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Archives: June 2009
Sunday’s Protest March Broken Up; Rafsanjani Defers to Khamenei
The phase of mass protest in the aftermath of the controversial election results of June 12 has drawn to a close for the moment. Movement activists can no longer put tens of…Moaddel Guest Op-Ed: Iran’s Crisis and the U.S. Option: Support Mousavi now or fight Ahmadinejad tomorrow
Mansoor Moaddel writes in a guest editorial for IC:The current civil uprising in Iran reflects not just a protest against a rigged election. Nor is it primarily a symptom of contentions for…5,000 March Silently in Iran
CNN is reporting that 5,000 dissidents marched silently on Shariati street near a major mosque in downtown Tehran, ostensibly in honor of cleric Mohammad Beheshti, who was killed in a bombing by…Maliki Says Iraq can Patrol Own Cities
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki maintained Saturday that Iraq is ready to provide its own security in the cities, as US troops cease patrolling.This despite the raft of bombings that kille about…Mousavi’s Web Site Closed; Manages to send Message to Iranians Abroad
CNN says that Iran's National Security Council met recently with opposition leaders Mir Hosain Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Mohsen Rezai. Ismail Kowsari, spokesman for the NSC, is said to have complained to…
Mousavi Agrees to Seek Rally Permits; 9 am Bazaar Gatherings called in Iran
AP is reporting that opposition leader Mir-Hosein Mousavi has agreed to the Interior Ministry's demand that he apply for a permit one week in advance for any demonstrations, and will cease calling…200 Killed in One Week in Iraq
As the dramatic events in Iran have taken the world focus off Iraq, the news that some 200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in bombings and other political violence during the past…Baez: We Shall Overcome/ Ma Piruz mishavim yek Ruz
Joan Baez adds her support to the Iranians campaigning for more rights, singing "We Shall Overcome" with Persian stanzas toward the end.End/ (Not Continued)Michael Jackson, Islam and the Middle East
Michael Jackson's sad death at age 50 has provoked an outpouring of emotion around the whole world. Because of globalization, it is an event that affects fans in Asia and the Middle…Mousavi Vows to Continue Efforts; Ahmad Khatami calls for Death Penalty on Protest Leaders
At his Friday prayers sermon on Friday, hard line cleric Ahmad Khatami (no relation to former president and liberal Mohammad Khatami) called for capital punishment for leaders of the popular demonstrations against…Ahmadinejad Slams Obama; 70 Professors Arrested; Wednesday Protest Violently Attacked
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who stands accused of stealing the recent election in Iran, lashed out at Barack Obama on Thursday. He demanded an apology from the White House for what he…70 Dead in Bombing of Shiite Area, Baghdad
A massive bomb shook Shiite east Baghdad on Wednesday, killing 70 persons and wounding 135. It was unclear, Ned Parker of the LAT reports, who was behind the strike, whether Sunni radicals…Washington and the Iran Protests: Would they be Allowed in the US?
President Barack Obama had this to say about the Iran crisis on Tuesday:' First, I'd like to say a few words about the situation in Iran. The United States and the international…30 Killed in Iraq Violence; Kurds: Oil Contracts ‘Unconstitutional’
Bombings and other violence left 30 dead in Iraq on Monday, and the three-day death toll is 100. Monday's strikes included a bombing of a mini-bus with students aboard in Shiite Sadr…Guardianship Council Rules out Annulment of Election Results; Reformists Planning Strikes, Mourning
Iran's Guardianship Council, a sort of clerical senate on Tuesday ruled out any cancellation of the results of the recent presidential election, as called for by the opposition. The official outcome gave…IRGC Breaks up Demonstration in Downtown Tehran
AKI is reporting that Iran's national guard, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, with help from the popular militia, Basij, just broke up a demonstration by hundreds of Mousavi supporters in downtown Tehran.…Mousavi, Defiant, Calls for More Rallies
Reformist presidential aspirant Mir Hosain Mousavi called Monday morning for another round of big street protests by his supporters against the attempt of the regime to steal the election for hard liner…Chatham House Study Definitively Shows Massive Ballot Fraud in Iran’s Reported Results
An authoritative study from Chatham House (pdf) , the renowned UK think tank, finds that with regard to the official statistics on the recent presidential election in Iran released by the Interior…More Details on Saturday’s Demonstrations
Update This video posted by BBC is worth watching all the way to the end.Update: A friend passed on this further eyewitness account of Saturday's events:' "it was a real mess yesterday..but…Daughter of Rafsanjani Arrested; Death Toll for Saturday at Least 10; Khatami calls for Impartial Panel
The death toll caused by the state's crackdown on the demonstrations in Iran on Saturday has risen to 10-13, with 100 injured.The regime has arrested Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, daughter of the former…OSC: Larijani admits Majority Has Doubts on Election Results, Urges Respect for them
The USG Open Source Center puts into English the gist of an interview in the official Iranian press with Speaker of the Parliament Ali Larijani in which he admits that a majority…Mousavi Letter Translated
The below is not my translation but was sent by a kind friend.- JRICMir Hossein Mousavi has published on his Web site "Kalemeh" (The Word) a letter addressing the people.Below is a…Truck bomb Kills 70, wounds 170 in N. Iraq
A truck bombing at a Shiite mosque in Taza, Iraq, near the northern oil city of Kirkuk killed 70 and wounded 170 just after noon as they were leaving after `asr prayers.…Mousavi Defies Khamenei; Police Attack Protesters at Inqilab Square; Downtown Tehran Burning
Mir Hosain Mousavi issued a powerful implicit denunciation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday, and insisting again that the results of the presidential election be annulled in favor of wholly new…It Begins
AP reports that Iranian riot police have deployed tear gas and water cannons against protesters who were gathering for another big demonstration in Tehran.Aljazeera is reporting that a suicide bomber blew himself…Crunch Time in Tehran; Karroubi says Protests will Go On; And, What Khamenei Said
Reformist presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi said Saturday morning that the 4 pm GMT rally on Saturday against the alleged stealing of the presidential election in Iran would go ahead. This despite the…Live Blogging Khamenei’s Friday Sermon
A correspondent in Iran sent along these thoughts, written as Khamenei was speaking on Friday:"Rough notes...The event is like the old Red Square May Day parades. We look to see who is…"I’m Listening to all my Favorite Music; Maybe Tomorrow I will be Among those Killed"
The owner of this site is tidying affairs in preparation for dying Saturday at the hands of the Iranian security forces. Mousavi supporters are planning another big afternoon demonstration despite the threats…Lyons: Khamenei’s Past Power Play against the Clerics May Weaken him Now in Confronting the Reformers
Jonathan Lyons writes in a guest op-ed for IC:As the latest political drama unfolds in Iran, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei may yet come to rue the day, in 1999, that he sought…Supreme Leader Khamenei’s Friday Address on the Presidential Elections
The USG Open Source Center Translates Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's sermon on Friday regarding the finality of the presidential election results and the impermissibility of further protest.Iran: Leader Urges End to Protests,…Mourning Rally Biggest Demonstration Since Monday in Tehran; Khamenei to Address Nation
Thursday's march in Tehran was just enormous, several hundred thousand strong. AFP writes, "Many in the huge crowd walked silently and lit black candles as night fell. Others wore green wristbands or…"This Movement is Becoming More and More Creative"
This was posted to an email list; since the author says it can be used any way we like if it stays anonymous, I'm putting it up.From a Mousavi supporter in TehranAgain,…Day of Mourning, Protests, Called by Mousavi on Thursday
Mir-Hosain Mousavi, who maintains he won last Friday's presidential election despite official assertions that he lost 2 to 1 to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is calling for another rally Thursday, this time in part…Iran Election Fraud: Moaddel on Ballen and Doherty
Mansoor Moaddel, a valued colleague, is a sociologist and an important interpreter of the contemporary Middle East who has done a lot of work with polling and statistics, often finding counter-intuitive results.…OSC: Protests in Shiraz, Isfahan; Reformists say they Have Documentary Proof of Fraud
The USG Open Source Center translates articles from the Iranian press on disturbances in Shiraz and Isfahan. I conclude that the protests are not just in Tehran; I'd take the charges of…Wednesday sees Another Big Protest
Iran expert Ali Ansari says he expects the protests to continue, saying that Iran is in for a "long hot summer."Me, I wouldn't be surprised if the regime rolls tanks and pulls…Another Day of Rallies Planned; Press, Internet Crackdowns Announced
Mir-Hosain Mousavi, leader of the reform faction in Iran who maintains that last Friday's elections was stolen, has rejected as inadequate the government's offer of a limited recount of ballots. Note that…We don’t have Mousavi supporters, it’s now all of Iran…
Report on Tuesday's Demonstration for Mousavi in Tehran from an eyewitness. Again, I was sent this by an academic, but will not give the name to avoid any repercussions for the individual.Today,…The Most Elegant Scene: Mass Protest in Tehran
An eyewitness writes from Tehran an account of Monday's massive demonstration for Mousavi. I am not including his name because we don't know how this will turn out and as a historian…Dueling Demonstrations in Tehran
Borzou Daragahi reports from Tehran that supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came out in the tens of thousands to chant "Death to America," "Death to Israel," and "Khamenei is our Leader." This…8 Killed in Tehran Clashes; Reformists Reject Recount Offer; Obama Weighs In
President Barack Obama has weighed in on the Iranian presidential campaign, saying that Iranian voters, who were so hopeful should be heard. He also expressed regret about the violence that has broken…
Reprint Father’s Day Gifts
A reminder to my American readers that Sunday June 21 is Father's Day. An immodest proposal for those of you yet to do your shopping in this regard: if your father is…Struggle over Election Results Continues in Iran
AP has video of Monday's enormous rally for Mousavi, which defied a government ban on demonstrations.The USG Open Source Center translates news about the Iranian election and its aftermath from the Iranian…Provincial Election Returns
Nate Silver was provided with an English translation of the official report of provincial election results by Daniel Berman and other graduate students at the U of St. Andrews.I continue to find…100,000 Throng Streets of Tehran, Protester Shot to Death
VOA says Mir-Hosain Mousavi, the opposition candidate who says the Iranian election was stolen, held that supposedly forbidden and cancelled rally in Tehran after all. And an estimated 100,000 protesters showed up,…Clashes, Claims of Election Fraud in Iran
UPdate: The rally went ahead anyway. See above. Mir-Hosein Mousavi, the reformist candidate who alleges that Friday's presidential election was stolen from him, was forced to cancel a planned nation-wide protest on…Terror Free Tomorrow Poll Did not Predict Ahmadinejad Win
Noting my skepticism about the announced outcome of Friday's presidential elections in Iran, readers have been asking me what I think about this WaPo op-ed by Ken Ballen and Patrick Doherty pointing…Class v. Culture Wars in Iranian Elections: Rejecting Charges of a North Tehran Fallacy
Some comentators have suggested that the reason Western reporters were shocked when Ahmadinejad won was that they are based in opulent North Tehran, whereas the farmers and workers of Iran, the majority,…Post-Election Demonstrations, Violence, Arrests
Aljazeera.net is reporting that the streets in Iran's capital, Tehran, were almost deserted Sunday morning. Since it is a weekday in Iran, there should have been heavy traffic, but many people appear…Stealing the Iranian Election
Top Pieces of Evidence that the Iranian Presidential Election Was Stolen1. It is claimed that Ahmadinejad won the city of Tabriz with 57%. His main opponent, Mir Hossein Mousavi, is an Azeri…9 Killed in Extremist Bombings of Mosques in Pakistan
One person was wounded and 8 injured (all policemen) by a Taliban bombing at Kohat Saturday morning. The attack was likely intend to punish the Pakistani security forces for their campaign against…Iran Awaits Ballot Results; Obama Effect Expected
On Friday, Iranians and the rest of the globe are eagerly awaiting an outcome in the presidential elections. Iranians started voting Friday morning. Rallies and electioneering were not allowed on Thursday, the…OSC: Bloggers ‘Brutal’ to Ahmadinejad on line.
The USG Open Source Center analyzes Iran's political blogs and finds that the conservatives have redoubled their efforts on Ahmadinejad's behalf.OSC Analysis: Iran -- Conservative Bloggers Intensify Support of AhmadinezhadIran -- OSC…Rafsanjani Blasts Ahmadinejad as a Counter-Revolutionary ; Charismatic Rahnevard Attracts Crowds for her Husband Mousavi
The political head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards,Yadollah Javani clearly had a scare thrown into him by Monday's enormous demonstration in Tehran in favor of reformist presidential candidate Mir-Hosain Mousavi. He issued…Ahmadinejad Defends Himself on Iranian Television
The USG Open Source Center summarizes Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's television appearance in which he defended his performance in the debates and reaffirmed the truth of the economic statistics he cited (which…Cole in Salon: Did Obama Win the Lebanese Election?
My column is out in Salon.com: Obama wins an election in the Middle East: Lebanon's voters gave the White House the victory it wanted -- with a lot of help from Hezbollah.Excerpt:…Massive Bomb Hits Pearl Continental in Peshawar
A terrorist group stormed the parking lot of the Pearl Continental Hotel, killing or wounding guards and arranging to move a bomb-laden mini-truck in close to the hotel. A suicide bomber then…Tens of Thousands Rally for Mousavi in Tehran
The damnedest thing happened in Tehran on Monday. A massive rally estimated by Farnaz Fassihi of the WSJ at tens of thousands sprang up all along Vali Asr Street, the capital's longest…March 14 Faction Wins in Lebanon
President Obama's hopes for progress on the Arab-Israeli peace process would have been sunk if Hezbollah had won the Lebanese elections. As it is, the March 14 Movement has won the Lebanese…Cole at CNN’s GPS and at Democracy Now!
Video of my appearance Sunday on CNN's GPS with Fareed Zakaria and a panel of other guests discussing President Obama's Cairo address to the Muslim world is embedded below. My colleagues include…Reprint: ‘The Cost of War’ Conference at Liverpool Hope U. June 17-19
For those of you who only read on the weekdays, this is from Friday:Announcing an important peace conference in the UK at Liverpool Hope University: The Cost of War Conference Programme June…Anbar Police Chief Attacked; Talabani visits ailing al-Hakim in Tehran
A suicide bomber with a bomb belt attempted to kill the police chief of al-Anbar Province, Tariq al-Asal, in the city of Ramadi on Saturday. The bombing killed his bodyguard and wounded…Cole on CNN’s GPS, Tavis Smiley
Check out Fareed Zakaria's GPS on Sunday-- I'm on a panel discussion Obama's speech in Cairo.Also you can hear a podcast of my appearance on Tavis Smiley's radio program at PRI here.End/…OSC: Pakistani Editorialists Respond to Obama
The USG Open Source Center translates Pakistani editorials from the Urdu press reacting to President Obama's address in Cairo to the Muslim world.Pakistan: Urdu Press Roundup on Address of US President at…OSC: Israeli Press on Obama’s Cairo Address
The USG Open Source Center translates key passages from the Israeli Hebrew press responding to President Obama's Cairo address to the Muslim world. The Israeli far right accused him of Holocaust denial…Convoy Attacked, Sufi Muhammad’s aides Killed; 38 Killed in Mosque Bombing
On Friday, a suicide bomber detonated his payload inside a mosque in Hayagay Sharqi, in Upper Dir near Swat. The bombing is said to have killed 38 and wounded 70, but the…American GI Killed; Attack on Security Men in Mosul
President Obama said relatively little about Iraq in his address to the Muslim world, and the US mass media have ceased covering it much (CBS has even closed its Baghdad bureau). Despite…Reactions to Obama’s Speech
The USG Open Source Center translates reports about the reaction of the general public to Obama's speech in Cairo.Al-Jazirah, Al-Arabiyah Highlight, Carry Reactions to Obama's Cairo SpeechMiddle East -- OSC SummaryThursday, June…Obama’s Speech in Cairo
The transcript of Obama's speech in Cairo is here.In connection with Obama's speech, Esquire presents an excerpt from my new book on the Muslim Brotherhood and the need to encourage it toward…Syrian Newspapers on Obama’s Arab Tour (OSC)
The USG Open Source Center translates and analyzes Syrian Press reports on Obama's visit to the Arab worldSyrian Papers Discuss Obama's Arab Tour, Statements; Urge US Pressure on IsraelSyria -- OSC SummaryThursday,…
Obama in the Middle East
President Barack Obama arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for consultations with Saudi King Abdullah.Reuters notes: "Saudi Arabia is among the United States' top 15 trading partners, with two-way trade worth $67.3…Obama Addresses the Muslim World (Cole in Salon)
My column at Salon.com is out, on the Arab world's perception of President Barack Obama on the eve of his major address in Cairo.Excerpt: ' The Brookings poll shows that just three…Pakistani Army Secures Release of Hostages; US to Pressure for Action in FATA
The Taliban had kidnapped around 350 students and teachers from a school in the Bannu Frontier Region on Monday. According to some reports, the Pakistani military has now rescued all but 37…Majid: Dangerous Purities
Anouar Majid writes in a guest op-ed for Informed Comment:This year, a few scholars are commemorating the 400th anniversary of one of the darkest episodes in history, an event that should be…Obama and Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
President Barack Obama says he will be more honest than past presidents with Israel. Israel, a great friend of the United States and a country we like and admire on its merits,…