Iranian Student Protest

Iranian students are protesting against the current administration of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and clerics who actually control Iran. The University of Tehran has been put under a virtual lock down, surrounded by the militia and police, as well as the Republican Guard.

The students feel that the government is repressing them and not allowing them to be free to express themselves.

For those in my age group this is a form of deja vue. Remember the late '70's when the students at Tehran University were protesting against the Shah and how he was not allowing them the freedom to express themselves? Remember how those same students became the beginning of the Republican Guard and stormed the United States Embassy, terrorizing the employees and causing then President Jimmy Carter to order a failed rescue attempt that cost him his chance for reelection?

It is the children of the '70's protesters who are now protesting what has happened to their country? Did their parents allow the pendulum to swing too far in the opposite direction or do this youths have more insight than their parents and a desire for a truly better world?

I hope it is the second. I also hope that the students and their supporters will be able to bring about reform and the beginnings of a true democracy in Iran.

It will take time, all things like this do, but with the proper support, these young protesters just might be able to pull off the change in Iranian politics that the USA and Europe have been unable to sway.

Let's support the youth and hope for the best.

Its Common Sense!

Iran and Nuclear Power

Iran announced its building at least ten more uranium processing plants. It appears that Ahmadinejad just gave the United Nations the finger. Okay, we know he is not the real power in Iran and that the old mullahs are calling the shots, but regardless of who is in charge, what is the United Nations and the rest of the world going to do?

Let's be honest, the government of Iran cannot be trusted. No one can believe that they are going to show UN inspectors anymore than they want to show. No one knows where they are as far as creating a nuclear weapon.

Sanctions and embargoes are talked about, yet Iran continues to get the materials they need to create these plants. Where are the materials coming from? Who is making a profit? Which nations and/or companies are ignoring the embargo/sanctions and using what ever means necessary to take millions from Iran?

Personally, I do not believe the United Nations can be trusted to serve as a vigilant watch dog. There is too much corruption in that organization and in many ways I believe it has out lasted its purpose. For the United Nations to be effective, it has to be reorganized, given some teeth, and the member nations have follow the rules.

Easier said than done I know.

Now the USA and the European Nations (not to mention Israel) will have to keep a careful watch on things by whatever means are available. The last thing the world needs is for Iran to build a dirty bomb and give it to al Quaeda or one of the other extremist terrorist groups.

Iran needs to be put down. The questions is how?

Obama and the Middle East

Yesterday President Obama gave his first one on one interview. The reporter was not from Fox, MSNBC, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC or CSPAN. The reporter was Hisham Melhem, who works for
al-Arabiya TV, headquartered in Dubai, but evidently funded by backers in Saudi Arabia.

Needless to say this was a real coup and an indication that the Obama White House will be going to the foreign press to reach a more diverse audience with his message.

Obama stated that he had Muslim relatives in Kenya, that he had lived in the most Muslem populated country in the world (Indonesia) and that he felt all religions had a place in the world. The president stressed that the America's war on terror was against fanatical Islamic fundamentalist, not the majority of believers.

It will be interesting to see what effect the interview will have for the Muslim viewing public. Hopefully, Obama set the right tone and the majority will allow his Administration to pursue its goal towards a lasting Middle East peace.

Also heard from yesterday was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran. Without mentioning President Obama's name, he stated that the USA needs to withdrawal all support of any kind from Israel and apologise to the Iranian people for all of the negative things this country has said about Iran.
Fat chance buddy!

Finally, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden let it be known that if the USA removed its forces from Iraq and Afghanistan immediately and destroyed Israel, that would be proof that the USA was a friend to the Muslim world.
Nothing like thinking you can dictate world policy from a cave somewhere in the middle of no where.

As time progresses we will see how the Obama Administration deals with the Middle East. Obama is to meet with Secretary of Defense Gates and the Joint Chiefs later today to no doubt discuss Iraq and Afghanistan and the preparedness of the USA military to continue war operations indefinitely. With the current financial situation just how much can be spent to arm and support our troops in combat?

Reports are that a new group has started trouble in Gaza and the Israeli military has reacted. George Mitchell was in Egypt yesterday and Israel today. This new outbreak could mean that he will not get to the West Bank or Gaza, what will that mean for any peace accord?

We will continue to wait and watch to see just what real changes the Obama Administration will bring to USA foreign policy.

Let's see if the Obama team is up to really bringing about a lasting peace.