Kamangir (Archer)

Ahmadinejad, That’s It

Kamangir | August 31, 2006 | Category Iran, Islamic Republic

This picture is taken during Ahmadinejad speech in Orumieh. I think it is a misshaped hand. I have no idea whatsoever what’s the relationship here.

President’s Deputy on the Roof

Kamangir | August 31, 2006 | Category Iran

Ahmadinejad’s deputy goes to Bam (see), a city destroyed by a massive earthquake a few years ago, to overview the work done so far. As he needs to have a first hand look at the city and as there is no map or helicopter available he climbs up a ladder and stands on the roof of a half-built house. There, he watches the devastation and the progress in reconstruction.

Funny Ayatollah

Kamangir | August 31, 2006 | Category Iran

Ahmadinejad is having another trip to Orumieh. His host is Ayatollah Hasani (Persian: آیت الله حسنی), the man standing at his left. Hasani is the city’s Friday Prayer’s leader. He is known as the funniest Mullah in Iran. Basically, he is ready to make comments about everything. Many of his jokes are only understandable in the context of the Iranian political atmosphere. So, I quote a comment from another, not as much funny as him, Mullah. When talking in the parliament about Iran’s membership in an organization working on Ozone Layer depletion, which is translated in Persian as Ozone Layer hole, the mullah said “this is none of our business. Whoever has made the hole must grab some cement and fix it up”. This was broadcast from the parliament’s live radio channel. Hasani is selected by the supreme leader as his representative in the province. Any comments?

Iranian “Illegal” Stuff

Kamangir | August 31, 2006 | Category Iran

Discoveries by the Police forces after attacking illegal groups.

These pictures of the Iranian singers in the exile are looked at by the Police as mild forms of pornography. I think in terms of professionality in doing bad things Iran is very much a virgin, just a guess.

Philosopher Denounces Himself

Kamangir | August 31, 2006 | Category Iran

Ramin Jahanbegloo, the abducted Iranian philosopher, was temporarily sent out of the Evin Prison. In an interview with ISNA, which he has asked for it voluntarily, he denounces his life in the past ten years. He says “when we talk about democracy, for some it is a synonym for Americanization which I have always been opposed to. The fact that I have attended a few conferences does not mean I have agreed with them. When I look back I see that I have been sacrificed because I have got myself into a chamber which wasn’t my own business. Actually, I have slipped from philosophy and research towards political work. I have never been a member to any political group and I have never wanted to be one. I have always preferred cultural work to politics.” The interesting part is that the interview took place with a news agency with least connections to the government.

Strange time, isn’t it?

Brave Israelis! How Do You See the World?

Kamangir | August 29, 2006 | Category Iran

West Bank, Palestine 2005. Source (see) thanks to Hadi Nili (see).

When I see furious comments I try to imagine the one who is behind them. I try to extract information from the words and phrases which are used. I don’t think it is obviously a disaster, but it seems we all have a global picture of the world. Some of us are very sure about that picture and are not willing to accept the slight probability that there may be a flaw here or there. I have seen this in many blogs; when some readers do not like the author’s point of view they try to show how naive and illiterate he/she is. I think prior to any constructive discussion we have to find a logical path; meaning the framework in which we are talking. For example, if I hate someone’s idea that Iran has the right to posses nuclear technology, that’s quite fine. Why should I approach the problem from the point of view of attacking the writer’s judgmental power. Either there is a way to show a problem in the reasoning or not.

After receiving not so pleasant comments from both Iranians and Israelis and after the call for a brave Israeli (see) I think we should first try to understand the other side’s general picture.

This is how an average Iranian thinks about a Jew, an Israeli, and Israel. I think its a direct result of regime’s propaganda and obviously I do not share the same view.

“Judaism is kind of a strange religion. They share our Prophets but then they do not accept the last prophet. You’d better not be very engaged with them. After all, it is mentioned that they are kind of dirty.

An Israeli is always holding a gun. They are killing Palestinians. They just decided to go to Palestine and then supported by US and other devils they did manage to kill Palestinians. They are always doing so. We are then supporting Palestine with protesting and also money.”

Brave Israelis of the world! Please write back.

Hacking Ahmadinejad

Kamangir | August 29, 2006 | Category Iran

Ahmadinejad’s blog was hacked. However, it seems that the hackers were actually his supporters. Source (see).

Talking to Ahmadinejad

Kamangir | August 29, 2006 | Category Iran

Just for the record, I am ashamed of the funny letter Ahmadinejad sent to Merkel. And I think Bush should have talked to him. With a prepared list of questions, though. I hate to see another “friendly” interview with him, like the recent one on CBS.

Mullahcracy

Kamangir | August 29, 2006 | Category Iran

In one sense the peak of power in Iran is the Eexpert’s Council (Persian: مجلس خبرگان). This council is responsible for investigating the leader’s performance and to fire him if he does not act correctly. The council meets once a year and I have never heard them raising any question about any of the leader’s decisions. The law indirectly makes it impossible for non-mullahs to get to this council. Basically, the members of this council are “elected” from a very fiercely filtered list of candidates. Any way, Mullahs approving another Mullah, who was talking about democracy? We have a very functional Mullahcracy in Iran.

A Million Shares, Tehran Stock Market, and Yahoo Messenger

Kamangir | August 28, 2006 | Category Iran

Ahmadinejad’s presidency was followed by sever events in Iran’s economy. It was between rumor and fact that people were less willing for investing in the stock market. Since then, the administration has tried hard to show that nothing has changed, or that things are pretty better now. Probably for that reason Fars publishes pictures from the stock market decorated with very aspiring titles such as “huge presence of people in Tehran Stock Market” (see).

This picture is titled “Informing people through chat”. To me it seems that the stock market is using a Yahoo! ID to broadcast information. The screen reads like this,

payambazar [means market's message]: voy voy voy [probably showing the user's joy from using technology]

sadeghhp [seems to be a name]: its childs toy

payambazar: …[some stock message about a million shares]

Medals for Nuclear Scientists

Kamangir | August 28, 2006 | Category Iran

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Ahmadinejad awards medals to appreciates the Iranian nuclear scientists’ around the clock work.

People’s Bomb

Kamangir | August 27, 2006 | Category Iran

“If the west puts us under pressure, the people may ask their government to develop nuclear weapons”, says so Bahonar, deputy speaker of the parliament (familiar with the Islamic Republic’s literature this means the administration is thinking of calling for a “popular” protest to ask the government to defend itself by all means. The Islamic Republic is nothing like ordinary democracies. Basically, it is “assumed” that protests are the best means for people’s involvement in the politics. You know, it is safer than elections.

President of Cameras

Kamangir | August 27, 2006 | Category Iran

There are two kinds of houses in Taleghan, where Ahmadinejad is opening a dam. First, there are fancy summertime villas for people from the outside, this is how I got to know the fantastic place. Second, there are poor farmers’ ones. To have a sense of how appreciated this region is, just note that the very dam which is opened now has been an open project since I remember. So, Mr President goes there and does all sorts of funny stuff he affords to do. Still, he does not think he has gained the popularity which is worth the suffering of riding a helicopter and then a Mercedes Benz. So, give me a poor creature so that I can listen to him! In Taleghan, and many other rural places, what is just around any corner is old poor ladies with bad skin and pathetic shapes. So, bring me one! And this is what happens next.

Nuclear Dam

Kamangir | August 27, 2006 | Category Iran

Ahmadinejad is watching the operator’s control screen in the opening ceremony of a dam. The question is who is the guy in that gray suite in the right. If you too think he is Chinese and probably an engineer having had his rule in building the dam, which is a very decent job to have, why isn’t he American or European?

Isn’t it obvious why the the world can not find a way to stop Iran’s nuclear plans?

Cute Ahmadinejad

Kamangir | August 27, 2006 | Category Iran

I love Ahmadinejad. He is kind of cute. Take this for example. He has just arrived to attend an opening ceremony for a dam somewhere deep in the rural areas of Iran. He goes there by a Police Benz. Then, he finds out that farmers and villagers are watching the scene from above the hill. He reaches for the car’s loud speaker. what he says does not really matter. The important fact is that he is always there for the people, when it comes to be a showman.

Iranian Missiles, Sea or Shore, This Is The Problem…

Kamangir | August 27, 2006 | Category Iran

I am not a military expert, but something is wrong here. During the current drill the army demonstrated new enhanced shore-to-sea (see) and sea-to-shore (see) missiles. See some pictures below.

Now, Heavy Water!

Kamangir | August 27, 2006 | Category Iran

Recently, the administration has learnt how to celebrate their milestones in the long and tedious way to reach to nuclear energy/weaponry. First, they had that ceremony for the first successful enrichment (see). Now, they are working on heavy water (see).

Golnaz Vala, An Iranian Painter

Kamangir | August 25, 2006 | Category Iran

This is a painting by Golnaz Vala (see). Thanks Persian Architect for the link (see).

The Great Liar, or Ahmadinejad’s Promises

Kamangir | August 24, 2006 | Category Iran

For the anniversary of Ahmadinejad’s presidency, Shargh newspaper has collected a list of 23 issues he raised during his presidential campaign (see). The question is which one of them were addressed during this year.

Addicted to Allah

Kamangir | August 23, 2006 | Category Iran

Just imagine how much addicted to religion a political system can be, then multiply it by two, it would become the Islamic Republic. There is a maneuver going on in southern Iran. It carries a religious name and began with a religious code. Then, as an important stage of the drill, army tried new plans for fast deployment of troops.

Another Nuclear Achievement

Kamangir | August 23, 2006 | Category Iran

Mehr news agency writes “surprise news about new achievement of Iranian nuclear scientists” (see). If you ask me, we are going to have another nuclear show. And right after Iran answered to 5+1 package. God helps Iranians.

p.s. Fars news agency reports Iran’s response to the proposed package includes about a hundred questions. (see)

August 22, Where is Armageddon?

Kamangir | August 22, 2006 | Category Iran

Iran finally gave an answer to the “proposed package”. Still, I am not hearing any sound from the sky declaring the beginning of the Armageddon. Any way, the ambassadors who received the answer seem to have fun. I hope it is not another letter-to-the-world from Mr. president.

Satellite Dish, Good or Bad

Kamangir | August 22, 2006 | Category Iran

Somewhere in Lebanon. Israeli strikes have destroyed a neighbourhood. With Islamic Republic standards the people who where living here were not that good Muslims (look at the dishes on the roof).

Tehran, Iran. Police destroys satellite dishes.

5Km-Painting

Kamangir | August 22, 2006 | Category Iran

The longest painting of the world, with the length of 5km, was created in Iran.

Iranian Occupation of Lebanon

Kamangir | August 21, 2006 | Category Iran

Baztab, a state-run news agency close to Iranian intelligence sources, posts a piece titled “surprises about Hezbollah in an published meeting with Nasrallah” (see). The story is narrated by a member of the group of Iranian religious students from Qom who met Nasrallah about three years ago. The story goes,
It was late in the evening when we were at last informed about the final meeting place. We rushed there and passed a check point. Then, we entered a building surrounded by many other taller ones. We passed through a search gate and Hezbollah members, who were hardly understood from us [probably because of the common appearance] took our metal objects. We went to a small room decorated with plastic seats…He [Nasrallah] entered the room with a smile. He greeted us very warmly and sat in front of us. His guards sat there too. Our group’s leader asked a few questions. Then he asked “do you want me to speak Arabic or Persian?” He actually asked this sentence in Persian…. He spoke an hour an half to us. Then we shock hands with him and kissed his hand. We also took some pictures. [before that] He began his speech like this. “I wanted to talk about something which we can not talk about with the media…Let’s return to 21 years ago. To the year 1979 when Iranian revolution succeeded. We were not active…It is predicted that “Jews gather. Their destruction is when a revolution happens in the east and one of the prophet’s ancestors who has the name of a prophet revolts”. Imam [Khomeini] told us to start from the scratch and fight using the minimum power that we had. He told us “I foresee that you will succeed.” We asked Imam to assign a representative for Lebanon issues. He assigned Khamenei [he uses a term similar to master here]. Master was very kind to us. He is an expert in affairs regarding Israel. After Khomeini passed away we approached master and asked him to assign someone to us [because Khamenei had been too busy at the time]. He told us “Israel and Lebanon matters are my own responsibilities” ….[here Nasrallah talks about examples which show Khamenei is an expert in Israel-Lebanon-Palestine matters]…When we conquered in South Lebanon I went to the master and desperately mentioned “it took eighteen years for Hezbollah to free South Lebanon, how much it will take for the Palestine”. Master said “I believe Palestine will be freed much faster”" Nasrallah then finished by “Master is very popular in Lebanon. When people hear in Lebanon that some Iranians criticize him they get surprised and saddened…The future is for us. I hope Israel attacks South Lebanon. Because Sharon can’t even imagine what we have prepared for them.”