World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (March 12-14, 2011)

The Washington Post ran an article “Iran’s feared paramilitary group has launched cyber attack on ‘enemies’ of state.” It says that Iranian hackers working for the powerful Revolutionary Guard’s paramilitary Basij group have launched attacks on websites of the “enemies,” a state-owned newspaper reported Monday in a rare acknowledgement from Iran that it’s involved in cyber warfare. The report followed an announcement in January that Iran had formed its first cyber police unit in an attempt by authorities to gain an edge in the digital world. The Internet has also been a key outlet for Iran’s opposition since the 2009 disputed presidential election. In addition, Iran has been trying to boost its web defenses after the Stuxnet computer worm made its way into computers involved with the country’s controversial nuclear program.

“War, what is it meant for?” is the article published by the Los Angeles Times. The author considers that if military action doesn't become necessary in Libya, it surely will become necessary somewhere else, some other time. The United States needs to preserve the option of using force to right wrongs when necessary and justified, but it must also remember that violence begets violence and that the cost of war — even in a humanitarian cause — can be too high to pay.

The New York Times published the article “The Next Steps in the U.S.-Russia Reset.” The author says that Russians and Americans inside and outside of government have worked hard to overcome decades of mistrust, to identify common ground, and to foster a more secure and more prosperous future for both countries. If two great nations that for 40 years stood on opposite sides of the 20th century’s deepest divide can stand side-by-side in facing 21st century challenges, it will benefit not just the United States and Russia — but the world.

The Turkish information agency Hurriyet reported that former President Süleyman Demirel has said that the media and the judiciary, both essential components of democracy, are no longer free in Turkey, but stifled by an “empire of fear,” amid increasing outcry about threats to press freedom. Demirel underscored that a free press should protect the public interest, hold regimes accountable and criticize – sometimes even severely – those in positions of power and influence.

“Iran urges US to respect democracy” is an article published by Press TV. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast urges the US to respect democracy instead of sending military officials to the region and repressing the people. The remarks were made after US Defense Secretary Robert Gates made an unannounced visit to the Bahraini capital, Manama, on Friday evening. The Persian Gulf littoral state has intensified its crackdown on Bahraini protesters following the visit. On Sunday, hundreds of protesters were reportedly wounded in the violence with live footage showing Bahraini forces shooting a protester at close range.