comments (27)
I hope, the loud speakers , from Azadi to Engellab , will be cut on 22 Bahman; May God hear my pray, which will be the second miracle !
IR official enjoys rotten egg in Copenhagen http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=13209
From Khabar Online (English):
Answering a question on whether Iran is able technically to enrich uranium to 20 percent or not, Iran's Atomic Energy Agency chief had declared: "We are potentially able to enrich uranium to 20 percent, but we need to make minor changes. At first we should announce the agenda to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), make necessary modifications to the production line and then begin to enrich uranium. However our priority is to buy fuel."
http://www.khabaronline.ir/news-42693.aspx
Iran takes steps toward 20% enriched uranium
Doesn't sound like these people will have any 20% enriched uranium anytime soon. Otherwise, why is their 'preference' to buy fuel? Am pretty much 'read out' on the 'defiant Ahmadinejad' stuff. Where's the news in any of it?
100% right Observer.If they had sufficient technical ability, they would have completed Busher instead of falling ransom to moscow's whims. So AN'S announcment is all talk for now.
Scott, Observer,
Pardon me, but you are completely off the mark! Today's most important news is: "Iran earmarks $20m to disclose US rights breach" http://www.khabaronline.ir/news-42697.aspx
Well, WE have not the slightest problem with human rights! But you have them, with Black Americans, Red Indians, Mexicans ...
Shall I continue ;-)
Arshama
Ange,
Here are some tips for disabling those loud speakers. http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/072548.htm
I do not see it practical. In addition, I do not know if it is worth being executed for it.
Are there any indications of how big of a turnout there is going to be on 22 bahman(Green side) ? Previous demonstrations there were alot of "allhu akbars" from rooftops, and student demos in days leading up to demonstrations. Seems kinda of silent now, besides the demos in Lar.
Shangool,
I have heard there is a plan for roof top Allah Akbar on Feb 10 across Iran.
Latest bad news
No 58: Journalist Hassan Zohouri, specialised on cultural and heritage matters, was arrested this morning at home. Zohouri suffers from a heart disease and took care of his ill father and brother: http://www.hra-news.org/news/12788.aspx
No 59: Photo journalist Amir Sadeghi (Farhang-e Ashti) was arrested yesterday at his office because of publishing Ashura photos. http://www.rhairan.net/archives/2952
Lawyer and women's rights activist Maryam Qanbari was arrested today at 3 am at home, her computer and writings were confiscated. Forough Mirzaee, another lawyer, was arrested as well. http://www.hra-news.org/news/12782.aspx
Obviously all journalists, who could have reported on 22 Bahman, get arrested systematically. The same applies to human rights activists and "disobedient" lawyers.
Megan
I just talked to a friend of mine who got back from Iran two weeks ago, she told me that it was a silent atmosphere, people know that this regime will not go away without a bloody fight. She said that people feel discouraged.
I hope she is wrong. I hope that the statements from Karroubi, Mousavi and Khatami has given people a moral boost.
Observer,
A slightly different take on this. I think Khabar Online is quoting Salehi not from yesterday but from last week: the implication from KO (linked to Larijani) is that the President and his advisors are bluffing with Sunday's "self-sufficiency" declaration.
S.
You are too funny Mr Zarghami; if Mr Khomeini had not written a protest letter about post- electoral events, it means that he had agreed that they were (and are ) legitime ! it's curious that in your "regime" everyone has to think as you do !!
@ Observer and iam-mark2
According to everything I've read, even if Iran could produce the 20 percent enriched uranium, which seems a lengthy and laborious prospect given the problems you mention at Bushehr and the widely-publicised under capacity production at Natanz, it would then have to manufacture it into specialised fuel rods for the Tehran reactor. That technology is most advanced in France and Argentina. Creating the capability in Iran could take years, and there's no chance France or Argentina are going to play ball.
It would seem that all the media ignoring these crucial points, no matter where they're located and what their bias is, are barking up the wrong tree. So I'm not sure then why the well-informed Juan Cole writes: "Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made headlines Sunday by directing Iran's (regularly inspected) nuclear research establishment at Natanz near Isfahan to begin attempting to enrich uranium to 19.75% so that that country will eventually have the ability to supply its own fuel for its sole reactor that produces medical isotopes for treating, e.g., cancer. Any uranium enriched to 19.75% and fed through the reactor is transformed into isotopes and then used up."
Have I missed something? I mean it as a serious question.
Security Cameras Installed on 22 Bahman Demonstration Paths
http://persian2english.com/?p=6051
Iran lawyer haunted by young man's execution
Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh is filled with rage over the treatment of her client, 20-year-old Arash Rahmanipour, who was not defended in court and then was quietly put to death.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-iran-lawyer8-2010feb08,0,1951270.story
There are reports of known Basijis in at least Tehran areas (mahalleh) who have been writing the name of Rajavi in association with the Greens to discredit the movement, since Rajavi has no grass roots support. However, as with every other similar thing IG does it is so blatantly deceitful that no one is falling for it, rather people laugh. However, there are more sinister stuff going on as well especially sending undercover agents in the garb of Greens who then identify people and start altercations bringing in the club wielding goons to beat people. But as when Zahhak's mercenaries were in the end unable to sustain the killing of youth to nourish his evil appetite now, too, at the end the Nasij and the Ettela'at and the other petty fascist goons will lose. I live for the day they are brought to justice, and my life has now a singular meaning the destruction of this evil regime. I can say with confidence, after yet another review of Iran's history, that we have never had a regime that has been this dark, this deceitful, and this much of a thief. We have had terrible regimes for sure, perhaps even more than others in history, but the IRI, the IG we should call it, is the most evil and is the most vicious and bloodthirsty one of all. I wake up with the single thought and go to sleep with that same single thought, the end of this dark evil regime. This is zolamat, darkness, defined in our mythos, and has taken away all that are luminous from us, but we have since this past summer seen th glimmer of light begin to shine and radiate from under this darkness. The IG is a fascist state do not make any mistake about it, the instruments of its power and of its control are all similar to that of the Nazis, but with the distinction that this is petty and this is a caricature. Don't mistake me, it is as dangerous but still it is small and it is petty. A good adjective to use is "nekbat" so our uprising, the new Iranian consciousness, as fragile as it is in its early life, will grow for the IG has not been able to destroy it, they have tried and have severely afflicted it with draconian pain and suffering, but the movement is alive. Please do not listen to the like of Leverett (I believe?—and I address this to Scott who I think knows him along with Marandi, perhaps the source of the misinformation) who are giving opinion that it is dead and that it will not amount to anything, that is, the movement. I wonder why they say this. Because if you are truthful, and you are an impartial analyst, then you will see that the movement is not dead. Yes elements of the movement of this beautiful inspiring hopeful Iranian movement, and some of its best, have been been raped and beaten and killed, yes, but the movement is not dead, no sir. How can it be dead. Let me ask a simple question of the western pundits who betray their own link to freedom and law: How can a movement be dead when everyday at every street corner in large and small cities and in rural areas too, talk of the movement of its heroes of its fallen of its goals and of how bright Iran's future looks like. Will the like of Leverett respond? No one has done a statistical survey but by close observation it appears that clear majorities no longer want the IG nor the Fuhrer nor the Islamic establishment. A clear majority are fed up with lies and with deceit and morn the death of our heroes. So is this the sign of a dead body. Please take an impartial and careful look. FREEDOM!
It seems that some in the West understand the situation. Here is the translation of editorial in today's "Le Monde"
http://txtb.in/bdf
@Hossein
Thank you so much for your passionate report.
I do not believe the movement is dead, actually I never did, not for a single second. How could it? If after weeks and weeks of governmental terror and horror people are still taking to the streets, they show that their will is pretty alive and insurmountable stronger than any godless regime.
My heart goes out to all the victims and their families.
Stay strong, freedom will come!
Scott Lucas,
Agree with you 100% -- the main purpose of KO seems to be to write small digs at the Ahmadinjad team, any way it can, every time it can .... but the publication does it mostly in such a backdoor way, doesn't it? (i.e., is this an insult or what?) Sometimes, a few interesting 'facts' are included. A kind of window into the weasel's (A Larijani) latest micro-strategy.
For a while, I wondered how they got away with the criticism, then suddenly, they didn't. But if recall is correct, I think they just voluntarily stopped publishing hard copy and stuck with their web version. Not sure, though. Thanks.
"Even so, the piece opens with the overall declaration that this is “yet another step” in “Iran’s nuclear confrontation” with Western powers, which is a bit curious since — less than a week ago — the Iranian President was reviving the possibility of a “swap” of enriched uranium outside Iran"
I note this quotation only because I find it indicative of one tiny little hole in Scott's otherwise flawless reporting. The problem is one which an old law professor of mine called "the 90% right but 100% convinced" phenomena. Basically, he was referring to a case where one approaches a complicated subject with an analysis that is fundamentally sound, but also with a reflexive reaction to the opposing position which may be 90% wrong but which should nevertheless be explored to extract that 10%.
In my exceedingly humble opinion, I find that Scott has that tiny blind spot when western press raises the nuclear issue. It is tough to blame him. Is the issue overblown in western media? - Yes. Is it almost always based on false premises and partial analysis? - Yes. Are most of the regime's inflammatory public statements driven by concerns having nothing to do with weapons of any kind? - Yes. Does the regime have the ability to field a deliverable device? - Not a chance. Is it myopic to focus on the issue as the cornerstone of US policy? Of course.
Having said all of that, for journalist not to give the issue massive coverage is also incorrect. If the west , the neighboring Arab states and Israel think there is an issue, there is an issue. It is not at all unthinkable to envision a scenario where one side or the other gets in such a fix politically that they feel they have no options available to them other than to play a little game of wag the dog. This could happen if the regime feels it has nothing left to lose and fires off a missile or two at a US warship. It could also happen if the US administration continues on the ropes domestically. In other words, and this brings me back to the initial quote, the supposed transgression of the BBC in question was not bad reporting at all. It is "another step" as all public statements are a form of public diplomacy and are therefore "steps". There does exist such a thing as "Iran’s nuclear confrontation" with the west. I find nothing objectionable in the report.
I know this is tiny, and with 22 Bahman just ahead it is probably the wrong time to point out such a triviality. But, I do find myself wishing for a more balanced picture of both the nuclear issue, and of the international reporting of it. It is important, successful program or not, weapon or not. If Iraq taught us anything, it should be that perceptions are reality and they should be explored more thoroughly, not less.
Respectfully, Jack.
Jack,
I appreciate the critique very much. I do think the nuclear issue is important. What bothers me is that 1) it sometimes becomes "exclusive" in media coverage, shutting out other issues and 2) it is often covered so poorly, even (and perhaps especially) when it dominates the news agenda.
To take up an example above: the BBC completely forgot yesterday that Ahmadinejad had made his move to re-open talks on a deal. Now you might make the argument that this was just a feint, but you at least should acknowledge it before putting out the image that Iran was inevitably taking up the nuclear tension step by step. Otherwise, this becomes a deterministic story, shutting out any complexity in its portrayal of an eventual showdown.
Or another case: any coverage yesterday should have taken a step back to assess the technical side of the Iran Government's "10 more plants" declaration. If it had done so, then Ahmadinejad's bluff would have been exposed. And then the question --- the very important question --- could have been posed: Why?
I do apologise, however, that I let my own frustration get the better of me (and thus objectivity) yesterday.
S.
I certainly appreciate Jack's point, and have noticed the same tendency in the EA reporting of the media's reporting on the nuclear issue as he has. I'm glad Scott takes that point. HOWEVER (ahem), yesterday's - and even this morning's - coverage in the mainstream western media is still so over the top, I want to scream every time I hear that Iran is now "just a step away" from making a bomb. That's why I keep hammering on the points I made above in post 13, which so far have not been focussed on by any media, no matter what their angle. Even Juan Cole is in the mist - unless I've got my facts wrong....
Scott you are gracious as always. I in turn fully acknowledge the counterpoint proffered by both yourself and Catherine regarding the context, accuracy and proportionality of the MSM coverage. It is clearly skewed.
I have a half baked theory that it isn't any propagandist conspiracy or indicative of any ideological leaning. I suspect that the greatest portion of the problem is just that news organizations are shadows of their former selves. They do not maintain the expensive international information gathering apparatus' they once did. This has left them lazy and complacent. Dependent upon handouts in the form of leaks from government insiders, they no longer posses the drive or the tools to tell the real story. There are many exceptions of course, but even if you can find the reporter with the nose for the story; how is (s)he going to develop the contacts without the resources necessary. There are sources like EA. But the twitter networks and contacts of Scott and Co. took a great deal of time to develop.
The natural conclusion then is that if The State Department wants to push harder on Tehran regarding nukes, or if The White House wants to make the Israelis feel a little better that day, guess what kind of story is going to be leaked to Drudge in the morning, only to feed the news cycle for another 24 hours by default. All other viewpoints having ceded the field.
Catherine,
Regarding your question “Have I missed something?” in post 13 as well as your statement “unless I’ve got my facts wrong….” At your 8:41 post.
You are assuming that Iran nuclear program is for medical application. In that case you are absolutely on the mark that IR today does not have the necessary technology to covert the 20% EU to specialized fuel rods.
Many including myself believe the medical or energy applications are farce. Lack of technical capabilities to convert the 20% EU to rods, therefore, is academic. IR real intention is nuclear weapon and it will continue enrichment process until they have weapon grade Uranium. Today, IR does not have the technology to make weapon grade Uranium but it can continue bullying the world community and keep everybody occupied until one way or another obtains it. So is it possible that those in the media who headline any IR nuclear news in large print are of the belief that nuclear weapon is the real aim of Islamic republic? Is it possible that they (media outlets) have other sources of information that others (like us) do not have access to, e.g. government officials?
There is real human tragedy unfolding in Iran right now, scale of which we may never know. Obviously many of us would like to see media focusing on this immediate tragedy and make that headline of their first page. Islamic Republic has skillfully manipulated world news by using nuke to redirect attention from the fact that it is a police state.
I criticized Scott Lucas this past summer when he was focusing much too much on nuclear front. I wrote to my public officials that the solution to nuclear issue is through democratic Iran. Finally, I decided to dismiss any quibble by media, pundits, or politicians on nuclear matter because it is waste of time. Bloggers, news reporters, and politicians can debate nuke until cows come home the fact is that Iran is on its way to become another Pakistan unless the entire Islamic Republic is uprooted. And that is a fact most peace loving Iranians agree upon.
Hi Megan,
Thanks for your reply - food for thought. So are you saying the request for help in purchasing 20% enriched uranium for the medical reactor that Iran submitted to the IAEA at the beginning of last summer was a ploy so they could then go through this entire farce with the 5+ 1 countries with the intention of (*not* concluding a deal so they would then have an excuse to enrich to 20% themselves as a first step in enriching to 70-90% to make a nuclear bomb?