Iran’s now illegitimate President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad just made the bizarre statement in the last hour that ongoing street protests really show that Iran is a democracy. I guess he hasn’t been to the ones where people are being beaten by police with clubs.
First read the passionate, informed blogging insider accounts from Khatami adviser Mohammad Ali Abtahi. Here’s a taste: There was a lot of difference between yesterday and last night. Yesterday Iran was joyful because of changing the fate. Every body participated in. But last night was a shocking and bitter night.
(To get a feel for what is going on in the streets of Tehran, watch this linked BBC video clip.) Last night in London after appearing on Keith Olbermann’s show, I got an email from a well-connected Iranian who knows many of the power figures in the Tehran political order asking to meet me.
I’ll be offline for a while as flying back to Washington. Moussavi has just called for counting of ballots to halt because of massive voter fraud. Rumors are that Rafsanjani was “detained” when driving to meet Supreme Leader.
While eating a London-style breakfast this morning at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in Whitehall, I read two major articles featuring long interviews with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy Just had this interesting conversation with Keith Olbermann on Countdown about the historic elections in Iran today. Historic because Ahmadenijad is getting election results that are just about impossible to believe.
I’m in London — but will be on Keith Olbermann’s Countdown (#4) around 8:20 pm EST. That’s right — 1:20 am London time. I’ll be speaking about the elections in Iran — which given what is being reported now as more than 47.
It’s hard not to be inspired by the story of Izzeldin Aboul Aish. A doctor who received his Master’s of Public Health from Harvard, Aboul Aish returned to Gaza to raise his daughters and help his people. He is widely known from his television appearances and practice in Israel.
An exceptionally cool BBC reporter dug into the YouTube video clip I posted yesterday of Saudis seemingly dancing along to a Michael Jackson song. This reporter said, hmmm…the sound seems odd — and found the underlying video (posted above) which I think is even more interesting.
I am here in London where I’m participating in an interesting forum sponsored by the Princeton Project on National Security and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Transatlantic Program, I’ve received not just one email — but three — from prominent insider journalists and policy hands that Jim Jones’ tenure as National Security Adviser is…
