Category: iran

Trump theater

Waking in Washington to find the ceasefire he had brokered the night before had been violated by both sides, Trump told the media: “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”

That was Donald Trump on Tuesday blasting at Israel and Iran for not immediately honoring the ceasefire that he had brokered, announced, declared, ordered Monday night. Which got me wondering if Trump himself knows what the fuck he’s doing, happily doing the heavy bombing for Israel in its war with Iran, a chance to show off those mighty macho 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator “bunker buster” bombs, but to what end? Make sure Iran never gets to produce nuclear weapons? But why is it bawal for Iran but not bawal for Russia, the U.S., China, France, UK, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea? Kasi daw “terrorist” ang Iran. Pero di ba terrorist din silang lahat, frightening each other and the world with their nuclear weapons?

So today, Wednesday, the first item on my news feed is New York Post‘s “Trump nominated for Nobel Peace Prize over Israel-Iran cease-fire”.

In a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) recommended Trump for the prestigious prize “in recognition of his extraordinary and historic role in brokering an end to the armed conflict between Israel and Iran and preventing the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism from obtaining the most lethal weapon on the planet.”

Hmm. Did Trump agree to help out Israel with the proviso that all attacks would stop the moment he said stop! so that he could proclaim himself the great peacemaker of all time, even when he is nothing of the kind, and certainly not deserving of a Nobel? Will the ceasefire even hold? For good? Is it all just for show, to best Obama?

Unless, of course, he manages to take it farther, higher, and prevails on his BFF Bibi Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza and the West Bank, and to go for a two-state solution with Palestine. For real. For good. THAT would be Nobel-worthy. Bless Trump. Hallelujah Trump.

iran’s edsa moments

tulad ni reynz over at barrio siete, i’m impressed and overwhelmed by the sight of tehran’s streets teeming with protesting citizens, in the tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, and talaga naman, nakaka-wonder if this is iran’s EDSA moment, sabay merong touch of inggit, kasi, wow, we havent been able to raise such a crowd since edsa 1986 (i don’t know that edsa 2001, a poor sad crass imitation, drew as huge a sea of humanity).

but as the days go by, sa kakabasa at kakarinig ng tungkol sa sitwasyon sa iran, it’s looking more like a prospective tienanmen than an EDSA.   sana hindi.   but unlike EDSA, there is no split in the military, hardline authoritarianism rules, and soldiers seem prepared to shoot and kill if when ordered.   already there’s been some bloodshed but thank god not too much, not like tienanmen, not when the world is watching, thanks to the internet and tehran’s brave bloggers and tweeters.

for the latest news, i’ve been checking out huffington daily post where nico pitney is live-blogging the uprising.    ang daming nangyayari.   the street protests continue, the ayatollah will again address the nation on friday, and opposition leader mousavi threatens national strikes.

5:03 AM ET — Khamenei to deliver another address on Friday. That news comes via a very reliable Iranian on Twitter, who cites Iran’s state television. The same Twitter user also wrote earlier today about apparent plans for a broad strike being organized by reformists:

“Soon Mousavi will announce full national strikes, probably starting with Petrochemical – prepare for this… Expect food shortage – transport stoppage – money shortage in bank… Gov will respond with electric power cuts – prepare and have gas cylinders at home or gasoline for light/cooking… People of Iran – THIS IS THE DAWN – This is the new begining – have hope and prepare.”

biglang, uy, national strikes, just like cory’s civil disobedience campaign right after marcos was declared winner of the snap elections.   i wonder, will it get to that, or will the ayatollah blink and bend some to prevent the crisis from worsening.   whichever way it goes, nakaka-tense na nakaka-thrill, watching history in the making.   again, naunahan lang ako ni reynz.

… I cannot contain my apprehensive excitement, I have been glued to the monitor on my computer scanning every available news coming from Iran. Sometimes it makes me wonder if what’s going on in Iran is a prelude to what’s going to happen come 2010 Presidential Elections in the Philippines.

what’s going on in iran is certainly worth watching and learning from, so we know what our options are, not only in 2010, in case there’s also a failure of elections, but next month as well, in case gma  bestows a kiss on PALAKA and the lower house transforms into acon-ass.    maghanda tayo.   at humanda sila!