The revolution must be Twittered

Posted: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1:47 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: State Dept.

From NBC’s Libby Leist

A senior State Department official told reporters this afternoon that the State Department pressed the Web site Twitter not to shut down for scheduled routine maintenance because of its important role in allowing Iranians to communicate in the aftermath of the elections last Friday.

"They announced they were going to shut down their system for maintenance, and we asked them not to," the official said.

It was a lower-level official who called Twitter -- not the Secretary of State, the official stressed.

"I don't want to convey the impression that the State Department picked up the hotline, told them not to do it and it’s because of our intervention that it didn't happen," he added.

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Comments

Normally I don't really give a damn that you're eating a ham sandwich for lunch...

But this may be one of those times when Twitter might actually be useful!

Tweet... Tweet...

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1:53 PM)

Good for the State Department, to request twitter stay open for the Iranians. I didn't think much of twitter because of the blow by blow account of someone's day or thoughts (Grassley's pout about Pres Obama's extra day in Paris) but when used for this purpose, it definitely can be a valuable communication tool.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1:57 PM)

Oh, boy. I have some REAL reservations about this. Not only is the State Dept. tinkering with the internal operations of a private company, but it also could be seen as influencing the internal politics of a soverign, as well as, an unstable nation.

They may be playing with fire here!

Dave in Omaha (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1:57 PM)

I wonder why Twitter is better than the internet for keeping us abreast of the protests in Iran, Twitter messages are just to short to be intelligent and the internet would be better for giving us better stories about what's going on there. I imagine that the Iranian tyrants will find a way to silence twitter once they realize it is bypassing their other media blocks.

Free Iran!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1:58 PM)

The official said that Web sites and cell phones had been shut down and journalists were being kicked out, so the U.S. wanted "to highlight to [Twitter] that this was an important means of communication -- not with us -- but horizontally in Iran."

No offence guys at MSNBC, but we should count ourselves lucky. You all complain about access to White House visitor's logs and they've kicked the media out of their country.

Now this is a "real" example of a "government" controlled state. Those that wish to complain about nothing have plenty to be grateful for I would think.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:01 PM)

John McCain would have more credibility on Iran if he hadn't sung: 'Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran'
What an IDIOT !!

What a TWIT

McConnell, the Boner and Cantor have no more credibility, either
They just want to criticize Obama

What's LAUGHABLE are the BOZOS trying to credit BUSH for the stirrings in Iran

WHY would LYING about WMDs encourage ANYONE ?
WHY would TORTURE PHOTOS encourage stirrings in Iran ?
Yeah, THAT'S gonna inspire people in Iran !!
They TORTURED THE WRONG PEOPLE !!

It's FIXED NOISE LAUGHABLE

For the Republican HACKS, PLEASE STFU !!
You got NOTHING to Say

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:02 PM)

So...

The Twit in the White House wants to keep twitter online?

Isn't ironic???

BoBo the Prez (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:03 PM)

Mark or Domenico - Is Richard Engel working up an article? I missed his chat yesterday.
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Twitter does nothing for me. When I see our Congressional Reps 'twittering' I pretty much think they are TWITS. I prefer substantive policy postings on their website to some of the trite garbage I see published. How many of them are actually pushing 'send' on the device? It sounds like aids are running the show. Often minimally educated ones, at that - looking at you Grassley staffers.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:03 PM)

It's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

Let the IRANIANS DECIDE

Hopefully, democracy will triumph
But, IT'S NOT AMERICA'S CALL

The last time Iran had a Democracy (Mossedegh) America OVERTHREW the Democratically elected Government

Just like Arbenz in Guatemala, Allende in Chile and the Dominican Rebublic in 1965

YANKEE GO HOME !!!

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:10 PM)

Okay, so then what?

eagle1776 (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:10 PM)

Typical Statism Arrogance. If Iran wants to revolt let them revolt. If the leaders of the revolt want our help let them ask. Otherwise leave it alone. Completely alone.

Jonathan Flint, MI (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:11 PM)

Oh, give me a break! Twitter responded to millions of users who asked that they not shut down -- not because some obama flunky called them. Jeesh!

Russ Wilsom (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:14 PM)

The image of a frenzied State Department worker bee imploring the Twitter folks to keep on twittering is somewhat amusing. I wonder who took the call on the Twitter end, and how long it took them to be convinced it was legit.

The image of the government once again intervening in the affairs of a private corporation is not so amusing. Apparently the Obama folks think it's OK to strongarm Twitter into assisting in advancing the administration's political goals. However noble those goals might be, as of today Twitter is not just a cute private sector communications tool. Now, it's also a tool of the Obama White House. And it's independence and purity of purpose have been forever corrupted by political expediency. That's not particularly amusing at all.

Bill, Fairfax, VA (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:16 PM)

A senior State Department official told reporters this afternoon that the State Department pressed the Web site Twitter not to shut down for scheduled routine maintenance because of its important role in allowing Iranians to communicate in the aftermath of the elections last Friday.
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I'll bet Hillary Clinton had something to do with that. If McBombBomb had won, nobody at his State Department would have thought of keeping Twitter going. They'd be too busy issuing useless threats that the Iranian government wouldn't bother to read.

Houston (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:26 PM)

I am of the opinion the Twitter is for Twits of which there are lot of these days. But like most other things that are new and seemingly unimportant, it does appear to have its usefulness.

Bill in Fairfax: you really are getting your pants in a twist or is it, that it is another way to tweek the present administration? If you knew all the facts and they are readily available, you would know that it was more the media outlets and the Iranian people here and abroad who asked for the delay.

Gingerbread Mamma, Jupiter Fl (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:37 PM)

"They announced they were going to shut down their system for maintenance, and we asked them not to," the official said.

========

They are going to hear from our union!

Tele Prompter (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:38 PM)

What will happen to twitter if they do shut down for maintence???

Will BoBo fire their CEO???

How Ironic - twitter being told what to do by a twit!

BoBo the Prez (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:39 PM)

Bill "The image of the government once again intervening in the affairs of a private corporation is not so amusing."
---------------------------------

Yep. First Obama's State Department politely requests that Twitter hold off on maintenance to supposedly help out the forces of democracy in Iran, and the next thing ya know we'll have a Stalinist take-over of our precious free market system. What's this country coming to? Oh dear oh dear oh dear. We are DOOMED!!!

Houston (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:42 PM)

Did the phone call go something like this...

"Hello, this is President Obama. You can call me God. Lots of people and news agencies do. What I need you to do is not shut down for maintence. See, were helping the Iranians revolt against their government. Yes, some will die. But that OK.
So, do you mind??? If not, I will fire you president and replace him with one of my contributors."

Thank you Mr. President (aka God)

BoBo the Prez (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:43 PM)

Well at least Obie is pressing the tyranical Iranian gov. "You threaten the destruction of one more country and we will make sure Ichat doesnt' close either." Anyone got that new Ahmadinejad app yet. You turn it on and it electricutes you for sedition.

chris, alabama (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:50 PM)

Good for the State Dept. I find it refreshing that Iran is out in the streets over this election. I also believe it was "rigged".

Barbara C. - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 3:06 PM)

Twitter messages are just to short to be intelligent
_____________________________
WELL, THEY GIVE YOU ALL THE SPACE YOU NEED HERE AND YOU STILL CAN'T DO IT.

JIM SHORRTS (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 3:26 PM)

Gil Scott-Heron is spinning in his grave from this headline ... and he isn't even dead yet.

Then again, at least it's not "Winter in America" anymore.

Philimus, Cleveland, Ohio (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 3:35 PM)

What will happen to twitter if they do shut down for maintence???

Will BoBo fire their CEO???

How Ironic - twitter being told what to do by a twit!

BoBo the Prez (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:39 PM
===========
Seems to me that you are the twit!

tired or your stupid comments (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 3:51 PM)

The value of twitter in this case is that is it designed to be accessed and updated by cell phone and text message. So someone on the street in the midst of the protest in theory can give instant updates. Any other means would require carrying a laptop with a wireless connection. Its possible to have that on hand in the middle of it all too but much tougher logistically.

No one is expecting hard hitting journalism from these. But they provide a raw feed from the people on the street bypassing the filter of a state run media.

Paul - Hemet, CA (Sent Tuesday, June 16, 2009 4:27 PM)

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