Island Dweller starts our work week off with thoughts on the Obama administration. Yesterday the tin can and string telephone down here at Shangri-La connecting me to Esteemed Associate began tapping. After picking up that soup can and pulling the … Continue reading →
While the President is furiously trying to figure out what cookies are and why his new website needs to have them deleted, our Secretary of State is ruining the entire planet. You might have missed this story even though its … Continue reading →
In April 1980, President Carter had reached a point he could no longer tolerate—52 Americans were still being held hostage in Tehran, Iran. He ordered a rescue mission. Contrary to popular right-wing culture, Carter did not do this as an … Continue reading →
Ah, the glorious arrival of Winter is imminent, when we have had so many days of below-freezing weather that the weeds and dandelions on the dacha lawn have all died leaving a glorious expanse of green grass that looks like … Continue reading →
The Czar is still so irate and humorless with the electorate that he is still willing to yield the floor. Today’s essay has once again been contributed by long-time minion Island Dweller. Dread and awful Czar:Being a life member of … Continue reading →
The Czar is still so irate and humorless with the electorate that he is perfectly willing to yield the floor. Todays essay has been contributed by long-time minion Island Dweller. The Czar always expected Japan would need to expand beyond … Continue reading →
The President. Sigh. Well, today, in response to scores of millions out of work and suffering, the President released his favorite beer recipes. Millions of Americans will now be back to work, you’ll see. And understanding the heartbreaking loss of … Continue reading →
With all the excitement in the news—whatever story floats your particular navy—one little item seems to be overlooked by most American news stories and frankly, it ought to be way more covered than Miley Cyrus cutting her hair short. And … Continue reading →
This cracked me up. At least some hacker out there has a sense of humor. Of course, ‘Puter wouldn’t be phased as he has no speakers on his computer and he ripped the internal one out after hearing the Brady … Continue reading →
The Czar was surprised to receive an email from Aaron Colohan, whom you will not immediately recall was the subject of a Czarish rant. The Czar doubts you readers will research this, so allow him to summarize. Mr. Colohan wrote … Continue reading →
Wow, it’s a really bad time to be President Obama, what with all these crazy decisions he made over the last three years coming back to bite him bad. He insisted that he could somehow make Iran break into a … Continue reading →
It’s okay, you can admit it. The Czar of MuscovyБожію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of … Continue reading →
With Iran directly challenging the United Kingdom by seizing its embassy in Tehran and multiple hostages, you might be interested in some 13-year-old relationship Herman Cain may have had with the former drummer of Cream. No, wrong Ginger. Anyway, Iran … Continue reading →
So why does Ron Paul continually insist that Iran is a threat to nobody, that their nuclear intentions are peaceful, and that the Taliban have never once attacked America outside of Afghanistan? Because any possibility that Iran is a threat, … Continue reading →
You might have missed this, what with news that Lindsay Lohan is having trouble with Playboy and Justin Beiber and Herman Cain finding themselves in a very strange situation, but if you read way down to the bottom you might … Continue reading →
Strange things are afoot. Rumors in certain circles are spreading that there may have been an unsuccessful coup attempt over the weekend. Something bad happened there, and it sounds like another piece of malware, possibly named Stars, is responsible. Ahmadî-Nezhâd … Continue reading →
You might be tempted to think these two entries have nothing in common with each other. You would be correct. One thing that continually irks the Czar is the painful inability of the main stream media to get their facts … Continue reading →
…Khamene’î worried? Via Michael Rubin @ the Corner. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →There is a joke once popular among Egyptians and more appropriate now than ever. Roughly translated, it goes like this: “The Angel of Death comes to Ḥusnī Mubārak, and says ‘It is time. Say good bye to the Egyptian people.’ … Continue reading →
CNN says “GOP senator: Consider neutering Iran’s ‘ability to wage war.’” The Czar could say “Democratic Senators: Recommend blatantly ineffective sanctions against Iran in hopes they just give up on a decades-old quest to achieve nuclear weapons, especially now that … Continue reading →
So how close is President Obama to President Jimmy Carter in terms of public perception? Although there are many superficial similarities, many on the Right are attempting to align the two men in order to promote the idea that a … Continue reading →
Apparently it is not going well in Tehran, Iran if you’re a computer professional. Iran has reportedly become desperate and is reaching out to computer experts across the globe, offering handsome rewards for assistance in clearing out the Stuxnet worm. … Continue reading →
Introduction The Czar is impressed with the Volgi’s story regarding the StuxNet virus, although it sounds like StuxNet is more of a trojan horse. (If readers want the best dope on high-end information security, as always your man is Borepatch … Continue reading →
If this is true, this is an amazing, ninja move. The implications are fairly terrifying, especially if someone develops a less discriminating version. Cyber security experts say they have identified the world’s first known cyber super weapon designed specifically to … Continue reading →
Oh, no, I see. Yeah, that’s not so good. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Such are promises. All lies and jest. That pretty much sums up the Obama Administration’s “win” in getting the United Nations Security Council members to agree in theory to meaningless watered-down sanctions. See specifically the chart at the end of … Continue reading →
Granted that almost all of Obama’s exciting, innovative “change we can believe in” turns out to have been exhumed direct from the sclerotic Seventies to stagger around like a rotting zombie in polyester bell-bottoms from some straight-to-video sequel, there’s still … Continue reading →
What a relief. I don’t know about you, but I lie awake nights worrying about Canadian uranium. I know these people. I grew up there. You have no idea what they’re capable of doing. If Sidney Crosby hadn’t scored that … Continue reading →
Remember the Obama campaign? Specifically for this discussion, recall that then-candidate Obama stated that he would engage in direct negotiations with Iran. Specifically, his website read as follows: Obama supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions.Now is the … Continue reading →
Read the whole thing, it’d have to be scissored into a couple dozen bits to get all the good stuff. Here’s the beginning. The first meeting of the loftily named U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission’s Civil Society Working Group took place … Continue reading →
The parallelism, excellent! We’ll pull out of Iraq, soon and responsibly (is there any other way?); also, we’ll close our eyes and click our heels together three times and wish upon a star over and over again until Israelis and … Continue reading →
Cross your fingers, folks. Update: Interesting live blog from Planet Iran here. Some excerpts already: * * 9:00 a.m. : The north western city of Tabriz is already in turmoil. People have attacked the P.A. systems and loudspeakers and broken … Continue reading →
Read the whole thing. A democratic revolution in Tehran could well prove the most momentous Mideastern event since the fall of the Ottoman Empire. A politically freer Iran would bring front and center the great Islamic debate of our times: … Continue reading →
Let me just add that part of Russia’s pique is due to the fact that Iran has been distancing themselves a bit from their former patron, due to having found a newer, deeper-pocketed partner in crime who hasn’t historically occupied … Continue reading →
Is that what Tōjō said to FDR? I forget. So Dr. J, the Gormogons’ mid-south operative, writes in with the following news story and some clever analysis reminiscent of that time he dunked from the foul line. Iran anniversary ‘punch’ … Continue reading →
The Mandarin and the Czar had dinner at an undisclosed location with an undisclosed member of the armed forces. Which branch? Undisclosed. The conversation turned toward Israel and Iran, and there is a growing expectation that Israel may make a … Continue reading →
Writes old hand Edward Djerejian: First, there was the overthrow of the shah of Iran by the Ayatollah Khomeini. Second, there was the takeover of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, by a group of Islamic extremists. And third, … Continue reading →
If the protesters shake off the yoke of theocracy and savagery, their success could herald the failure of political Islam way beyond Iran. At this turning point in history the West has no logical alternative but to unequivocally support the … Continue reading →
Well, if the good folks at Planet Iran are right, the mollahs are at least laying the groundwork for a, well, permanent vacation in sunny Russia. Here’s what they claim is a redacted document from the Iranian National Security Agency … Continue reading →
Well, it sure ain’t Mardi Gras. As we’ve noted hereabout, it’s very, very hard to know what’s actually going on in a closed society like Iran’s, but we can get an impressionistic idea with bootleg videos, blogging, and media outlets … Continue reading →
They looked around all the deserted lots outside Tehran, just in case they might find his corpse.They had no success whatsoever. But then over a month later, he called home with a faint voice, saying that he had landed in … Continue reading →
This summer, Iran detained three American hikers who allegedly strayed into Iran, accusing them of espionage. The hikers’ families just released a video they claim definitively shows the hikers could not have been spies. In the video shot a day … Continue reading →
The Russians may be aiding Iran in designing nuclear warheads. If true, look for an all-out Middle East war coming soon to a location near you. 'PuterAlways right, unless he isn’t, the infallible Ghettoputer F. X. Gormogons claims to be … Continue reading →
The Jerusalem Post has an editorial that discusses what would happen if Iran fully complied with nuclear restrictions. It is worth a read, but it is not necessary for you to do so to continue herein. The editorial makes the … Continue reading →
The Czar received an absolutely awesome email from ER today that is so good, he opted to quote it in its entirety. Some excellent analysis here on what an Israeli strike would mean, and ultimately what it might not achieve. … Continue reading →
And right on cue, Israel is ramping up pre-war rhetoric. Interestingly, Israel indicates no plan for any military involvement until after Yom Kippur, due to cabinet holiday schedules. And that delays things until later this week. Oh yeah—right on time … Continue reading →
The Czar is prompted to reply to his own post in order to respond to various emails, comments, and so on at once. 1. “Do you really believe war with Iran is inevitable?” By no means. The Czar would not … Continue reading →
Know this, all ye who tremble before the Czar, et cetera. There are no coincidences in foreign policy. Readers here know the Czar has been sharing a little more each day about the chessboard setup that is Iran. Chess was … Continue reading →
He begins: During last year’s campaign, Sen. Joe Biden famously remarked that, if his ticket won, it wouldn’t be long before “the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy” on foreign affairs. Last week, President Obama, brilliantly wielding … Continue reading →
Tom Jocelyn at the Standard writes a good post today on the fact that “Obama’s Popularity Abroad Does Not Equal Gains for America.” In short: his personal popularity has not changed any of the complexes of problems with which President … Continue reading →
FoxNews is reporting on a CNN interview—if you need to take a moment to follow that—with Russian President Dmitri “Side Dish” Medvedev,* in which Medvedev downplays the risk of an Israeli strike on Iran. In a carefully worded response, Medvedev … Continue reading →
Suddenly, Russia has an opinion? Fresh on the heels of the Czar’s revelation that there may be some ménage à trois between Russia, Israel, and America leading to an Israeli attack on Iran comes four more interesting events. First, Russia … Continue reading →
Rumors keep crossing the Czar’s butcher block desk that there is more to President Obama’s concession to Russia on the missile defense shield. Vastly more. The rumors, now buzzing on conservative radio, Israeli chat forums, and whispered discussions, suggest that … Continue reading →
Unfortunately on us. Prince Mikey G writes: Every time we try and capitulate, they slap us around some more. What fresh hell is this? Oh, well, Ahmadî-Nezhâd’s press advisor is claiming that we were offering to sell them some Boeing … Continue reading →
…made them feel secure enough to crack heads after the election fraud was revealed, says David Ignatius. One Iranian political figure has told a Western intermediary that the Obama administration may have unwittingly encouraged the regime’s power grab by sending … Continue reading →
Ha‘aretz is reporting some encouraging news, in that a senior US official believes an unspecified number of Arab states have agreed to make overtures to Israel, perhaps as a prelude to normalizing relations with Israel. Presently, only two Arab countries … Continue reading →
Neocon warmongering nonsense! Right? Right? And to echo the Czar, shukrân yâ Imârât! (شكران يا إمارات) Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →The UAE is not generally hostile to the United States, and while most people do not always recognize who or what the UAE are, they all seem to know about the manic, over-the-top construction efforts that range from man-made islands … Continue reading →
Geep—there is no coincidence. As revealed in the somehow-obtained memo from SoS Clinton, our North Korean parolees were hardly in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were intentionally breaking the law by crossing into and out of China … Continue reading →
The two young ladies recently freed by North Korea were lefty reporters for Al Gore’s liberal news outlet and money pit, Current TV. Two of the three hikers recently captured/abducted/arrested by Iran are screaming liberal, Bay Area, UC-Berkeley grad, freelance … Continue reading →
Two technically unrelated news stories caught the Czar’s eye today. First, we must mention that the people of Iran continue to speak. As a brutal, dictatorial regime swears in its so-called “president” after a sham election, the people of Iran … Continue reading →
“What we want to do is to send a message to whoever is making these decisions, that if you’re pursuing nuclear weapons for the purpose of intimidating, of projecting your power, we’re not going to let that happen,” Clinton said. … Continue reading →
No one knows how the current Iranian insurrection, triggered by last month’s disputed presidential election, will end. However, one thing is already clear: The doctrine of walayat faqih (“government of the theologian”), the cornerstone of the Khomeinist system, is dead. … Continue reading →
Writes John Noonan at the Standard. Read his comments, then come back. Ok? So, Hillary says: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Iran Wednesday that the United States would extend a “defense umbrella” over its allies in the Persian Gulf … Continue reading →
SoS Clinton is fuming mad! Those “friends we haven’t met yet,” Iran and North Korea, are going to be sorry if they continue on the road to nuclear weapons. Really sorry. Why, she’s so mad, she’s not even sure what … Continue reading →
Well, well, well. Looks like the New York Times is catching up with the Gormogons. And [the IRGC’s] aggressive drive to silence dissenting views has led many political analysts to describe the events surrounding the June 12 presidential election as … Continue reading →
The Czar is right. The nuclear genie’s long out of the bottle and is far less fetching than Barbara Eden. The Czar politely mentions the past difficulties between Burma and the DPRK. If the Volgi’s memory serves, these include the … Continue reading →
The Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, has amassed evidence of a sophisticated Iranian nuclear weapons program that continued beyond 2003. This usually classified information comes courtesy of Germany’s highest state-security court. In a 30-page legal opinion on March 26 … Continue reading →
Off the front page, of course, but check this out: When the hard-liners gave the traditional chant of “death to America,” Mousavi supporters countered with “death to Russia” and “death to China.” It was a reference to Ahmadinejad’s alliance with … Continue reading →
Is our offer to Russia (again). This time the president is stating it publicly: “I know Russia opposes the planned configuration for missile defence in Europe . . . I have made it clear that this system is directed at … Continue reading →
Your Volgi saw this story about the clerical establishment in Qom’s (the “q,” by the way, sounds a lot like a French or German uvular “r’) condemning the Khamene’i/Ahmadinejad faction in the sham election and thought, “Damn, that is a … Continue reading →
Long-time Middle East watchers (like the Czar) will note that the Saudis’ willingness to cooperate with Israel against Iran is, in fact, entirely within character. Saudi Arabia and Iran are bitter, deadly rivals who see each other as their main … Continue reading →
So evidently, Joe Biden has given Israel permission to take on Iran. By that, we mean hardball. Yeah, the US would like to see Iran negotiate, but “If the Netanyahu government decides to take a course of action different than … Continue reading →
So…well, well, well. All your Volgi’s giving the president the benefit of the doubt on his potential strategic reasons for not commenting on Iran seems to be in vain, given his intemperate and despicable “meddling” in the situation in Honduras. … Continue reading →
Abe Greenwald documents Bush’s Iran policy, which looks pretty good at this remove. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →They headline their Saturday editorial: Iran’s LessonsShouldn’t ‘realism’ mandate regime change? And they conclude: Still, by now it ought to be clear that the best chance to protect what Mr. Obama calls “core U.S. security interests” lies in a victory … Continue reading →
Quoth Maurice “Snoopy” Miller in Steven Soderbergh’s brilliant adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s Out of Sight (1998). And, indeed, unlike the film’s anti-ish hero, Jack Foley, and despite his heretofore increasingly vocal criticism and defiance of the régime, Mîr-Ḥusayn Mûsavî hath … Continue reading →
CHICAGO – Chicago White Sox front office spokesman Scott Reifert announced today that fans attending a July 11 twin bill versus the Minnesota Twins at US Cellular Field will receive a free commemorative mini-bat, unlimited ten cent Budweiser, and up … Continue reading →
And thus spake Ayatollah Ahmad Khātamī to the Iranian people: “I want the judiciary to punish leading rioters firmly and without showing any mercy to teach everyone a lesson.” And so said Benjamin Franklin when a similar threat was issued … Continue reading →
A video and some articles for clicking through if work is slow, or if you find yourself belangoured on the weekend. On Pajamas TV, FotG David Frum continues his argument for the GOP’s forming “new majority” by presenting itself differently … Continue reading →
A great deal is being made about the role Twitter is playing in the Iranian turmoil. The Czar quickly decided to investigate how great this role is. The following dispatch arrived from our okhrana, which makes the Czar wonder if … Continue reading →
Pray for Iran. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →In another stunning show of amateurism, the White House is no longer offering invitations for Iranians to visit any July 4th celebrations around the world (see your Volgi, below, for a similar degree of shock). This is in response to … Continue reading →
The Iranian government’s Fourth-of-July invitations have been rescinded, conveys Mike Goldberg, again with some vociferous commentary. The hot dog diplomacy was a symbol of this administration’s naive faith in the power of diplomacy and in their own power of persuasion. … Continue reading →
In an open love letter to POTUS Obama, Aaron Colohan of the Richmond Liberal Examiner opines that the President is doing a fine job of managing both Iran and North Korea, even though they are two very different countries. The … Continue reading →
…who dared to wear green wristbands. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Maybe, but Mike Goldfarb says, “Why the hell can’t he get it right the first time? Again?!” Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →More credit where it’s due. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →If the protests fail, this guy’s on the short list for a bullet in the head if he ever goes back: “The principle of Velayat e-Faqih is neither intuitively obvious nor rationally necessary,” Mr. Kadivar wrote. “It is neither a … Continue reading →
The Mandarin says it’s like trying to nail jello to a tree. One assumes he may have done such a thing. The Czar has not, but agrees in theory: the more the Iranian government tries to suppress access to the … Continue reading →
Great piece by the often-deranged Christopher Hitchens. He’s dead right, incidentally. Britain was the grand villain in Middle Eastern conspiracy theory until the ’70s, when the U.S. largely took over. But that doesn’t mean the Queen and the rest of … Continue reading →
Iran’s charging families three grand for the bullet that killed their kid. (The family doesn’t get the bullet—they get the body.) Back in the old days, the Chinese bullet fee (子弹费) was only $38. The Chinese must be kicking themselves. … Continue reading →
Ladies & Gentlemen, your Department of State: WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States said Monday its invitations were still standing for Iranian diplomats to attend July 4 celebrations at US embassies despite the crackdown on opposition supporters.President Barack Obama’s administration … Continue reading →
Rico Suave Lowry makes a very good point: 2) It may be that what we are witnessing here is a devilishly shrewd and effective crackdown, featuring a technological clampdown, targeted arrests at night, and brutality that falls shorts (for now) … Continue reading →
…because he’s more sympathetic to them than the people. So argues Andy McCarthy: It’s a mistake to perceive this as “weakness” in Obama. It would have been weakness for him to flit over to the freedom fighters’ side the minute … Continue reading →
In support of the revolutionaries in Iran. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →Here in the Standard. Here in the NYT. Mr. Gerecht notes that “Command the good; forbid the evil,” has been the religious-ideological justification for the “Islamic Republic.” One wonders if the ḥadîth, “My community will never agree upon an error,” … Continue reading →
Stronger statement today. Still a little timid for your Volgi who thinks we can be more forthright without coming across as manipulative or “meddling.” But credit where it’s due: moving belatedly in the right direction. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent … Continue reading →
Iran rips Britain, and Britain rips ‘em right back. See, State Department? That’s how you send a message to the protestors. Promising that Twitter will stay open extra late doesn’t do it. And BBC Persia? Great idea to help inspire … Continue reading →
