thump and whip

March 6, 2010

We couldn’t help ourselves

Iran’s Ahmadinejad calls Sept 11 “big fabrication

(Reuters) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Saturday called the September 11 attacks on the United States a “big fabrication” that was used to justify the U.S. war on terrorism, the official IRNA news agency reported . .

Ahmadinejad described the destruction of the twin towers in New York on September 11, 2001 as a “complicated intelligence scenario and act,” IRNA reported.

He added: “The September 11 incident was a big fabrication as a pretext for the campaign against terrorism and a prelude for staging an invasion against Afghanistan.” He did not elaborate.


Who wasn’t waiting to invade Afghanistan? What with all their oil gold plutonium weaponry strategic ports visible towns roomy buildings alluring geishas fern bars fancy chocolates wrist watches clean paper plywood weather . .

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June 17, 2009

Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader continue to lose p.r. battle: official paper caught photoshopping pro-gov't rally

Keyhan is a conservative newspaper published in Iran. It has published this photo of yesterday’s rallies:


Wiki: Kayhan is one of the most influential newspapers in Iran, published by the Kayhan Institute. It is currently managed by Hossein Shariatmadari, who is also the representative of the Supreme Leader at the Institute. Originally established during the Pahlavi era, it became the most famous and respected newspaper of its time. After the Iranian Revolution, Kayhan fell under the control of the new government of the Islamic Republic. As it is directly under the supervision of the Office of the Supreme Leader, it is regarded as the most conservative Iranian newspaper. Its offices are located on Ferdowsi Street in Tehran, near Ferdowsi Square.


h/t Amadeus again. Be sure to check out his http://kojayi.wordpress.com for news out of Iran…

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Iran's Grand Ayatollah Montazeri splits with Supreme Leader and Ahmadinejad: his letter supporting protestors

In the name of God

People of Iran

These last days, we have witnessed the lively efforts of you, brothers and sisters, old and young alike, from every social category, for the 10th presidential elections.

Our youth, hoping to see their rightful will fulfilled, came on the scene and waited patiently. This was the greatest occasion for the government’s officials to bond with their people.

However, unfortunately, they used it in the worst way possible. Declaring results that no one in their right mind can believe, and despite all the evidence of crafted results, and contrary to the people’s protestations, in front of the eyes of the same nation who carried the weight of a revolution and 8 years of war, in front of the eyes of local and foreign reporters, attacked the children of the people with astonishing violence. And now they are attempting a purge, arresting intellectuals, political opponents and Scientists.

Now, based on my religious duties, I will remind you:

1- A legitimate state must respect all points of view. It may not oppress critical views. I fear that this will lead to the loss of people’s faith in Islam.

2- Given the current circumstances, I expect the government to take all measures to restore people’s confidence. Otherwise, as I have already said, a government not respecting the people’s vote has no religious or political legitimacy.

3- I invite everyone, especially the youth, to continue reclaiming their dues calmly, and not to allow those who want to associate this movement with chaos succeed.

4- I ask the police and army personnel not to “sell their religion”, and be aware that receiving orders will not excuse them before God. Recognize the protesting youth as your children. Today, censorship and cutting telecommunication lines can not hide the truth.

I pray for the greatness of the Iranian people.


h/t Amadeus.

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Iran's protestors gain key support in Grand Ayatollah Montazeri

Tough to know what’s really going on half a world away, especially when our own Washington Post says the results may be accurate. But when an 86 year-old Grand Ayatollah calls ‘bullshit’, that’s when I’m sure the outrage is legitimate:

Iran’s senior ayatollah slams election, confirming split

TEHRAN, Iran — Supporters of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his main rival in the disputed presidential election, Mir Hossein Mousavi, massed in competing rallies Tuesday as the country’s most senior Islamic cleric threw his weight behind opposition charges that Ahmadinejad’s re-election was rigged.

“No one in their right mind can believe” the official results from Friday’s contest, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri said of the landslide victory claimed by Ahmadinejad. Montazeri accused the regime of handling Mousavi’s charges of fraud and the massive protests of his backers “in the worst way possible.”

“A government not respecting people’s vote has no religious or political legitimacy,” he declared in comments on his official Web site. “I ask the police and army personals (personnel) not to ’sell their religion,’ and beware that receiving orders will not excuse them before God.”

As many as three more protesters were reported killed in clashes during Tuesday’s opposition demonstration in Vanak Square — adding to eight who were confirmed killed in Monday’s protests.

Foreign news organizations were barred from covering Wednesday’s demonstrations, and the source of the report of the latest deaths was a witness known to McClatchy, who asked that his name not be used for his own security.

Tehran residents, who spoke to a McClatchy reporter on condition that their names not be published, said there was widespread intimidation by thousands of members of the Basij, a hard-line Islamic volunteer militia loyal to the Islamic regime.

More on Hossein-Ali Montazeri.


Meanwhile, Iran’s soccer team wears symbolic green bands.

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