January 13, 2009

New York Times Kills Four in Iran

Do you think it's coincidence that the NY Times revealed last week that the U.S. had authorized covert operations in Iran and then today Iran arrested four men said to be involved in a "coup" attempt? You'd have to be a fool to think so. "Leaks" have consequences. In this case, those consequences will no doubt be the death of four individuals in Iran.

It's highly doubtful in my mind that the four are guilty as charged. It's far more likely that the Times leak sent the Mullahs scampering to find someone -- anyone -- to accuse. And no doubt there is a long list of suspected enemies of the Islamic Republic who could be arrested on any flimsy pretext.

Thank you New York Times! How many more will die because of your lack of self-restraint?

Reuters:

Iran has arrested four Iranians accused of involvement in a U.S.-financed plot aimed at toppling its Islamic system of government, the judiciary said on Tuesday....

"The news whose details which will be announced either tomorrow or the day after is in connection to a soft network whose intent was to topple (the Islamic system), with U.S. government funding," Jamshidi told a news conference.

"One of the goals these individuals were pursuing in Iran was to set up a network to topple the Islamic establishment, all of whose operators have been arrested," he said....

amshidi said the group, whom he did not identify, had tried to recruit other people in Iran and train them both in and outside the country in techniques for undermining the system. He did not provide details.

The official IRNA news agency also quoted him as saying the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had been involved in establishing and guiding the network.

"Unfortunately we have witnessed in the past years crimes guided or led by this (U.S.) government," Jamshidi said.