NYT: In Iran’s Streets, Aid to Hezbollah Stirs Resentment

[DeepModem Mom]

In Iran’s Streets, Aid to Hezbollah Stirs Resentment
By MICHAEL SLACKMAN
Published: July 23, 2006

TEHRAN, July 22 — There is a huge amount of anger here about what is happening in Lebanon, but it is not all the result of Israeli bombs, missiles and artillery.

“Of course I am angry,’’ said Hamid Akbari, 30, a deliveryman. “All our income is going to Palestine and Hezbollah.”

For decades, Iran has been Hezbollah’s prime patron, helping create it as a Shiite Muslim militia and then nurture it with money, expertise and weapons. But now that Hezbollah is in the midst of full-blown fighting with Israel, Iranian officials have been adamant in insisting that they had nothing to do with the events that set off the crisis.

Part of the reason may be fear, or concern, that the United States and Europe would punish Iran, if it were proved otherwise. But Iranian officials may have a wary eye on their public. In interviews in central Tehran Saturday, person after person said the same thing: Iran should worry about Iran’s problems and not be dragged down by others’ battles.

“We Iranians have a saying,” said Ali Reza Moradi, 35, a portrait artist who works in a small booth downtown. “We should save our own house first and then save the mosque. A lot of people think this way. The government should help its people first, and then help the people in Lebanon.”...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/world/middleeast/23iran.html?hp&ex=1153627200&en=70e1c0cde0073ad9&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[iconoclastic cat]

1. Cue the liberator-greetin', candy-and-flower throwin' kids...

whom Republicans want dead.

[VegasWolf]

2. LOL!! Iran will welcome Bush's occupying army with flowers! nt

[iconoclastic cat]

3. check my link, too. nt

[DYouth]

4. Well I am proud of Kos for defending Palestinians and Lebanese

Whereas Democrats who have coopted that website like Clinton and Feingold will not.

[iconoclastic cat]

5. Could you please elaborate? nt

[DYouth]

6. YearlyKos for one

Where the Establishment Dems came forward and basically acted as if they are the progressive blognets' best pals.

[iconoclastic cat]

7. Did you go?

I wish I could have, but alas, I have an infant.

[DYouth]

8. They showed parts of it on TV and internet nt

[Straight Shooter]

9. What's that smell?

Oh, it's the fishwrap newspaper. Nevermind.

[bemildred]

10. And the Mighty Wurlitzer spins on ,,, nt

[Ms. Clio]

11. gosh, Iran is so bad that its citizens speak freely about their concerns

to NYT reporters.

We need to liberate that country pronto.

[DYouth]

12. Well in the media's view Chavez is a dictator

So the chant of "evil foreigners" (except for Israel) marches on.

[Ms. Clio]

13. the media mostly constructs elaborate fictions

Welcome to DU, DYouth.

:hi:

[daleo]

15. Yeah, it is surreal. n/t

[pinto]

14. They're having a hard time affording oil on the market.

The discontent with foreign expenditures would make sense somewhat.

[me b zola]

16. What percentage of Iranians are non-Shiite?

Bush* and the Israeli government are trying to split the Muslim world. I wonder what percentage of Iran is non-Shiite.


Oh, and yes. We've seen this song and dance before. :scared:

[fujiyama]

17. I wish Americans

were just as sick having billions of dollars go to Israel, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other nations every year...oh yeah, don't forget that other place - Iraq! And of course billions more for a bloated defense budget which doesn't provide troops that do the fighting with adequete armor.

Iranians are a smart people and it's obvious they don't agree with their loony leader on everything. I hope we don't "liberate them" by bombing them though...

[Rex]

18. Okay Iran, so if America weens off sending funds to Israel

you all will just let Hezbollah die off or assimilate back into the community? That is pretty much what the nyt is saying is the forgone conclusion. Hezbollah dies in Iran, Syria and Lebanon and maybe if you guys help American and turn over OBL to us. Wouldn't that be a real deal?

IMO, Iran needs to disband Hezbollah worldwide and assimilate them back into the normal workforce. It is always the ordinary citizen that gets hurt the worst, no matter what country.