open Democracy News Analysis - politics of protest - Comments

mahasti on "The archaeology of Iran’s regime"

mahasti — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:35:55 +0100

I agree with the author's overall analysis and comparisons between 1979 & 2009. But in stating that "...at its heart the revolution of 1979 was - like today's movement - a humanist one; and that the gradual rise to power of despots like Ali Khamenei and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad represent not its fulfilment, but its betrayal and forgetting," he fails to point out that the process of dehumanization was anything but gradual. Counter-humanism started the moment when Khomeini landed in Iran and directed his helicopter to take him to Qom instead of to Tehran University as previously scheduled. To add flesh to the symbolic gesture, Khomeini then ordered the execution of ancien regime figures at a school in Tehran without a trial.

Let's not forget that Mousavi's leadership, incredibly effective and courageous as it has been, is hardly a reflection of a humanist ideal. The current movement needs to reject the contradictory notion of an "Islamic republic" and morph into a fully anti-totalitarian, humanistic platform. If not, history will repeat itself and the next generation of Iranians will inherit a duplicate Khomeini artifact.

jdubow on "The archaeology of Iran’s regime"

jdubow — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:11:13 +0100

Stealing an election that would have been won anyway is a common miscalculation by corrupt regimes. Think of Richard Nixon and his Watergate team, an unneeded action that led to ruin and dishonor. Such miscalculation does, however, serve as a scavenger function that devours necrotic political organizations.

alfredo.bremont on "Honduras: behind the crisis"

alfredo.bremont — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:54:46 +0100

what this event reveals is rather a continuity of the chaos that is affecting western civilisation. however it is not only in Honduras that the virus has attacked but is worldwide. in the past 2 years things have gone from bad to worse. in contrast there is one men to blame HUGO CHAVEZ. unfortunately he is not to blame the decaying Occident has being on its decline for the past decades or even longer than that. technology provided a new tool for manipulation and brainwashing, reason why we got only five multinationals that rule the media. as well we have now all attempts to control the new devices. however it is to late for any deceiving tricks that the ruling class is hoping to impose. the party is over there will be no recovery, no resurface to what once was, neither a revamp controlled wall street. the limit has being reach and now the links are broken. out of this confusion what is really needed is wisdom, not to find a new way, because the new form has not mature jet, but how to guide the population of the world through this coming disasters until the new wold is born. "in all fronts" Obama and PUTIN has the opportunity to dismantle nuclear weapons worldwide, in my opinions this is what they can do, and prevent the worse for human kind. a free world of nuclear devices is all we can hope for. a global civil war is on the making and no matter what anyone hopes to do will not succeed. the middle east is-the first region were this weapons must be put to sleep, beginning with Israel and ending in china, via Pakistan India and north Korea. them the European nations and finally the ones that engendered this mess the soviet union and Washington. after this is done we can begun the reconstruction of the west on a new base, on a new way of thinking on a new logic adapted to our current century. until them the Honduras sitcom is just part of the disintegration of the world as we know it, which unfortunately is doom. the new coming brave new world should lesson to Huxley and Orwell and avoid those scenarios which is what is being put in place rigth now to continue the logic of dominant and dominated.

eventually the lamb will destroy the moloch sooner than expected.

bigC - one last time on "The archaeology of Iran’s regime"

bigC - one last time — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:27:19 +0100

The only thing I take issue with here is the implied assumption that Mousavi would have won - or at least forced a second ballot.

The regime's most stupid mis-calculation here may well have been "stealing" an election they would have won anyway

evasolo on "Iran: dialectic of revolution "

evasolo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:15:23 +0100

It's time for the west to join Islamic nations in supporting those who are fighting for their life against Iran's repressive regime right now - help them get their stories out and in their heroic struggle. We may resort to covert action to paralyse the country - and hopefully topple Ayatollah Khamenei and his Revolutionary Guards.

Papi on "Silvio Berlusconi: answers, please"

Papi — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:38:33 +0100

Papi, Papi....

Last night the car of Barbara Montereale, who accompained Patrizia D'Addario at Palazzo Grazioli on the evening of November 4th last year, was burnt. The car was parked under her home, in Modugno. Young woman was questioned by Finance Police whether about her travel in Rome and meetings with Berlusconi or on parties organized by Tarantini brothers.
(25th of june 2009)

arlenemyers on "Iran: dialectic of revolution "

arlenemyers — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:58:34 +0100

And blood will continue to flood in the street if they can't resolve this issue.

<a href="http://yourbestmeditation.com/guided-meditation/kundalini/">meditation techniques</a>

bernardclairvaux on "Iran: dialectic of revolution "

bernardclairvaux — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:33:35 +0100

The debate is about the degree to which the 'old revolution' still boils in the hearts of the population of Iran. I heard an interview on the radio today from an Iranian-American reporter who dislikes the Manichean, good vs evil tone that the American press has placed on everything. Whether Americans disagree with all the fundemental tenents of the Iranian revolution is one thing (I think most of us do); another is propagandizing that every Iranian has lost the revolutionary fire of the old guard, or worse that it never existed in the first place, e.g. that no group of people could ever in their hearts accept the authoritarian, Shi'a Messianism of the Iranian state. Well, most commentators in the West aren't Shi'a muslims, so missing out on why a religious state would ever be palatable to anyone anywhere, we proceed quickly to damning it and losing the interest of any moderate Islamists. I'd like to know what the average protestor on the streets of Tehran thinks about the panegyrics flowing from the lips of the English and American journalists. Just because they hate Ahmadinejad doesn't mean they like us any better.

"Terminal illness to America!"

sdv2 on "Iran: dialectic of revolution "

sdv2 — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:16:51 +0100

Ethan,

didn't try very hard did you.

abuelita42pj on "Iran: dialectic of revolution "

abuelita42pj — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:58:36 +0100

As of Mr Obama's conversation with the media and CNN reports at 9:30am PDT the Ayatollah Khamenei had demanded again that the voting results were legal and Mr. Ahmedinejad would be sworn in in 6-9 weeks from now. Lovely!! Where has Mr. Moussavi disappeared to?? Since Saturday's demonstrations and the martyrdom of Ms.Neda, he has not been out telling anyone what he thinks they should do or say. Khamenei seems to think all's well with Iran and the world can fall off the cliff. Even Khomeini had some things to say about the outside world even if they were detrimental both ways. It looks like the Guardian Council will be putting up with Ahmedinejad until he slips by word or action and then the Council can replace him with someone more competent like Mr. Larijani who has had some previous experience as ambassador to UN from Iran and has been very obsequious to Khamenei. The most many of us can do is wait and see.

Ethan II on "Iran: dialectic of revolution "

Ethan II — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:06:57 +0100

I tried looking up Iran on the website of A.N.S.W.E.R. {"Act Now to Stop War and End Racism"}. Nothing. Plenty of stuff still on Gaza, though.

The far Left speaks.

Papi on "Silvio Berlusconi: answers, please"

Papi — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:19:20 +0100

Minister Bondi attacks “Repubblica”: a danger for democracy

Repubblica’s reply: only two remarks about Minister Bondi’s shabby invective. Only in Italy Culture’s Minister may define a newspaper “a danger for democracy”. Press freedom represents clearly, in his idea of democracy which doesn’t foresee counterpowers and public opinion, but only liegemen, a danger. Citizens are warned. About Bondi’s charge that we ignore replies, we’d like to remember him that Law, at moment, doesn’t force us to publish any Minister’s letter

bernardclairvaux on "Iran's coming storm"

bernardclairvaux — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:54:23 +0100

The political constitution of Iran is altogher peculiar. I wonder why the ayotallah would allow presidential elections in the first place. I'm sure they are there as a present to the population, a symbol of the legitimacy of the Iranian government that Khamenei and other leaders can point to when accused of outright totalitarianism. This 'legitimation effect' has been, on the margin, a positive until recently. The eruptive outcomes of these elections may cause the leader to think more about Iran's electoral system and whether or not the breadcrumbs of democracy will engender an unsatiable appetite for more of the real thing in Iran's people.

aspacia on "Iran's coming storm"

aspacia — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:49:23 +0100

First, the Iranian candidates are vetted, and neither will work well with the West.

Second: You ask for $ when you strangle my voice.

Nope, not a a hapenny.

Duncx on "Iran's coming storm"

Duncx — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:27:38 +0100

I have with increasing dismay at the lack of clear thinking coming from the reporters from opendemocracy. I take it that you failed in the fundraising from your readers and have resorted to funded propoganda to continue.

You are destroying your reputation with shoddy, partial reports, and do no service to the laudable aims you claim to support.

Even the BBC states that Ahmadinejad won by a landslide. I despair that your are pimping off of the mainstream media line with this unbalanced reporters reportage. Get a grip, please.