Roger Cohen back from Tehran

New York Times columnist discusses his recent reporting trip to Iran



"The End of the Beginning": Iran’s 1979 revolution took a full year to gestate. The uprising of 2009 has now ended its first phase. But the volatility ushered in by the June 12 ballot-box putsch of Iran’s New Right is certain to endure over the coming year. The Islamic Republic has been weakened. During one of the violent clashes here in recent days, I saw a member of the riot police confront a protester holding a cell phone. “Don’t take a photograph of me!” he yelled at the young man. “Why?” the man shouted back. “You’re not naked.” But the Islamic Republic is. Everyone knows where everyone stands; it isn’t pretty. All the fudge that allowed a modern society to coexist with a theocracy inspired by an imam occulted in the 9th century has been swept away, leaving two Irans at war >>>

from Ghormeh Sabzi
26-Jun-2009
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//www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3

by Dariush (not verified) on Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:15 PM PDT


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gol-dust

Mousavi was only the first step to regime change! Death t IRI!

by gol-dust on Fri Jun 26, 2009 07:41 PM PDT

Larijani and gang if compromise is because they are afraid of the collapse of IRI! They want to protect their own interests! Regime change is what they want now!

Cohen is just learning about the mollahs! Poor guy didn't know how vicious the mollahs are!


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Bijan A M

Only a blind

by Bijan A M on Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:18 PM PDT

would suggest that this uprising is about having a more liberal theocracy. To suggest people are risking their lives to have Mousavi as president is the ultimate demonstration of idiocy or outright intentional misleading of public. This is the same movement against oppression and for real democracy that 30 years ago was stolen by a bunch of ruthless, blood thirsty, hate filled, thieves.

There is no doubt their death is near. Let’s hope that the movement takes some quiet time to organize and resurface with vengeance to eradicate this tumor most efficiently with minimum loss of blood.    


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Even if Mousavi had won...

by ame (not verified) on Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:16 AM PDT

I wonder if this is more about wanting freedom and democrazy rather than a new president.


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Fred

Clueless not coming totally clean

by Fred on Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:11 AM PDT

Roger,  The Islamists’ capacity for violence is the only thing that you are willing to admit to have underestimated? How about your song and dance about religious freedom in the Islamist republic? no more talk of “Iran’s democracy”?


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