FIRE WITH FIRE

In the wake of the recent arrests of four Iranian-U.S. scholars and activists, the U.S. State Department has issued a travel advisory warning U.S. citizens against traveling to Iran. The State Department accused Islamic authorities in Iran "of a 'disturbing pattern' of harassment of Iranian-Americans," wrote the Associated Press. You can read the full article here.

A number of human rights agencies, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, urged Iran to cease its continued "harassment of dual nationals." The four detained Iran-American citizens include two scholars, a peace activist and a journalist. They have been charged with spying and sowing dissent in "the wider community of journalists, writers, scholars and activists." A fifth multi-national, an Iranian-French student making a film in Iran, had his passport confiscated by Iranian authorities and may also be in custody.

The U.S. State Department unilaterally refuted the espionage charges against its citizens. All four were in Iran to visit family or in connection with their jobs. Iran's disturbing pattern of harassment of U.S. nationals continues to undermine any chance of relations between the two countries. Iran's mercurial behavior is jeopardizing any chance of joint efforts with the U.S. to solve the problems in Iraq and the Middle East. You can't talk peace but practice war and deceit. Iran is not to be trusted.

Posted by The Watcher at Thursday, May 31, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post   

Acting more like a bully than a mediator, Iran said it would continue already tenuous talks with the US about the future of Iraq only if the US agreed to make major changes to its policy on Iraq. Coming barely two days after US and Iranian ambassadors met in an historic summit, Iran Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki seemed to pull the rug out from under any future cooperation between the two countries. You can read the full article here.

Mottaki said Iranian officials are reviewing the recent discussions. “'If they come to the conclusion that there is a necessary willingness on the American side to solve the problems in Iraq and correct their policies, the discussions can continue,” he said.

As relations between the two countries continue to be contentious and the talks achieved no major breakthroughs, it is doubtful that additional dialogue will lead to an Iraqi solution acceptable to both sides.

Posted by The Watcher at Tuesday, May 29, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post   

In my last post I talked about how Iran had raised gas prices to it's own population a whooping 25%. But what does that really mean. Well here is the scoop.

Iranians are now paying $.38 per gallon for gas.

"The delay apparently is due to problems in distributing electronic smart cards that drivers will use to buy fuel at the subsidized price of 38 cents a gallon. Consumers will be able to buy additional fuel at a higher price, but the government hasn't said how much or at what cost."

You can read the full article here.

That kind of makes you sick doesn't it when you and I paying in excess of $3.10 per gallon. So as far as Iranians are concerned big deal about the increase. But for you and me, it surely shows just how ridiculous our dependence is on Middle Eastern countries for our fuel needs. We are easily held hostage by the large oil and gas producers and we are allowing them to wield even more power over us on any number of issues because of our own fuel dependence.

Posted by The Watcher at Friday, May 25, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post   

This should be interesting. Iran has just raised its own gas prices within its own country 25%. Welcome to the club of high gas prices guys! You can read the full article here.

"Despite the hike, gasoline is still far cheaper in Iran than in most of the West. In the U.S., the average price of self-serve regular gasoline hit a record high of $3.18 a gallon, up more than 11 cents over the past two weeks, according to a survey released Sunday."

What the article doesn't tell us and I for one would love to know is how much is gas there. $.25 a gallon? The reason Iran has to raise gas prices is that although it is an oil rich county, it does not refine most of its own gas and has to rely on suppliers to that. This is just another consequence of government policy that oil refiner producers and suppliers want to steer clear of any Iranian activity and the fear of international investment in Iran.

So a 25% increase. That may still bite for Iranians, but most likely not to the degree that we in the west are held hostage by oil suppliers like Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Posted by The Watcher at Wednesday, May 23, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post   

"Iran wanted Arab leaders to support its nuclear program at the World Economic Forum meeting, calling the technology an asset to the Mideast region. But the response was cool and many of Arab allies of the U.S. were worried about the growing influence if Iran. "

You can read the full article here.

The bottom line is that Iran is now trying to consolidate approval in the Arab community to prop up their viewpoint about their own nuclear issue that has split world opinion. Unfortunately their view that when we have nuclear power and weapons, we will be a stabilizing force in the region, simply did not float with the Arab community.

Iran can't even convince its own "brothers" as it calls them about its own nuclear initiatives, how much more skeptical is the rest of the world?

Posted by The Watcher at Monday, May 21, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post   

This is Haleh Esfandiari bes chance for help, the Iranian power lawyer Shirin Ebadi is on her case. Shirin Ebadi is a 2003 Nobel Prize winner and she is a power house. She is an advocate for change inside Iran that should be empowered by the world.

So far Iran has not been able to silence Shirin Ebadi due to her world popularity. I have read her biography and the woman has a testimony for the love for her country and for change in Iran that is truly unbelievable - she is a real Iranian hero.

So if the imprisoned Haleh Esfandiari has a chance, Shirin Ebadi will be the one to make it happen. In the meantime, Iran is refusing to let Shirin Ebadi see or talk to Haleh. She is currently being tortured er, I mean interrogated in the Evin Prison.

Labels: Haleh Esfandiari

Posted by The Watcher at Friday, May 18, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post   

"TEHRAN, May 16 (Reuters) - Iran's highest authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Wednesday the Islamic Republic would hold talks with the United States about Iraq to remind Washington of its duty to provide security there."

Well if this isn't the pot calling the kettle black? The US would not be having the security problems in Iraq that it is now if Iran was not actively funding and providing materiel to insurgence in Iraq!

You can read the full article here from Reuters. Then Khamenei went a step further and called the American government arrogant in nearly the same breath. Yes we have some challenges in Iraq, but adding fuel to the fire never leads to a diplomatic resolution.

Labels: Iraq

Posted by The Watcher at Wednesday, May 16, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post   

First Dick Cheney said it and now President Ahmadinejad says it. What is it they say? Don't mess with me or have serious consequences!

Actually Cheney said we will protect our interests in the Gulf [gas supplies]. Ahmadinejad said get out of the Gulf you don't belong here and attack us and the retribution will be serious.

The rhetoric is spinning up, and this is a very dangerous game that is being played. The US is already frustrated with the Iraq situation, Arabs are rising up against the US presence in the region. Saudi are spurning conversations with Iraqi US puppets, and Iran is ramping up their nuclear research thrust.

It seems clear that the US cachet in the region has fallen and we should move into a pull back state and let the region manage itself. However that will never happen based on the huge cache of oil reserves and the hunger for oil that America has.

Now is the time to take the money that has been fueling strife in the region and trying to prop up a failed directive and move that money into alternative fuel research. This way as we move out of the Gulf region we can be cutting our dependence on oil which is clearly going to be used as a leverage tool in the future to brow beat Americans into actions that we normally would not have taken. We need to change our focus in the region from oil reserve protection to disinterested party.

Posted by The Watcher at Monday, May 14, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post   

Tawfik Hamid has written a very insightful article about the Trouble With Islam that was picked up by the online Wall Street Journal.

Tawfik is a Muslim Reformer. He speaks with authority on the subject of change from within his own religion. His view point is insightful and refreshing.

Because of his viewpoint unfortunately he has been targeted by Islamic Extremist and has been forced out of his homeland to the United States. And this is the paradox, change must come from within Islam, but when Islamasists due to intolerance force those who would institute change out, how can real change ever happen? Tawfik Hamid is out spoken and speaks candidly of the problems, but are the people most affected listening?

Labels: Tawfik Hamid

Posted by The Watcher at Friday, May 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post   

Are there even any political dissidents left in Iran? Hasn't the regime already killed or tortured any remaining dissidents into submission? Just today a woman, Haleh Esfandiari, who is a dual Iranian and American citizen and Smithsonian academic was sent to Evin, the prison for dissidents, for at least the second time for "discussions". Do you think she's going for tea? Read the full article here.

Iran continues to practice brutality and cowing people into accepting their political views. This is not an Islamic government, this is a brutal totalitarian government hiding behind the guise of religion. Speaking out against the problems in government should not be considered a violation of the Muslim faith. Organizing people to try to institute change should not mark one as a Muslim offender to the faith. Yet this is the brush with which the Iranian population who wants change is painted with.

These people do not last long in society, they are picked up and transported to Evin and then bullied into fingering others at the hand of torturers. Some are just simple interrogated and then killed. Some may get a mock trial, but many do not. It is no wonder that change will come very slowly in Iran the entire population lives in fear of being marked as a dissident and put in a car to the notorious Evin prison.

So the outcry needs to start for Haleh Esfandiari, she has already been forced to "confess" to some supposed sins. We need to raise the out cry to bring her out of Iran now!

Labels: Iran

Posted by The Watcher at Wednesday, May 09, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post   

Wahhabi. Learn this name if you don't already know it. This is the flavor of Islam that is causing concern in Bosnia, resurging in Afghanistan, and creating fear for terrorism consultants and intelligence operatives the world over.

Just what is a Wahhabi?

"Wahhabi doctrine requires the most literal possible application of the teachings of the Quran. Wahhabis are for the introduction of the Sharia and the establishment of a theocratic regime. Music, television and all forms of worldly pleasure are regarded as "decadent." The movement dates to the 18th century preacher Muhammed ibn Abd al-Wahhab, who formulated puritanical principles for the "purification" of Islam, and its center is to be found in Saudi Arabia, where the monarchy has established Wahhabism as the official state religion. Wahhabi influence is particularly strong among Islamists in Chechnya and the Taliban in Afghanistan."

You can read more on this topic at World Politics Watch. What is most concerning is that this form of Islam is becoming more extreme and is sanctioned by our so-called friend and anchor in the Middle East - Saudi Arabia. As Islamic Extremists play a more intolerant role in countries globally, we need to be watching the root and main financial funding source of many of these terrorist organizations in their homeland source Saudi Arabia.

Labels: Saudi Arabia

Posted by The Watcher at Monday, May 07, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post   

You will want to check out the website for Tawfik Hamid which has just been posted. Here's a brief snippet from his website:

From his insider understanding of the terrorist mentality, Dr. Tawfik Hamid predicted the destruction of the Twin Towers (9-11), Madrid bombings, and London attacks. Now his mission has become "to speak out against radical Islam, a cancer hat is spreading with frightening rapidity across the globe today."

A courageous as well as scholarly initiator of Islamic reformation, Dr. Tawfik Hamid seeks to build new thinking within Islam to overcome the hatred and violent extremism that have metastasized within his religious tradition as he states: "in order to make LOVE prevail you should defeat Hatred"!

Dr. Hamid is a lone voice in the Muslim world, at least it seems like to me, who is speaking out against Muslim extremism. He speaks with a voice of authority. In fact so much that he has been forced out of the Middle East by threats of violence and has had to leave all and migrate to the West.

What a sad statement that is about the Muslim community when someone speaks a voice of truth on a controversial topic that they are threatened by those in their own community and must leave their homeland for their own personal protection.

Labels: Tawfik Hamid

Posted by The Watcher at Friday, May 04, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post   

There's a new name in town for old tricks we've all see, it is Petro Terrrorism. Petro terrorism is where oil rich countries are financing the spread of terrorism from state collected oil and gas monies. This is in essence state sponsored terrorism at the expense of consumer need.

The market price for gas and oil goes up borne by the average consumer, the state pockets the cash from these market gains and increases, and in turn increases the financial support of terrorist organizations that are closely aligned with the state's agenda. The agenda could be to move into a power vacuum, establish more faith-based governments, establish a brand of religion, establish a reputation or "brand", become a world power, you name it and we have most likely already seen it. All of this done with the money and proceeds from petro chemicals that our world just simply appears to not be able to live without.

I will spell it out who is providing Petro Terrorism - Iran, Saudi Arabia, and in infancy Iraq. Venezuela is another country who seems to also be starting to stride this road as well.

I end this post with these sage words "to those with power much has been given, but much is expected in return." Terrorism must stop and countries who are funding it must cease!

Posted by The Watcher at Wednesday, May 02, 2007 | Permalink | Comments | links to this post