Women-only island planned in Lake Urmia

The Iranian government is apparently thinking about building a resort on Arezou Island in Lake Urmia (Urumiyeh), a salt lake in northwestern Iran.

A paradise for all lesbians, I guess!

Here's is the link to the story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070222/od_nm/iran_women_island_dc_1

Realistic BBC documentary about Tehran

Here is a link to a great documentary film about life in Tehran, that I believe portrays a realistic image of the city's diverse lifestyles. It's 90 minutes, but well worth the time.

Let me know what you'll think.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4679426685869498072&hl=en-GB

Persepolis featured in 58th Sapporo Snow Festival

The following is from the Festival's Webpage:

The Achaemenid Dynasty, also known as Persian Empire was blessed with prosperity. A world heritage site, Persepolis was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. The splendor of the Palace of King Darius I in Persepolis still magnificently stands before the visitors. The Golden rhyton, a very fine example of a drinking vessel in the gorgeous Achaemenid period accompanies the palace. It is displayed here made of ice on the center stage. This large ice sculpture enhanced by illumination and music invites you into the wondrous world of ancient Persia. The 2007 festival was held February 6-12.

Here's the link to Cultural Heritage News Agency of Iran (in Persian) covering the event:

http://www.chn.ir/news/?section=2&id=37260

Opinion: Uncertainty continues

I have been sucked into the news during the past a few weeks and have not updated the blog. I'm suspecting from now on we'll have more opinion pieces. I encourage you to participate in the debate. I have no clue what's going to happen.

But here's what I know: The U.S. is clearly making a case for justification of military action against Iran much like it did with Iraq. If the Americans don't see the spinning, then they just don't.

*First, American forces attack a diplomatic office (not an official Consulate) in Erbil and arrest Iranian IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) members. The Iranian government has officially confirmed the detainees as IRGC members and the Iraqi government protests the arrests saying that the Iranians were in Erbil at the invitation of the Iraqi government. By the way, Erbil is not some Shiite stronghold in Iraq. Rather, it's the capital of the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan.

*Next, in what American forces and media call a sophisticated and coordinated operation, seven American soldiers are lured passed a check point, surrounded and shot to death. Somehow, the soldiers' deaths are linked to the Iranians retaliating for the Erbil incident without any proof.

*All of the sudden an insurgent group that is initially reported to be Sunni tries to take over Najaf and allegedly kill Iraq's most revered Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Al-Sistani. Later the group is identified as some Shiite cult similar to Hojjatis in Iran (Surprise, surprise. Ahmadinejad is allegedly linked to Hojjatis as well!!!)

*In the meantime American choppers are crashing left and right, allegedly taken down by projectile objects that can penetrate armor.

*Finally, they come up with yet another catchy term EFP (like IED) and nameless Pentagon officials in Iraq show the press some pictures and documents claiming the explosives have entered Iraq from Iran, having been made in Iran and authorized to be used in Iraq against the American forces by the highest levels of Iranian government. One top American general dismisses the claim and the direct link with the Iranians killing American forces shortly after the circus with the nameless Pentagon officials. The White House insists that the Pentagon and the General's comments are not inconsistent with each other.

And the American public is eating it up once again. All this without any concrete evidence! Their claims are even more ridiculous than the ones they made against Iraq!!! Stay tuned for more...

Ray Takeyh's Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs

Here is the link on www.iranian.com to Ray Takeyh's prepared testimony before the Foreign Affairs Committee, hearings on "Understanding the Iran Crisis", January 31, 2007:
http://www.iranian.com/Opinion/2007/February/Understanding110/index.html

Ray Takeyh is the Senior Fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Below is a link to his CFR bio:
http://www.cfr.org/bios/9599/ray_takeyh.html

He is an expert on Iran.

Congressional Progressive Caucus hearing warns of US-Iran war

Click the link for feature story:
http://www.niacouncil.org/pressreleases/press523.asp