The Ministry of Love-Hate

A new form of totalitarianism is being born in Iran. Why—and what—Big Brother is watching.

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  • Posted By: MarkD. Boston @ 07/01/2009 8:33:16 PM

    Great artickle. Thanks for writing it.
    (please copy to friends and post everywhere)
    After some painstaking online research, I found a way to email Pres. Ahmadinejad of the Islamic Republic of Iran. To contact Ahmadinejad DIRECTLY, please go to:

    www.president.ir/
    click on English, when the next page opens,
    from menu on left side of page,

    click on Mail to President

    I just tested this. The button directly under the message pane is in arabic, with two arrows ( >>). Click that to send your email.
    Thanks.
    Mark in Boston

  • Posted By: mkf1 @ 06/29/2009 5:34:48 AM

    Christopher Dickey, reporting from the home of the "expenses scandal" Where members of an alleged parliamentary democracy dishonorably robbed the British taxpayer. The United Kingdom, a stone age monarchy, with a strict class system worthy of a hindu, is calling Iran totalitarian?

  • Posted By: Henry38101 @ 06/28/2009 7:50:01 AM

    Well, I will be happy to see the day Arab rulers are put on trial for their crimes against humanity and their own people. As for rsmith, would you please tell us where Osama is? I think he is the one who has fled with his tail between his ass!! (Anyway, go and polish your retarded English before making comments on international affairs)

  • Posted By: squirrel09 @ 06/26/2009 5:22:47 PM

    TO: rsmith201:

    The King of the World (King Abdulla) (WHO SAYS HE'S THE KING OF THE WORLD) is not interested in democray (DEMOCRACY) PLEASE LEARN HOW TO SPELL- funny how his name was not mentioned as a dictator or totalitarian (GO BACK AND STUDY ENGLISH AND PROPER USAGE OF WORDS), double standards apply to the King of the World. King Abdullah's interested in (SHOULD BE A SPACE HERE) s (THE S SHOULD BE INSERTED BEFORE EEING) eeing the use lose a major war and its power being wiped out. This also benefits Mexicans.

    Iran and N. Korea are too eager to do King Abdullah's dirty work, while Hugo Chavez causes a diversion for the world press. Go figure, Totalitarian and Dictatorship are allive and well just look at Saudi Arabia.
    I AM 100 PERCENT FOR THE IRANIAN FIGHTING IN THE STREETS. MR. SMITH HOWEVER SEEMS TO BE STUCK IN A TIME WARP. WE HAVE TO FIGHT THEM IN THE FIELDS, IN THE DITCHES, IN THE STREETS, ON THE SEAS. ETC.ETC.
    WE CANNOT LET THE ISLAMOFACISTS WIN!

    • Posted By: rsmith201 @ 06/26/2009 6:48:47 PM

      YOU HAVE ALREADY LOST. GO BACK AND STUDY YOUR HISTORY. YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING, YOU DON'T. YOU CAN'T SUSTAIN A WAR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. SO YOU WILL GO BACK WITH THE TAIL BETWEEN YOUR ASS11

  • Posted By: ross1972 @ 06/26/2009 4:11:20 PM

    With regard to the right wing painting of all muslims as islamofascists,perhaps those that disagree should first look up the definition of fascism and then delve into the minute details of sharia law as it pertains to the treatment and position within muslim society of the non muslim.
    For further fun reading check out the rules pertaining to pagans (Hindus,buddhists etc)
    I am afraid islamofascism is a very accurate term.But dont take my word for it,read the koran,haddith and the rulings of sharia for yourself.Prepare to be amazed by what you find and realise that a muslim MUST AGREE with these statements or they are apostates.
    For further fun,talk to a muslim about their beliefs and how they view other religions and viewpoints that oppose mohammeds.

  • Posted By: rsmith201 @ 06/26/2009 1:42:13 PM

    George Orwell was not talking about a dictatorship in Iran, he was talking about a dictatorship in the U.S. - he called Big Brother. The patriot act, lack of medical insurance and severe unemployment grippling the US economy are allowing for a Dictatorial regime to flourish in the United States under Obama's current regime. The disguise is that all Americans should have medical insurance (gee, sounds like communist Russia and China) and all should have work and a place to live (Sounds like communist Cuba).

    Who is going to pay for all this? Future generations of Americans. The Obama regime is making a huge mistake by pursuing the old Bush policies by attempting to control Iran, N. Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan. However this is a big mistake in that it is openning itself up for failure.

    All these foreing poliicies are making the US weaker allowing other groups to take advantage, particularly the Mexicans and Saudis, by screwing the average American worker and soldier. The Iraninas, Saudis, Iraqis and Afghanis could care less aobut freedom and democracy.

    The King of the World (King Abdulla) is not interested in democray - funny how his name was not mentioned as a dictator or totalitarian, double standards apply to the King of the World. King Abdullah's interested ins eeing the use lose a major war and its power being wiped out. This also benefits Mexicans.

    Iran and N. Korea are too eager to do King Abdullah's dirty work, while Hugo Chavez causes a diversion for the world press. Go figure, Totalitarian and Dictatorship are allive and well just look at Saudi Arabia.

  • Posted By: didimau @ 06/26/2009 11:03:00 AM

    These kids in Iran look like they have what it takes to make change. They have a long way to go to get their freedom from "One Man Supreme Leader Rule" though.

  • Posted By: Ethan30 @ 06/26/2009 9:44:53 AM

    Iranians are not arabs, not sunni, and do not reside in the Middle East. Iran tries to meddle and take over the Middle East as part of their Islamic world revolution, and no, the arabs in the Middle East do not look up to them.

    Iran took over Syria (by buying their governmeny) and working on taking over countries by financing and organizing fanatic terrorist organizations with the oil money that should have went for the Iranian people and not for Hamas and Hezbollah and the atomic project.

    The Ayatollahs have already taken over Gaza and Lebanon by that method, and now Egypt and Jordan are next- so they HATE Iran.

    The poor protesters in Iran don't stand a chance once Obama made it clear he supports and respects the Ayatollahs. They are facing an organized army and cruel regime.

  • Posted By: rsmith201 @ 06/25/2009 6:57:42 PM

    It is interesting how empires and fortunes rise and fall. It eas mentioned that the American economy is five times bigger than the Chinese one. Well the British economy was a hundred times bigger when it lost India? You guessed it. Having a bigger gun or bigger bomb does not matter in the global economy.

    Who would have imagined that the Mexicans are world players? Yes. They stand to gain big time at the fall of the United States Empire. They have been waiting patiently like no other group of poeple. Currently they enjoy food stamps, social security and white chicks while American Special Forces are taking a beating at the hands of cave dwellers - fortunes rise and fall don't they?

    Dictators and Totalitarians have nothing to worry about. Look at Hugo Chavez, he is basking in the equatorian sun while poor Arabs Iranians and the Taliban do his dirty work - all he does is insight the masses to make sure the American military stays in the Middle Eas and away fromt he shores of Caracas.

    The dictator in N. Korea has nothing to worry about either. American warships are chasing 50 year-old fishing boats as he e-mails King Abdullah for more money just waiting his chance to smuggle the contraband to the Kind of the World. Christianity, Judaism and the Koran do not apply to King Abdulah - he is at par with God. It does not matter if the US military is stronger he lies in wait just lik the rattle snake and will attach or have others attach GI Joe for him.

    The Iranians are putting a show for the world and the stupid world press is falling for it. Oh yes, the Iranian Dictator's time is up. Yeah right! Women are going to bring him down while men in masks stand ready with AK 47s made in China ready to shoot the women if they get too roudy. You can protest but jmake sure you stay on the margins while the IEDs that King Adbulah ordered are ready for shipment.

  • Posted By: christoph413 @ 06/25/2009 3:24:31 PM

    So much better to have Political correctness and insidious trickery to control the populace and allows the masses to be fooled into believing they are free with 'fair' elections. Sadly what is happening in Iran is simply the blatant version of what is happening in the West. Control the people, if not thru force thru coercion. You are free to choose, from the choices we give you. I do not believe Western Media is fueling what is happening in Iran but, it would not be much of a stretch, they already control how we view it and how we should feel about it....

  • Posted By: dalila @ 06/25/2009 3:03:39 PM

    Dictatorships use fear to control their people. Until the people they oppress grow tired of being afraid, stand up and say no more.
    The Iranian people need to remember that no dictatorship can ever exist without the consent of it's victims. The Iranian people have the numbers and the will. This is the time for change.
    It's a beautiful day

  • Posted By: mjchiu @ 06/25/2009 1:49:59 PM

    Can you believe that in 2009 that the world still has monarchies and dictatorships? Haven't we outgrown this yet? Whether anybody likes it or not the world is moving to a single culture. Iran is one phase in the political maturation of mankind. Win or lose in Iran, the global move to democracy is unstoppable. The desire is universal. Isolation and ignorance are the allies of the monarchs and dictators and neither are going to be possible in the modern world for much longer. We will be one people again (until interstellar travel comes at least) with liberty and justice for all. Good luck to the monarchs, oligarchs, and dictators. Failure to change will end with a long drop with a short rope...like in Iraq.

  • Posted By: birdlj @ 06/25/2009 1:20:55 PM

    I believe these Arab countries should be concerned. The Ayatollah's rule began much the same way as this. The women are a great force in these protests. Ahmadinejad is not much of a man when he does not want to recount the votes. I believe he knows that he is a puppet president for Khamenei's regime. In other words Khamenei can control him.

  • Posted By: americandefender @ 06/25/2009 12:49:35 PM

    For all you people who want to call America a dictatership you are lucky to live here and be able to express your opinion, try doing that in a Saudi Arabian dictatership, Cuba or Iran and good luck! If you are ever seen again.

  • Posted By: lesvisible @ 06/25/2009 11:49:48 AM

    More Zio-con lies from the people who think it's okay when they kill hundreds of thousands of people based on a 9/11 engineered by them but not okay when a handful of people die in demonstrations that they paid to orchestrate. It is pathetic to see fascist shills like Dickey parading the sale of their soul to the real bad guys. You're a pack of lying psychopaths and the whole world knows that the U.S. and their owner Israel along with England are the real villains.

    • Posted By: SilentObserver_intheCorner @ 06/25/2009 12:07:57 PM

      stfu Troll

    • Posted By: millerman40 @ 06/25/2009 12:01:16 PM

      Blah, blah, blah. At least we don't have to live under YOUR rule. Iran would look like your student, if you were in charge. Hopefully, you don't live here to enjoy the freedoms we have. And if you do, maybe you should go live there, apparently you like being beaten instead of freedom.

  • Posted By: paulte @ 06/25/2009 12:00:48 PM

    I don't think the Arab despots have much to worry about based upon Iran. The problem with Iran from the Muslim point of view is that too much of West snuck in there. The people in the streets in Tehran don't look that much different than Americans. Most of the young women prefer western dress. This is the beginning of the end of Islamic fundamentalism in Iranian society. But the rest of the Muslim world is pretty secure in its Medieval ways for the time being!

  • Posted By: theamazingjex @ 06/25/2009 9:21:05 AM

    This doesn't make sense at all. I remember reading a Newsweek article recently that told us what an overwhelming mandate Admadinejad had received at the ballot box. The wise author of that article told us how Admadinejad had broad public support and that the Iranian people had stuck to a leader they liked. Christopher Dickey should track down the guy who wrote that article and have his facts straightened out by that well informed author.

    • Posted By: kvasyr @ 06/25/2009 10:01:25 AM

      • Posted By: millerman40 @ 06/25/2009 11:56:25 AM

        Whatever kvasyr. I would rather live here than one of your dictatorships. They can control their people with violence all they want, but one day they will meet their Maker and have to explain themselves. Good luck. There will be justice served on that day.

  • Posted By: jlm556 @ 06/25/2009 11:48:28 AM

    hahahaha.... Are you people serious?!? In Orwel l 's work specifically "1984" they don't blatantly use brute force to control the people, they use propaganda, fear, and constant states of war. Orwell had depicted vastly advandced civilizations, not thrid world countries. In short, the true offenders of freedom , liberty and civil rights are Great Britan, and the United States. We too have engineered elecctions, unjust interogations, tourture, unjust imprisonment, not to mention the largest propoganda machine in human history! Next time you write an article about one of the most important literary works of the 20th century and how it pertains to the world today, make sure you've actually read and comprehend the book!

  • Posted By: Laer Carroll @ 06/25/2009 11:40:19 AM

    Some of these comments sound like they were written by Admadinejad himself.

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