Nature and The Nation

Nature Magazine on why world scientists should support the Iranian protests.

And The Nation on how widespread the pro-opposition protests have been.

A lot of the MSM seems to buy the regime's line that the movement is limited to North Tehran, despite scenes of mass protests drawing people from all walks of life all over the country. One of the videos I saw was nothing but miles and miles of South Tehran, that reported Ahmadinejad stronghold, lined with people holding pro-Mousavi posters, of anti-government graffiti and burning tires. I cannot find it now. It was shot by an old woman riding in a car, and as she videos she says over over in Farsi, "Bravo for the youth, bravo for the youth."

Happy July 4th!

Afshin Molavi sends a message from the Iranian people, wishing the American people a happy July 4th, and extending an invitation: Please join our revolution.

U2 Goes Green: Sunday Bloody Sunday

Evolution Revolution Love: Tricky

Let the Usurpers Writhe

Roger Cohen, who has covered the Iran story with a sharp eye and pen, has a very interesting take in the NYT today:

I think Mahmoudi’s right. Khamenei and Ahmadinejad may begin to unclench their fist, as isolation and sullen defiance grow, in a bid to deliver what they would not allow the reformists to initiate: détente with America.

Obama must leave them dangling for the foreseeable future. He should refrain indefinitely from talk of engagement.

Meanwhile, the protester motto circulating at the moment is "Happiness and Hope," despite the dire stories coming out of Evin prison, reminding of a quote I saw this week from a protester about life during the crackdown after the positive mood of the demonstrations,"It's hard to go back into the cage once you've experienced joyful flight."

A very reliable source sends along a link to this video of students protesting at Kashan University the last few days. They can't go out to protest because of the security forces, so they stay in and innovate:



And a Portuguese revolutionary has been tweeting juicy bank details on regime leaders' Swiss and German bank accounts, including account numbers (Russian hackers are unclogging their siphon hoses as I write). No confirmation on whether the info is legitimate yet.

Why the Mullahs Are Un-Iranian: 7 Fatal Flaws

Here, by Dr. Alex Benzer.

Nonviolent (Mostly) Realism

At what point do you change tactics from nonviolence to physical defense, or even attack? Nonviolence doesn't always work. As Woody Allen said in Annie Hall, "With Nazis, bricks and bats are always better than biting satire." Andrew Sullivan's wrap-up on the latest news/rumours from Iran, here, focuses on this dilemma.

Soundtrack for a Revolution: Amadou and Mariam

Je Pense a Toi (I think of you):

Meanwhile in China

China was one of only 11 countries who have officially congratulated Ahmadinejad on his "victory." The other big player on that list - Russia. The Beijing government needs Iran's oil, and these days seems a tad less sinister than the Russian government, who do not need the oil but want the influence.

In a possible concession to Chinese netizens, Beijing today appeared to back down on its plan to have "Green Dam Youth escort" filtering software bunlded into every new computer.

Tomorrow, a huge pro-democracy march is planned, held every July 1 since Hing Kong became part of China again.

Stand up Sit Down

Here is probably the most cogent commentary I've seen on the situation and what America should or shouldn't do now. "This movement has been decades, if not centuries, in the making. And it needs no American money to sustain itself. The only thing it needs is the moral voice of the American civil rights movement to come to its aid."

Stand Up - this person, who has family in Iran, has written a very thoughtful letter to US Senators.

Asia Times: Ahmadinejad had replaced 10,000 key government bureaucrats with his cronies during first term, including those responsible for elections. Also, "Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, known as 'the crocodile' in Iran...issued a fatwa legitimizing any means necessary to keep Ahmadinejad in power."

Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad purges officials with ties to opposition candidates and lets it be known "he won't tolerate dissent" in his second term. The Ghosts of The Chain of Murders hang over this election and the repression. Many of those involved in the events of ten years ago now serve with Ahmadinejad.