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Iran, Once Quiet about Its Casualties in Syria and Iraq, Now Glorifies Them
(New York Times) Thomas Erdbrink - For years, Iran covered up its military activities in Syria and Iraq, so the government could deny any official involvement on the ground. Now every Iranian killed in action is named, his picture published, his valor lauded in elaborate tributes. The Revolutionary Guards see publicizing the sacrifices of the fallen as a way to build domestic support for the current Syria policy and squelch any talk of compromise. Facebook and Twitter are blocked by the state in Iran, but the photo-sharing app Instagram is freely accessible. Previously used mostly by middle-class Iranians showing off new puppies, the app is now suffused with images of "martyrs" and young men proudly wielding machine guns.