Sunday, April 17, 2005
Iran: News and the matter of Iranian minorities
Regime Change Iran's weekly round-up of all matters Iranian is up. There are links to news reports from the last week, organized in categories: Iran's presidential elections, Europe's negotiations with Iran over the nuclear fuel cycle, the nuclear program in general, Iran's "troublemaking" elsewhere, U.S. policy toward Iran, resistance in Iran, human rights (and lack thereof) in Iran, and much more.
This story is not included, because it was published today.
Even as Iran has projected its power by funding groups such as Hezbollah, it may be vulnerable to insurgent minorities within its own borders. See, for example, this story about Kurds, based in Iraq, who are "dedicated to overthrowing the Iranian government."
The press and even analysts present our choices in dealing with Iran as bipolar -- diplomacy or overt war. The truth is, there are many ways in which we can coerce Iran to back away from its nuclear weapons programs, certainly including funding and even arming groups who will sap the strength of the regime. Indeed, the United States has admitted to funding peaceful opposition groups in Iran, much to the annoyance of the mullahs. What are the chances that this $3 million State Department program is the only support that we have provided to opponents of the Tehran regime?
This story is not included, because it was published today.
The largely Arab city of Ahvaz was calm on Sunday, with anti-riot police cruising the streets after two days of violent demonstrations.
At least one demonstrator died and eight others were injured in the protests, sparked by rumors that Tehran planned to decrease the proportion of Arabs in the oil-rich area near the Iraqi border.
Even as Iran has projected its power by funding groups such as Hezbollah, it may be vulnerable to insurgent minorities within its own borders. See, for example, this story about Kurds, based in Iraq, who are "dedicated to overthrowing the Iranian government."
Gulf News gained exclusive access to the militiamen as they trained for a full-scale guerrilla war that could send shockwaves through the region.
Rebel leader Ebrahim Alizada said: "Our armed struggle began in Iranian Kurdistan and will continue until we have freedom."
The fighters are members of Komala, a group of militant socialist Kurds dedicated to bringing down Tehran. Hundreds of young men and women armed with AK47 rifles, machine guns and RPGs are training in northern Iraq for this mission.
The press and even analysts present our choices in dealing with Iran as bipolar -- diplomacy or overt war. The truth is, there are many ways in which we can coerce Iran to back away from its nuclear weapons programs, certainly including funding and even arming groups who will sap the strength of the regime. Indeed, the United States has admitted to funding peaceful opposition groups in Iran, much to the annoyance of the mullahs. What are the chances that this $3 million State Department program is the only support that we have provided to opponents of the Tehran regime?
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