The three imprisoned women journalists were just released

I just found that they were released on bail. I guess that's good news, although you always have to question a government that arbitrarily arrests and releases its citizens.

I first reported on this yesterday. (see the post below)

Just posted on www.kosoof.com: Three women's rights activists arrested in Tehran

http://www.kosoof.com/archive/348.php#comments

Event Announcment: Society for Democracy in Iran's February 2007 program

Society for Democracy in Iran (Southern California) Presents:

Iran-US Relations & Their Effects on Iran’s Internal Affairs
Annual Conference at University of California, Irvine (UCI)
Local Dignitaries in Attendance
(Presentations will be in Persian)

Iran-US Relations & Their Effects on Iran’s National Interest
Hooshang Amirahmadi
Professor at Rutgers University & Director of Center for Middle Eastern Studies – Expert in International Relations

Iran-US Relations & Their Effects on Ethnic Conflicts in Iran
Mohamad Arasi
Author, Expert on Ethnic Relations in Iran –Chicago

Iran-US Relations, Freedom of Speech & Civil Society
Masoud Behnood
Journalist & writer – London, UK

Iran-US Relations & the Structure of Political Power in Iran
Farrokh Negahdar
Political Activist & Strategist – London, UK

Iran-US Relation & The issue of Energy
Mohamad Sahimi
Professor at University of Southern California (USC), Chemical & Petroleum Engineering

Date: Saturday, February 3, 2007 Time: 3:00PM-7:00PM
Place: Crystal Cove Auditorium at Student Center – University of California, Irvine
Direction: From I-405 or I-5: Exit Culver Blvd. – Right on Campus Dr. – Left on W.Peltason –Left on Periera

Iran's former Presidents concerned about the looming crisis, express their views

As the U.S. and Iran move closer to a possible confrontation over the nuclear issue, two of Iran's former presidents express their concerns and views.

Iran's 4th President and former Speaker of the Parliament Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is reportedly trying to persuade the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (boy he has a long title!) to give into some Western demands in order to avoid a showdown with the United States and save the Islamic Republic. Although conservative, Rafsanjani has consistently demonstrated his pragmatism ever since his days at the Parliament over twenty years ago. He is believed to be the most influential member of the establishment as well as one of the wealthiest (if not the wealthiest) Iranians living inside the country. Here is a link to the related Guardian's article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,,1998047,00.html

Also during the World Economic Forum meeting, Ahmadinejad's predecessor President Khatami today called for calm heads to reduce building tensions between the United States and his country over its nuclear program. You may read more about it below: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070125/wl_nm/davos_iran_dc_3

It appears that the Iranian leaders are beginning to feel the heat mainly fueled by President Ahmadinejad's rhetoric. I don't personally remember the last time that the Islamic Republic was facing such a grave threat to its existence from outside of Iran. Maybe during the Iran-Iraq war?!

What do you think?

IRANian AMERICAn observer will be away January 17-24

Until then...

Peace rally in Washington DC - January 27, 2007

Please forward to friends and family. These are critical times!

Here are the links to fliers:

English-
http://s3.amazonaws.com/unitedforpeace.org/downloads/jan27_half_page_local_contact.pdf

Persian-
http://s3.amazonaws.com/unitedforpeace.org/downloads/UFPJ_Persian.pdf

ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to stop war with Iran!!!

http://capwiz.com/niacouncil/callalert/index.tt?alertid=9239856&type=CO

SATIRE: Committee to raise $5 million for a monument to George W. Bush

A friend forwarded it to me. Enjoy.

Dear Friends and Relatives:

I have the distinguished honor of being on the committee to raise $5,000,000 for a monument to George W. Bush.

We originally wanted to put him on Mt. Rushmore until we discovered there was not enough room for two more faces. We then decided to erect a statue of George in the Washington, DC, Hall Of Fame. We were in a quandary as to where the statue should be placed. It was not proper to place it beside the statue of George Washington, who never told a lie, or beside Richard Nixon, who never told the truth, since George could never tell the difference. We finally decided to place it beside Christopher Columbus, the greatest Republican of them all. He left not knowing where he was going, and when he got there, didn't know where he was. He returned not knowing where he had been, decimated the well-being of the majority of the population while he was there, and did it all on someone else's money.

Thank you,

George W. Bush Monument Committee

P.S. We have raised $1.35 so far!!

Rafsanjani on the rise in Iran's political scene again

This man's hunger for political power is out of this world!!!

http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?page=article&id=2845

Surprise! Surprise! Israel denies plan to attack Iran nuclear facility

Come on!!! Has Israel ever confirmed anything?! Do you expect them to announce an attack in advance?!

Now that they're denying it, I can rest assured. LOL

They may be just bluffing anyway. What do you all think?

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aibeJDINhhzM&refer=europe

2007: Decisive year for the Israeli-Neocon Attack Iran Plan

Please read this. You may not agree with the author totally, but there is some truth to what he has written here. To those who think Democrats are less likely to go for an attack, please read as well.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/PrintArticle.php?articleId=4311