governmentality

Ahmadinejad: Obama is "Inexperienced Amateur"

When Obama outlined the U.S. nuclear policy this week, critics were listening carefully. But it might be that nobody listened closer than Iran, given their ongoing (and unclear) nuclear position.

Here's what a defiant Ahmadinejad had to say about all that:

"Obama made these latest remarks because he is inexperienced and an amateur politician," Ahmadinejad said on Iranian television. "American politicians are like cowboys. Whenever they have legal shortcomings, their hands go to their guns."

I don't know if the personal attack on Obama is right, but the second half is all too often true.

Read the full report at al-Arabiya.

Yemen Detains Iranian Ship; Questions Over Cargo

Today, Yemen's security forces detained a ship captained by an Iranian with 14 Pakistani crew members in Yemen's waters.

The ship, which state media said had entered Yemeni waters illegally, was held after fishermen reported its presence to authorities. The crew, 15 Pakistani sailors and an Iranian captain, are being investigated and the ship searched.

"The security apparatus in the Socotra archipelago does not rule out that the Iranian ship may have been involved in smuggling drugs to Yemen," the Defence Ministry's online newspaper said. It did not say when the ship was detained.

Strange that it's drugs Yemen is concerned about rather than, say, a major weapons shipment.

Read the full Reuters report here.

FM Lieberman's Friend, Spy Turns Ambassador?

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is trying to assign his friend and former spy, Reuven Daniel, to the post of ambassador to Turkmenistan. But for months, Turkmenistan is refusing to credential him.

"They are hoping that we'll take the hint and nominate someone else," one senior diplomat told Haaretz.

Behind the rejection may lie an embarrassing episode that has dogged Daniel for more than a decade. In 1996 the Mossad man was expelled from Moscow after Russian security forces caught him accepting classified satellite photographs from senior army officers. 

And it just so happens that Reuven has never held a post as ambassador before.

Oh, and, it borders Iran. 

When is Israel going to remove this clown from the Foreign Ministry?

Read the full report at Haaretz.

Another Summit: Ahmadinejad and Asad in Syria

So much for the improvement of U.S.-Syrian relations. Today, Ahmadinejad and Syrian President Bashar al-Asad met in Damascus. They each reacted strongly against the U.S. attempt to isolate each of the countries from one another.

This just goes to show that it will take more than sending an ambassador back to Syria to get Asad's compliance.

A defiant Asad said:

"I am surprised by their call to keep a distance between the countries ... when they raise the issue of stability and peace in the Middle East, and all the other beautiful principles," Assad said.

"We need to further reinforce relations if the true objective is stability. We do not want others to give us lessons on our region, our history," the Syrian leader told a joint media conference with Ahmadinejad.

And Ahmadinejad had his turn, too:

"Relations between Syria and Iran are brotherly, deep, solid and permanent ... Nothing can damage these relations," he said.

Read the full report at al-Arabiya.

Russia Delays Missiles to Iran for Technical Reasons

Iran is expecting Russian-made S-300 air defense missiles to Iran, but the delivery is delayed for "technical problems." But the news also happens to fall in the same week that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Russia in preparation for stronger sanctions on Iran. Coincidence?

"The delay is due to technical problems. The delivery will be carried out when they are resolved," Alexander Fomin, deputy head of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, was quoted as saying.

Russia's contract to sell the S-300s to Iran has raised hackles in the United States and Israel, which believe that Tehran could use the sophisticated air defense missiles to defend its nuclear facilities against attack.

Read the full report at al-Arabiya.

Iranian Police Attacks on Revolution Day

It's apparent that Iran still does not have any interest in public gatherings of any type where state intimidation and violence are not also present.

Iran’s security forces attacked a number of reformist leaders, including Mehdi Karroubi and ex-president Mohammed Khatami on Thursday as Iranians mark the 31 anniversary of the Islamic revolution, opposition websites reported.

Karroubi's son Hossein told AFP that his father was "not injured but his guards who were accompanying him were."

And how about this for a big thank you on Revolution Day:

Security forces detained the granddaughter of late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and her husband, the Jaras opposition website reported. 

Read the full report at al-Arabiya.

Iran to Hang 9 More Political Prisoners

Last week I wrote about Iran's execution of two political prisoners, who were part of the election protests. Of course, the charges were different.

Today, al-Arabiya is reporting that another nine prisoners connected to the election protests will be hanged.

"Nine others will be hanged soon. The nine, and the two who were hanged on Thursday, were surely arrested in the recent riots and had links to anti-revolutionary groups," said senior judiciary official Ebrahim Raisi, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Read the full report here.

Iran Executes 2 Viewed as Political Prisoners, 9 to Follow

Iran hanged two men today and sentenced nine others to death. Considered political prisoners by most, the state has called them "enemies of God" for their supposed role in an April 2008 bombing, but they were arrested during the protests against the presidential elections.

From the L.A. Times:

Mohammad-Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour were hanged before dawn for their alleged role in the deadly April 2008 bombing of a mosque in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, the Iranian Students News Agency reported, citing a statement by the Tehran prosecutor's office. The bombing killed 13 people and left 200 wounded.

Read the full report here.

Iran to Gulf Countries: No U.S. Strikes from Bases

With so many U.S. military bases in the region, Iran's parliamentary speaker, Ali Larijani, sounds like he's getting a little nervous about an attack on Iran.

"States in the region which house US military bases should know that these bases must not be used against Iran. The region should not become a launchpad for aggression against Iran," Larijani told a news conference in Kuwait.

It's a little unclear whether that is a plea or a threat. 

But if there are any bad feelings toward Iran in the region, you know who to blame...

"I believe that for the sake of having new military bases in the region... and control over its resources, the Americans and Zionists are trying to scare the region from Iran," he said.

"We feel that certain regional groups in addition to America and the Zionists are trying to create disputes between Iran and the states in the region. We will not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries," he said.

Never mind the fact that Saudi Arabia is beefing up its military arsenal because of Iran without an American military presence there anymore.

Read the full AFP report here.

Iran Prepared for Retaliation Against Ships in Gulf

Today, the Iranian defense minister warned the West that Iran is in a good position to retaliate against any attacks waged against the country.

Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said there were now more than 90 war vessels in the Gulf - a waterway crucial for global oil supplies - and that they had created a "military environment" there.

[...]

"What is the reason underlying the deployment of this many warships and what aim are they pursuing ... are they arrayed against Iran?" Fars quoted Vahidi as saying.

"The Westerners know well that the existence of these warships in the Persian Gulf serve as the best operational targets for Iran if they should want to undertake any military action against Iran," he said.

Read the full report at Haaretz.