Iran Explodes

Another video claiming to be from today, Sunday - no violence. But if the crowds really are this big today, it's hard to imagine the regime tamping this down w/o major violence. scroll down for video.

Update: Warning graphic video content below - far more graphic still photo - Neda is her name. More at last link. There are no words.

 

Update: Second video from Hot Air below - more at link. You know what's striking for me? We're accustomed to seeing videos of Middle-east violence from gangs all carefully covering their faces, some in masks. They're often Hamas or Hezbollah, I know. Except for one or two which look more for tear gas, these people below aren't hiding their faces, even with gun fire at the end. It's as if they want to be seen and aren't afraid of being ID'd.

 

 

Update: Read the whole thing.

I don’t know where this uprising is leading. I do know some police units are wavering. That commander talking about his family was not alone. There were other policemen complaining about the unruly Basijis. Some security forces just stood and watched. “All together, all together, don’t be scared,” the crowd shouted.

I also know that Iran’s women stand in the vanguard. For days now, I’ve seen them urging less courageous men on. I’ve seen them get beaten and return to the fray. “Why are you sitting there?” one shouted at a couple of men perched on the sidewalk on Saturday. “Get up! Get up!”

Another green-eyed woman, Mahin, aged 52, staggered into an alley clutching her face and in tears. Then, against the urging of those around her, she limped back into the crowd moving west toward Freedom Square. Cries of “Death to the dictator!” and “We want liberty!” accompanied her.

Bumped: I want it above that unfortunate, but necessary crap below.

One report claims a suicide bomber blew himself up at a shrine to Khomeini. You can hear what sounds like gunshots in the video below. h/t Gateway Pundit who has much more. Adding more likes below in a few.

Too many fine links to choose from - suit yourself.

Some photos to see here -- h/t Michelle also blogging on Iran. New Ledger has some video from yesterday's speech by the ayatollah and more.

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Comments

[mark l.]

if it were a israeli hosptial, obama would hold the highest sympathy for the Palestinians driven to such acts of violence.

in this case, the suicide bomber, was performing an act, inconsistent with obama's wishes, and will merit no tears.

[lala]

Statement from the President on Iran
Twitter | 20 June 2009 | The White House Press Office

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary _______________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release June 20, 2009

Statement from the President on Iran

The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost. We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people. The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.

As I said in Cairo, suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. The Iranian people will ultimately judge the actions of their own government. If the Iranian government seeks the respect of the international community, it must respect the dignity of its own people and govern through consent, not coercion.

Martin Luther King once said - "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." I believe that. The international community believes that. And right now, we are bearing witness to the Iranian peoples’ belief in that truth, and we will continue to bear witness.

[Dan Riehl]

glory glory obaluja

[syn]

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." I believe that. The international community believes that"

Except for the Iraqi people whom Obama voted against time and again; according to American Liberals and International Bush-haters the Iraqi people don't deserve justice.

Thank you President Bush, unlike your political opponents you never betrayed justice instead you stood strong despite the vicious defeatists who attempted to tear down God's freedom.

[mike191]

The comments by syn say it all. For eight years the world entertained the litany of Bush haters and now when reality hits home liberty and justice become an afterthought.

[lala]

What did Pres. Reagan do -

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/06/18/obama-is-no-reagan-the-polish

[mark l.]

40 seconds in...

is the woman laughing?

[mark l.]

up until today's wh statement, I imagine joe biden and hillary had chewed halfway thru their tongues.

love to hear what a hillary on painkillers(broken elbow) iran policy speech sounds like now that the muzzle 'may' have come off.

the guy I really want to see? joe biden. obama brought him on board for foreign policy gravitas...let er rip, joe.

[Dan Riehl]

Mark - I don't think so - maybe a language and dialect issue - I think she's more upset, or panicked, than laughing.

[mark l.]

could be farsi for-
"I think I left the sunroof open".

[Reaganite Republican Resistance]

Our False Prophet appears to have no idea what a golden opportunity he's passing up… overthrow this evil regime without firing a single shot… get their Armageddon-inspired nuke program off the world stage… and free 30 million people all at one time. But the boy wonder is too stupid to see it… or somehow just doesn’t care?

And isn’t this what George W Bush told you was going to happen in the Middle East in the wake of Iraq's liberation?
Maybe that’s why Barack Obama has so little apparent interest in finishing the job in Iran… no matter how much it benefits the US and free world.

That, and the fact that he's already piled all his chips on legitimizing this vile regime- a democratic revolution at this point would be embarrassing.

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/

[Ad rem]

CBS's Mark Knoller has been "tweeting" all afternoon about what he thought was the day's biggest scoop. Alas, turned out to be only a "single" scoop, with hot fudge and almonds. Sleep well America, our media has you covered......

[Dan Riehl]

How pathetic is that, geez.

http://twitter.com/markknoller

[Ad rem]

Just In! I'm hearing that the ice cream in question was "Rocky Road to Socialism"......

[Dan Riehl]

Rocky Road? Andy will be upset he wanted them to bring him back some hershey .... no, I can't, I just can't. Sorry! heh!

[southdakotaboy]

I would call Obama retarded except comparing him to the mentally challenged would be an insult to the mentally challenged.

[mark l.]

caught the video of the girl dying in the street...

young, attractive, fearful,
bloody and dead, seconds later.

this is the holy grail of propaganda. the regime is done.

[PA]

ice cream == Obama's "pet goat"

[Manix]

Yes, Obama's refusal to rattle sabres and strike tough-guy poses over Iran is such an abdication of his official duties. I mean, look at all that was accomplished when Bush called Iran and North Korea part of the "Axis of Evil." OK, maybe nothing was technically accomplished, but at least the American neocons got off on it for a few days.

Or how about when George H.W.Bush's administration encouraged Sunni Arabs to rebel in Southern Iraq in the immediate aftermath of the first gulf war, and then sat back and watched them get slaughtered by Saddam's forces because they decided that they didn't really want to get involved after all.

The neocons are just looking to ratchet up the tension with Iran, because it's basically the only approach they know. They're always talking tough, at least as long as it's someone else's ass on the firing line.

[mark l.]

wow...fixxing every foreign policy decision against one president. no small task.

still got 42 to go. one thing the libs really need to do...
change the grease in their socks.

of course, they might be running the reelection campaign on the theme:
"obama, not the worst president ever."

companion book to support:
The bush years: all you need to know about US foreign policy.

[North Dallas Thirty]

"I mean, look at all that was accomplished when Bush called Iran and North Korea part of the "Axis of Evil.""

And, as we've seen in the past few weeks, there was a darn good reason for it.

The reason leftists and Obama Party members like yourself are trying to downplay and ignore this whole thing is because the same government that you said wasn't evil and should be negotiated with is now gunning down children and protestors in the street.

Which makes you and your Obama look like first-class idiots and naifs.

[PA]

Well, the "Guesser in Chief" has guessed wrong again and had to reversed course. Of course, here we're not out trillions of Spendulus bucks that were supposed to stem the job loss hemorrhaging and haven't done squat, so that's something.

[Bob]

I'm confused. Why is an earlier post of mine being re-posted verbatim by Manix (the one about saber rattling above)? That seems awfully odd.

And I feel I need to add how horrible those videos are. The one of the girl dying on the sidewalk was one of the most terrible things I've ever seen. From the safety of our own homes, it's easy to be caught up in excitement and optimism over what we might hope is the rebirth of democracy. But however it turns out, the reality can be so horrifying. We should never forget the human price that comes with these kind of events, and we should never cheapen it by trying to turn it into an opportunity to play domestic politics.

I'm sure that this is as horrible to the current administration as it is to us, and I'm sure that the president will respond appropriately. But in the face of these terrible incidents, all of the cheap carping is really disgraceful. Have some respect.

[North Dallas Thirty]

"Why is an earlier post of mine being re-posted verbatim by Manix (the one about saber rattling above)?"

Because you forgot which sock-puppet name you use when commenting on this blog. Or you neglected to change it.

"I'm sure that this is as horrible to the current administration as it is to us, and I'm sure that the president will respond appropriately."

Well, of course you're sure. Axelrod doesn't pay you to be unsure.

What is "horrible" to the current administration is the fact that the regime that they've a) spent so much time defending as rational and normal and b) spent so much time screaming that Bush was wrong for condemning as evil and hateful is in fact showing how evil and hateful it is and how rational and normal it ISN'T.

Meanwhile, Obama is responding "appropriately" for a PR-driven egomaniac, which is to put together media opportunities to whore out his daughters and dog and pretend that nothing else is happening, lest he be forced to admit that his view of the Iranian regime was, to be kind, naive.

[Old Trooper]

Manix, the Militias, Revolutionary Guard and Secret Police have ratcheted up the "tension" and you can check your hoss shit neocon business at the door. Your views are tainted with more than a little partisan poison. What is happening now in Iran is murder and mayhem. Do you approve of that or just show up with your Daily Kos talking points for your own amusement?

The press has been expelled because harsher measures will be used to quell the dissent. Having spent 12 years in the Middle East, I know what is possible and likely and you really don't. Women are second class citizens there and your perception of the horror has no foundation in that. The Militias and Revolutionary Guard will conduct their brutal business as that is for them "Business as Usual" and supported by the Mullahs. Human life just does not carry the same value there and females that express dissent are are expendable.

The election results will stand. Questioning the Status Quo will get you violence. Most Westerners are appalled but the Mullahs will retain power regardless of how many Iranian bodies will lie lifeless in the street. I am greatly saddened but you can shove your partisan politics up your @ss.
Dissidents will be rounded up and just dissapear. There is no Bill of Rights there. You won't know what the body count will be because the press will not witness it or report it. I don't expect you to understand that. The Holocast did not happen according to the Supreme Leader there and the execution of Dissidents "Didn't Happen" either. That is the very sad reality.

[Old Trooper]

BTW, these are folks that the Militias and Secret Police will eliminate in short order.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-PKIvKltDU&feature=player_embedded

They look like a real threat don't they?

[southdakotaboy]

Hey Bob why do you support the murder of women and innocent civilians?

I'm sure your going to say you don't, but since you support Obama and he supports the legitimacy of the current Iranian Leadership it means that you (as an Obama supporter) are supporting their murder of the dissidents.

[Bob]

"Hey Bob why do you support the murder of women and innocent civilians?"

southdakotaboy, if you want to have an honest discussion, then fine. But don't assault my honor with stupid bullshit like that. That's what I find so cheap and reprehensible about the behavior of people like you at a time like this. You can't simply express your sincere concern at the terrible mayhem in Iran without turning it into a platform for cheap partisan posturing. It's cheap. You cheapen the lives and the sacrifices of people who are going that so you can score some cheap political points. I suspect if ANYONE doesn't really care about the actual lives of innocent civilians, it's you.

[North Dallas Thirty]

Notice how Bob can only attack conservatives at this time.

He says nothing about the behavior of the Iranian regime that he and Obama support.

Again, Bob is desperately spinning a la Axelrod, trying to divert attention away from the fact that Obama supports and endorses a regime that, aside from denying the Holocaust, publicly preaching anti-Semitism, funding and supporting terrorist groups to destabilize other countries and kill unarmed civilians for merely being of the wrong religion or sect, and developing nuclear technology for weapons purposes, is now beating, torturing, and murdering its own citizens.

Because that makes it obvious how naive, uninformed, and narcissistic Obama is.

[lala]

Why can't we have a free press?

Violent revolution in Iran, Obama 'bearing witness'
Shame On You, Mr. President
Author
Nancy Morgan

Restore our Constitution
By Nancy Morgan Sunday, June 21, 2009

imageGraphic video of an Iranian woman being shot dead while watching the Iran protests with her father is sweeping the net. While Iran state media is doing its best to put a muzzle on foreign media reporting on the violent revolution unfolding in Iran, American media is under no such constraint. Americans are treated to the news that Obama is eating an ice cream cone. "

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/12161

[Old Trooper]

Bob, you have no Honor or Logic that meets reality so get off it. Your Partisan crap does not wash.
How many Innocent Civilians have You defended?
How many deployments do You have?
Feel safe Keyboard Hero?

Eat an Ice Cream and STFU, Dickhead!

Regards, Old Trooper!
Happy Fathers Day!

[lala]

In a rock fight 10,000 protestors win

http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2009/06/090621_ag_street_clashes.shtml

"There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the pretensions of tyrants, and reward the hopes of the

decent and tolerant, and that is the force of human freedom.

"All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: The United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will

stand with you.

"Democratic reformers facing repression, prison or exile can know: America sees you for who you are -- the future leaders of your free country.

"The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham Lincoln did: "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under the rule

of a just God, cannot long retain it."

George W. Bush Jan 2005

[Bob]

Attention, wingnuts. Here's what one of your own, George Will, says about you trying to turn the Iranian crisis into a petty and cynical opportunity to score partisan points (from Today with George Stephanopoulos):

"The president is being roundly criticized for insufficient, rhetorical support for what's going on over there. It seems to me foolish criticism. The people on the streets know full well what the American attitude toward the regime is. And they don't need that reinforced."

And you know, OldTrooper, we all do our part for society, and I'd personally feel kind of cheap to use my own contributions as a way to try to put some other citizen down. But heck, if you're a veteran, then good for you. I guess that makes you better, and gives you more of a right to have an opinion, than other people.

[southdakotaboy]

Hey Bob I am having an honest discussion. I'm making you face your self in the mirror. If it makes you uncomfertable tough.

[rasqual]

"But heck, if you're a veteran, then good for you. I guess that makes you better, and gives you more of a right to have an opinion, than other people."

Well hell, here's another South Dakotan who'll lock horns with you, if only to assert my support for Heinlein's wonderful notion that only troopers should have a full democratic franchise.

It's certainly not civilians I hold in contempt, though I was born and bred by none. It's merely those who hold non-civilians in contempt. That'd be you, Bobby.

[Bob]

Hey rasqual, your contempt is like a squashed grasshopper on on my front license plate for all the harm it does me. Pardon me if it doesn't keep me up tonight.

[Old Trooper]

Bob, I'm have first hand knowledge of that region and You don't.
It does not make me better but wise. Your partisan crap makes your opinions just crap.

[xerocky]

"And isn’t this what George W Bush told you was going to happen in the Middle East in the wake of Iraq's liberation?
Maybe that’s why Barack Obama has so little apparent interest in finishing the job in Iran… no matter how much it benefits the US and free world. "

Some attribute his lack of response to having a radical nature that agrees with the Mulahs, I don't see it that way, I see it your way. The democrats are shit scared that Bush may just in fact have done the right things and the meme of him having destroyed the world will go by the wayside, and right now that's all they've got.
This could spell disaster for the dems.

[Bob]

"Maybe that’s why Barack Obama has so little apparent interest in finishing the job in Iran… no matter how much it benefits the US and free world."

So, xerocky, tell us how you recommend that Obama should finish the job? Surely you're not suggesting some kind of military intervention, are you?

[Bob]

What's wrong, xerocky, cat got your tongue? Since you have so much criticism for Obama for not doing enough, isn't the onus on you to now say specifically what YOU'D be doing if you were in his place? Heaven forbid that your statements so far have been nothing but empty political posturing.