Bullies and thieves are the same the world over. Those who think they can maintain power by force are irremediably stupid. Far worse words might apply, but they ARE stupid.

Thank you for reporting to us, in what must be a dangerous behavior for you, requiring courage and a devotion to spreading the word.

But crushed it will be. Don't worry.

No matter who won, though we now know who must have. No government that resorts to this against its own people is legitimate.

The mullahs and president have destroyed themselves. I am wondering if they will manage now to keep their army under control. This is not Iraq. (and we should not, not, NOT intervene) These are people who had the illusion they had some say over their government and now have had it proved they do not. And I do not think they will be as callow as we were about it.

That would not only allow Iran to finish up the self-destruction it pursued through their Islamic revolution and subsequent 8-year humiliation by Iraq, but also might allow Israel to play a role in the region that could potentially help the US.

This result is better, to my mind, than any "reformist" victory. Behold your so-called islamic democracy: a crass joke of a dictatorship like the rest.

The state controls the means to disseminate information. Cell phone service is Tehran will remained turned off indefinitely and this will force protesters to find alternative means of communication. It's a tech savvy population; Persian is the third largest internet language after English and Chinese.

I was in China for the student-led protests in 1987 and then again in 1989. The feeling of exhilaration in taking on repressive state power is impossible to describe. The crowd gets a sense anything is possible and that leaves the authorities the choice of either backing down or firing on unarmed people. Beijing opted for the latter and recovered by ushering in unprecedented economic growth. Tehran won't be able to do that.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/13/iran-demonstrations-viole_n_215189.html

He's ordered a probe into voter fraud, thus admitting the possibility. And, perhaps, he's realized how stupid all this was as he would have remained supreme leader either way, had he let the people keep the illusion that their votes counted. Now it's too late. I wonder if he can get the toothpaste back into the tube.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8099952.stm

Fuck the ban, they're saying.

I like these students. They've got themselves some balls.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/15/iran.elections.protests/index.html

...who include some of the crowned heads of Silicon Valley, to show the mullahs what the Internet can do. Can Tor and darknets route around official jamming of communications?

These zionist controlled street thugs are not the government which liberals should support. Trust me, this will all wind itself down in a day or two. On this we can agree, a government less hostile to the Jews effectively becomes their puppet soon enough.

"Either way, have no doubt, the IRI, the Islamic Republic of Iran, is over. A leading cleric has already announced that we are no longer ruled by the Islamic "Republic" (jomhuri e Islami) but the Islamic government (hookoomat e Islami). Whether now or in a few months or years, the game is over."

what does this sentence mean?

""no longer ruled by the IRI, but the islamic government""??

is this referring to the ruling clerics/mullahs?

I was born in late 1980 [1259 in Iran - I think], so I find this very fascinating. I did watch "Persepolis", though.

I'm just wondering if American Fascist is a performance artist or not...

My first reaction to the democratic swell in the streets of Tehran is: why didn't this happen in the US when Bush &co stole the 2000 election in a theocratic putsch? I haven't heard any comments along these lines in the news yet.

Americans especially on the left should be ashamed. When Bush stole the election we did nothing. When Bush launched his illegal war of aggression some of us protested while the rest of you wagged your fingers and started lecturing us about the 60's. When Bush stole the election again, you sat on your hands. Of course you bought into the whole "Change" nonsense from our new fascist overlord, Obama.

The Iranians are showing us what "change" really means. It means taking to the street and getting your hand bloody. Americans have lost their spines and that's why change never happens.

"why didn't this happen in the US when Bush &co stole the 2000 election in a theocratic putsch?"

Because on nov 5th NOBODY knew who actually had won the state of florida. The difference between bush and gore was within the known margin of error of the counting machines, so the immediate reaction is "how do we figure this out."

In Iran it seems that the announced results defy belief, so the first reaction is "THIS IS @#$!% BULLSHIT"

oh the great american left.. again fighting for the small man in countires far, far away.. that they can't find on the map :-)

why applaud the CIA agents that are doing the same things they did so many time in the past.. Chile, Nicaragua, Iran, Iraq and the list goes on...

It's like you never learn...

Because on nov 5th NOBODY knew who actually had won the state of florida. The difference between bush and gore was within the known margin of error of the counting machines, so the immediate reaction is "how do we figure this out."

In Iran it seems that the announced results defy belief, so the first reaction is "THIS IS @#$!% BULLSHIT"

How come there was no response after "Bush vs. Gore". That's right Gore chickened out instead of calling for mass protest. Kerry did the same thing. Maybe I'm being too harsh, our leaders don't seem worth protesting for.

Did Iranians hire an American firm's voting machine?

Suspect election in Iran / solution: have results verified by old pal Jimmy Carter... ;^) --- found a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth