Another post from Mahjad,
The Terrifying Perspective
In the last days of the previous [Persian] year [which ended a few days ago], we had a discussion with colleagues [in the newspaper] on how we should arrange our work in the new year given the political circumstances. In fact, less than a week passed and in the very first day of the new year it was known that, to protect the national unity and Islamic solidarity [the name Khameneii officially gave to the new year], we should very likely refrain from any criticism. When the Leader [the blogger intentionally uses the unofficial title "Leader", as opposed to "the Supreme Leader"], in the first day of the year, warns journalists to be aware to not to, intentionally or unintentionally, spread negative ideas about the regime and the authority and the future, it is obvious that no one can anymore criticize the actions of the President and other administration figures; because you might just make people discouraged.
Also, no one can warn about the sensitive position of Iran in the international community and emphasize on the sad situations which may happen, because this makes people discouraged about the future.
In a more rigid viewpoint, even the news of car accidents and thefts in the media could be considered as discouragement, regarding the actions of the Police, and thus no one should talk about them. I am sure this will never happen, but I am also sure, to the same extent, that the new year would be hard for political journalists. More accurately speaking, it would be harder for them. From now on, any negative opinion or criticism could be regarded as being against the national unity. The best chance then is to be shushed by the administration. I was talking to two other journalists last night and none of us had a positive idea about the perspective for the current year. Our best guess was that our hands will be tied more than before. It seems that the working conditions of the new year have been decided in less than a week.
I hope we are all wrong.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070323/ap_on_re_eu/british_seized_iran
Today: “Iranian naval vessels seized 15 British sailors who had boarded a ship suspected of smuggling cars in the Persian Gulf off the Iraqi coast on Friday, officials said.”
Holy crap… this is not the way to make the “International Community” see the IR as a rational country to negotiate nuclear politics with. It was done in territorial Iraqi waters, with armed IR soldiers and naval vessels, that’s an invasion. I’m not sure how this is anything other than a provocation aimed at anyone the IR believes is preparing an invasion against them… taking into consideration the policies which have been announced and threats made over the past few weeks by the IR Glorious Leadership and it’s pretty obvious this was planned. Remember when Saddam took those civilians hostage? It looks like the IR might be trying to buy some time… not good. The American Congress and Senate were just about to force the President into a corner, but this bonehead move by the IR just makes President Bush look sympathetic and right.
Comment by fear the seeds. — March 23, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
This reminds me of the still-anonymous US intel official who leaked the NSA bank-flows monitoring program, while Bush was abroad if memory serves. It was so obviously detrimental to national security that it was more likely an attempt by one of Bush’s enemies to embarrass him.
I would suspect the same thing applies here — Ahmadinejad is practically in US airspace by now, for crying out loud. I don’t think he’s that stupid.
Comment by Alex Forshaw — March 23, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
Ahmadinejad will be standing in front of the UN Security Council with 15 British Soldiers in his back pocket… I don’t know. He might be just whacked enough to think that gives him Chavez-sized balls. I can’t see any of Ahmadinejad’s “enemies” grabbing 15 of Britain’s finest just to embarrass Ahmadinejad… if that’s where you were going. The speech is definitely going to be more interesting now.
Comment by fear the seeds. — March 23, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
Yeah, on second thought I think I completely blew that ‘call’…
Well, this should be interesting…
Comment by Alex Forshaw — March 24, 2007 @ 6:53 pm