With worldwide Muslim anger, US focuses on Syria and Iran
Regional-USA, Politics, 2/9/2006

The US Department Of State Sean McCormack focused on Syria and Iran as the cause of the Muslim violent rage of the cartoons depicting prophet Muhammad as a terrorist and Syria and Iran as motivating this action.

McCormack was asked about Secretary Condoleezza Rice's remarks on Iran-Syrian cartoon and if the US can you point to any specifics or any evidence that points to the governments' involvement in any of these inciting violence.

McCormack: Well, a few things. One, in Syria, violent protests don't take place without the assistance of the government. Whether that is just standing aside or active -- or offering active encouragement, at this point I can't tell you. But burning down two embassies in Damascus doesn't happen without the knowledge of the Syrian Government.

With respect to Iran, we also have seen attacks against embassies in Tehran. I would also suggest to you that things like that don't happen without the knowledge and/or assistance of the Iranian Government.

And third, the newspaper that sponsored this so-called contest in Tehran is owned by the municipality of Tehran. I would point out to you that the former mayor of Tehran is now the president of Iran and we've heard his thoughts on the matter, which are disgusting.

So I think what you see here, just those few examples, are indications of and evidence of what the Secretary talked about, and that is the attempt by the governments of Iran and Syria to use the current situation to incite individuals to violence, and we've seen the results of that.

Question: with all due respect, I mean, are you suggesting demonstrators all over the world take their cue from these two governments?

McCormack: No, I'm differentiating --

Question: Because there's a lot of street action here.

McCormack: I'm differentiating between what has occurred in Damascus and Tehran, which I would suggest to you is different in its character than protests, some of the protests we have seen in other places. I grant you we have seen individual acts of violence or even those involving groups in other areas. Yes, I grant you that. But what I would submit to you is that what we have seen in Damascus and Tehran is qualitatively different than we have seen in other places. That's what I'm saying and I think that's what the Secretary is saying as well.

Question: Thank you. Can you just clarify what you said about the Iranian newspaper? Is it that you think national authorities have requested this newspaper to invent this competition?

McCormack: Well, I'm trying to connect the dots here for you. A few things. One, we know the newspaper is owned by the municipality of Tehran. It's a government entity. Two, we know who the former mayor of Tehran is. Three, we know his thoughts regarding the Holocaust. We've seen disgusting statements coming from him before. And lastly, if you look at our last Human Rights Report, it's a known technique that the Iranian Government uses to direct media how to cover an event or what to say about particular issues. So these things are all known, so I don't think it's -- I don't think you have to travel too far a distance to put all those things together.

Meantime, Iran's former president and head of the International Center of Cultures and Religions Mohammad Khatami said today that war mongers and terrorists are two sides of a coin, while addressing a group of people mourning Imam Hussein martyrdom anniversary.

Khatami lashed out at those desecrating Islamic sanctities, saying the practice showed a campaign is underway against the enlightening Islam. "Those hostile to Islam are insulting the last messenger of God," regretted Khatami.

He said, "Islam, which guarantees man's identity and life, progress, democracy, freedom and freedom of thought, has been targeted by enemies." The war mongers and terrorists follow a common goal and that is escalation of tension, extermination of human beings and committing crimes, said Khatami, adding, "Both the groups are rejected by Islam."

Khatami said Neo-conservatives in the US are the war mongers who are committing crimes in the name of defending civilization, democracy and freedom, adding that terrorists, who are accusing others of being pagans, are committing the same crime.

Previous Stories:
  US condemnation of embassies burning in Syria   (2/6/2006)
  Kurdish Media: Syrian Kurdish group meets US officials, asks support   (2/2/2006)
  US Council For The National Interest meets Al-Assad, Palestinians   (2/2/2006)
  Zawahiri tape intent to show failed US attack   (1/31/2006)
  US threatens India if it does not support it against Iran   (1/27/2006)
  Iran: referral of civil nuclear energy program to UN an act of hostility   (1/18/2006)

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