aznativemike's blog: "The Pastor's Sermon"

Thanks to guardian.uk (so what if it’s a liberal publication) for this piece from an Iranian medical student. Read the following:

“I only want to speak about what I have witnessed. I am a medical student. There was chaos at the trauma section in one of our main
hospitals. Although by decree, all riot-related injuries were supposed to be sent to military hospitals, all other hospitals were filled to the rim. Last night, nine people died at our hospital and another 28 had gunshot wounds. All hospital employees were crying till dawn. They (government) removed the dead bodies on back of trucks, before we were even able to get their names or other information. What can you even say to the people who don’t even respect the dead. No one was allowed to speak to the wounded or get any information from them. This morning the faculty and the students protested by gathering at the lobby of the hospital where they were confronted by plain cloths anti-riot militia, who in turn closed off the hospital and imprisoned the staff.

The extent of injuries are so grave, that despite being one of the most staffed emergency rooms, they’ve asked everyone to stay and help–I’m sure it will even be worst tonight. What can anyone say in face of all these atrocities? What can you say to the family of the 13 year-old boy who died from gunshots and whose dead body then disappeared?

This issue is not about cheating (election) anymore. This is not about stealing votes anymore. The issue is about a vast injustice inflected on the people. They’ve put a baton in the hand of every 13-14 year old to smash the faces of “the bunches who are less than dirt” (government is calling the people who are uprising dried-up torn and weeds). This is what sickens me from dealing with these issues. And from those who shut their eyes and close their ears and claim the riots are in opposition of the government and presidency!! No! The people’s complaint is against the egregious injustices committed against the people.”

To put it bluntly, I don’t give a shit about some politician having an affair, they do it all the time, there isn’t a whole lot of news there and it certainly isn’t worth the amount of coverage it’s receiving today on the news. MSNBC, which I usually enjoy watching, has devoted far too much time to this….there are other stories far more worthy of their time.

I believe this is just the beginning of the crackdown, the violence, in my opinion, will get worse, and is probably worse than is being reported. The clerics and the current regime will stop at nothing to maintain their grip on power. There are reports of people disappearing in the middle of the night, state TV asking for Iranians to give any information on who they know is protesting or speaking out against the regime, and even possibly the beginnings of mass graves.

I also believe this is the beginning of the end for the radicals in power in Iran. The train, so to speak, has left the station. I believe this is setting the stage for a U.S. backed Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear targets, and we may even see an attempted strike on the leadership of Iran. Again, I believe there will be U.S. logistical support, possibly even limited military support, for this strike, and it will come with the quiet backing of Arab nations in the region, who don’t want to see a nuclear Iran almost as bad as the Israelis don’t want to see this.

Up to this point, Obama has been low key on his comments toward Iran, and I believe he has handled this very well as President of the United States. However, I believe this will soon have to change. We cannot possibly view this regime as a legitimate negotiating partner any longer. Obama’s words will have to become more stern as this crisis continues.

Could we be witnessing history unfold before our very eyes? Would we be seeing the beginning of the end of radical Islam in Iran? I believe this is very possible, and a more western friendly Iran would change the entire dynamic in the middle east. As we continue to watch the events unfold in Iran, let’s keep in the mind the real stories, instead of another tabloid worthy sex romp by a politician.