Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast today told reports in Tehran that the anti-government demonstrations in Syria are part of a plot by the West to undermine a government that supports resistance in the Middle East [IRNA, 12 April].
Then Mehmanparast, during the very same press conference, characterized anti-government demonstrations in Yemen, Bahrain and elsewhere in the Arab world as Islamic awakening of peoples of the region against the West.
11 comments:
And he is wrong?
What about the million of protestors who came out in support of Assad that same day?
Whereas the small ammount of protestors who are against Assad have shot and killed police and soldiers.
So clearly by trying to spin this as a similar thing to what is happening elsewhere (yemen, egypt, tunisia, bahrain, libya) it is a plot!
Getting tired of this hypocracy on this site.
There is evidence of external participation in Syria, such as a well coordinated, military-like ambush of Syrian soldiers that killed nearly a squad.
As such, I think it overly simplistic and naive to juxtapose various opposition demonstrations in the region, in an effort to negatively portray comments coming from Iran's leadership.
Assad will soon attack Israel to save his nation. Israel will then free the Syrian people from their Iranian masters.
Anything that puts Iran or her allies in a negative light is a go for Mr. Nader..
It is widely believed that the Saudis and Jordanians are involved in whats going on in Syria by using their little clowns in Lebanon..Go figure...
It has been quite funny watching the different responses of various governments or regimes to the protests in different countries. Protests in Syria and Iran are bad, protests in Bahrain or Libya are good, protests in Algeria ???
To me, all these protests seem to be rather similar: ordinary people, especially but not all young people, are protesting against the rich and powerful. They want freedom of speech, fair elections, and an end to authoritarian rule.
Sria, Yemen, Egypt, Bahrain, Iran - all the same.
DC
The Arab Spring is real. People of the region, from Tunisia to Egypt, to Yemen, to Bahrain, to Libya and, yes, to Syria, have risen up against presidents-for-life and kings who know nothing but use of tyranny to stay in power. This wave will not be limited to these countries, and will sooner than later engulf other countries, including Saudi Arabia and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. We need to recognize this reality and stop siding with the tyrants, whether they are “friendly” (or khodi) tyrants or “hostile” tyrants. Otherwise, we will be caught in hypocrisy.
One more note: as I had said in a recent post on Arab Spring, what unites these movements are their anti-dictatorial characters and their yeaning for hope, freedom, and dignity. Some of the commentators of this blog put too much emphasize on foreign policy and foreign backers of these regimes as the root cause of the movement. I disagree. As important as those factors are, they are not the root cause. Otherwise, we should have witnessed the most intense movements in Iraq and Afghanistan that are occupied.
Dear Anonymous: April 12, 2011 1:44 PM
You are a buffoon. Do you honestly think that Assad will save his nation by attacking Israel? No! That would be the end of Assad's reign. And Israel freeing the Syrian people? That's even more preposterous considering the fact that the Syrian populace are extremely hostile toward Israel.
I can't believe I read that nonsense comment.
Hi Scythian,
I also thought Anonymous:1:44 PM to be crazy......but this poster may have a point.
What do all one party / closed society countries do when problems are encountered???
They can not look inwards for the cause of problems can they.....of course not, (they would be blaming themselves), the problem is always caused by another country / religion / tribe......is it not???
Just look at 95% of the responses here on Mr Uskowi's website.......every problem in Iran or throughout the Muslim world is caused by the US / Israel / West / Zionists.......will the Muslim world ever take ownership of problems it creates or is part of???
Anonymous:1:44 PM's point may be that Assad can bring his people together (stop the revolt now, for it will surely grow) by attacking Israel.....think what a victory (or even a partial victory / surviving) would do for Assad / Syria / Iran!!!
I also think that Iran is very happy with Assad keeping his foot on his peoples throat! If Assad takes a chance with picking a fight with Israel (although I don't think he or Iran has the courage to do so) and loses, he may have to flee to Iran himself!
If that ever happened, would Iran let the Syrian people have free elections or even anymore freedoms than they lack now???
Uskowi, thank you for maintaining this blog, I was wondering if you will continue to keep this website open if / when major violence begins again in Iran/Iraq/Persian Gulf???
Have a good day Scythian, and sorry about my enlish........my spelling and grammar are not so good.
Sazon
@1:44
Why would the Jordanians and the Saudis, both ruled by monarchs, promote and aid a pro-democracy movement in Syria? You think for one second that both monarchs want to find a successful wildfire of democratic movement spreading into their countries? Now if you were an Arab, I could make you believe that the Jews were putting something into the Syrian water supply. But I am sure you are not THAT stupid.
The movement has spread to Swaziland too - it is not only an Arab movement.
I fear most of these people who are hoping for freedom and democracy will be disappointed. Usually revolutions replace one tyranny with another, as in Iran in 1979 or Russia in 1917. Or countless revolutions in Latin America.
DC
Just because there is an arab uprising it does not mean it is happening in every country.
Syria is one of the safest countries in this regard, so many people came out in support of assad after a few thousand protestors came out in one of the most irrelevent cities.
Nader, what you are saying is true; the people want a democracy and all those things, but in syria the majority believe that Assad can deliver these things.
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