Security official urges U.S. to try to influence Iran public opinion

[bemildred]

A high-ranking Israeli security official has called on the United States and its allies to expand efforts to influence public opinion in Iran and to transfer messages to the public against the current Iranian regime.

During a meeting held recently with members of the U.S. intelligence and security establishment, the official said he does not believe the U.S. is doing enough to initiate dialogue or pass messages to the varied ethnic groups and dissidents in Iran.

The officials argued that greater investment in influencing Iranian public opinion could bring domestic turmoil that could topple the current regime. The Iranian population is only around 50 percent Persian, with Azeris making up 25 percent of the population, while Kurds, Arabs and various other ethnic groups constitute the rest.

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Fourth Russian shipment of nuclear fuel arrives in Iran

A fourth Russian shipment of nuclear fuel arrived in Iran on Sunday, destined for a power plant being constructed in the southern Iranian port of Bushehr, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/946345.html

[oberliner]

1. Things seemed to have quieted down on the Iran front of late

Do you think that something is going on behind the scenes?

Is it realistic to believe that the regime could fall from within?

[bemildred]

2. The current regime is not going to fall from within any time soon.

That is just propaganda and spook stuff. Iran is much more stable than lots of places. Ahm-an-idjit could get to spend more time with his family though. The US gov't seems to be having an internal struggle over what to do about Iran. It's always embarrassing when you blow your own foot off. My own opinion is that we should make nice and encourage the already well along process of modernization and westernization there. But that doesn't offer much self-aggrandizement or political advantage to the self-serving weasels in government right now.

[oberliner]

3. Iran Leader Under Fire for Gas Shortages

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's supreme leader Monday reversed a decision by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and ordered him to implement a law supplying natural gas to remote villages amid rising dissatisfaction with the president's performance.

The move by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a major rebuke to the hardline president, whose popularity has plummeted amid rising food prices and deaths due to gas cuts during a particularly harsh winter.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5imXEqij-rfAInRVIbydpLiTG78swD8UAB1DO2

Interesting to watch what is going on internally over there.

[bemildred]

4. It would not bother me any if that little weasel got to retire early. nt