June 15/03: Winds of Change.NET Regional Briefings run on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, and sometimes Fridays too. This Regional Briefing focuses on Iran in the wake of 18Tir (July 9).
* Koorosh Afshar writes: "Our struggle continues. Are you hearing us?." Looks like Senator Brownback hears them loud and clear. How about you out there?
* Some good stuff in yesterday's Winds of War.
* U.S. Federal authorities investigating illegal arms shipments to Iran are scrutinizing 18 American companies alleged to have supplied prohibited parts for Hawk missiles, F-14 Tomcat, F-4 Phantom and F-5 fighter aircraft, C-130 Hercules transport planes and military radar. (Hat Tip: Iranian.com)
Other Topics Today Include: More journalists persecuted; MKO weirdness; Iranian bloggers discuss "should I stay or should I go" Khatami; Laleh & Ladan, sharia victims?; The meaning of freedom; A history of human rights; Jeff Jarvis admonishes Alireza; Get yer T-shirts!
* The Iranian authorities would rather you didn't hear much. More journalists arrested in Iran. Meanwhile, Pejman has updates on the Canadian reporter beaten to death in Iran's jails, as does On The Third Hand.
* Summaries of recent U.S. Radio Farda news reports, in English. Courtesy of Project Free Iran.
* Wow. You know it's bad when the EUroweenies have run out of patience with your regime. Even money says this frustration translates into... nothing.
* How bizarre are the MKO, with their mostly-female officer corps and their bases in Iraq? Wayyyyy bizarre.
* Hooman talks about the genesis of the Iranian reform movement, and the prospect of Khatami's resignation. Zanerani's comment on the situation is rather more pithy and to the point.
* Writing in the Washington Post, Afshan Molavi says: "the reformists have become irrelevant."
* Kaveh's commentary, meanwhile, centers around the wisdom of Pete Townshend.
* Was an Islamic Law ruling partly responsible for Laleh & Ladan's (the siamese twins) decision to risk surgery? Lady Sun also notes:
bq. "I see a big irony comparing the sad death of these most-ever-loved-in-Iran twins with the current events of Iran. Some people are ready to die for having their individuality back; some people are ready to kill, to take some others' individuality away."
* "This is freedom. Freedom is a word full of meanings. In some places freedom is closing the doors to music but letting humans breath. In others freedom is having a life with no remarks, no forces that tell you what to do, how to dress, or what not to write. I come from a country without freedom. That's why I know what freedom actually is." Read the rest. (Hat Tip: Jeff Jarvis)
* Once upon a time, this was a culture that issued one of the world's first declarations of human rights. May Iranian culture remember itself, win freedom, and rise to that level again.
* What do you mean, there was no intifada?
* "You see, Alireza, we must get past the obvious and the hateful if we are to make any progress.... Just because I do not like what Iran has done to my country does not mean I cannot sincerely offer that support. If based on history, I write you off forever and you write me off forever, we will never get anywhere, will we? Please don't spurn the hand that is offered." I doubt Alireza will take Jeff's attempt to heart either, but this point is worth making again. UPDATE: Round 2
* Psst! Want a T-Shirt or bumper sticker to show your support?








Even worse news about that mess concerning the photographer's sad death:
http://site-essential.com/blog/15Jul03.shtml#2280
It gets uglier and uglier!
Innouncement!!!
America's greatest strength, and its greatest weakness, is our belief in second chances, our belief that we can always start over, that things can be made better.