Kash of Kash's Newsroom, an Iranian blogger living in Canada, writes that the United States may be too late in trying for regime change inside Iran. A new Zogby poll indicates a strong difference in older Iranians' trust of the United States versus Iranian youth.

The difference, according to Zogby and we should know by now the Zogby poll is not the best indication of sentiment, might be attributed to "years of isolation, largely conservative religious leadership, and anti-U.S. rhetoric." Twenty-seven percent of Iranians polled indicated developing an arsenal of nuclear weapons should be Iran's top priority.

Also make certain you read Kash's previous post entitled ' President Bush is losing time (and the Iranian people).'

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That'll put a hurtin' on 'em.

PARIS - World powers agreed Wednesday to send
Iran back to the
United Nations Security Council for possible punishment, saying the clerical regime has given no sign it means to negotiate seriously over its disputed nuclear program.

I fully expect the mullahs to knuckle under after a fierce, sustained campaign of Strongly Worded Letters, Fiery Denunciations, and the Harshest Of Criticisms.

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IranFocus reports on Iranian human trafficking:

“Women and children are trafficked internally for the purposes of forced marriage, sexual exploitation, and involuntary servitude”, it said, adding, “The Government of Iran does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so”.

The annual report downgraded Iran to a Tier 3 trafficking country after “persistent, credible reports of Iranian authorities punishing victims of trafficking with beatings, imprisonment, and execution”.

The good news is that 3 Gulf countries went up to Tier 2 Watch List level level: Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Syria remain at Tier 3 with Iran, North Korea and Cuba. Complete listings are here.

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From Spiegel via Doctor Zin:

In a guest editorial in the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Knobloch wrote that neo-Nazis have stated their intentions of "showing their solidarity with the tyrants of Tehran" at the upcoming match between Iran and Angola in the eastern German town of Leipzig. The city is located in the state of Saxony, where the far-right, neo-Nazi National Democratic Party (NPD) won 10 percent of the vote in the last state parliamentary elections. Pockets of the state are a hotbed of xenophobia and it has also recently been the site of racist and anti-Semitic incidents at football matches. If a neo-Nazi presence is felt, Knobloch said, Germany could not just stand aside passively.

So, neo-Nazis hate Jews. The Iranian government hates Jews. Check.
Neo-Nazis mostly deny the Holocaust. The Iranian government denies the Holocaust. Check.
Neo-Nazis would like to install a Fascist government. Iran has a Fascist government. Check.
Neo-Nazis praise Hitler who tried to make nukes. Iranian President Ahmadinejad is oftened called a new Hitler and is trying to make nukes. Check.
Neo-Nazis are xenophobic, hate Middle Easterners and have been known to kill immigrants. Iran would love to take over the world (or at least destroy it) in the name of Islam. Oops.

Ok, I've got it now. Hating Jews is more important than your country being threatened by Islamism and nukes. I was just trying to work out that whole neo-Nazi hierarchy of values thing.

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Iran is claiming security and foreigners are stirring dissent. True, but Iran is not quite the model of political freedom either. All who have power fear loosing it, even the Jedi. (obligatory Sith Quote of the day).

NPR’s Morning Edition: Some observers fear a new round of crackdowns on intellectuals is taking place in Iran. They point to a prominent Iranian scholar who has been held in a Tehran prison for more than three weeks. The government has not leveled specific charges against the man.

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Amir Taheri has posted a response to Tehran’s Denial of a new law there alleged to implement dress codes by religious affiliation. I will quote him here as well as add links to the prior posts below.

Amir Taheri via benadorassociates.com: PRESS RELEASE: AMIR TAHERI ADDRESSES QUERIES ABOUT DRESS CODE STORY

by Amir Taheri
Benador Associates
May 22, 2006

Regarding the dress code story it seems that my column was used as the basis for a number of reports that somehow jumped the gun. As far as my article is concerned I stand by it.

The law has been passed by the Islamic Majlis and will now be submitted to the Council of Guardians. A committee has been appointed to work out the modalities of implementation.

Many ideas are being discussed with regard to implementation,including special markers, known as zonnars, for followers of Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism, the only faiths other than Islam that are recognized as such. The zonnar was in use throughout the Muslim world until the early 20th century and marked out the dhimmis, or protected religious minorities. ( In Iran it was formally abolished in 1908).

I have been informed of the ideas under discussion thanks to my sources in Tehran, including three members of the Majlis who had tried to block the bill since it was first drafted in 2004. I do not know which of these ideas or any will be eventually adopted. We will know once the committee appointed to discuss them presents its report, perhaps in September.

Interestingly, the Islamic Republic authorities refuse to issue an
official statement categorically rejecting the concept of dhimmitude and the need for marking out religious minorities.

I raised the issue not as a news story, because news of the new law was already several days old, but as an opinion column to alert the outside world to this most disturbing development.

Iranian author and journalist Amir Taheri is a member of Benador Associates.

Related original post , Update , Related somewhat similar Taliban law.

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As promised more follow-up on yesterday's post about the Iranian religious clothing issue.

This is Amir Taheri of Canada’s National Post Article on the “Iranian Uniform Law” published yesterday. Despite the fact there is some confusion about exactly what the law’s results will be, it is none the less disturbing given even a best case scenario.(quoet move to extended entry)

Others following include Power Line, Little Green Footballs and Allah at Hot Air who points out that I missed this article, it was part of the original two published yesterday. Hey, I can't be everywhere. We're not all Blog Gods like he is.

Some "informed" bloggers think(cough) because some of the details were wrong, this excuses the fact the pending law is oppressive even without those provisions. more...

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Caption needed!

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So you thought my comparison of the Nazis led by Adolph Hitler and Iran’s ruling government led by President Ahmadinejad was a bit far fetched? Think Again!

Free Republic : Human rights groups are raising alarms over a new law passed by the Iranian parliament that would require the country's Jews and Christians to wear coloured badges to identify them and other religious minorities as non-Muslims.

"This is reminiscent of the Holocaust," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, the dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. "Iran is moving closer and closer to the ideology of the Nazis."

Iranian expatriates living in Canada yesterday confirmed reports that the Iranian parliament, called the Islamic Majlis, passed a law this week setting a dress code for all Iranians, requiring them to wear almost identical "standard Islamic garments."

The law, which must still be approved by Iran's "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenehi before being put into effect, also establishes special insignia to be worn by non-Muslims.

Iran's roughly 25,000 Jews would have to sew a yellow strip of cloth on the front of their clothes, while Christians would wear red badges and Zoroastrians would be forced to wear blue cloth.

"There's no reason to believe they won't pass this," said Rabbi Hier. "It will certainly pass unless there's some sort of international outcry over this."

Hat Tip: Son of the Godfather.

Update : Some say this is not in the law. The Original story is here.

From the Jerusalem Post : The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations released a statement saying, "We have been seeking to clarify these reports but do not yet have confirmation. There are clear indications that various Iranian government agencies, including the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, are working on new uniforms to be introduced in the fall.

"While such legislation would be reminiscent of dark periods in the past, like the Nazi era when Jews and others had to wear identifying badges, it is also consistent with the racist and extremist ideology propagated by President Ahmadinejad.

We are monitoring the situation and seeking to ascertain the facts in order to determine the appropriate response."

Allahpundit is keeping us updated.

Debka Via Allahpundit at Hot Air : However, the law has not been finally enacted, and speakers in the majlis debate proposed that non-Muslim minorities be made to wear distinctive clothes, yellow being the preferred color for Jews.

The bill in question aims primarily at countering the revolt against black Muslim dress” as the hot summer approaches and Iranians – especially women - take to light clothing. At the end of the majlis debate, the final draft will be put to the vote; with or without the proposed discriminatory clauses remains to be seen.

Breaking : The latest report on this issue from The National Post here. more...

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Iranian President President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Via Yahoo News :

The Iranian nation won't give a damn about such useless resolutions,"

Others : California Conservative and Hot Air.

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1 They donated fifty million dollars to Hamas, I doubt they care about a measly one hundred and fifty eight million I say that out of shame that I just purchased fourteen crates of the finest iranian Caviar myself, as most people do when you go to the super market.

Posted by: davec at April 28, 2006 01:14 PM (CcXvt)

2 >>>>If leftist and Actors like Clooney finally see the evil genocide of Islamic Terrorism in Darfur they can also help with Iran.

shhh, quiet. If the Left finds out Ahmadinejad is on our shit list, they'll be forced to oppose us on it. In fact, lots of them already have.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at April 28, 2006 01:23 PM (Wu4Nk)

3 Action against Darfur, and sanctions against Iran maybe, but how dare you ask George Clooney to sacrifice his caviar! that is worse than nuclear terrorism, perhaps even worse than global warming.

Posted by: Jimmy the Dhimmi at April 28, 2006 01:48 PM (TSzYw)

4 Look, Ahmadjehad is pointing out the 12th Imam. Also, he looks just like Larry.

Posted by: Leatherneck at April 28, 2006 01:51 PM (D2g/j)

5 The way this maniac is pushing for a confrontation leads me to believe that our Muslim brothers here in the USA already have the potential of WMD's and if we (US) attack Iran it will be exactly what they want. Justifiable retaliation (Sorry, to much sand surfin today! :-]

Posted by: Vegas Vic at April 28, 2006 02:27 PM (rF8RF)

6 George Clooney's sentiments about Darfur, are the only sane statements he's made in a long time.

Posted by: davec at April 28, 2006 03:19 PM (CcXvt)

7 There's that finger again.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at April 28, 2006 05:56 PM (0yYS2)

8 Yep, that damn finger.

Really, who buys caviar anyway, except the the Clooney crowd? I don't even like the stuff.

Posted by: Oyster at April 29, 2006 06:20 AM (YudAC)

9 I love caviar, but I don't buy it, and even if I did, I wouldn't buy Iranian.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at April 29, 2006 06:35 AM (0yYS2)

10 There's that finger again! Maybe that's what George needs to prop up his sliding polls ...

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at April 29, 2006 09:32 PM (h4PzP)

11 NUKE IRAN

Posted by: sandpiper at April 30, 2006 08:12 AM (b1Fi6)

12 One ugly president.

Posted by: greyrooster at May 01, 2006 08:37 AM (XioYD)

13 Actually you need to get your facts straight. Iran is the only country exporting caviar right now because they are the only ones who have implemented a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora) approved protection plan against poaching and over fishing. All other caviar producing countries couldn't care less about poaching and over fishing. Because of this they are not allowed to legally export caviar. Also, Iran has some of the best aqua culture projects in place right now to protect sturgeon from becoming extinct. Before you go bashing anyone you need to get your facts straight.

Posted by: caviargirl at May 02, 2006 10:29 AM (hAyYR)

14 Go ahead then slurp up all the Terror supporting caviar you can afford. And NPR reported the story but did not put a link on the ATC site. So no other nations are exporting caviar from the Caspian except Iran. Seems I had that fact pretty strait and it seems to me no fishing is better than some fishing. Since we are talking about harvesting females read to lay. That should help species recovery, not! Most of these agreements have no teeth. There are agreements meant to slow and stop the depletion of ocean fish stocks as well however stocks continue to decline. Seems to me the best protection for Caspian Sea Sturgeon is to not fish em and kill the demand. CITES may help and I hope it does but it cannot help as much as no demand. Send me some links I'm interested in reading up. teh Caspian is the most damaged ecosystem on earth or close to it.

Posted by: Howie at May 02, 2006 11:09 AM (D3+20)

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(Islamabad, Pakistan) Pakistan's status as an ally of the U.S. seems to disappear when one travels into the hinterlands. Fundamental Islamic roots are deep and many in the population want Shariah Law imposed globally. I see this recent news as troubling.

From NewKerala.com:

Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) Minister Sirajul Haq said the public would confront those who remained neutral if US attacked Iran. "As a Pakistani, I announce that if US attacks Tehran, it would be considered as an attack on Pakistan and Peshawar," he said.

And from the Northwest Frontier Post (no link), it's reported that the goal is nation-wide Shariah Law and that Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is achieving considerable success at recruiting.

The NWFP Senior Minister Sirajul-Haq has said MMA government would pave way for enforcement of Shariah based on social justice to remove centuries old English system of human exploitation from the country.

MMA was gradually heading towards success and we would soon emerge triumphant in this mission, he added.

[ ... ]

On this occasion, eminent religious scholar and Muhtamim Darul Uloom Taleemul Quran Maulana Saleh Faqir announced joining J.I. alongwith 70 other Ulema and hundreds of students and followers by appreciating active role of the party for enforcement of Shariah in the country. A local political and social figure Bashir Shakargah also announced joining JI with his 72 supporters.

From Interested-Participant.

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From Reuters:

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran scoffed on Thursday at the idea of U.S. military action to halt its nuclear program and gave no hint of compromise before a visit by U.N. inspectors to assess Iranian compliance with Security Council demands.

Cross-posted at The Dread Pundit Bluto and Stop the ACLU.

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I seldom post over here at The Jawa Report, mainly because this site is usually flooded with quality posts, but I wanted to bring a matter to the attention of readers here. Much has been said about Iran's nuclear program, where it's going and what the intentions are, but I feel a key point is often missed.

That key point assumes Iran wants to acquire a nuclear weapon, which their own statements lead to that conclusion, and whether or not they will actually use a nuclear weapon if they sucessfully built one. That does not mean Iran equips one of their new Shahab class missiles (Shahab-3 has been announced and they working on Shahab-6) with a nuclear warhead and fires one into Tel Aviv, but the nation also has control over groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.

Lending even a small amount of radioactive waste in the form of a "dirty bomb" to either of those groups, not to mention any other radical Islamic group the nation at least supports ideologically, would change the face of this conflict and should rightly be considered when discussing whether striking Iran's nuclear facilities is in our best interests. This is not necessarily a debate of should we keep Iran from obtaining a bomb, the nation already has radioactive waste and with the announcement it will increase uranium enrichment more radioactive waste will be produced.

While a dirty bomb would create havoc wherever one is detonated, it is still a small type attack when compared to a suitcase nuke or a nuclear weapon. This is an important distinction to make because a dirty bomb would not do the damage to Israel that Iran seeks, and there is a religious belief it is the duty of the Islamic Republic of Iran to destroy Israel.

I believe Iran would have no qualms with sending a nuclear warhead into Tel Aviv because it is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's firm belief he must wipe out Israel to pave the path for the return of the 12th Imam. It is his religious fanaticism that is alarming and needs to be considered while his nation continues their pursuit for nuclear weapons. Unfortunately many naysayers fail to even bring this up in discussion perhaps because we don't fully understand the role of the 12th Imam and Ahmadinejad's own belief he is one of the chosen people to help the 12th Imam return, but we must begin to.

That said, there are many Islamic religious structures in Israel that certainly would at least be damaged in such an attack. Would the nation that wants to be the center of the Islamic world risk damaging where Mohammed ascended into Heaven to sit by Allah?

Contrary to what is constantly being reported, Ahmadinejad's own statements confirm his quest to destroy Israel, but Israel's destruction must come after the United States has been put to the side. At a conference in Tehran dubbed "The World without Zionism," the imagery that was widely reported and republished included a globe bearing the markings of the Star of David, which is of course also the markings of the nation of Israel, falling from the rest of the world. Cropped from most pictures was that a globe bearing the American flag was already on the ground and broken as Israel's globe was falling.

This symbolism of taking down Israel after the United States however isn't the only evidence Ahmadinejad seeks to destroy the United States first. Also at the same conference Ahmadinejad proclaimed "to those who doubt, to those who ask is it possible, or those who do not believe, I say accomplishment of a world without America and Israel is both possible and feasible.” Naturally the crowd also threw in England for good measure.

The three nations of England, the U.S. and Israel comprise of what I have termed "the family satan." I certainly don't believe any of those nations are actually satanic, but over the course of the past few years in particular Iran has ramped up the rhetoric citing all three are in the same satanic family. The United States is the "great satan," whereas I would assume England is the "mother of satan" and Israel is the "incestual offspring of satan."

It is this reasoning that I believe Iran won't immediately strike Israel but rather they would strike the United States if the nation acquires a nuclear weapon. Iran knows any attack on Israel would be met with swift retribution by the United States. It must therefore end the "great satan" from protecting the "incestual offspring of satan" before it can once and for all pave the way for the 12th Imam to return the Islamic glory to the world.

In the religious battle of good versus evil the imagery of Satan is strong, and so too in Shia Islam is the imagery of the 12th Imam returning to the Earth to help build an Islamic state. To those unfamiliar with the comcpet of the 12th Imam, think any other religious end of days scenario that involved a prophet, the son of God or any other religious entity reappearing to punish those who do not believe and reward those who do.

To some of us, this type of scenario is nothing more than a story passed down through time and warped through the many translations and interpretations all religious texts have been through. To others, the religion we worship is right and the end of days scenario written in our religious texts is accurate.

But there's a huge difference with those that believe our end of days scenario is accurate and the end of days belief of Ahmadinejad. Most Christians who are proclaiming this is the end of life on Earth or that the end is near don't actually feel that it is their duty to accelerate the end of days. As many end of days sites as there are on the Internet, very few actually state they want the end to come now, but rather they are exposing what they believe are the signs towards that advancement.

On the other hand, Ahmadinejad is a student of a religious belief that Allah wants his followers to wage war for his own fancies and die in his name; it is that belief that treasures death more than life. When he is not dropping notes to the 12th Imam who has been hiding in a well near Qom, Iran for centuries, Ahmadinejad is shining in divine light at the United Nations. Not only does Ahmadinejad feel he is chosen to help the return of the 12th Imam, he feels it is his duty and these notes he tosses down the well indicate he is trying to help the 12th Imam return.

We are stuck in a secular society, for good or bad that's for others to decide, that doesn't take into consideration the fanatical religious beliefs that predicate future events. In contrast, the government of Iran only knows religion and feels their own nation's quests are predetermined in an effort do Allah's bidding on this Earth. So while we as a nation and as an international community have now seemingly resigned ourselves to the fact Iran is a nuclear nation and while at least some diplomats, journalists and so-called pundits are resigned to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, we need to shift our discussion to whether Iran will use a nuclear weapon and if so, where would one be aimed.

I certainly believe Iran would use a nuclear weapon for the leaders of Iran see it is their religious duty to do so, and from the statements made by Ahmadinejad, I feel the United States will be the first hit in an effort to make the United States impotent in defending Iran's short-term religious goal which is the destruction of Israel. While other nations including Saudi Arabia realize Iran's nucler weapons won't only be pointed towards Tel Aviv, the same quieted condemnation out of the Middle East of Ahmadinejad's "wipe Israel off the map" statements at "The World without Zionism" conference will likely be heard, or not heard of course, if Iran were to strike Israel first. There is no better target for Iran to strike that would strike up the religious fanaticism the nation exudes than to strike Israel, but it must first eliminate "the great satan" from protecting "the incestual offspring of satan."

Posted by Chad Evans of In the Bullpen

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From the Telegraph:

The Bush administration is planning to use nuclear weapons against Iran, to prevent it acquiring its own atomic warheads, claims an investigative writer with high-level Pentagon and intelligence contacts.

The Iranian nuclear program must be taken out, and if the vicious current regime goes with it, so much the better. The risk, not only of the mad mullahs using nuclear weapons, but of their providing them to one of the terrorist groups they sponsor is too great. If it takes tactical nuclear weapons to accomplish the destruction of the Iranian nuclear threat, so be it.

Via Signal 94 and Stop the ACLU.

Also posted at The Dread Pundit Bluto and Vince Aut Morire.

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Via Captain Ed, we learn that the imagination continues to run wild in the Iranian mullahcracy - with (in addition to their religious dogma) the Iranians having announced successful tests, unverified by outside sources, of a stealth MIRV platform, a sonar-evading underwater missile that travels so fast that the cavitation alone would make it easily identified, and now a stealth 'flying boat', which they insist cannot be detected by radar.

Apparently, the Revolutionary Guards, the elite branch of Iran's military, have been holding their maneuvers -- code-named the "Great Prophet" - since Friday, touting what they call domestically built technological advances in their armed forces. If these people weren't so dangerous, they'd be nothing less than comical. It's hard to believe that these people are adults, they're more like children living in a child's world.

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