Blog Iran

A while ago I wrote an article on Operation Give, the toy drive for Iraqi children started by Chief Wiggles in response to the needs he saw as a soldier serving in Iraq. In the article I urged support for the Operation Give project - and I still do. Americans are generous people. We like to help out when we see a need. The Operation Give toy drive is a project that helps both Iraqi children and us. By winning the hearts and minds of the children of Iraq, we help to secure our own country. The children of Iraq today have an opportunity to grow up without the misconceptions and hatred of the United States that plague the people of the Middle East and the rest of the Muslim world. By sending some toys, we can help that to happen. It's an excellent way for everyone to get involved. Even if you were opposed to the war, simple compassion and concern for kids would lead you to support this project. If you haven't yet, please visit the Operation Give web site to see what you can do.

Is there any doubt that the entire Middle East needs to be reformed? The current governments are theocracies, fascist and socialist dictatorships, tyrannical monarchies, and non-functional anarchies. They are unresponsive to the needs of their own citizens and are dangerous to the rest of the world as well. Other than Israel and Turkey, not one country in the Middle East is a functioning representative democracy. The countries of the Middle East are centers of extreme Islam and terrorism, and they are exporting extremism and terrorism to countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Bangladesh, which in the past, have been moderate and tolerant.

One of the most dangerous countries on the planet is Iran.

Iran is one of the three countries that President Bush named as part of an "axis of evil." There is no reason to doubt that its place is well-deserved.

The government of Iran is an Islamic theocracy. While there is an elected legislature and president, all real power in the country is held by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khamenei, who is appointed for life. Religious and personal freedoms are essentially non-existent. There is no freedom of the press. If a journalist publishes something adjudged to be offensive to the ruling elite, he or she may very well disappear for good. Religious judges and mullahs oppress citizens, and justice is a sham.

Iran is currently engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with the rest of the world regarding development of nuclear capability. Iran insists that it is developing nuclear capability for peaceful purposes. The United States is not convinced of that at all, and the United Nations on November 26, 2003 issued a resolution condemning Iran for its past deceptions regarding its nuclear programs and leaving the door open for further action. Today, November 29, 2003, just three days later, Iran has said that it will continue to enrich uranium, ostensibly to produce fuel for nuclear reactors for electricity generation.

Personally, I have no confidence at all in the United Nations or the IAEC. The bureaucrats in those institutions (typical of bureaucrats everywhere) are more interested in process than results. They will continue to issue resolutions, debate sanctions, procrastinate and dither, until the U.S. or Israel take unilateral action or a disaster occurs. Within ten years I expect to see Iran explode an atomic device. Pray that it won't be in a city in the United States, Israel or any other country.

I do have some hope for a positive change in Iran, though. I don't expect it to come from the current government of Iran, nor from any international body. I don't think it will come through direct U.S. military intervention, either.

My hopes and expectations for change in Iran are with the people of Iran. The people of Iran are tired of the mullahs running, and ruining, their lives. Students and young people have been demonstrating, at considerable peril, against the ruling elite. The people of Iran want change: a democratically elected, responsive government based on the rule of law.

And we can support them. I recently got this email:

Dear Pete,

My name is Haleh & I'm one of the activists at ActivistChat.com &
BLOG-IRAN [http://www.activistchat.com/blogiran]

The news site provides pro-freedom and pro-democracy news - specifically
in regards to Iran, and BLOG-IRAN is a Grassroots Campaign that is
uniting Bloggers from around the world who support the Iranian struggle
for freedom & democracy.

The goal of each is to provide much needed awareness of the struggle for
democracy in Iran as well as support America's/Bush's vision of aiding
people of the region and throughout the world in their battle for
freedom.  Food for thought: - Bush has greater support in Iran among the
Iranian population than he has here in the states, lets hope he can act
on the great speeches and defend freedom of Iranians, the only way for
the war on terrorism to be won.

If you are interested in joining BLOG-IRAN definitely visit
http://www.activistchat.com/blogiran/join.html
and we'll get you setup ASAP!

In Unity & Struggle,
ActivistChat.com
 

I looked over the site, and it looks legitimate. They aren't asking for money, just support, and several blogs I am familiar with have joined.

Here is one more little thing that I can do to support reform in the Middle East. It will contribute in a small way to the security of my family, the United States as a whole, and of all of the western world. Just as important, it contributes a little to making the lives of Iranians better. I am completely supportive of both.

So, Haleh, I have added the Blog Iran banner to my sidebar, linked to your site. Freedom in Iran!

If you have a web log or online journal, consider joining Blog-Iran to support the democracy and freedom movement in Iran.

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