Phoenix Psaltery

There's nothing to be done, really; we have fucked with other countries' sovereignty too many times in the past. In order for a second Iranian revolution to come about, it has to come from the Iranian people, not through interference from the U.S. or other outside influences.

That being said, I hope they rise up and kick Ahmadinejad* out on his ass, and the Islamic government with him.

P2

*God, I hate threads where I have to look up how to spell one of the principal's names.

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Psyke Phaeton

Almost every country has to go through its revolution until the power ends up with the people. However change usually only happens when their is no alternative. I feel sorry for the people compelled to risk their lives for freedom but I feel more sorry for those forced into policing the situation. Those forced unwillingly into this situation by govt pressure and the need to have a job and feed their families.

It is a tragedy. One born by the stupidity of power mongers who fail to realise the power is always on the side of the people. The power of sheer numbers.

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Bard Jameson

And nothing to that except the sincere wish for Iranians to achieve moderate self-rule
/sarcasm

Forgive my cynicism, but I can't think offhand of a time when this has actually happened or lasted very long, or even if it's a good thing

...which is what makes me wonder if it's a good thing

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Sansarya

The news from Iran is extremely compelling, but the side story of using Twitter and social networking sites to communicate immediately is just as interesting, especially as I'm watching CNN and the State Dept. and BBC go

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Sansarya

I should probably stop being obsessed with this today, but I'm at work and there's literally no work to do.

Phoenix Psaltery

Unfortunately, there is a propensity for those with the power (i.e. the dictators or other leaders) to do whatever is necessary to hold on to that power. See: Soviet Union; People's Republic of China; Saddam Hussein; Idi Amin; Muammar al-Gaddafi, etc.

One can only hope that those who are striving for change in Iran will succeed, and after having done so, will not subsequently become just as bad as those they replaced (See Great Britain v. The American Colonies, 1776).

P2

Pussycat Catnap

Twitter is the Napster of Free Speech.

They can't figure out how to shut it down when its spread out and so disconnected and yet webbed together at the same time.

Govi

Aside from the total shock of seeing this kind of thing in a civilized country and sympathy for the persons subjected to this horrible repression of free speech and free elections, I am appalled by a few of the Flickr people. "Hi, I'm an admin of blah blah and we'd love to add this to our group!" No word of sympathy or shock. Just "can I add this to our kewl picture group?" Argh. I'm sure that the people who do it are actually sympathetic to the Iranian people's cause, but Sheesh. Don't do what my signature says I do. Please.

One of the photographs was particularly shocking, because the man in it, fleeing from the police, looks identical to a Persian acquaintance of mine, one who frequently goes back to Iran to visit. A powerful but very gentle man. He's been in my aerobics classes with his niece; he's slightly older than she. I'm going to see if I can find out anything from her.

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Cristiano

The US State Dept. made a request to Twitter to reschedule their planned downtime in order to keep communication open with Iran.

Report: State Dept. urged Twitter to reschedule maintenance | The Social - CNET News

Hell, I reschedule my planned downtime normally because I fell asleep and forgot lol.

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Cocoanut Koala

I don't know about that. I read that the older police force wasn't willing to do the job, so they outsourced it to all kinds of people (not good people) who don't even speak Farsi.

Is what I read.

coco

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Cocoanut Koala

I don't see how they can. They aren't armed. And they are being murdered.

coco

jacqueline trudeau

They did it before, they can do it again. Not every revolution needs a 2nd amendment.

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jacqueline trudeau

An article in today's NYT op-ed section caught my eye:

Iran’s Hidden Revolution

It only took two sentances for me to go :

Yup, they got that right. Needless to say, I read no further. Who are these idiots? Scanning down at the byline:

Do right-wingers ever get anything right?

Phant Nabob

I've been following this largely on the Fark and PennyArcade threads which have served to condense what info is coming out. There are almost no western journalists in Iran at the moment and the ones that are are largely being prevented from getting out and about at all. So far the only information that I have seen coming out of any western journalists is from Robert Fisk, who has reportedly managed to give the authorities the slip and is reporting from inside of Iran.

""Please, please, keep the Basiji from us," one middle-aged lady pleaded with a special forces officer in flak jacket and helmet as the Islamic Republic's thug-like militia appeared in their camouflage trousers and purity-white shirts only a few metres away. The cop smiled at her. "With God's help," he said. Two other policemen were lifted shoulder-high. "Tashakor, tashakor," – "thank you, thank you" – the crowd roared at them.

This was phenomenal. The armed special forces of the Islamic Republic, hitherto always allies of the Basiji, were prepared for once, it seemed, to protect all Iranians, not just Ahmadinejad's henchmen. The precedent for this sudden neutrality is known to everyone – it was when the Shah's army refused to fire on the millions of demonstrators demanding his overthrow in 1979."

Pretty much all other info is coming out via twitter from Iranians. So prevalent is the use of Twitter that the State Dept. asked the company to postpone scheduled server work so that Iranians would have access to the service. Rumor runs rampant, everything from rumblings that the Regime has brought in Hizbollah militants as enforcers to claims that Mullahs are fleeing the country.