War-profiteers who donate to "United Against Nuclear Iran"

Salon has just turned in a piece of investigative journalism, drawing attention to a likely link between the former US diplomat in the UN, Mark Wallac (who is the current executive director of UNAI) and the billionaire Thomas Kaplan, the proponent if speculative investment in precious metals. Salon's piece suggests that these groups profit financially from increasing tensions between Iran and the world, and are betting on a war to cash their investments.

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Iran's tally: "Two big losers of the Gaza war"

I have been perplexed by a lack of mentioning of the name Iran, in all ping-pong allegations between Israel and Hamas; and who is funding who and is colluding with whom. Today, I saw FP pointing at Saudi Arabia and Turkey as US allies who also fund Hamas, but again no mention of Iran.

Some speculate that the recent war on Gaza, to be more precise, Natanyahu's defiance of international law and world  opinion on his immoral and illegal actions, is a sign for imminent war with Iran.

But, as I have often maintained, Iran and Israel will not fight each other, nor will they fight Saudi Arabia. They will continue to fight proxy wars as they do now. And an example of the way they fight each other at the present moment can be sniffed from an editorial piece in IRNA:  

(Translation by Naj@neoresistance, free to use with permission.)

Two big losers of the Gaza war

According to Parsineh:"After the ISIS attack on Iraq, the core argument pursued by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and international media implied that the conflict in Iraq was not an internal affair, but a full-blown global war between the Sunni and the Shiite which would eventually engulf the entire region beyond Iraq. 

However, with Israel's callous attack on and apparent genocide in Gaza, the equation has suddenly changed. ISIS, which had succeeded in presenting an anti-Shiite image of itself to the Sunnis of region, a strategy with which it had made a few strides in Iraq and Syria, remained silent about the genocide in Gaza. Gazaners are Sunnis, and if ISIS was genuine in its claims, it ought to have condemned the atrocities against the Gaza Sunnis in the least. 

On the other hand, it was Lebanon's Hizbollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran--accused of creating the Shiite crescent by ISIS--who rushed to aid Gaza and stand with the people of Palestine and Hamas Islamic resistance, despite the fact that Hamas and other fundamentalist arabs are fighting against Bashar Assad in Syria. 

With this account, we can say that the Gaza war had two big losers. 

First, the occupying Israeli regime who could not achieve its goals and had to retreat even more infamously in the public opinions as child-killer; and second, ISIS who was to sizzle the bloody Sunni-Shiite fight in the Middle East. 

The blood of Palestinian martyrs has bound the Sunni and Shiites, and has blocked the blood bath that was planned based on religious slogans.

Even the "oppressed" Iranians are protesting to the recent Gaza massacres

And is the women in the front row the mother of Ashkan Sohrabi?
And is is Isa Saharkhiz who is standing next to Jafar Panahi?
You know who is not protesting? Some of the "self-acclaimed Iranian's human right defenders " (the sort who gets into frenzy to collect signatures to stop execution of this or that), and is on some form of Democracy-fund payroll!

This is Iran, and her women!

Three news titles have caught my attention today and I found them neo-resistance worthy:

1) The Iranian government has appointed the forth female governor in another one of Iran's rural (and interestingly, Sunni) regions. I will post her picture when I find it, but the previous three are:

(1) Masoomeh Parandwar (Sistan & Baluchestan, Hamoun)

(2) Homeyra Rigi (Sistan & Baluchistan, Ghasrghand)

(3) Marjan Nazghelichi (Golestan, Bandar-Torkman)

2) A peaceful demonstration was held in one of Tehran's central intersections, some female citizens (according to pictures I have seen) expressing their concern and "questioning sleazy men who tolerate their wife's immodest attire"!

It reads: Proud men have modest wives.

3) Journalist in exile, Masih Alinejad has started a new facebook campaign, that has amassed over 100,000 fans in no time, called "Stealthy freedoms of Iranian Women". On the page, women post Hijab-less pictures of themselves taken in Iran. I post a picture of Massih Alinejad, herself.

Masih Alinejad in Iran

Alinejad, early days in America (refugee after 2009 election)

Massih Alinejad, 2013.

Are you wondering about Norouz etiquette?

Between March 15-April 1st; you are likely to witness a certain level of excitement in your Iranian (or other Persian) friends and colleagues. It is because their new year starts at the moment of Spring Equinox. The equinox fall on March 20 or 21st, and this day is called Norouz, nowrouz or Norooz. Since 2010, this day has made it to the UNESCO's list of world's cultural heritages.  This is a very old tradition; at least 25 centuries old, judged by the sculptures in Persepolis.

Some of you might wonder what you should do or say on this occasion. First, note that Norouz is NOT a religious ceremony. It is a celebration of nature. Therefore, it is an occasion for EVERYONE to celebrate and to cherish.

This is a very big deal for Persians; and it would be well appreciated if you acknowledge the occasion; and join in the festivities.

What I love most about Norooz is that it is a day that you are supposed to let the grudges go; you let the sorrow and pain go and make a pledge to do well and to intend well.

On this day, we don't exchange gifts (although the elders in the family would give a few crisp notes to the youngsters), so if you are invited to a party, you don't have to bring anything. But parties are not common either. All we do is that we pay a visit to each other, short visits, enough to have a couple of cookies, a cup of tea, some fruit; and then move on to the next visit. We have to visit as many friends and family as possible; starting by age or those who are recently (less than a year) bereaved. 

This is a really simple ceremony; simple and ancient.

Join in the mood; smile, laugh with them, be happy and positive on this day, and wish your Persian friends a "Happy New Year". As simple as it is, Norouz is a HUGE deal to them, in meaning and concept.

Happy 1393!

Well, I made a little error decorating Ash Reshteh, and thought it's year 1394!!

It's quite funny that for an entire year, I have been thinking that I am one year older than what I actually am!

I pray for peace.

This is a year that I am very optimist. Not just about Iran, but about the whole world. I think we are AWAKENING. We have avoided many wars; and we don't seem to be so war- and capitalism-prone anymore. There is always a bright side to all darkness. And this is the lesson I have learned since my last year's horrible adventures, which also ended at about this time last year.

Life is only going to be exciting.