Iran – How Does it Feel?

Iran – How Does it Feel?

An Iranian envoy in Mexico spoke to the press yesterday and made some salient points. He was asked about the election of course and he said that there is no evidence of fraud. He is right – not that there was no fraud, just that the press has no evidence to support their claims.

There were tens of thousands of people counting the 40 million or so ballots.

Also -

Ahmadinejad’s overwhelming victory was no surprise, Ghadiri said, noting that a poll published in the United States three weeks before the June 12 elections showed Ahmadinejad with a commanding lead. “Why don’t you show that?” he asked.

Yes – why don’t they?

He also speculated that the CIA or another agency like it could have perpetrated the shooting of Neda Agha-Soltan, which was caught on video and sent around the world on the Internet. He is right. A well placed shot like that could help spur more riots and instability in Iran. There is no proof, but just like the alleged fraud and the assumed victory for the challenger. That hasn’t stopped the world from following the protesters day and night.

Obama could very well benefit if a more “moderate” faction took hold in Iran – especially after his much acclaimed speech. The US President puts much faith in words and diplomacy over force. This could be a helpful “push” to help make his speech seem like a tipping point for the Iranian people, especially the young women there.

Alas, there is no proof of such speculation and it would be irresponsible to make such a charge. Neda Agha-Soltan was shot in cold blood by someone. It has been speculated that a member of the Basij militia was apprehended and shouted that he did not want to kill her. Then astonishingly, the crowd let him go.

It is doubtful that we will ever know who killed her or why exactly.

Back to the Iranian Ambassador to Mexico:

The envoy also was pressed on the issue of restrictions on the media there. Press people are now heavily restricted and have been arrested in some cases. This is where it gets interesting. Ambassador Mohammad Hassan Ghadiri said that the press has been omitting reports of the mass rallies for Ahmadinejad and further, omitted reports of protesters becoming rioters who burned banks and buses and attacking other people. The foreign press only shows the response to the protests/riots.

He may be right. The press has an interest in the protesters rather than in the incumbent government leadership there.

Iran Hoy
http://iranhoy.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/iran-%e2%80%93-how-does-it-feel/