Broadcast 15 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Broadcast 13 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

In an article published today in the Jerusalem Post, Caroline Glick explains how the Saudis have backed away from their close alliance with the US and are using a policy of dual containment against the US and Iran, similar to the approach the US took to Iran and Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war. The article is here.

Broadcast 11 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

I don't think this video was made during Qasim's interview with The Guardian. It looks like file footage made in his office in Beirut.

Broadcast 11 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Jalal Sharafi, second secretary of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Embassy in Baghdad, who was kidnapped two months ago by American-led forces in Iraq, said last week after being released that he was subjected to the harshest torture by his captors.

Yesterday Red Cross officials in Tehran and also Iraq's ambassador to Tehran visited Jalal Sharafi in the hospital and saw the effects of the torture on his body. They confirmed that the wounds on the body of the second secretary of Iran's embassy in Baghdad were caused by torture done by American-led forces.

This reality, which is already documented by various medical evidence and has been confirmed by the Red Cross representative in Tehran, shows that the American occupying forces in Iraq have not only kidnapped the second secretary of Iran's embassy in Baghdad as well as five Iranian diplomats in Irbil, Iraq--a violation of international law in the area of diplomatic responsibility, including the Vienna Convention--but in torturing the second secretary of Iran's Baghdad embassy they have also violated international law with regard to the treatment of civilians, including the 1969 Vienna Convention, with regard to the rights of detainees.

Yet the American government, which considers itself a defender of human rights and international conventions, attacked and occupied Iraq with the slogans of democracy, freedom and the development of human rights. This shows the clear contradiction between the policies of America and the Western governments in dealing with international issues such as human rights.

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This piece is an example of the kind of anti-American propaganda that is so common in the Middle East these days. This sort of thing is profoundly damaging to American interests, prestige and influence, and it never stops. The US government should respond aggressivly to media assaults such as this, with more than simple denials. The American response to this kind of programming should be to get the Iraqi governmet or someone else who knows to state publicly, with names, who kidnapped Jalal Sharafi. Iif it really was the US, the US government should admit it and explain why.

The US government should also name the five Iranians who were captured in Irbil, give their names and state why they are being held. It is not enough simply to say they were not diplomats. This will deprive the Iranians of this incident as an excuse to boycott the forthcoming Iraq conference in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Our government needs to take seriously the fact with in the minds of millions of the people it most needs to influence, it has lost the moral high ground. This can be recovered with respect for the public, both in and out of the US, and simple candor.

Broadcast 11 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Female Announcer: The Tehran representative of the International Red Cross has confirmed the torture of Jalal Ashrafi, second secretary of the Islamic Republic of Iran's embassy in Baghdad, by US forces.

Peter Stocker, Red Cross representative, and Mohammad Majid, Iraq's ambassador in Tehran, visited Jalal Sharafi yesterday in the hospital. Sharafi had been detained for a period of time in Baghdad by American forces.

After carefully studying Jalali's medical report and the physical evidence of torture, the Red Cross representative confirmed the evidence of torture on his body, the holes drilled in his feet, fractures in his nose and neck, deep back wounds, bleeding in the digestive system and a perforated eardrum.

[At Jalali's bedside, unnamed medical worker explains physical injurie to Schtoker]

Female Announcer: After visiting Sharafi Stocker confirmed that the full results of the visit will soon be announced officially. Recently American forces arrested Jalal Sharafi, the second secretary at Iran's embassy in Iraq, for no reason.

[snip]

Male Announcer: A medical report has been prepared on Jalal Sharafi, second secretary to Iran's embassy in Baghdad. Today at a press conference in Tehran Sharafi discussed details of his torture at the hands of American soldiers.

Off-screen announcer: Today after many requests from domestic and foreign media, Seyyed Jalal Sharafi, second secretary of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Baghdad Embassy, who was kidnapped for 57 days and subjected to the worst torture, was brought from the hospital to the Foreign Ministry to take part in a press conference. He discussed the way he was abducted and tortured.

Jalal Sharafi: I was in a basement for more than 40 days and again they conducted the most severe torture there. They beat me with cables and the injuries are still on my back. An Iraqi continued the torture by beating me on the sensitive areas of my head.

An American said if I did not cooperate with them they would use dogs to rip my body.

Announcer: Mr. Jalal Sharafi's physician also said in this regard:

Physician: Psychologically he has undergone severe stress and is being treated to prevent this from becoming post-traumatic stress disorder; it appears that he will need months of psychiatric treatment.

Announcer with microphone: Tens of Iranian and foreign journalists filmed and photographed the injuries visible on the body of Jalal Sharafi, the kidnapped Iranian diplomat.

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US officials have denied any involvement in Sharafi's abduction.

Broadcast 11 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Broadcast 9 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Broadcast 9 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

This is Nima Chitsaz's English version of IRINN's reporting on this subject. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has already recommended that the world's gas exporters form an OPEC-like cartel. The Timesonline has more on the meeting here.

Mohsen Rezai's News Agency Baztab reports that 27 people were killed yesterday in a bridge collision between a bus and a truck near the Iranian city of Ilam. The fatalities were mostly pilgrims returning to their home city of Esfahan after visiting religious shrines, which were not specified in the report. The report said 15 other bus passengers were severely wounded. Police experts said the accident was due to speeding by the truck driver, who lost control of his vehicle.

Baztab's Persian report on the accident is here. Additional photos were published on the Baztab site here.

Broadcast 8 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

On 5 April in the New York Post Amir Taheri wrote of an expected crackdown on dissidents in Iran. The leading edge of this crackdown now seems to be taking the form of police pressure those who do not adhere to the Islamic Republic's idea of what constitutes proper attire.

Women are the obvious first target here, and in this report we are told of a new project to enforce public dress codes, beginning with women. This is happening even though when asked in 2005 as a presidential candidate if he would be imposing stricter enforcement on women's veiling practices if elected, Mahmoud Ahmadinezhad scoffed and said Iran had more important things to worry about!

According to this report an Iranian poll-taker has decided to add "moral security" to the list of Iran's social concerns.

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Announcer Farhadi: The project to deal with bad veiling is to begin on 1 Ordibehesht [21 April]. The Greater Tehran police commander said: The targets of the project to deal with bad veiling include wearing short pants, wearing short scarves that do not cover the hair, wearing short tight coats and short revealing garments.

Commander Raban added: Initially only improperly veiled women will be targeted. After the end of the project, in the second phase dealing with improperly dressed boys will be added to the agenda.

According to the Greater Tehran police commander, poll results show that 86 percent of the people want improper veiling to be confronted. In this regard 83 percent of the people believe that improper veiling endangers society's moral security.

Broadcast 8 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

In this English broadcast by newscaster Nima Chitsaz, Iran is essentially saying it can't lose by taking hostages. It can either hold them for ransom or release them and tell the world that this proves Iran is powerful, independent and peaceful!

How much power did Iran need to capture those 15 UK soldiers? They seem to have pulled it off with a fleet of less than 10 speed boats, coupled with careful timing and the element of surprise. This was done in waters that their own expert, Pirouz Mojtahedzadeh, has acknowledged to be territorially undefined, and in a context where similar security inspections of incoming vessels on behalf of the Iraqi government have become routine. Was this peaceful? The Iranians do seem to be independent--independent of all conventions for civilized behavior!

Broadcast 7 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Broadcast 7 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

This is IRINN Newscaster Nima Chitsaz's version of the Iranian reaction to the UK soldiers press conference

Broadcast 7 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Part 1

Part 2

In its efforts at damage control today to counter the wave of post-debriefing reports that it had manipulated and mistreated 15 UK soldiers after capturing them in undefined international maritime space and then claiming that they were in fact in Iranian territorial waters, Iranian TV broadcast a news report and then an editorial on its IRINN network to state its own positions. The broadcasts do not bother to deny that Iran kept the UK soldiers separated, isolated and subject to psychological pressure most of the time they were being held.

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Female Announcer: Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Muhammad Ali Husseini has said theatrical propaganda cannot cover up the mistake of the English soldiers and the violation of the Islamic Republic of Iran's territorial waters.

In a reaction to a planned press conference by the Blair government and the English soldiers Husseini said: The immediate transfer of the marines to a military base, the dictation of an agenda coordinated with the English and American media in the simultaneous broadcast of the goal-oriented press conference take nothing away from the evidence of the measures taken by the English soldiers to trespass on the Islamic Republic of Iran's territory.

Noting that the Blair government's unworthy tactic of putting pressure on its soldiers is nothing new, he recommended that the English government respect the national sovereignty of nations and international laws and stop trying to distort the realities in the minds of the people of England and the world.

Male Announcer: At a planned press conference at the Chivenor military base, six of the 15 released English soldiers retracted their confessions that they had trespassed on Iran's territorial waters.

From the time of their arrival in England until the time of the press conference these soldiers have been under military quarantine in South England and have been interrogated in justifying sessions with this nation's Foreign Service.

At the press conference the English soldiers used prepared statements that had been given to them. During their time in Iran these English soldiers repeatedly expressed thanks for the good behavior and intentions of the Iranians and they also admitted to trespassing by English soldiers in Iranian territorial waters.

Two of the English officers, who prior to this had admitted in Tehran to illegally entering Iranian waters, claimed at the press conference in Chivenor that Iranian forces had stopped them in Iraq's waters.

[Lieutenant Felix Carman speaks in English at UK press conference]

[Partial replay of Tehran "confession" with map by Captain Chris Air]

[Partial replay of Tehran "confession" with map by Lieutenant Felix Carman]

Male Announcer: The world's reputable media, contrary to the expectations of Blair government officials, disregarded the planned and staged press conference by the freed English soldiers. Many of the world's international news networks regarded this press conference as staged and described the contradictory statements there by the English soldiers as being completely without value.

English news networks such as the BBC and the American news networks such as Sky News, who are dominated by the Zionist lobby, made a top story of the news conference by the English soldiers.

Many of the people of the Middle East sent messages to the Al-Jazeera Network website describing the contradictory statements by the English soldiers as shameful. They said these statements were useless and an effort to cover up the English government's frustrations in the region.

[Second Clip]

Male Announcer: Efforts by Tony Blair to escape England's interventionist actions in Iran are the subject of our editorial today.

Off-screen male annoucer states editorial title: "London and continued anti-Iranian propaganda."

Female announcer: As expected, the English government pressured this nation's freed soldiers and compelled them to make statements against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

As soon as this nation's 15 soldiers were freed from Iran English officials put them in quarantine under severe pressure, and after 48 hours it put several of them in front of television cameras and forced them to deny in prepared statements the realities they had acknowledged in Tehran, and some of them even claimed they were mistreated in Tehran.

The important point here is to consider what objectives the English government was pursuing in holding this staged television event, during which some of the English soldiers seemed nervous.

Fayazi, executive director of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA): The propaganda and psychological war concerning the English soldiers was carried out despite the fact that all the mass media sensed victory and success for Iran in this episode. These soldiers were immediately transferred to a military base and after 24 hours they were put in front of journalists, although some of them were not present at the press conference, including the woman who was a part of this group.

An important point is that this action was entirely predictable. During his speech at the time of the announcement of their release the president of the republic asked the English government not to put them under pressure. It was completely predictable that through the application of pressure they would try to portray their detention differently.

Female announcer: What is clear regarding the arrest of the English trespassers into Iran's territorial waters is that the English government, despite the fabrications and media propaganda against Iran, resorting to making utilitarian use of the UN Security Council, even taking refuge with the EU and seeking help from Washington, was not able to achieve its anti-Iranian objectives.

Most political and media experts believe that in this episode London experienced defeat and frustration politically, ethically and in terms of prestige. Now England is trying, by creating a propaganda atmosphere and a new psychological war against Iran, to compensate for some of this frustration and humiliation imposed on the English government and especially Prime Minister Tony Blair.

[snip]

Male news announcer Farhadi: The admission by one of the English soldiers of spying near Iranian borders has brought England against another serious challenge.

The newspaper Al-Bayan reports that the measure by the English Sky News Network in disclosing that the English soldiers were spying close to Iran's border has faced the English government with new problems.

This UAE newspaper mentioned London's defeat in the crisis of the arrest of English soldiers and added that one of the arrested soldiers, in an interview with the Sky News Network before the arrest, admitted that they were gathering intelligence about the movement of Iranian forces.

This newspaper wrote that this interview showed that Iran was telling the truth about these soldiers and the statements by English officials are nothing but political buffoonery.

Broadcast 5 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Broadcast 5 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Announcer: A former US national security adviser said America has lost its position in the world and is now hated by nations. In his new book Brzezinski harshly criticized Washington's foreign policy during the presidencies of Clinton, Bush the father and especially Bush the son and said it has failed in the realm of international policies.

Brzezinski regards the Iraq war as a catastrophe for America; he has written that the Middle has now become a model for defeating American policies in the world.

The American national security adviser during the Carter administration cited the influence of the Zionist lobby in America's government decision-making as another important factor in the defeat of American foreign policy; he emphasized that the Zionist lobby has damaged Washington's policies in the Middle East.

Brzezinski mentioned anti-American feelings as a point of commonality among the world's nations. He said that nothing could be worse than that America be seen as a continuation of the era of imperialism with its present foreign policies.

***********************************************

This isn't much of a video. It shows Mr. Brzezinski speaking while a news announcer reads scripted remarks about him. You never hear his voice, which would not be understandable to many members of an Iranian audience anyway.

I haven't read Mr. Brzezinskis book Second Chance so I don't know how closely this Iranian editorial has summarized his views, but I do know these views are widely held, and they are the views the Islamic Republic tries to promote 24 hours a day. It is true however that George Bush has so many detractors that it has become difficult for him to wield political influence. His effectiveness has been compromised, and rational defense of his actions doesn't help much.

To deal with the problem, is the Bush administration using Nancy Pelosi in a "Good Cop" ploy? An article in the Asia Times by Sami Moubayed suggests this may be what is behind the Pelosi trip to the Middle East.

Broadcast 5 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Broadcast 3 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Announcer: The 19th meeting of Arab leaders, which was considered the most tumultous meeting in the most crisis-ridden conditions in the Middle East, was ultimately unable to clarify the outlook for the changes in the Middle East and Palestine, at least not for the Arab nation.

These sessions were attended by 23 Arab and Muslim nations; they were held at the Conference Center in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia. Other public figures including UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon, EU Foreign Policy Representative Javier Solana, Islamic Conference Organization Secretary-General Ihsanoglu and representatives from other nations attended as special guests.

Although the Iraq crisis is at the top of the political agenda in Iraq and the world, the agenda at the meeting of Arab leaders in Riyadh went in such a way that the King of Saudi Arabia's proposed peace plan for Palestine became the focus of the discussions.

The Saudi organizers of this meeting expected the conference to produce agreement on a new way to achieve reconciliation between the Arabs and Israel and to establish peace in the Middle East, but parts of the Saudi Arabia Peace Plan were opposed by the Israelis.

One of the requirements of the Saudia Arabia Peace Plan was an Israeli withdrawal to its 1967 borders and a return of Palestian refugees to their homeland in return for official recognition of Israel by the Arab nations. However statements by some of the representatives of Arab nations made it clear they are opposed to normalizing relations with Israel.

In this regard in a reaction to remarks by the Zionist regime's foreign minister on the necessity of normalizing relations with Israel before establishing peace, the Egyptian foreign minister said:

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abu al-Geyt speaking through interpreter: This is never acceptable to the Arab nations. When we achieve peace and when the land for peace program is implemented, one will be able to speak of normalizing relations.

Announcer: Even before the remarks were made by some officials from Arab nations, the obstacles to implementing the Saudi Arabia Peace Plan and normalizing relations between the Arabs and Israel were clear, because during the Riyadh meeting where the Arab leaders had on the conference agenda support for the proposed Saudi Arabia Peace Plan, the Zionists rejected the plan.

Shimon Peres said in a visit to the northern occupied territories:

Shimon Peres speaking through interpreter: The 2002 Arab Peace Plan presented in Beirut included positions against Israel. We can resolve the diffences we have with the Arabs over the peace plan through negotiations, not through dictating their agendas.

Announcer: These remarks by Shimon Peres were made one day after the failure of Condoleeza Rice's mission to create understanding between the Arabs and the Israel and they showed well that America and the Zionist regime are playing with the Arabs too; moreover they are not even committed to the plans they have presented themselves.

Broadcast 3 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Announcer: Four support units for the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant have gone into operation in the presence of first vice-president and the chief of the Atomic Energy Organization. They include an industrial water pumping station for the plant, a 400-kilowatt power station, a central cold water unit and a non-mineral water production unit.

In an interview at the site of the ceremony for the formal lauch of several of the power plant's support units, the chief of our nation's Atomic Energy Organization mentioned next week's announcement of good news for our nation with regard to the nuclear program. He said: The development and realization of the nuclear fuel cycle and the development of these power plant centers are the two principal objectives of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, and when they are realized we will be able to take effective steps in all areas.

Aghazadeh emphasized that the Bushehr Power Plant logistical units play an important role in the full utilization of this plant. He added: Already more than 92 percent of activities to put the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant into operation have been completed and the remaining eight percent has to do with preparations for starting this power plant.

He said if fuel is obtained there will be no obstacle to the full operation of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

Concering the Russian delay in the procurement of fuel for the Busheh Nuclear Power Plant, Aghazadeh said: In the next three days a Russian delegation will be coming to Tehran to sign an official financial agreement.

The deputy director of international affairs for the Atomic Energy Organization said there has not been any interruption in the work of completing the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. Saeedi denied reports that activies at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant had stopped.

He said: With the completion of the work of the Russian technicians at every stage, another group has been sent to Bushehr to do the next phase and will begin its activities. Noting that the task of completing this power plant is being done in stages, he added that the rotation of technicians is normal and is being done to complete the work on the power plant.

The deputy director of international affairs for the Atomic Energy Organization also said: Within the next three months there will be an international call for bids for selecting a site for establishing a nuclear power plant with a total capacity of 20,000 megawatts.

He said within the next month the exact location will be announced for the construction of a 360,000-megawatt power plant, which will be done by domestic specialists.

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An ISNA report is here.

Broadcast 2 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Female Announcer: Horror is one of the world's popular film genres. Films of this type flourish strongly in Hollywood and East Asia, but they have not yet found a firm foothold in Iran's cinema. Modaqeq has our cinema report tonight.

Male Announcer: Horror films are a popular type of film usually produced in large quantities whose significant works are small in number.

Cynthia Suri, American Film Director speaking through interpreter: The reason so many American filmmakers make horror films is the low budgets and the high profits. In other words these films can be made in a short time on a low budget and a high profit can be obtained.

Male Announcer: However one can also find other reasons for the mass production of horror films in Hollywood.

Cinema Critic Kamyar Mohseni: The famous American film critic Robin Wood firmly believes that for that atmosphere that they want to create for the people where the viewer is not secure, all American media owners have cooperated with the government in using these films to convey a feeling of insecurity to the people.

This insecurity is still something that must continue in the world to enable the advancement of many capitalist games.

Announcer: Horror cinema has been extremely successful in the last few years in East Asia, and Asia's fearsome production capability continues to supply material for Hollywood remakes.

Documentary filmmaker A.Y. Hu from Japan, speaking though interpreter: Horror is rooted in our culture. In old practices and literature in our culture, supernatureal works always have a special place. Of course on the other hand the good market for these works in the West, Asia and the Middle East must not be overlooked.

Male Announcer: Horror cinema, despite all of its success in Asia in recent years, remains unkonwn in our country and there are no more than a handful of films of this type.

Girl's Dormitory made in 1383 [21 March 2004 - 20 March 2005] and Coma made in 1385 [21 March 2006 - 20 March 2007] are two examples of efforts by Iranian filmmakers in the horror genre.

Cinema Staff Saeed Mostaghai: Fortunately the taboos are broken and horror films are now acceptable in Iran.

Reporter Modaqeq: Encouraging and promoting popular film genres that have been unknown in the country's cinema can certainly be an effective way to build audiences. Modadeq, the News Network.

Broadcast 2 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Female Announcer: Horror is one of the world's popular film genres. Films of this type flourish strongly in Hollywood and East Asia, but they have not yet found a firm foothold in Iran's cinema. Modaqeq has our cinema report tonight.

Male Announcer: Horror films are a popular type of film usually produced in large quantities whose significant works are small in number.

Cynthia Suri, American Film Director speaking through interpreter: The reason so many American filmmakers make horror films is the low budgets and the high profits. In other words these films can be made in a short time on a low budget and a high profit can be obtained.

Male Announcer: However one can also find other reasons for the mass production of horror films in Hollywood.

Cinema Critic Kamyar Mohseni: The famous American film critic Robin Wood firmly believes that for that atmosphere that they want to create for the people where the viewer is not secure, all American media owners have cooperated with the government in using these films to convey a feeling of insecurity to the people.

This insecurity is still something that must continue in the world to enable the advancement of many capitalist games.

Announcer: Horror cinema has been extremely successful in the last few years in East Asia, and Asia's fearsome production capability continues to supply material for Hollywood remakes.

Documentary filmmaker A.Y. Hu from Japan, speaking though interpreter: Horror is rooted in our culture. In old practices and literature in our culture, supernatureal works always have a special place. Of course on the other hand the good market for these works in the West, Asia and the Middle East must not be overlooked.

Male Announcer: Horror cinema, despite all of its success in Asia in recent years, remains unkonwn in our country and there are no more than a handful of films of this type.

Girl's Dormitory made in 1383 [21 March 2004 - 20 March 2005] and Coma made in 1385 [21 March 2006 - 20 March 2007] are two examples of efforts by Iranian filmmakers in the horror genre.

Cinema Staff Saeed Mostaghai: Fortunately the taboos are broken and horror films are now acceptable in Iran.

Reporter Modaqeq: Encouraging and promoting popular film genres that have been unknown in the country's cinema can certainly be an effective way to build audiences. Modadeq, the News Network.

Broadcast 2 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Announcer: The Chinese satellite called the Chang'e 1 will be launched in the second half of this year. This satellite will be capable of taking three-dimensional pictures of the Lunar surface and transmitting them to earth, and measuring the Lunar surface with a laser device.

The Chang'e 1 Satellite will analyze useful elements and existing materials on the Lunar surface and will use infrared equipment to study the distribution of these elements on the Moon's surface.

Other missions for the Chang'e 1 satellite will include studying the coarseness of the Lunar soil and helium resources.

The final phase of this satellite's mission is exploration and study of 4,000 square kilometers of far side of Moon's surface, collecting information about solar winds and study of solar activity.

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More details about this satellite are given at space.com.

Broadcast 2 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Broadcast 2 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

Broadcast 1 April on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

The UK reaction to the video was reported by the Scotsman here.

The reason is that the US is a powerful ally against Islamofascism. In a 31 March article in the Arab News Amir Taheri cites a number of examples in the region of this ideological trend. For example he quotes Iranian communist Reza Khosravi:

Reza Khosravi, a veteran of Iran’s Communist movement, cites history as justification for the left’s rejection of “banal anti-Americanism.”

“During World War II all movements of the left supported an alliance with the Western democracies led by the United States because the common enemy was Fascism,” he says. “Today, we are in a similar position. Progressive forces in the Middle East are threatened by an Islamist version of Fascism. An alliance with Western democracies is not only desirable but necessary.”

In a similar vein, he quotes Samir Qassir:

Samir Qassir, the Lebanese center-left leader, often spoke of anti-Americanism as “the last refuge of the scoundrel” in the Middle East.

“Politics is always a question of choice,” Qassir said in one of the articles before he was killed in a car bomb in Beirut on June 2, 2005. “Here in the Middle East we face a choice between democracy and alliance with the US on one hand and surrender to religious fanatics and terrorists on the other.”

Read the article.

Broadcast 31 March on Iranian state satellite TV (IRINN)

When the Islamic Republic wants to make a media statement, it often recruits antiestablishment Western intellectuals such as Noam Chomsky, Ramsey Clark or Zbigniew Brzezinski for appearances (usually in telephone interviews) on its television programs. Today in a program about its position on its abduction of 15 British sailors, IRINN interviewed former UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan Craig Murray along with two legal scholars in Brussels.

Murray has been critical of the UK's statements about this incident in interviews with a number of leftist media such as Antiwar.com, as he is in his own blog (www.craigmurray.com.uk). He was fired as ambassador to Uzbekistan for disagreeing with his government's foreign policy. Murray's comments in the interview were wise and well-informed, but he can hardly be called an unbiased observer. He was apparently interviewed in his office in England.

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Female Newscaster: The Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry has condemned the biased and interventionist statement by the European Union on the subject of the arrest of 15 English soldiers for illegally entering Iran's territorial waters. In this statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned the existence of decisive documents and evidence of the violation of Iran's territial waters by English forces, and it advised European and EU officials to refrain from making any ill-considered or irresponsible statements regarding this.

However in an exclusive interview with the News Network the former chief of the Maritime Section of the British Foreign Office said Iran has the right to arrest foreign forces who enter its waters.

Craig Murray, who was for some time the British ambassador to Uzbekistan, added that the government of England could solve the problem with the acceptance of its presence in the Iran's water and an apology.

London Announcer Korani: One week after the arrest of the British sailors who had entered our nation's waters illegally, the British government, along with this nation's media, continues to create a political and propaganda uproar against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In an interview today with the News Network Craig Murray, former chief of the British Foreign Office Maritime Section and former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, criticized the British government's position in politicizing this case and emphasized that Iran has the right under international law to arrest forces who come into its territorial waters.

He considered it essential to study the technical and legal aspects of the incident and believes that the hue and cry over the arrest of the British sailors has become a pretext for politicians who started making propaganda attacks against Iran some time ago.

When asked how he evaluates the reaction to this incident by the British government and media he said: It seems to me that England made a mistake in issuing a map claiming that its sailors were in Iraqi waters, because the English themselves drew these maps and Iran has not accepted the maps that have to do with Iran and Iraq. Iraq has not accepted them yet either, nor has any international body accepted them.

In other words no maps exist for the boundaries in the disputed waters and it is possible that each side might insist on a boundary that is not accepted by the other side. This position by the English government will only make the issue more complicated.

The English government could say it was in Iraq's waters and if is proven that they were in Iran's waters, they will apologize. If England adopts this position the problem will be solved.

At the same time, Iran doesn't need to keep the 15 English soldiers in custody any longer. The two sides can thus engage in political negotiations about this and calm the situation.

Concerning the British government's goals in creating a political and propaganda uproar against Iran, the former British ambassador to Uzbekistan believes the best thing is to forget all the other issues between Iran and England.

Everyone knows George Bush and Tony Blair have been trying for years to increase the pressure on Iran over various issues including the nuclear program. Iran's nuclear program is just one of these things. Therefore George Bush considers Iran to be a part of the axis of evil. Everyone knows Tony Blair supports America's policies, and this creates a problem for Iran.

We must now put these things aside because I say decisively that the people of England do not want to create problems for the people of Iran. For this reason all of those old issues must be set aside and we must focus our attention on this small maritime problem for study as an independent issue.

To begin the study the two sides must accept that there is no specific maritime border; the government of England and the naval forces of this nation had no intention of entering Iran's territorial waters and must promise not to repeat this. This is not that difficult to do.

Announcer: Craig Murray, who was once chief of the Maritime Section of the British Foreign Office and who has sufficient knowledge about the geographical differences of opinion over maritime borders, says concerning the way to resolve this case:

Craig Murray as translated by interpreter: The most important thing is to persevere and be cautious. If there are differences of opinion over maritime boundaries one must not pursue them because military measures there will not be useful.

When I was chief of the Maritime Section in the British Foreign Office we acted in this way, and therefore additional problems were not created there and I was not faced with problems of this nature.

This incident has not turned into a major problem so far. No one has been injured and thank God no one has been killed. Therefore everyone must help solve the problem logically.

Female Newscaster: Many Western experts and legal specialists believe that the English way of approaching this issue has been unprincipled and illegal.

Street Announcer: Some European experts and legal specialists have regarded England's way of dealing with the issue of its arrested sailors as completely unprincipled and illegal.

When asked for his judgement as a legal specialist about the behavior of the two sides in this incident, Oliver Kurtin, a professor of international law at Free University Brussels said:

England's behavior surprises me, because this is not an issue that can be resolved with force. Before any judgment one needs technical and legal data, and then the reasoning of the legal specialists will determine where the issue stands. Both sides of the issue must present evidence.

One the one hand some of the English sailors have admitted they were in Iran's waters. Even if they do not accept this, one can investigate. If I wanted to judge based on the English evidence and according to a few reactions, I could not make a correct judgment.

We noted that some American and German officials have made this judgment and have supported the English. This professor at Free University Brussels said: I do not know how they made this prejudgment without having the slightest evidence. It is obvious this is a political measure, not a legal one.

With regard to Iraq also the Americans brought some maps claiming there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, something that was completely unfounded.

Simon Peterman, a professor of political science at the University of Liege in Belgium, also criticed the English uproar and the utilitarian use of the media. He said: My advice is that London not make a situation difficult that can easily be resolved with talks, and send independent technical and legal experts.

Definitely London's appeal to the Security Council will produce no result for England, because this issue is being debated even now in New York.

Continuing, Oliver Kurtin said it is strange to refer such a request to the Security Council. He said: The English measure is in general unprincipled and disappointing legally.

If I were to judge this event as an attorney, in view of the fact that the English also went into Iranian waters in the past and promised not to do it again, I consider Iran's behavior to be in complete accordance with international law.

Imagine if the English also made a guarantee this time that they would not repeat this, what would be the executive support for that? The only to avoid violations like this is to do exactly what Iran did. According to international law Iran can try the trespasser in their nation's courts. This is the right of every nation including Iran.

Announcer: Islamic Republic of Iran correspondent, Brussels.