20 March, 2009

Obama and Leno click…Obama appeals to Iran…Cash in the road …
KXMC – Minot,ND,USA
WASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama has sent a video message to the people and leaders of Iran. He says the United States wants to engage with their …
www.kxmc.com/News/347254.asp

Iranian tip credited for hit on Syria nuclear site
Atlanta Journal Constitution – GA, USA
By Alexander G. Higgins AP Geneva —- An Iranian defector told the West that Iran was financing North Korean moves to transform Syria into a nuclear weapons …
www.ajc.com/services/content/printe
dition/2009/03/20/syria0320.html

Ben Smith’s Blog: A message to Iran – POLITICO.com
By Ben Smith
Ben Smith’s POLITICO.com blog on the 2008 presidential race, with a focus on the Democratic candidates. Includes political new coverage of primary and election races, and in-depth blog posts and stories on Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, …
www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0309/A_message_to_Iran.html

Obama Sends Iran Direct Message On Nowruz: It’s Time For A New …
By The Huffington Post News Editors
In particular, I would like to speak directly to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nowruz is just one part of your great and celebrated culture. Over many centuries your art, your music, literature and innovation …
www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/19/oba
ma-addresses-iran-dire_n_177202.html

The White House – Blog Post – A New Year, A New Beginning
By The White House
Translated “New Day,” Nowruz marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of the New Year for millions in Iran and other communities around the world. This year, the President wanted to send a special message to the people and …
www.whitehouse.gov/Nowruz/

In New Year’s message, Obama reaches out to Iran | The Cable
By Laura Rozen
President Obama tonight issued a notable video message aimed at the Iranian people and their government on the occasion of Nowruz, the traditional New Year’s celebration in Iran and across much of Central Asia. …
thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/03/19/in_uncon
ventional_new_years_message_obama_reaches_out_to_iran

Iran blogger jailed for Khamenei insult dies – Baltimore Sun talk …
By Researcher
Iran blogger jailed for Khamenei insult dies National/World News.
talk.baltimoresun.com/showthread.php?t=191130

US offers Iran a ‘new beginning’
BBC News – UK
US President Barack Obama has offered “a new beginning” of diplomatic engagement with Iran in an unprecedented videotaped message. “My administration is now …
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7954211.stm

Veterans of US Diplomacy Try to Revive Nuclear Arms Talks With Russia
New York Times – United States
A month ago, the Obama administration sent a letter proposing a dialogue on curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions that could diminish American needs for a…
www.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/world/
europe/20russia.html?ref=world

Global Voices Online “ Morocco: Cutting Ties With Iran
By Jillian York
Early last week, it was reported that Rabat had chosen to sever its ties with Tehran, after a diplomatic spat between Bahrain and Iran over a statement by an Iranian official questioning Bahrain’s sovereignty. …
globalvoicesonline.org/2009/03/19/morocco-cutting-ties-with-iran/

Pak-Iran-Afghan summit in Tehran to discuss regional issues: FM
GlobalSecurity.org is the leading source for reliable military news and military information, directed by John Pike.
www.globalsecurity.org/military/library
/news/2009/03/mil-090319-irna01.htm

How to convince Iran to forego nuclear weapons (maybe) | Stephen M …
By Stephen M. Walt
Dan Drezner is skeptical about trying to convince Iran to forego its
nuclear program, and asks us realists: “Why on God’s green earth would Iran ever accede to an agreement whereby it gives up any autonomy in its nuclear program?” …
walt.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/03/19/
a_realistic_approach_to_irans_nuclear_program

Israel Matzav: Iran financed Syrian nuke plant?
By Carl in Jerusalem
A report in a Swiss newspaper that quotes Iranian defector Ali Reza Asghari claims that the Syrian nuclear plant at al-Kibar that was bombed by Israeli jets in September 2007 had been financed by Iran (Hat Tip: Power Line). …
israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2009/03/
iran-financed-syrian-nuke-plant.html

Across the Bay: Iran Financed Syria’s Nuclear Project
By Tony Badran
A top-ranked Iranian defector told the United States that Iran was financing North Korean moves to make Syria into a nuclear weapons power, leading to the Israeli air strike that destroyed a secret reactor, a report said Thursday. …
beirut2bayside.blogspot.com/2009/03/
iran-financed-syrias-nuclear-project.html

United Nations Official Sides with Iran against U.S. and Israel …
By Allen
The New York Times reports that the President of General Assembly has publicly defended Iran’s rabidly anti-Semitic President against criticisms by the United States and Israel. Nicaragua’s Miguel d’Escoto Brookmann also supported …
www.onejerusalem.org/2009/03/united-nations-official-sides.php

Report: Iran bankrolling Syrian nuclear weapons project | Say …
By Last Best Hope
Israel estimates that Iran had paid North Korea between $1 billion and $2 billion for the project, Ruehle said. Israel has refused from the beginning to comment on, confirm or deny the strike, but after a delay of several months …
sayanythingblog.com/readers/entry/report_iran
_bankrolling_syrian_nuclear_weapons_project/

A Piece of BENEDICTUS Reflected in the News From Iran “ The Blog …
By CPO
A Piece of BENEDICTUS Reflected in the News From Iran. Posted on March 19,
2009 by CPO. Our production of Benedictus is particularly timely considering the news out of Tehran today. Consider this passage from the play, followed by this …
16thstreetj.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/a-piece-
of-benedictus-reflected-in-the-news-from-iran/

Lucianne.com News Forum – Thread
Tehran – Iran has arrested a number of people accused of setting up anti-religious and obscene websites as part of a foreign-backed plot to undermine the Islamic Republic, Iranian media reported today. (Snip) listed the initials of 26 …
www.lucianne.com/thread/?artnum=458698

U.S. plans soon to ease ban on contacts with Iran – GEO.tv
WASHINGTON: The Obama administration, in a sign of thawing ties with Iran, is likely soon to relax restrictions on contacts between US diplomats and Iranian officials, said a source close to the mat.
www.geo.tv/3-19-2009/37707.htm

19 March, 2009

US journalist held in Iran in ‘dangerous’ state
AFP
CHICAGO (AFP) — A US journalist who was supposed to have been freed from an Iranian jail has been reduced to a “dangerous” mental state by her continued …
www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/A
LeqM5gMFNSGnyfCKqEjyc30BMTXK4x8Lg

Iranian Blogger Dies in Prison
New York Times – United States
By Robert Mackey Human rights groups and an American-financed radio station report that an Iranian blogger, Omidreza Mirsayafi, who had been sentenced to …
thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/
iranian-blogger-dies-in-prison/?hp

Iran: Investigate Death of Political Prisoner | Human Rights Watch
By Human Rights Watch
(New York) – Iranian authorities should promptly investigate the death of Amir Hossein Heshmat Saran, a 49-year-old prisoner at Gohardasht prison, and provide full disclosure about his medical care while in custody, Human Rights Watch …
www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/03/19/
iran-investigate-death-political-prisoner

Jihad Watch: Iran says uncovers “anti-religious” Internet plot …
By director@jihadwatch.org
TEHRAN, March 19 (Reuters) – Iran has arrested a number of people accused of setting up anti-religious and obscene web sites as part of a foreign-backed plot to undermine the Islamic Republic, Iranian media reported on Thursday. …
www.jihadwatch.org/archives/025307.php

PRI.ORG | Britain supports civil nuclear program for Iran
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown says all countries, even Iran, have the right to nuclear power, and his country would help Iran achieve it.
www.pri.org/world/britain-supports-iran-nuclear-power.html

Epoch Times – Iran Uncovers Possible Foreign-Backed Internet Plot
By Reuters
Iran has arrested a number of people accused of setting up anti-religious and obscene web sites.
www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/13926/

Report: Iran bankrolling Syrian nuclear weapons project | Iran …
Iranian defector says Teheran poured billions into North Korean nuclear reactor reportedly destroyed by Israeli warplanes in September 2007.
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=
JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1237461628567

Israel Matzav: Destroy Iran’s nukes now?
By Carl in Jerusalem
(1) Urgently initiate a massive buildup of the conventional weaponry needed to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities and wipe out its retaliatory capabilities as well as arm Israel to the teeth. Also station Aegis anti-missile ships along …
israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2009/03/destroy-irans-nukes-now.html

Iran cracks down on anti-Islamic Internet sites | Library Stuff
By Steven
AFP – Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Thursday it has launched a crackdown on several groups who had set up anti-Islamic and pornographic Internet.
www.librarystuff.net/2009/03/19/iran-
cracks-down-on-anti-islamic-internet-sites/

Iran review preview… “ niacINsight
By Patrick Disney
The Obama administration’s Iran policy review, headed up by Amb. Dennis Ross, is scheduled to be completed by the end of next week. From media accounts and the Beltway rumor mill, we have been given a glimpse into what might come out of …
niacblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/iran-review-preview/

IRAN DECLARES ITS FIRST SATELLITE OPERATIONAL – David Pugliese’s …
By Dave Pugliese
The most news and entertainment portal from a Canadian perspective.
Television, major newspapers across Canada, health, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, free email and more.
communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/defencewatch/
archive/2009/03/19/iran-declares-its-first-satellite-operational.aspx

Power Line – Iran Financed Syrian Nuke Site
By John
An Iranian defector told the West that Iran was financing North Korean moves to transform Syria into a nuclear weapons power, leading to the Israeli airstrike that destroyed a secret reactor, a report said Thursday.…
www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/03/023116.php

EU-RussiaCentre.org
By Julia
Russia said yesterday that it had contracted to supply S-300 air defence missiles to Iran but had not yet delivered the weaponry that could tip up the military balance of power in the Middle East. Interfax quoted an unnamed senior …
www.eu-russiacentre.org/news/russia-iran-missiles-deal.html

The MEMRI Blog – Full Blog Entry
Call In Iran For Taking Administration Of Holy Sites Out Of Saudi Hands. The Iranian website Jahannews has called for revoking Saudi Arabia’s right to administer the sites holy to Islam in Mecca and Al-Madina, and to transfer the …
www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/14784.htm

Iranian blogger Omid Reza Misayafi dies in prison – City of Brass
By Aziz Poonawalla
Related – Facebook page calling for Iran to be held responsible for
Misayafi’s death. Also see excellent coverage at ReadWriteWeb by Marshall Kirkpatrick. UPDATE – badge courtesy of the Committee to Protect Bloggers.…
blog.beliefnet.com/cityofbrass/2009/03/
iranian-blogger-omid-reza-misa.html

The Spectator
In the Washington Times, Roger Chapin is one of the few who is thinking logically and rationally about Iran. And that leads him to conclude that Iran, which thinks logically and rationally about its wholly irrational aims and interests, …
www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/3457201/
the-iron-logic-of-our-current-nightmare.thtml

Global Voices Online “ Omid Reza Mir Sayafi, Iranian blogger Dies …
By Hamid Tehrani
In December, he was sentenced to two and half years in prison for allegedly insulting religious leaders, and engaging in propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Mir Sayafi was still awaiting an additional trial for insulting …
globalvoicesonline.org/2009/03/19/omid-reza-
mir-sayafi-iranian-blogger-dies-in-prison/

Iran blogger jailed for Khamenei insult dies: lawyer
AFP
TEHRAN (AFP) — A young Iranian blogger jailed in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison for insulting supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has died, …
www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article
/ALeqM5jeN5JSL-8KrCpfLmfSVdBQZ8Fgxw

Jailed Iranian Blogger Dies; Others Arrested
Voice of America – USA
By VOA News Iranian authorities announced a broad crackdown on obscene and anti-Islamic Web sites, as the lawyer for a jailed Iranian blogger says the young …
www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-19-voa45.cfm

US to attend Shanghai group meet with Iran
AFP
Iran usually sends an observer to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional grouping set up in 1996 as an alternative to NATO that would allow…
www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article
/ALeqM5hEeNKue6oLqD1jaHCtcXbCQJpZFw

Iran blogger dies in Evin prison
BBC News – UK
Reports from Iran say Omid Mirsayafi, a blogger who had been jailed for insulting the country’s ruling clerics, has died in Tehran’s main prison.…
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7953738.stm

Iranian Defector Reportedly Tipped Off US on Syria Nuke Plant
FOXNews – USA
AP GENEVA — A top-ranked Iranian defector told the United States that Iran was financing North Korean moves to make Syria into a nuclear weapons power, …
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509813,00.html

Khatami: Iranian opposition must unite to replace Ahmadinejad
Ha’aretz – Tel Aviv,Israel
By DPA Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami has called on all opposition groups to unite in order to replace President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the …
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1072443.html

Obama’s Allies: Iran “Executes” Blogger Critical of Government …
By Brian C. Ledbetter
No cause of death is yet known, but the Committee says torture of bloggers is common in Iran and they are usually placed in close proximity to the most dangerous criminals in any facility. Misayafi was sentenced in December to 30 months …
snappedshot.com/archives/3691-Obamas-Allies-Iran
-Executes-Blogger-Critical-of-Government!.html

Armenian News – PanARMENIAN.Net | Armenian News Agency – Turkey to …
Net/ Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said Tuesday that his ministry has already proposal to Iran about Nabucco pipeline project and is now waiting for Tehran’s response. Guler said he hopes an agreement will be signed as soon as …
www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=29597

Russia expected to deliver S-300 air-defence system to Iran
By Aharon Etengoff
Latest world, business, society, lifestyle, scitech and sports news— InstantNews.net.
www.instantnews.net/russia-expected-to-
deliver-s-300-air-defence-system-to-iran.aspx

Rescuing U.S. Foreign Policy (5 Questions for Leslie Gelb …
By Barbara Slavin
That’s the way to move them to help us on Iran and other proliferation questions. They don’t want other nuclear states, but they won’t accept the role of lackey by our side in dealing with these or other problems. …
www.britannica.com/blogs/2009/03/rescuing-us-foreign-policy
-5-questions-for-leslie-gelb-president-emeritus-of-the-council
-on-foreign-relations/

“friday-lunch-club”: John Hannah: “Two ‘over Assad’s head’: The …
By G, Z, & or B
The strategic dilemma that Hizballah’s strength already poses would escalate dangerously should the terrorist group — with Iran and Syria behind it — come to dominate virtually all the institutions of the Lebanese state. …
friday-lunch-club.blogspot.com/2009/03/john-
hannah-two-over-assads-head-hariri.html

OpEdNews “ Yes, The Weekly Standard Did
The authors rightfully point out that increased US troop strength could push some of the insurgent further west, close to Iran. The authors says this is a problem because we don’t have troops there and won’t anytime soon. …
www.opednews.com/articles/Yes-The-Weekly-
Standard-D-by-Jim-Dawson-090317-707.html

Global Voices Advocacy “ Omid Reza Mir Sayafi, Iranian blogger …
By Hamid Tehrani
According to the Human Rights activists in Iran website, Omid Reza suffered from deep depression in jail and was prescribed medications of which he apparently took too many. Dr. Hesam Firouzi, a jailed doctor and human rights activist …
advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2009/03/19/omid
-reza-mir-sayafi-iranian-blogger-dies-in-prison/

Israel’s American Chattel
The official reason for General Ashkenazi’s visit is to warn America about the threat that Iran presents to the United States. In reality, the general has been sent to stir up an American attack on Iran. The military/security complex …
www.prisonplanet.com/israels-american-chattel.html

Russia Confirms S-300 Contract With Iran | News From Antiwar.com
By Jason Ditz
A top Russian defense official today confirmed that a contract has existed for two years to supply the high-end S-300 surface to air defensive missile system to Iran, something which has long been rumored to be the case. …
news.antiwar.com/2009/03/18/russia-
confirms-s-300-contract-with-iran/

Israel downplays S-300 sale to Iran | Iran news | Jerusalem Post
Experts say Russian comments about existence of contract with Teheran may reflect trade-off with US.
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=
JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1237114860330

Report: IDF Chief Gave U.S. Fresh Intel On Iran Nukes Program …
American sources told the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan that Israel Defense Forces chief Gabi Ashkenazi provided fresh intelligence to the United States concerning Iran’s nuclear facility in Arak during his visit to Washington earlier this …
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/dubo
ard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3788673

Israel Matzav: Russia to sell S-300 missile defense to Iran?
By Carl in Jerusalem
This morning, I reported on the possibility that Israel could use ballistic missiles to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities in lieu of combat aircraft because Iran does not have any missile defenses. Now, al-AP is reporting that Russian …
israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2009/03/rus
sia-to-sell-s-300-missile-defense-to.html

Peak Oil News Public Policy; Political and Legal News Crisis …
By stu
Iran’s oil minister did not shrink from moral judgement of the world’s economic woes on Wednesday. Gholamhossein Nozari referred to “human greed which is at the root of the current economic crisis.” Oil ministers in OPEC have already …
peakoil.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=46964

Across The Pond | DW-WORLD
Iran Options Sought, Iran Options Received. Two weeks ago, I asked what options the U.S. had for dealing with Iran. Since, Michael has addressed one, and now my CQ colleague Adam Graham-Silverman has addressed some others. …
blogs.dw-world.de/acrossthepond/tim/1.7821.html

Imprisoned journalist’s father says she’s upset
The Associated Press
BISMARCK, ND (AP) — The father of imprisoned Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi says she is upset and frustrated that she is still being held in Iran …
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j
tc4ZPwAAlsEPOdCKWCJam-DLMggD9710VBO0